Trollopian's Profile

Display Name: Trollopian
Member Since: 8/2/11

Latest Comments...

p.s. Is that a cat I see under the table? Keep the cat.


What Color Should I Paint My Windsor Chairs? Good Questions
6/14/13 11:05 AM

My sister got a magnificent oak ball and claw table that had been in our family and was long ago painted red. I remember how it was sadly consigned to our basement, the dumping ground for misfit objects. It took a lot of elbow grease (and sandpaper) to restore its lovely oak finish. So count me as a passionate vote against painting the table. And the chairs, for that matter.

In fact, my sister's family's dining room looks a lot like this, right down to the built-in china cabinets in the two corners. But it's not the slightest bit "granny." Yanking the tablecloth (replace it with simple mats for everyday), uncluttering the shelves, picking a vase with a little more presence (I see a white pitcher on the shelf that looks about the right height) would transform this room. Please, please keep that great light fixture.

Obviously people can and should do what they like with their things, but I've suggested a plan that costs exactly zero!


What Color Should I Paint My Windsor Chairs? Good Questions
6/14/13 11:04 AM

I like apartment living (true, not the same thing as "small space" living, but often a corollary!) for most of the reasons listed here, and a couple more. First, I feel safer. There's just one entry, and my building's front desk keeps an eye on visitors. Second, a little perk: I can take out the trash anytime. If you live in a big house you have to wait for that once- or twice-a-week pickup, and what do you do when you're heading out of town or the sanitation department's schedule otherwise doesn't mesh with yours? Third, in an apartment building you can always find someone to feed your cat when you travel.

Apartment living is civilized.


10 Bonus Benefits to Small Space Living
6/10/13 6:38 PM

I notice in the second photo that the coffee shop closes at 6 p.m. every day. Why? Are Dustin and Ali short-handed? Does the neighborhood shut down and roll up the sidewalks after 6? If the goal is a "community coffee shop," it seems like longer hours would be ideal!


Ali & Dustin's Reinvented Piece of Denver History: The Black Eye Coffee Shop Workspace Tour
6/5/13 7:04 PM

What a lovely home, but I have an architectural question: is this truly a "bungalow"? There's just one exterior shot, and it looks like a rambler or ranch. (The term "ranch-style bungalow" sounds, well, confused.) A true bungalow is defined by a deep overhang over one or more verandahs; the style is typically one - or one-and-a-half stories with dormer windows on top. It's a pet peeve of mine that HGTV always misuses the term apparently to refer to any small house that's older and "cozy."


Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow House Tour
5/24/13 7:16 PM

How could you miss the good-looking Marlowe daybed from Crate and Barrel? See it at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/marlowe-daybed/s606340?a=1552.


Small Space Sleeping: 8 Favorite Daybeds
5/7/13 7:04 PM

I live alone (with a cat) in 800 s.f. and could do with less...like Eliza Doolittle, "All I want is a room somewhere!" I could afford more. Less is liberating.

A close friend has lived in the same place since 1975, without a good clean-out. As her 1,100 s.f. unit grew too small for her stuff, she "annexed" the condo next door, putting her at about 1,600 s.f. That's her prerogative, and yes, she clearly derives pleasure from her home. But she also has a huge amount of money tied up in it, which crimps her other luxuries, especially travel. The way I look at it, she's paying a great deal to store...stuff.

This article starts from the premise "would we live in a bigger place if we won the lottery?" It's a nice fantasy, but in the meantime, most of us have to make tradeoffs. Living well in a small space that I can "lock and leave" for a travel adventure is my pick.


The Case for a Small Space
3/6/13 7:33 PM

Agree with lawyrgrl1...the featured placement of the sofa makes no sense. It's as if its owners are ashamed of it! Much better to float it in front of that majestic fireplace.

Something I love about a classic camelback sofa is that there are no back cushions to shift out of place. And if you want extra comfort or "puffiness," just add a few throw cushions.


Get the Look: Camelback Sofas
3/3/13 3:14 PM

Love the boneless baby and the camera-philic pup.


Sam & Anne's Cozy Modern Blend House Tour
3/1/13 1:38 PM

I'm a huge fan of mixing. Not only do I find the whole "matchy" look dizzifying...but face it, the parts will wear out at different rates. Do you want to redecorate the whole bedroom because the cat upchucked and left an indelible stain on the bedspread? (Unless you had the foresight to hoard yards and yards of extra fabric.) Me neither. A mix-and-match look is far more flexible, and in my opinion, sophisticated.

Maybe these lessons are out-of-date, but I learned to look out not just for color but also for scale. And it often seems to work best to mix florals and paisleys with geometrics, rather than with other florals.


Are You a Pattern Mixer, Matcher or Both?
2/3/13 3:11 PM

Please, what we're discussing is how (and whether) to get the fitted sheet to LIE flat in our linen closets. Not "lay."

(I learned both sheet-folding and grammar as a kid.)


The Trick to Folding a Fitted Sheet Martha Stewart Living
1/13/13 3:11 PM

Friends, be real careful about the (very clever!) old-suitcase-as-dog-bed idea. Remove the lid, or make sure it can't snap on your pet's neck. My music teacher lost his sweet pumpkin-colored kitten when the lid of a violin case fell suddenly.


Christi's Creative & Crafty Austin Apartment House Tour
11/21/12 1:11 PM

Count me among those who don’t care for the renovation, but if the client is happy, that’s what counts. And Jarret’s post in response to some pretty vituperative criticism is gracious. But there are at least three things I would’ve done very differently. First, too many curtains. The fact that there are draperies both at the window and screening off the bed is a major reason the place gives off a “feminine” vibe. And unless that A/C has been relocated (an expensive change), you can’t close the drapes in summer, not without blocking the air flow. What about some nice tailored blinds instead? Second, impractical coffee table (and not just for aesthetic reasons). In a small place like this, storage is precious. Instead of that coffee table I would’ve used a wicker or leather trunk for textural interest plus storage. (Though I understand the client eventually chose an adjustable-height table.) Third, wrong “art.” Instead of that big but monochromatic floral work above the sofa I would’ve hung a fabulous mirror. One that’s interesting in itself and that would bounce the light and the views around. Just my two cents worth. But I wish the client many happy evenings at home enjoying that fabulous view.


Before & After: Small Space, Big Changes The Sweeten
11/17/12 3:57 PM

Um, yes, "the easiest and probably most common hostess gift has to be a bottle of wine." Don't knock it. We apartment-dwellers have to be vigilant about acquiring too much stuff. These ideas are clever and beautiful, but some of them would just force the recipients to hunt for a way to store or display them in limited space. Frankly, I end up Freecycling many gifts that fall into that category. Let's hear it for "consumables!"


Simple & Thoughtful: 10 DIY Hostess
Gift Ideas

11/15/12 2:04 PM

It's interesting that not a single one of these closets appears to store any full-length coats. Just jackets. So they exaggerate the amount of shelving or other "horizontal" storage that can fit below or above the hanging coats. Just sayin'.


Seasonal Shift: Inspiring & Attainable Organized Coat Closets
10/27/12 12:31 AM

Maybe it's just me, but do some of these colors resemble bodily fluids? No thanks.


Color Underfoot: Brightly Colored Floors
10/25/12 9:00 AM

While this apartment has breathtakingly beautiful bones, I find all the modern, "minimalist" furniture jarring. No, I'm not arguing for ponderous antiques. But the sources listed were overwhelmingly mass-market (viz. IKEA). Just one item, the Danish sideboard, came from a vintage furniture store. I ache to see furniture and accessories in here that'd be more in character with this lovely apartment's age and scale. Sorry, but I'm among several readers who see the apartment as beautiful but cold...and I don't think the "cold" stems from the white walls.


Rachel's Harmonious Home in Berlin House Tour
10/25/12 8:56 AM

I'm still mourning the glorious red chintz floral sofa that I owned from 1986 till 2008. My mom said I would get tired of it. Nope. Its pattern (from the Victoria and Albert museum) was vibrant, its polished surface repelled cat hair, and its color made any room come alive. And a hint: a pattern shows spots, stains, and tears much less than a solid. Trust me.


3 Ways to Make It Work:
Living with a Bold Patterned Sofa

10/16/12 6:28 PM

I grew up in the 'burbs, dependent on my folks to drive me anywhere. And even from a very young age I felt like a prisoner. No thanks. It's the city for me....first to Pittsburgh for college, now in Washington DC. Even though I'm old and prosperous enough to have a car, that feeling of liberation that comes from being able to walk or take transit persists. Sure I spend some weekends "vegging" and failing to take advantage of the city's offerings. That's okay. Life's a banquet but you don't have to eat everything.


Urban Guilt:
Are You Making The Most Of Your City?

9/28/12 5:38 PM

Hard to find nowadays (unless you order your sofa at a fabric store), but one word: chintz. I bought a wonderful sofa in a brilliant coral chintz, replica of a pattern at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1986. The tightly-woven fabric was easy to spot clean. The pattern hid any tiny stains. The polished surface made it a cinch to brush off the cat hair. It was still in terrific shape, maybe with a little sun-fading, when I made the mistake of giving it away in 2008 as I was downsizing for a cross-country move. I'm still mourning that sofa.


Picking The Perfect Couch: A Timeline of Couches That Didn't Last
8/31/12 12:26 AM