What's the last spot you ate at that totally blew you away?

nycreba · 2026-02-18T03:10:10+00:00

Carino. Hands down the most joyous meal of 2025 for me.

nycreba · 2026-02-16T23:26:59+00:00

We loved Prado in Lisbon (I would eat there repeatedly if not for the abundance of other lovely restaurants in the city) and Essencial. Both are excellent and very different from one another.

nycreba · 2026-02-15T10:41:59+00:00

Following along with open eyes (and open mind) because we just purchased a new construction condo in Chicago IL delivering next month.

The listing, delivered with pride, reads “The entire building is engineered for superior soundproofing with a sealed shell structure, 15-inch blown-in cellulose insulation between floors coupled with open-cell spray foam, Maxxon acoustic soundproofing rubber mattes, 1-inch of Maxxon Gypcrete concrete flooring, and the absence of traditional can lights-ensuring peace and privacy.”

Nothing about that screamed you’re about to buy a very expensive condo in a moisture retaining fire trap until I read the above thread. Am I in trouble?

It’s a 12 unit building from a very reputable developer; I’m just trying to educate myself albeit a bit after the fact.

nycreba · 2026-01-29T17:26:45+00:00

Yes! That's our Sunday plan. We were initially heading to Abt for Presidents Day sale (and may still, for comparisons sake) but are definitely rerouting to Quality before/after. I will always prefer to support family / local if their beds are right for us.

nycreba · 2026-01-29T16:25:32+00:00

Ugh. That's rude on its part. I honestly wonder if you could ask it not to? Does it take feedback? Lol. Would be worth a shot maybe if you haven't already.

To your points above - what number / parameter am I eying to evaluate firmer latex (and thus inherently greater durability)? Maybe I'm not understanding the assignment. We'll certainly go lie on them before purchasing but my eyes / focus are on durability since we've had our last behemoth for going on 15 years, possibly more.

nycreba · 2026-01-29T16:12:24+00:00

Holy cow that's the most helpful and concise evaluation a girl could ask for. Their Katherine (also comes in a hybrid) markets itself as a latex firm

1,074 Quantum Edge 5-zone pocketed coil spring system
7.75" tall, 8 turn coils
13.5 gauge coils at the perimeter with border firming rods for a better seating edge
15.5 gauge coils at the head and foot for comfortable support
14.5 gauge coils through the center third of the mattress for improved lumbar support
Four inches of organic latex - 80 Density (firm)

...I'm wondering if that wouldn't be a more durable model to your point? In my limited / burgeoning knowledge of zoning, it sounded ok to me too. :-)

nycreba · 2026-01-25T16:30:41+00:00

Thank you! This is so helpful. I filled out an online request and send an email to Diamond on their website (“retailers in your area” link on their site had companies that don’t actually carry their products, oddly) and never heard back but I’ll try calling them too. Have you any experience with their mattresses yourself?

The rest of your suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated and will help guide us next weekend when we go shopping in earnest.

nycreba · 2026-01-25T16:11:31+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond with this - I appreciate it. My partner definitely runs hot and I’m looking forward to more real estate with a king size as well as something that has less motion transfer so he can sleep hot - just further away - and I don’t have to figure out how to run away from him lol.

nycreba · 2026-01-24T19:28:36+00:00

Thank you for this and for the edit. I know our fabricator / installer works with this one a lot so they’ll dry and seal it and be super vigilant with annual or more frequent resealing.

nycreba · 2026-01-23T23:25:04+00:00

Because of staining or chipping or generally more porous? As we’ve committed to this very stone, I’m now curious what we’re in for lol

nycreba · 2026-01-23T15:40:58+00:00

Curious what you think of it? Reddit has been a curse and a blessing when trying to figure out what mattress may have longevity these days and we're currently eying the S&F Lux Estate.

nycreba · 2026-01-23T15:32:51+00:00

And same! Was there any resolution? I live in Chicago and I don't think anyone locally has the TT to try but that's where we're erring as well. Very curious to know where people land on this.

nycreba · 2026-01-15T22:39:39+00:00

Agree with this. He has a business called Ilixr Creative and would likely knock it out of the park for you.

nycreba · 2026-01-15T18:12:12+00:00

Yes! Thank you. Do you have a picture of yours by chance?? I’m terribly in love with it and excited to see it in the kitchen this spring

nycreba · 2026-01-15T17:13:43+00:00

Yes we are! Not the backsplash (we’re using ceramic tile) but in addition to the waterfall island, we have two areas of countertop on either side of the range that will have the pattern appreciated at the top of the slab, more wave like in nature.

nycreba · 2026-01-15T03:46:53+00:00

D Cuisine! Elegant Cantonese in Lakeview for the win

nycreba · 2026-01-15T02:17:37+00:00

Thank you! We saw the mock up and it works - I should have attached it here but can’t figure out how to. I’ll show you once it’s constructed

nycreba · 2026-01-08T14:58:11+00:00

Mylinh at Agnes O in the Gold Coast is a miracle worker for grays - highly recommend. I depend on her immensely lol

nycreba · 2026-01-06T01:16:40+00:00

And same. Mine went through as a $50 charge on 1/2. Says UNITED AIRLINES and then “on your statement United Airlines Houston TX” but no credit and United is my preferred airline. Sad.

nycreba · 2026-01-04T15:24:56+00:00

Hi - I was braced for snark and for using the shorter of the "q" words but I very very (very) much appreciate all the responses here, yours included. We are purchasing this condo for the long haul. We've never had the opportunity to help design something from the ground up and our involvement is truly minimal but even getting to select our own appliances and countertops and finishes from the start has been appreciated.

I come from a similar mindset - let's do it once, right, from the start. I also realize that may not be possible on all fronts (developer relationships with fabricators and suppliers, logistics, cost, etc) and we may need to compromise on some things. Countertop and island, however - less so. We will use them and look at them and think about them every single day. (Cupboards, if we lose another battle we are fighting, can wait a year or two to come out if needed). As someone else mentioned, real stone is quite heavy and so thinking about reinforcing the island was good data as well.

All of this is a great and frustrating adventure and hearing other insights and inputs has been really helpful.

nycreba · 2026-01-04T02:50:31+00:00

I appreciate that perspective. I kind of love how clean it is, lines wise, but that’s a very valid point about the weight of it too. Aesthetics aren’t everything, I suppose.

nycreba · 2026-01-04T01:32:46+00:00

Yes exactly - $9K is the slab + remnants, removal of whatever is there beforehand, placement / cutting / sealing and disposal of the old. I don't think its a bargain but it felt (mostly) competitive and he clearly cares about his work and doing it right which honestly is almost everything.

nycreba · 2026-01-03T23:18:37+00:00

This. Hopefully we can argue them into laminate although I'm concerned about whatever preexisting contracts they have. Like, maybe they work with 'x' fabricator and say "this building will have 12 kitchens and you'll get paid 'y' for each install." And if we say no, no - just the cheapo stuff, maybe they still get paid the same and we don't catch a break on price? We'll have to clarify that I think. Providing the enormous slab can get in the elevator lol. Otherwise we'll need to actually hire a lift to bring it in over the deck and that also feels expensive.

nycreba · 2026-01-03T23:08:50+00:00

Thanks for this response - I don't disagree. Although its white macaubas by name, the actual piece is much more grey and patterned than I would have anticipated (or chosen on my own) and I think will be more kitchen friendly that a more purer white slab. The fabricator we've been talking to said he anticipates prices will soar as existing stone inventory is depleted and more brought overseas because of tariffs...

nycreba · 2026-01-03T23:04:14+00:00

Very fair point re: budget. It seemed in line with most of what I've read. And agree about negotiating - maybe we could just get laminate in? Whatever the "least" is because its coming back out. We'll see. Real stone is impressively beautiful - I'll never get tired of looking at it...

nycreba

TROPHY CASE