Alex Pandel's Profile

Display Name: Alex Pandel
Personal URL: http://alexpandel.com
Member Since: 9/13/10

Latest Comments...

INCREDIBLE transformation. Bravo!


Before & After: A Kitchen Overhaul Complete with Painted Cabinets
The Color Cure
8/10/11 9:20 PM

Regarding the TV/sofa placement: I live by myself, people! I get to splay out on my couch and face the TV straight-on! :) It's way better this way, because the TV is so much less obtrusive and demanding of attention, but it still makes for really comfortable viewing, even with a group (we just pull additional chairs around the coffee table).

@BoHoChic3: the sofa is a hand-me-down Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 71-inch "Alex" sleeper sofa (can you believe the name??) It's slipcovered in a light tan/taupe, even though it looks basically white in the pic.

@Shelbi Ann & others: Lulu is a Pomeranian. She is, indeed, the freaking cutest creature on the planet. Just thinking about her makes me smile like a fool.

@sadylady1: see my comment above answering berkeley.loves.grey's same question! Best color :)


Alex's Melting Pot of a First Apartment
House Call
8/9/11 10:42 PM

@JulianaP: yet again, another hack... my idea, my mom's fabulous handiwork. They're these from Urban Outfitters, but because of the GIANT windows and high ceilings, they were too narrow AND too short, so there are actually two panels on each side, sewn together, plus one extra panel cut in half and sewn to the bottom to add length. Since we were sewing anyway, we took the opportunity to add a lining and fancy up the top a little bit with a simple box/pinch pleat. Turned out great, I LOVE them :)


Alex's Melting Pot of a First Apartment
House Call
8/8/11 10:28 AM

Ahh you guys, I SO appreciate all the positive feedback! I actually didn't even realize they had posted this until just now, sorry for getting so behind on comments!

For more photos and info about my place, check out my blog, anotherbrooklynblog.blogspot.com - I've gotten behind on posting, but I'm in the process of posting some more detailed how-tos/before-and-afters of certain elements (how I spruced up the flat file, how I pieced together the breakfast table from scrap marble and a flea-market base, etc), so keep checking back!

More about me at alexpandel.com; I'm also on Twitter as @alexpandel.

Now, to answer some of your specific questions:

@jpaugh, @pier723, @flamingopink: The apartment is in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It's pretty little at 467 square feet, so you BET I submitted it to the Small Cool contest, but for some reason it didn't make the cut and they never posted it :( Maybe next year?

@ec05, @ofheart&city, @ValHalla: The map has a crazy story - it was a paper TABLE-RUNNER of all things, at a gala dinner for Shakespeare in the Park (it's a reproduction of the original plans for Central Park). They were just going to throw it away after the meal, so I definitely rolled it up stuck it in my purse, haha.

@studioren, @wndrwoman534: The headboard is a basic upholstered headboard, but I wanted a slipcover for it that went with the overall decor, so of all things, I found some cheap Ikea curtains in a cute pattern that I liked, and bought enough of them to sew together to make a nice little headboard cover.

@berkeley.loves.grey: The wall paint color is "Winter's Gate" by Pratt & Lambert, but to keep the costs down I just had my hardware store match the P&L swatch in Benjamin Moore's less expensive "Ben" line. I studied graphic design and am currently a freelance designer (work at alexpandel.com), but in the interview process for the job of my dreams at a startup in SF, so cross your fingers for me! :)

@sei, @Kim1216: believe it or not, it's the Torsby from Ikea!

Thanks again everyone!


Alex's Melting Pot of a First Apartment
House Call
8/7/11 11:57 PM

another great one moreso for artists than writers is viewbook.com - amazing support, beautiful, simple designs, and several different price-points. I've been using it for a month now and I'm obsessed :)

my site through them:
www.alexpandel.com


Create a Great Website Without Graphic Design Experience
5/12/11 12:01 AM

LOVE this. Did the same thing in my own apartment when we painted the kitchen cabinets - a dark, stormy gray to anchor the bottom cabinets to the ground, and bright white on the upper cabinets to keep the space light and open. Love it against my butcher-block countertop.

you can see images on my blog, http://anotherbrooklynblog.blogspot.com/

the color is best illustrated here: http://anotherbrooklynblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/remember-this-ahh-sorry-to-be-so-mia.html

Love me some gray! :)


Decidedly Ungloomy: Gray Kitchen Cabinets
5/9/11 11:27 AM

agree with @scandesign - where have they been hiding your entry!? Your place is amazing! I'm a Brooklynite living in a tiny space too, submitted my entry about a week ago but still no post... how long did it take them to post yours?

In love with your entire apartment. Kudos.


Stellah's Disappearing Bed
4/22/11 11:31 AM

post an ad on the Creative Gigs section of craigslist asking for someone who knows how to make a slipcover - I'm almost positive you will come across someone with some skills who's looking to make some extra $$ who will custom-make you one for under $100.


Which Slipcovers Are the Best?
Good Questions
10/5/10 3:43 PM

breakfasts: greek yogurt with honey and whatever fresh fruit i have on hand. ALWAYS good. nuts and/or dried fruit are always good add-ins too

lunches: greek salads are so easy and always delish. dressed w/ tzaziki if I have any on hand. mmmm.

dinner: in the summer, i love to make a big batch of gazpacho to keep in the fridge for whenever hunger strikes. throw a little feta on top and you're good to go

in the winter, i will cook up a huge batch of ratatouille and eat it all week, and freeze some individual portions for later. will do the same with some variation of this pasta sauce recipe as well, which is just so damn good: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/whole-wheat-spaghetti-with-swiss-chard-and-pecorino-cheese-recipe/index.html

also, lasagne bolognese. takes a ton of time, but once you have a big one made, you are set for the week (or more if you freeze some pieces for later).

let's just say my freezer and i are good friends :)


No-Brainer: What Are Your Standby Meals?
9/14/10 1:02 PM

"Winter's Gate" by Pratt & Lambert. Best. Gray. EVER.

I too wanted the Benjamin Moore Natura paint, so i just brought the P&L swatch to my hardware store and they matched the swatch in Natura, so I got the best of both worlds. So happy with it! Good luck!


DIY Painting: Testing Benjamin Moore Gray Samples
9/13/10 8:43 PM