My husband and I decided to get a few new things for our apartment including new dining chairs. I really wanted lucite chairs with bent metal bases but I didn’t want to spend more than $150 per chair (tops!). Well I started my search to no avail. The ghost Stark chairs are great but too expensive and Ebay was enticing but I nearly ended up buying three sets of different chiars that were way too expensive (thank god I got out bid). Then I found the above chair at IKEA. They are perfect - molded acrylic modern seat with the bent metal base and for a mere $84! I was ecstatic. Well- apparently I am not the only one who thought so. There was no stock in the Elizabeth NJ store, Paramus NJ store, or in the Long Island location. I started spending my days obsessively checking stock at those two stores and then calling them to see when stock was to show up. They never new and could promise me nothing. Then one night I had the brain storm to check the New Haven store. They had stock!! But only six so I had to act quickly. The next morning I borrowed my in-laws car and drove and hour and half to get MY chairs. I arrived to find the chairs on display but out of stock! I was foiled again until my friend John (he lives in New Haven and came to the store for a lunch of swedish meatballs) suggested we make a scene. We didn’t do quite that but we did convince them to sell me the floor models, albeit a little scratched. I happily drove the hour and half home with 4 of, what I consider, pretty damn perfect chairs.
Archive for April, 2008
My Search for the Perfect Chair
Thursday, April 24th, 2008West Village Gut Renovations, Losing our History
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
There is an article in last weeks New York Magazine (the one with McCain on the cover) detailing a renovation of a west village town house. The renovation designed by Steven Harris, a very talented architect, took an original house and completey changed it. What was once a sweet typical west village town house is now a modern huge building that has absolutely no relation to it surroundings. I have great respect for design and architecture and, truth be known, think the new design is gorgeous but I mourn the loss of the original house. Was it really necessary to lose all details of the original house? The house, granted, was in desperate need of work and some serious love but to take it this far seems ludicrious and disrespectful to the history of New York.
The house was bought by an investor for 3 million and then put back on the market for 10 million. Am I the only one that thinks this is crazy? Soon New York will only be for the rich and quickly all that was once wonderful will be gone.
My New Favorite Shop, Environment 337
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
I have just discovered a new shop that I love for buying gifts. Environment 337 is a lovely little shop on 10th street and University Place right here in the West Village. They have another location in Brooklyn where both owners, Donald and Loren, grew up. The store is filled with wonderful things at all price points. I have recently purchased a set of beautiful modern stem less champagne flutes with abstract designs etched on them. A set of four cost $35. I’ve also purchased terrific hand made cutting boards with flower designs burned into the wood($20), wonderful glass jewelery ($20 - $50), soaps, stainless steel necklaces, and some great wallets. They also have a small collection of furniture - a beautiful velvet upholstered arm chair and some great side tables. I’ve only ever met Donald who is lovely and easy to work with. They will sell directly to the trade and do a terrific job of gift wrapping.