There’s no medicine cabinet or storage in the bathroom of my new apartment and since the tile (which goes all the way up the wall) was just redone, the owners aren’t so keen on drilling into it. This means I’m looking at one of those over the toilet freestanding shelf or cabinet things which I never like because I feel like they’re unattractive and not very sturdy seeming. So I ask you, blog readers, have you seen any that you like? What would you do if it was your bathroom?
By the way, this is part one in a series of me asking you for advice on how to set up my new apartment. I was born without the shelf-hanging gene. Also, I have no idea what I like anymore. Midcentury modern? Shabby chic? Actually, I know I like shabby chic, I think I’m just slightly embarrassed to admit it. When I moved into my apartment in California I happened to walk by this second hand furniture store and they had all this distressed white wooden furniture and it was super cheap and at the suggestion of my roommate and friend who was quite handy and had a large car, I snapped it up. I miss that furniture which is currently sitting in my parents house in California since it didn’t make sense to bring it to NYC. When I moved here I bought new furniture which is okay but I don’t love it. It’s neither white nor distressed. It’s Mexican rustic, sort of. It’s large and wooden and it just isn’t me. But, I mean, I’m only talking about a desk, two nightstands or endtables and a dresser. The rest of the furniture for my new place I’m going to have to buy. Here’s what I’m thinking I’ll need:
a kitchen table
chairs
a couch or easy chair or both, plus ottoman since I enjoy flopping into a chair, putting my feet up and staying like that for about six to eight hours (I’m very active)
a coffee table
a media stand or thing to put my TV and cable box on
a microwave (that’s not technically furniture but at this point I’m just making a list)
a puppy
an armoire or freestanding closet or something since this apartment doesn’t have any built in closets which I know kind of sucks but it DOES have a dishwasher and boy do I love dishwashers
two rugs for two rooms which are about 12 by 12 each (one is more like 12 by 14 actually, I think)
Now that I’ve made this list I feel both more stressed and more relaxed.
Since, I’ve been somewhat of a remodel expert the last year….I think Ikea has some cool furniture…
I have one of those storage deals in my center bathroom….I really like it! But I did anchor it to the wall! You know this is California and could you imagine and earthquake hit and it wasn’t anchored when I was….Yeah…that wouldn’t be good…Plus I thought bathrooms were suppose to be the safe place during an earthquake…not that you have to worry about that there but…anyway!
I don’t even know if I answered your question!
Add Ted to your list of apartment items….he is free! LOL
God I’m in a good mood today!
Thanks for the Twitter link…your the best blog host ever!
Quote of the apartment ownership:
“Reading this blog gave you my sincere sympathy for your struggle to arrange your apartment. Perhaps I’m going to renovate the whole apartment complex including the residence of your neighbors. Nevertheless on your bill.I will let you see the site of my Appendicitis to amuse you while I let the illegals do the dirty job as I sit under the shade and drink a martini……
—Yours Truly, Ty “Home makeover NOt Homo makeover FYI cuz it’s on ABC not BRAVO silly!!!” Pennington
I’m probably the worst person to ask for help on setting up our apartment. So here goes!!!
No, really, I have a pretty small bathroom and I bought a free standing shelf for over the toilet. Not cabinets, just 3 open metal shelves. It actually worked out fine.
You’re right, they’re not very sturdy. But they don’t have to be unless you’re storing your bowling balls there. For towels and other things you normally keep in a bathroom, they’re fine.
And I filled mine with a lot of different colored towels, so you really don’t see the shelves as much as you do the towels. Then I have a small shelf unit on the opposite wall for some small stuff.
That’s great though that you found a new place and are getting a lot of new furniture. That’s exciting!!
By the way, are you ever tempted to peek in other people’s medicine cabinets when you’re over their place? Apparently a lot of people are. And they do.
On a talk show I watched once, a guy said he invited his friends over to play cards one night, and he filled his medicine cabinet with marbles. Later in the evening, one of the guys went to the bathroom and after a few minutes they all heard CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK…
This type of cabinetry wouldn’t work in my bathrooms, but I really think this is an elegant free standing cabinet.
http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0306
That cabinet’s not something that’s for sale, just the plans, so pretty useless unless you’re you a closeted Cabinet Maker. I’m just trying to inspire you.
When I met my wife she had this great big chair and a half that you could get lost in (think Blues Clues Thinking Chair). I highly recommend one. The ottoman would just make it more cozy. Get two if you have the room and cash. They look good next to each other.
I prefer end tables to coffee tables.
I’d go with an unfinished table and chairs. If you have the room, get the leaf and extra two chairs, you’ll end up needing them when you have family in town (or for your dinner parties!). Painting them is fun (At least I think so) and you can get just the right color to match the room.
I’d strongly recommend a Lab. For an urban area I’d go with a small female (35lbs or so) and have her spayed early. Labs are fantastic dogs, very smart, very loyal but any bad behavior needs to be worked out when they’re pups or it’s with them for life (chewing, running, etc.).
If you can’t find a rug that you like, don’t forget that you can buy carpet and have the edges hemmed up, plus you can get them in the perfect size for the room.
If you need help with the heavy lifting, call me.
Alison,
Microwaves are bad – don’t use them.
All of the other items, except the puppy, just go to Ethan Allen, it’ll be over priced, but at least they use real wood.
Somewhere around NYC there is a place called The Little Shelter, you can probably find a puppy there.
Did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Is that okay in this instance? I really hate grammar.
Alison,
Microwaves are bad – don’t use them.
All of the other items, except the puppy, just go to Ethan Allen, it’ll be over priced, but at least they use real wood.
Somewhere around NYC there is a place called The Little Shelter, you can probably find a puppy there.
Did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Is that okay in this instance? I really hate grammar.
I’m very disappointed in you, any good Redeye watcher should know about “Mighty Putty” I’m sure if you really tried you could hand said puppy on the wall with that stuff.
I just really want to pay off my student loans and move into NYC already. I’d set my house up like I was on the set of Mad Men and it’d just be one big wisky bar, despite me not drinking wisky. I always wanted to have like a upper NYC socialite house, but where its just filled with me eatting Ramen in my underpants instead of like, being a socialite (which I think only woman can be which would make things a little odd)
I agree with Ted on the Ikea idea, but I'm not sure how much furniture assembly experience you may have (like Greg's humor… some assembly is required).
Since I'm not sure about the space you have or where exactly your taste is lying between the midcentury modern, shabby chic and Mexican rustic, I'll just give you names of some of the places I like for furniture and accessories (in no particular order):
West Elm
Restoration Hardware
Z Gallerie
Crate & Barrel
BoConcept
BluDot
Pottery Barn
I also found a website that you might find useful for ideas:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny
Best of luck in getting settled in!