MKQ's Profile

I would do something like what they did at young house love:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/02/over-our-heads/

Except I would put storage that went up to the window sill, then I would have curtains that were sheer on top (so that light still came in) and heavier fabric underneath to cover up whatever the storage was underneath. In the center, put a nice big picture. Then only the center of the ugly drop down tiles would have to be covered and that could be done with a straight short valence in the same material as the curtain or it could be framed out, like they did.

I live in NYC and after a trip to Amsterdam decided I REALLY wanted to bike in the city. I was scared because, well, have you SEEN New York drivers?! So I bought a bike anyway. Turns out the city has a LOT of new bike paths (this doesn't help people in other cities, I know), and bike lanes and a commitment to build more. I started doing research, started my own blog (nycbycycle.com) to have a place to put things I learned...and maybe share with others -- AT posts have been linked to twice!) and found other resources like mapmyride.com and ridethecity.com (which is awesome....it plots safer, safe and at your own risk routes....and there are lanes....some protected...that I had no idea about). My friends are sick of me going all evangelist on them....but I'm telling you...I have realized it is AWESOME!!!!

All that being said -- my poor pretty bike lives outside because I live in a small 5th floor walk-up with no bike storage in the building....but it has a lot of company!

I've been known to throw away people's stuff. But there's a line. It's arbitrary, but it's there. Though some might say there's not a line, I don't think that's true. Some people will save everything including things that ARE garbage. My rule is that if it could accidentally be considered garbage, then it doesn't belong in a common area...things like empty bottles, bottle caps, paper towel tubes, canvas bags, old magazines..even if they aren't mine are garbage after they've been out for two or three days. In our house we have a kitchen drawer for everyone...you're stuff can sit out on the counter for a day or so, but after that it gets moved to your drawer. It's your responsibility to cull it out when the drawer gets too full. Other stuff, unless it's obviously part of the decor, if it sits out too long, is garbage. If it's other stuff (books and the like) it gets put in the person's personal area (their bedroom, study, closet...whatever's in there is in there is theirs..it's nobody else's business) but not in the common area.

As for children, I think that moms and dads DO have a right to throw things out. Obviously it would be mean to get rid of something that is obviously SPECIAL...but when it comes to toys, if a purge is necessary, then that's what parent's are for...to make the decisions that children can't or won't. Kids would eat ice cream for every meal if they could...in my opinion it doesn't mean that they should be allowed to. The only thing I think is that the parent shouldn't do it secretly but should enroll them in the process, reasons why and consequences. If they're not old enough to understand this, they are young enough to have their opinion overridden.

Wander Woman -- that's so interesting -- I live in a 5th floor walk up in the East Village/nyc and always think that nobody would ever rob it because the stairs are such a HUGE pain --and if they did rob me they would only be making one trip!!

That being said -- unless I'm running downstairs to get a delivery, I lock it-- simply out of habit. Every single time.

However, if there ever was a reason to convince me to keep it locked it was a couple of years ago when there was a knock at the door. (Generally speaking people don't just knock on my door unless it's a neighbor. Otherwise, I buzz them in and know they're coming up. And this was not long after there was the rapist dressed as a fireman on the loose). But, since I can't see out, I asked who it is and the creepiest voice ever answered "it's Krista." I replied that I didn't know a Krista. And she replied, while rattling the door knob "I know, but let me in anyway."

It was the rattling of the door knob and her creepy voice (it had that goose bump inducing, hair raising quality) that got to me. I couldn't even make myself get near the door to throw the other deadbolt. I told her I was going to call the cops and that she needed to go away. I'm sure that she was probably attending a party in the building and had overshot it (I'm the last apartment before the roof), but the way she was acting and the tone of her voice freaked me out.

Normally I'm all like "I got it under control" but I was so skeeved out that I made the boy come hang out with me. Though after he got there we realized she could have been lurking in the hall and if this were an episode of L&O he would have been the one ripped from the headlines!!!!

Awesome. I love when people's brains go where others don't. Especially when it grosses people out! This wouldn't work in my house (and frankly, I have enough of the raw materials already), but if I had this awesomely modern white super clean surface type house, I would put one under glass just for the irony. What I want to know is ...where's the Dust Bunny Bunny? He has to have done one. Did I miss it?!

I see the 3rd on at 13th Street and 3rd avenue all the time and always a) want to know what it looks like inside, b) covet it... no matter what it looks like inside.

I always wonder why there aren't more of these considering all the rooftop real estate available. Of course, I would like all the rooftops to have grass on them too!

I have lived for a while in a nyc rental...that has gone through three owner/managers since I moved in. The rent is awesome becasue I moved into what was a bad neighborhood at the time. Long story short, no way am I moving now! I see all the apartments around me getting renovated, but I know if they renovated mine, it would mean a huge rent increase and/or inconvenience. So, I basically decided that they were going to gut renovate when I move out and what's the worst that could happen if I did anything about the floors? I'd lose my security deposit. So, I bought some of those floating allure traffic master floor "boards" at Home Depot, and put them down in a part of my apartment with particularly hideous floors. I can't tell if your tiles are real, but the ones I covered were of the stick on variety. No, it's not real wood, but they're next to the floorboards that are "keeping it real" in the living room...and frankly, they look better. For me, at least, the grim reality was that my apartment won't get new floors while I live here, so I did it myself. My guess is they won't even notice when I move out.

This house is GORGEOUS. I can't imagine it was / is less invasive though...I'm sure it took TONS of energy to move the earth that had to be moved for this, and it seems like at least the equivalent sq. footage that would have been removed for the foundation of a normal house is taken up by the facade. And lots of wood waiting ot be burned. Perhaps better said would be lower profile. I'd love to know how energy efficient it is...does the earth keep it insulated? Is there any solar power? What are other heating options besides wood? Really is stunning.

Presuming starting from scratch and presuming not a lot of money to spend, here's what I would do:

Expedit Bookcase(s) as you first walk in...as posted by more than one person above, in a configuration that creates "walls" but allows light to get to the bedroom. Were you inclined to want a tv in bed too (I don't, but some do), there's now a configuration for this. I would get enough pieces to take it to the ceiling (depending on the ceiling height). They're an inexpensive versatile piece of furniture. I would also run a thin/not bulky, but opaque, curtain around the inside or outside edge that could stay open most of the time. But if you wanted to block the sun so that you could sleep in, or if there were overnight guests and you wanted a bit more privacy. Otherwise, I would have them pushed up against the edge on the closet wall. The beauty of the Expedit is that one can decorate from both sides -- so it doesn't look like you're looking at the backs of things. And this apartment looks like it could use some storage. I would also put the bed up on a platform to increase underbed storage (I find it ideal to store suitcases with extra blankets and the like there).

Then, in the Living room area, I would get a sectional with a chaise. I would put the long end parallel to the bay window, essentially making a different area of the bay. I would then get one more chair to sit next to the short end of the chaise -- against the long wall. I would hang a flat panel tv across from that -- on the wall next to the breakfast nook.-- i just found one used on Craigslist for $70 dollars -- with luck and looking, I'm sure you'll find something...and find a small cabinet system for underneath for media players, dvd player, xbox or other video, ipod dock, whatever. Then I would add a coffee table. If you have a laptop it could also sit there if you wanted to send video to the bigger screen (if you had visitors). I would anchor all of this with a rug and get high stools for the counter that work with the living room furniture. I would then get 4 inexpensive wood folding chairs, paint them whatever awesome color you like, and hang them on the long wall -- with the chaise and chair. Call them art. Then when people come over, you have extra seating.

Then, I would have a desk custom cut (or would cobble one together depending on my finances) and create a desk nook in the bay window. Personally, I spend a lot of time at my desk and love having it face out the window --I get lots of sun -- and there's always eye candy to look at if I need a break. I also saw designer Candace Olsen do this once in a bay window and thought it was brilliant. Because it's behind the long side of the couch, it allows for cabinetry (more storage like file cabinets that support the desk) to disappear -- along with wires if cord management isn't a strength). I would add 5 blinds (1 per window)-- the kind that go from the bottom up...which would allow you to cut the light if getting glare and give privacy, but still allow light in -- my guess is with a bay, there aren't that many people in buildings that see DOWN into the space. You could close them halfway at night if you wanted to work at the computer but not have the sneaking suspicion that people could see you but you couldn't see them ....and then morning light could still come in.

Good luck! Post pictures when you get it all figured out! And if you're looking for really great ideas on how to configure small spaces - go to the Ikea showroom - even if you don't like their furniture they often have some really clever ways to make the most of small spaces.

Bepsf -- you're totally right about the colors. I'm sure they could find something in the right color scheme. And you're dead on...the rooms I see in my head when I think Oriental rugs are pale green, blue, ivory and coral. I will have to get past my misconception.