hoosiermama's Profile

Display Name: hoosiermama
Member Since: 2/3/13

Latest Comments...

Good wicker should last a long time. One problem is that a lot of it out there is garbage. I don't have any advice on which stores have better stuff. We have some 20-year old pieces that show little wear but we are also hobbit-sized and never let our kids jump on any furniture.


Woven with Style: Wicker That Works
5/22/13 6:45 PM

Wicker is a great solution for small spaces. The current fad for square densely woven sides, almost like giant burlap, provides nice texture. We use wicker armchairs as reading nook seats in bedrooms - because the stairs are too narrow to get a regular sized chair up!
Incidentally, photo 2 is a Windsor settee rather than wicker, but the design esthetic is the same.


Woven with Style: Wicker That Works
5/22/13 6:43 PM

I was too chicken to post my thoughts - I leaned toward the 80s because of the wicker. What a beautiful mix of styles!


Guess the Decade: Lofted Sitting Room - The Answer
5/22/13 6:35 PM

Looks very thoughtful. We have annexed porches with their sloping ceilings in multiple areas and the slopes never bother us. I don't understand, though, why the poor West room only was given about a 3' closet? At first I thought I would have given both BR closets to West but I see that that would have given you an awfully shallow room (10' if I read it correctly). Then I thought I would have given more of the bath to West. We have no MBr and I think a 5x5' one is plenty, so maybe I am just biased.


Introducing Faith & Mike's Master Bathroom Project Renovation Diary: Faith & Mike's Master Bathroom
5/22/13 6:31 PM

The best non-closet idea I have ever seen is to make a wall of cupboards. The top half is bookcases; bottom is deeper to be used as a credenza. One shelf is turned into a drop-front desk OR a section of credenza in front of a window is made deep enough to use as a desk. I saw this done to a dining room in the eighties on a decorating PBS show, back when DRs were still considered sacred. We've adopted the library idea in our DR and LR (minus the desk - we just use the table). We have never regretted giving two feet of space out of each room to storage/books. In fact we have a wall of bookcases in every bedroom as well!


Where to Squeeze a Home Office into a Full House?
5/22/13 6:14 PM

http://www.wayfair.com/PLC-Lighting-Elegance-5-Light-Pendant-PXC1881.html

Glass squiggles - maybe can use the parts to make one more light your post


U.S. Source for Contemporary Glass Chandelier? Good Questions
5/18/13 10:50 PM

Try getting this and have a glass artist make new dangles. The lamp is Possini Icicle.
http://www.eurostylelighting.com/eu12244.htm


U.S. Source for Contemporary Glass Chandelier? Good Questions
5/18/13 10:09 PM

http://image.universaldistributingllc.com/is/image/91277.fpx?qlt=80&wid=570&hei=380&fit=constrain&fmt=jpeg

Not as feminine but maybe in the ballpark?


U.S. Source for Contemporary Glass Chandelier? Good Questions
5/18/13 9:59 PM

Lighting universe. Brand: elegant lighting. tiffany collection style 2068 27" diamwter is $1320
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/large-pendants/elegant-lighting-2068d2-tiffany-crystal-large-pendant-chrome_g931541.html?isku=7449437&linkloc=cataLogProductItemsImage


U.S. Source for Contemporary Glass Chandelier? Good Questions
5/18/13 9:41 PM

Late post: Embracing colored tile is great. If those old baths are in good shape, just go whole hog like the photos show. Colorful wall art/wallpaper incorporating multiple colors is great.

Good solution I saw once in a Show Home: Bath had some olive and some harvest gold fixtures. Designer painted all cabinets khaki (in itself a horrible color but a perfect bridge btw gold and olive). Then she used a strong floral paper above the wall tiles - it was black with big pink cabbage roses. The ceiling was either black paint or more of the wallpaper. The busy floral made the ugly fixtures "go away." It's an extreme example of some of the photos - go bold and embrace the colors.


Make It Work: Old School Tile in the Bath Renters Solutions
5/6/13 5:27 PM

"Paperless office" - snicker, snicker. "Roman Empire vulgarity" - chuckle. LOLOLOL.

Really - those bathrooms are obscene in the old meaning of the word: abhorrent. #First world problems# -- my bathroom is so large I can use it as an office.


The Strangest Trend in Home Office Design: Bathroom Workspaces
5/6/13 4:38 PM

I can't believe no one has mentioned closets! We've got the insufficient electrical outlets, the toilets which need to be monitored to be sure they flush. But the lack of closets -- every bed has storage drawers/boxes below, every closet is double hung, and if you acquire something, then you must get rid of something to make room.


Old House Habits Die Hard
5/6/13 4:30 PM

I HATE the track pad. So slow. Thanks for the ideas!


Uncommon Underfoot: 10 DIY Mouse Pads
5/2/13 12:37 PM

We have an automatic litter box (for when we go out of town). It uses non-clumping crystal litter like Fresh Step. Expensive but only needs to be changed about once a month (yes!). I have a super-sensitive nose and this works great. Box is in bathroom, with small pet door big enough for cat but too small for dog, to keep dog from snacking on litter box.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JJK2QF04L._SX450_.jpg


Ideal Kitty Litter for Apartment Dwellers? Good Questions
5/2/13 12:33 PM

Another reason I go to Broyhill is that many of their pieces have shallower seats and I am too short for "regular size" seats. A good store will have all the specs available. Believe it or not, La-z-boy also has some small, sleek pieces - and good sales.

http://www.la-z-boy.com/Product/5129-7163/Kiefer-Accent-Loveseat/
http://www.la-z-boy.com/Product/5764-3351/Leah-Sleeper-Chair/
http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/Furniture/Photo-Zoom.aspx?PhotoID=108770
http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/Furniture/Photo-Zoom.aspx?PhotoID=105280


Small Space Seating: Sofas & Loveseats Under 60 Inches Wide
5/2/13 11:29 AM

THANK YOU! One caveat: Some of these on-line purchases look good but are uncomfortable or flimsy. If there is a way to sit in them first, make the effort to find a store and try them out.
I have also found good choices at Broyhill -- also really nice quality -- we keep our furnishings for many years so they must hold up.
http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/Furniture/Photo-Zoom.aspx?PhotoID=109806


Small Space Seating: Sofas & Loveseats Under 60 Inches Wide
5/2/13 11:13 AM

Consider putting shelving all around the pair of windows. Then the TV could go where prior owner had it, embedded in bookcases.We've done that and really like the wall of shelving.

Chairs in front of fireplace could swivel to face TV.


Best Layout for TV & Furniture in Small Living Room? Good Questions
5/1/13 7:50 PM

I have lots of experience with narrow rooms. You will be more comfortable in the long run with loveseats or chair-and-a-halfs which are more scaled to the room. Maybe you can find some that have the style your desired sectional has. Our full size sofa in our narrow room just made the room unfriendly - plus you can only walk on one small area of floor which makes your carpet wear badly in that strip. Your table also looks too large unless you use a banquette seating setup in the corner. bite the bullet and get the right furniiture. You'll be glad later on.


How To Lay Out Furniture in New Condo Living Room? Good Questions
5/1/13 7:22 PM

Shelves will cause you to whack your head/shoulders every time you climb stairs. Hooks along the whole way would be useful and could look very artful. We have a Shaker peg rail in our narrow entry that is drilled for pegs every few inches so the kids can never say there's nowhere to hang a jacket.

Love the hang-the-bike idea -- safer for everyone. Also love the ceiling hung rack. With a piece of plexi across the wires it could be a shelf for your helmet. Look into a window cling for the over-door window to make it look like a stained glass transom. And shiny light colored paint would help a lot too.


How Can I Use This 2-Story Apartment Staircase Entryway? Good Questions
5/1/13 7:14 PM

Another idea from the design your wall website: a mural incorporating that golden brown color. It's wallpaper, but you would just remove it when you leave. This is an Italian terrace:
http://www.designyourwall.com/sites/default/files/images/imagecache/product_full_custom_mural/P/106_big.jpg


How to Make the Best of Rental Bathroom Color Combo? Good Questions
5/1/13 6:56 PM