Dream Homes Archives - Page 2 of 4

Not Your Momma’s Trailer!

March 5, 2009 RH 2 Comments

We’re in a terrible recession. What if you lost your home or apartment and had to live in a trailer park? Could you? Would you? I’m kind of fascinated by trailer parks. I have to stare when we pass them on the road. I think I’ve been to one once in my life. Perhaps I lived in one in a past life. That’s why there are 3 cars in my driveway and a bunch of broken furniture. Since the history of the mobile home only dates back to the 50’s and I was born in the 60’s, I probably never did live in a trailer. Unless I died at a very young age.

Ok, now that I’m finished rambling on about that, let’s have a look at some aesthetically pleasing mobile homes. Really!

Vintage Vacations designs, restores and renovates trailers built from the 30’s-70’s. Not all of the links on their site work, but some of the trailers I did see made me want to give up my real house and hit the open road.

This Ol Trailer is restoring a 1945 Stewart Coach. Check out the YouTube video.

Web Urbanist posted a modern mobile home that stands up to just about any contemporary prefab design.

Toronto’s Mini Home Parks is the go to fabricator for green contemporary trailers with pizazz.

But if you’re like me and you daydream about the trailer park’s redneck lifestyle, be sure to check out Vat 19’s Definitive Primer on Trailer Park Decor.

Finally, Jolene, the Trailer Park Queen has everything you’ve ever wanted to know about trailer life and more.

Here’s the Story of the Brady House

February 4, 2009 RH 2 Comments

The exterior of the Brady Bunch house was a real home located in North Hollywood, CA. As a kid I thought the house was totally groovy. Looking back, I’m even more impressed with the retro design ala architect Mike Brady. That’s one rockin’ splanch!

These photos and cad drawings come from an obsessive fan. Glad someone did it! Check out his Flickr page and Brady house tour.

Igloo Satellite Cabin: I Want One!

October 8, 2008 RH

Get out! How cool is this? These igloo satellite cabins have been in use for over a quarter of a century in all sorts of climates. Each floor and wall panel is a composite of fiberglass and poly insulation.

The new Google office in Zurich has two of these that they use as “think tanks”. Why am I blogging from my cat piss house when people are working in red igloos? With 6 weeks vacation, no less! There is something wrong with this picture. Is Google hiring? Hello? Google? Hire me. I can make coffee.

Crown Heights House Tour This Weekend!

October 1, 2008 RH 1 Comment

This Saturday, October 4th, marks the second annual Crown Heights North House Tour!

The festivities begin with a Home Buyers and Finance Workshop from 9:30 – 10:30. A panel of experts will advise on topics ranging from first time home buying to predatory lending. There’s a kick off ceremony at 11:15 and then the tour begins at noon. Until 5pm. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. More info on the CHN website.

There are 10 homes on the tour this year. Beautiful restored period gems, dripping with Victorian detail. Several of the homes have completely new interiors, modern classics brought back from total decay.

I asked for the inside scoop from one of the organizers. Here’s what I got:

“We’ve got an authentic Tiffany Studio window (St. Bartholomew’s Church), we’ve got a gorgeous 1923 synagogue turned church, we have a museum dedicated to the legacy of the founder of the West Indian Day Parade. We also have an outdoor art exhibit in the community garden with the works of Thomas Cadet, a Haitian American artist.

Home wise – we have 2 houses recreated from top to bottom. One sleek modern townhouse with Carrarra marble kitchen, slate tiled bathrooms, and modern chrome and steel furnishings and trim. Another a former mansion, former school, former derelict wreck, now a 3 family modern home with an open floor plan, exposed brick feature walls, great bath and kitchen.

We’ve also got a couple of period perfect homes with really great woodwork. 3 of the homes have huge garden plots of 80 to 100 feet, and most homes have wonderful tales of hard work, stripping woodwork, contractors from hell and a couple with long family ties to the properties.

We’ve got the homes of 2 doctors, a lawyer, a biggie in the NY Obama campaign office, a cop, 2 real estate brokers, an opera singer, a math and history prof, 2 contractors,an architect, and just folks. We got it all – a gay couple, people with really cute kids, white people and black people.

Can’t show specific houses until after the tour. Pictures are allowed on the tour, unless specifically prohibited.”

Hey, if you’re counting “just folks” that adds up to more than 10 houses! But I get the point. It’s a well rounded house tour.

Shipping Container Homes For The Poor

September 26, 2008 RH

Ever been to a poor country? No, I’m not leading into a joke about our own country’s economy. If you’ve ever traveled through poor neighborhoods in less developed countries, you know that shelter takes on a different meaning. It’s literally…shelter. People without money were the original green builders. Their homes were made out of wood pallets, cardboard and scrap metal out of necessity before it became trendy in the US or Europe.

It was on a trip to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico that Brian McCarthy came up with the idea to offer poverty stricken folks the chance to own homes. The concept? Shipping containers.

Each container home will be 320 square feet and cost less than $10,000. McCarthy and his three partners designed the prototype to include a/c hookups and water and electric systems.

The partners named the company PFNC Global Communities: “Por Fin, Nuestra Casa,” which translates to “Finally, our own home.”

Via CNN

Holy Mother Of God! Can I Borrow 4 Mil?

August 18, 2008 RH 6 Comments

This breathtaking mansion is sooo last week! But I didn’t spot it in The NY Times until this week so forgive me and my “old news” post.

I must’ve looked at the slide show a dozen times. Tears came to my eyes. I think I am in love. Both with the house and that cute old guy (Sorry, Pops) who looks like he’d feel just as much at home in a Florida condo. Hey guy, my mom is available!

The Astoria villa is on the market for $4mil. I think all of you moochers reading this blog for free should chip in and buy this house for me. My birthday is just around the corner as is the 1st anniversary of this blog. T’would make a lovely gift. Come on, let’s make this happen! Go, me!

But enough talk. Let’s just look at pictures and collectively drool.

He’s petting his pony! How cute is that? Does the telescope mean there’s a skylight for viewing? Oh, stop.

Geez, I was excited to uncover plain white marble mantles in my house. Plain marble, feh!

Ok, this is my favorite thing. If I could just rent out the basement, I’d be happy. A billiard room, a bar….and…a Roman bath. Oh, what cursed fate that I don’t have a Roman bath and pool table in my basement!

Slide Show

Wednesday Linkorama

March 19, 2008 RH 1 Comment

Get your kids involved with your DIY projects! Why shouldn’t they help out? Playhouse Design Competition For Kids over at Choochicoos. Deadline April 25th.

Things you should know about wetlands on your property. Living Well in Westchester talks about building additions while protecting the natural habitat.

You MUST watch this video on Materialicious. It’s about 5 minutes long and will make you all teary eyed. Dan Phillips built his home out of 85% recycled material and helps others realize the dream of home ownership. All they need is a credit history and a job. Could be minimum wage. They must help build their own recycled home, but experience is not mandatory. This is in Texas, of all places.

Here’s another cool video, this one from Brownstoner. Coney Island in the 40’s. My parents would take me here when I was a kid in the 60’s and this video put a smile on my face. Some of these things still existed in the 70’s. Unless my warped mind is remembering something completely different. Laughing Lady/Fun House? Was that Coney Island?

The Brooklyn Blogfest is May 8th at the Brooklyn Lyceum! Mark your calendars. So you can remind me to go. Non-bloggers are welcome also. Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn will keep us posted as the plans progress. Last year’s Blogfest was sponsored by Partida Tequila and there were margaritas galore. They’ve yet to find a sponsor for 2008. Hello Stoli?

The Kitchen Designer posts her top 10 secrets of lighting design. “Lighting is jewelry.” Yes! I totally agree. But you can live without jewelry. You can’t live without lights. Unless your own of them kooks who doesn’t like modern conveniences.

McTreeHouse Development

March 11, 2008 RH

A tree house development in Costa Rica. I don’t know about this one. It’s eco friendly construction, but come on, how can it not interfere with the indigenous people and species?

Finca Bellavista, a 72-lot “sustainable rainforest community” is the brainchild of co-founders Matt and Erica Hogan, a sports marketing consultant and a former newspaper editor. The couple fell in love with the area while vacationing there a few years ago and decided they “just had to” build a vacation home there.

The couple tells the National Post that they wanted to share their passion with others and “…bring something totally different and adventurous into peoples’ lives.” And you were thinking it was just a scheme to make money!

The 310 acre property is located at the base of a 6,000-foot mountain on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The region boasts the highest percentage of land devoted to National Parks and Forest Reserves in the country. The world’s first tree house subdivision will be accessible only by foot or the Sky Trail network, an interconnected system of ziplines and platforms that allow users to access different portions of the community.

Roderick Romero, a designer known for his eco-friendly creations, participated in the project. He has worked with Sting in Tuscany, Val Kilmer in Texas, Julianne Moore in NYC, creating treetop hideaways for their kids.

Rainwater will be funneled into each home from a catchment system on the roof. It will then be distributed to sinks and bathrooms via pipes. A hydro-electric power grid was created for the community. The system uses the water flowing through the mountain-fed Rio Bellavista to power a turbine attached to an electric generator.

Finca Bellavista’s Phase 1 lots, priced at $40,000, are almost sold out. Phase 2 lots are available with prices ranging from $50,000 to $65,000 (higher for riverfront and ocean-views). Phase 3 details have not yet been announced.

Yeah, I do the eco travel thing sometimes. I stayed at a lodge in the Peruvian jungle and I swam with dolphins. Would I like to vacation in one of these homes? Hell yeah! It looks awesome! But a subdivision? That’s going too far. Just seems like some wealthy people looking for a guilt free way to rape the land in a more gentle manner.

Eco my ass.

The Art Hotel: Carlton Arms, NYC

March 6, 2008 RH

Photos by Darek Solarski

I came across a funky fantasy hotel on Blog Like You Give A Damn, but it was in the Midwest. So I did a little search of theme hotels closer to home and came up with one right here in NY.

I’ve heard of The Carlton Arms and I think I even know someone who stayed there once (my couch must’ve been booked). What I didn’t realize is that it’s so cool inside. Not only are the walls covered with colorful murals, this is a budget hotel. With rates starting at $80 per night, what cheap ass relative would pass this up? (My relatives, that’s who)

The Gramercy Park 54 room hotel has been around for about 100 years. Original clientele included out of state farmers and businessmen who parked their horses in the carriage barn next door.

During prohibition, the Carlton lobby acted as a speak-easy with gambling taking place in the upstairs rooms. It became a respectable hotel again for a while until the 50’s when it became a hang out for drag queens, prostitutes and drug addicts. Not that drag queens can’t be respectable.

Like so many other NYC buildings, including my own, The Carlton became an SRO during the 60’s. By the 80’s, it had hit rock bottom, with a steady clientele of pushers, junkies and nut jobs.

Ed Ryan took over the place when the owner had a mental breakdown. As rooms vacated, he cleaned them up and rented them to travelers looking for inexpensive lodging. In 1983, front desk clerk, artist Gil Dominguez painted a series of murals. Other artists came and followed suit in the rooms.

John Ogren and Ty Inwood took over the hotel in 1998. Now it’s mostly young European and Asian hipsters staying there.

The £4000 House

February 25, 2008 RH

Software engineer Steve James calls himself an “envisioneer”. He envisioned the £4000 eco-friendly home he built in Scotland and he envisioned other house plans that are copyright free for anyone wanting to take advantage of his designs.

James concedes that his straw and turf home would’ve cost £1000 less had he chopped the wood himself instead of using a sawmill.

This is probably a bit too “green” for New York standards. Although it is warmed by a wood burning stove and remains watertight, the home lacks some modern day conveniences that even the most fervent eco Nazi would back away from. The rainwater filtration system sounds fine, but it’s the compost toilet and car battery energy that I might have a problem with. Hmm, would that be to code in NYC?

Anyway, kudos to Mr. James for building this very cool home. His motto, “Be the world you wish to live in.” is truly inspiring. But I just need a toilet that flushes.

Check out the Independent article for details on how he assembled the home.

Envisioneer website has tips, diy and slideshows if you can get it to load properly.

Weekender:Berkshire Rentals

February 8, 2008 RH 8 Comments

This post is my way of getting you to help me plan a weekend getaway to the Berkshires this summer. Now the in-laws (Remember them? Visiting in June?) want to take a trip and meet up with the Boston friends. So we’re talking about renting a house for about 10 people. Kids and dogs included. Oy.

I’ve been to the Berkshires maybe twice in my life. Charming area. I don’t know a thing about the individual towns so I just started by researching houses.

Here’s what I came up with. Most are “pets considered” and price isn’t much of an issue since we’re splitting it with a gazillion people.

Does anyone know the Berkshires? Your input would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Click on photos for more info.

Ok, this church is already all booked up, but I just had to post it anyway. Look at it! The idea of living in a church or schoolhouse is appealing enough, but what a magnificent renovation they’ve done! I’m completely jealous.

Hancock. 2200 square foot converted barn. Fieldstone fireplace, Vermont casting woodstove, vaulted ceilings, wide plank floors, furnished with antiques and collectibles. Screened porch. Heated in-ground pool. Yeah, the perfect place for young children and untrained dogs! Near Jiminy Peak and Williamstown.

Sandisfield. Another stone fireplace and Vermont Castings stove in this house. It has a deck and screened porch which leads out to 2.5 wooded acres. Plus, it has a tennis and basketball court. Unfortunately, I haven’t been on a tennis court since the time I sprained my ankle playing in high school. Dangerous sport, that.

Stockbridge. Post and beam with cathedral ceilings on 2 acres. Stream runs under deck. Adjacent to 200 acres watershed conservation area.

Dalton. This cottage is situated on the edge of a thousand acre farm. Direct access to hiking and mountain biking trails, the farm offers educational programming, vegetables and horseback riding lessons.

New Marlborough. Updated historical school house and an original part of the Sisson Farmstead. Filled with antiques. Wrap around screened-in porch. Sits on one acre right next to a babbling river.

Great Barrington. Secluded hilltop Adirondack-style carriage house. 1 mile from downtown Great Barrington, 1/2 mile to Appalachian Trail. Walking trail through woods on property. Wrap-around deck. Screened-in porch. Air-conditioning. DSL hi-speed wireless, Satellite TV/DVD. Large stone fireplace. Antique furnishings and fixtures throughout. This is the only one that says “Pets Welcome” and not “Pets Considered”, so this may be the place!

Berkshires.com
Berkshires.org
Chamber of Commerce
Berkshire Web

Victorian Mansion Now a B&B

February 7, 2008 RH 2 Comments

The first time we looked at our turreted Queen Anne Victorian in Beacon we asked “Where are they moving TO?”. I mean, this was our dream home. What could be better than this?

And then we saw it. The sellers moved to a mansion across the river in Newburgh. After visiting them we returned to our dream house, which seemed so….so….rinky dink.

When Karen and Jose first purchased the 1860 Andrew Jackson Downing home it was in bad disrepair. The previous owners had been drug addicts and trashed the place looking for hidden treasure in the walls. They had ripped out mantles, light fixtures and other detail to sell. There was water damage from a leaky roof which had been ignored for years. You get the picture.

The home is still a work in progress, but Karen’s goal is to get it going as a B&B. She started taking in guests and is now working on finishing the “Pickerel Rush” website, which has been under construction along with the house. I was asked to go over and photograph the home for the site last week.

This is a big house for just two people (and 4 dogs and tenants and B&B guests). Karen and Jose both drive gas guzzlers. I don’t even think they recycle. But here’s what makes this a green renovation even if it was not their intention: They are in the salvage business. People PAY THEM to haul materials away, which they use in the restoration of Pickerel Rush.

I’ll be focusing on some of the details Karen has restored in the upcoming weeks.

But for now: Enjoy the house porn.

Save the Arizona Eliphante!

February 6, 2008 RH

Artist Michael Kahn passed on the 2007 Winter Solstice. His wife Leda still resides at the residence they built with their own hands near Sedona, AZ. But the non profit arts organization, Eliphante, is in need of repairs.

The 3 acre property was donated to the struggling artist couple in 1979. The series of buildings is a work in progress, not unlike Wings Castle or Broken Angel. It took 5 years to make the home habitable, during which time the couple lived in a small shack with no plumbing or electric. They did have a wood burning stove and Leda refers to the shack as “Winter Palace”, the best home she has ever lived in.

Building materials included found objects such as driftwood, glass and broken pottery. Eliphante is listed on the Smithsonian’s “Save Outdoor Sculpture” list and welcomes visitors on a limited basis.

Redwood Counter

Solar Bath House

Via NY Times

Cool Homes For Under A Million

January 23, 2008 RH

$299k: Accord, NY Earth Sheltered Dome

$550k: Peggy Atwood’s Monolithic Dome, Kerhonkson

$565k: Landmarked in Staten Island

$700k: Circa 1760 Home in Newburgh

$850k: Saratoga Stone Stable

Suburban Pioneers?

January 7, 2008 RH

Our $385k house

Hey, don’t look at me. I didn’t say it. The NY Post did. As if this is news all of the sudden that starving artists are leaving NYC for more affordable digs upstate.

“Meet the suburban pioneers – folks who’ve migrated to edgy, diverse towns in the Hudson Valley where you can nab a house for less than $350,000.” Pioneers? People lived here before we did. I hate that word “pioneer”! Edgy? Who wrote this? Someone living in the mid west? I’ll give you this….Beacon is edgier than…umm…..Marine Park.Continue reading Suburban Pioneers?

reclaimedhome.com

Posts categoriezed as Dream Homes