plsb's Profile

Display Name: plsb
Member Since: 4/9/10

Latest Comments...

not forgetting trikes and velomobiles... (Trice, GoOne, Aerorider, etc...)


8 City Bikes That'll Make You Want To Cycle Forever Roundup | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
7/13/10 4:18 PM

What about Danish Christiania bikes? (http://www.christianiabikes.dk/galleri.php). I have seen them used for everything in Denmark: from ferrying the kids, dog and groceries; to tradesmen using them to carry their tools and materials around.


8 City Bikes That'll Make You Want To Cycle Forever Roundup | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
7/13/10 4:07 PM

Its a nice living room with a lot of potential - I like the fireplace (is that a low shelf in front?), the wood tones of the floor and the piano and the yellows above the piano.

Personally, I could live with the white, but if painting, I would paint a warm shade of white (that is what we do in Scandinavia, where in the North the sun does not rise at all for several months).

I would make the fireplace more of a focal point though and move some of the furniture closer (and that lamp and table out of the way of the view), and maybe put candles in winter to echo the fire.

I would get rid of the teal/brown combo and lots of styles/colors of furniture just does not work for a living room. I would replace the sofa/armchair covers for more unified, masculine, look (the red chair could still work).


What Color Would You Paint These Walls? Good Questions | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles
7/12/10 4:05 PM

I would add to that a detour via Denmark: the art museum designed by Aalto in Aalborg, Denmark. Aalborg is also the home of Jørn Utzon (of Sydney Opera House fame) and there is a building by him here (http://www.utzoncenter.dk/). Combine the two with the fine examples of medieval and renaissance architecture here...


Architect Portfolio: Alvar Aalto Residences Inside Man | Apartment Therapy Chicago
7/12/10 1:33 PM

In Norway, where houses are traditionally made of wood, white or light grey floors are very popular. Shoes are never worn inside a house (its very rude).

I had one at my place in the kitchen (while the living room was natural wood colour) and I found it was the lint from my socks that accumulated. I'm also a big fan of swiffers.

The paint (Jotun) used is an acrylic base I think, really thick, glossy and resistant. The interesting thing is it seals the spaces between the boards, but the movement of the floorboards make it crack. It also hides the defects of my old floorboards.


The Truth About White Floors | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles
4/28/10 11:41 AM

The cabinets are gorgeous. I would focus on painting the walls a different color first. And this is why.

I am myself renovating my first home (a modest 360 square feet house approx., packing in an entrance, kitchen, living room, bedroom and spare room, and two fireplaces all on one floor) which is mostly original 1950 (down to the furniture, appliances, some of the paint etc) when it was built, but with a few 60s, 70s and 80s additions.

I decided that I would reuse as much as I could to save on cost (well, I am an orphan you see, so budgeting and financial planning is really important to me and I put the extra I save into the small mortgage). I also kind of like the later additions - they make the house feel lived in and loved. One of the best and cheapest things I decided on was to repaint some of the walls from the previous dark electric blue by the previous owner to a light buttercream. This transformed the windowless 15 sqft entrance, and the 40 sqft bedroom.

Before doing so, I had planned to repaint the floors too. But I find that with the new wall colour (I used the same throughout), the (brown) floor works pretty good for the purpose.

I would keep the appliances, the ikea shelving and the floor for now. Live with them for a bit. Also modern appliances are more energy efficient than old ones, so it will keep your utility bill down. And you might find that with new colour on the walls, even that ikea shelving, and the floor looks a lot better.


How to Restore Mid Century Kitchen's Original Glory? Good Questions | Apartment Therapy Chicago
4/16/10 4:55 PM

I would like to know about the chairs around the kitchen table. Just bought what look like the same ones in a thrift store (same back view and profile), but no labels on them. They have a slight "point" on the back - they are not totally rounded. Also, are they varnished, or just oiled? (Mine need a bit of TLC). Do you have a close up picture?


Small Cool 2009: Janet's Peaceful Modern Small Division #18 | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles
4/9/10 8:25 AM