Elbe1's Profile

Ros, I am with you. This is of course no everyday's setting. But for a special occasion and especially when we invite to a more elaborate dinner, we love to set the table appropriately. It's more festive like this. Plus, I think the dessert fork is just right, as you are supposed to use it with your right hand. Would be different, if there was also a dessert spoon involved. Again, on a "normal" day, no such fuss.

The Traube Tonbach is famous for it's restaurant. Sad that you did not get a chance to eat there or did not find it worth mentioning.

Ouch!

Nothing against painted furniture, but I personally do not like the "distressed" patches with this special piece of furniture. I would see it in some Mondrian-like color-combo for instance, to enhance the layout of the sideboard.

The shade pattern is too much for me, I would go for a more neutral thing. Anyhow, the old shade was much worse.

I am missing a tub for 10 years now. This is the first thing I would add to my list. But there is no room ....
Good down comforters, surely.
At least one good knife (mine is japanese). Storage, storage,storage.
And a cleaning help, please. I can afford it, but I still don't feel comfortable with the thought of having somebody else cleaning my dirt. (I am tidy, but still).
Nice soaps are a regular for me, I am frequent customer of L'Occitane. I really forgot that this is luxury.
Good cotton bedding is natural to me, I prefer soothing colors to calm my mind.

And central heating. My latest trip was to Ethiopia and I have never felt so cold (in Africa, mind!)

Oh, hot and cold water supply. We forget so easily!

who cares about fashion, if it is concerning you. your personality, your upbringing, your taste. style may get out of fashion, personality should not. if you are you, nobody else should have the right to critizise. fashion passes, personality does not. if you want to please others, follow fashion - if you want to express yourself, do want pleases you.

I would suggest buying or building a table on wheels which is as wide as but slightly higher than the washer/dryer unit and shaped somehow like the occasional malm table http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10120587. If put on wheels such a table can be easily pushed over the washer /dryer unit and back into the kitchen, when you need to do your laundry. Or even make two, each half as deep as the unit, easier to move. Plus one or two matching shelves over the unit and voilà.

All this provided there is enough space on both sides of the unit...

Floor - get rid of the carpet and put some vinyl tiles as suggested by lynn.

As many others, I am having a hard time sorting out my books. Still, I need to weed out some 200 books. As I just cannot decide, I will now try it the other way round.

I will pack all the books in cartons and get rid of 1/3 of my bookshelves (I need to repaint the room anyway). After renovation, I shall store those books, I really want to keep and get rid of the rest. Hopefully.

We only bleed our radiators if they are making funny bubbling sounds. However, there is still one flat above us, so we only do it when needed. If you are the last in the chain, as idontdobeige mentioned, you might need to do it every year. Don't forget to have some cloth at hand to soak up the spilling water. At my boyfriend's flat however, there was an accident during renovation of the flat below and we had to do it several times already this year. (even before the heating period, as the heating is on all year - don't know whether it is usual habit in Hamburg, Germany)