AnnabelVita's Profile

Is there a fan / vent in the laundry room? If so I think your best bet would be working out a secure and private way of venting out of that window. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HAWF2021-Dual-Blade-Window/dp/B00008XET9/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1366729969&sr=8-8&keywords=window+vent

I think the best bet would be to attach fold down legs to the end of the table. You could follow Ana White's instructions here: http://ana-white.com/2010/10/plans/sewing-table-small-spaces

Otherwise, (or unless you create a gateleg) the whole thing is going to tip over (unless you plan on storing rocks in the drawers)

My location is killer but the flat itself has some downsides. I'd love to move to a place within a tiny radius!

We have this ikea mulig one http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80233128/#/40233154 - it is perfect - you can see it in use here: http://www.annabelvita.com/2012/10/19/stashing-sewing-stuff-in-living-room/

It has an incredibly large surface area, but is also really flexible. We tend to have one side with all the "shelves" up and use the other side for shirts on hangers. I also like that you can have a large flat area to dry pillows or a special sweater.

I like the way it's so sturdy that it doesn't actually look that bad in the living room (we have a large cupboard where it fits when folded flat, but it would also go under the sofa).

I'd think heat blocking curtains would help if you shut them during the hottest part of the day – could you try it out with heavy cardboard or something for a few days to see if it makes a difference?

Heat reflective lining is available by the yard and you can get it in white. Make sure to check which side should face out and which side should face in.

If you just use fans you need to think strategically about where you put them (to create as much through draft as possible). In our heat wave last summer we put the fan in the window in the evening to draw air in, and if we'd had another we'd have put it pointing out of the second window in the bedroom.

Benita said in the original post: "Lego was such a huge part of Wille’s life for over ten years and he wants to keep it all but it does take up SO much space." - if you read her blog you'll know she's pretty ruthless when it comes to donating stuff or giving it away, so this stuff obviously means a lot. I think we're all allowed an heirloom or two!

We moved in together after 3/4 months.... Doing it while you're still in the infatuation stages helped smooth loads of bumps!

It's a gorgeous house! I wonder, do you have children? If you do I'd have this as a reception room but with enough seats that everyone can sit down while waiting for the last person to get ready. At my friend's house there's a room like this and we call it the waiting room – so you can shout up the stairs "Time to go! Everyone in the waiting room in five minutes!" or something like that.
If you don't have kids, think of it more as somewhere you'd like to have a coffee with the sort of acquaintance (or, for example, insurance salesman type meeting) that you wouldn't necessarily want to get comfy in your family room with!
I would move into the house and then keep an eye out for some seating that you LOVE but that isn't comfy enough to use in a real living room (for me, that would be this sort of thing: http://porchandtea.com/tag/parlor-room/ - not necessarily anything else in that room, but the sofa and chair). Enjoy the fact this room is more about looks than comfort!

I think that bed could totally work but you need to dress it like a sofa! I'd get a lovely throw-type blanket or quilt and then a row of pillows for the back. Maybe two big round bolsters for either end to act as "arms"

Like this http://info.ikea-usa.com/Moving/Content/img/gallery/bedroom/hemnes_daybed.jpg (see the bolster on the left?) or this http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chi-september-2007-questions-39219

Put a big basket next to it to throw all the pillows in at the end of the day. You could also put your actual sleeping pillows in it during the day.

If you can move the heater, I'd suggest something like talby's suggestion (http://imgur.com/3Hwnu) but with the dining table tucked against the wall where the heater currently is. You can pull it out for guests.