amandacollier's Profile

Agree with Anna et al...ditching the veneer on the sides entirely and replacing with new (different color, yes! try to match, no!) veneer or sanding and painting a contrasting color.

If you want to go the veneer route, Outwater.com has veneer sheets in tons of different grains and colors of wood...with the correct adhesive already on. Easy to work with, easy to cut.

Oh no you did *not* name your cat after Eero Saarinen.

That's freaking AWESOME.

I agree with bepsf, and would add:

Cut four of the Flor tiles in half.
Take the two leftover whole ones in that column and put them on the end, to extend the length of the runner.
Alternate which side, left-to-right, the half-tiles go on.
Put the cut edge of the half tiles up against the edge of the whole tiles for a clean outer edge.

I'd test this on /one/ tile first... not sure whether FLOR will lose structural integrity or have an unacceptably raggedy edge when cut. Probably depends on the weave.

Another relatively inexpensive option: Get a custom-sized sisal runner and stain it to whatever color you like with aniline dye. I believe NaturalAreaRugs.com will do custom sizes, and even a borderless bound edge, and they're very inexpensive... like under a hundred bucks for a 2' x 8' runner. And yes, I've tried aniline dye on sisal and it worked *beautifully*.

Magdelane: I recently bought a new sofa that's literally almost identical to that, but in a different fabric. It's from The Sofa Company in Santa Monica (thesofaco.com) and the model is called "Riley" -- might not be on their site yet. Mine has the chrome base, but you can get a number of different types of wooden legs for it as well. If you want a kind of slouchier look, upgrade to the down-filled cushions. I've got firm foam seats and down-filled backs, and it's just perfect. Couldn't be happier with it.

IIRC, Robert Allen makes a number of different velvets in that color range. Check out robertallendesign.com and search by book. They stock a ton of their swatches at the SM store, but they can order anything.

Mine's here -- not the best pic, but you get the idea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70191341@N00/3295828937/

You know, I'm thinking that if the ModPodge idea works reasonably well, you could make your own decals of pretty much whatever you want. I'd print them out on high-res matte ink jet full-sheet label paper (Avery 8255), let dry, do a few coats of mod podge, THEN cut them out, stick to tile, and do a coat or two of ModPodge over them to protect the edges.

Try Eurway.com, Chiasso.com, GarnetHill.com, ContemporaryRugs.com, LinenSource.com, RugsExpress.com. I just took a quick look at all of those, and each has something at least in the same genre as your (expensive!) Room & Board selection. Happy shopping...

Oh that is aMAZing! If any of the old glue is still sticky, you might want to try some GoofOff or similar adhesive-remover before the scrubbing commences. Also, for the old paint splatters, I'd try covering them with a very wet sponge for a while, and then see if you can scrape/pop them off with a plastic scraper (or a razor-blade scraper, if you're both desperate and very careful). I'm betting you can get that floor looking good again...but if you end up with any unfixable areas, just throw a fun-shaped rug over it. That pattern is just way too cool to cover up.

That Hair Chandelier is one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. I do like that one of the text-riddled pillows includes the word "PEROXIDE" in giant type. Heh.

Otherwise, yarrrgh. I'm not certain if they were actually trying to recreate a real-life Barbie Dream House (if so, they missed) or simply capture the essence of Barbie Style (if so, they missed). Either way, that's just seizure-inducing.

Staar84 -- you can find citronella candles or oil lamps (which repel many flying bugs) to fit just about any of these lanterns. You ought to be able to find them easily: hardware store, drugstore, Target, maybe even your grocery. If that doesn't do the trick (and if your apartment building allows it), you could put up matchstick blinds or a curtain of gauze/mesh/mosquito netting to keep them out.

And I'm with you. Moths = ick, ICK.

The single best place I've found to look for tile is FastFloors.com. Lousy navigation -- you have to click on each individual manufacturer/brand to look -- but man, do they ever have a LOT of stuff. Shipping is high, of course, but I'm sure there's a local supplier for pretty much anything you find on there.

I like the stainless-sheet backsplash idea! For similar things, check out the laminates at Outwater Architectural supplies (outwater.com). They've got a bazillion kinds of metal-clad (or metal-look) laminates with just about any texture or finish you could want.

And you know, you /could/ do tile, even in an apartment. Just have the hardware store cut you pieces of thin plywood to fit the space, and tile the plywood. Affix to the wall with a couple screws or adhesive, a little strip of edging, trim or caulk at top and bottom and you're good to go. Or...you never know. If the counters are that awful, ask the landlords if they'd consider replacing them with [your tile/surface choice] if you contribute to the cost.