Old building, tiny entrance, big furniture, oh my!
May 12, 2011 10:12 AM Subscribe
How would you go about moving or buying furniture when your new place has a single entrance that is, when opened, only 26 inches wide and has very steep stairs?
I posted earlier and got great responses about my new place that I thought I'd bring another challenge to discussion and would love the feedback.
I am moving into an apartment in a building that is VERY old - 110 years old. One of its many quirks is an extremely narrow front door. It measures 26 inches and immediately opens up to very steep stairs. This serves as quite the obstacle in regards to moving any sort of furniture. The windows of the place are too small to fit anything through as well. I guess people and furniture were tiny back in the day. Luckily my IKEA couch breaks down into two parts and has a good chance to fit through but I worry about the queen bed and other pieces.
My question is - does anyone know any brands / stores in the Texas area that specializes in relatively cheap ready-to-assemble furniture? IKEA is nice but can get so expensive. Folding bookcases, futons, or furniture that can be disassembled is great! Do you have any pointers on moving day what I should measure beforehand if some pieces may be a close call fitting through / up the stairs?
I knew it would be trouble when my landlord said they couldn't fit the bathtub wall suround and had to use tiles. As usual you guys are awesome, I hope you have some ideas to help me out. Thank you!
I am moving into an apartment in a building that is VERY old - 110 years old. One of its many quirks is an extremely narrow front door. It measures 26 inches and immediately opens up to very steep stairs. This serves as quite the obstacle in regards to moving any sort of furniture. The windows of the place are too small to fit anything through as well. I guess people and furniture were tiny back in the day. Luckily my IKEA couch breaks down into two parts and has a good chance to fit through but I worry about the queen bed and other pieces.
My question is - does anyone know any brands / stores in the Texas area that specializes in relatively cheap ready-to-assemble furniture? IKEA is nice but can get so expensive. Folding bookcases, futons, or furniture that can be disassembled is great! Do you have any pointers on moving day what I should measure beforehand if some pieces may be a close call fitting through / up the stairs?
I knew it would be trouble when my landlord said they couldn't fit the bathtub wall suround and had to use tiles. As usual you guys are awesome, I hope you have some ideas to help me out. Thank you!
The other place that comes to mind, for some reason, is Crate and Barrel. They have outlet stores in Dallas and San Marco if you are anywhere close to that.
I'd measure everything that you think is questionable right now and see what's going to fit. And make sure it's really 26 inches because if you can't take the door off the hinges then you'll need to allow for that as well.
Also, maybe ask some of the other tenants how they dealt with stuff?
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:23 AM on May 12, 2011
I'd measure everything that you think is questionable right now and see what's going to fit. And make sure it's really 26 inches because if you can't take the door off the hinges then you'll need to allow for that as well.
Also, maybe ask some of the other tenants how they dealt with stuff?
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:23 AM on May 12, 2011
What did the other tenants do?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:48 AM on May 12, 2011
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:48 AM on May 12, 2011
I live in such an apartment, down a steep set of stairs AND a turn to the left. My queen-sized box spring didn't fit in the door when I moved in- away it went. Everything else came flat-packed from IKEA. I was worried some of their long boxes wouldn't fit when you needed to turn the corner, but it did.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:53 AM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:53 AM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
World Market has stores in Texas - they're sort of like a cross between Pier1 and Target. They often have great 20% off and free shipping deals if you order online, but their stuff is very easy to assemble and often a bit better in quality than Ikea.
A suggestion on bookshelves - go tall. Tall, narrow bookshelves are great - and depending on the style, might not need to be anchored to the wall. I got two gorgeous, sturdy 7ft ones from World Market that are attractive, were not too pricy, and fit great in smaller, older buildings.
Go long and narrow in general for things like tv stands, coffee tables, dressers ("buffets" with like this with internal shelving aren't a bad substitute for dressers). They'll make good use of wall space, and keep the "middle" of rooms fairly open and spacious.
Other places worth checking out: Overstock.com, JCPenney, Target, Pier1, even Amazon...
posted by raztaj at 11:03 AM on May 12, 2011
A suggestion on bookshelves - go tall. Tall, narrow bookshelves are great - and depending on the style, might not need to be anchored to the wall. I got two gorgeous, sturdy 7ft ones from World Market that are attractive, were not too pricy, and fit great in smaller, older buildings.
Go long and narrow in general for things like tv stands, coffee tables, dressers ("buffets" with like this with internal shelving aren't a bad substitute for dressers). They'll make good use of wall space, and keep the "middle" of rooms fairly open and spacious.
Other places worth checking out: Overstock.com, JCPenney, Target, Pier1, even Amazon...
posted by raztaj at 11:03 AM on May 12, 2011
A lot of furniture does come apart to some extent. For instance you might find some tables where the legs screw off.
posted by radioamy at 11:23 AM on May 12, 2011
posted by radioamy at 11:23 AM on May 12, 2011
I am very familiar with this problem! The other thing that I have discovered is that it is very worth it to hire experienced movers. I've had movers get things through our door that I never thought would fit, like our living room couch and the refrigerator. They take the front door off the hinges and are able to angle things in. It's like some masterful 3D version of tetris.
I have also had movers who couldn't get things in. The living room couch is a good example. The store delivery guys couldn't do it and I paid extra to have the movers who had first moved me in to go pick up the couch and get it in the front door and up the stairs. I tipped really well on that one.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:37 AM on May 12, 2011
I have also had movers who couldn't get things in. The living room couch is a good example. The store delivery guys couldn't do it and I paid extra to have the movers who had first moved me in to go pick up the couch and get it in the front door and up the stairs. I tipped really well on that one.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:37 AM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: JohnnyGunn, the other tenants don't have as narrow of a door as me and the previous tenant apparently was some crazy guy who was basically squatting in there. Charming I know!
I have definitely looked at World Market, Target, and even Walmart and will definitely check out the others.
Gingerbeer, I hear ya! Luckily my boyfriend's brother is a professional mover with a truck and much experience and hopefully between all three of us we can maximize the entrance space. :-)
posted by hillabeans at 11:56 AM on May 12, 2011
I have definitely looked at World Market, Target, and even Walmart and will definitely check out the others.
Gingerbeer, I hear ya! Luckily my boyfriend's brother is a professional mover with a truck and much experience and hopefully between all three of us we can maximize the entrance space. :-)
posted by hillabeans at 11:56 AM on May 12, 2011
Some box springs for queen sized beds come in two pieces if you ask. Tempurpedic offers it for example.
posted by cecic at 2:48 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by cecic at 2:48 PM on May 12, 2011
We traded our box spring for slat supports from IKEA and have never been happier. Gives the bed a low visual profile as well, which keeps it from dominating a small bedroom. Also, if you have a window or two that is wider than the door you may want to see if the sash(es) are removable. If they are older double hung windows they probably are removable with a little work.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:56 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by Rock Steady at 2:56 PM on May 12, 2011
One thing that I'd worry more about than the narrow door and steep stairs (I live in New York, almost all apartment buildings have that) is the fact that if you're having trouble fitting furniture in the door and up the stairs, that means that your furniture will also probably be too big for your apartment.
I'd definitely second vintage/antique furniture. Ikea, too.
Also, check out West Elm. Most of their stuff is designed on a more human scale than the gigantic McMansions you guys are used to.
posted by Sara C. at 5:16 PM on May 12, 2011
I'd definitely second vintage/antique furniture. Ikea, too.
Also, check out West Elm. Most of their stuff is designed on a more human scale than the gigantic McMansions you guys are used to.
posted by Sara C. at 5:16 PM on May 12, 2011
I guess people and furniture were tiny back in the day.
And windows were bigger. When replacing old windows (especially given the prevalence of A/C), it is easier and cheaper to install the next-step-down standard size than get custom windows.
posted by desuetude at 9:13 PM on May 12, 2011
And windows were bigger. When replacing old windows (especially given the prevalence of A/C), it is easier and cheaper to install the next-step-down standard size than get custom windows.
posted by desuetude at 9:13 PM on May 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fozzie33 at 10:20 AM on May 12, 2011