Mrs. Limestone's Profile

Name:
In Brooklyn Since:
On Brownstoner Since:
Location:
Neighborhood:
Abode:
Profession:
Sex:
Age:
Website:

Author's Posts

July 13, 2009

Wanted: Tree stumps

I realize this is an odd request but I need a few tree stumps to use for a project. Anywhere from 12 to 24 inches in diameter and in solid condition (not rotted or infested).

Anyone know where I might find these?

July 1, 2009

Outdoor Light for Sale

Brand New in the box and never opened is another one of these Outdoor Sconces. (Photograph is the one on my house) Retails for $250, selling on ebay for best offer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180375036228&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AL%3ALCA%3AUS%3A1123&salenotsupported

May 29, 2009

Small, Thin Wood Boards

Is there anywhere local I can buy 60 thin (1/16?) wood boards cut into small sizes (6 inches by 6 inches or there abouts).

April 30, 2009

Professional spray painted?

Does anyone have a recommendation of a place I could have a large frame spray painted with a paint I can provide?

If so, any idea of prices for something like that?

(I know I could rent the machine myself but I dont have a space I can do it in without making a mess)

October 2, 2008

How to affix holiday decorations to limestone?

Wondering if anyone has the "secret" tip that will get my holiday decor to stay up without damaging the stone. Obviously I don't want to create any permanent holes or damage. What do you do?

June 4, 2008

Knife Sharpening

Where can I have some good knives sharpened? I know there are knife sharpening trucks in Bklyn but I have no clue where they camp out and have never run into one.

Anyone have suggestions?

May 23, 2008

Rose bushes that grow well in containers?

Can anyone suggest a hardy rose bush plant that I can buy to plant in a large container? I have a pretty black thumb so something that is hard to kill and easy to care for is probably best for a beginner like me.

Thanks!

April 28, 2008

Opinions on rental price in Greenwood Heights?

Question Im posing for a friend of mine who is about to finish a small scale reno in Greenwood Heights.

What do you think a fair rent would be for a small one bedroom apartment (bedroom, living room, eat-in kitchen, bath) WITH exclusive use of the garden? The kitchen and bath are all brand new but its a pretty modest apartment in other regards. Its between 4th & 5th ave & a 3 block walk to the R train.

Ive looked at the online listings but its hard to gauge what the garden is worth so appreciate any input.

March 18, 2008

Guest bathroom - abbiamo finito!

Hmm..could it be that this is the final renovation update? Hard to believe. Have I missed anything you want to see? Of course, there is a lot more on my personal to-do list but putting the renovation part behind me seems almost surreal.

Unfortunately, I didn't leave a very exciting one for last. You've already seen this room a few times in prior posts (save the tile, power of paint, flush me down, etc.). But just for completion sake, I figured I'd do a post dedicated to the upstairs/guest/hallway bathroom. (We haven't really settled on what we call it yet)

This is the bathroom as we found it when we bought the house

The sink that got resprayed and reinstalled in its original location

And the tub that got moved downstairs, resprayed and painted silver for the parlor bath

Despite its state of neglect, I really loved this bathroom. It helped me see the whole house in the way it looked back in its heyday. If it were possible, I would have loved to keep most everything in here as is and just clean it up. But that wasn't really an option as we had to replace all the plumbing and electrical. We did save as many of the wall tiles as we could and reused them in our kitchen backsplash. We were also able to keep the sink here and repurpose the clawfoot downstairs. I think we did the best we could in terms of re-using what we had in a practical way.

This bathroom is the smallest and will likely be the most abused in terms of future guests and children. So as a trade off to some of the splurges we made in the other bathrooms, we went with a low-key (read: cheap) plan in here. The wall tiles are the same stock ceramic subway tiles & trim we used in our master bathroom. The floor tiles are an unglazed ceramic black & white hex that seemed vintage without being expensive. (I had originally wanted to do a pattern that included square and hex tiles in a custom pattern for the little floor but after seeing some of the early issues we had with our contractors, I decided to keep it simple and get the black and white hex.) The toilet is a Toto Promenade, the faucet are Kohler Pillar Taps and the tub is a Kohler run of the mill cast iron.

As you might see from the photos below, we had to give up the window in here in exchange for a place for other ducts, vents, and piping. Sad to see it go but it was worth it to not have soffits in the kitchen and hallway.

The one thing we did in here that I would call a splurge was adding a skylight. Its a small thing really but it makes this very small room seem a lot more spacious when there is some natural light filtering in from above.

Some in progress photos

And without further ado, the offcial "after" photo

I don't think Ill add much more in here except for a little care package when we have the random overnight guest. Honestly, I still don't love the paint color but Im trying to make it work with the striped shower curtain from Target and keeping everything else pretty bare. That's all she wrote for the Limestones bathrooms.

March 8, 2008

What lies beneath

Just when we thought we were putting stressful renovation problems behind us, Mr. Limestone walked into the cellar last night to find this.

And this (viewer discretion strongly advised). Lets just say that ain't just water!

Mother#$&*$!

Mr. L leaped into action to get it under control. He moved the boxes out of the way and manned the wet vac to keep the damage to a minimum while he got all necessary parties on the way to get it fixed. By the time I got home, he had done it all which is a very good thing because while I wouldn't consider myself the type to be overwhelmed by house problems I call uncle when those problems involve human feces.

All the signs pointed to a sewage line collapse. Aside from the grossness factor, we were both pretty depressed at the thought of another huge bill as well as the major aggravation factor of ripping up sidewalks, getting more permits, etc..

I'm really happy to report that we were wrong! We had a sewage company come over with crew and camera. Evidently there was a blockage from rocks/bolts/other crap that must have come from the renovation debris. They snaked and sucked and water jetted the blockage until it was no more. We're a little lighter in the wallet ($900) but it was no where near as bad as it could have been ($10K+).

Author's Comments

I absolutely love the private party room at ICI but it won't hold a big group. Never had the chance to use it but they are not cheap.

It really depends on how many you have - the difference between 20/30/40 makes a huge difference.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 29, 2009 2:41 PM in response to Space Rental for Baby Shower

We hired an architect that charged a flat fee for the plans and filing, etc.. and then an hourly charge for occassional visits to the site and help along the way. He did not manage the project by any means but he it was definitely worth it to have him check in on the progress, answer questions, etc. Its A LOT of work to manage everything yourself so keep that in mind but I felt there was no way anyone was going to be as vested in getting things done right as I was.

I know the % of total cost is standard but I think its absolutely absurd. Its not any more complicated to install more expensive materials or fixtures so total cost of the project has nothing to do with how much effort he expends. Total cost of the labor charges would be a more reasonable figure but even then - I question motivating someone in that role to drive up the total cost of the project.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 21, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Architect Light or Heavy

Wow, that is really not very nice of them. I get the whole concept of exclusivity but then they should deliver on their part of the bargain. You sound very reasonable about the whole affair - I'd be way more pissed.

Anyway - its their loss. Glad to see you back and looking forward to seeing your progress.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 21, 2009 9:33 AM in response to No More Times

I have one and I like it. Im sure i would like it even more if we had children or other people living with us. It makes the master bedroom feel a little more luxurious and private.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 8, 2009 10:37 AM in response to En Suite bathroom

I think including some more flattering photos of the place might help. It looks to get nice light but b/c of that light coming in, the interiors look very dark. If you have a friend who knows about photography, that would help.

I know you have a tenant in there so its a hard subject to bring up but it looks like a mess in there so that is not helping. A little styling would help too.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 6, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Advice on Rental Market

I didn't have them install the door - the contractors doing the rest of the work in my house did that part. I just had them install the hardware. If I recall, I thought their prices for installation were extremely high. I understand installing anything in an old home can be a crap shoot so I can see why their prices should be somewhat expensive but even so, I had sticker shock.

Their prices on the doors themselves were expensive but reasonable considering the quality.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 5, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Amigini Architectural

I used them for my back door. Love their stuff. Their service was fine - if I recall there was a slight issue with how they installed the lock and they weren't all that nice about fixing it but they did in the end. But their selection is good enough its worth the hassle.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 5, 2009 2:49 PM in response to Amigini Architectural

.75 sounds really thin to me. I'd go with the thickest cut you can find. It may seem like a small thing but that kind of detail can really cheapen or enhance the look of the space.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 5, 2009 10:05 AM in response to Width for Counter Top

I love my push button switches. Nothing to do with restoration - I just prefer how they look. What is wrong with that?

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 1, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Exposed Brick Blues

I don't have it in my house but I don't mind it at all.

To each their own but I think it can look quite nice in the right setting.

No offense to you OP but if you feel so strongly, maybe you should buy your own house and do what you like with it.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at October 1, 2009 8:52 AM in response to Exposed Brick Blues

I can't imagine another tenant would take the door off the hinges if it was just a little bit stiff. There must have been something more difficult about it after they reattached.

Forget the claim and give your super a few bucks to reattach it properly. Not worth the hassle of trying to chase it down from the other tenants or the movers - you'll get nowhere on that route anyway.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 29, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Who is Responsible?

If you can get rid of the stains, I'd keep it. Its charming, saves you time and money and belongs in your house.

If you can't get rid of the stains, I'd say chuck it for a new one.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 28, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Worth Keeping Clawfoot?

All old houses had this at one time or another. I don't blame the current tenants for not wanting to live there while its going on. I don't see why it matters one way or the other - as long as its done by a professional company before you move in, the net result is the same.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 23, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Asbestos Removal Question

Nothing fancy really but I put a little glass shelf above all the sinks in the house. Great way to keep things in easy reach without it all looking cluttered.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 23, 2009 8:28 AM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Depends on your house.

Not a fan of plantation shutters for a brownstone. The louvers just don't work with the any urban style in my opinion. I do like (and used in my own house) half panel shutters for the living room so the light can come from the top half but we still have privacy.

Silhouette shades arent attractive in my opinion. They look like bigger scaled version of those cheap paper shades one might use as a temporary fix. Go with fabric roman shades if you want something covering your whole window.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 16, 2009 11:13 AM in response to Shutters or Shades?

We have it and love it. I ended up liking it in its gray color so we never oil it. I know it will eventually darken and thats great too. Its not at all porous - you simply can't stain it no matter what you do. You can put hot pans directly on it and its no trouble.

It is soft so you have to be a little careful about banging heavy things into it or cutting directly on it. But its actually been less soft than I expected. I guess I was expecting to be a lot more careful with it than I needed to be. When it does get nicked, it can be sanded out but I haven't had to do that so far.

Also got it from Texieras in NJ.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 14, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Sopstne Kitchen Countertops

If they were really shuttered for some violation of the sidewalk cafe rules, this is such a terrible abuse of power. Those rules were not made to close down struggling restaurants for small infractions. If they must fine the business go ahead but closing it down it just wrong. Aren't restaurants hurting bad enough in this economy without this crap?

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 8, 2009 2:45 PM in response to Streetlevel: Provence en Boite Shuttered by DCA

Is your friend a professional painter? If so, I would pay my friend whatever their going rate was.

If he isn't a pro, I'd pick a number I thought fair for his time. Maybe $20 an hour? Or $500?

Posted by: MrsLimestone at September 2, 2009 8:16 AM in response to Painting Quotes—Top Floor

Im glad I read this - I thought they sold dog biscuits based on their name. Never even peaked in the front window to see they had human food.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at August 31, 2009 4:52 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Bakery in the South Slope

Hilarious.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at August 20, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Closing Bell: No Reward Is Its Own Reward

I'd love to live in an apartment with a huge fabulous clock window like this one. But the interior is somewhat lackluster for 25 big ones. Granted, I'm not where near the target audience for this pad but for that kind of dough, it shouldn't just be the clock that has wow factor.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at August 10, 2009 10:50 AM in response to All Along the Clocktower

Its not accurate at all.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at August 10, 2009 10:49 AM in response to NYC Finance Property Value...

Thanks for picking my photo :)

Posted by: MrsLimestone at August 6, 2009 6:29 PM in response to Thursday Links

While many people do renovate without permits, I wouldn't say EVERYONE does. There are plenty of people who do it by the book.

That said, not pulling permits doesn't mean its bad. It just implies that there were some shortcuts taken. Its up to you to decide if those shortcuts were just of the adminstrative variety or did they not put the effort and quality into the work as well.

If the reno was a flip, it would concern me quite a lot that they didn't do it with permits. If it was something a homeowner undertook on his own account (he planned to live there) over time, it would bother me less.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at July 22, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Buying a Reno'd Brownstone

I agree that the tipping should be up to you - but it WAS up to you and you wrote out the check. Its not their fault you changed your mind and they shouldn't have to pony up for a returned check fee either.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at July 17, 2009 3:51 PM in response to Tips at Closings?

Thanks so much Todd. Just sent you an email.

VanBuren - I'd like to make some additional seating for my backyard with them...but we'll see how it goes.

Duck - Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check them out.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at July 13, 2009 7:48 PM in response to Wanted: Tree stumps

Excellent Trading Places reference Mr. B :)

Posted by: MrsLimestone at July 13, 2009 10:13 AM in response to Closing Bell: Beef Jerky Time!

Some inspections give cost estimates although I wouldn't put money on their figures. Better to get your own estimates and even then, its not 100% certain.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at July 6, 2009 2:56 PM in response to inspection process

Just want to clarify that Limestone kid is not my offspring. :)

Im happy there is another train stopping at 15th Street now but I just know Im going to get on it by accident one day on the way to work.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 30, 2009 4:41 PM in response to Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension

Generally speaking, I think most woodwork in brownstones look better painted. Whenever light is at a premium, the last thing you want to have is dark trim everywhere. Particularily when the wood is oak and has any sort of noticeable grain, its very visually noisy to me. (There are exceptions of course - if some workwork is especially gorgeous and you want it to stand out for example)

Its all a matter of personal taste of course.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 30, 2009 1:49 PM in response to Re-Creating Historic Detail?

I never realized what a following this place has. I'll have to stop in and try a cup!

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 30, 2009 11:03 AM in response to StreetLevel: Cafe Grumpy Now Open in the South Slope

Take the free materials and paint over it. If its not a great quality wood, thats probably b/c it was supposed to be painted over in the first place. The obsession with naked wood is definitely not a good thing in every case.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 30, 2009 10:47 AM in response to Re-Creating Historic Detail?

Maybe the owner's name is Obama and looks just like the president? :)

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 29, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Closing Bell: Obama Pitching Myrtle Deli

On the wall, a white or off white tile will make the grout less noticeable (I assume thats what you want b/c of the small grout lines).

On the floor, go a few shades darker than the color of the tile (not sure what honey onyx is) to hide any spills down the road. The grout becomes more noticeable but not so much so after time. A true black would be very stark (unless the tiles are black) and overkill IMO.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 29, 2009 1:46 PM in response to subway tile grout color?

Are you sure it hasn't oxidized. I was under the impression that Pietra got black over time like soapstone does.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 22, 2009 2:38 PM in response to Cleaning Stone Countertop

If you don't mind spending the time to haul and put together, Ikea has very high quality cabinets for their price.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 22, 2009 8:50 AM in response to opinion on cabinets

Regardless of maturity level or damages, I would not want to hear a dog running back and forth on the floor above me. For me, it would be a very polite but clear no.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 19, 2009 6:09 PM in response to Tenants Want a Dog

If you are sure you are overpaying, why would you even consider staying at your current rent? Based on your description, it sounds like you would have no problem finding your apartment for much less.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 17, 2009 4:25 PM in response to help with lease renewal

I don't know much about it but as I understand it, there is mold in all old homes. There are ways to mitigate it but a mold test almost always comes back with something.

That said, I would be more concerned that the sellers are hiding something. I'd ask for the sheetrock to be taken down and see what is going on behind there before you proceed.

It all depends on how much you want the house. If you want it and you have a good price, you are only spiting yourself by walking away. You'll never see the sellers again after the closing. If you are only luke warm on it, then walk and you'll find something else without the hassle.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 12, 2009 11:55 AM in response to More on Mold....

I'm not sure what Zud is but since you said "scrub" then Im assuming thats abbrasive. You have to be somewhat gentle with it for it to last. Home Depot has some patching products but Ive never used them so I don't know how well they work.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 10, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Rust in Sink

I could be wrong but based on the photo it looks like the sink was resurfaced in the past. You shouldn't be using ANY abrasive cleansers on it at all. If you were, you have likely worn away the finish in those spots and will need to resurface again.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 10, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Rust in Sink

All houses have some problems...any advice you get here will likely not be helpful in deciding if this is an issue you can live with or not.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 9, 2009 2:34 PM in response to Urgent Buyer Advice Needed

I still love that green leather couch. Why are they covering it up with pillows?

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 8, 2009 4:38 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

Oh, I heart fuller place. I might have to pretend to be a shopper to take a peak in there.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 5, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Open House Picks

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Didn't have much luck locally. I might just end up cutting my own from craft boards.

Southslope: Where would you suggest I get the popular 1/8 boards? I couldn't find any at the lumber places I called.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at June 1, 2009 8:49 AM in response to Small, Thin Wood Boards

I'm making inviations with it so Im not that particular about the type of wood (as long as it looks like wood and stays flat) but they need to be pretty cheap. Artboards are too expensive and Luann doesn't look like wood.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at May 29, 2009 5:14 PM in response to Small, Thin Wood Boards

Ive used both and I didn't notice a difference. I left it on for a full day and they both worked really well on flat surfaces, not as good on crevices.

You can use plastic wrap instead of the paper to keep it moist longer.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at May 11, 2009 7:44 AM in response to Peel Away 6

Love their backyard. Simple but still beautiful.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at May 6, 2009 2:15 PM in response to House of the Day: 433 Pacific Street

I dont really believe in paying skilled people by the hour - she should quote you a cost for the job. If she wants to be slow about it or do it quickly is up to her.

Posted by: MrsLimestone at May 4, 2009 12:02 PM in response to cost of landscaping?

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

I RECOMMAND THIS GREAT PAINTER VERY PRO VERY NICE GREAT WORK AND THE BEST PRICES IN PARK SLOPE GABIPAINTINGINC@AOL.COM OR 718-331-3889

Posted by: max senises at October 8, 2009 11:09 PM in response to Painting Quotes—Top Floor

Hi Starfish1948,

Am a long time N. Slo brownstoner.
One of my kids is currently looking for apt in the poetic Licence nabe, so I tried yr Craigslist post to hv a look/ forward link to her.
However, was no longer viewable as post taken off by owner.
Does this mean now rented?
Hope so for your sake, but o/w pls advise where she can view o/l.
In thanks, Merlyn

Posted by: Marilyn at October 9, 2009 10:04 AM in response to Advice on Rental Market

ALL kitchen counter slabs are mined and finished at 3 centimeters, which is about 1 1/4" thick. With the recession, we are seeing more and more of 2 cm stone, which comes mainly from the orient. The thinner stone (33% thinner) can't take the punishment that the 3 cm stone can. Don't do it just to save a buck!

Posted by: STEPHENWANGEL at October 12, 2009 4:28 PM in response to Width for Counter Top

You will hear about many 'must haves' in people's kitchens. Of course, this is a personal decision, and you must do what works for you. A qualified kitchen designer will take the time to talk to you, discover your lifestyle, and talk about possibilities. Most kitchen designers do not charge for this service. I am not a big fan of 'gadgets' unless they're usable.

I have done many kitchens in the slope, and can talk about what's possible in your space.

Check out my website: www.StephenWangel.com

Posted by: STEPHENWANGEL at October 12, 2009 4:36 PM in response to ISO Your Kitchen Reno Favorites!

Make sure your shopping for the best deal, and not the cheapest deal. There's a bid difference!

http://www.akropolismarble.com/Granite_Colors/

Posted by: Tommyrocks311 at October 15, 2009 7:54 AM in response to Granite Countertop

http://classyclosets.com/custom.php

You need those cabinets also eventhough they seem expensive. Custom closets are available in the market with very affordable price.

Posted by: jollivee at October 20, 2009 3:46 AM in response to Kitchen Cabinet Alternatives

I like Mrs. L's 'blended' approach. Then again, I did the construction management myself on my reno. But I had the time and a lot of experience working with contractors.

Posted by: denton at October 21, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Architect Light or Heavy

Twenty percent is the very high end of the spectrum. Get the services that you need and negotiate the price accordingly. Often I provide a fixed fee for the signed and sealed documents and then handle the remaining job phases hourly. Ed Kopel Architects.

Posted by: edkopel at October 21, 2009 4:44 PM in response to Architect Light or Heavy

Posted by: edkopel at October 21, 2009 4:47 PM in response to Architect Light or Heavy

I agree that 20% is pretty high. If there is a LOT of detailing work like built-ins and custom work, then perhaps it's worth it. Most of my jobs have come in much less than that. I typically charge hourly for the whole thing. I provide an estimate that indicates the number of hours devoted to each phase, and state that the number is a not-to-exceed value, and almost always come in under that, and only bill for actual time spent. If it's my fault for underestimating the amount of time, then I eat the cost. If the owner makes changes that require extra time, then we try to provide an alternate number for those changes.

This provides my clients with the reassurance that the cost is directly related to the amount of work involved, and they know exactly what the maximum cost will be. It also provides them with the flexibility to decide how much service they really need, and determine a price based upon that before they enter a contract. I've been doing it this way for a number of years and it seems to work very well for all parties.

Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture

Posted by: JimHill at October 21, 2009 5:40 PM in response to Architect Light or Heavy