redneckmodern's Profile

@weatherman: they used 1x6 cedar fencing, so the un-reinforced walls on the long side are 0.75in thick. this design would have benefited /greatly/ from a few vertical supports that formed spikes at the bottom to anchor to the ground. as-is the sides will surely bow under the weight and moisture of the soil. however, these are easy modifications for someone planning something similar. Might have also been good to line the insides with an inert plastic sheeting to prevent too much moisture bleed-through to the wood.

if you can find one, the clubber sofa from innovation is quite nice. a few years ago, they made it in a green-gray twill which was quite nice and was available through HDButtercup in SF (and LA, I presume).

re: magnetic strip...

although handy, depending on the type of knife and size, a magnetic strip can warp your knives... i have a strong global-brand knife strip and a pair of 10 and 12in vintage carbon steel chef's knife to prove it. molecularly, it makes sense — pulling of the metal from one side and all

so, tip: flip your knives every once in a while — six months on one side, six months on the other.

saving 25% or more on something (food, toiletries, etc) that you'd absolutely buy or need is one of the best money-saving tactics you can adopt.

this doesn't necessarily equate to buying in bulk, but if you can take advantage of the loss-leader specials from time to time, it might make sense to figure a way to make it work in your space.

they do wonderful work... it is nice to see the space that it's created in.

(@jonal: fyi> the charcoal daybed is very likely from modernica.)

interesting idea / poorly executed ... drove me to the site, though, which seems to be worth bookmarking.

as amy pointed out, the nest may not work on all systems, especially those with the older "mercury switch" that are unpowered. i've had friends attempt to install this in their homes with heat-only (which had the older-style mercury switch thermostats) and had to have an electrician connect it to power... so, not as simple as the above might otherwise illustrate. that said, our own unpowered thermostat for our radiant heat -- a $30 honeywell, 7-day programmable model -- and about 5 minutes of programming has kept us warm and happy (because of low bills) for a half-dozen years. it'd be quite a while before i saw a pay-back on the extra $200 for the nest. granted, it's very pretty and i wouldn't mind it for aesthetic reasons alone, but...

(people reading a blog called "apartment therapy" questioning the naming of a magazine called "garden and gun"... #irony)

we've had a few mattresses including a mcroskey airflex, a hand-made mattress from de la espada (both were stupid expensive, but were resold at near cost) ...and a short stay with a mass market S+F (thank goodness for macy's return policy). the best we've had has been from ikea. granted they last about 5-7 years before they wear out (we've had two sets), most mattresses, regardless of warranty, don't actually last 25 years and most shops suggest replacement in 1/2 that time. and given the affordability, we're still $ ahead. the model reviewed by maxwell above is a solid foam one. we've gone for their higher-end innerspring models without a built-in topper and have purchased a separate topper which allows for greater flexibility with flipping and turning. i'm a side sleeper with wide shoulders and need a soft, forgiving bed that's still resilient in the right places. i'd love to find an all-natural made-in-US model that sleeps as well, but we haven't found one. in their current line-up, the closest to our set is the holmsta with the tafjord topper.

@skylark: check with your local building department to see if the construction times fall within designated hours. even on campus, folks have to follow the rules. although 7-7 doesn't sound unreasonable, you never know. in my town, it's 7:30-6 and 8-5 on weekends. you could sue the construction company for violations. you'll want to document this very (very) well if there's an issue prior to making the complaint (about a week would show a pattern. if you can stand it, two would be better. a single day could be considered an anomaly).

additionally, any sorority, college, etc that would contractually force you to live in a space which is endangering your health is likely not an organization you'd want to be a part of, methinks. if the construction is a recent thing (i.e.: you didn't experience it before you planned to move in), you have a pretty good case to bail (or at least sue). if the hosue is university owned, and the construction is university designated, you might have recourse to get some soundproofing materials installed: windows, soundproof-drywall (works!), etc.

while the above seems lawsuit happy, when dealing with issues like this, it's about the only thing that's effective. that, or calling the city, who will impose fines.