vlhaven's Profile

Do a local search for porcelain/ceramic refinishers. The can apply a colored glaze over your existing tile and give it a new look. They usually have stock colors and can do custom ones. The price per foot is typically cheaper than new tile and will last years!

I do not know what the companies are called in the area you live in but as reference the one here in MetroWest Boston is called Porcelain Patch and Glaze. I used to work for a contractor and it was amazing how quickly dated tile could transform without any demo work.

I have a one bedroom, open lay out apartment (read- we have a livingroom/kitchen combined). Ontop of that, we live in a rowhouse style neighborhood. I have no balcony, roof space, yard, trash alley, etc.

The only spaces I have for DIY are the kitchen island or the floor infront of our "family room." When we painted an Ikea Vittsjo unit we layed down a tarp/cardboard to protect hardware floors and pushed furniture as far over as we could. I don't use spray paint because of ventilation/residue concerns. For small projects I paint right on the kitchen island and use proper covering to keep everything clean.

For some upcoming projects, I am considering spray painting on the fire escape (using a box to keep the area clean). But I will not do this until it is warm enough for manufacturers standards to allow the paint to cure.

We put our bed on 7" blocks so I can store my tool box, a box of painting supplies, etc under the bed and they don't take up precious closet space.

I am the downstairs neighbor and I suffer silently. The couple above me is quite noisy.The female wears heals around the apartment everyday. I can hear the TV shows they watch, and often find we are watching the same thing! Most mornings their cell phone alarms go off at 6 am, and they often hit snooze and hop in the shower (which I can also hear) before turning the alarm off and the alarm rings and rings for 10-15 more minutes. I hear them argue in the late evening about which partner makes the bigger mess and doesn't clean (this one is a little upsetting- a lot of profane words are used!).

However, I am sure the people below me have the same feelings. Especially when my boyfriend is watching football or I'm rearranging furniture. But that's what happens when you live in old apartments, and live below someone. I have plenty of carpets with pads, curtains, throws, etc- anything to help absorb sounds!

Agreed! I moved into my apartment on May 31 with my boyfriend. My friend moved in on June 2. She finished decorating THAT DAY!!!! Meanwhile, I still have boxes, and boxes of decor without a home, because I like to wait until the certain wall, shelf etc talks to me and tells me what to put there.

My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts but appreciates what a good looking apartment we have. My friend, well she has an apartment with paintings that are hung too high and furniture that doesn't fit her space, but that's our secret.