apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This past weekend I celebrated my 34th year on this planet with a quiet night with my mom and Emily, sharing some good moments over at one of my favourite sushi spots here in LA. My mom totally surprised me with a HUGE gift which I recognized immediately, mostly because it wasn't wrapped. But it didn't have to be...it was the very same model back massager I got for her about a year ago for her own birthday. Yeah, it's not exactly the most beautiful designed item (the Human Touch model looks nicer, but doesn't do the deep tissue assault like the Homedics model), but I might have actually performed a cartwheel...a very careful cartwheel considering I've treaded into AARP territory....

I think we actually stopped receiving the printed version of the La Redoute catalog, but for awhile there my better half was regularly purchasing clothing from the French retailer because of their European fit and classic styles (she's remarked their styles have gone astray toward "too trendy" the last few seasons). Although I myself am not too fond of their men's selection of clothing, I've noted that their online catalog has some stylish home wares and furnishings that are very Elle Decor inspired (European editions, of course) and I do actually enjoy window-catalog shopping for fun. Here I've listed 5 things that I found interesting or to my liking from their recent selection...

An AT reader writes in with a question about cleaning product safety resources:

Hi AT, I was wondering if you had any online or offline recommendations for learning the ins and outs of knowing which products to use from both a hypoallergenic and green perspective. My daughter is 3 years old and I've become particularly concerned about reducing her exposure to all the unnecessary chemicals I was raised while growing up. Is there some definitive list I can reference to give me some sort of assurance the cleaning product I use (I plan to try some DIY solutions, but as a working mom, time is of the essence), whether it be laundry, household cleaners or soap, is safe? Thanks, Concerned Mom

[Image: Method Home]

Name: Viola
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Collection: Comic character figures
Size: 150 figures
Value: $2,000

Description:"I collect comic character icons, from the original Katzenjammer Kids, Little Nemo, 1930s bisque characters such as Little Orphan Annie, Skippy, Little Rascals, Gasoline Alley, Dagwood, Blondie, up to 50s and 60s, Little Lulu, Little Audrey, Nancy and Sluggo, Tin Tin, originals 50s Peanuts, to the present, Beavis and Butthead, the Simpsons, South Park. The main criteria is that my figures have to have character ie soul. My wish list includes 1930s dolls of Skippy, Buddy Lee, The Campbell kids, Shirley Temple and Betty Boop. The other criteria, is originality, I don't mind if they have chips or paint loss, that adds to the character. I have incorporated them into my interior decor placing them on art deco tables, drink trolleys, setting them up against vases. They fit well into an eclectic style where i've constructed set pieces around the house that catches the eye. I rent a 1955 beach cottage, and try to incorporate designs preceding that time."

While looking for bed images for our most recent This or That? survey, we came upon the sleek Ayrton bed designed by Ora Ito, a stunning low platform bed with an integrated side table and profile that reminds us of an F1 race car, likely named after Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver who was killed while racing. We'll stick to stationary race-inspired sleeping options like this, thank you very much...

Talking to married friends, we've noticed there's a common disagreement between those who share a bed: pillows. Many of our female friends love the idea and look of layering different sizes of pillows ontop of the bed while their husbands prefer a more minimal-spare look (though we know a few couples who flip this generalization). How do you feel about pillows on the bed? Prefer more or a spare look?

AT reader Seonna lives in a midcentury era home with glass window vents that need to be repaired and writes in:

Dear AT, my home is surrounded by these wonderful glass window vents that allow me to control the interior temperature throughout the year here in scenic Mt. Washington by opening or closing them accordingly. But one of the window segments is now broken and won't close at all. Where/whom would I contact for a repair? Would a regular window repairman be able to handle this job or is this the job for a specialist considering the age and style of these windows?

The capacity for getting along with our neighbor depends to a large extent on the capacity for getting along with ourselves. The self-respecting individual will try to be as tolerant of his neighbor's shortcomings as he is of his own.
- Eric Hoffer

Love this for the sheer whimsy: “100 Lica” is a Croatian art project/exhibit/movie/book composed of 100 hand painted chairs, each adorned with their own personality, mood, and emotion. Each of the 100 chairs was created for the book “100lica stolica” and an accompanying short movie “100lica stolica”. Preview below of all 100 chairs in sped up time lapse for those of you in a hurry...

You've been making a conscious effort to replace your blown incandescent bulbs with their more efficient CFL cousins but find yourself with a collection of bulbs you'd rather reuse than just throw out? Here's a fun weekend project showing how to reuse those bulbs and create a decorative item which we imagine being redone in a holiday motif. For a step by step video how-to, jump below...

Dear AT, I'm looking for a twin size sleeper ottoman. I want the kind made from faux leather. I saw one at Cost Plus World Market, but they no longer carry them. Other furniture stores have them, but for around 399.00. I know there must be a place somewhere that I can get one for a little less. Can anybody help me out?
- collector909

Taking a walk back in time [cue in Cher's If I Could Turn Back Time] we're greeted with posts about Method packaging, our eventual 2007 Fall Colors Contest winner in Chinatown, some good questions about bathroom zits, mattress comfort, good rugs for dirty dogs (the canine variety, not boyfriends), DIY air fresheners, and much more...

Today we're highlighting a stripped down 4 ft. tall Eames-era floor lamp designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson available for $50 alongside a Wegner Style magazine rack for both the same price and the same seller. And if you're looking for something even more rare and special, the seller has a huge red/orange 9' x 12' Danish modern Flokati-style shag rug...

AT Los Angeles special correspondent Jonathan Lo sent us this store review about a new found favourite down in the OC:

A few months ago, I had seen this "herb ladder" planter thing in an European design magazine. I was obsessed to figure out where I could get one. A quick Google search lead me to EmmoHome.com. The online store had a great selection of modern accessories from the likes of Alessi, Artineca, Areaware, Boon, and Menu, the Scandinavian brand that made the herb ladder I wanted. Just out of curiosity, I looked up where this company was based. I just assumed it would be somewhere in New York, or overseas, but to my surprise- it was based right here in Orange County! Emmo Home recently opened up their very first retail store in Costa Mesa, where we rushed over to get a first hand look...