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The Reclaimed Blogade

The Reclaimed Blogade published on 5 Comments on The Reclaimed Blogade

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It was perfect weather for yesterday’s outdoor Blogade at Kush Cafe. So perfect that the turnout was lighter than expected. That was probably a blessing as my web design guru Veronica brought her laptop, so we all had a chance to see what was going on.

Everybody was late. Everybody! Rob of Luna Park Gazette was the first to arrive. Ok, so he was only a few minutes late. Then others started trickling in. Eleanor of Creative Times showed up with Michael of Art in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Modern‘s Gerald was there, as was Morgan of Save Bedford Stuyvesant. We even got to meet Morgan’s mommy briefly when she dropped him off! Of course, Blogade mommy, Louise OTBKB was there.

Veronica showed us the latest and greatest WordPress plug-ins and stuff that may or may not have sunk into my little pea brain. No worries, she posted a PDF link on her Noseround site so we can look at it over and over.

What did I learn yesterday?

I learned that my WordPress software is in serious need of an upgrade.

I learned that people will respond “yes” to an RSVP and then not show up. You know who you are. Yeah, you!

I learned that my fellow bloggers (and my web design guru) rock.

The Lady Is Waiting To Be Painted

The Lady Is Waiting To Be Painted published on 1 Comment on The Lady Is Waiting To Be Painted

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San Fran scene. Hmm, blue is an option.

All of this porch demolition. It’s now time to start thinking about what we’ll replace it with and to get a feel for the color scheme. I got seduced by the painted ladies of San Fransisco some twenty years ago. “Someday I want a house like that.” said I. My house could be every bit as spectacular. She’s just a little rough around the edges is all.

Anyway, I’m spending some time looking at porch spindles, corbels and fanciful gingerbready things to add. Plus, I need to find an intense color scheme!

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Kind of like the contrast of the dark gray with the red.

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Holy Mother of God! I would kill for this place. Kill!! This is the Carson Mansion in Eureka, CA. I wouldn’t mind adding do-dads to my peaks though. And some iron work.

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Cape May, NJ. The husband won’t let me go pink. Nor will landmarks. Eh, maybe this is too frou frou even for me.

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Iowa. Interesting porch woodwork, but I think I have my heart set on chunky balusters.

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Like these.

Timbersil Wood-n-Glass Combo

Timbersil Wood-n-Glass Combo published on 2 Comments on Timbersil Wood-n-Glass Combo

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Reader Jill Fudo, architect, tipped me off to a newish product called Timbersil.

The wood and glass fusion lumber sounds too good to be true, but it’s definitely worth a look into.

Looks more like straight up wood than composite material.

Greener than pressure treated lumber.

More durable than wood.

Stands up to insects and water because of the glass.

Oh yeah, and fire resistant too.

This can be stained like any other wood product. Timbersil fabricates products ranging from building materials to finish materials such as trim and tongue and groove flooring.

According to the website, prices are affordable. I have calls in to the local distributors. I’ll let you know when I find out exactly what those prices are.

Two Tri-State dealers are Hood Distribution and Wehrung’s Lumber.

Related: Good Millwork

Hope Hubby Knows What He’s Doing

Hope Hubby Knows What He’s Doing published on 5 Comments on Hope Hubby Knows What He’s Doing

Last time I reported on my porch was over two months ago. Let’s see how far we’ve come since then. Shall we?

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Basically, there is no porch left. I’d just like to draw your attention to the green rain gutter with the white spout. The husband tried to kill me with this and I have a nice scar on my lower lip to prove it. He didn’t secure it so when I stepped on it, that white tip hit my face and I was cut by the sharp, dirty edge.

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The temporary plywood was taken up for joist repair. This lovely handrail keeps the mail carrier (and us) from falling into the gaping hole. We don’t invite guests over, so that’s a non-issue.

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See the chunk o’ bricks in the background? That was just moving around willy nilly in the ground. A deeper hole was dug out to install proper cement footing. That ain’t going nowhere now.

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I’ve gotta say…this kind of makes me nervous. I mean, what’s it sitting on? So, hubby has worked on major bridges and structures that are still standing. Do you think this looks kosher? Or does he want to finish the job that the rain gutter didn’t take care?

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Wine and Stevie. That’s The Life!

Wine and Stevie. That’s The Life! published on

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Some wine connoisseurs pair wine with cheese or meals, but Soho’s City Winery pairs wine with music.

Just found out about tonight’s event via Gothamlist. Stevie Wonder! “Songs for the Cup of Life”. 30 wines. 30 tunes. 30 bucks.

This is not a live Stevie performance, but check the City Winery calendar for those. They do have some pretty decent live events.

Brooklyn Blogade This Sunday!

Brooklyn Blogade This Sunday! published on 1 Comment on Brooklyn Blogade This Sunday!

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It’s Reclaimed Home’s turn to host the rolling Brooklyn Blogade. Since this is not a neighborhood blog and since I’ve lived in just about every part of Brooklyn, I could’ve chosen any location.

I chose Kush in Clinton Hill because one, I can walk there from my Bed Stuy home and two, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn. Like, on the top three.

So anyway, what’s a blogade all about? Well, it’s a monthly gathering of bloggers who get together to exchange ideas, encourage one another and eat. There’s usually a theme. I wanted to talk about the technical aspects of blogging, so I’m getting my web designer to fill us in on blogging from different angles.

Vanessa of Noseround Productions will look at breaking away from your average post and making your blog more interactive. She’ll bring in examples of plug-ins, add-ons and open source platforms, such as web carts and forums. She’ll try to explain ways to make your blog both user friendly and also owner friendly.

Sounds good, no? So far there are about 20 of us gathering on the 28th. If you haven’t RSVP’ed yet just give me a holla to let me know you’re coming. I’m still working out the menu, but it’s a brunch thing with a vegetarian and a vegan option. Cost will be less than $15.

Hope to see you there!

Porch Flooring Options

Porch Flooring Options published on 2 Comments on Porch Flooring Options

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My mission this week is to choose the flooring we’ll be installing on our porch. Not that we’re finished with our structural work yet, but it’s always good to be ready, ya know? The top priorities are environmental impact and price. Oh yeah, and looks. And durability.

There are fewer options when looking at outdoor flooring. For example, oak wouldn’t be the way to go. Although it’s a perfect interior hardwood, it’s not water, insect or mildew resistant.

Right now it’s looking like we’ll end up with a local wood such as cedar or douglas fir, but I just started internet research mode and haven’t visited a flooring supplier yet.

Here’s the rundown:

Local woods include pressure treated pine, cedar, redwood and douglas fir. Pressure treated is full of chemicals, although not as harsh as they once were. Redwood is becoming scarce, so that can’t be very eco-friendly. That narrows it down to cedar or douglas fir, both soft woods.

The exotic wood species are more durable and more beautiful. Although FSC wood can be purchased easily enough these days, it still doesn’t sit right with me. Not to mention the price and difficulty of working with such hard woods. These would include the ever so popular ipe, mahogany, teak and tigerwood.

Of course, if we go the recycled route, we can justify any wood. This would be our number one choice if we can afford it. You’ll be the first to know what we decide.

I should mention that composite decking is yet another option that has come a long way. IMO, it’s not wood. It’s fake and it looks it. If we were talking a back yard deck, I might have a look into it, but this is the front porch of my soon-to-be gorgeous house. I just can’t….

Events and Real Estate via Facebook

Events and Real Estate via Facebook published on

 I have to say that I’m more obsessed with Facebook than with Twitter. I can’t help it that I find my friends more interesting and talented than total strangers. (No offense, Twits!) I get my news from Facebook. I do my socializing on Facebook. And today I’m getting my blog post from Facebook.

Check it out…

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This Sunday, the 21st at Public Assembly in Williamsburg.

“The United States of Consciousness” is a Multimedia Experience with live art, video projections, performance and music. My buddy Dave Barry of Toasters fame (& other great NYC ska bands) will be keyboarding it up with Andrew Zapanta. Only $5 suggested donation.

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Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush alerted friends to a Clothing Swap with her “like” thumb icon. This takes place on June 27th from 3-6pm at the Wow Cafe in the East Village. $5 donation for trades and $10 if you don’t have stuff to give.

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Nicole from Brooklyn Based has been living in London for the past year while keeping her awesomely informative blog going. She’s returning home in July but wants to know “Anyone in NYC want to do a three month (or more) swap for a fabulous North London apartment?” Tempting, but too bad Europeans get quadruple the vacation time.

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Speaking of England, yet another friend is trying to move back to NY. Vintage peddler Marie asks “Anyone interested in buying a 2-bed apartment in Manchester England?” They’re asking £79,950 and it looks totally cute! Fun fact: Marie’s hubby was in a band with pre-Smiths Morrissey.

A Visit to Vaccaro’s Salvage

A Visit to Vaccaro’s Salvage published on 4 Comments on A Visit to Vaccaro’s Salvage

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We needed to match a couple of Victorian ball tip door hinges so we finally got to visit the new Vaccaro’s location on the Park Slope/Carrol Gardens border.

Vaccaro Brothers Scrap Metal had been selling wholesale and retail out of a garage on 15th Street for about 50 years. The family had been in the scrap metal business for around 50 years prior to that. Now you can find Roy Vaccaro’s “New York Old Iron” right under the F train el near the Lowe’s parking lot.

The specialty here is iron. Gates, stoop ballusters and posts. If you’re looking to re-do the front of your brownstone stoop as we will be soon, this is the place. Be sure to have photos and measurements if you’re ready to get going on your project. Lots of pieces look similar but won’t necessarily work together.

Vaccaro’s has a decent selection of doors and sinks. There isn’t much furniture or wood as this is an outdoor place and only so much is sheltered from harsh weather.

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Here’s an example of the pricing….We did find our hinges. Well, not really. We picked up 4 more ornate ones instead for $10 apiece. They’ll need stripping, but no biggie. Olde Good Things charges $125 for 3 of the same hinges, stripped. Less expensive places are around $25 apiece. So, not a bad deal.

Casa Cara’s article on Vaccaro’s

Dumbo Flea Starts This Weekend!

Dumbo Flea Starts This Weekend! published on 1 Comment on Dumbo Flea Starts This Weekend!

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Brooklyn Flea is launching their newest location this Sunday in DUBB (down under the Brooklyn Bridge). The Dumbo winter market has closed shop for the hot weather and they are moving it outdoors, right on the waterfront.

The market will feature many of the same great vendors, plus some new “nicer” merchandise. “Nicer”=more expensive?

Fort Greene is still there on Saturdays until the winter holidays and Dumbo will be on Sundays.

Ms. Reclaimed Home is cutting out for the summer months and returning in September full force. I didn’t do July and August last year because the gal can’t take the heat. I’m not not doing the remaining June weekends due to scheduling conflicts (completely disorganized life). I should have some supercalifragilisticexpialidocious inventory when I return in the fall.

Getting Artsy With Real Estate Photos

Getting Artsy With Real Estate Photos published on 2 Comments on Getting Artsy With Real Estate Photos

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I had four real estate shoots yesterday and all the properties were inhabited by tenants who just didn’t want me to be there. Some were still in bed at 10am. Some didn’t clear away their mess. One woman was downright rude. She later apologized. Nobody is happy that they have to move against their will.

What’s a photo gal to do when she doesn’t have much to work with? It’s a challenge. You have to see the beauty in the shit hole. Detail shots. Creative framing. Clever angles.

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This super cool property is a retired railroad station. Now it houses a beauty salon and several small apartments. The tenants were around, the units weren’t clean. I got interior shots, but I like this one best.

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This was a decent house with a separate cottage on a nice quiet street. One apartment was vacant and the other had meh decor. The realtor thought I wouldn’t be able to do anything with the cottage, but I thought those shots came out better than the house. When I opened the barn doors and saw that old VW, my heart skipped a beat. I’d buy that house just for the van!

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What do you do with a bland new construction that’s cluttered floor to ceiling with kid’s toys and moving boxes? I got tired of moving things around by this point. It was the end of the day and I was like “Oh, so there’s a box in the shot.” This was the one piece of space with nothing but….space.

Previous real estate photos here, here and here.

All Flickr here.

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