November 2007 - Page 3 of 5 - reclaimedhome.com

Narrowsburg Realtors

November 15, 2007 RH

$175k: 6BR, 1/2 acre

Instead of doing individual listings this week, I want to point you to few real estate sites. The reason being, all of the listings I came up with belonged to one agent and they don’t even have alot of info on their site!

I was really impressed Catskill 4 Sale which features a handy MLS and real estate blog by a gay friendly buyer’s agent.

Eagle Valley Realty seems to have the corner on the market. You can search by price, which starts at under $100k.

Catskills 4 Sale is an informative site from a broker who apparently enjoys fishing. Most of his listings are already sold.

Shopping For Bargains

November 15, 2007 RH 1 Comment

I like to think of myself as a savvy bargain hunter. My husband just calls me cheap. At any rate, I’d like to pass along some of my favorite places for shopping for home related bargains.

1. First off, I always try to go second hand. Craigs tops my list, followed by Ebay. Then there’s always Goodwill, Salvation Army, Housing Works as well as other thrift shops too numerous to mention. And don’t forget the flea markets.

2. Pearl River Mart : Chinese department store in Soho (formerly on Canal St). Lighting, bedding, table settings, window treatments…you name it. Gorgeous stuff at fab-o prices!

3. Ikea : Not exactly a secret. If you haven’t been since you bought that futon in college, they’ve got lovely bedding, rugs, fabrics and kitchen ware for cheap! I always, always buy my wine glasses there because I go through them quickly. Under $5 for a 6 pack.

4. National Wholesale Liquidators: They are all over the tri-state area. Anything from small appliances to linens to rugs, lamps and window treatments.

5. Target : Another favorite for cheap funky finds that don’t last very long. I always buy my sheets there and about a month later, they look like shit. But I can’t help it! They are cheap and cute. And you know what? The only reason our good “guest sheets” look any better is because we never use them! Anyway, lovin the Target.

6. Overstock.com: Yeah, I’ve done well with them from time to time.

Toilet Thrones

November 15, 2007 RH 4 Comments

Herbeau’s Dagobert

King Louis XIV Throne

Yet another project I’d like to try. Build myself a toilet throne. The two shown here are the only ones I came across in my search and neither one is really my taste or budget. I love the idea so much that if someone offered one of these up for free, I could live with it.

Vintage Tub has the best price on the Herbeau. It can be yours for the low low price of $9799. They are $12000 elsewhere. You’re paying for their sense of humor as well as a toilet. “Le Bon Roi Dagobert” plays when lid is raised, a song about a king who arrived at the minister’s council with his pants on backwards.

The King Louis XIV toilet is a mere $3250. A drop in the bucket, so to speak. This is a good DIY design. The toilet bowl caulks to the furniture in the same fashion as an under mount sink. There are sliding panels on each side for access.

Cork Flooring

November 14, 2007 RH 9 Comments

I haven’t explored cork flooring yet because it reminds me too much of the 70’s. I still have nightmares about cork walls (my friend did his entire room in brown cork) and cork wedge heels. Hold on…I just had another memory! Does anyone remember Azuma on W. 8th Street? They had lots of cork.

Maybe here’s where I need to say “Cork has come a long way.” Actually, it was around long before the 70’s. It’s a sustainable, resilient material now being used in homes of people with taste (unlike the 70’s when nobody had taste).

Pros

Cork is from the bark of the tree. If harvested correctly, the tree is unharmed and the bark will regenerate.

Easy DIY. Cork often comes in 12″ squares for easy installation.

Absorbs sound.

Thermal insulation.

Comfy in bare feet.

It comes in colors! Not just brown.

Cons

Don’t expect it to last longer than 10 years.

It scratches.

Tends to yellow and fade in the sun.

It does need to be sealed.

Green Living
Cork Floor
Duro Design

NYC Stuff Exchange

November 14, 2007 RH 15 Comments

How did I miss this one? NYC Stuff Exchange launched their site in May, but they’ve had a phone hotline for years.

The City of New York offers way for residents to search for places throughout the city where they can donate, sell, buy, rent, or repair gently used items. The goal is to help lessen the City’s waste by encouraging the recycling of materials that might otherwise end up in the dump.

There is an events calendar where you can search or submit sales run by non profit organizations.

Hideaway Kitchens

November 14, 2007 RH

I’ve been looking into hidden kitchens lately for our Brooklyn crib. It’s a garden level apartment which we’ve configured as a 1BR. That means the kitchen will be in the living room. Since we don’t live there full time and we never cook, a dorm style set up will do. We have an antique armoire which was once my hidden office. Now that my office has exploded all over the house, I’d like to use the armoire to house our kitchen.

I’m thinking something along the lines of the photo above. Hubby sez “no”, but we’ll see.

Given the size of NYC apartments, I’m surprised I couldn’t come up with any local search results.

John Strand
Yanko Design
Apartment Therapy

Boat Bath

November 14, 2007 RH

Husband, get nervous. Very nervous. My rubber ducky and I want this tub! I saw it on the wonderful Designer’s Block and can’t find any more info on it. That’s fine, because I’m sure it’s more than I could afford anyway.

So here’s what I’m thinking. Take an ordinary tub and frame the exterior to make it “boat like”. Ok, so the tub is oval and the boat is….boat shaped, but that just means you have places to put your shampoo and soap.

Think it can work? I’ll need to buy another house since I’m running out of bathrooms to work on.

So That’s What A Chef’s Kitchen Looks Like

November 13, 2007 RH 3 Comments

I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll say it again. My kitchen necessities: a phone and a microwave. And it has to look cute. Other than that, I don’t care about oven temperatures, layout or warming drawers. Warming drawers? Just stick the dinner back in the microwave. Wine cooler? Isn’t that what the fridge is for? Garbage disposal? Hey, my dogs have gotta eat!

So, when I found Marissa’s Kitchen on Living Well in Westchester, I had to pass along the fine design details to my readers who actually cook. Fivecat Studio’s design features a multi level Fireslate countertop, glass display shelves and a stainless steel recipe hanger, along with bamboo cabinets.

Of all the super duper high end appliances I’m actually only jealous of two:

The Fisher & Paykel dishdrawer, because I’d love to never have to put away clean dishes again.

The Miele Coffee System, because I like my coffee and it’s easier to make a cup at home than to go out for it.

Marissa’s Kitchen
And Blog

Architecture Against Death

November 13, 2007 RH 2 Comments

I heard about this on NPR over the weekend and I said “Oh, puleeze!” But then I saw the photos and ok, it looks pretty cool.

Artist/Architect team of Arakawa and Madeline Gins, both living in New York, collaborated on the Reversible Destiny Lofts in Mitaka, Japan. The living quarters “steer residents to examine minutely the actions they take and to reconsider and, as it were, recalibrate their equanimity and self-possession, causing them to doubt themselves long enough to find a way to reinvent themselves. These tactically posed architectural volumes put human organisms on the track of why they are as they are. To be sure, every loft comes with a set of directions for use.”

In plain English, I believe this means that the space is not convenient or comfortable. It makes a person THINK and interact with their surroundings. So I guess the space keeps you on your toes so you’re too busy to die?

Check out the proposal for the Reversible Destiny Hotel in New York.

Anatomy Of A Brownstone: Green Restoration

November 13, 2007 RH

Saturday, Dec 1, 2007, 1 to 5 p.m.
Anatomy of a Brownstone Part 6: Going Green
Greening your House and Living Sustainably
Seminar on Green Restoration and Renovation
City Tech
300 Jay Street, Downtown Brooklyn.

Admission: $35 per person
Register in advance by calling 718.552.1170.

Interactive lectures with architects, contractors, designers, green building firms and the folks from Keyspan, Con Ed and Energy Star.

CEU Credits for Real Estate and New Jersey State Home Inspectors may be available for this course.

For more information, contact Debra Salomon at dsalomon@citytech.cuny.edu.

Image Tiles

November 13, 2007 RH 3 Comments

Image Tile of Clifton, NJ offers in stock designs such as the one pictured above. They are fabulous, yes, but what excites me about this company is they can do custom tiles with any digital photograph. And as a photographer, I’m loving that, baby!

The ceramic or porcelain tile is commercially tested and rated. It is unaffected by sunlight, strong chemicals, fire, water or wear. It’s ADA compliant and slip resistant.

Here is the process as described on their website: “Imagine Tile uses a process in which ceramic glazes act like printing inks. Pure minerals and ores are ground micro-fine and suspended in a liquid to produce ink-like substances similar to that a printer uses. The mineral and ore based image is put onto paper and coated with a refractory material that puts a glass finish on it. At Imagine Tile’s production facility in Texas, the glazes are placed on the surface of a glazed ceramic tile. When the tile is fired at temperatures of approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the glazes fuse with the body of the ceramic or porcelain tile.”

The company manufactures wall tiles and custom murals as well as flooring.

Home Depot Is Giving Money Away!

November 12, 2007 RH 2 Comments

I saw this on Bob Villa’s site.

The Po is holding a contest for DIYers. Wannabe Bobs should upload a 30-60 second video to YouTube detailing your renovation project should you win the $25,000 gift card. Creativity is encouraged and submissions are being accepted between November 10th and December 15th. Other prizes are being given away as well as the grand prize, so it’s worth a shot.

Let us know if you decide to tape something and we’ll be glad to show it here (rated PG only). Good luck!

You Tube/Contest

Yeah, What He Said: Bed Stuy Rocks

November 12, 2007 RH 2 Comments

I can’t pass up a good Bed Stuy article….or my Monday NY Times report. This Sunday there was an article on Micheal Andaloro, a commercial interior designer who moved to Bed Stuy from the East Village a year ago.

He’s one of the old time New Yorkers in search of NYC circa 1980s and he has discovered it in Bed Stuy (just like us!). He first looked in the South Bronx but wasn’t too impressed with the housing stock (just like us!).Continue reading Yeah, What He Said: Bed Stuy Rocks

Dirt Floors: Green, Cheap and DIY

November 12, 2007 RH 2 Comments

I read about this in The NY Times way before I had a blog and it was one of those things that stayed with me.

I’ve never seen an earthen floor in person (or have I?), but it looks alot like stained concrete from the pictures. It’s beautiful and it’s totally green. Materials can cost as little as $1 per square foot, plus it can be done DIY!

So, what are the drawback? Because you know it sounds too good to be true.

Well, patience, for one. It takes weeks to properly dry before you can seal it with linseed oil and beeswax.

It doesn’t work well in kitchens and baths, where there is water around. Unfortunately, these are the rooms where it would look best.

It dents easily. But then again, that can add to the character, which some say, looks like old leather after awhile.

On the plus side, the most practical benefit of earthen floors is thermal. When the floor receives direct sunlight it can act as a passive solar device, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night.

Landerland: DIY
Eco Action
I Love Cob via Materialicious

Casa Invisible

November 12, 2007 RH

Discovered this cool house on Treehugger. It’s a 4000 square foot house in Nimes, France which, in time, will become invisible.

“Spidernethewood” is wrapped in mesh so that trees will eventually grow around it, making it one with the surrounding environment. It will take about 5 years to grow into the architect’s vision.

New Territories
Plataforma

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