check this out at homedepot.com
Rev-A-Shelf 27 Qt. Pull-Out White Double Waste Containers

it will make your recycling much easier and your kitchen look really neat with no trash acns in sight

Posted by: InLoveWBrooklyn at September 22, 2009 9:58 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Thanks to all for your advice.
The contractor is the one selling the house and it seems he's trying to sell it as soon as it's done.
I requested to see it before it was finalized since i wanted to see what's under the cosmetics.

The smell was justified by open pipes.
And out of four beams in the basement only one looked really worn out. So i'm guessing that the other beams might have been replaced at an ealrier renovation.

Yes to the inspector - i am having one inspecting it in the next couple of weeks.

Posted by: InLoveWBrooklyn at August 31, 2009 3:45 PM in response to Brownstone Basement Beam

OK, mopar called me into this one so here's my $.02. If you sign a contract with a fixed price while the seller's renovation is in progress, you've created a bad incentive -- the more the seller spends on the renovation, the less money he makes on the sale to you. Even an honest contractor will cut corners under the circumstances. If the seller is giving you the opportunity to look under the hood while he works with no strings attached, thats' great but surprising and you run the risk of losing the house, but there's always another one.

DIBS's advice above is both right on and impossible. You cannot control everything the contractor does through the purchase contract -- some important things will elude you.

We went this route with a very thorough contract but a dishonest and under-funded seller and our contract only bought us an advantageous position in a lawsuit, not actual compliance from the seller.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 1, 2009 10:10 AM in response to Brownstone Basement Beam

Also, in the kitchen, get the sink cabinet with the sponge drawer at the top.

re: bathroom, if you have the space do a tub (preferably a jacuzzi) AND a shower. Get the heavy frameless glass around the shower...it looks spectacular. But if you have a tub in another bathroom, I wouldn't hesitate to do the walk in shower thing in the master bath and no tub.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 22, 2009 9:58 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Kitchen: French doors to the yard from the kitchen (unbeatable if you have a dog); more cabinets than you think you could ever use; space for a tv; double sinks

Bathroom: shower and tub; no cabinet over the toilet (stuff falls in); big closet (that can fit towels and the like).

Posted by: Splenda at September 22, 2009 10:25 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Directing you to one of my favorite kitchen forums - the Home forums at Garden Web. Link to kitchen forum is http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/kitchbath/. If you do a search, there are multiple threads about people's favorite things, what they could live without, splurges that were worth it, etc. There's a separate Baths forum that is less active but still has lots of good information.

Posted by: zeebee_in_bklyn at September 22, 2009 10:30 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

i'm in the same boat as the OP...a few questions:
i'd love to hear how people feel about the water/ice on their fridge...we have a fridge currently with this...but i'm wondering if the new fridge i'm thinking about will bum me out if it doesnt have this?
also how bout bottom freezer fridges? any love/hate comments on them? (what's the deal with ice in these? is it ice trays?)

Posted by: CGmodern at September 22, 2009 10:34 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

We're about to do the same. Everything said above, plus:

In the kitchen:

Second the Bosch DW -- absolutely. Silence is golden, particularly if you want to run the DW while you have guests sitting in the dining room. Bosch really works, and it's energy-saving as well.

Instead of undercabinets, have at least one cabinet space that is a BIG drawer for pots, appliances. So much easier to get at than cabinets.

In addition to your main working sink, have a separate single sink with an undercounter water filter so that only filtered water comes out of tap. Good if two people work in the kitchen at the same time.

If you cook a lot, for big family occasions, get two wall ovens. Look into convection oven.

If you get a floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet, make sure it has drawers or pull-out shelves. Things get lost in the back otherwise.

In the bathroom:

Radiant heating in the floors, definitely.

Consider a trench drain in your 5-foot-long shower (no tub -- use the kids'). Looks great.

Lots of mirrors. Lots of counter space around the sink. Dual-flush toilets.

Posted by: Silvermax at September 22, 2009 10:35 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

amy--

Here's my list of things that I think are essential if you cook a lot:

Garbage disposals--put them in both sinks if you get two.

Flooring that's easy on the feet--wood or cork, not ceramic tile

I like having one big sink for the main sink so you can wash big pots easily. If you have a second sink, don't get one that's too small--you can't do anything in it.

Electrical plugs in the island if you have one.

We have one wall of cabinets that go up to the ceiling--there's two rows. The upper ones are great for things you only use a few times a year.

For your exhaust hood above the stove, you need to order one wider than the stove itself to be most effective. Be sure to get the install specs of the models you're interested in.

At least a 2" overhang on your countertops--easier to transfer materials to pots and containers and your lower cabinets will stay cleaner.

We have slate countertops--they're very similar to soapstone. I like the matte finish, it's very durable, and ages well.

I'm also a fan of Bosch dishwashers.

Good luck!

Posted by: tinarina at September 22, 2009 10:42 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

One other thing in the kitchen--put in LOTS of lighting--bright overhead lights/lamps, secondary cans or smaller fixtures for softer light, and undercabinet lights as well. It may seem like overkill but you'll use it all.

Posted by: tinarina at September 22, 2009 10:45 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Yes, no stone or tile flooring if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. If you're coing high tech get this stuff..

www.garagefloor.com

or cork.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 22, 2009 11:54 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Some of these ideas are from my own kitchen and some from my own kitchen wish list.

-A large, deep sink-- mine is divided in two and I like that.
-A faucet with a hose and that can switch from a stream to shower.
-A seperate faucet for filtered water (filter under the counter). Mine is just on the side of the sink.
-I've always wanted kitchen cabinets to the ceiling and then a library ladder to reach them with.
-An appliance garage or counter-level cabinet with a power strip for easy access to coffe maker, toaster, ets.

Posted by: fawn at September 22, 2009 12:29 PM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!