Apartment Therapy New York

4-Drawer Shoe Cabinet from The Container Store

2009-01-06T16:30:00+00:00

We personally own two tall Xavier Pauchard metal cabinets that we use to store shoes and sweaters, so we instantly understood the appeal of these remarkably similar Metal Shoe Cabinet from The Container Store that reader Monica sent in: I live in a little house with no foyer and no coat closet (actually, hardly any closets, period!), so I'm always in search of storage ideas...

I lived in Eastern Europe for three years, and everyone there takes shoes off upon entering the house. They have all kinds of great solutions for storing shoes. When I came back to the US, I went looking for shoe cabinets, but couldn't find anything that wasn't bench-type, which I have no place to put without an actual entryway. Then I stumbled on this GREAT cabinet at the Container Store. It's only 6" deep, so it fits on the wall behind my front door — a place I never would have thought storage was possible! And even though it's a bit pricey, the construction is great — heavy-duty coated steel instead of MDF or particleboard. It was super easy to hang right out of the box, no assembly required. The 4-Drawer Shoe Cabinet is $169 from The Container Store and is available in a white or platinum colored finish. In a narrow hallway, 2 or three of these mounted at thesame height could easily function as both shoe storage and a very narrow landing strip!

Roundup: Short-Armed Sofas

2009-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

We've noticed an increasing number of new sofas with "short" arms — arms that don't extend to the full depth of the sofa cushion. While the Hutton from Room & Board made an appearance last year, new designs from West Elm and CB2 also feature "cutback retro arms"...

The Hutton Sofa from Room & Board ($1,899 for 75" model).

The new Dean Sofa from West Elm ($999) is available with Clay-colored upholstery.

The new Avec Sofa from CB2 ($1,199) is available in Crimson or Pewter.

Good Questions: Locating a Similarly Unique Table?

2009-01-06T15:30:00+00:00

I recently lost this table in an Ebay bidding war. Are there any New York stores that would have something similar? I really like that it isn't a cookie cutter item. Thanks, Vanessa

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

This could prove difficult. Has anyone seen something similar?

Virtue Blankets from Iceland

2009-01-06T15:00:00+00:00

Whether or not you're trying to keep a New Year's Resolution, we could probably all use some virtue in our lives. This Virtue Blanket is by Icelandic designer Mary (Olof Maria Olafsdottir). It is finely knitted using high quality, undyed Icelandic wool. The idea for the blanket comes from Icelandic virtue cloths of the early 18th century. Three virtue cloths have been found, and they are preserved in the National Museum of Iceland. The pattern is on Mary's modern Virtue Blankets is derived from the decorations on the historical virtue cloths, but reworked in a contemporary style. The blankets are pretty cool on their own, but we love the story behind them.

Here's the full story behind Icelandic virtue cloths from designer Mary: The cloths were most probably made by Hjalti Þorsteinsson’s daughters. Hjalti (1665–1754) was a clergyman in Vatnsfjörður, in the West Fjords. He was one of the country’s leading artists in the 18th century, and several of his works are on display in the National Museum. Hjalti is believed to have drawn the decorations on the cloths – the style is very reminiscent of his work – and his daughters are believed to have embroidered them. The minister had four daughters, Elín (1693), Steinvör (1696), Guðrún (1699) and Halldóra (1700). However, only three cloths have been found; it is said that Guðrún never sewed hers, which explains why her marriage was never a happy one. The virtue cloths were used as bedspreads, and the example on display in the National Gallery inspired this Virtue Blanket. The cloths were decorated with ten virtues portrayed in female form with their Latin names. The ten virtues are: Faith, hope, charity, devoutness, modesty, humility, patience, temperance, purity and steadfastness. It was important for a 17th or 18th century wife to be blessed with these virtues. The Virtue Blanket comes ready for use. You will not need to embroider it in order for it to have a positive effect on your marriage or partnership and remind you to be virtuous. The Virtue blankets (155 cm x 210 cm) are $208

Genius Idea of the Week: Lighting Up Dark Closets with Motion Sensor LEDsFrom Unplggd: Our site that untangles your wires

2009-01-06T14:30:00+00:00

Cheap and easy. We have seen these stick on spot lights at the local hardware store and have always thought they would be perfect for that dark closet, or kitchen pantry. Well, they are! Come on over to unplggd to see them in action.

Parachute Bedding Textured Duvet & Shams from West Elm

2009-01-06T14:00:00+00:00

Last year, West Elm brought out the Pin Tuck Bedding — a hit that resulted in additional color options. For 2009, they're introducing Parachute Bedding — a ruched cotton voile that adds texture to your bedding (and it's available in WHITE)...

Parachute Duvet is available in twin ($89), full/queen ($99) and king ($129). Parachute Shams are available in pairs, standard ($19) and Euro ($24) sizes. Available in white or sea (light blue).

Good Questions: Similar Desk to Anthro's "Intelligentsia"

2009-01-06T13:30:00+00:00

Hello AT! I have recently fallen in love with Anthropologie's "Intelligentsia Desk" but can't afford the $1,300 price tag! I've been trying to locate a reasonable approximation at a cheaper price, but have turned up empty handed. My question is twofold: 1. What style or era would you classify this desk under (for the purpose of searching for something similar). I love the look of the steel frame with the wood drawers and the minimalist lines. It strikes me somewhat as early 20th century industrial, but I could be wrong. Ideas? 2. Any suggestions about where to find a more affordable version of a desk like this? My budget is more in the $200 - $500 range. Also, I live in Idaho, so I need something that I could order online or via catalog. Thanks! Amelia (in Idaho)

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Anyone?

David Mlinaric's London Pied-à-terre The New York Times 12.24.08

2009-01-06T13:00:00+00:00

In recent weeks, The New York Times has re-focused on smaller, simpler homes than we are used to seeing from them — yesterday we shared a unique East Village apartment renovation — and today we're digging up David Mlinaric's London pied-à-terre that was featured on Christmas Eve. Mlinaric, "England's foremost decorator of period interiors" has kept his city home simple and low-maintenance...

The New York Times is quick to point out that for a designer who is in an expert in period furniture and has designed many over-the-top palaces, castles and rock-star villas, this is pretty tame. Check it out: A Designer of Castles Chooses a Simple Life and the slideshow. Pics: Derry Moore

NoveltyLights.com

2009-01-06T12:25:00+00:00

Holiday light hanging straight down a corner via emma's designblogg

This year, for some reason, Sara and I have really gotten into holiday lights. They're festive, they're cheap and they carry with them the promise that light always brings, of hope in darkness. They're also particularly attractive to Ursula (2 yrs), who likes to turn them on and off (repeatedly)...

Holiday lights woven around the headboard of a bed via emma's designblogg

Our "Christmas Tree" this year in our apartment. It may not look like much, but it was very sweet.

Last month, we wrapped the fire escape outside our window, a Christmas wreath, a Christmas tree and ran them around our kitchen and windows. It's been a lot of fun. We've also added rope lights to our kitchen.

Our fire escape, where the lights will stay up all winter.

While I can't claim that we've been original in any of our lighting scenarios, we can claim to have found a really really excellent source to pass on, NoveltyLights.com, founded by brothers, Tres and K.C. Coors in Colorado. We've ordered Christmas lights and rope lights at amazingly low prices and had them delivered really, really fast. I bet you could order today and get them before next Thursday. My particular favorites are the rope lights, Custom Rope Lights, which we're actually using to light up the dead space on top of our kitchen cabinets near the ceiling and the Christmas lights that are really tightly spaced at 2.5" apart: 100 Light 22 Feet . This is a great source to bookmark. >> NoveltyLights.com (Top pics via Emma's Design Blog)

The Homies 2008: 8 Hours to Go!

2009-01-06T12:20:47+00:00

Polls close tonight at 8pm. Today's the last day to vote for your favorite home blogs, check out one's you've never seen and spread some link love. Click on any of the five links below. Trouble logging in or voting. Sorry! We're working on it and we have some fixes below the jump.

Vote in all 5 Categories:
Home Design • Home Cooking • Green Design • Home Technology • Children's Design

Trouble Voting? For people who've had voting problems -- there was a bug in the "superlogout" code that made logging out of thekitchn (and unplggd, re-nest and ohdeedoh) impossible. If you've had trouble voting, please try the logout link again and let us know if it works. www.apartmenttherapy.com/superlogout Also, if the "answer survey" button is grayed out, try holding down shift and reloading the page. Sometimes the survey form gets stuck in the browser cache in the "not logged in" state and that should clear it out. For AT voters, who want to register to vote, go to our AT community page to sign in. community.apartmenttherapy.com/com/Home To contact us directly: support @ apartmenttherapy . com

ColorTherapy: 2008 — A Year In Review

2009-01-06T12:00:00+00:00

To All ColorTherapy Posts

During our AT winter break, I had time to reflect upon the year 2008 (dreadful, but much growth) and realized that I should be making a top 10 list like everyone else. This year, I think I’ll keep it to Top Two…

As I flip through my archives and bookmarks, I’m surprised to say that the number one color I’d written about would have to be grey or “off-black,” by which I mean dark and dirty grey in all its myriad forms. I can’t tell if I’ve tapped into a zeitgeist or trapped myself in a rut, but I do know from color forecasts that we’re entering a period of pewter and dark neutrals, but I suspect that has more do to print and store design than anything else. Early in the year I wrote about charcoal and mauve textiles at the New York Furniture Fair. I noticed also last summer’s Turner show at the Met (paint by Farrow&Ball) featured gallery walls in smoky greys and deep mysterious blues. Then this fall I mentioned in rapid succession Black Ink, Black, Lancaster Blue, and Cement Grey, a full set of the coolest bruise colors that could still remain cozy and elegant. I noticed too over the course of the year my new fascination with yellow--probably because it makes me so uncomfortable--so let's call Deep Yellow my second pick of the year. Here are Beach Yellow, Citron, Ochre and http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/colortherapy/colortherapy-palette-choosing-the-right-yellow-070488 Lastly, here are two columns that contain both grey and yellow. How may we interpret what this indicates for the New Year? Tune in next week for Color Predictions 2009. - Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter

To All ColorTherapy Posts

High & Low Table Matthew Hilton, Atlantico & CB2

2009-01-06T11:30:00+00:00

As we continue to look through all the new furnishing options launched in the new year — we're drawn back to CB2 and their keen ability to offer similarly inspired designs at a fraction of the price. Yesterday we looked at the new Swoop Desk and today it's the Teepee Dining Table — a round, glass-topped table with solid oak legs. It sells for roughly one-fifth of the price of the similar Matthew Hilton Cross Round Table (above, right) or Atlantico's 018 Round Table...

The Teepee Dining Table is $369 at CB2. This round table has solid oak legs and a non-tempered glass top. Matthew Hilton's Cross Round Table is $1,750 from Design Within Reach. It's available in solid oak, natural or wenge and has a tempered glass top. While, the Cross Round Table is the closest singular example, notice the similarity between the CB2 design and Atlantico's 018 Round Table — a nearly identical design that features a solid wood tabletop: The Atlantico 018 Round Table in oak is $1,865 from hivemodern. It should be noted, that while Hilton is not credited for the Atlantico table design, he does design for Atlantico's parent company, De La Espada and is obviously an influence in some of their designs.

Scavenger: Crate and Barrel Petrie Chair for $295 New York

2009-01-06T11:00:00+00:00

It must be said... we're still fans of the Petrie, what with its tufted cushions and tapered legs. This Crate and Barrel Petrie Chair is going for 1/3 of its original price, and we can personally vouch for the comfort level (admission: we actually own one).

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Apartment Therapy New York Furniture Classifieds are open for your business in the Shopping Guide. They are local and JUST DECOR. Post a particularly good thing, and we'll highlight you here on the front page. OTHER GOOD STUFF

Thanks, Craig!

>> Yesterday's NY Scavenger

Open Thread 677 New York

2009-01-06T10:30:00+00:00

Happy New Year — welcome to the AT:NY Open Thread! This month we're concentrating on Fresh Starts & Resolutions with an emphasis on Bedrooms here on Apartment Therapy. NYC & New York Metro Area readers, join us in the comments for discussion.
(Image: House Tour: Carl and Laurent's Bright White Live/Work Loft)
To Previous Open Threads

Yú Interiors: Accessories for Modern Living

2009-01-06T09:00:00+00:00

If you exit the C train at Lafayette Avenue, you will see the distinctive Yú sign across from the public park in this trendy little corner of Fort Greene. Yú is downtown Manhattan-style improved and enriched to suit the mellower, warmer lifestyles of the Brooklynati...

Selling a mixture of Asian, Scandinavian and Mid-Century origin vintage furniture (along with new designs by Jonathan Adler, Dwell, BOOM, Jack Spade and others) Ludlow Beckett, the owner, has created a groovy, sophisticated personal look that is hip and easy going at the same time.

Ceramic Mugs by Miam.Miam

While many stores only sell accessories, Yú sells the complete picture (see slideshow). At the very least, the store is an inspiration simply for their wall color -- chocolate brown and orange -- especially if you are thinking about doing something bold. For such a small store, there is a tremendous amount packed in. In addition to furniture, Yú offers bedding, lighting (new and vintage), Caldrea cleaning products, pillows and the ever present candles.

Torre and Tagus Art Glass Serving Plates

Steelcase Wood Frame Chairs, 1980's

Problems? It's to be expected that when something is done up this nice, you aren't getting Craigslist prices. We always maintain, however, that if it's well made and if you love it, it's worth the price. Save up and treat your home to something really nice this year. Originally reviewed by Maxwell on 6.21.04