Ikea can wait

I had a conversation with one of my potential kitchen clients this week and she asked me why she shouldn't just go buy a set of kitchen cabinetry from Ikea for $5000 rather than what I was proposing for more than five times that amount. "What's the difference" she wanted to know. What's the difference indeed.

Good cabinetry is expensive, I'm not going to kid anybody. But cheap cabinetry is expensive too. It's expensive in that it needs to be replaced more often than the good stuff. A well-designed set of good kitchen cabinets should last you a life time. A set from Ikea will last you five years.

If you have a rental or a vacation home, cheap stuff's great. If we're talking about your primary home, be careful before you run down to the big blue and yellow box. The next time you're looking at a kitchen cabinetry display, open the drawers. Swing the doors, kick the tires. Talk to someone who understands what makes good cabinetry good and have him or her explain the difference to you. Keep in mind that everybody has an opinion and learn to tell the difference between a sales pitch and a genuine exchange of information.

Sometimes, all you can afford is the cheap stuff and that's OK. Buy the cheap stuff and make it look as great as you can. Just don't kid yourself.

Here's me standing in an Ikea kitchen in Italy. I'm happy not because of the cheesy cabinetry that's surrounding me. Rather I'm in a fantastic mood because of what I can see through that window.

Here's the view that had me grinning. Listen, if when you look out your kitchen window you can see the Sorrentine Peninsula as it drops into the Bay of Naples like this, ignore everything I just wrote about buying good stuff. You life doesn't need to be enhanced any further than it already is. But if you're like most people, read something other than price tags before you make a major purchase.

Hmmmm. A sink in a drawer

I live in a shoe box. Charming though it is, I live in a small space. That's not really a complaint --I like the idea and the day-to-day challenges that come from a lack of room. That said, I'm always looking for clever and well-designed ideas that save space.

I came across this sink in a drawer idea on Apartment Therapy last week and it has been bouncing around the internet for the last couple of weeks. Now it's my turn.

When I first saw this I thought it was the coolest thing I'd seen in a while. In order for something like this to work, you'd need a flexible drain line. Your local building code may have something to say about flexible drain lines, so check before attempting something like this.

Again, I think this is a pretty neat idea but what's missing from this image is what's in the adjoining room? If the kitchen sink backs into a closet, it's no real problem, though you'd end up with a shallower closet. In my case, the bathroom wall where my pluming is backs against my kitchen cabinets, so something like this wouldn't work for me. Ditto anybody who has their sink attached to an exterior wall. Magazine photos can be a good source for ideas, but it always helps to think things through before getting too attached.

Sunday funnies

This kills me. I know, I know it's a rip off of Las Vegas' big sign and logo but I still think it's hilarious. The clever kids over at St. Petersblog found this and I'm rerunning it here because I think it needs as much attention as it can get. By the way, if you're looking for some amusing insider info on the inner workings and absurdities of this Gulfcoast Monaco check out their blog.

Sunday not really funnies

This quote from the late great Art Buchwald is good to keep in mind as I site here wondering what the Dow's going to do tomorrow.

Saturday funnies

Guess which vice presidential candidate took her first four questions from a reporter on Thursday? Hint: she was on her first trip to New York. Ever. No dear, changing planes in Newark on your way to Ireland... no, Iraq... I mean Kuwait doesn't count as a visit.

Here's a highlight of what she had to say after looking down into the hole at Church and Vesey Streets: 

"Every American student needs to come through this area so that, especially this younger generation of Americans is, to be in a position of never forgetting what happened here and never repeating, never allowing a repeat of what happened here.

"I wish every American would come through here,” she continued. “I wish every world leader would come through here, and understand what it is that took place here, and more importantly, how America came together and united to commit to never allowing this to happen again. And just to hear from and see these good New Yorkers who are rebuilding not just this are but helping to rebuild America has been very, very inspiring and encouraging. These are the good Americans who are committed to peace and security and it’s been an absolute honor getting to meet these folks today."

Part of me thinks this is hilarious, but then the better part of me realizes the gravity of the situation and wants to weep.