Apartment 528

Busy Week Recap Part 1 - Friday

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Phew, what a busy week we've had! I started off this post planning to recap all the things we did this past week, but then I realized there were so many pictures to share from Friday alone that there was no way I could write about all our adventures in one post. So today I'm just going to write about last Friday.

It all started with a trip to an Oak Park estate sale with the amazing Leilani of the blog Thriftaholic. She's the only person I know who wouldn't kill me for texting her at 5:30am to coordinate our schedule! After arriving at the estate sale an extra 2 hours early and getting our names on the list, we headed out to explore the neighborhood, which was also home to the Frank Lloyd Wright studio. There were so many gorgeous houses I want to go back when I have the time to take even more pictures.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Studio

More of his studio

The house I think my mom should move in to. It's so HER!

Leilani (pictured) and I found this awesome 50's apartment complex. It was the coolest thing I ever saw! If only this was in Chicago, I would happily move in :)

When we finally went into the sale, the first room we walked into was this 70's cool YELLOW KITCHEN!!!!! Yellow is my FAVORITE color so seeing this kitchen in all of it's glory was like living out a fantasy.

Look at these cabinets! And that built-in!

The knobs and pulls are rad.

I've never seen knife storage like this! We wanted to buy it for ourselves but they wouldn't sell it :(

While at the sale I scored an awesome kitchen table, in yellow of course. My other yellow find, this metal bookcase...the perfect store solution for our files at the studio. Major score. The owners of the house were both doctors and had TONS of vintage office equipment. I wanted to grab more!

I've been lazy and haven't photographed all of my other purchases yet but they'll be up in the store soon. In the meantime, head over to Thriftaholic to see more pictures including some of Leilani's finds. This weekend we're going on a buying trip to get the store stocked with new vintage for the upcoming Randolph Market. Afterwards, I'll be back with more pictures from our super busy week.

What are YOUR weekend plans?

Sweetnature Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:48:00 +0000

We're having a quickie giveaway! Celebrate the women in your life (or just treat yourself) with a prize pack from one of our favorites, Sweetnature Designs. Say goodbye to bland and hello to fun, colorful rooms. Just leave a comment below for a chance to win a linen berry branch pillow cover (16") and a linen bird tea towel. Best part is, it ships in time for Mother's Day just in case you're still looking for something to get the cool mom in your life!

To enter, choose one (or both) of the following options:

Comment below and tell us what awesome woman in your life (whether it's your mom, grandma, wife, annoying little sister, kooky aunt, favorite cousin or even YOURSELF!) could use a little Sweetnature in her home and why. It's okay to say their house is bland. We won't tell! Each comment counts as ONE entry.
Leave a comment on our facebook page with the same info as above. Each facebook comment counts as THREE entries.

Don't forget to leave your email or contact info so I can get in touch with you if you win!

You can enter twice, once per entry method. The contest ends at 11:59pm CT Thursday, May 10th. A winner will be chosen at random and announced May 11th.

*international readers are welcome to enter, however delivery times are not guaranteed.

It's MAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:36:00 +0000

It's May, our favorite month of the year! This month, we'll unveil new products, more furniture, a new shop series, and TWO giveaways, all leading up to 5/28!

Our first giveaway opens this week and will feature gifts perfect for any mom. Want a sneak peek?

And don't forget, there's still time to shop for your favorite mom. Just order by Tuesday, May 8th for guaranteed Mother's Day delivery.

Randolph St. Market THIS WEEKEND!!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Come on out to the Randolph St. Market Spring Fling at Plumbers Hall (INDOORS this time) today and tomorrow to shop an amazing selection of handmade, vintage, and antique wares from Chicago's finest dealers. We'll be there with our colorful array of handmade AND vintage goodies so you'll have a chance to snag your favorite Apt528 items before they're gone.

Tickets are $10 at the door but you can still buy advanced tickets online for $8. Special discounts apply for students. The whole parking lot is open and FREE which means you can rent a pickup truck from Zipcar to carry home all of your purchases :) Not in a driving mood? Don't worry, Always Delivery will be there as always offering FREE delivery for those living downtown and affordable price options for everyone else (details here). And of course, there's plenty of food and drinks for all so you can recharge in between shopping conquests.

See you there!

March 28Day In-Studio Event!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:04:00 +0000

It's time! We're gearing up for this month's 28Day studio sale. Wednesday, March 28th from 4-9p we'll be in the studio with drinks and pizza hanging out, listening to music, and selling furniture. Stop by to get first dibs on awesome new stuff, much of which is ONLY AVAILABLE IN STUDIO like wall art from iamhome, new vintage wares, and of course a super selection of handmade. If you need more of an incentive, we're doing 28% off all in-studio purchases over $50. Yea!

Apartment 528 | 2023 W Carroll Ave | Chicago IL 60612 | 312.970.1528

Our West Town studio is located on the 2nd floor of the Carroll Ave lofts near the corner of Damen and Grand. Just look for warehouses and a big sign on Damen that says "Kinzie Industrial Corridor" and you'll know you're there! Free parking is available in front of the building. If you're taking the bus, the 50 Damen lets you right off at Carroll. There are also train stops within walking distance. Free delivery within Chicago will be available for those who can't carry their purchases home.

My computer's still being fixed :( so I can't create any cool graphics for you but take a look at some of our favorite new items below.

Vintage armchair. Newly upholstered, PLUS it rocks AND swivels. Yep. Swivels.

Blocks. Duh.

I know these are technically champagne coupes but for us unsophisticated folks, they're also great for drinking wine, Dr. Pepper, and even milk. That's how we roll!

Chalkboard skulls from iamhome. They come in four awesome colors. Every home needs one.

Teeny Screenies screen printing kit. Lots of colors and designs to choose from.

See you there :)

Estate Sale Finds

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:33:00 +0000

Sorry for being away so long. My laptop's been in the shop for two weeks now and won't be back for awhile. In the meantime, I've been working on a bare-bones loaner laptop that doesn't have any of my files and programs :( Technology definitely sucks sometimes!

Oh well. The good thing is that it feels like summer outside, we grilled burgers in MARCH, and I went to an AWESOME estate sale in Indiana today where I scored some fantastic new vintage wares for the store.

Gorgeous chairs perfect for your dining room. Set of 6.

IN LOVE with the coffee/tea/flour canisters. Thinking I should keep them...

Found a BUNCH of playing cards. Aren't the owl ones adorable?!

New glasses. The "coffee" mug is actually from a thrifting adventure on Monday.

Books for the kiddos. I also got several fun toys too. Excited to finally start offering kid stuff!

Hopefully I'll be able to pull myself in from the warm weather to clean and photograph everything this weekend for the website.

What about you? What are YOUR weekend plans?

Our First In-Studio 28Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:33:00 +0000

After almost 2 months of moving in and getting the studio just as we want it, we're happy to announce that we're FINALLY ready to have our first 28Day studio sale event! Come by Tuesday, February 28 11-7p to shop our entire selection of handmade and vintage products, including our new inventory and items only available in the studio. Plus we'll have great deals and giveaways all day long.

Apartment 528 | 2023 W Carroll Ave | Chicago IL 60612 | 312.970.1528

Our West Town studio is located on the 2nd floor of the Carroll Ave lofts near the corner of Damen and Grand. Just look for warehouses and a big sign on Damen that says "Kinzie Industrial Corridor" and you'll know you're there! Free parking is available in front of the building. If you're taking the bus, the 50 Damen lets you right off at Carroll. There are also train stops within walking distance. Free delivery within Chicago will be available for those who can't carry their purchases home!

See you there!

2/28 UPDATE: Checkout pictures of the studio and our super awesome inventory on our facebook page.

Making TV Living a Reality...

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to live in the Brady Bunch house. While I still can't understand why a well-off architect couldn't figure out a way to add extra space on to their home (they tried moving in one episode but realized they had too many memories there) so that all 9 of them could have lived more comfortably, I don't know. What I do know is that house was awesome! My favorite part is Mike's den/office off to the side of the living area, the colored panels above the stairs, and that oh so groovy kitchen. Gorgeous!

(via The Brady Bunch Blog)

Now, thanks to the help of Fantasy Floorplans, I'm one step closer to living out my dream! Brandi, the designer over at FF, drafts plans for your favorite TV shows, including Seinfeld, Desperate Housewives (the fictional version, not the trainwreck reality shows), Leave it to Beaver, Dexter, and Friends.

Offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, Mad Men (via FF)

If you're looking to score some great prints but are on a budget, head to Fab.com where you can grab Fantasy Flooplans for just $35 a piece! Hurry, sale ends Thursday.

Studio Makeover: The Doors

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:32:00 +0000

The doors are (almost) done!!!

After stripping, sanding, and staining for what seemed like an eternity, I finally got the doors kind of done. For now, I've only worked on the front. I got so tired that I didn't do the inside of the door. I think I'm going to go the lazy route and just leave the inside painted white since the only person who's going to see it is me anyway. I still need to get curtains to hide the mess and find some awesome antique doorknobs, but other than that we're done!

Oh, and did you notice? WALLPAPER!!! I really wanted some old, retro wallpaper to decorate the outside of the room. I searched Etsy and Ebay looking for paper with red in it to bring out the red pipes above the room but couldn't find anything, especially in a full roll like I needed. But on a thrifting expedition Monday, I came across a FULL ROLL of groovy wallpaper. It looks like something straight out of The Brady Bunch! There's no red but I love the pattern and there was tons of it. Best part...it was $2.69!!!! Does it get any sweeter :)

Wallpaper up, time to paint!

I ended up stapling the wallpaper to the wall instead of pasting it. I constantly change my mind so I figured this was a better decision, that way I can easily switch it out for something else down the road. The pattern is busy enough and the staples are far enough apart that you have to look hard to find the staples. I did glue the wallpaper on the right side of the door because I was at the end of the roll at that point and had to put together several small pieces that didn't want to unroll. The paper is pre-pasted so all I had to do is wet it and smooth. If only everything was so easy!

Next on the list: finding door knobs, finally painting the green above the workshop, and finishing the taping and painting of the drywall inside the room. Almost there!

February 28Day Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:41:00 +0000

You may have noticed that I usually forget to post the 28Day giveaways until the afternoon of the giveaway. My bad! So to give you more time to actually enter our contests, I'll be posting the giveaways at the beginning of the month. Yea!!

With all the craziness of moving in to our new studio, we didn't do a giveaway last month. That's why we're celebrating our first 28Day of the year by teaming up with fellow mid-century lover DeeDee9:14 to bring you TWO giveaways, on TWO blogs, both going on ALL MONTH LONG!!

Liven up your music experience! Enter to win a pair of Cordinated earbuds, a TechnoMud phone dock, AND a $10 Apt528 store credit. The earbuds are wrapped in colorful wool and the dock has a space on the back for flowers or office supplies.

To enter, browse through the Apt528 Store then choose one (or both) of the following options:

Comment below telling us your favorite product. Each comment counts as one entry.
Leave a comment on our facebook page telling us your favorite product in the Apt528 Store. Each facebook comment counts as 3 entries.

Don't forget to leave your email or contact info so I can get in touch with you if you win!

You can enter twice, once per entry method. The contest ends at 11:59pm CT February 27th. A winner will be chosen at random and announced February 28th.

Keep your iPad or tablet looking good with this awesome prize package. Use the TechnoMud ceramic dock to keep your tablet ready and your cords out of the way, then throw it in the cozy wool tablet sleeve by Miza when you're on the go! Better yet, there's a $28 Apt528 store credit so you can snag even more handmade and vintage goodies.

To enter, visit the DeeDee9:14 blog...

Good Luck!!

Studio Makeover: The Beginning of the Workroom

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:37:00 +0000

This weekend we built our new work/paint/sanding room. When I say "we," I mean Sam and Jesus from Property Comfort Interiors built the room while Jerome and I painted. Sam is our landlord's nephew and has been a huge help as we've taken on various projects around the apartment. Thank God they had a free weekend to help us out and were able to get our room up in just seven hours!

BEFORE

Jerome and I took care of painting while Sam and Jesus did the building.

All done!!! (try not to laugh at my drywall taping)

The green paint is going to extend over top of the workroom.

At 12' x 6', it's not the biggest room but it's just the size I need to work on furniture and store my tools. Unfortunately we couldn't add a ceiling due to fire codes; the room must have access to the sprinkler system in the rest of the studio and paying for sprinklers to be brought down and added was NOT in my budget. That means we'll have to come up with some clever ways to work around having an open ceiling, such as using more water-based products to deal with smell issues or using plastic tarps over the ceiling of the room when doing smelly/messy work.

My favorite part of the studio so far? Our new doors for the workroom! Instead of paying for boring standard doors, we decided to go vintage. I wanted something wood with glass panels so I can see outside of the room while I work. I searched craigslist but couldn't find what I wanted. Then as we were loading drywall into the freight elevator, we found FREE old doors on the loading dock. According to Sam, these doors would go for several hundred dollars if we tried to buy them. MAJOR SCORE!!!! They were just laying there waiting to go out to the trash. They even have the glass panes that I wanted. Talk about awesome! I'm currently in the process of stripping, sanding, and staining them dark walnut. I can't wait to see how gorgeous they look when they're hung on the workroom!

I'm also in the middle of taping the drywall. By myself. This could be bad! So far, most of my taping has gone well and there have only been two pieces that didn't turn out right but I'll get those fixed in no time. The final coat of joint compound goes on today and tomorrow I'll be able to start priming and painting. Sam will be back on Friday to install the doors and then the room will be finished. YEAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Studio Makeover: Painted Floors Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

We started phase one of our studio remodel this weekend...painting the floors! The original floors were just bare plywood subfloor, not something I wanted to keep. We considered a lot of options like laminate or wood floors but in the end painting was cheaper. It was also easier than our original idea of pulling apart shipping pallets and using the planks to make wood floors. Be warned, that's NOT a project you want to take on until you've thought through how you're going to remove all those nails and plane and sand the boards. It's a LOT of work!

While part of me really wanted to stain the wood, using the building-required low VOC stain and sealer was too expensive for us. So we stuck with paint. After two days of PAINFUL floor painting that killed our back, shoulders, and arms, we're happy with the results! We used five gallons of Behr Porch and Patio paint in Gentle Rain to cover a 1200sf area and it turned out perfect. I'd highly recommend painted floors to anyone looking to do something a little different with their space. My suggestion though: use primer! We didn't because we were trying to save ourselves from having to paint any more coats than necessary. Instead we did one full coat and then thinned the paint with water to do a second coat. We also didn't seal it. Because this is a work space and there will constantly be furniture moved around, leaving the floor a little "imperfect" was fine for our needs. If you're painting floors in your apartment, I'd definitely use primer, do two full coats of paint, and use a floor sealer to keep your floors fresh.
.

Ready to be stenciled!

Next on our list - stenciling. We're on the prowl for a retro-inspired design to stencil on the floor. I have no clue what I want but thanks to pinterest, I have tons of inspiration to pull from. What do you think?

{via}

New Handmade by Miza

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

Look what we've got in the store...new laptop and tablet/iPad sleeves from Latvian designer Miza! The snugly, 100% wool sleeves will keep your electronics cozy and protected from scratches while looking awesome. Bonus: they're reversible! You're welcome.

>> SHOP Miza

>> SHOP MIZA

We Got A Studio!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:36:00 +0000

After two years of running the Apartment 528 store from our apartment, we finally got a studio!!! Right now the room is pretty raw and open but we're in the process of getting moved in and drawing out plans to get the place looking awesome. Over the next couple of months you'll see plenty of DIY posts and before and after pictures. I can't wait :)

The studio will be open daily by appointment only. If you want to stop by and shop us in person, email us at shop@apt528.com to schedule an appointment. We're located at Carroll and Damen right off the bus and train. There are tons of new items in the studio that aren't online yet so you'll have plenty of stuff to browse through! And of course, you can always shop Apartment 528 here online.

See you soon!

Christmas Steals & Deals All Week Long!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0000

We're kicking off the end of the holiday shopping season with great deals on handmade and vintage for all the people in your life! Everyday we'll feature a new deal with both new and clearance products. See something you like? Grab it quick before someone else does!

(More products available in the store)

>>SHOP NOW

A Flickr Christmas: Walking in a Vintage Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:32:00 +0000

I LOVE the holidays! The smells, the gatherings, the FOOD. But my favorite part (aside from the birth of Jesus of course!) is the tree! There's nothing better than drinking hot chocolate, listening to Nat King Cole on the hi-fi, and decorating the tree with all sorts of colorful ornaments, both new and old. What's your favorite part of the holiday season?

(yes I know these are handmade but aren't they just the bee's knees?)

{All images via Flickr. Hover over image to view source}

28Day Giveaway plus Cyber Monday deals!!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:26:00 +0000

**UPDATE 11/29 - The contest is now closed. Congrats to Cindy for winning! Come back in January for our next giveaway!**

It's 28Day!!! Enter today to win a set of poison bottle tea towels from Branch Handmade! Today we're making it super easy to win.

To enter:

Browse the Apartment 528 store and find your favorite item. Then choose one (or more) of the methods:

Comment below stating your favorite item. Each comment counts as ONE entry.
Follow us on Facebook and leave a comment telling us your favorite item. Each facebook comment counts as TWO entries

Make sure to give your email so we can contact you, otherwise your entry will not count. You have until tonight (11/28/11) at 11:59PM central to enter and you can enter up to 2 times PER method (4 times total). The winner will be chosen Tuesday morning. Valid for US residents only.

But wait, that's not all! Shop Apt528 today and get even more awesome stuff. That's how much we love you!

>>SHOP NOW

In the Kitchen: Parmesan Bread Knots

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:17:00 +0000

This past weekend we had a party with some of the folks from my husband's job. I've been collecting pins of appetizers and party food on Pinterest for months (follow me on Pinterest!) so I was positive we'd have the best spread around. But of course I procrastinated and didn't plan out the menu or do the shopping until the day of the party. Oops! Needless to say, I was freaking out that I wasn't going to have time to make all the food AND finish all the last minute projects we had going on around the house. Oops again. Apparently I like to overbook myself whenever it's time for an event. I work better in chaos.

Anyways, I was browsing my "Soiree" pin board when I found this awesomely fast, cheap, and YUMMY recipe for parmesan bread knots over on the Real Mom Kitchen blog. Laura adapted the recipe from one in an issue of Simple and Delicious. It was THE easiest appetizer I've ever made but it looked like I spent forever on it. Of course I forgot to take a picture but for once, mine came out looking just like the ones in the original picture! On top of that, I didn't use exact measurements. I went all Julia Childs and just eyeballed all the seasonings...that shows you how easy this really is! You most likely have all the ingredients already in your kitchen and anything you don't have can be bought for like $3.

My one tip would to be add extra seasonings for even more flavor (I added extra parmesan to the second batch). Though I liked the knots with the seasoning on top, one of the commentors on the original post mentioned that they brushed the seasonings on the dough before tying and baking it so that the flavor would be spread throughout. Definitely something to try next time.

So without further ado, I give you...

Parmesan Bread Knots

Picture via Laura, Real Mom Kitchen

*Adapted from Real Mom Kitchen. Notes in red are my own comments/edits

1 tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits ( I used cheap ones from Aldi and they were delicious!)
1/4 cup canola oil (don't use vegetable oil. they'll turn out too greasy)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I added extra)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Preheat oven to 400°
Roll each biscuit into a 12in rope and tie into a knot, tucking the ends under. Place 2in apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Brush the mixture over the knots while they're still warm.

By the way, if you're looking for a delicious artichoke and spinach dip, I made this one from Joyful Abode and it was delicious! She doesn't say how much garlic salt to use and I accidentally put too much but everyone said they liked it and the bowl was completely empty when the night was over so I guess it was good afterall!

Happy cooking :)

New Handmade by TechnoMud

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:24:00 +0000

So apparently I forgot to tell you all that we have new handmade in the shop from our newest designer, TechnoMud!

Myles, the guy behind TM, creates super sleek and sexy phone and tablet docks. Made of ceramic, each dock has a space in the back for holding mail, office supplies, small notebooks, and even flowers. The cork padding keeps your gear in place and has a hole for your cords to run underneath and behind the dock. I have one in my office and I've got to tell you, I feel so organized! The docks are also perfect for nightstands and kitchens. We've got three different sizes so your phones, iPads, e-readers, and mp3 players always have a place to go. Grab yours today! Oh, and while you're picking up a dock, make sure to get an iCord or headphones from Cordinated. Now you'll REALLY be in style!

This dock is perfect for holding flowers

My dock holding my Sharpie collection!

Tablet/e-reader dock

This dock is perfect for the kitchen...it can
display recipes from your tablet while holding
your cooking utensils in the back!

You'll definitely want new cords to go with your fancy stand!

>>SHOP TechnoMud and Cordinated

28Day Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:43:00 +0000

It's time for our monthly 28Day Giveaway!! This month one lucky winner will get a set of 2 vintage pedestal mugs AND a set of "DRINK" coasters by Diffraction Fiber, just in time for winter! Plus two runners up will get a $5 gift certificate to the Apartment 528 Store!

Go to the Apt528 shop and find five "buttons" (pictured below) that we've hidden in various places. Come back here to the blog and leave a comment telling us where you found the buttons. All comments will be hidden until the end of the day so there's no cheating!!

For EXTRA points:

leave a comment on our facebook page and let us know your favorite Apt528 product. You may only enter this way ONE time, however it counts as TWO entries!!
sign up for our monthly mailing list for news on secret discounts, new products, and more. This counts as THREE entries!

The giveaway closes at 5:28p tonight (10/28, central) and the winners will be announced tomorrow morning.

Good luck :)

Studio Tour: Cordinate's Lofty Studio

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Happy Friday!

Today we're taking a peek at the studio of Cordinated creators Juli and Dan. I love the bright colors and the bookcase filled with yarn. I don't knit or sew but it definitely makes me want to learn!

By the way, we're offering FREE SHIPPING all weekend! Enter "FREESHP" at checkout to save on your favorite handmade and vintage goodies, including colorful headphones and iCords from Cordinated and new vintage housewares.

>>>SHOP Apt528
>>>SHOP Cordinated
>>>8 Questions With: Juli and Dan of Cordinated

8 Questions With: Juli and Dan of Cordinated

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:55:00 +0000

***WARNING*** Reading this Q+A will cause you to feel lazy and unaccomplished, giving you a desire to finish all the projects on your list. Proceed with caution!

Monday, we introduced you to Cordinated, the newest company to be added to our stable of amazing designers. Their yarn-wrapped cords give your electronics a big boost of color and turn them in to works of art. What we didn't know at the time was just HOW amazing Cordinated is. Creators Juli and Dan are quite possibly the busiest people in the world. Don't believe me? Read down a bit and see just how many projects Juli has going on. I got tired just reading it all! Thankfully, they still have time to make sure your headphones are wrapped in cozy sweaters and your iThings are never without their colorful cords.

We always ask the most important questions first. So, mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?
We are a no mayo or miracle whip household. (As a HUGE Miracle Whip lover, I'm a little hurt. I'll try to soldier on!)

I know it's hard to play favorites, but what's your favorite room in your house and why? What room do you try to avoid?
My favorite room is my living room. It's the only one I feel I have successfully "decorated" The rest of my house I like to refer to as "flex-space"

We hear you've got a lot going on (grad school, work, Cordinate). What else do you have going on?
Here is the master list:

Grad School
Being a band called Ham Siobam
Office Job
Food Delivery Job
Running Cordinated
Slowly phasing out my vintage shop
Freelance web work

Wow. You guys do EVERYTHING! How do you relax at the end of the day?
Watching Netflix keeps me sane. Even if it's 1 am and I just finished my work for the day. I always make sure to wind down with an episode of Mad Men. I've also been watching a cheesy teen drama called Make It Or Break It about 4 teen girls who are training to go to the olympics in gymnastics. It is fantastic(ly cheesy)!

We love your fun, colorful headphones and iphone cables. What else do you guys make?
We actually started by making our own guitar cables and have just recently expanded our line to headphones earbuds and iPod cables. We actually hand solder all of our instrument cables. This makes them last longer because we make them right, the cables you buy at the store for cheap usually break really quickly.

How did Cordinated get started? What inspired you?
I am a musician. And I love color. I am a bass player and all the equipment that comes with playing bass is designed to look very "rugged" or like a monster truck. I'm a girl, and I wanted to make at least a small piece of my gear look good. So I wrapped it in yarn! I had so much fun making it I thought others would enjoy it. And I'm still making them so something must have clicked. I am inspired by all musical gear that incorporates design as well as well designed electronics. I'm a bit of a tech geek.

With music being at the root of Cordinated, I have to ask, what tunes get you moving and grooving while you work?
Recently I have been listening to a lot of St. Vincent. I love new music that sounds different than anything I have ever heard before. I value artists that break the mold and are genre defying. I also like music you can dance to, but is not technically described as "dance music". I'm a sucker for an upbeat and I tend to lean towards songs that are arranged well.

Close your eyes and make believe you no longer have a plate full of activities. (Crazy, I know!) What would be next on your list?
Oh! I started a project before I started grad school and I've been itching to finish it. I'm repainting some old shelves I had as a kid and turning them into side tables. I wish I could finish them because I have so many books for school that I could store in them when I'm finished instead of having them clutter my desk.

I also would love to do some music based visual art. I've had this idea to map out the arrangements of songs I like graphically and see what shape they take. That would be my next shop if Cordinated somehow got put on hold. It would be more "fine-art". No one is allowed to steal that idea! (You heard it here first folks. I'd better not see this idea anywhere on the market...idea stealers are NOT cool!)

Another thing I've wanted to do is have more live shows in my "flex-space" I think I'd make a pretty good booking agent and it would be fun to have friends come over more often to listen to some tunes.

I also want to travel more and get a dog.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Didn't I tell you they're crazy busy?! Before you feel the need to finish all your to-do's, grab your own iCords, headphones, and earbuds at the Apartment 528 store.

>>Shop Cordinated

Handmade Designer of the Month: Cordinated

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Today we're welcoming our newest designer, Cordinated!

We've been stalking Cordinated for over a year now. We fell in love with their brightly wrapped cords and knew we just HAD to have them for Apartment 528. Now our dream has finally come true!

Cordinated was started by Juli and Dan, two musicians tired of the standard boring black cables in their Chicago apartment. Their solution? Juli started wrapping their cables in yarn while Dan, an engineer, soldered the connections for better quality. Thankfully they were smart enough to realize that others were looking for the same colorful designs and thus, Cordinated was born. Lucky for us, they've also expanded from music cables to include extras like headphones, earbuds, and iCord cables (compatible with the iPhone, iPod, and iPad) for those of us who like to listen to music in style!

Stop by the store now to grab your own iCords available now in a variety of colors, or to pre-order earbuds and headphones for shipping on October 31st. Gift a cord or keep a pair for yourself!

SHOP Cordinated

Happy In Their New Home!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Had to share this...one of our awesome customers bought our vintage orange chairs a few months ago and recently sent in a picture of them in their new home. They look so happy! We love to see our stuff go to amazing people. If you have pictures of your Apartment 528 goodies in your home, office, etc., add them to our facebook page or email them for sharing on the blog.

{image via customer}

Isn't that table GORGEOUS?! It was custom made for them by MODified originals, a furniture company here in Chicago that creates one-of-a-kind and bespoke pieces. I'll definitely be adding this to my "Things I NEED" list!

{image via MODified Originals}

Happy 28Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Enjoy the 28th with $5.28 off your Apartment 528 order of $28 or more, today only!! Enter "Happy28" at checkout! Don't forget to checkout out new products below.

Vintage Rainbow Appetizer Tray

Branch Handmade Bicycle Tea Towels

Vintage Tiffany Typewriter Table (makes a great nightstand or side table)

Sweetnature Designs Tandem Bike Tea Towel