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January 10, 2007
Crown Heights Parlor Floor Kitchen Reno
Another reader writes in...We didn't have a lot of original detail left in this apartment (we live on one floor of our four family in Crown Heights) when we started our renovation. The entire apartment renovation took about 4 months and was done under a super tight budget of $12,000 for labor, including plumbing and electric upgrades. For the kitchen we spent about $4,000, including labor and appliances (which are basic GE stainless steel).
We installed a cobalt blue sink and a old fashioned copper faucet we brought back from South America (which looks great but my husband hates because it sprays him when he does the dishes). We found the long stained glass window at Olde Goode Things, and had it built into the ceiling to create a feeling of division between the kitchen and living areas. Our main concern in the kitchen design (and the whole apartment) was maximizing the light coming in from the Southern exposure -- the kitchen windows. We didn't want to have heavy cabinets and so opted for an open kitchen which has worked really well for us. We ordered the tile from mosaic house in the city, which does imports from Morocco. While I love the tile, I wish I had hired someone recommended by the store that really knew how to work with this hand
cut clay tiles as I think it was a little challenging for our contractor. He built the entire kitchen out of wood and a water proof sort of plaster board, and then tiled over it. The floor is grey limestone.
We had one "disaster" when we went to replace the ceilings and found that the support beams had be literally cut out from below the bathroom above. Our contractor and my husband had to jack up the beams while an additional support beam was inserted, and the entire house shook.
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Comments
Wow - I'm totally inspired that you can do a nice renovation on such a small budget. Congrats! Would love to see a little more detail of the sink and kitchen tile.
Posted by: Stacy at January 10, 2007 10:52 AM
looks great! airy and open.
Posted by: june at January 10, 2007 11:03 AM
you can see a close up of the kitchen sink, tile here. we added green burlap curtains under the counter...
http://homepage.mac.com/catherineerin/PhotoAlbum4.html
Posted by: Anonymous at January 10, 2007 11:10 AM
Looks wonderful! The light is great, and I love your choices of the tile, sink and faucet. I enjoy seeing different and creative ways to make brownstone living work. The fact that you did it on a limited budget is icing on the cake. Well done!
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at January 10, 2007 11:18 AM
Thanks for sharing your budget! It makes me nuts that everyone talks in these vague terms (a little, a lot) without every putting down dollar amounts. We're budgeting a little (but not much...) higher than that for our renovation and I'm trying to convince myself that we aren't insane.
Nice work.
Posted by: nosy neighbor at January 10, 2007 12:27 PM
Thanks for the inspiration -- as someone getting ready to renovate my kitchen and first floor, it just goes to show what you can do at any price. $4,000 to do your kitchen, great -- some people spend that just for a range - even as a baker, I find such price unnecessary for my needs and GE is fine with me too!! I too like the fact that you did something different to make your renovation stand out from the rest!!!
Posted by: bedstyliving at January 10, 2007 2:10 PM
I did not make the post at 11:18, though I do like this kitchen.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at January 10, 2007 5:38 PM
I see you had your stoop done. Were you happy with the price and work? If so can you email me the phone number of the guy(s) who did it? My email is clintonhill5@aol.com. Thanks.
Posted by: anon at January 10, 2007 10:18 PM
i like it! the faucet is way cool. with a little bit of solder and some copper mesh you could make an aerator that would keep the dish dooer happy.
Posted by: firelite at January 11, 2007 9:58 PM
Very inspiring. Looking to redo our Crown Hts. house as well. Equity loans are scarce. Small budget projects are the way to go. Who is your contractor? Hottbytes@aol.com.
Posted by: guest at January 10, 2008 4:14 PM
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