L.A. Lady's Profile

Buying in bulk is not just a North America thing. Bulk retail outlets have popped up in rural areas all over the world. These are places where you don't pass a store on your way home from work, and they are places where the closest shopping outlet can be 30 miles away. When your household shopping takes up the better part of a day, buying in bulk is ideal.

I think the original appeal of buying in bulk was price, but those days are mostly gone. Even though I live really close to a Target, I still buy larger quantities because I don't like having to go to the store multiple times a week.

I like the pulley idea, too. It would require some creative installation and a giant ladder, but it could be done. I also agree that it's really narrow so shelves of any decent size would not be recommended.

I used to use Valspar but we have a Dunn-Edwards close by. No comparison. The D.E. is thick and rich in pigment and it's a one cost job instead of streaky multiple coats. Also, the Valspar grey I chose ended up looking very blue/violet and not grey. I know it's a hard color to balance and it either tends towards blue or brown, but the D.E. paint was totally tint-free.

I absolutely love the first pic. So up my alley. Does anyone think that painting a clay pot for a plant that really needs the "breathability" of a clay pot will compromise it? I really want to do this with all my clay pots but fear it would somehow hurt them...

That doesn't sound like it's up to building code. A bathroom with absolutely no usable ventilation? Eek!

If you don't feel comfortable approaching your landlord about a solution, damprid will help. A dehumidifier would be better. Run it after you take a shower.

Ugh... I've totally had this problem before. This looks like our old apartment in Venice. The fireplace placement is so random. I don't even k KE why they bother putting them in.

The way I see it, you have two options for the TV. If you don't want it to be the focal point, then I'd put it on the left wall that's under the stairs. This will work if you're TV is a reasonable size. The problem you might run into is foot traffic going up/coming down the stairs and getting in the way of whoever is watching TV. In fact, it looks like the carpet is worn in the high traffic area, so that will give you an idea of where you'll be walking (and where to place a runner, perhaps).

The second option is the right wall, and it's where I'd put it if it were me. To make it less of a focal point, consider two small sofas that run perpendicular to the TV, or an L-shaped sectional that opens up to the living room. You can put a chair or two next to the TV facing your sofa(s) so the focus is more on the grouping of furniture and not the TV. A coffee table or large ottoman in the center will seal the deal!

Either way, I'd consider french or sliding doors that have the mini blinds between the glass. If your patio is not very deep, then I'd stick with sliding doors (they're might even be a building or fire code that requires sliding doors due to the shallow depth of your patio. Definitely worth checking out before you purchase anything). This solution allows you to access the door without having to move vertical blinds or curtains, and will block the glare from the window when you want to watch TV.

Whatever you do, I'd strongly reccommend not putting the TV above the fireplace! Your Tv is meant to be viewed at eye level anyway. If you don't plan on using the fireplace regularly, it would be a cool place for plants or a sort of landing for your coats, bags, shoes, etc.

As it is your piece of furniture, you can use it as a foot rest if you so desire. It's a pet peeve of mine when someone else insists you treat an object like this as if it was a historic cornerstone, without which mid-century design would be lost if you decide to paint the frame white...

That being said, I would refinish it only if the surfaces are in really poor shape. Usually the top is what has the most signs of wear. You could get around this by setting a lacquer tray (or something similar) over the top. I bet you could find a cool herringbone-patterned tray on Etsy.

Swapping out the hardware, if it's possible without damaging it, would also make it pop. If you decide to do this I'd totally buy the old ones from you!

While I didn't follow the "ask the neighbors" protocol, I went to town on some plants and trees. I was having to duck down every time I went out to my car, so I took it upon myself to do some trimming. We're not really supposed to do that but oh well. The plants and trees were looking pretty "leggy" anyway and have mostly been neglected.

@eliz THANK YOU. Sinks should not resemble a punch bowl. I loathe vessel sinks.

I agree with putting some legs on it. The design really calls for some more modern, less whimsical hardware.

If the veneer/dubious surface is in good condition, I would leave it alone and just do the aforementioned changes. It's actually easy to replace veneer but it's often not worth the trouble.