Hey there! I know, I know. It’s been awhile. Yes, I’ve definitely given up on blogging. Who reads blogs anymore when we can just look at pretty pictures, watch video or get the info from 140 characters or less? Reading and writing skills are soooo yesterday, man!

Oh yeah, Happy New Year! Yeah, 2017 is gonna suck as much as 2016. Let’s try to carry on like or lives and jobs matter. With that being said, I wanted to give you an update on Reclaimed Home.

It’s been a year since the brick and mortar shop closed. Happy Anniversary! Life since has gone according to plan, or something within that range. Sold a house in Queens, bought one in The Bronx. Funny thing about the Bronx house though. It was NOT a fixer upper. It was some developer’s idea of a flip. I know not to buy flips, but it seemed to make sense and it still does, but I’m totes ripping it apart and putting it back together because they did a sucky renovation.

Perhaps there may be a blog post or two filling y’all in on re-renovation deets, but I’m here to tell you to follow Reclaimed Home on other social media venues.

Instagram. I can just snap pics with my phone and write hashtags. What’s not to love? This is mostly about restoration, salvage and renovations, but maybe sometimes food or new haircuts might find it’s way in. Oh yeah, and pets. Lots of pets!

Pinterest. I definitely keep this strictly business. Totally house related, plus there are separate boards, so you can unfollow if I’m posting anything annoying.

Facebook. Used to be set up to post blog updates, but since I never update my blog, I use it to share other people’s blog post. Some overlaps with Instagram or other social media sites.

YouTube. Every now and then I may post a video to YouTube. I probably won’t be doing much of that since I’m no longer blogging regularly.

Seriously, who needs to blog anymore when there are social media options where one can write a few words or merely post a photo? But hey, I’m a chatty person and sometimes I feel like writing a few paragraphs, so here I am.

How you been doin’?

So, the news. No, I haven’t been sitting around eating bon-bons nor have I gotten a full time job (heaven forbid!). When we last left off, I was fixing up the Rockaway house to put on the market. Done and done. Four days on the market and some surfer chick/hat designer/art director snapped it up. I’m now just waiting to close which will hopefully be next week.

So, I started looking whilst in contract because I have to do this 1031 exchange thing for tax purposes. Hopefully since I’m inspired at the moment and have time to kill before closing on the new place (yup), I can explain what the hell a 1031 is in another post.

Suffice it to say, because of said 1031, I needed to find another property to purchase quickly. Yada, yada (again: deserves it’s own post), looks like the next project will be in The Bronx!

So cross you fingers for me that I’ll be going into contract on the 1899 two family frame that needs a whole lotta tender loving care from the basement right on up to the roof!

See ya next time.

Happy Holiday Season!

Oy, it’s been hectic over here at Reclaimed Home. If you’ve been neglectful of reading past emails, you may be surprised to learn that we will no longer be at 945 Carroll as of the end of this month.

Yes, we are closing the shop. It wasn’t a matter of raised rents or slow business. We’re not being pushed out. We are not sad. In fact, having a retail storefront was never a dream, it was more of a whim. Fortunately, the store lease was only two years. We gave it a go and decided it wasn’t our schtick. We’ll miss you all and thank you for being part of our live for the past couple of years.

Which brings us to sales and events.

Here’s the thing. We will still be rockin the holidays big time with our small handmade gift items. We’re still creating them and they will be available after the death of the brick and mortar through our online shop and at craft shows. Actually, all you have to do is go around the corner to Owl and Thistle for our upcycled smalls because they will be taking on some inventory!

But let’s start with the discounts.

Other than the handmades we still have a shitload of merch in the shop that needs to disappear before the end of the month. In fact, it would be nice if it was before Christmas so we can just chillax. That’s why we are starting to slash prices and take best offers starting NOW. Not everything is online, especially smaller tschotskes, so swing by this coming weekend or set up an appointment to dig through stuff in the back or basement during the week. You can see a sampling on EstateSales.net. This is an ongoing sale until the end of the month. We’ve discounted items but there may still be more wiggle room on some. Just ask!

Now for some holiday cheer…

Save the date for the Crown Heights Holiday Stroll on December 19th! We’re joining Owl and Thistle, Lady J Jewelry, Elements Athletics and probably a few more. Details haven’t been finalized yet, but like last year, shops will be raffling off items, having sales and offering refreshments (some of us, anyway). There will be a separate email for that one, but it’s definitely the 19th and if you’re around you definitely have to come say goodbye as the 20th will be our last official day at the store.

Hope to see some of your punims helping us clear out!

You let it go until the last minute, didn’t you?? You suck! Well, don’t worry. Reclaimed Home is here to save your sorry ass. We’ve got gift certificates. Any denomination. Can be applied towards anything online or in our brick and mortar shop or towards the services we offer.

Services include:

Various painting techniques for walls and floors
Customizing furniture
Funky backsplashes, cabinet refinishing and countertops
Salvage consultation and restoration
DIY home improvement coaching

We love our customers! Especially when they re-make our vintage items that we sell as-is. Chris bought this mechanic’s creeper and upcycled it into a table. It apparently didn’t take him long, because we got the pictures only hours after he left.

Thanks for sharing, Chris!

Before you go out and blow your bucks on a previously living thing that was cut down in the prime of it’s life, that sheds needles around your house, something that you have to drag out to the compost 5 days after purchase, think about doing something more sustainable and creative. There are many ways to make a Christmas tree out of recycled materials. Here are just a few.

Wall of Mirrors

Stop Sign Table

Flatscreen TV Backing 

Door Desk

Tin Can Light Fixture