Apartment 528

By the Book: Dining In

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:48:00 +0000

So I'm still flipping through my 1968 BH&G Decorating Book. I just can't get enough! Last time I was all about technicolor living rooms and this time I'm madly in love with this bold dining room. The table and chairs, the lighting, the credenza, the paneling, the art; it's all great! Even the checkerboard floor, which is normally reserved for casual kitchens and diners, seems perfectly at home here. Major swoon!

Image via Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book, 1968

By the Book: 1968 BH&G Technicolor Livingrooms

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +0000

I'm kind of addicted to vintage decorating & woodworking books. I've amassed quite a collection and am always on the lookout for more. They're not just a look back into the past, they're also full of amazing inspiration for modern decorating, especially if your taste leans towards retro modern or MCM like mine. Just look at the cover to the left...nix the green carpeting (and the green paneling if you're so inclined) and you've got a gorgeous modern room.

Since I can't possibly use all these awesome ideas in my apartment, I've decided to stop being selfish and share them with you! Every week I'll post some of my favorite pictures from a one of my books. Currently, I'm stuck on the Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book from 1968 so don't be surprised if all the pictures come from here the next few weeks! Out of all the books I have, this one has the largest amount of great pictures. It was a birthday present from Leilani of the Thriftaholic blog. It's nice to have awesome vintage-loving friends who will buy you retro goodies :)

All images via Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, 1968

I like the geometric prints on the rug and wall tapestry. I wish I could see what is in the lower right corner. Looks like some kind of platter with a tribal print.

This is one of my favorite rooms. The multi-colored pillows, blue rug, worn wood floors, and art on the walls are amazing. Oh, and look at those colorful bowls on the coffee table. I'm not a fan of the arm or rocking chairs, but other than that I'll take it!

Till next week...

New In the Shop: Family Fun

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This week's shop updates are all about kids and family. From durable furniture built to withstand family dinners and cozy movie nights to toys that inspire the imagination to notebooks that bring out the kid in us all.

Don't forget, blog readers get 10% off their first order using the handy dandy code you see in the sidebar. Just enter BLOG10 at checkout.

And as always, there's tons more handmade and vintage on the website and even more available in our Chicago studio.

1. Fence art by iamhome (various colors and sizes available); 2. 3-String Guitars by Loog (3 styles); 3. Custom Mid Century Coffee Table (available in 5 colors); 4. Plastic Vintage Insects; 5. Buckstaff Library Chairs, Set of 4; 6. Creatures by Mr. Sogs (many colors and style available); 7. Blank Notebooks by My Zoetrope; 8. Jalopies by Tree Hopper Toys (3 styles); 9. Metal Storage Cabinet from Swell Machine (2 sizes)

The Weekender: The Lori Wall Bed

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Watch out Moddi. There's another Murphy bed on the block from Lori Wall Beds. A reader who was attempting to build a Moddi Murphy bed actually told me about the Lori. The Lori is a stylish bed with many options that easily transforms into a functional storage area when folded. Like the Moddi, plans for the Lori Wall Bed can be bought and downloaded for a small fee, however Lori takes it one step forward by also offering the bed already completed! To see more, take a peak a the video below:

The Lori has SO many awesome features. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Lori DOESN'T NEED A LIFTING MECHANISM!!!!! Since this is where most problems building the Moddi occur, skipping this step with the Lori will make your life 10x easier. Instead of a lifting mechanism, the Lori uses the rounded edges of its base to simply rock up into position (don't worry, it's only 50lbs). Once up, there are two latches at the top to keep the bed in place. SO EASY!!
There's a nightstand above the bed and storage on the outside. Yep. When the bed is folded, the base forms into 2 shelves (on the middle, one at the top) for you to store knick-knacks, mail, etc. When it's time to go to sleep, there's a shelf on the inside of the bed frame that folds down and acts like a nightstand to hold your cell phone, night light, and favorite book. Ingenious! While I love the look of the Moddi, it's not functional when folded up and you don't get the extra nightstand.
An important part: easy customization! Don't get me wrong, the Moddi is a great looking bed, however it limits you in a lot of ways. For the outside, you end up with the Lack grid. It's not horrible, but if it doesn't exactly blend in with your style, you're stuck. The Lori is made of plywood and can be stained or painted any colors you like. You could do all sorts of things with the shelving to help it stand out or blend in. The fact that the bed looks like an actual bed when in use is an added bonus. I would play with the dimensions a little to allow room for under cabinet lights to add mood/accent lighting. You can also hang art on the outside of the bed when in the up position or above the nightstand when the bed is down. Plywood is strong enough that if you were using the bed in a studio apartment, you could easily mount a medium sized flatscreen to the outside for when company comes and then move it inside when it's time to go to sleep. You could also add bookcases around the bed to give it a built-in look. My mind is already whirling with more customization ideas...

All images via Lori Wall Beds Myspace. Yep, Myspace.

Want a queen? Finally you CAN have a queen wall bed. Not only does Lori offer queen sizes, but they also have both vertical and horizontal plans for sizes from XL twin to queen.
It's sturdy. Now I've never seen a Lori or a Moddi in person, but a lot of you have emailed to say that the Moddi isn't a bed you would use on a nightly basis because of fear that the mechanisms would malfunction or the base would give out. Lori's strong base design provides plenty of support for nightly sleeping.
Lori will help you out! The reader who told me about the Lori said he emailed her for help and she quickly got back to him. There's also a discussion board on the site for you to post questions and show your bed.

The Moddi (image via Moddi)

Like the Moddi, you'll spend anywhere from $150-$300 building the bed. It really depends on the types of wood you use and how much customization you use. The one place where Moddi has the upper hand is in price when it comes to the plans; Moddi's plans are only $7.95 while Lori charges $18. Still, the Lori appears to be SUPER easy to build so your frustration level will be down which makes the extra $10 worth it!

So what will you choose? The Moddi or the Lori?

Our 3rd Birthday - Slicing and Dicing with Mako!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 19:09:00 +0000

It's been 3 long years since Apartment 528 first opened its virtual doors and started selling online. Back then, we were just a rinky dink website that I created over my honeymoon vacation. I was relaxing in my backyard sipping lemonade and oogling my gorgeous ring. In between blogging about our wedding and looking through pictures from the big day, I wrestled up a few amazing designers who were willing to take a risk on a fledgling store and managed to get everything launched a few days later. It wasn't the best site and I didn't quite know what I was doing, but thanks to our designers and some great press, we were able to make a pretty good go of it in Boston.

Bags, greeting cards, and prints by David Paul Seymour, our very first designer!

Now, three years later, we've continued to grow here in Chicago. From our backyard launch to our new studio in Chicago, we can't wait to see what's next for Apartment 528.

Apple

To celebrate our big 0-3 (two digits are cooler than one!), we're adding a new roster of designers to our team all month long, starting today with Mako Cutting Boards. Woodworker Drew McBee makes each cutting board by hand in his Ohio woodshop. The rich maple is expertly molded into quirky shapes and built to last for years or cutting.

Cow

Pig

Each hardwood cutting board is equally perfect for cutting limes at the bar, dicing carrots for dinner, or serving bread and cheese at your next party. My favorite's the whale...so cute! Grab a few as gifts for weddings and housewarmings or start your Christmas shopping early. Just don't forget to keep one for yourself :)

Whale

>>SHOP MAKO NOW

Studio Makeover: Workroom Update + Easy Wall DIY

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:47:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I updated you on all the projects going on in the studio. I've been in such a hurry to get them done that I rarely stop to take pictures or document the progress. But as we finished up the workroom last month, I actually remembered to photograph everything we did. A miracle!

First up, I made a commitment and glued the wallpaper down. Last time I posted about the workroom, I told you that I was stapling the wallpaper instead of gluing it. I was afraid I'd change my mind and didn't want to be stuck with yellow flowers forever. But after 8 months of living with the pattern, I can't imagine changing it!

Gluing it down was easy. The wallpaper was pre-glued and after all these years, it was still sticky. All I had to do was put it in water and stick it on the wall.

Next it was time to add a little trim. I needed a place to hang some of the art we have for sale and the side of the workroom was perfect. I used white trim to frame out a large space, cut out the wallpaper inside it, and painted it turquoise to match the bottom half of the wall. It was a perfect, easy solution, especially great for those trying to add interest to an otherwise boring wall.

Before

Wall Frame DIY

Source unknown (via)

This DIY is SO easy that I'm not even going to bother to explain it. Just head to Home Depot, pick out a trim to coordinate with your room, paint it, cut to size, and attach it to the wall. There are so many decorative options here. You could fill the inside of the frame with wallpaper (like the picture on the left) or with a contrasting paint color. Make the trim the same color/stain as your molding, the same color as the wall, or add a punch of bold color. Endless possibilities!!

New In the Shop: Jewelry and a Swell Machine

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:22:00 +0000

I'm super excited about this week's shop updates! We have colorful new vintage, including a gorgeous teal tanker desk from vintage collaboration, Swell Machine. The dynamic duo finds and refinishes vintage industrial furniture in bright, irresistible hues. Add some art (maybe a fence by iamhome?) and you'll have the perfect office setup.

Next up, our favorite wood guru, Vectorcloud. Not only does she make wood coasters and clocks to dazzle your guests, but now her quirky, nostalgia-inspired jewelry is also available. Shop her selection of necklaces, earrings, and brooches in the Sublet sale, going on while supplies last.

1. Tanker Desk by Swell Machine; 2. Wood Wing Earrings by Vectorcloud; 3. Vintage Reversible Checker Board; 4. Wood Camera Necklace by Vectorcloud; 5. Acca Snack Plates; 6. 1950's Young Boy Charcoal Sketches; 7. Abstract Geometric Painting; 8. Retro TV Brooch; 9. Emerson Instant Weather Radio

Happy shopping!

July 28Day Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:14:00 +0000

It's giveaway time! Enter now to win the last of our TechnoMud iPad/tablet docks. The docks have everything you need to keep your desk organized: a non-slip holder and space for your cord and office supplies. It's the last dock in stock before we say goodbye to TechnoMud so enter now to snatch it while you still can!

To enter, just leave a comment below. Each comment counts as ONE entry.

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. The contest ends at 11:59pm CT Friday, July 27th. A winner will be chosen at random and announced July 28th.

Good luck!

8 Questions With: Amelia of Vectorcloud

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Today we welcome our newest designer, Vectorcloud. We've been following Vectorcloud for over a year now, waiting for the perfect moment to bring them over to Apt528. I'm a sucker for anything mid-century so their retro-styled bamboo desk and wall clocks immediately caught my eye. But my current Vectorcloud favorite has to be the custom engraved, wood floppy disk coasters. The 80's-inspired coasters are perfect for keeping for yourself or giving to friends as a personalized housewarming/wedding gift.

Now it's time to get to know Amelia, the woman behind Vectorcloud, with a little Q+A.

1) We always start with the good stuff. So, if you could die your hair any color under the sun, what would it be? Hmm. Purple has always been one of my favorite colors. My hair has always been black, but a little highlight of purple may be cool.

2)What design trends are your most and least favorites? I'm currently loving all the retro inspired patterns and color blocking. I'm very glad that big shoulder pads never made a return.

3) Everyone has a favorite room or piece of furniture. What's yours? I love our danish inspired hutch. It was actually left behind by the previous tenant, which makes it even better :D

4) How did you get started in woodwork and laser-cutting in particular? I took woodworking when I was at Parsons studying product design. I'm always fascinated with furniture especially wood. One time I worked at a non-profit organization, teaching kids how to use CAD programs and all the different design projects that you can create using CNC router and laser machines. I became very familiar with the process and was inspired to start a line of products myself.

5) Vectorcloud's such a neat name. Where'd it come from? Does it have a special meaning? I wanted a name that gives a little insight of what I do, yet at the same time, doesn't sound too serious or 'techy'. Vector is a type of drawing that I have to create to run the machine and cloud just sound so 'light and playful'.

6) What's your favorite thing to watch or listen to while you work? Because I work from my home studio, I usually watch my son play while I'm working on the computer.

7) Your designs are so neat and fresh but with a retro spin. Do you consider yourself a mid-century lover? What's your favorite design period? Definitely. My work is very much inspired by mid-century design. I love how wood was utilized and transformed into beautiful furniture during that period of time.

8) What's next for Vectorcloud? Any new products on the horizon? At the moment, half of my work is based on custom orders and I am exploring the different ways I can expand that. I'm looking into wedding decorations among others.

>>>SHOP VECTORCLOUD

New art for the living room!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:01:00 +0000

We've lived in our apartment for over a year and NEVER found the right art to go on the wall behind our couch. Part of the problem is the wall color. We were originally going for a coral but we tried so hard to avoid being too orangy that we ended up way too pink! I've hated the color ever since but we've been too busy/lazy/tired to actually find a color we like or find any art that matched without making the room darker. We also needed the art to have some white in it to better tie in the bright white trim of the room and help bring down the contrast between the trim and the walls. And the art needed to be awesome! We considered making something ourselves and literally spent months trying to decide on a design only to come up with nothing. We considered maps and art collages and posters but nothing worked! So we threw up some old splatter paintings we did in our old apartment and called it a day.

Our old splatter paintings, which I can't stand.

Until a couple weeks ago when we were vendors at the Randolph St. Market. I was taking a break from our booth and walking around when I saw the PERFECT pieces in John's (a fellow dealer) booth. I stopped dead in my tracks and made a beeline for his booth. John ALWAYS has something cool and interesting and this time was definitely no exception. It's like these pieces were MADE for us! John and I have made trades before when we both like something in the other's booth so this time we were able to do it again: I got the two art prints and he got our awesome 70's yellow spotlight. I wish I had taken pictures of the light before I gave it to him because it was pretty cool! Next time...

My new art!

Just look at them. They're super colorful, and the background ties in our white trim. YEA!! John found the art, which is mounted on foam board, at an estate sale in Oak Park. It was created by the owner of the house; John couldn't remember her name. There were a few light stains and the edges were a bit roughed up, but it matched the age of the art and added character so it didn't bother me! The only thing these babies needed were frames, which I was happy to make. If you're ever in the need of a quick, easy-to-make frame, don't worry, you CAN do it!

LOVE the new look!!

Quick and Easy Frames

1) CUT: To make the frames, I used 1"x2" wood cut to the size I wanted. If you don't have a big miter saw to angle the edges, you can buy a small miter box (like one of these from Home Depot) that comes with a hand saw. We have one at home. It's easy to use and small enough for apartment dwellers.

2) JOIN: To keep the frame together, put wood glue or another strong adhesive (I used Loctite Power Grab) between the joints. After that, staple the joints together which serves to both hold them together while they dry and also reinforce the frame. Sometimes when you flip the frame over to the front you'll notice a small gap. You can fill them in with wood filler or a sawdust/wood glue mix. Let dry.

2) COLOR: Stain or paint the frame

4) ATTACH: Lastly, staple the foam board/wood/art to the back of the frame.

5) HANG: I used screws and picture wire to hang the art but you can also use sawtooth hangers or even pop can tabs to hang it.

Enjoy your new art!

Introducting: Sublet

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:10:00 +0000

We love scouting far and wide to find the perfect handmade artisans and vintage wares to add to Apartment 528's inventory of colorful, quirky, and affordable products. But like you, we love a range of styles and are constantly editing ourselves to make sure our look is cohesive. So for the past 2.5 years, whenever we fall in love with something that doesn't fit the overall aesthetic, style, or pricing of Apt528, we put it into a special file, taking a peek every so often to drool over its awesomeness.

Plastic horse from the Talisman collection

But we finally got tired of just looking. We want to continually bring you new, fresh design no matter the style. So today we're launching a new monthly series called Sublet. Each month, we'll introduce a new product line from our favorite artists, designers, and vintage collectors whose style showcases our ever-expanding taste. You'll only have a month to snag these collections before they're gone so move quickly our you'll miss out!

Our first Sublet: Talisman, a selection of object d'art from artist Christophe Gauspohl.

>>>SHOP SUBLET

5/28 Giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (India @Apt528) — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:13:00 +0000

It's 528, our favorite day of the year!

Happy 528!!

First off, I have to say happy birthday to the wonderful woman who inspired Apartment 528, my awesome mother whose birthday is today. She's a strong, creative, supernaturally talented woman whose faith and family come before all else. One day I'll be just like her! She hates that every time I write about her I use this old picture from when I was in kindergarten, but this is my favorite picture of us. Not to mention, she LITERALLY looks the exact same now as she does in this picture, minus the blue eye shadow and pink lipstick. She's got a serious Dorian Gray thing going on!

To celebrate 5/28, we're doing a giveaway. The lucky winner will get a $28 Apartment 528 gift certificate to spend on all kinds of handmade and vintage goodies.

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

Brown the Apartment 528 store, then comment below and tell us what you'd buy if you won the $28 gift certificate . 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 Wednesday, May 30th. A winner will be chosen at random and announced May 31st.

Good luck and happy 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.
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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?

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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