3/7/07

Apartment Therapy Cure: Favorites

In preparation for the Apartment Therapy 8-Step Cure I've just read through the first 50 or so pages. The last of which included an exercise whereby listing your favorites (from actress to designer) helps to determine your personal style guide.

Here are my answers (you are allotted up to (3) for each category):

Sandra Bullock, actress
Paul Newman/Bruce Willis/Daniel Craig, actor
Dali, artist
Dumas, author
World/Ambient/Jazz, music
Antica Venezia/Casablanca Tea Room, restaurant (NYC)
Volkswagen, automobile
LOST/N3mbers, television show
Elie Tahari, designer/clothing line

Apartment Therapy: The Book

Book: Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure
Author: Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
Subject: Home Design

Maxwell's writing style is filled with real-life anecdotes and problem-solving tactics. His voice resonates and is synonymous to his blog. He encourages readers to view their home less as a structure, more like a body made up of four parts: Bones, Breath, Heart & Head. The Bones refer to the concrete structure: the floor, walls, ceiling and fixtures. The Breath refers to the arrangement of your living space and how it maximizes the flow. The Heart links to the emotional connection you have to your home, often defined by "color, shape, texture and scent", elements that breathe life into your space. The Head focuses what Maxwell calls the "purpose of your home...what you do in your home and where you do it".

(1/4 of the way through)

3/4/07

Apartment Comments (good for momentum)

These are comments from friends of mine:

I like your tile work, especially around the window. Very cool idea. Looks good too. I like the chandelier. Pretty nifty. - Maureen (New Mexico)

Wow the apartment is really coming along. How different it looks. I like all the colors of the paint you picked. I like the color that looks like pumpkin and the color on top of it (the one that looks a little mauve) The pumpkin color is really pretty. But if you waht to go with the Moroccan theme those two colors wpuld be out in my opion. The pastel yellow is nice beause it is airy and bright. I would not pick the blues for the living room. I love the color of the bedroom its its a nice refreshing color. - Lisa (Staten Island)

I see you have made lots of progress! and lots of hard work. I like the color scheme; cannot wait to see it when it is all done.
- Ingrid (Long Island)

It looks as though you have done a good amount of renovations already and that must feel good. Hopefully most of it will be done in the Spring so you can start enjoy your apartment.I can't wait to see it. - Dominique (Morocco)

Andrea, I looked at the work you did at the house! My gosh! What a change, and what great taste you have! I love it! My favourite part is where you listed all the colours. What fun - and a lot of work! I can't wait to see it when it is done! - Claudia (Zurich)

Apartment Therapy Cure (3/5/07)

www.apartmenttherapy.com

A great reference tool. I've been reading through the archives and soaking in the progess of others who have participated in the Apartment Therapy 8-Week Cure. I plan to join the latest CURE, and am looking forward to reading the book this week.

Kitchen Progress

Carl, the contractor, returned this weekend. He and his team finished relaminating the walls of the kitchen, it's amazing how flat walls (vs. stucco and old tiles) can brighten and clean up a space. I'll be posting an update of photos later this week.

I chose the AKURUM ADEL Medium Brown cabinetry from IKEA. The kitchen cabinets are still in boxes strewn throughout the apartment but at least we're closer to a build date. Carl & I rehashed the design layout of the kitchen and realized I may need another base cabinet in addition to a dishwasher, ventilator hood and smaller wall cabinet. Another trip to IKEA, this time I think I'll load the stuff in my car, delivery charges are HEFTY.

Task List for the Kitchen:
- Shop around for apartment sized dishwasher
- Terracotta tiles for the floor
- Choosing a paint color
- Locating 54" wide bamboo shades for the window
- Moroccan chandelier for the dining area (will pick this up in Providence later this month)

A Reading Nook Takes Shape

Over President's weekend, I made a trip to the Homegoods store in Staten Island. At the advisement of friends, I was armed with a list. The place is overwhelming but the deals to be had? Wow.

I picked up a few lamps. One, a baroque floor lamp with a linen shade. The shade is white with a fleur de lis-esque stencil on it in black. The base appears to be a lacquered acrylic. Perfect for the reading nook which also includes an IKEA leather chair and (2) MARKOR bookshelves.

The other find is a Tiffany-like tulip table lamp with cracked glass. Ideally I'd love to have a section of the living room that has a moroccan feel. This red lamp might help do the trick.

Apartment in Photos

I'm posting the progress of my renovation in a photo montage here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/apreziotti/ApartmentRenovationC506?authkey=Axftio-ndSM

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7213942@N07/