Convertibles are hard to find, but I have seen some viable options.

Perhaps the most promising is the coffee table by Dwell that raises to dining table height.

I like the idea of having a dining table option, but I also worry about how solid these convertibles really are. And to be honest, I’m not that crazy about how many of them look. For instance designer Tom Rossau’s convertible is pretty cool but I’m not sure I can get over the angled legs (Check out those funky 1990′s lines!).

And then, there is the holy grail of vintage convertible coffee tables – the “castro” table. It has a mid-century design AND they are convertible. So far though I haven’t seen any for sale.

Not sure if this is the right option for me, but maybe it is for you? Here are some other convertibles I found…

Convertable by Lee Sinclair

The Flip Table by flipfurniture

Coffee Table by Bo Concept

Over the labor day weekend I went with my boyfriend to visit his parents in Houston, TX. Aside from all the other fun things we did, I was able to experience a HomeGoods store for the very first time. I had heard about HomeGoods through other bloggers like LittleGreenNotebook, but since the closest one to me is in Staten Island, I have never been able to check it out. During my visit I was not disappointed. This store lived up to its reputation. In a word, HomeGoods is AMAZING! If there is one where you live I hope you appreciate what you’ve got! Don’t be fooled by the T.J.Maxx vibe (it is actually the home furnishings branch of T.J.Maxx), this store has some really cool stuff. I found some awesome lamps for $30 and they had a bunch of pretty vases for cheap. Here are some photos from my visit. I didn’t purchase anything because it would have been too hard to get things back to New York. But now I am seriously considering a trip to Staten Island.

Oh yeah, and then once I was finished frugally browsing at HomeGoods, my boyfriend got a new iPhone 4G. Yeah, he sucks. But the 4G is awesome too.

I swore off of IKEA for a few weeks after our move. I just couldn’t afford to keep going. Finally last weekend, I ended my self-imposed IKEA time-out. I drove over to Red Hook, Brooklyn and bought a bunch of little things that I needed for the apartment. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was nice to be back. During my visit I also picked up their new 2011 catalog. The 2011 catalog came out a few weeks ago, but with my new mailing address and my IKEA ban, I wasn’t able to see it until now. Here are some of my favorites from the catalog. Some are new, some aren’t. Anyway, I hope this gets you excited. God, IKEA should be paying me!!

1) KLUBBO coffee table $69.99

2) SORGLÖS vase $12.99

3) DALFRED bar stool $39.99

4) LEENDE carafe $9.99

5) EXPEDIT shelving unit $99.00

6) MICKE desk $79.00

7) MOLGER box with lid, set of 4 $9.99

8) VÄRME teapot $9.99

9) BESTÅ BURS desk $249.00

We have been in our new place for a month now and we are still very much in the process of setting up everything. The living room, after much debate (and thanks for all your votes!) is painted a solid gray BUT will have molding added in the next few weeks. I’ll be sure to share the finished room once its ready.

Now I’ll introduce you to our kitchen. So far, I have painted it and we have made it functional. But I think now is a good time to take a step back and figure out how to take this room to the next level. Right now it looks like a half-baked space (which it is). I’d like it to feel more intentional. The foundation is there, I think we just need to hone in on some details and refine the color palette a little bit.

The Paint Color

I LOVE the color we painted this room. It is Benjamin Moore Lido Green. Its a soft green with a touch of blue, and it works really well with warm colors. I actually love how it looks with reds and oranges! So the good news is that the walls look great.

Work Station

I’m really proud of how I was able to re purpose an old IKEA desk from our old place and turn it into extra counter space in our kitchen. It was certainly a moment of genius when I put 2 and 2 together. But enough bragging, lets be honest. While the skirt on the table creates a great hiding space for things like cat food bags, I have to admit that it is being held up by the shoddiest velcro job EVER! It could definitely use a refresh.  And the shelf above the workspace has so much potential for greatness, but right now its just kind of blah. Here is what I’d like to change:

Shelf: Some functional bookends is probably all it would take to make this shelf look and function better. (Skribent Bookend from IKEA $4.99)

Table Top: I want to add a butcher block since the desk surface isn’t ideal for the kitchen. I think a bread box would also help with storage and keeping the space clear. (Polder Chrome Bread Box from Bed Bath & Beyond $29.99, Exklusivt Butcher Block from IKEA $24.99)

Table Skirt: Instead of the dark gray, I like this fabric from IKEA. I think it would have a fresher look. (Burta Ruta Fabric from IKEA $8.99 a yard)

Stove Area

This area is already pretty cute (if I do say so myself). I like the shelves we installed and the pot hanger. The window more than anything  could use some work…

Wall Shelves: I just love the way orange looks against the Lido Green. So I think it would be really cool to get a great piece of cookware to display. This would be a bit of a splurge but its the kind of thing you can keep forever. ( “My First Staub” Round Cocotte 2.5 Qt through Zappos $99.99)

Window: This window gets a great amount of light, but the cheap-o blinds we got are not really cutting it. Ever since I read Little Green Notebook’s guide to making roman shades from cheap blinds I’ve been dying to try it. I’d like to attempt something that will end up looking like the shades pictured above. Except the ribbon trim should be a bright, bold color. (Ribbon Roman Shade from Pottery Barn starting at $71)

Window Part 2: This window poses an additional challenge because it faces our neighbors. The bottom line is that I need to be able to go to the fridge late at night and not worry about someone seeing me in my underwear. This window decal by Emma Jeffs would be a great solution. Its a bit on the pricey side though, so I might try to come up with a DIY alternative. (Emma Jeffs White Moroccan Tile Adhesive Film through Design Public $76)

The Floors

These floors are cheeeeaaaaapppp! And they like to show every single scuff mark and every stain. They immediately get dirty and they like to stay looking dirty. In short, this floor is not a team player.

Flor Tiles: My solution is a simple rug made from durable (fabric) Flor Tiles. I’ve never really considered rugs a great idea in the kitchen, but this situation is somewhat serious. And I remember a really cool kitchen featured in Domino that had Flor tiles covering the entire kitchen floor (see below). I probably won’t go that far, but I think an area rug would be a nice relief from this awful floor. (Take A Ribbing Flor Tile in Black $11.90)

The Fridge

This area looks pretty junky. We need to use it for storage, and I think I had the right idea with the basket, but it would be nice not have all our cereal boxes on display.

Top of Refrigerator Storage: I think more baskets is the answer. Maybe our cereal will peek out the top, but at least it will be somewhat organized. (Byholma Basket from IKEA $15.99)

New Lighting Solution: Right now, we have a table lamp on our fridge. All it does is take up space and look awkward. I want to get rid of this lamp and install a pendant light to replace our ugly overhead fixture.  (Fado Pendant Light from IKEA $39.99)

Earlier this week I spent an afternoon in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan (oh the joys of being a freelancer!). First I wandered into Chelsea Market, which is known for gourmet food shops and great specialty stores. Originally the home of the National Biscuit Company in the late 1800′s, the space has a wonderful industrial feel that is pretty refreshing considering how so many Manhattan spaces are designed to be “cutting edge” and modern. Blown out brick walls and industrial metal ceiling fans are a nice contrast to the boutique food stores that are housed here.

Next, I walked up to the Highline Park, which is an amazing public space that runs along and above 10th avenue. Built in the 1930′s, the space was used to transport freight trains without interfering with the streets below. The park’s design is reminiscent of the space’s original use utilizing indigenous plants (that you might see growing around railroad tracks) and a linear pathway reflective of the old tracks.

These spaces got me thinking about a trend I have been noticing more and more – vintage industrial. To me, vintage industrial is a relief from all the sleek modern furniture that has been the rage for the last decade. Often you will find items in galvanized metals or reclaimed wood. Castors are also a trademark for vintage industrial style peices. Here are some items I’ve spotted that fit the bill.

Rolling Side Table – $158

Cooper’s Small Draftsman Stool – $159

French Industrial Coffee Table – $579

Miner Side Table Stool – $149

And for a more modern interpretation…

Go-Cart Media Carts – $129 – $149

And the saga continues! As you might remember, a couple of weeks ago I made a curtain to hide the messy bookcase over our desks. So last weekend it was time to tackle the wall opposite to our desks. Historically this wall has always been a problem area…a magnet for the random junk that we had no where else to put. But now thanks to some ingenuity, we have made a vast improvement. What was once a wall of random shit is now a really functional work surface with enough added storage underneath to equal the size of a closet. Best of all, this cost nothing…that’s right NOTHING!

The table tops are made up of some old desks we had in our storage space. They are from IKEA and consist of two table tops and adjustable legs that you buy separately. We set up the tables to stand as tall as possible to ensure the maximum amount of storage underneath. Next, I took some old IKEA curtains that I had lying around and simply cut and hemmed one panel so that it would wrap around the table. I attached it with strips of velcro.

And Viola! We have a usable space! This is a huge improvement on the mix of stuff that was there before (a dusty exercise bike, old lamp shades, etc). And now we have a great work surface that is perfect at standing height. I have to thank my boyfriend Josh for his help with this project. It was actually more of a collaboration than anything else we have done in the apartment lately, and I think we are both really happy with the result. Teamwork!

Oh the IKEA Lack side table. Chances are you either have this table in your apartment or you know someone who does. At $7.99 each, these tables are hard to resist. And their clean and simple shape guarantee that they will fit in pretty much anywhere. As it turns out, the Lack side table has also served as the spring board for many DIY embellishments and upgrades. Here are some great examples I found plus my own hack at the very end of the list. Perhaps this will make you look twice at the humble Lack side table

Glass Book Top

http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/apartments/76111/ikea-remix

Grass Top

http://www.iso216.com/project/grass-table/

Eco Top

http://www.sunset.com/home/weekend-projects/easy-eco-table-00400000013251/

Desk Shelving

http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/look/look-using-sidetables-as-shelves-065894

Mod Podge Top

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2009/09/ikea-hack-lack-table-goes-modern.html

Lack Coffee Table Hack

http://www.instructables.com/id/Coffee-Table-Hack-of-IKEA-LACK/

Customized with Bamboo Veneer

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/living/2009/03/16/1900/

Memory Box Top

http://www.homebysunset.com/home_by_sunset/2007/10/making-memories.html

Two Tables Turned Into One (My Contribution)

I bought four Lack side tables instead of two and glued (with Liquid Nails) the feet of one table to the disassemble top of the other table. Now it has more of a box shape that reminds me of more expensive tables like West Elm’s Parsons Cube Side Table that sells for $149. My tables cost $16 each plus $3 for the Liquid Nails. Bam! Now, perhaps I will paint them? We’ll see..everything is looking a little dark.

If the thought of hacking away at IKEA stuff appeals to you, then be sure to check out the site IKEA HACKER. It’s completely dedicated to this type of thing.

I have always had a preconceived notion about leather. It usually makes me think of bikers or that scene in Working Girl where Joan Cusack screams out in a Staten Island accent “But it’s not even leatha’!” However I’ve developed a new found love for leather, specifically vintage or “distressed” leather.

Recently I added a Chesterfield Sofa (see top left sofa) to my list of dream furniture (this is a running list of the furniture I can’t afford now but dream about having someday).  I love Chesterfield chairs and sofas because that have that great library/boys club feel. In fact, the Chesterfield style has a long history of being used in formal men’s clubs. It was also the kind of couch that Sigmund Freud had in his office (aka for the patients to lie down on).

Sadly, vintage leather is expensive UNLESS you stumble upon a piece at a yard or estate sale. And for some reason vintage leather seems to be much easier to locate (on line at least) in the UK. So I guess we just have to wait until the pound isn’t so much higher than the dollar. Or maybe you could just scour your grandparents’ basement to see if they have an old leather chair stashed somewhere.

Until I fulfill my dream of becoming a real adult with a substantial salary, I guess I’ll just have to keep dreaming of leather…sigh

The pictures above are from RoseandGrey.co.uk

And for more images of Chesterfield sofas, check out the following links:

Chesterfields 1780

Apartment Therapy – Inspiration: Chesterfield Sofa

When my parents bought their new house a couple of years ago, it came with a round kitchen table and chairs. The style of this set was a bit…well, not my parents’ taste. It had a hand painted country motif…eck. But my mother is very handy and she has really improved these chairs with a just little paint and fabric.

To fix up a chair like this is actually pretty easy. For tips on painting furniture, check out my recent post on the subject.  And reupholstering a removable seat cushion is very straightforward and a great project for someone new to reupholstering. Check out this article for directions.

Thanks for the DIY inspiration Mom!