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:: February 3, 2007 New Recliner of Awesomeness
My (November) birthday present has finally arrived! It's the Jett recliner from the Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy collection. The clincher for me was when I turned to the Charles Harper bird fabric in the upholstery book. (More on Charles Harper from Scrubbles.net, Flickr.) This was going to be the fabric, no matter that I currently have an orange living room and can't paint till after the baby is born. It's worth designing around. Detail:
Birds! Charles Harper! Todd Oldham! Eeeeeeeee! The only problem is that when you recline all the way back, it doesn't "stick," so you have to exert all this effort to stay reclined. I guess it probably has to go back to the shop for now (I hope that's not just how it is!) posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (12) :: link :: January 20, 2007 Ask Metafilter Favorites
Just a dump of helpful household/life-related Ask Metafilter threads I've marked as favorites ... Things to do with a Kitchenaid mixer (we got one recently and I have yet to use it) Websites for living better with fewer resources Online shops with unusual goods (too late for Christmas, but still a good list to keep around) Favorite pasta recipes to get you out of your old repertoire. What things are worth DIY'ing? Sick day activities (also applicable to snow days!) Recommendations for card and board games Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts Common household objects that can be used as measuring tools posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (1) :: link :: August 4, 2006 Kitchen Choices II
The cabinets and lights are installed, wooohoooooo! I will wait till everything is finished before showing you. We had some recessed lights installed and some questionable-at-best wiring throughout the house repaired. We never had proper lights in the kitchen before -- the new lights make all the stainless steel pots gleam and reveal exactly how dirty the appliances are. I am already cooking way more than pre-destruction, even with the temporary countertops and sink. The electrician took a hefty chunk from the budget, which is making me chuck the dream of a solid surface countertop with a super classy integrated sink. But then, I wasn't finding anything that was both affordable and thrilling in the solid surfaces. Sounds like sour grapes, but I am excited by these laminates:
Con: Laminates don't last as long and don't add value to the house. Pro: They are less than half the cost of Corian or Silestone or whatever, which makes some room for (cue angelic chorus):
lights and a mosaic tile backspash in one of these colorways:
I have been thinking about this and wanted to address it: I feel weird about talking fancy kitchen remodeling after I just solicited donations for the stray dogs -- please know that our kitchen budget is coming largely from insurance money and generous inlaws (who also happen to own our house), and never shall the two "accounts" meet! And that calls for a dog update: They are now listed with the local rescue group Lucky Mutts ("good used dogs for lucky people") on their referral dogs page, so maybe we'll get some takers that way. I go back to work for the new school year on Monday (sob), and will certainly pimp them out to my colleagues. I got the pups collars, which make them look even cuter and more legit. We'll be celebrating a month anniversary with them tomorrow - bust out the biscuits and cheese! The button-making and package prep took longer than I wanted it to, but the thank-you packages finally went out today. Again, I am floored by everyone's generosity -- thanks again. posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (11) :: link :: July 19, 2006 Kitchen Resurrection '06
Remember kitchen disaster '05? Nearly a year later we are finally, FINALLY poised for the kitchen tear-out and remodel. The new cabinets are stacked in the living room and the gutting begins on Friday! It's so exciting. The current kitchen is really disgusting and I can refer you to a number of people who will vouch for that fact. So obviously the cabinets are picked out, and I've got my heart set on this countertop -- solid Formica in dark gray, with a little head-cheesy flair, Susan?
Paint? I love bright paint colors and was thinking spring/lime green, but now I'm second guessing. It was option paralysis that has dragged out this project for so long so I need to pick out everything else quickly: right now that's paint, drawer pulls, and tile for the backsplash and floor. So you know I love midcentury modern design, but going retro in the kitchen (and elsewhere), especially on a tight budget, it's easy to slip into bad-80s-contemporary or bad-50's-diner. That's what I think of when I look at most bar-type cabinet hardware, so I am leaning toward knobs. These might work:
Or maybe I'm looking for a little Anthropologie-esque ornate retro. Except that Anthropologie drawer pulls are too rich for my blood. What do you think of these?
The above are all under $6 from myknobs.com. IKEA is a possibility too, if I can make a trip to Houston this weekend:
What do you think? Would knobs be stupid on kitchen cabinets? I have ZERO clue on tile -- I would love a mosaic tile backsplash but that is probably way out of my budget. Any ideas/advice/links/ridicule of my tastes is welcome. posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (16) :: link :: August 19, 2005 Le Sigh ...
Monday afternoon: Shiny new dishwasher from Sears installed. The installer was a fabulous and entertaining fellow who went out of his way and fixed some unrelated plumbing ills for us, no charge. Tuesday night: "Oh my god, the pot covered with 3-day-old bean crust is spotless! Let's wash everything in the house!" Wednesday night: "Baby, why are there big wet splotches on the kitchen throw rug? Is that PeeWee slobber? Should we start putting his water bowl outside?" Thursday night: "What the hell, those splotches are still there ..." Stepping off the rug onto the pergo, there is a splooshy sound underfoot ... Friday night:
After ripping up the entire kitchen floor, the guy who came out to investigate the leak told us the installer guy is likely going to have to pay some huge $1000+ deductible out of his own pocket before his insurance covers the rest. That is, if we ever hear from them again ... hopefully since this is all through Sears we'll have some resolution to this, unlike some past contractors past who have vanished mid-project. Kitchen disaster 2005! posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (10) :: link :: July 21, 2004 New Fence
Yay we got a new fence today! We've been living with an old chain link that had trees growing through it, its broken and weak parts patched up with chicken wire and rocks, rope and spit. It was highly susceptible to dog escapes, and after two trips bust our dogs out of jail (thanks, evil spiteful neighbors!), we had enough. This feels way more spiffy. posted by in House and Domesticity :: link :: May 13, 2004 Shirt Folding
Secrets of perfect T-shirt folding ... REVEALED! (via Coudal) posted by in House and Domesticity :: link :: January 24, 2004 IKEA
How IKEA names its products (via Aprendiz de Todo) posted by in House and Domesticity :: Comments (1) :: link
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