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Zen & Art of Dumpster Diving

Zen & Art of Dumpster Diving published on 3 Comments on Zen & Art of Dumpster Diving

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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!

Hacking Ikea

Hacking Ikea published on

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Over on Ikea Hacker, there’s a great renovation of a 1950’s Eichler home by Greenmeadow Architect’s Mark Marcinik.

In the above photo, the bar is made of doors parts, three cabinet boxes and Ikea cover panels. The translucent window in the red wall is another Ikea door. The stainless steel sliding doors against the wall are Ikea cover panels hung on sliding door tracks.

If you’re going to try this at home, don’t forget to hit the damaged section first for bigger discounts!

Ikea
Ikea Fans

DIY: Squeaky Floors

DIY: Squeaky Floors published on 1 Comment on DIY: Squeaky Floors

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Before anything, try a quick fix. Pour some baby powder into the grooves. Don’t vacuum the mess on the floor because you don’t want to remove the powder between the cracks. Wipe it up with a damp rag.

If that doesn’t work, there are a couple of companies that make easy DIY products specifically for stopping creaks. Squeak No More and Squeak Ender each get good reviews. But really, you can just do it yourself with some screws, shims and scrap lumber.

First of all, determine exactly where the squeak is coming from. It could be loose boards or the joists underneath.

If you can view the floor from underneath, try to find gaps between the floor and joist. If any exist, put some glue on a shim and knock it in there. Not so much that the floor pops up! For extra support, drive a screw at an angle up through the joist, shim and into the sub floor. And um, make sure it doesn’t go all the way through the floor above.

If it looks like your joist is sagging, you’ll need to support that. Squeak Ender is a brace for such a job. Or you can bridge between the joists with a 2×6. Or screw in support against the joist.

Can’t get underneath? Good for you. That makes the job even easier. Squeak No More makes a Countersnap Kit in which the screwheads automatically snap off when driven into the depth control fixture. Alternatively, all you need to do is drill tiny pilot holes at angles and drive finish nails or screws through the floor, catching the sub floor below. You can fill the holes with wood putty when done.

Easy 2 DIY
This Old House
Be Jane

Lowering The Lid Just Got Easier

Lowering The Lid Just Got Easier published on 1 Comment on Lowering The Lid Just Got Easier

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Neatorama lead me to this Weird News article.

9 year old Iowan, Jake Wulf invented a foot activated toilet seat lifter which he named the “Privy Prop”. That beat out “Jake’s John Jack” which I actually prefer.

He created the handy device for his school’s Invention Convention, with the help of his dad who designs equipment for a living. Jake built the base out of plywood, then cut thin pieces of steel and fashioned a teeter-totter at the bottom. Step on: seats lifts. Step off: it closes.

The item was such a hit at the fair that he got a call from the Ellen Degeneres Show. His interview will air on Friday.

I know I’m saying the same thing wives and girlfriends are saying everywhere….”Where can I get one for my man?”

Reclaimed Chestnut Countertop

Reclaimed Chestnut Countertop published on

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So, when I was having fun on Houseblogs I came across an old photographer buddy’s site. Renovator’s Diary chronicles Brooke’s renovation of an 1860 house in Sag Harbor. I’ve only known Brooke as a talented photographer, but hey, she’s got some great design ideas as well!

I was particularly impressed with their choice of kitchen countertop. Brooke and Josh used reclaimed wormy chestnut, which they treated with a solvent free linseed oil.

DIY job. And you know what I’m thinking? Perhaps you can use leftover planks from a floor installation, which means the countertop would be F-R-E-E!!

Counters. Part I
Counters. Part II

Reproduction Hardware

Reproduction Hardware published on 4 Comments on Reproduction Hardware

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I’m just going to do this as a list. I find that the lesser known companies have better prices than your Restoration Hardware or Rejuvenation, but there, I’ve mentioned them too. Some of these sites sell antique hardware as well as reproductions. If you’re on the lookout for historically correct doorknobs, switch plates, hinges or drawer pulls, these are the places to hit.

Ed Donaldson
Van Dykes
Signature Hardware
Kennedy Hardware
Paxton Hardware
Historic House Parts
House of Antique Hardware
Renovator’s Supply

House Blogs

House Blogs published on 3 Comments on House Blogs

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I’ve been combing through Houseblogs.net recently. I wanted to share with you some of my favorites.

Of course I must give a shout out to my top 3 faves whom I mention all the time:

I Love Upstate: Priced out of owning New York City real estate (on her terms). Follows the restoration of Greek Revival house built circa 1839 in upstate New York. She has trouble making design decisions and I like to f*ck with her by offering even more choices.

The Kitchen Designer: A Certified Kitchen Designer based on Long Island, Susan Serra knows her stuff. She’s always looking for fresh ideas and materials. I often refer to her blog for the latest info and cool retro designs. Susan offers phone or email consultations as well as design packages.

Howard Hall Farm: Ok, I just did a love fest write up on them the other day. Let’s not get nuts here.

And more…

Brooklyn Row House: The renovation of a 1906 Bay Ridge row house by a guy who really knows what he’s doing. Prior to this reno, he converted a couple of loft spaces in Manhattan. He won me over with his exceptional work and love of dogs, although I could kill him for ripping out that original dining room ceiling. In all fairness, he did replace it with an exact replica. Beautiful, but big no no for an eco-friendly preservationist.

Door Sixteen: From Brooklyn to Newburgh, fixing up an 1890’s Victorian rowhouse. She has a really nice design sense and often scavenges things to transform. But, oh, she had me at Morrissey!

Ok, that’s all for today, kids. If you want to see more, go to Houseblogs yourselves. I have to save something for another day.

DIY Green Bamboo Countertop

DIY Green Bamboo Countertop published on 1 Comment on DIY Green Bamboo Countertop

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From Apartment Therapy: Green.

It’s green AND it’s DIY! Teragren is a manufacturer, as opposed to an importer, of bamboo. This means they can control quality and know exactly where the wood is coming from. Furthermore, their butcher block panels are formaldehyde-free and food safe. The panels can be finished with tung oil or other FDA-approved food safe oils, such as mineral oil.

The installation tips seem fairly straightforward. It is only a piece of wood, which is not as scary to work with than other materials. Table, countertop or custom sizes are available.

Atlantic Plywood, with a few locations in the tri-state area, is listing as their local distributor. Other distributors here.

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light published on

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When you think of it, few things are more important than lighting a room. What good is your $10,000 rug if you can’t see the colors? Professional lighting designers exist for a reason. It’s not easy to properly balance light in a room while trying to maintain the ideal design with fixtures. I should know….as I photographer, I can light a room in my sleep, but I’ve never bothered to do it properly.

A few fairly simple ways to get the most out of light sources:

Natural Light. This paranoid NYer keeps the shades drawn all the time because she feels people are peeking in. I don’t care if I’m on the 23rd floor or in the woods. People are watching. There are shades and curtains that allow light to enter while maintaining privacy. To be honest, I can’t tell you which works best as we’re constantly renovating and the window dressing du jour in Brooklyn is contractor bags. (Great for privacy, by the way) Good window treatment article.

Balance. Overhead lighting is usually one light in the middle of the room, unless you have recessed or track lights. Adding lamps and sconces to darker areas will help set the balance. Accent lighting on artwork and task lights for work spaces are often overlooked when people light rooms.

Ambiance. During the day while I’m working, I want my room well lit. In the evening, when I relax, I need a softer light. Dimmers are a wonderful thing. Cloth or paper shades diffuse light, giving a softer tone. Lights that point up not only deflect negative energy (Feng Shui) but don’t create dark shadows.

Bulbs. There are so many choices in compact fluorescents now! When they first came out, they were all one size. You couldn’t use them with dimmers or 3 way switches. Now you have options. Make sure you are buying the correct bulbs if your lights are on dimmers. If you have bare bulb fixtures, CF bulbs do come in different shapes. Daylight bulbs are also available, with a cooler tone. I purchased boxes of CF bulbs on Ebay. Ikea is also a good source for bulbs of different shapes and sizes.

Relaxation Expert
HGTV
American Lighting Association
International Association of Lighting Designers

Historic Green Restoration

Historic Green Restoration published on 5 Comments on Historic Green Restoration

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Jean over at I Love Upstate hooked me up with Howard Hall Farm. I had never heard of them, but what a great find!

My husband doesn’t realize how easy he has it with our tiny home renovations! In 2005, Nora and Reggie purchased the 1780’s stone house overlooking the Hudson in Athens, NY on a whim. The home was in terrible disrepair due to years of neglect.

Howard Hall Farm is not just a restoration project. The Federal style home has become a vehicle for educating people on sustainable restoration techniques. Classes and workshops are taught on site (Really….are they just trying to get people to help work on their house?) and a TV may be in the works.

And for anyone doubting living through their own renovations, here’s a positive take on things from Reggie… “We sometimes struggle with the amount of work, living among the dirt and workers, chaos and squalor, but imagine someday we will too be past this phase with a beautiful restoration to show for it, and another slice of important Hudson river history preserved for posterity.”

Top 10 Basic Must Have Tools

Top 10 Basic Must Have Tools published on 1 Comment on Top 10 Basic Must Have Tools

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1. Hammer
2. Cordless Drill
3. Tape Measure
4. Pliers
5. Claw Hammer
6. Utility Knife
7. Paint Scraper
8. Level
9. Paint Rollers
10. Assorted Screwdrivers

Also good to keep in your house:

*Assorted nails and screws
*Duct Tape (You don’t need anything else if you have duct tape!)
*Matches
*Clamps
*First Aid Kit

Metal Countertops

Metal Countertops published on 8 Comments on Metal Countertops

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Zinc

 

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Copper

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of metal countertops may be stainless steel, but there are so many other types available. Stainless is the most durable as it won’t ding as easily as softer metals and it won’t patina. The color can be varied with laminate and finishes can be customized. It is the least expensive of the metals, which is probably why it’s the most popular.

Being an old home buff, I say “Feh” to stainless. Give me something warm and antique looking! Copper is all that and has bacterial properties too. So you can let your cats jump on it while you’re cooking and it will be ok, right? As if I cook. Anyway, the drawbacks are price and the fact that copper is not scratch resistant. Patina is one thing, but scratches may not look so terrific. Bronze has similar qualities.

Zinc and Pewter have similar tones to one another. They differ from stainless in that they have a grayish hue to them, therefore giving them a less modern look. In fact, it’s pewter that is used on many bars in France and Italy. Zinc is often used on Oyster Bar tops for it’s antibacterial qualities.

These are costly countertops if you have a pro fabricate it for you. My thinking is…you buy the sheet and do it yourself. Even better, see if you can find recycled sheet metal! If you screw up the edges, you can put some molding around it and voila, there’s your beautiful, inexpensive metal countertop!

DIY Forum
HGTV article
Sheet Metal Supplies
Recycled Aluminum
Brooks Custom, Mt Kisco
Handcrafted Metal
Purcell Murray

Used Building Material: Resources

Used Building Material: Resources published on 11 Comments on Used Building Material: Resources

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We’ve covered salvage quiet a bit here, but what if you’re not looking for an 1890 mantle? Maybe you just need some metal studs or new windows. Hold off on your trip to Home Depot. Here are some resources for used building supplies.

It’s hit or miss with these places, because every builder wants plywood, sheetrock or hardwood flooring. You’ll have to be quick or lucky to come across these items, but you should check them out if you need cabinets, bath fixtures, windows, doors or molding.

Habitat For Humanity has “Re-stores” in almost every state, including one in Bridgeport, CT and several in New Jersey.

Build It Green, in Astoria, is THE place for used building supplies in the city. They currently have a large selection of pretty decent kitchen cabinets (not top of the line, but not the worst: think Ikea), high end appliances (Viking refrigerators for $4400, $2000 off the original price), some stone remnants and many other items housed in the huge warehouse.

Green Demolitions has 3 locations and re-sells everything from oak staircases to high end kitchens. They often hold sales and there is one on now until November 30th.

Online, Freecycle and NY Wastematch are two organizations where members can list items for exchange. And don’t forget the Craigslist material section!

Hudson Valley Materials Exchange in Newburgh is a great source for used building materials and art supplies. They are moving soon and will be closed for the winter. Please call first and make sure they are open.

Recycled Bottle Houses

Recycled Bottle Houses published on

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Oh yeah! You know I want one of these! I saw this on Treehugger originally and then found a few other fascinating sites from that post. So fascinating, in fact, that I’m inspired to work on some new projects.

Web Urbanist featured the bottle house, along with 4 other types of recycled architecture. The bottles are my favorite because they look like jewels. The oldest known bottle house was built in 1907. Since then, many bottle homes have been built around the world out of necessity where building supplies are scarce.

Agility Nut has links to many of them.

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