apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Candles? Anyone have suggestions about sources for inexpensive, quality candles. Specifically, I'm looking for large pillar candles. Thanks.

I think I need a shredder. My husband has agreed to start getting rid of old paperwork (bills, etc), as long as he can shred it. Does anyone have one? Do people shred at home? Can you recycle the shreddings? My only shredding experience is at work, where we have a junky cheap one that always seems to be jammed.

Personal shredders are so plentiful, I'm surprised you're asking. They are everywhere. You can get one at any office supply or discount dept. store (Kmart, Target). In NYC you have to recycle the shredded paper since it is paper.

They even make shredders that can do credit cards and CDs.

For Candles:

http://diningbycandlelight.com/content.cfm?id=2BC5FE19-18B4-429A-BFE3BC3A75C01F1D

or www.cudge.net- if you live in NYC, you can pick up the order and avoid shipping
hope that helps

Right. OK, I guess I should have been more clear. There are *so* many shredders out there, I guess my more specific question is: Does anyone have one that they might recommend as well made and reliable. And, I really don't know what happens to the shredded paper ... my instinct is to recycle it, but I can't after it's shredded up!

Shredded paper is still recyclable.

For candles, I use IKEA pillars. Very inexpensive and the burn evenly instead of burning deep on the inside.

Don't have time to post much but you have to go for the more expensive shredders if you want to avoid constant jams with more than a couple of sheets and overheating for repeated shredding.

Fellowes for arounf $90 is what I would recommend. I got one and it has not failed yet but two cheaper ones that I had previously jammed all the time.

Robyn -

The small office I work in uses this one and it's by far the best and most reliable we've had. The PS-70 from Fellowes:
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&jspStoreDir=Staples&productId=135552&cmSearchKeyword=shredder PS 70&fromUrl=home&cmArea=SEARCH&catalogId=10051&langId=-1

New York Lampshade question:

Where do you shop in NYC for lampshades? I know about Just Shades on Spring Street. Is there anywhere else for affordable, off-the-shelf shades?

Thanks!

You should also make sure that the shredder is the cross-cut variety; you don't want the kind that only shreds into easily reassembled strips.

moira -

I got a beautiful lampshade at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and although I seriously believe in NEVER buying one with having the lamp with you, I lucked out that time -- mine was only $25 and it was actually kind of an interesting shape and color.

If you don't mine spending kind of a pretty penny, you could go to Gracious Home.

If you really want it to be a very, very interesting and funky kind of shade there's an antique store in the East Village called A Repeat Performance that sells very interesting lampshades that are not antique, but are (I think) imported from France via some friend of the owner or something (maybe even MADE by a friend of the owner?) like that.

And those are actually kind of ornate and almost antique-looking, and insanely wonderful. However, I haven't been in that store in a while and I'm not dead sure they still carry those. I think that they probably started carrying them so they could change out lampshades on funky old lamps they were selling.

- Curtis

I'm looking for a round mirror, preferably convex. Something like this - http://tinyurl.com/yrfg46 - except not 4.5 feet in diameter and maybe slightly less than $2800. Any ideas?

Too much brown? Our sofa is covered in a brown wool fabric and I've seen a chair I really want o buy (has similar clean lines like the sofa) but it is also covered in a brown wool but a different shade. The area rug also has shades of brown - - would the chair be too much brown? I was thinking I could bring in other colors through pillows. or I should I just look for a complimentary color? thanks!

Lampshades: Gracious Home, Home Depot, Target, Kmart, random lighting stores all over town. Lots of home dec shops in Cobble/Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

Want2bmod, are your walls brown too? That would be my deciding factor for "too much" brown. Otherwise, I think you are fine with bringing in some accents via pillows, art, accessories because you mention that you have varying shades of brown, that creates depth.

Am I the only one who didn't get my beta testing link?

Perhaps I just haven't found it yet?
I looked in my e-mail--is there somewhere else I ought to check?
Thanks.

Alana, I've received mine either... Been checking the email too.

Alana, I haven't received it either...

alana, bubble and lynn:
ditto.

Nope, nothing here either

My husband and I are planning a complete kitchen reno, and I'm searching for some photos I saw of an interesting kitchen several months ago. I think I saw them on AT, but it could have been in Dwell or Western Interiors or any number of design magazines I get. I've flipped through them all to no avail, so, does anyone remember...

A kitchen renovation done for a family by -- I might be off my rocker here -- an architectural firm with the word "pencil" in its name? I think the finished kitchen had dark gray cabinets, lots of glass, a big island, and bright red accents. I seem to remember there was some kind of seating nook just off the kitchen that was added or repurposed.

I know that's not a lot to go on, but if it rings any bells, please let me know! And don't worry, I have already sworn to never again swoon over an inspiration picture without filing it away for future reference.

The link must be late in coming ...

Okay, here's a non-decor question. I have a zeolite fridge deodorizer (a latticework packet of light green, mineral substance) that you can supposedly refresh by putting it in direct sunlight for 24 hours. Problem is, I don't HAVE direct sunlight for more than a couple hours (and that's in the summer)! Is there any other way to accomplish this?

want2bemoc:

I don't think it's too much brown, but besides the throw pillows, I would seriously consider painting the walls a fun color. Blue immediately came to mind, but green or pink would look great too. (maybe even orange, but it was a bit too popular these last two years, so I've gone off it a bit).

I had dark brown furniture in my first apartment's living room... mostly because I needed the furniture immediately and it would have taken 3 months to get it in the fab red I truly wanted. So, I bought the dark brown couch and chair that were only a shade lighter than the espresso finish on the bookcase and tables we already had. Dark, dark, dark against dirty white walls. Depressing and awful!!! A week later, dinner with friends turned into a wine-assisted brainstorming session in which we decided we had to paint the walls, immediately. Luckily, there was a hardwre store three blocks away (no driving for these lushes!) and two gallons of pink paint in the returns - pure kismet! We painted the walls pink and the trim bright white; I eventually added curtains, pillows, etc... in off white and darker pink and added tons of plants. It ended up fabulous and more than worth the hangover. In vino veritas and sometmes good desgn. :)

Good luck! let us know how it turns out!

Jane:

Perhaps the effect is accumulative? Technically, no-one has 24 hours of direct sunlight... try putting it in the sunlight every day for a week and see what happens. If your apartment gets little sun, try to find an inconspicuous space to put it outside for a couple of days.

By the by, thank you for your advice to go to the city regarding the christmas tree vendor generator noise. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Jane:

New thought.. a plant grow light might work. See if you can borrow one from someone for 24 hours.

For custom retro-style lamp shades, see
www.deadlynightshades.com
You can choose size, shape, color/texture,
and prices are fairly reasonable.

Thanks Robyn and Anastasia! I've decided to go for the brown chair - - should be delivered tomorrow, yeah!

Best paper shredder EVER:

Fellowes PS-77Cs

Not sure where I bought it, I think Staples.com for around $100.

One of favorite purchases for all time, for so many reasons:

- I look forward to getting my mail each day b/c I go directly to my shredder and shred all the junk (without even opening it!). Then I shred the envelopes of impt. bills and letters. Then I just put the bills in my "To Do" box until I am ready to deal with them. Then I don't have mail lying around all the time!

-I also just drop catalogs & magazines I don't want into the bin (no need to shred them). Feels good to get them out of the way.

-I like that I am able to easily recycle all the ridiculous paper (receipts, etc) that comes into my life every day (amazing how fast it fills up!).

-So easy to load and unload (make sure you line it with a garbage bag first).

-Never jams - except once, when I put about 20 pages in a once. Then it just took a long time to push it through.

Enjoy!

ps - thinking of giving it as future wedding presents . . .

hey, anyone see the beta apartment therapy yet? I'm confused.... I thought it would look radically different. to me it looks almost identical... what differences am I not picking up?

Anastasia: A grow light! Now, there's a bright idea! Thanks!

:)

I probably should have tried putting the thing out on the fire escape during the summer, when I got a few hours of direct sun each afternoon ...but we had so much construction happening on our building's facade that I was a bit afraid to. Now the sun is too low to get much direct light on any surface.

Hope you've gotten a bit of peace and quiet by now!