RH, Author at reclaimedhome.com

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

Droolworthy Iceboxes

November 9, 2007 RH

Life is so unfair! Prices for these Klondikerf Iceboxes start at $4450, plus options, crating and shipping. I guess that means I won’t be getting one any time soon. Never say never, though. These custom commercial refrigerators for the home can be built in oak, maple, cherry or hickory.

The Roseland Icebox Company offers 2 models, the Sears and the McCray. They also offer panels for really expensive high end refrigerators such as Sub Zero or Viking. Their hardware is gorgeous, but alas, the $500+ price tag for a set is more than I’d want to spend on the entire fridge.

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

November 9, 2007 RH 8 Comments

After reporting on the upcoming Brooklyn Flea Market, I couldn’t believe how many people said to me “Oh, 26th Street is gone? I didn’t know that.” Well, here’s the deal…

The 26th Street parking lot which was home to the Annex Flea Market no longer exists. They paved paradise and put up a luxury condo. There is still a smaller market on 25th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. Around the corner from that remains the Antiques Garage, located at 112 W 25th Street. Open weekends.

The original Annex of 26th Street has moved to Hell’s Kitchen. Located on 39th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, it’s open Saturdays and Sundays.

Kapeesh?

Affordable NYC: Ocean Hill

November 9, 2007 RH

I covered Bed Stuy proper here, but Bed Stuy is only semi affordable. Ocean Hill is a subsection of Bed Stuy and you’ll find that home prices are close to $300k less expensive than prime Stuy.

Obviously, there are reasons for this. For one, although the crime rate is at an all time low, the neighborhood can still be shady in spots.

Ocean Hill is farther east (away from the city) than Bed Stuy. However! There exists a choice of train lines. The A, C, J and Z lines run though the neighborhood and it is not far from the Broadway Junction, where these lines meet up with the L at one of the largest hubs in Brooklyn.

Housing stock is not as grand as neighboring Stuyvesant Heights, but there are still older bricks, brownstones and limestones with details intact. Many newer homes have been built on the empty lots that infested the area during the downturn of the 60’s-90’s and older homes are being restored.

Newcomers are moving into the area, which has been populated largely by African Americans. An increasing number of Asians, Hispanics and Whites are discovering Ocean Hill.

Amenities are not yet there. You won’t find cute cafes, gourmet markets or chic clothing shops. Yet.

NY Times
Parks
Historic Photos
Habitat’s Affordable Green Condos

Ocean Hill Listings

November 9, 2007 RH

$549k: 2 Family

$569k: Diamond in rough. OH this Sunday!

$569k: 2 Family w/ details

Zen & Art of Dumpster Diving

November 8, 2007 RH 3 Comments

I caught this on Dot Earth via Treehugger.

A Zen Buddhist Temple in Ann Arbor, Michigan goes dumpster diving to raise money for their temple. They polish up the items, whether it be clothing or furnishings and sell it at their annual yard sale.

From this article, I found the Environmental Report which lead me to the Wiki How Tips on Dumpster Diving.

A few cardinal rules:

* Do not leave a mess!

* Know the law. Sometimes trash is considered private property and homeowners or businesses can call the cops.

* Be careful. There could be broken glass and other sharp objects. And rats.

* Wear the right cloths. Bring a car. Clean all items thoroughly.

* Late night and early mornings are best.

I’ve found doors, coffee tables, a newell post and paintings in the trash. My favorite find was the highly detailed Victorian toilet someone threw out in Park Slope. I nearly caused an accident stopping for that one!

Hudson Historic Preservation

November 8, 2007 RH

Copied and pasted this from my inbox. How lazy am I?

The Hudson River Heritage has been asked by the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to help bring people out for a very important meeting that will ask residents to provide input for the State’s 2007-2011
Historic Preservation Plan.

The goal is to identify how to incorporate historic preservation into cost-effective environmentally-friendly community improvement and economic development activities, such as the redevelopment of existing resources, energy,conservation and smart growth initiatives.

A Mid-Hudson Valley meeting will be held in Kingston on November 15, 2007, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 2nd Floor
Common Council Chamber, 420 Broadway.

OPRHP is planning a second set of meetings to be held in New York City, Cold Spring Harbor, Ithaca, Waterford, and Yonkers, to be announced soon.

NYS Preservation Planning

Affordable Burb: Ossining

November 8, 2007 RH

Another Hudson River town for your consideration.

When you think of Ossining, perhaps you think of Sing Sing prison. You kind of can’t miss it when you’re there. It’s huge. And the prisoners have the best view in town. Unlike other river towns, the housing closer to the water is somewhat less valuable because of the prison. If you want waterfront property and don’t mind William “What’s the frequency Kenneth” Tager being your neighbor, you’re in luck!

Ossining is less than an hour from Grand Central on Metro North. The town is diverse in both it’s population and housing stock. It’s one of the few remaining Westchester towns that isn’t a fancy schmancy rich suburb, but rather a melting pot of cultures and economic variety.

Many of the structures in town are on the National Register of Historic Places. The village itself is quite a quaint, colorful experience. The housing stock is well varied. Let’s just say there’s something for everyone, whether you prefer a fabulous turreted Victorian, a run down fixer upper, a McMansion or a ranch.

Home prices are varied as well. However, as you can see from the listings, one can still find a home for under $400k… even under $300k.

2005 Times Article
Village of Ossining
Hudson Valley Arts & Science
Chamber of Commerce
Historical Society