cbaitz's Profile

Can you dad make me a bar cart too! I love that one!

I'm not sure I agree with EDH. Everyone's experience is different and we don't know your personal situation. But you should realize that LA is a really tough city to establish yourself in if you don't have friends already out there. I moved out there several years ago (currently in Chicago) and had a love/hate relationship with that city. Love the city; the bs not so much. I lived in Westwood and loved living there; could easily walk to restaurants, bars, movie theaters & the grocery store. You're looking at a studio with your budget though. Traffic is the worst, and can drive you bananas. I would HIGHLY recommend not having a long commute. Although I did have a friend that lived out there when I moved, I never saw him since he lived in Burbank.

Telling us what neighborhood you love in Chicago may help your recommendations. Good Luck!!

@scruloose you're right.

sorry about that! We would always use 3500k and 100cri for offices.

Have you thought of using the stolman system?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19087/
you wouldn't have to worry about your floors as it uses tension posts.

On my honeymoon we had an open closet type system behind the bed and I would love to replicate it someday.

Who makes the stool in the photo?

love it! can't wait to download!

I have an amazon book list too. Yet recently I've starting using Goodreads to keep track of books I want to read. I'm also connected to friends and sometimes add books based on a book they read and rated high.

Debra Lloyd is now the woman behind Kate Spade. She's the creative director now. At first, Liz Claiborne tried to turn the company into a Claiborne type entity which didn't really work. With a new creative director, the brand looks back to Kate Spade as it was before. Therefore Kate Spade is the inspiration and sort of the woman behind the brand.

On my honeymoon at the four seasons in Bora Bora we had an open changing area behind the bed and I loved it! I can't wait to buy again and do something similar. There was a 42" high cabinet with drawer/shelves backed against the bed as a headboard. On the opposite side of the wall (from the drawers) you could hang clothes, store shoes there was even a bench etc. I wish their website had photos of it.

Plus, if you ever move you could take the headboard/dresser with you.

As an architect, my response will be a little different than those posted. One piece of advice I do have is to not rely on the design suggestions of a contractor; they approach a project from a constructing point of view while a designer comes from the stand point of a best possible solution for the end user. Actually with so many architects unemployed these days, I bet you could ask for some guidance on the cheap. Another thing, you mention adding walls and buying an apartment. Your condo/co-op may require you to have an architect provide and stamp drawings even if it isn't structural. (mine did)

During my remodel, I used cabinets from a source that contractors typically use. This advice I did receive from contractors who like to flip properties. It ended up being very reasonable for solid wood cabinets. Although I like the look of ikea cabinets, I tend to just be concerned with how they last. Depends on your goals for the apartment, how long you want to live there or if you plan on renting, etc.

Good luck and show us before and after. I really enjoy seeing them.