As I’ve mentioned our apartment is challenged in the space department.  There is definitely no room for a dining table so I had been researching drop-leaf or gate-leg tables for quite some time.  These are tables that have “leaves” that fold down so they take up minimal space when not in use.

This is from the Martha Stewart Collection.  She has a very nice line of upscale furniture (not at Kmart).

I was considering getting this Thomas O’Brien dining table for $299 from Target but I wasn’t sure if the legs folded in as well…. they must for the leaves to come down, but I wanted to see what it looked like.  Target does a pretty poor job of describing their furniture and providing additional images.

Target actually carries quite a few drop-leaf tables…  I was planning on using it as a kitchen island as well.

But during my research I came across extension tables – coffee tables that extend into dining tables like this one from Ligne Roset - it’s supposed to be super expensive though.  If you like this design, Dania Furniture offers a cheaper version.

It’s also available in a glass version, but the wooden one opens up to twice its size while this one doesn’t.

While I was at Jensen-Lewis on Sunday shopping for a sofa, I found my extension table!  Check this out…

How cool is that?!  I just bought one today.  At $699 yes it was a little pricey, but think of it as getting both a dining table and a coffee table in one.   It easily seats 6 people and I know we’re going to be entertaining a lot.  As Mr. Bee says, “It’s like a transformer!”

If I bought a drop-leaf table, I would have had to buy a separate coffee table too.  It’s also available in a glass version.  This is the regular size…

This is with the leaf in the middle extended.  But I wanted a wood coffee table and the wood one opens to twice its regular size.

Perfect for a Manhattan apartment with limited space.

I just bought this White Waffle Weave Fabric shower curtain from Target.  Initially I was going to get something with a pattern, but the tile on our bathroom floor is black and white checkers so I thought it would be best to stick to a clean spa look.

Also purchased this wall clock.  We didn’t own a single wall clock!  I guess since we’re both at our computers practically every waking minute we didn’t really need a clock.

I love Target! 

Chef Masayoshi “Masa” Takayama reviews Santoku Knives.

Crap mine is in 6th place!

Had brunch on Saturday at the Miracle Bar and Grill in the West Village.  Our dentist recommended this place… but I’m not a huge fan of TexMex because I am an authentic Mexican food snob.  Mr. Bee had the fattest burger with homemade jalapeno chips.  I had the breakfast burrito with grits.  I didn’t know… I like grits!

Sunday evening we went to Da Andrea.  We had a fabulous meal here before and this time was no exception.  Mr. Bee ordered the beef tenderloin I had last time and I ordered Pappardell pasta with sweet sausage ragu and truffle oil.  Someone commented on my previous review of this place that I always outorder Mr. Bee.  He said I outordered him again!  Pasta was deeeelicious, portions were generous and service was excellent.

Also ate some nice gouda cheese as a snack Sunday evening.  Picked it up at Gourmet Garage.

 

I went to 10 furniture stores this weekend looking for a sofa!  Who knew sofa shopping was such hard work???  On Saturday, Mr. Bee and I went to Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Jennifer Convertibles, Design Within Reach, and The Door Store.  We also briefly popped into The Silk Trading Company and West Elm.  

This sofa is pretty much my first non-Ikea purchase so I was super excited!  Mr. Bee was looking for one main criteria – comfort.  I was more focused on design.  It was a challenge finding a good compromise.  Our other criteria was a smaller scale sofa (smaller than a standard sofa, bigger than a loveseat) otherwise called an “apartment sofa” (which is around 78 inches) that was also a sofa bed (because we plan on having a lot of guests). 

Nothing really captured our fancy at Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn (except for the luscious sectionals Mr. Bee dreams of that we could never fit into our apartment).  Jennifer Convertibles was a logical choice since we were looking for a sofabed.  This slipcovered, cotton-twill fabric sofabed had down-filled cushions and was so soft – you just sank right into it.  Mr. Bee loved it. 

Yes it was comfortable – it even looks soft, but I didn’t like the design… too casual.  Plus it was only available in white unless we wanted to wait 6-8 weeks for another color (I have a gray cat; a white couch is a no-no but I think these slipcovered sofas look best in white).  Actually most of the places we visited told us it takes 6-12 weeks for a sofa to come in unless we purchase the exact floor model without any deviations in style or color (and of course if they have it in stock).  Turns out it’s pretty standard procedure – I’m used to Ikea style instant gratification

I liked this sofa better - a little less comfortable, but more designed in a sage, suede velvet fabric.  It comes in an apartment size (without the chaise lounge) but it takes 6-8 weeks to come in.   

Then it was over to The Door Store…  Their sofas take up to 12 weeks to come in.  This one was my favorite, it was available in an apartment size and it was in stock!  But Mr. Bee didn’t think it was comfortable enough and alas no sofabed.  Do we get it and just buy an aerobed?  I’ve heard great things about aerobeds actually…

We went home sofaless.  I don’t think Mr. Bee can handle the rigors of super shopping.  I, on the other hand, am a seasoned pro having trained for many many years.   So on Sunday I went to 3 more furniture stores by myself – Carlyle Sofabeds, Jensen Lewis, and Room & Board.  This sofa at Jensen-Lewis is a bit more modern than my taste.  I don’t think it would pass Mr. Bee’s soft and comfortable test.  But it is an apartment sized sofa…

and it does come with a sleeper (the sleeper design is slightly fatter and lower to accomodate the bed).  But it is in stock and available for delivery next week.  $1946.

Other possibilities – the Frederick Full Sleeper from Room & Board – $1549.  It’s in stock in this color… but I would prefer a biege or sage color which would take about 6-8 weeks to come in.

Ideally I want a sofa with round arms, wooden legs, in a neutral color.  The round arms make it a little warmer, feminine.  I don’t like metal legs, and I think a sofa looks more elegant with wood legs showing rather than having no legs at all.  A nice, warm, inviting, traditional sofa – I’m not a fan of the modern aesthetic.  And of course comfortable with a sofabed too. 

My parents are coming in 2 weeks so I’d hoped to have bought a sofa by then…  But my parents have no problem sleeping on the floor though – in fact they prefer it anyway.  I just wanted the apartment to look nice…  I’m gonna sleep on it  – pretty much every sofa I’m interested in takes 6-8 weeks to come in.

Brief review of the places I visited:

1) Crate and Barrel – I really like this store.  I think the furniture is well made and reasonably priced.
2) Pottery Barn – They have some nice pieces, a smaller selection than Crate and Barrel and priced a little higher as well.
3) Design Within Reach – A lot of people love this store, but everything is very modern in design… just not my cup of tea.
4) Jennifer Convertibles – Very affordable – most everything is around $1000.  And if you’re looking for a sofabed – they definitely have the largest selection.
5) The Door Store – Some nice affordable pieces – sofas we looked at were around $1000.
6) The Silk Trading Company (part of ABC Home) - Pricey as is ABC Home.  One day we will shop here.
7) West Elm – Their stuff isn’t the sturdiest, but it certainly is affordable – on par with Ikea.  And if you like the whole Asian, Moroccan aesthetic – this is definitely the place to shop.
8) Carlyle Sofabeds – Pricey… the stuff I looked at was over $3-4000.  But I’ve heard that they make some of the best sofabeds around.
9) Jensen-Lewis - Also a modern aesthetic but I found a couple of pieces I liked including a coffee table I’m going to buy (but that’s another post).
10) Room & Board – I loved this store!  I thought everything looked nice, was of good quality, and very reasonably priced.  The furniture was nicer than that of Crate and Barrel, but comparably priced.  Modern but not too modern.

Phew moving is hard work!  Friday Mr. Bee and I got 2 hours of sleep because we stayed up all night packing.  We ended up having soooo much stuff – over 100 boxes!  But our movers Moishe’s did an amazing job – skilled and super fast.  We have a third floor walk-up so I did not envy them!  I think they’re pricier than other movers, but they’re considered the best in New York and I’d highly recommend them.  The total for 4 hours came to $700 not including tip.

Saturday night we walked over to I Tre Merli Bistro - the cutest little place to have a drink and celebrate our move.  They have a nice selection of affordable wines.  Loved the olive oil.  The mozarella/tomato was fresh and excellent!  Also had a saffron rissotto with meat sauce.  This was ok, I didn’t think the flavors went well together.

They offer these cutting boards with focaccia bread, jam, meat, cheese, or veggies.  I love these type of dishes you can just munch on.  Plus everything was very reasonably priced.  A place I’d definitely go back to. 

We also bought an Elfa Shelving System for our kitchen from the Container Store yesterday.  Mr. Bee installed it – not easy work when your ceilings are over 9 feet tall.  This place is much smaller than our previous apartment, but I love it.  I love, love, love the neighborhood – there’s so much going on, so much to do.  It’s the complete opposite of where we were living before.  I read that Hilary Swank, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Julianne Moore are all supposed to live on this block.

We’re gonna be unpacking and organizing for a long time.  This place is small but oh so cute.  Quintessential West Village.

I stopped by the New York Sports Club and The Printing House today to decide which one to join. 

Pros of Printing House

The Printing House is by far the superior gym – huge well maintained facilities, floor to ceiling windows with spectacular 360 degree views of the city and the river, a rooftop pool and sundeck, high celebrity spotting quotient , and the membership fees are actually cheaper.  $65/month with no enrollment fee and 13th month free if paid for a year up front, $73/month w/ $49 enrollment fee if paid monthly.

Cons of Printing House

It’s .7 miles away from our place – much farther than I thought.  Unfriendly staff.

Pros of NYSC

Right at the subway stop.  Only .2 miles away from our place and it’s open 24 hours.  Multiple locations.  The people there were also much more helpful and friendly. 

Cons of NYSC

Higher membership dues – $80/month for one gym, $90 a month for all gyms.  Not nearly as nice as Printing House!

Obviously I’m trying to convince myself to join Printing House because it’s so nice.  But realistically NYSC is much more convenient which means I’m much more likely to go.  For cinco de mayo (today only) they’re charging a $5 enrollment fee instead of the standard $129…  so we’ll save $258.  Le sigh, we’re joining NYSC but if you live near Printing House… you should join.

Packing is a bitch!  We’re moving this Saturday and we still have so much to do.

We did have a nice view here… it’s even better at sunrise.  Goodbye Battery Park, hello West Village!

Mr. Bee and I are going to join a gym as soon as we move because summer is just round the corner and we’ve both put on weight since getting married.  Our options are the New York Sports Clubs, Equinox, and a local gym called The Printing House. 

When I was a member of Crunch, I never went because it was too far (a 20 minute walk).  Then I discovered that there was a gym in our apartment complex and joined… but I admit I was still too lazy to go.  So my lazy ass needs all the incentive I can get.  Equinox is prolly out of the question because it’s 7 blocks away;  NYSC and Printing House are half the distance. 

Pros of NYSC – Convenience – right at subway exit, multiple locations, 24 hours.

Pros of Printing House – rooftop pool and sundeck, looks like a nicer gym overall.

We’re gonna get a trial membership to each and see which one works best.  What gym are you a member of and how much do you like it?

I love this condensed beef and chicken stock from Better Than Bouillon.  Just mix some boiling water and stock paste and voila – instant stock!

I think it tastes better than canned or cubed stock, and it’s more cost effective.  A little bottle will last you a long time.