LeslieM's Profile

Display Name: LeslieM
Member Since: 2/18/08

Latest Comments...

In most cases, you can edit your furnishings and stage the home yourself. I don't think photos need to be taken by a pro, but they do need to be hi-res, clear, and of clean, clutter-free rooms (this includes toys!) in daylight. Realtors are just being clueless when they post bad photos to Zillow.

As a buyer, I actually find it easier to visualize my own furnishings in a place if it's empty. But not everyone has the knack for that, so I suppose that's why realtors say places show better with furniture. I also like a place that's empty because that generally means there won't be delays in the seller moving out, cleaning up, etc., and once you're in contract, it's easier to get access to take measurements for planning any renovations.


Five Things I Learned About Real Estate From Reality TV
5/15/13 3:07 PM

Great post and great comment thread. I'm glad to be reminded I'm not the only one, and it's not a problem just for singles and over-50s. I only moved locally, from Manhattan out to Connecticut, but it's still hard to meet new people, especially when work and commute pretty much eat up the week. Weekends turn into "recovery" time. One other idea, if you're open to it, is finding a compatible faith-based organization, meditation group, or similar. Hey, there are even groups for atheists! Finding like-minded people with similar values ups the chances of clicking. And as others have mentioned, volunteering and taking classes. I'm still only slowly getting around to any of this, of course!


10 Tried & True Tips: How to Make New Friends in a New City
4/4/13 2:39 PM

And on move-in day, it really helps to have another person or two to help keep the movers organized and the boxes going where they need to be. I was alone, so I could only stand at the door and point up or downstairs. Eventually one of the guys said, "The basement's full." Well, of course they had just put boxes down willy-nilly, so I had to go down and consolidate... Anyway, if you have someone to direct traffic and someone to organize the stacks as they come in the door, it will spare you time and back strain after they're gone...


A Box A Day:
Ridiculously Optimistic Moving Goals

3/7/13 5:55 PM

I am single and have done two cross-country moves in the last five years, and a local move just 6 months ago. I did categories of stuff at a time, and designated a place for packed boxes to go (a spare room, closet stuff in the closet it came from, etc. I also started by designating what I would TRULY NEED in the time before and during the move and setting that aside, like packing for a vacation. You cannot avoid being inconvenienced, or frustrated that you don't have your full wardrobe or your full kitchen. You just have to accept a certain level of chaos and deprivation.

The key thing I have learned is to accurately label what's in each box. I started off pretty well, but as moving day neared and I had to hurry, I got sloppy. As a result, I have been living in my new place (which also needed a kitchen remodel, so forget unpacking the kitchen stuff until that was done) six months and still have not found the box that has my flatware! Definitely find a way to flag the boxes that have such crucial contents so that you can easily spot them in a massive stack of boxes.

I miss being in the military, when the Navy paid for packers!


A Box A Day:
Ridiculously Optimistic Moving Goals

3/7/13 5:49 PM

Looking at the Before pic and gauging the width of the dishwasher at 24", the sink unit at 36", and the depth of the side cabinets at 25", the width of the kitchen is a slim 7+ feet, give or take. The other, wider-looking photo might have been taken with a wide-angle lens that "stretched" the width (look at the scale of the window). So I think they did a remarkable job of fitting so much storage and counter space in, with several prep zones. NYC kitchens are challenging! Though my personal aesthetic choice might have been to use more glass-front cabinets or to mix up the cabinet materials more and break up the monolithic effect, this is a kitchen I'm sure I'd love to cook in. Great job!


Before & After: Little Kitchen, Big Style The Sweeten
11/28/12 5:03 PM

I think as long as both parties are flexible and respectful of one another, differing styles can work out just fine. That said, like lyonstill, I've lived alone a long time and really like having things MY way! My cousin, also in her 50s, has been in a relationship with someone for 10 years, and it works because they each have their own house and their own style.

The dealbreaker for me would be a lack of respect and flexibility, not their style.


Would You Date Someone if You Really Dislike Their Style?
7/23/12 1:39 PM

I have perfected the art of #1 to the point that I can do most of the bed-making while still in it! Then I only need fold back the side to exit, then fold back up and put the pillows in order. It kinda makes me laugh to do it this way, which is a great way to start the day.

My cat is a major contributor to my home happiness factor!


10 Simple Things to Make You
Happier At Home

7/19/12 1:05 PM

Back-of-door shoe organizers are also great for utility closets, to hold miscellaneous small items.


5 Space-Saving Tips For a Roomier Closet
6/27/12 3:57 PM

Well, there's what I wanna be, which is Classic Glam. But what I really am is more like Eclectic Collector.


IKEA Home Offices in Every Style Decor Styles Inspiration
6/26/12 3:44 PM

I love what littlemisssunshine said: "Propping is done best when it makes meaningful things beautiful." I agree with most of the commenters on objets that truly reflect what the owner cherishes. I went to the site mentioned from tumblr, and while some of it was funny, some also just seemed spiteful. Though I guess it underscores the point that one person's prop is another person's treasure, and vice versa.

I must add, though, that bar carts remind me of soap operas. Until it became such a trend, I don't think I ever saw a bar cart in a real person's home. Bar, maybe...


Propping: How Much Is Too Much? The New York Times
6/8/12 5:26 PM

I love the look of a dark floor with light walls. As others have said, it grounds a small space and gives it weight. But I also totally love the Swedish bleached-floor look. My least favorite is actually the medium oak tone, which is what I have in my prewar rental. Ah well, someday...


Small Space Contrasts: Light vs. Dark Floors
4/5/12 8:07 PM

Here in NYC, tipping the super and other staff at the holidays or when they do something for you above and beyond their job description goes a long way to keeping good relationships.

If you keep late hours at home, recognize that your neighbors are likely sleeping. I did once rap on the ceiling with a broom at 2am when the new upstairs people seemed to be dragging dead bodies and heavy furniture across the floor over my bedroom. They got the message.

And if you're a dog owner, please believe your neighbors if they tell you the dog barks and whines at length when you're away, and take real measures to prevent it, like doggie day care or behavioral training. You'll be doing your neighbors and your dog a favor.


Tips From My Super: How to be a Good Tenant and Neighbor Renters Solutions
3/14/12 1:04 PM

I love my Saturday naps, and so does my cat. Twenty minutes is all I need or want. I can't nap on a bed, though, or I oversleep. The sofa, with the TV on (golf is especially conducive), and a blanket over me.

I learned to catnap when I was in Navy officer candidate school years ago. We only got about 5 hours of sleep a night but had to stay awake in classes all day, a particular challenge after a typical cafeteria gut bomb for lunch. We got demerits for falling asleep during class, but on breaks it was okay. So as the smokers filed out, the rest of us plunked our heads down on our desks. The sound of the smokers coming back in woke us up. Just that little ten-minute snooze reset my brain for the rest of the day.


How to Nap (No, Really!)
1/25/12 4:21 PM

This is why I've kept a car the whole 12 years I've lived in NYC. It's not cheap, but my sanity is worth it. I've lived in SF, too, and you definitely have some great assets nearby, like Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, or GG Park. When the parks here in NY aren't enough, I drive up the Hudson to one of the river towns or up to the Catskills. Part of staying sane in the city is having the ability to escape it.


Urban Exhaustion: How Do You Handle It?
11/1/11 3:14 PM

I am powerless over IKEA. I was a student in Sweden many years ago when I first fell for it, and I've been there for all kinds of things I couldn't afford anywhere else. When I first moved into my present apartment, for instance, I had donated many items before moving across the country, leaving lots of functions to fill, like shelving for books and display (Broder, which looks nicely industrial/rustic with wood plank shelving and cost me a song for 9 linear feet of floor-to-ceiling storage), kitchen work surface (Varde), pantry unit (Pax), TV stand, wood blinds, and dresser (Hemnes). The key quality-wise is to search out the pieces that are solid wood; I have avoided their upholstered furniture, though my mattress is great (Sultan Hansbo, I think). And I love the food section, which I visit every couple of months to stock up on my favorite Swedish condiments and such. Now that my apartment is pretty well set, I am better at curbing my impulse buys. I only go early on Saturday to Paramus and set myself a time limit to be done in an hour, to avoid the crowds.


The IKEA Habit: Need vs. Want
7/26/11 5:34 PM

I went deliberately dresser-less for many years, but in my current NYC apartment I found it hard to squeeze everything into the bedroom closets, and I also lacked a decent surface on which to put my jewelry boxes (I hang necklaces on the wall, but earrings and smaller stuff are too cluttery to put out). So I got a Hemnes 4-drawer dresser, which is perfect for my "smalls" and athletic and sleep clothes, plus nicer scarves and sweaters. I also got a cheap but nice-looking large mirror at HomeGoods to hang over it. I can't believe how much easier my dressing/undressing routine is now.


What Piece of Furniture Are You Willing to Do Without?
6/3/11 3:05 PM

I think there's a fine line between a room that's designed to be simple and one that just looks unfinished. I've been paring down my bedroom as much as possible, so it's interesting to see these and figure out what works IMHO (#3, #6, #7) and what doesn't (everything else). Some of it has to do with scale: a bed, which is a pretty large object, looks out of balance with puny, spindly art above it. Better nothing at all or a large painting or hanging, or a bolder color behind it, than a wimpy lamp or too-small frame.


Keeping it Simple in the Bedroom
House Tour Roundup

3/9/11 10:35 AM

I doubt that I've ever gotten sick from sleeping next to my cat, but I've sure gotten sick many times due to coworkers who bring their kids' colds, intestinal bugs, and whatnot with them to work. The comfort I get from my purring pal far outweighs any potential health risk.


Furry Bedfellows: Do You Sleep with Your Pet?
NY Times

2/18/11 12:33 PM

I love the simplicity, the color choices, the art, and the sofa. Not sure I could ever live quite this pared down, but I appreciate those who can! I think there's a spectrum of "busyness," and for me something this bare would feel like a nice office but a little too stark for comfort. But it's artfully done and it suits him, which is really all that matters!


Frederic's Chic & Petit in Toronto
House Tour

10/30/10 10:08 AM

The videos are really taking shape, Maxwell; fun, casual, instructive!

I have a divided landing strip: an antique mantel shelf and mirror on the wall in my narrow entry hall (with just a bowl of spare/car keys and a spot I put things I need to remember next day), with coat hooks next to it for my purse (with keys) and coat; then the foyer, with a small table and chair for sitting to lace or pull on shoes. "Current" shoes go under the table, along with my work bag; yoga bag also lives there. Periodically I purge and put extra shoes and bags back into the closets.

I don't usually have much mail, and my building thoughtfully provides a bin for junk mail right next to the mailboxes. But I'm not very good at sitting down at the desk to look at and file everything I do get. Another conundrum is when I am coming home from work and have stopped at the grocery store on the way: Do I take the groceries into the kitchen first, then come back to drop bags/coat/shoes, or do I put down the groceries in the foyer to do the drop, then pick them up and take them into the kitchen? I've done it both ways and both seem awkward. I really wish my kitchen were closer to the door.


Day 8: Establish a Landing Strip
The 20/20 Home Cure

10/27/10 4:44 PM