cmu's Profile

I always buy boxes of little tomatoes, but find that they often shrivel before I use them all. In stead of composting them, I toss them in the oven with some garlic, salt and olive oil and roast them. They are great over pasta or as a side.

I'm not sure about the suggestions to put the sofas parallel to each other. Based on the number of cushions, the sofas don't appear to be the same length and might look a little awkward facing each other.

I don't mind the current rug, but I would swap out the coffee table for something wood or glass. I can't tell what is happening with that door in the back corner, but I prefer a full door over the 2 half doors (or no door at all depending on what is back there).

More and bigger art would also be nice.

I think the lighting looks better now, but not so sure about the rest of it. I think maybe I'm distracted by the black sheets.

Does the bed really have to block the windows?

I got scabies from an ex-boyfriend's couch that he was delighted to score for free on the street, so I have to echo the request for cleanliness.

If your couch smells like a wet dog, has bugs or requires the addition of plywood to keep the springs off the floor, I am probably not going to stick around long enough to make out on said couch.

The sad thing is that I am long out of college and still find men with nasty couches to date.

Oh and if I make it to the bedroom, I do find it kinda nasty if the fitted sheet is coming off and there is no matress pad ('cause what if you found that mattress on the street too!?!).

Thanks Donald, Craigslist was the first place I looked, but as you say, prices vary greatly and I don't know what people are actually getting for there places which is why I came here.

katedet please keep us posted!

I'm curious if anyone here is planning on renting their home out for inauguration. I've seen all kinds of crazy prices on Craig's list ($12,500 a night for a 2 bedroom?!). I'm wondering if this could possibly be for real and if I should try to get money for my place in Eastern Market.

Thoughts?

When I lived in Madagascar the snake plant grew wild, the local name translates to "mother-in-law's tongue" because they are pointy and a little bit twisted.

Random factoid, but it makes me smile when I see one.

Oh, and most of the plants that are listed above (and the snake plant) are available at Ikea. I find that my Ikea does a good job of stocking apartment/office plants and they are generally cheap enough that you can buy a cute pot too (and you won't hate yourself if you do manage to kill the plant).

I think this kitchen has great bones. I think a few minor things could help:

1. switch the yellow shelves out for shelving that is lover and more functional-- maybe some basic white open shelving? Ikea is always good for that. I also like the Ikea hanging rails that you already have going.

2. perhaps you can get your landlord to spring for some better lighting so you don't need the clip lamps?

3. get rid of the mug rack.

4. I love my wall mounted magnetic knife rack

5. I think the cabinets look nice, but if you want to spiff them up a fresh coat of paint in a birght color on the inside and some new knobs (gotta love anthropologie for good hardware--and nice dishtowels and potholders).

6. get an in-sink dish drainer.

7. you could put a high shelf over the doorway for storage of little used things-- perhaps whatever is in the box on the fridge?

8. I'm not saying that the kitchen looks dirty-- but I always feel better if I spend an afternoon scrubbing down all the countertops, washing out the cupboards, washing the fronts of the cabinets, scrubbing the floor and finding a home for everything. It give you a good opportunity to assess what you've got and pare down (it is a good time of the year to unload non-perishibles at a food pantry).

All that said, I think you have a lovely space to work with. I wish the previous owners of my place had left the original cabinets instead of going with Home Depot laminated particle board.

Though they aren't old, there always seem to be large wood letters in the home section of Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Homegoods.

While I use the library, I still find myself buying books. When I finish something that isn't worth sharing with friends I always check Amazon to see if it is worth selling (I don't bother selling anything under $3, because Amazon takes a cut and I won't be left with much). I made about $600 a few years ago when I sold all the ancient textbooks I had stashed at my parents' house. Now I constantly have a pile going of finished books to list on amazon, sell at the local used book store or donate to the library.

I used to have a hard time getting rid of books, but 2 years of sharing books in the Peace Corps broke me of my book hoarding habits. I keep a list of all the books I read and I can refer to that when I need to reccommend books to friends.

Also, I live in Washington DC and I just learned that Pepco will send someone to do a free energy audit of my house. Other electric companies may have the same kind of service.