Kallista, Waterworks, – where to buy worth the money?


We’re shopping for faucets, toilets, etc. and most like some items from Kallista and Waterworks.

Is the quality of their products commensurate with their high prices?

Can anyone suggest the cheapest place to source their faucets and such?

Thanks

Categories: Plumbing
By dlipkin | 02/06/2011 3:25 PM | Comment

Bathroom and Kitchen showrooms – Brooklyn


I’m looking for bathroom and kitchen showrooms in brooklyn. Something beyond what Lowes and Home Depot carry.

Thanks

Categories: Kitchen & Bath
By dlipkin | 12/22/2010 9:57 PM | Comment

Skylight glass


We’re putting in new skylights – one over the stairwell and one over a shower.

The question is clear glass or frosted.

Any opinions?

Categories: Skylight
By dlipkin | 12/22/2010 9:54 PM | Comment

Brownstone renovation – plumbing recs


We’re renovating a 4 story brownstone and are doing all of the plumbing from scratch. It will have 2 kitchens, 4.5 bathrooms and a variety of normal drains and such. I’m trying to get some point of view on what we should budget for good quality work and who we should turn to as go to plumbers for this sort of job.

We currently have forced air but are considering putting in radiators – budget permitting.

Thank you,

David

Categories: Plumbers
By dlipkin | 12/08/2010 11:50 AM | Comment

Brownstone – AC/Heating Recs


I’m looking for advice on heating systems. We’re doing a complete renovation/restoration on a 4 story 2 family brownstone and are trying to decide about a few items related to HVAC.

These include:

How to heat – currently has forced air

How to cool – currently has nothing

We’re debating traditional condenser on the roof plus ducts A/C vs. something like a Mitsubishi city multi. We could use its headpump for heating and we could pump hot water to it for heating when it’s too cold out for the heatpump. Alternatively we could use the existing forced air system for heat. It’s old but it’s already in the walls.

We’re also wondering about using the existing heat ducts for cooling. I know it’s not advised but is it simply inefficient or is it just undoable?

Does anyone have advice on the various merits or demerits of any of these approaches?

Thank you

Categories: Heating
By dlipkin | 11/23/2010 11:50 AM | Comment

Contractor feedback: Designtech


Has anyone worked with Design Tech? Everything I’ve seen from the show they were on was pretty positive but I can’t find any feedback positive or negative online.

We’re looking at a brownstone restoration.

thanks,

David

Categories: General Contractors
By dlipkin | 08/08/2010 12:44 PM | Comment