rktrix's Profile

All of these are great, but I worry a bit about #4. Are the moldings actually of wood (or MDF), and are they touching the fire box? I like to keep any wood product at least 6-9" away from the fire box enclosure (any metal pieces that are part of the doors, or a metal box from a pre-fabricated fireplace).

I concur - without dimensions or a floor plan, advice is a bit meaningless. But in general:

I would go with a shared dressing/closet/hang out vibe in the bedroom, but really, keep the sleeping in separate spaces. We are adults - we snore, we grind our teeth, we have sex even when alone. (ahem)

Get a murphy bed for the living area, and take turns using the bedroom. Keep two bedside stands in the bedroom - perhaps on wheels?

If it turns out there is a nook in the livingroom that can be converted to a sleeping area, I'd do it. You wont be the only apartment in new york with the same issue, I'm sure!

What has helped me help my husband "jump in" is to not jump down his throat about it. Not get down on him if the dishes aren't perfect. Not sigh and re-do the towels he has just hung up. Instead, I give him a kiss and tell him how sexy a man who cleans up after himself really is. Honest and for true!

I concurr, islandgirl98. Allergies aren't something you suffer through. They can develop over time and they can kill. My uncle, a veterinarian who adored his practice, developed a huge allergy to penicillin. Say what you will about the practice of administering antibiotics (this was back in the '70's before we knew what we know now) to cattle, he refused to stop practicing, and died of anaphylactic shock.

I think those that bravely adopt out their pets due to allergies are heros. They don't love their pets any less, just because they can't be their guardians any more.

I love this idea - I think it's one of the coolest ways to bring impact to a small garden!

A couple of points, and a couple of concerns.

Points: You will get more choices of block sizes from masonry supply centers, landscape supply, etc. than you will at general home stores (i.e. home depot, lowes). Take a look through your yellow pages and you will be surprised what you can find! Call ahead to make sure they have what you want in stock. These places are often on the outskirts. You might be able to protect the roots and soil from the lime in the block by pre-treating the inside (soil side) of the block with a paint applied waterproofing product. On the other hand, you might be able to amend your soil to be lime-less so the lime in the block might actually be helpful? (I bet someone else can answer that a lot better).

Concerns: I'm concerned with the idea of placing this directly against a wall, especially a structural wall of a rental home or apartment. The water that leaches through the block could adversely affect the building siding causing mold or rot. Not to mention any bits of plants or soil that wash over that side...

I would also want to leave weep holes at the bottom of the structure by either notching the bottom blocks or setting the whole thing on a grout bed that has some skips in it. Good drainage is imperative and no one wants the smell of mildew in their garden! If I was stacking the planter 5 or 6 high, I'd want some sort of good drainage medium in the base just to help with that.

There is a difference between a handrail and a guardrail. I would stop the top cap of the guardrail at the wall, and then add a graceful wrought-iron handrail all the way down the stair well to the bottom treads. Have it be all artistic at the bottom, but sturdy and useful. I, too, have creaky knees and wobbly hips and need assistance from time to time.

The other thing about the stairs that looked a little odd was how small the tread overhang was - it's usually around 1", and here it appears to be 1/4".

Other than that - GORGEOUS! And a huge improvement.

I concur about the unrealistic lives the people using these nightstands must lead. No alarm clocks. Everyone has arms longer than an NBA center to turn off the lamps unless they have a clapper. (Do elegant interiors employ the clapper? Inquiring minds want to know!). No one is thirsty. No one sneezes or has a waste basket. Sheesh!

There are two parts to this discussion that need further clarity:
Light quality and direction: Outdoor light has a color, based on direction, intensity, season, and reflection of the world outside the window. Even the color of your glass. This is not something that shows up at a paint store, and the reason I always go for the samples.
Chips, Samples & the actual paint: Some companies are notorious for never matching their chips. Sometimes by a tint, sometimes by a hue. I've even had colors not match within the batch due to the paint distributor giving me something prepared with two different bases. GAH. So - check your paint when you get it. Brush it out on the wall and let it fully dry to see if it meets your expectations.
Then - just do it! It's just paint. It can change.

Marathoning is the reason to own a DVR, because marathons before that were: ghastly. No really, the same commercials for the ENTIRE marathon. O. M. G. I refused to watch "The Shield" because I got so sick of their promos during a Buffy marathon. If I'd had a DVR, perhaps I would have watched the first marathon. maaaaybe.

Marathons are a great wintertime pursuit: rainy weather? Don't wanta clean house? There you go. In the summer - not really.

That is a great "big girl" bed! I might even want one for myself!!