February 2008 - Page 2 of 3 - reclaimedhome.com

What $300k Buys You In & Out of NYC

February 20, 2008 RH

Let’s start with Manhattan. Broadway at 107th Street…awesome! Doesn’t give the square footage of this coop, but I’m assuming it’s the size of a closet. Not a walk in closet. But hey, if you just need a place to crash, this is it! I’m lovin’ this chick’s website. Adina! Is she a broker or a teen idol?

$ 300k: Ft Hamilton: 920 Sq ft, 2 BR coop

Looks like a nice renovation. They fixed up, but left some retro details. Advice to agent: Remove the litter box from the photo before taking picture. Maintenance of $668 includes gas, heat, water and tax.

$ 300k: Jersey City: 4 Family in need of TLC

The bad news is: This house hasn’t been touched for years. The good news is: This house hasn’t been touched for years. From the one interior shot it looks like there may be some detail left. Do I wear rose colored glasses or what?

$299900: Mt Vernon 3 Family

I’m drooling over this one! 3 Family, 2600 sq ft home built in 1928. Needs total rehab. Fire damage. It looks so sad and forgotten, but I see the inner beauty. Come to mamma, I’ll save you!

$297900: Beacon 2 Family

Hmm, not bad. Two 2 BR units with a little backyard. No interior shots. It’s on the “mountain side” of town as opposed to the “river side” which means nice views, pleasant area…..far walk to train.

DIY: More Wood Stripping Tips

February 20, 2008 RH

This is a follow up to last week’s wood stripping post. One reader is having a hard time with the SPR and asked for some tips. As I responded in the comments, it’s not perfect, but it is, IMHO, the fastest thing out there.

The reader commented that their SPR only heats up the middle section. I thought it may be possible that this is a faulty unit or the power source isn’t strong enough. The SPR should be used on a 20 amp circuit with a heavy duty extension cord. Anything less may cause the tool to work inefficiently or trip your circuit breaker.Continue reading DIY: More Wood Stripping Tips

Vintage Chair Heaven

February 19, 2008 RH

Oy. Just call me Fred Sanford. I found a source for vintage and antique furniture over the weekend and next thing I know, my garage, basement and living room are overflowing with time-worn furnishings.

That’s a good thing as I’ve been stressing out that the Reclaimed store is totally lame and I won’t have enough inventory to set out for the Brooklyn Flea this spring.

Now I have too much. So here’s what I’m gonna do. Over the next few days/weeks I’ll be going over the inventory, pricing it and uploading it to the store. The plan is to restore all this crap and make some decent coin. Since I don’t have space, I’d be happy to part with items I don’t have to strip, paint, finish or reupholster. Mainly the chairs.

Have a look at the Flickr page and make an “as is” offer. The worst thing that can happen is I tell you to feck off. I’ll be putting them on Craigslist once I figure out the worth, but you get first dibs.

I’d like to properly restore a few items and get my price for them. If you think something has value, those are probably the items I’m not parting with too quickly.

“This here is the finest pile of junk in the world.”- F.S.

Air Quality Monitor

February 19, 2008 RH

It’s probably one of those things you’d rather not know. Too scary. But the Dylos DC1100 is the first affordable air quality monitoring system designed for the home. Up until now, the only systems available were high priced units for hospitals and other large facilities.

The model detects airborne particles such as tobacco smoke, pet dander, dust and mold. It stores data for up to 30 days. All you have to do is plug it in and it will configure itself.

The website lists some tips on achieving better indoor air quality. Among them:

Keep your heating, ventilation and a/c units clean. Ducts and filters.

Clean blinds and drapery. (I don’t do that)

Vacuum your house preferably daily if you have heavy foot traffic and/or indoor animals. Use an upholstery brush on your sofa and chairs. Remove cushions and pillows and clean them with the upholstery brush as well. (I have a futon and a shop vac in the pet area)

Bathe pets often, or better yet, keep them outside. (Keep my pets outside? Screw you, buddy! Hmm, my dogs get bathed maybe once a year.)

Wash bedding weekly with hot water to eliminate the possibility of dust mites living in your linens. Only use foam pillows and replace them every six months. (Wow, my pillow is at least 5 years old)

Like I said….don’t want to know! But if YOU do, the DC1100 sells for $200 and you can purchase it here.

Via LeedPro

The Design*Sponge DIY Contest

February 18, 2008 RH

Design*Sponge will be giving away $1500 in prizes for their 2008 DIY contest. Submissions will be accepted until March 2nd, so get your sh*t together!

The contest is sponsored by 2Modern.com, Sparkability , Growmodern and Ready Made.

Your project can be anything that you’ve created yourself for the home, including furniture, decoration, tableware, fixtures, etc.

Prizes are as follows:

*1st place: $500 gift certificate to 2Modern and a check for $150
*2nd place: Check for $450
*3rd place: Check for $300
*Honorable Mention: Check for $100

Polls open to voting on Wednesday, March 5th and they’ll be accepting votes through Sunday, March 9th. Winners announced on that Monday.

See guidelines here.

Good luck!!

AFM Safecoat

February 18, 2008 RH 1 Comment

One of the most frustrating things about living in someone else’s home is the utter lack of control over my environment. If my in-laws were putting the house up for sale today, the listing would have to read: “needs TLC”. Paint chips off of every painted surface, the kitchen cabinets are splintered, the carpets are threadbare; the windows don’t entirely keep the wind out. Not a single door in the house closes properly.

All these issues wouldn’t be such a big deal if Andrew and I weren’t living here with two infants. But I have to wonder what growing up in these conditions is doing to the health of these tiny, developing humans. How many times can I shoo them away from dipping their curious fingers into the cracks in the plaster walls and from lifting up the linoleum from the corners of the room where it curls up from the floor before I go crazy. I can’t prevent them from crawling all over the ancient carpet, so I have to worry about what they are breathing in, and which chemicals they are being exposed to. To minimize their exposure to chemical fumes, we finally convinced my father-in-law (who lives by the motto that if blue painter’s tape can’t fix, it nothing can) to let us repaint the nursery with zero VOC paint.

VOCs or volatile organic compounds is the stuff that you smell when wet paint is drying, or “off-gassing”. Breathing in VOCs exposes the body to a host of nasty chemicals. And while I’m no expert, I do know that paint without VOCs is recommended for pregnant women and in families with infants. It can’t hurt to eliminate VOCs when painting in a house with pets or with individuals with sensitivities either.

We used AFM zero VOC to paint the baseboards and doors; covering up any lead-bearing paint underneath. Sure enough, there was no detectable odor.

The company is over 25 years old and provides primers, paints in many finishes and stains. Check out their Ayurveda Essence color selection. 108 colors that are skewed energetically. It’s a “healing” collection with each palete meant to be stimulating, calming, uplifting, etc.

AFM Safecoat is sold at Green Depot and Bettencourt in Brooklyn or a dealer near you. Before you run out to buy it for your entire house, FYI: It costs about $38 per gallon.

Now, if only we could replace that relic of a living room carpet….

Author: Brett

Affordable NYC: Brooklyn Under $600k

February 15, 2008 RH 3 Comments

We’re going into a recession! There’s a housing slump! So does that mean a Brooklyn townhouse can be had for under $600k now? Let’s see….

$599k: 2 Family, Crown Heights North. OH Sunday!

I’m putting this one at the top of the list because judging from internet alone, it looks like the best choice. A 3200 square foot 2 family limestone in Crown Heights North. It looks like this has great detail. According to the floorplan, only 2 floors are finished. Agents suggest finishing the “English basement” for a lower duplex. If the previous owner had done this, the price would not be under $600k! Open House this Sunday: 1274 Park Place.

$575k: 2 Family Bed Stuy

Location! Location! Location! This house needs a full reno, including roof, plumbing and electric. Maybe even windows and facade, judging from the picture. Some details remain. They list it as a 3 story, but I’m looking at 4 in the photo. That would mean more rental space=more money. Or a larger space for yourself. The map is showing MacDonough and Tompkins, which is right near an up and coming strip of shops and restaurants, close to Fulton and 2 blocks from the A express. Oh, and a block from the Reclaimed Home Brooklyn headquarters. The rehab needed might be too extensive to make this work.

$599k: Renovated 2 Family in Bed Stuy

Looks like they did a nice job of restoring this place, but it’s difficult to see since 2 of the 3 shots are of the hallway. And no exterior photos! Located on Monroe between Stuyvesant and Lewis. I know that Stuy/Lewis is verrry desirable closer to Fulton, but I’m not familiar with that particular block.

$599k: Flatbush

Not much to go on. To say this house needs updating would be an understatement. Nice vinyl panels in the hallway! But I’m seeing some details, which makes this an exciting option. Looks like some original plaster, molding and doors are left.

$599k: Bushwick 3 Family

Hmm, not much info here as far as photos or exact location. Sez 3 renovated apartments. I’m thinking, live in one and fill the other two with hipsters who will pay your entire mortgage. Not a bad scenario, no?

$575k: “Park Slope/Gowanus”

And if you must live in Park Slope, there are still homes on the fringes of the neighborhood. This 2 BR ~~shack~~ house in need of updating is somewhere within walking distance to 7th Ave, 5th Ave and Smith Street. Maybe it’s even got breathtaking views of the Gowanus? Oh wait, there’s already an accepted offer. What? I didn’t say anything.

Weekend Sales!

February 15, 2008 RH

Garage sale, Pawling, NY

27 Fennwood Drive Pawling NY
Sat. Feb 16th…9-3
Tony at 914-774-3814

I stopped by last week and filled my truck. I’m going back for more this week. If you get there at 9:01, you’ll be getting my leftovers.

30 years of accumulation..vintage tools, chairs, lawn furniture, brass door knobs and hinges, auto stuff like bumper jacks, floor jacks, jack stands, electrical, lights, art deco hanging chandeliers, 100 cup coffee pot, antique wine press, polaroid camers, hub caps, auto body puller.

Briarwood, Queens
Feb 16, 10am-3pm
139-15 83rd Ave, elevator B, apt. 430

Some great looking antiques!

Howard Beach Tag Sale
Feb 23 9-5
155-27 Huron St, Howard Beach, Upstairs

Antiques from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s

Bayside Estate Sale

64-50 212th St
Sat & Sun Feb 16th & 17th
8:30 AM – 5PM

Complete contents of home: Antiques, oil paintings, vintage clothing, vintage kitchen items, etc

Stan The Junk Man

February 14, 2008 RH 1 Comment

Zaborski Emporium in Kingston is the megastore of salvage. 25,000 square feet of old house parts. You could get lost in that place! No seriously, I get lost in there.

Although Stan has been in the salvage business since 1976, the building on Hoffman Street was completely empty when he purchased it 10 years ago. He managed to fill it up quite nicely in that time. He used to know every piece of inventory, but jokes that he can’t remember now because of his drinking. Yeah, you’d have to be friggen Rain Man to know every artifact in that place!

Stan’s father, Stan, a Brooklyn native, owned a bakery until the early 60’s when supermarkets started to sell baked goods. His business began to suffer. To add insult to injury, the bakery was next door to an auction house. At the end of the day, Stan Sr. would be walking out with $48 compared to the auctioneer’s $15k.

The salvage business actually started with toys. Little Stanley Jr. (That’s present day Stan. Are you still with me?) would bring home toy trains and small objects that they would display for sale at the bakery. Eventually, the toys sold better than the pastries and so a new family business was born.

These days Stan has to be more selective with what he takes in, because apparently, that 25,000 square feet of space is not enough. They get their pieces from other dealers, house clean-outs and people phoning in. Customers include renovators from NYC, CT and MA. They do a decent business with the movie industry. They will only sell outright, no prop rentals. Zaborski furnishings and fixtures have been featured in films such as “American Gangster”, “The Manchurian Candidate”, “Charlotte’s Web” and “Revolutionary Road”.

When I asked if he has seen more business since the whole green building movement took off, he informed me that building salvage was the original green. I agree.

Business had slowed down for Stan during the holiday season this year. But they’re having a good February even with the tanking economy and housing market.

Zaborski Emporium is a family run business. If you’ve ever been, that’s wife Sandy sitting behind the desk in the warm office. And sons Steve and Devlin, who work there, will take over the business when Stan has had enough.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering….that’s brother Gary at the Stan’z on Ulster Avenue.

If you’re planning a visit, call first and dress warm!

Weekender: Saugerties, NY

February 14, 2008 RH 1 Comment

Used to be you went to Saugerties for the antiques. Now it looks like there’s much more happening in that little town east of Woodstock.

I visited Saugerties for the first time in a few years when I met up with Jean for lunch at Miss Lucy’s Kitchen. I had been boycotting Saugerties prior to that. Let’s just say: F*ed up stone countertop from Nelsen’s Supply, small claims court and small town justice. 5 years later, maybe I can even the score now that I have a blogging voice. Don’t use Nelsens! Ah, that feels good.

Anyway, Saugerties. The Hudson River village is just off the NYS Thruway about 2.5 hours north of NYC. I couldn’t find a bus service directly into town so I’m thinking you would have to make your way over from Kingston or Woodstock if you were using public transit.

Saugerties has a great choice of restaurants for both veg and non veg. New World Home Cooking, outside of town, is one of the better restaurants in the entire Hudson Valley. Eclectic fare, casual setting.

You can spend a full day, maybe two exploring the shops in town. The Saugerties Antiques Center is a multi dealer shop with decent prices.

It’s no secret that this area of the Catskills offers great hiking trails and kayaking. FYI, there’s white water in them Saugerties waters as well! And for more tame outdoor adventures, check out Seamon Park, Esopus Creek swimming, the local farmer’s market and pick your own.

While in Saugerties, DO NOT MISS Opus 40. Six acres of natural stone sculpture created by one man. The other major Saugerties landmark is the lighthouse which is also serves as a B&B. Give me one reason anyone would choose to stay somewhere other than the lighthouse? Ok, maybe if it was booked. Seriously, there are some lovely B&B’s in town, but….a lighthouse! Too cool to pass up!

Some of these things are seasonal and may be closed for the winter. In fact, I might give the weekender posts a break until Spring. Any objections? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Discover Saugerties
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Lighthouse Keeper’s Logbook

Fashionable & Functional Kitty Cribs

February 13, 2008 RH 2 Comments

I came across some groovy looking cat beds and hideaways during a recent search. Thought I’d share.

“Rondo” from Cat Interiors. $274 plus $103 shipping from Germany. D’uh!

Marmalade Pet’s “Cheeky Chaise“. $139. List of retailers here. Nice looking now, but you know how I feel about cardboard.

“Kitty Hawk” activity center. $160. Sold at a few online retailers. Snap together starter kits are 90 bucks and you can build the Cat Castle from there. Parts are washable and replaceable if damaged. (Or peed on)

Stripping Paint: Heat Gun,SPR or Chemicals?

February 12, 2008 RH 3 Comments

Answer: Paint stripping usually requires all of the above. The Silent Paint Remover to finish large areas, the heat gun for detail the and chemicals to clean it up.

But let’s take a closer look. Shall we?

See my original Silent Paint Remover (aka Infrared Paint Remover) post here. I’ve only used it on wood, but the company says it can be used on metal, marble, plaster and concrete. BUT, you should do a test on the area first. The SPR cuts the stripping time in half. Maybe even more. It goes through all of the layers in one shot and doesn’t take too much time before the paint starts to bubble. The tool is a bit cumbersome and too large for corners or small areas.

Which is why you’ll need a heat gun. Same process. You’re heating the paint until it bubbles and lifts off the surface. Scrape away and viola! So why can’t you do the entire job with a heat gun? It is SLOW! Takes much longer to heat than the SPR and covers a smaller area.

It’s possible to get away without using chemicals, but there’s nothing like that toxic stuff to clean it up. Rock Miracle is my harsh chemical of choice. Nothing green about this! On the other hand, since it works best, you’ll be using alot less of it than gentle strippers. Tip for stripping a flat surface such as a door: If you don’t own a heating tool, put a very thick coat of Rock Miracle on the horizontal surface and let sit for about 4 hours. Must be horizontal and must be thick or it will dry out. This will take off all layers. Ordinarily, you apply a thinner coat and let it sit for about 20 minutes and that only gets off a layer at a time.

Peel Away comes in several “flavors”. I use this for plaster as it’s gentle enough. I find it best to cover overnight. It will take off several layers at a time.

You must always neutralize after using chemicals or the paint/poly will peel. What you use will depend on the surface you’re working on. Chemicals are much messier than heating tools. And no matter what, don’t forget to clean up well and dispose of the lead paint properly.

The tools are a great expense up front. The SPR is about $400. However, it’s worth it if you’re going to be doing alot of stripping. I can’t tell you how much I spent on chemicals before discovering the SPR.

And don’t forget….SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!

Blogger Tip Jar

February 12, 2008 RH 7 Comments

Materialicious has been an invaluable source of information for me and Justin is one of my virtual BFFs in the blogging world.

Materialicious will be a year old at the end of the month and is doing quite well. But it was no accident. Justin has spent the past year living off of his savings in order to dedicate himself to the blog. He now either has to revamp the site for ad revenue (a costly process) or go back to work full time and forget about Materialicious.

So he’s asking for donations. This is the unfortunate realty of bloggers without financial backing. If one person is pumping out a brilliant blog with a steady flow of informative posts, you can rest assure the day job is suffering and it cannot last forever.

If you’re a Materialicious fan like I am, you can donate any amount by clicking his PayPal link.

For Justin or any other blogger out there in need of a technical assistance for their site, I would highly recommend my web designer who works at a fraction of the cost of larger companies. She’ll be switching my own site over to a different platform soon and even I can afford her prices!

Your Restoration, Your Health

February 11, 2008 RH

I see inquiries about lead testing all the time and I kind of don’t get it. FACT: If your home was built prior to 1978, they used lead paint. Period. End of story.

Well, let me backtrack here. If your home was gut renovated since the late 70’s, good for you. No lead. If it was properly restored, the lead is probably all but gone. I can assure anyone that our Bed Stuy home, which still has most of the original detail intact, is lead free. We stripped all of the wood and even chipped away at most of the paint on the walls before skimcoating.

But if you’re one of these old home psychos lacking in funds, (like us) you’re not buying a newly renovated house. No, you see an old, decrepit, haunted looking house and you want to rescue it. The challenge is exciting. It’s an addiction. Don’t fight it.

Whether you hire a contractor or go DIY, if you’re living in the home during renovation, it’s not a healthy atmosphere. Even if lead is not an issue, there is still dust and fumes to consider. You obviously need to take safety precautions. I don’t want to be a downer, but you’ll be breathing in alot of crap.

After nearly a year of DIY renovations on the brownstone, I crashed and burned. My body just said “Ok, I’m taking a break now.” It wasn’t one big thing, but a series of little illnesses. A cold, a flu, vertigo, stomach upsets. It was partly from fatigue and stress, but I had been living under some nasty conditions during the reno. I detoxed for a week and I was fine after that.

Would I do it again? Absolutely! No other way! What would I do differently?

* Clean up better. I vacuumed, but didn’t wipe everything down with a wet sponge.

* HEPA Vacuum and Air Cleaner. Didn’t have either.

* Take more breaks. I literally woke up and got to work immediately then worked until dinnertime. Stretching, exercise and fresh air would’ve proven beneficial.

* Detox after a month or two, not a full year. I picked up the “cleansers” at the health food store. It’s no fun taking them, but they work! It’s a week long process taking a series of natural pills and you’ll want to stay close to the toilet. I also took a respiratory cleanser since I was breathing in God knows what kind of dust particles throughout the year.

* Open windows. If you can drag a piece to work on outdoors, do it. Not always possible if you’re working straight through winter.

* If you have children or pets, keep them out of the work area until finished and cleaned up in that room. Keep in mind that the dust will take a few days to settle.

* Polyurethane, paint and new material (some carpets and fabrics) send off some nasty fumes. Air out the room! Avoid the area for awhile if you can.

There is no reason to panic and move into a new construction. Try to avoid the lead as best you can. Worst case scenario, your lead levels are high. It should eventually run out of your system and you’ll have normal levels again one fine day.

Safety Tips

Moto Art: Recycled Airplanes

February 11, 2008 RH

Artist Donovan Fell III Moto Art in 1998 by chance. One morning he noticed a pile of B-17 propellers on top of the junk man’s scrap aluminum heap. They were dented and greasy, but they were beautiful to him.

“What beautiful shapes they were and what countless memories of engineering, combat and freedom they contained.” Donovan saved them from the furnace, polished them up and a lucrative hobby soon became a business.

Moto Art offers freestanding sculptures, tables, desks and chairs. Prices start at around $2000 for some of the larger items. That’s fair enough for those with money. For the rest of us working schlubbs, there are affordable small items such as desk lamps and clocks for under $200.

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