Columnist Muriel Stevens: Don’t shelve preventative measures

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 | 8:17 a.m.

Unexpected sounds are the norm when you live in a large apartment building. So hearing a loud thud in the middle of the night, while not my favorite mode of being awakened, wasn't too alarming.

After a check of the door locks (they were secure) and a quick dash through the various rooms and finding everything in place, I decided it was just one of those things that sometimes go bump in the night.

It was just a few weeks ago that I'd had another bump in the night when an aloe plant that I'd nursed from a cutting given to me by a friend toppled over. TLC and my green thumb had turned a 6-inch cutting into a 4-foot green giant.

That noise came about when the aloe became so top heavy it fell, pot and all, onto the wood floor. I didn't find the plant until the next morning. The pot was not broken and the aloe remained vigorous and gorgeous, even after a night on the floor out of the soil.

This time the cause of the thud was not so easy to repair. A portion of my custom-fitted walk-in closet had detached from the wall, burying under it every handbag and accessory that had been hanging on it.

Fortunately this happened on a weekend when I was going to be home. It was time for spring cleaning; I hadn't counted on doing a bit of carpentry. I'll leave the carpentry to the experts, but it is time to organize the closet.

The closet "experts" who designed my space weren't too practical. They glued on the wood facing. The glue dried out and the weight of the hanging items pulled the facing away from the wall. Using nails or screws could have prevented what happened.

Lucky magazine shares closet know-how: The May issue of Lucky, a magazine about shopping, shares some good ideas about organizing closets and some excellent tips for achieving the best arrangement. In just a few pages, Lucky shared information about choosing the right hangers (I'm discarding most of mine) and how to hang trousers. Lucky also advises immediately removing dry-cleaned items from their plastic bags. "The trapped chemicals inside can break down the fibers."

Still opens at Fashion Show: Still, an upscale boutique for men and women, is the latest addition to the Fashion Show mall. Among the top-notch designers represented at Still are Paper Denim and Cloth, Theory, Diane von Furstenberg, Energie, Diesel, Style Lab, G Star, Lacoste, Yanuk, Robert Graham and Miss Sixty. Still's contemporary design features a large projection wall that showcases the latest fashion shows from major designers the world over.

Still is on the second floor of the south end of the Fashion Show. For more info about shopping at Still call 696-1209.

A&W Root Beer contest: If you've ever yearned for a getaway home, a second home that would ease the stress of everyday life and give you a reason to spend more time with family and friends, now's the chance. The A&W Root Beer "Create Your Moment, Win a Home" (worth $200,000) contest begins May 3 and ends July 30. Describe in 50 words or less a moment you would share with family and friends in the new home. For contest rules and more details, visit www.rootbeer.com. Fifty words or less only!