Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with furniture

Looking for a unique, comfortable chair for my office.

nitsuj — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:45:09 -0800

Looking for a unique, comfortable chair for my office -- with a few odd requirements. I'd like a chair or love seat-sized sofa for my office. This will be primarily used by one person at a time to sit on while watching TV or playing Xbox. If it holds two people, awesome, but not a requirement.

One caveat: My office is in the attic, and the stairway leading up to it is rather narrow -- about 24" wide. There are no other avenues to get furniture up into the office. Further, the space this chair or sofa would sit in is about 5' wide.

What are my options for a unique, comfortable chair/sofa for my office?

I've considered large bean bags (too expensive, not very durable) and a Papasan (not very comfortable, ugly).

Budget: <$200. Used is fine.

How do you buy furniture for a retail store?

CommonSense — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:39:13 -0800

I need to find places to buy cool/offbeat furniture, but with the durability and dimensions/styles needed for a retail store. I've recently taken ownership of a retail store, and among the many things I'd like to do to rebrand and "re-image" it is replace the boring, standard-issue furniture used in the customer-facing portion of the store. I'd like to replace the display tables, get shelving so that I'm more effectively using the wall space, etc.

But in particular, I'm interested in furniture made from reused/repurposed materials and/or used furnishings that come from other retail stores that have either closed or replaced their furnishings. There HAVE to be places where you can find this stuff, but Google is failing me. I realize that to an extent, I can also get stuff from "consumer" furniture stores, but that isn't always going to address the needs of a retail space very well.

I'd be kind of interested in taking some cues from the Apple store (big, long tables, with shelving along the sides), but without duplicating them outright. (Plus, I'm sure I couldn't dream of affording the kind of furniture they use.) I don't want the place to look as cold and sterile as Apple stores do; dark-colored natural woods/metal/stone made from repurposed old construction/building/carpentry materials, for example, would be one direction I'd be interested in going.

Location is Richmond, VA, although I live in Baltimore, so I can also shop around in the Baltimore/DC area. The product line is computers and accessories, so it would be mostly tables and shelving that I'd need --nothing explicitly "retail-only" like clothing racks, etc.

Help me stain or paint my ikea desk

If only I had a penguin... — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:38:31 -0800

I want to stain (ideally) or paint (less good) my ikea wood veneer desk. How can I best do this? I have a desk made of the same material as this one. It's basically a light coloured wood veneer. I'd like to make it a darker brown-black colour. While I could get a desk of the same material in the colour I want for a mere $69, it's not the same size and I really need the new desk to be the same size.

How can I stain or paint this? I'd prefer a stain or a glaze that would let the original grain markings through, but I might settle for paint. Whatever you advise, I will go to Ikea and buy a piece of board of the same material/colour in the as-is section to try it on before tackling my actual desk.

I'm aware of a previous question about painting ikea laminate, but I don't think this is laminate (except, see next paragraph)

Oh, and one more thing: I'm not absolutely sure it's wood veneer. It might be some kind of plastic. What makes me doubt is that I have an Ikea Billy bookcase that is an ash veneer (stained brown-black) and you can actually feel the grain of the wood. You can't feel anything on the desk. It's super-smooth. Does this mean it's not a wood veneer?

So what do you advise oh wise hive mind?

New baby, new couch. Bad idea?

Brodiggitty — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:06:26 -0800

New baby, new couch. Bad idea? So my wife and I are expecting a new bundle of joy and poop - our first - in May. In the mean time, Mrs. Brodiggitty has decided we need a new couch and possibly a matching chair. My question is: Do we go out and buy a good quality couch we would look at reupholstering before putting to the curb ($1,300 to $2,000) or should we buy a cheapy from Sears($400-$700)?

Money is not a huge issue, but I don’t want to buy something super nice if it’ll be totaled in 3 years time. I'm inclined to think if I buy something more expensive, it'll be sturdier with a better frame and will be more durable in the long run. But am I being naive? What is your experience with kids and furniture? I want to get at least 15-20 years out of a more expensive couch, reupholstering included.

Bonus questions – Our friends with 2 kids say leather is actually a good choice with kids because it’s easy to clean, and non-absorbent. But will it stand up to toys and toddlers? Can anyone back up their claim?

P.S. - We have a dog who is currently allowed on the couch, and unless I got leather, would probably continue to allow on the couch.

Corrugated Cardboard Control Committee

battleshipkropotkin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:56:42 -0800

I have been experimenting with corrugated cardboard construction. Looking for new project ideas. I found a big pile of triple-layer corrugated cardboard by the supermarket dumpster across the street and decided to make some stuff. I did a small bookshelf as a test and I was pleasantly surprised. Then I made a bigger bookshelf, and it worked out pretty well. Here are some pictures of the shelves. They are quite sturdy and are currently packed with books.

Can the hive mind come up with any great project ideas for this cardboard stuff? Toys? Useful household items?

Stabilizing a wooden bedframe

ocherdraco — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:24:09 -0800

How can I make my bed more stable? My bedroom set is all lovely blond wood furniture from the early 40s. I love it, and don't want to give it up. The bed, however, is becoming exasperating.

The substantial headboard and footboard are connected by long pieces (similar to but thicker than 1x6), each of which has a half-inch lip to hold the slats which support the mattress. There are only four slats, which are pieces of 1x3. When all four slats are in place, the bed supports the mattress quite well, with very little noise. The problem is that, over the course of a few months of sleeping on it (or fewer, if it's being used for more vigorous activity), the slats shift and fall out (usually one at a time, thank goodness), making the whole thing seem unstable, and creak like crazy. Re-setting them is a major hassle involving moving the bed, lifting the mattress and box spring, and shimmying the slats back into place multiple times on either side until they stay put.

How can I fix my bed so that I:
a) don't damage the frame
b) keep the slats from falling out
c) make the bed more stable than it currently is with all four slats in place

Should I add more slats? How can I stabilize them so they won't fall out? Would it make more sense to use a sheet of plywood which would be less likely to fall out, or would that be too heavy for the narrow lip?

Furnishing a small apartment.

Authorized User — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:21:23 -0800

Help me furnish and decorate my new small studio apartment. My new apartment is a small (22.5 m²~ 240 square feet) studio apartment. Pictures and floorplan here. The living area is approximately 260cm by 430cm. The fixed cabinets are both 60cm wide and the gap between them is 140cm wide.

What I need is a decent sized bed, preferably at least 120cm wide (I'm not picky; I could sleep on a sofa bed IF it's good enough), a good desk and some chairs for the kitchen table. What I would also want is enough room to occasionally seat about 4 people in comfort and possibly for watching movies from the computer screen. The table could also fit just enough chairs to also seat 4. Storage-wise I should be good with the existing storage with the exception of a bookcase and possibly some desk drawers. If there was enough room and a place to hide away a gaming table that is 120x180cm and is disassembled into a package measuring 120x60 plus some legs, it would be perfect, but that is not really necessary.

And since the apartment is new and shiny, I'd like the furniture to also at least not be ugly so something that fits the apartment would be nice.

My budget is basically big enough for Ikea stuff or any alternative at a similar price point. (Note that I am in Finland). I already have some Anssi bar stools suitable for the table and an black Expedit bookcase. The rest of my old furniture is either something I'm looking to replace or is just too clunky for this place and I'm not married to the bookcase either.

Any tips, tricks or input are appreciated. How would you decorate this place given these requirement or without them?

Thanks, pee-pants cat.

oh really — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:51:33 -0800

I need advice on replacing couch cushions but know nothing about furniture. One of my cats wee'd on the couch, which is awesome in & of itself, but the unfortunate part (besides the fact that it is the only piece of furniture I bought new instead of at an estate sale/inherited from my grandparents' basement) is that the cushions are stuffed with feathers. What I'm wondering is twofold:

1. Whether it's possible/advisable to replace the feather cushions with foam (as I have pretty much determined that the feather-stuffed cushions are totally ruined since it's pretty well impossible to get that delightful cat pee smell out of them).

and

2. Whether it's possible to buy foam replacement cushions on the internet rather than going to an upholsterer, & if so, where!

The couch is a huge overstuffed corduroy-esque monster from Crate & Barrel. I assume that replacing the feather cushions with foam will make the couch less squishy & awesome, but I'm hoping that foam will be easier to clean &/or replace & will be more affordable.

Please tell me about the coziest, softest, and most comfortable things in your home.

lalex — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:55:58 -0800

Please tell me about the coziest, softest, and most comfortable things in your home. After a recent luxury hotel stay, I'd like to make my apartment more comfortable...the kind of place with a sofa that's easy to curl up and nap on, an appealing reading nook, a bed that's ridiculously inviting after a long day.

To that end, please recommend your favorite comfortable home items. I'm looking for great throw pillows, blankets, bedding, really anything that makes you look forward to coming home.

How to deal with desk with sharp edges?

shivohum — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:31:20 -0800

A desk I bought from office depot a couple of months ago has sharp edges -- not sharp enough to cut, but sharp enough to be plenty annoying if I ever touch those edges. Is there any easy and not-ugly way to deal with these?

Online or local (NYC) sources for solid oak Mission-style home-office furniture?

merejane — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:25:50 -0800

I am looking to buy a desk and two-drawer lateral file cabinet in solid oak, Mission or Amish style. I have seen some nice furniture online (for example, at barnfurnituremart.com and missionliving.com), but have no idea if these are reliable sources. Does anyone have experience ordering this kind of furniture online, or alternatively, are there good stores in NYC?

My new piece of furniture has lost its magnetic personality.

AtomicBee — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:15:02 -0800

The magnetic closure on my new piece of furniture does not work properly. It is a simple problem, but I can't figure out a solution. Please help me fix it! I just got a great deal on a piece of scratch & dent furniture, with a broken door closure. The door is held closed by a pair of magnets on each end. The magnets are embedded into the wood, and are supposed to be flush with the surface like the head of a screw. Unfortunately, the magnets in this case are recessed into the surface, so they do not make contact when the door is closed. They are held in with glue. This is not one of those spring-loaded catches common on glass-doored entertainment centers.

My initial thought was to get the magnets out , fill in some sort of epoxy behind them to make them flush again, and then glue them back in. However, I can't figure out how to get these things out without carving around them, thereby causing a ton of damage to the surrounding wood.

How can I fix this? Best answers will cause as little damage to the furniture as possible.

Best Way to Sell Household Goods?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:26:11 -0800

In six months, I am moving to Alaska. What is the best way to sell my household goods? I won't need furniture, kitchen supplies, etc. up there. I currently have the standard accoutrements of a post-college, big-city young professional; most of my furniture is nice but of the Ikea variety, my dishware and appliances range from meh to nice, and I have tons of books. I'm going to be flying up, so I need to fit everything I take into three suitcases and a carry-on. My parents can take custody of some stuff (probably mostly books) but not furniture. I don't want to put anything into storage.

Of course I've thought of Craigslist, but is there a better way? I'd like to maximize the cash I can put away from selling my things. I'm also interested to know what the proper timeline is. Can I expect to get rid of a one-bedroom apartment's worth of stuff in a month? Two months? Two weeks? I live in a large East Coast city with a reputation for transiency. Any bonus moving to Alaska (Anchorage) tips also appreciated!

Anonymous because I haven't given notice at work, and won't for a while. Throwaway email: movingtoalaska10@gmail.com

How do I decorate my mirror wall?

unsupervised — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:18:27 -0800

How would you decorate a living room with a mirror wall? We're in the process of replacing all the starter/hand-me-down furniture in our condo and we're at a loss as to how to decorate the mirror wall in our living room.

About the wall: It's roughly 20' long and comprised of four 7 1/2' tall and 5' wide mirror panels. It's the longest uninterrupted wall in the room spanning both the dining room for 7 1/2' and the living room for 12 1/2'. Other than an 1/8" gap between panels and a 3" runner on the floor, it's floor to ceiling uninterrupted mirror. They're in perfect condition.

We've grudgingly embraced them: we have friends in the complex with the exact same condo layout as ours and our unit looks immense when compared to theirs. The mirror wall is also directly across from the windows and we get the added benefit of light and a view on that side of the room. We've never had any idea how to decorate it, though.

What decorating/furnishing ideas could make the most of my mirror wall?

We have a chest full of stench!

imjustsaying — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:44:58 -0800

We've inherited a wooden sea chest from 1827 along with accompanying provenance and documentation. That's the good news. The bad news is that it stinks. This beautiful antique chest was filled with old navy uniforms for at least 100 years, but also with moth balls.

When we open it, the smell of the moth balls is overpowering, to say the least. We've tried leaving it open outdoors for several days, putting trays of baking soda in it and closing it, and doing the same with vanilla extract.

Nothing works, although we have seen soem slight improvement.

Should we resign ourselves to never again being able to store anything in it?

Help me modernize this old space

pilibeen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:56:06 -0800

How can I introduce some color in my very brown apartment - AND - can you recommend some cheap sources for cool/hip furnishings & paintings? I'm moving into a new place soon with hardwood floors in the living room & bed room, and wood paneling all around. It's very, very brown and drab.

I'm looking for ways to introduce some color into the space, and make it feel less like my grandparent's home and more like one of a 25 year old.

Since painting isn't an option - I'm assuming my only choices are furniture, paintings, lamps, plants, and other decorative items. Unfortunately I'm completely clueless and don't know where to begin looking for (reasonably) affordable furniture and paintings. The selection at the local thrift store and most yard sales seem to just match the current decor I'm trying to get away from.

Just browsing Apartment Therapy - I really like this guy's setup.

Not into the super modern - but I like the funky, hip, vintage stuff which I'm guessing is probably the only feel I could pull off anyway, given what I'm working with.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions....

Covering for TV stand doors?

Tilon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:17:33 -0800

I'm in the process of getting an entertainment unit built. Instead of glass, I'm thinking of putting something over the doors that would be dark (to hide the LEDs), allows my remotes to work, and still allows decent airflow. Any suggestions what would work here? Speaker fabric? Screen door mesh? Something else?

Modern TV Needed

shew — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:03:56 -0800

Help me find a new LCD television for my modern guest bedroom. I currently have the Samsung LN-S3252D in my master bedroom. It's white. It's sexy. I love it. I need another one (or similar) for my guest bedroom. Since that TV is about four years old, I was hoping to get an upgraded model. Has Samsung discontinued this model? I can't find the LN-S* series anywhere. I was hoping that Samsung would have a new version of the same design out by now but no luck.

I'm willing to buy a different TV but do not want to compromise on the design. Has anyone stumbled upon any great looking, modern flat 32" panels out there?

How do we compare and choose between two (almost) identical beds?

avoision — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:07:16 -0800

My wife and I are looking to buy a new (queen size) bed, and trying to decide between two beds from two different stores. Both are actually quite similar in terms of look/style and price. Here are the beds: Crate and Barrel vs. Room & Board

The big question is: how to choose? We like both equally, and we're not sure if one bed is better made than the other, if one company is better than another, etc. Are there certain things we should be looking for that might tip the vote, one way or another?

Additionally, we would love to hear any feedback from anyone who's purchased a bed from either store. Good or bad experiences, we'd love to hear about it.

ps: gotmarriedlastseptemberwoohoo!

All about sewing machine cabinets

dilettante — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:08:41 -0800

So I've been coveting a sewing machine cabinet for a couple of reasons. They're expensive, but I find affordable used ones at a local thrift store and on craigslist pretty regularly. However, I don't know what I'm doing! Does anyone have any advice on:

- choosing a cabinet (I'll probably have to evict an older machine, will try to get one with a non-working non-antique machine in it to reduce the guilt)

- installing the machine? I wrote to my machine's manufacturer (Singer) to make sure it can be installed in a cabinet, and they said I'll have to buy a couple of little parts. The manual didn't have anything about this, and I'm still not sure how this is generally done.

- operating the lift?

Note that I do not sew well or often, and am trying to protect the machine and get it out of the way (and out of sight) without just adding a big useless lump of machine-in-a-case.

What style of armchair did I buy?

angels in the architecture — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:08:35 -0800

What style of armchair did I buy? Also, what are some good books/websites for answering this kind of question? I bought a chair the other day at a thrift store, and I'm trying to identify its style/period. Pictures here and here--the chair is actually much brighter in reality, a loud marigold yellow.

I'm thinking it must be a mishmash of styles from the '70s or '80s, based on the color alone, although it's in pretty good shape except for some fading so it may newer than that. So, my secondary question is, what are some good reference materials (online or off) for answering this kind of question? Is there something like A Field Guide to American Houses, but for furniture?

Sturdy, expandable dining table?

CruiseSavvy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:29:52 -0800

Recommend a dining table that's round, expandable, sturdy, and will fit a bolt-on highchair? We have a small space, so I need the perfect dining table. So far I just can't find what I need: round to maximize space, expandable for the rare occasions when we need even more, and something that will fit a bolt-on highchair (like this) -- i.e., no skirt, and sturdy.

Bonus points for clean, modern lines and a dark stain.

This cheapie one from Amazon looks about right, but I don't think it's sturdy enough. I'd rather buy something great-quality that will still look great years from now.

Is it worth the trouble/effort to buy IKEA in Canada and drive it back into the US?

davertron — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:11:19 -0800

Anyone with experience buying and bringing IKEA stuff from Canada into the US? I want to drive up to the IKEA in Montreal to purchase some furniture because it's the closest IKEA to where I live here in Vermont (about 2 hours away). I'm guessing that you probably have to deal with import procedures when coming back into the states if you spend a certain amount of money or are bringing back a big truck full of stuff. Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you think I could avoid it if I had a van vs. a Uhaul or something similar? What would this procedure involve? Would the current exchange rate make it worth the trouble?

I'm planning on buying some bigger items, so it might be difficult to sneak through unnoticed, but I might be able to borrow a decently sized van or something if needs-be.

The Dudes Furniture

Raybun — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:46:54 -0800

What style of bentwood furniture does The Dude in The Big Lebowski have in his pad? Does this style have a name? Google images came up with only one matching photo when I searched for "Bentwood Mission Furniture" I do not believe that this is any kind of a variant on the mission style, but this is where it was found.

Where is this table from?

carter — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:31:40 -0800

Where in the world is this table (1 2) from? We got it at a yard sale. It's octagonal, about 27" in diameter, and 6" high, and it has metal ornamentation attached to the top. We were thinking South Asia, or perhaps North Africa, but really have no idea. Any help much appreciated!