apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

All this contest talk has tired me out. I need a nap. I never considered the server load for a competition - I think the servers need a nap, too. If T-mobile would sponsor the competition next time maybe we could just text our vote in, like American Idol.

is anybody else worried that it seems it became somewhat of a popularity contest in the end? i know you can't outlaw "campaigning," but i would be curious to see how it would have turned out if only "regular" readers voted. don't mean to put a damper on anything, but does anyone else feel that way?

should also say, i totally aspire to live anywhere that is half as nice as any of the entries, i mean all of them, not just the finalists. i am so in awe of the decorating/design talent on this site.

Jamie Beth,

You will be our Paula Abdul in season two of 'Smallest Coolest'.

Just kidding - I think it always is good to say the nice things. The competition would not have been the same without all of the interesting entries. It almost makes me want to move to smaller digs, just so I can compete.

Here's a question for Maxwell- - -

What is your secret to finding all the great pictures to accompany your topics?

Some SMART search engine I am unaware of? =(

I google a word and get 123456789 things that have nothing to do with what I'm looking for...lol


Side note...Server must be seriously lagging now too..I think it needs a contest break after this intense one! =)

Hey

I'm moving to Manhattan in about a month, and I wanted to get started with picking my furniture. I really like the collections at Room&Board and West Elm - are there any other stores out there that sell similar stuff but at a lower pricepoint? I am not a big fan of Ikea.

Anu suggestiong would be much appreciated -- Thanks much!

I'm not sure there are many places that have a price point between Ikea and West Elm. West Elm was created by Pottery Barn to compete with Ikea on design and price.

Having said that I seem to recall The Door Store in Chelsea (around 17th St bet 7th and 8th Ave) having some good designs at prices that were cheaper than the other stores in that area. I'm going from memory from a few years ago but I do know the store still exists and friends of mine went there last year and liked what they saw and the prices.

Great - thanks jamie!

The smallest apartments were great fun, however the contest iteslf was indeed a popularity contest. In the future, names/identifying information should not be included in entrees and voting results not posted as both bias voting behavior.

Not sure if the Open Thread is normally used for such things, but I'll give it a shot. I was wondering if I could get comments/suggestions/whatever on my place. Right now the only thing I've put much work into is the Living Room, so that's what I have pictures of. The pictures are at http&colon//flickr.com/photos/lordscarlet/sets/235515/. Thanks in advance for any help. =)

oops. the "&colon"... hopefully you can figure out what it was supposed to be.

c -- Sour grapes, much? For me, the contest was a toss-up between other Patrick and Robert's house, with Hillary in third. While I loooove Patrick's writing and sense of humor, I voted for Robert because his taste and mine were a closer match. The fact that I'm a regular on the site doesn't preclude me from voting my design conscience, as it were, even when I kinda snub a fellow AT junkie. I'm not a teenager voting for prom queen and it's not like I *actually* know any of you, really. Patrick can certainly wear his tiara with pride, and honey if you don't own one, we'll all pitch in and help you on that front...

I also like seeing the score as people go along, although maybe they could set up the poll so that you only see the score after you vote? I will admit to voting "good" when I see a good-to-perfect apartment that I think is getting too many "perfects"...

Doug -- What exactly are you looking for, advice wise?

Your furniture all fits logically, so unless you have big questions about it, I'll just leave it as is... I love bright red, and I use a bunch of it in my studio as well. It always looks nice and crisp next to bright white, so I agree with that choice...

I think your fireplace has too many bitsy things on top of the mantel, and that mirror is too small proportionately. There's a dumb rule that might help you out, especially if you like the stuff on your mantel. Three always looks good to humans -- it's the last visual number we have between "a couple" and "many" -- so group your clutter into groups of three, or have three staggered groupings. I told you it was a dumb rule, but it actually works relatively well if you apply it well... Think also about the overall shape of things when you place them. You just have a bunch of similarly sized objects running haphazardly along right now. Push them around, take out the stuff you don't love and see what you get.

The art you have around the place is all kinda small-ish. The mirror is so high and small. Grouping the pieces helps with the small issue, but that row of colored prints looks like you spit out machine gun nails above someone's head and had to cover over the evidence. I have the same problem in my house. There's gotta be a better way. The two posters above the tv also look lost. Both sets kinda look pre-fab too, like you bought a set of four. Maybe someone else can figure out a better place to put those pieces -- this is really something that's good to do in 3d, so grab a friend who's house is great and see what they do...

If I had to start over, I'd put something up in the hallway, something big and wonderful either over the couch *or* on the mantel [but not both right away] and fill the tv area better -- mine's ugly too, and the tv people haven't figured out product design yet, and we kinda have to live with that. None of these things have to be posters or "art" -- if you find a bigger mirror, or an interesting plant-thing you'll be fine. Also, the red fills space well, and if you have nice walls you can just leave the red showing and be fine. There's nothing wrong with letting your bold color speak for itself.

Oh, and you have a closet right there, so just hang your coat and stuff inside it. It'll make that area look just a little nicer.

Mary -- Thanks for the advice! I don't really know what I'm looking for as far as advice either. =) As I was putting the pictures up I was saying to myself, "there's way too much on the mantel."

Something I would love is some sort of faux wall that I could slide/fold/lift away in order to hide the TV -- I think that would be a significant piece of carpentry to be done well, though.

As far as the "closet", that's not a closet. There is a stackable W/D unit and the A/C unit in there -- there's not really anywhere to hang stuff. I'm going to get a tension rod and see if I can put hanging stuff in there, but it will get in the way of everything if I do.

Thanks again for the advice.

Love your cats. That's quite a bushy tail on that yellow one - is the cat in a frenzy or is that just a bushy tail? And is that a chihuahua in the first shot?

Doug--
Not sure it's a possibility, but have you considered wall-mounting the TV above the mantel?(it looks like a flat screen, but if not then this of course wouldn't work!). That would combine your focal points and allow you to get more built-in kind of storage on the wall where the TV is now.
If you're liking the accent color for walls, my only advice, given the set-up of your room, would be to limit the strong punch only to the chimney breast. But a way-cool space to start with, for sure!

movingtonyc--
I think jamie pup pegged it about price range among the stores you cite, but the other route would be some of the area's great thrift channels... Housing Works and Angel (Street?) Thrift, to name a few.
I'd also suggest trying to save up to buy the best sofa you can afford, even if it means living with temporary solutions (like a few chairs instead of a sofa). The best sofa you can afford will be with you for many, many years.(and Room & Board, Crate & Barrel and the Mitchell Gold section of ABC Carpet & Home all viable options, value for the money-wise) BoConcept is another option if your taste runs less traditional.
Also, being in NY, you can keep your eye out for sample and factory/warehouse sales from pricier purveyors like George Smith and Portico. Good luck!

Interesting piece on Nick Denton/Gawker Media this morning in the New York Times... especially interesting for the throwaway detail that Lockhart Steele and our beloved MGR share office space! Has that been posted on AT before?

www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/business/yourmoney/08blog.html?th&emc=th

Thanks for the info patrick (too).
And incidentally, absolutely loved your apartment!

Doug -
Here goes, for whatever it's worth. First GREAT lines, bones and colors in the space. To pull it together I would suggest a few things. I agree with Mary about the placement of the wall hangings. They are all a bit high, especially the mirror over the fireplace, which is closer to the ceiling than to the mantle. I'd think about replacing either the mirror or the art over the TV with a much larger piece. Above the couch, you could correct the placement without moving nails by running one narrow floating shelf underneath the art and placing 2 or 3 objects on it.
I'd also suggest centering the couch on the wall it is on, which would require new narrow end tables and/or lamps. I'd also pull the rug a little more toward the fireplace, positioning it in the center of the room rather than so far toward the couch.
Lastly, a maybe most difficult to achieve, is there room for either the fab turquoise chair or the white one on the other end of the couch rather than putting both in the bay window area? I like both chairs very much, and certainly appreciate your apparent guitar playing habit in that space, but there's a little too much going on. Maybe put the music stand away when not in use? If you can't move one of the chairs, maybe you could lose the table between them and stand the guitar there instead?
Hope this helps.

Pixie -- that's just the way his tail is. He and all of his sibblings (except one) have the same tail. It is insane.

patrick (the other one) -- The TV is a 13" deep 69lbs DLP projection TV. I would also love to mount it above the fireplace, but no go. However -- I've had a TV above the fireplace before (It was actually a nook in the wall rather than mounted. Gas Fireplace.) and it is not very fun to crane your neck up to watch TV.

Sharon -- Thanks for the input. I actually replied to your email and told you the turq. chair is a piece from my grandparents' house. My guess is that it's from the late 50s or early 60s. I need to reupholster it due to damage to the vinyl -- not sure where to go with that, though. The guitars really just ended up there. My plan was to eventually have a third chair where you suggested, but I guess it is kind of busy with the music stuff there -- that was really just a utilitarian placement more than anything. A chair does work where you suggested, although in reality my bike sits in front of the fireplace during the week out of laziness. =)

Thanks for the input everyone!

Hi Doug.

If you are in New York City, you might want to get an estimate from Matthew Haly at The Furniture Joint. I just had to get a furniture repair estimate from him, and he was extremely honest about the work and cost that would be entailed. He is also very pleasant and friendly. Just someone you might want to check out if you are in this area.

newtonyc
I found the door store's website
www.doorstorefurniture.com
Not cheap but reasonable compared to the other stores in that area (Chealsea) which, as ptoo said and I hinted, is where a lot of furniture stores are concentrated.

sorry I meant movingtonyc

Fiona -- Thanks for the reference. I am in Washington, DC, however.

Hi, I think there is too much going on in that wall with the fireplace, TV and books.

You should re-arrange the furniture and move the TV. If you can't or don't want to move the TV, you might think about getting a couple of matching cabinets with doors on either side of the fireplace (if you have the skills and time, you might build them yourself), something simple would be fine so you can hide away the TV and the books and still have the fireplace as the primary focal point. Yes, that would mean dismantling the bookshlevs. But if you wanna keep the open bookshelves then I'm not sure about having only one of the sides next to the fireplace with bookshelves and the other without; seems like having both ends the same, (symmetrical) might look better? So if you move the TV, you might want to build shelves on the other side of the fireplace too.

Do not hang the TV above the fireplace. It's too high and also the heat rising from the fireplace might "sizzle" your TV (maybe not sizzle but would make it awfully hot). Having to move the TV every time you turn on the fireplace would be a pain. The framed photos over your couch are really cool.

Pixie -- Oh, and.. that's my brother's Miniature Pinscher.

Dear Doug,
I think you should paint the whole room red. The white woodwork is fine. The round window should be your focal point. A round dining table (30" to
36") should be there. The little triangle table is wrong. Close off the kitchen with a movable picture or one on hinges. Put the couch in the niche where the TV is, and put the TV where the couch is. A big bookcase would be good for all that electronic stuff. Put a big scale mirror on the mantel, framed and painted white, so that it all looks of a piece with the mantel. Hang a chandelier in the window. Electricity optional.
If your couch wont fit in the niche, build one.
It's easy and inexpensive.
Respectfully,
Hiram

I love this blog! Here is some sad news though, Room & Board is quite possibly the most evil, privatly held company in the furniture business. A friend of mine used to work there and her stories of evil, passive agressive and insane upper management are almost too crazy to believe. But I have met at least 6 people who can vouch for these stories. I am sure there are others out there who do not support this company. Now that they have exteneded their tyranny to include San Francisco and New York, I am curious to hear any other stories.

Can anyone top the fact that Room & Board fired an employee for being handicapped and fired a different employee after getting hurt in their warehouse? Or perhaps you've heard the story of them accusing employees (three that I know of) of theft just to fire them so as not to have to pay unemployment? Or perhaps the story of one of their managers using their employees credit card (stored in a very easily hacked system) to purchase her own furniture? What a great company!

I will never purchase anything from them, ever!

Where are you getting these stories and why does your name link to the R&B site?

Hiram -- The only problem with swapping the couch and the TV is that in the winter when I use the fireplace it loses a lot of the "coziness" if It's next to me instead of in front of me.

Doug, it is just that to me the fireplace and the TV both have the same focal signifigance, like having two fireplaces side by side. They are both diminished. A bookcase like the one on the other side of the fireplace might integrate the TV better. Actually, I just love the idea of the built in couch. I have a niche like that by my fireplace, and have always wanted it filled with a seat. But I haven't done it either.
How about that round table in the window? Even Patrick said to. Plus the paint.

Doug, a Miniature Pinscher--I was wondering. Do the cats keep it in line?

Hiram--thanks for spelling "mantel" correctly.

No other place to say this but congrats to Hillary, Robert, Brandon and Patrick for your (I assume) debut in the NY Post. I saw Hillary's apt first and I thought the NYP has done it again and ripped off a website (they rip off curbed and the craigslist housing forum - some of my posts have been used - on a regular basis) but then I saw Patrick's place and remembered Maxwell saying there was going to be media involvment too.

Paul was conspicuous by his absense though.

Link here
www.nypost.com/living/46239.htm
You need to register but it's free and you can just create an free email account just to register. You do need to use a valid email addy though.

Hmm, just tried it and it does not go further than the opening line. Sorry.

Joan, you are kind. Then I looked up significance
and am deflated. I knew it didn't look right.

jamie pup--
I got the Post online thing to work, but it did not seem to show any pics other than their (stock photo) cover shot...

Hiram -- I wouldn't even know how to begin to build a couch -- can you point me to any resources?

Doug, It would officially be a bench in upholster speak. Build a rectangular frame out of 2x10 lumber, or even 2x12, depending on high high you want it. Size it to fit the niche, but make it removable. Support the center of the rectangle with a 2x10 cross piece. Then top it with a solid core door cut to fit. Hollow core wont work. You can screw the door to the frame if you like to keep it super tight. Then top it with a thick upholstered pad. Thickness and quality count right here, so don't skimp. Matching (or not) pillows all around the back and sides. Low level wall lights. You can paint the front of the wood or even cover it with fabric to match the pad.

Doug, if the depth of the niche is only 20", you might want to bump out the bench to 30"(standard door size!)for more comfort. The corners of the bench would need to be rounded to avoid injury.
Finally, Mitchell Gold has great armless couches that might just fit. Then all you have to do it write a check!
As for the mantel stuff, I take mine all off about once and month, and start over. Fresh look with no work or money. One big plain framed mirror is all you need permanently.

hello

hello again. someone write back please im at school n dont really know if im suppose to be on this. oh well

Hiram -- Thanks. What I'm thinking of is the possibility of a bench that rounds where the window is.

Can someone who has all the photos from the NY Post article scan them in for those of us who didn't see the print version, since the online version only has the one photo?

Whoops, I realize the scanned pix are already on this site. What I mean is, is there some way we can get better picture quality so we can see all the fab pix of the winners?

I'm moving this post here, since I seem to have posted it to an inert thread.

How did the small apartment winners/finalists like being such media darlings and having everyone traipsing around the place?

Can anyone recommend a delivery person/van man to bring a dresser from New Jersey to Brooklyn?

OK, this site is providing very little diversion today. Where is everybody? Working?

hi doug,
i agree that the mirror above the mantel is too small and too high, and that you've got a lot going on on the mantel, too. but really i just wanted to tell you that i really dig your turquoise chair and red wall. from what i can see in the photos, you did a great job painting.

movingtonyc - I can't vouch for everything from Door Store, but a friend, an acquaintance and myself each coincidentally bought a different style of their leather deco club chairs within the same series, and we're all very happy with them; they look great, wear nicely, and were very reasonably priced, although when we got them (about a year ago) they might have been introductory promotional prices (seems like it was $999 for a pair?). The style names were something "jaguar", "cougar", etc. They had other things that I liked just fine, but those chairs were the only thing that I needed.

Meanwhile, you could do worse than monitor THIS site, because they seem to have a lot of very cool stuff in their classifieds, and it looks like they sift out the best of craigslist, too.

Doug -

If you don't like craning your neck UP to see the TV, then you mightn't want to look too far DOWN, either. And although it must be great to have a working fireplace, I think that when you're NOT using it, I would probably have the TV smack dab right up in front of it, because it looks to me like it's the exact same size of the front of it! If your fireplace didn't work, of course, a DVD of a burning yule log would be a gas, too. And to cover it when you don't want to see it? That lovely fire screen in front of it!

But seriously, above the mantel, an epic mirror would be perfect. The one you have looks almost like the size that cupid is holding up to Venus in the Velasquez painting.

And instead of a bench in the niche next to the fireplace, why not a big old half-circle window seat? Of course, that would only really give you the window frames to lean up against, though, so I'm not sure how ultimately cozy you would find that.

Curtis -- If you look at my latest reply to Hiram I have thought about the window seat. I just don't know how to go about making one.

Actually, I thought of a great design for one, which would make it spread out from the window, resulting in a shape, which from above, would look kind of like a handle-bar moustache.

That way the bits of wall on each side would give you more of a back for it, and it wouldn't be so remote from the rest of the room.

How? Vertical "cripples" which are short two-by-fours outlining the outer edges of it plus a few in the middle, and then a plywood seat, the shape of which would need to be cut with a jigsaw. Then, wrap a really strong cardboard around the fronts of it all and smooth out the shape into curves and then use Liquid Nails or something to attach some luan to the front of it all, with the wood grain oriented vertically, so it can wrap around the shape, possibly even dampening the back so it will take the curve easier.

Then try to match the baseboard and shoe mouldings up as best you can with the existing and attach them to the base of it, notch it where ever it needs to go around a curve.

Then, buy some foam and glue it to the seat an upholster it with some kind of vinyl. Red, maybe? I don't know if Washington gets the same kind of soot coming in through the windows as we do here in New York, but vinyl's wipeable, which why I think it should be vinyl.

I just now scrawled out a little sketch for it, which I'll scan and e-mail to you if you like.

Help from anyone? I have been looking for the Zupa alarm clock since it was discussed here on AT. I know it is for sale at MOMA design store, but they only have gray left. I NEED a translucent (looks white in some photos) one DESPERATELY. Not much luck on the web. Has anyone seen them around town, in TRANSLUCENT?Please, please, please . . .

Doug,

Love the red walls and love the turquoise chair! The things that don't work so well are the mirror above the fireplace...way too small for that space. Put either a large picture or larger mirror there. I like the idea of a large piece of vintage advertising art in that space.

Also, I don't particularly care for the TV set up. The housing for the TV is too small compared to the large bookshelf on the other side of the fireplace. I also don't think the very dark wood works well for the TV housing. I would build a TV unit that equals the dimensions of the bookshelf so the fireplace would be balanced on both sides...and I would paint the unit whitesince the dark wood just doesn't look right opposite the white bookshelves.

As for the bookshelves. I actually like it, but it needs to be better organized. Book shelves always look better when some books are lined up side by side and others placed in piles...contrast is the key. Also, put some things besides just books in the bookshelves. It looks a bit too cluttered right now with the large numer of books shoved in there. Get rid of books you'll never read or have already read and won't read again. Or if you can't get rid of them then store some elsewhere(a closet or something). My theory is only place nice-looking books in a bookshelf...paperback books and very ratty-looking books take away from the overall appeal to a place and should be put out of sight.

I know someone mentioned placing the couch in the niche next to the fireplace. I personally don't care much for that idea. I like where the couch is. I just think it needs to be centered along that wall with two smaller end tables. The art prints should be centered above the couch and end tables, but they aren't at the moment since the couch is shoved against the wall with one large end table. I also like the idea that was suggested about placing a long shelf below the prints. You could put some of the items from the mantel there and then the mantel would look less cluttered.

I also don't care for the color of the couch...white. I personally would have the couch reupholster the couch in a brighter color fabric...or find a brightly-colored slipcover. You already have a lot of white going on with the woodwork...don't overdo the white.

I'm assuming that since you have the triangle table and two chairs by the kitchen that this is really a living/dining room. The table and chairs just look out of place there and are too large for that area. I also just don't like them much *shrug* I have an idea, but don't know how feasible it would be for you...and I also don't know the exact dimensions of the area so this might not even be a possibility. Anyway, I think it would look cool to have a built-in curved bench where the window is...these would curve along the bootom of the window. Basically like a bench under the window except the bench will be curved like the space...these would, obviously, have to be custom built. But they should be fairly simple once dimensions are taken, and then upholster them in some cool-looking fabric. Make sure to use lots of padding for your tush. And then have a dining table in the shape of a semi-circle placed in front of the seating. The window should be as much a focal point of the room as the fireplace is, but at the moment, it's over-looked because it's not be show-cased correctly. I would then move the cool turquoise chair over by the bookshelf to create a reading area since you apparently like to read...at least, I hope you do or why so many books ;)

I also don't like the coats and bag hung on the back of the door. If you can't figure out a way to fit them into the laundry room perhaps you could find a cool-looking coat rack. This would also give you a place to have visitors put their belongings when they're over to ogle your cool new room.

I forgot to mention one other thing. I really don't like where the phone is placed. Could you move the phone into the kitchen or hallway. This might require some rewiring though. It just detracts from the room where it is hanging on the wall.

Couldburst2000 -- a lot of good comments, I just wanted to mention that the "phone" is how I buzz people into the building and as far as I know it can't be moved. We're talking about replacing the entire system at the end of the year, though, so I'll see what the replacement is like and how it is going to be wired.

Hi. I don't know if I'm doing this correctly... BUT I'M BURNIN UP HOT!!!

Could you possibly do a post in regards to how to choose and buy an air conditioner? I would love you...

Thanks,

J

Does anyone know of a store that puts up removable walls so that you can turn your apartment from a one bed room to a two bedroom?

Does anyone know of a store that puts up removable walls so that you can turn your apartment from a one bed room to a two bedroom?
In NY, NJ area.

Doug-

I agree with most of the comments regarding larger artwork, tighter/larger object displays, etc. Just wanted to add that you could also use a bigger rug. It's a classic problem--too small a rug. A larger rug will pull all the components together, relate the fireplace more directly to the couch, and in general, warm things up. It also looks like you have some cords that a larger rug would cover up as well? Use drafting tape to mark out what a larger size would look like, it will give you an idea of what size to get.

One last thought--it may seem redundant to put a light fixture in the sunlit alcove--but to me, the curve shape just screams out for a large (not too small!!), curvy pendant lamp hanging down. That might add some intimacy to that area too, and I love the idea of a round table and chairs there.

In all, it's a great room, well done.

Curcluar? Should that not be "circular" or am I missing something?

Doug,I think you have a great apartment.I agree the mamtel needs less but I think the tv needs some balance. If I am correct it is one side of the fireplace and the other has a built in bookcase. My suggestion would be to build another book case over and around the tv. Close it in so to speak. other than that I think it is very neat and done very nicely. Eclectic!
janet

What are peoples thoughts on staining a hardwood floor in a rental? Is this an expensive process?

Doug,
One solution for covering the tv alcove is a roller shade- a good one with a chain mechanism, not the cheapo spring ones. Hang it all the way down from the ceiling. Ikea has a nice one, which might even be wide enough, that is semi-sheer. So it would obscure the area, but not block it off. It would probably resemble a private movie screen...

speaking of west elm--has anyone seen the new fall catalog????? what happened???? when i saw the cover i thought it was crate and barrel at first, but then i opened it and now i'm not sure what it is. you can't even see any of the items in the shots and the colors are HORRIBLE!!!!! what happened to the clean, harmonious west elm catalog that i fell in love with????

I agree. I don't care much for the pics in the new West Elm catalog. West Elm is best known for the chocolate colored furnishings. It's cool that they now have the furnishings in a color besides chocolate and caramel, but too many of the pics are of the natural-colored furnishings. They need to do a balance of pics showing all the colors available. And anyway, I just think the natural-colored finshes on those furniture pieces are just hedious. I don't see the natural colored-furnishings selling that well to tell you the truth. One of the reasons their furniture sold well is because they carried darker colors not as readily available from other sources...not black but extremely dark brown. Natural colored furnishings are very easy to find. I think next catalog will go back to showcasing the darker furnishings. They just got way carried away with the new color section, but they still carry all the furniture in the darker colors even if they don't show as many pics of it.

I also don't like the color scheme they have going for their bedding and pillows...ick! I liked the old colors much better. Why the change when the old colors sold so well?

appropo of nothing, i'm selling this cool table this weekend -newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fur/90701992.html

Hi -
just logged on to all this and I need some advice. My bedroom in my apartment is 7' x 9', which, I am led to believe is the smallest it can be legally. I have lived for 2 years with a double bed and a dresser and a tiny closet, so my clothes very often end up on what little floor I have left and I am basically not able to move around my room except to climb on the bed. Additionally, I recently bought a hanging clothes rack to put some of the clothes in, and this leaves me almost no room to even enter or maneuver around my room except to go up and over my bed. There is basically no floor space (anyone remember the bedroom in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park"? well, that's about it...). In order to get more room in my room, I'm trying to decide whether to downsize to a single bed and buy all new-sized sheets just to make this work, or buy a futon and risk losing all of my under-bed storage (for suitcase and rolling bins of off-season clothes...). Any recommendations and suggestions? Very grateful as not used to this NYC tiny living...Thanks.

Bathroom is humid and often smells like cat litter and cigarettes, what can I do?

I live in on the first floor of a brownstone and my tiny bathroom is making me sick, literally, I leave the bathroom with red itchy eyes, sneezing. I am allergic to cats and cigarette smoke. I love my neighbors and am trying to figure out a way to filter/block the smell from coming into my apartment. I would block the vent (that is I'm sure connected to all apartments) but my bathroom is also very humid and prone to mold.

I thought of maybe adding a fan to the vent to slowly push the air from my apartment?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Hello, all -
I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or recommendations for good, inexpensive refinishing of wood floors. I have been in my tiny studio for some years, and the floors really need some help. I am on the UWS in Manhattan.
I'm also concerned about how this will work, given that it's one room, and where on earth will my stuff go?
Thanks in advance for any tips!