a very easy job for a do-it-yourselfer. even a relatively inexperienced one. any DIY home repair book worth its weight should have easy to follow instructions. i doubt it would take more than an afternoon to complete. you're basically making a cardboard/paper template, transfering it to the linoleum and gluing it down.

good luck!

Posted by: benno at August 13, 2007 12:21 PM in response to Laying Linoleum?

i really like the economy of the design here. even though all of the other designs were really nice as well, this is the first one in which i could imagine doing some real cooking. everything is within easy reach and there seems to be plenty of accessible storage.

aesthetically, i like this relatively modest modern look that blends pretty nicely with the old character of the original room. i also like how the white "country-ish" cabinetry softens the more antiseptic feel of the stainless steel. i even like the little pendant lamp hanging next to the fume hood. very nice job.

homeowner: did you do the design yourself or was there a kitchen designer or architect involved? i'm curious to know how much owner input/design goes into these projects.

brownstoner: nice feature. i hope you plan on doing similar features on say, bathrooms, patios, gardens, etc....

Posted by: benno at August 13, 2007 1:04 PM in response to Parlor Floor Kitchen #9: White-and-Black in Bed Stuy

it is a $25 ticket (at least it should be). sadly this is just one of the costs of homeownership these days. i wouldn't chance ruining a good tenant relationship over such a small fee. just mention to them that you got a ticket and ask that they be super diligent about separating out recyclables.

Posted by: benno at August 13, 2007 1:10 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

sweet renderings.

in actuality, that block is pretty dingy and is most certainly treeless.

when my friends moved there in the mid-90s it was a purely industrial neighborhood with a bunch of illegal AIRs, the most activity you ever saw was from the boar's head meat packing plant at the end of the block. a bunch of years ago, the city cracked down on the illegal artist lofts and forced landlords to bring buildings up to code. around the same time the RE market took off and now that area is filled with new overpriced lofts.

while that neigborhood has come up in recent years (there are now stores and a bar), those renderings are pretty off base as to what the area actually looks like.

Posted by: benno at September 11, 2007 1:05 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 249 Varet Street

i was on that block this weekend watching football with my buddies.

the block looks nothing like the exterior rendering. it is most definitely treeless with broken sidewalks and grafitti sprayed buildings and fences.

the area is still a fairly active industrial area (neighbors include and architectural metal workshop, noodle makers and a yamulka factory). what is interesting to me is that a lot of the developments over there aren't just rennovations of existing industrial buildings, but also new construction of loft buildings that actually look like the existing industrial architecture.

i'm sure the lofts look great on the inside, but your views are of auto-body shops and vacant lots.

it can also be a sketchy walk to the morgan ave L train. my buddy still goes to pick up his wife when she comes home on the train after dark.

Posted by: benno at September 11, 2007 1:33 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 249 Varet Street

i have a 3 family townhouse and bought my coin-op washer and dryer at home depot. prices were reasonable (it was a while ago, but i'm pretty sure i didn't spend more than $500-600 each). however, GE, the manufacturer, doesn't provide an extended warranty on commercial appliances. luckily we haven't had any problems with ours in almost 4 years and the $$$ we collect really helps offset the additional utility costs (although depositing the coins at HSBC is a royal pain).

considering how much use they'll get, i'm not sure if a used machine is in your best interest.

good luck.

Posted by: benno at October 19, 2007 12:37 PM in response to ISO Coin Operated Washer/Dryer

aetienne - does commerce actually let me cash the coins there or just count them? counting isn't the problem with HSBC, it is the fact i have to write my acct # on each and every roll...

original poster, my tenants appreciate having laundry in the building regardless of the fact that it is coin operated. our per-load charges are a lot cheaper than going to the laundromat, plus you don't have to sit there waiting for your clothes to finish. in our building each tenant pays for their own utilities and the common area utilities are attached to our account. the quarters are, for us, valuable in offsetting the increased utility charges. i like giving my tenants what i feel is a reasonable rent and don't feel badly about charging extra for the laundry. we also trust our tenants and have left out an exchange bowl so tenants can take quarters and leave us bills.

Posted by: benno at October 19, 2007 3:49 PM in response to ISO Coin Operated Washer/Dryer

we once rented our apt out for 3 days to the family of a friend. happened to be the exact 3 days we'd be out of town for thanksgiving. they offered $175 per night.

$2500 for 3 weeks is less than $120 a day, pretty cheap for nyc. what other options are there if you're looking for an extended stay in the city?

Posted by: benno at November 7, 2007 2:50 PM in response to Rental of the Day: Turkey Time in Cobble Hill

i'm not 100% sure, but if your radiators are steam radiators, then you should check if the radiators are angled properly to let them drain. i believe the banging can be caused by hot steam hitting cold condensation that hasn't drained properly.

Posted by: benno at November 26, 2007 11:22 AM in response to Incessant radiator banging

11:36 has it right.

it has taken these guys well over 18 months to put up that fence. it was sitting half finished (the "before" photo) for almost a year before they painted it and added the top half. i always wondered why it took them so long to put that thing in. it seemed like it took them 6+ months just to get to the state you see in the "before" photo.

if i remember correctly, the original fence from many years ago was a seriously eroded cast iron fence that looked like a 50s or 60s cheap replacement for the original.

while the fence is an odd design, i think the owners did a pretty good job sprucing that corner lot up overall. i never even noticed the non-approved windows.

Posted by: benno at February 26, 2008 12:21 PM in response to 213 Cumberland Slinks Back to LPC