tartlet's Profile

One big post-party fiasco....sticky beer residue, food, dirt, you name it. It took a lot of elbow grease - we even had to get a scraper to get gunk off the tile floor!

TEN THINGS ANYONE CAN TRY (self included):

(1) Fan instead of A/C
(2) Hybrid instead of SUV
(3) Bicycle purchase...so much fun! don't forget helmet.
(4) Unplugging chargers and purchasing power strip to turn on only when needed
(5) Showers instead of baths
(6) Couples showers instead of solo showers (ha!)
(7) Drought-resistant plants outside and succulent planters inside
(8) Cutting down on magazine subscriptions, sharing the ones we have, recycling when done
(9) Less eating of take-out stuff (containers!)
and last but not least -
(10) Training cat to use toilet to save on litter (okay, that may not happen....)

LOVE IT!

I like how you put it in front of that cool fabric....

That brown carpet-encased tub is a deal-breaker!! :)

Actually, I ask about neighbors and noise too (we're talking apts here, obviously, not houses). The apartment can be stunning but if you have partying frat boys or what have you, that's most certainly a deal breaker....I do like to sleep every night. Call me crazy! Easy to decorate an apartment - hard to get neighbors to change their habits.

p.s. wonderful learning experience: living next to an elderly person in SF who was hard of hearing and left the tv blaring ALL NIGHT LONG (fell asleep to it). They couldn't even hear my knocking to ask to turn it down. That was a great situation. NOT!

OP - I think you have some great suggestions here, both comical and practical. I have a neighbor who is in love with my cat. She calls to her (and of course my cat responds by meowing for ten minutes), and even knocked on the French windows/doors when I was home, to "summon" the cat. They then had a meow-fest, human to cat, for 5 minutes. It seemed an eternity; I was livid. I didn't know what to do and was in quite a tizz.

However, the friendliness thing seemed to work - I say hello every time I pass, force a smile, and she has stopped her invasive/annoying behavior (for now!). She is unemployed, she is lonely, she loves my cat. Not the worst crime.

I would vote on the side of compassion, especially where the elderly are concerned. They are lonely, their kids probably never call (if they had any), everyone is just too busy for them. They are the neglected in our busy busy lives.

I also agree with the poster who asked how long you had been there. Maybe she has lived there forever and is curious to see what the new people are doing with the place. Just show her! Say "you seem to have a green thumb", ask some dumb gardening question, but fully take her into your yard (since she's so damn curious about it!), and give her a tour of the house to boot! I really believe she will stop the surreptitious looks once she has had a proper eyeful. Being neighborly and compassionate are good things, no?

Good luck! I know it's thoroughly annoying but I think your kindness will have good results! :)

Called the number - no such luck; they are updating the site but feathers is absolutely correct: the shelf is $350 (on sale from $500) and 3 additional shelves are $15. So no matter the configuration, the library carts are $350-500 - in case you're wondering where your tax dollars are going.. ;P

Hi Yelena,

Totally agree that the room seems very disjointed - like people walk through it en route to somewhere else rather than a place to linger. Don't know if the sectional is where it is to maximize a view out of a window? Or just b/c the wall is there?

You totally need to paint the room - even a pale sand/beige/taupe would calm it down a little, and make the sofa and chairs look so much better! I am also against a pale wood table, given the wooden railing and hardwood floors. Go with glass/metal, or a dark wood.

You have a great space and nice couch - but I recommend you check out some magazines and books to really study spatial relationships and colors to figure out what you want to do! :)

This may be a labor-intensive project (and too 'mod' for the rest of your apt), but how cool would it be to blow up a panoramic photo (landscape) or a portrait (self, loved one, animal) and cut it into four equal portions and cover the four cabinets with that ONE photo? Tee-hee. Hey, you never know what may look cool. It certainly wouldn't be boring.

I like the knotted fabric pull suggestion above, I think it's clever, but if you open cabinets with dirty/wet hands as often as I do....could be kinda gross over time.

Kevin Haley's house was featured about a year or two ago in House & Garden (I think?)...and the backyard is truly sumptuous and inspiring. If you love the photos you see here, try to seek it out because those photos were truly stunning (as well)! His website has some photos too..
http://kevinhaley.com/