austinjohn's Profile

The prices are for the originals. Not the knock offs, unlicensed copies or even licensed copies. So, don't get too dreamy about a wad of cash from selling that Czech-made knock-off of your "Wegner" folding rope chair.

I can totally relate. You all have far more restraint than I would if confronted by one of my dream items at big sale prices (a swedese lamino chair, a blu dot Nick dining table and a blu dot strut coffee table). If either of them goes on sale; I'll jump on them. Thankfully, I have some cash in reserve if they become available at sale prices. These items have been on my list for a long time though; so, I know they are not fleeting desires.

I have used Simple Green with good effect on plastic Elephant Stools. I think I bought the stuff at Target. It's a relatively mild all-purpose cleaner that cuts through grime. Spray it, rinse it off--no scrubbing. Not sure if it will cut through the scuffs. Of course, you should alway test it out on a hidden area to be certain that it does not ruin the plastic. There are also some automobile products out there, but they tend to leave a film that can cause damage to certain plastics when exposed to light.

Absolutely! I would watch that show in the early days in our basement rec room with my dad. I think the show instilled a can-do ethic in me with regards to tackling home projects. It planted a seed in me that probably led to the purchase of my first ramshackle house out of college and other subsequent ramshackle old houses.
I have not watched the show in years, as bepsf said, it has really become a high cost makeover show with high end product placements. There was a time when they actually worked on normal old houses to make them better and even tackled low brow projects like building a basement rec room. Besides, who could replace that early post-hippy, boho 70s vibe of Bob Vila in the early shows.

To sort of quote someone else...I've had plenty of mistakes, but few regrets.
Home decor mistakes are easily fixed. A poorly chosen couch, put a great tappestry over the thing. A rug in the bedroom that won't match your dream curtains; move the rug to another room or sell it (same for the bed). The point is, fix your mistake and move on if its practical. Live with it or cover it up if it's not practical. It is, afterall, just stuff.

Lois' little cottage highlights the wonders of having a diverse housing stock. At 400 square feet, such a house is perfect for a single person.
In most places it is against zoning codes to build a habitable house of less than 800 square feet. In some areas they won't even allow homes less than 2,000 square feet. I think there is a lot of demand for urban cottages.
Fortunately, a handful of cities have adopted alley-flat ordinances that allow for diminutive accessory dwellings. Hopefully, we'll see more of this housing type get built in the future.

linen sheets would be wonderful. Does anyone recommend a certain brand or source for such an indulgence?

A mattress on the floor! The tables next to the mattress are so high up that it renders them pretty useless for a glass of water, an alarm clock or a place to set the evening reading. I would also feer getting clocked in the head by one of those dreadful urn-like things during more energetic bedroom activities.
The dining are seems like a calm and sophisticated place to drink tea and ponder the day ahead or the day past...or nurse a bruised head from a falling urn-like thing during the previous night.

These are also an easy DIY project.

That's down sizing Texas Style. Everything is a bit bigger down here;-)