ProfKD's Profile

Well, this is a variation on traditional serving, for a large dinner. You can buy this kind of slab from any lumber salvage yard. If it's already sanded, then treated with food-grade jojoba/beeswax, it only needs to be cleaned with white vinegar and retreated as needed. I would think it's not going into the trash! It's basically a long breadboard or cutting board.

My Northern Italian grandmother made polenta in a copper bucket placed on (in) a wood stove. (Yes, in the basement--cliche, but true.) After cooking, the browned "chips" on the sides of the bucketwere scraped out as a snack for later. She used to plop the polenta in a linen cloth and close it to retain its shape, and serve it this way on a large wooden (think pizza, but thicker) paddle, with a string tied to the handle of the paddle for cutting. A slow cooker is a great way to keep it warm so it doesn't have to be served immediately.

Gravy was chicken and sausage, cooked until the chicken pulled easily away from the bones, though I like your choice! Cheese was stuffed in the middle of cut polenta, which started to hold shape when it cooled, at the table, on plates, and hot gravy poured on top. This is a great dinner party take on tradition, from cooking to serving!

I also have the Uncle Bob's tapered brown legs on a Karlstad loveseat. It's held up well over 2+ years now and I also replaced the cover. It's the perfect size for my studio and with the legs and cover does not look "Ikea" at all. My other Ikea purchases were a set of narrow Billy bookcases with the backs off that fit flush and are the perfect depth for the inset wall in my apartment. I am using Rast chests in my large closets -- cheaper than a system. I would never want an "Ikea" apartment, but I think it's about balance. It's worth checking user reviews -- the Karlstad ranks more favorably than many other Ikea couches.

I used to love thrift and consignment shopping but ever since a few apartments in my building reported bugs I will never again buy upholstered used furniture in NYC. Too risky. That being said, I'd definitely look for older, well-constructed items rather than just buy mass-market. I have some mid-century furniture that will probably hold up another generation.

I've had good luck recently with hemstitch 400 sateen sheets from Overstock. I bought them on sale, but I'd do a search to see if other retailers have them for less.

http://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Hemstitch-400-Thread-Count-Sateen-Cotton-Sheet-Set/3304448/product.html

Has anyone used the Cycloc? Is it sturdy/secure?

I am a bike enthusiast/hobbyist so I always have 2, sometimes 3 bikes. My small studio does have a terrace, which is where I keep bikes during nice weather or when friends are visiting. I have a limited amount of wall space because of large accordion closets--not that I'm complaining about the closets. The cycloc would be over my workspace, in the only available wall for a bike.

I just purchased a console/desk-sized walnut slab from a lumber salvage yard for $40. It does have a great live edge... I'm debating how much I want to remove. I love the look of the table pictured. My own inspiration is the Chilton line from Room and Board.

Brilliant makeover! Great texture and color.
Love that you have a dog named Raincheck.

I can see adding decorative molding around to obscure the blocky feet, on the front and both sides. A color change might be all you need. Other than the dark color and the fact that they were too wide for my inset wall (the only reason I went with Billys) I LIKE the Hemnes bookcases.

@CHRISTINA FROM NO. 29 DESIGN those built-ins look fantastic.

Rule #1 of covering European apartments: master the basics of metric conversion.

@Nonie, fabric adds texture, warmth, and coziness. When I lived in grad student housing, we were not allowed to even paint our leased apartments. My roommate hung a large painting her bf made, but unless one has connections this is not always an easy option. Fabric is easy to pack and transport for a move, which is an inevitability for any grad student.

It looks like a home, and it reflects personality. I'd recommend folding down the duvet cover and adding a colorful throw to the end, because in a small apt the bed is what everyone sees. It would add to the elements already in place, like the fabric on the walls. The kitchen is lovely.

@canadianmango, are your greyhounds retired racing greyhounds? My adopted dog died a few years ago, and I've always wanted a greyhound, but my studio apt is a bit small. Are they really canine "couch potatoes" like everyone says?