edwin-switzerland's Profile

For such a small space going with Bulthaup is rather obscene as it does not do Bulthaup justice and I'd rather go with custom installation if there are quality custom kitchen fabricators in my area. US$20k would be in line with Bulthaup pricing (factoring in importing etc although it would probably be US$20K for the cabinetry and appliances here in Europe). You'd have to experience the quality of their workmanship and materials to understand why they're priced that way. Like most designer kitchen and big kitchen fabricators they have a lot of proprietary stuff going on from materials to hardware. Some may say superfluous but again one needs to experience them to know they're worth the price.

I'm currently designing a 12 x 15 feet kitchen with an open U formation on three sides and the fourth side for floor to ceiling cabinetry. A Forster kitchen will set us back around US$ 65K complete with appliances and servo-drive motors for drawers. A comparable Bulthaup kitchen will run at about US$83K. Our budget is max $50K and I'm bent on using Gaggenau cooktops, oven and fridge (eating up more than half the budget). Forster is relatively local to us (same region in Switzerland), but since we have several custom fabricators that are more local to us (i.e. local businesses) we've decided to go with them and would probably without sacrificing quality (Swiss quality does not just apply to Swiss watches) but alas some materials would not be feasible (due to availabiltiy or the pricing would just be too prohibitive for such small operations) but I'd still be within budget give or take a few thousand. Besides, we entertain a lot and the kitchen is pretty much the central point in our household.

These beds were also discussed here on AT. YOu can read them here and here

Agree with KatieD but if you're renting then another bet would be a layer of thick sound insulating material under soundproofed laminate which would be easy to install. If you go the carpet route, remember that you still have to install a layer of soundproofing material underneath to make it more effective.

I suggest one rug to demarcate each space i.e. one rug for the dining area, and one rug for the living area. A huge rug would cover the floor too much. Perhaps use an open shelving unit to physically divide the two parts.

US$1500 is a bit steep considering retail price of this in europe is 657 euros. Btw, it comes with a remote to control the fan. The rotation can also be manually changed to summer or winter mode.

Just checked out the kare designs e-shop again and it's for retailers only but perhaps you could contact them to see if you have a retailer in your area.

I buy from Manufactum Switzerland. A tad expensive but great quality and service. The different sites offer the same products give or take a few.

They have products that you can't get anywhere else but for products available elsewhere, I suggest you do your research like Kurt has done.

I love their printed catalog too and end up lusting over some items some I totally have no use for but nevertheless pretty.

The Hervé Gambs flowers are amazingly lifelike, they're not the run-of-the-mill silk flowers, they are in a league of their own. I actually ordered a catalog from them when I was choosing options for our store decorations. They are not cheap alternatives to real blooms since they are quite trés cher but in my opinion worth it. I'd have to import them to Switzerland if I want to use them and the only thing that's preventing me are the minimum orders needed. There is a florist in Switzerland carrying them but I'm not (yet) keen on paying retail.

Silk Flowers / fausse fleurs are made so lifelike nowadays that when I decorated the shop with the real thing (a giant vase with 2 meter high long stem roses), people assumed they were fake and commented that silk flowers are so lifelike they could not tell the difference anymore.