avenue N in flatbush has been in the process for a few days now

Posted by: jesb at July 24, 2008 10:13 PM in response to Closing Bell: Repaving Everywhere!

thanks!

Posted by: jesb at February 27, 2008 8:46 PM in response to restoring a metal lighting fixture

did you sacrifice kitchen space? what's the best thing about it? (as you can tell, i'm very conflicted right now!)

Posted by: jesb at January 1, 2008 9:39 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

We added a powder room to our kitchen when we renovated, and I'm still very ambivalent about it. First off, pay no attention to "resale value" and all that stuff unless you are planning to move right away. This is your house and you'll be living in it - make it the way that's best for you. I don't like having a bathroom in my kitchen, simply for the reason that I don't like looking at the toilet in it as I'm cooking, which I spend a fair bit of time doing. I'm seriously considering taking it out - and like you, I could have a significantly nicer kitchen if I did (upon payment of a not small bill), or making it a bit smaller. There's a place I could jam it in in the dining room, or I could just go without. Our kids are older now, and they often use the upstairs bathrooms anyway. Our interior designer cautioned against putting a bathroom in the dining room, however. Bottom line for me is the downstairs powder room is nice to have, but not essential. Don't be afraid to go without it, if you really love to cook and spend lots of time in the kitchen.....

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 10:41 AM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

Forget about resale value and what your guests would like -- think about your own family. In our brownstone, nearly all of the living is done on the kitchen/parlor floor. We have a full bath there. Like Ms. Limestone, we thought about making it smaller to expand the kitchen when we first renovated, and decided not to take out a tub already there. We do regret that decision (never use the tub), but I would HATE to live without just a small powder room on the parlor floor.

Our powder room's entrance is angled, and the door isn't by the kitchen (and gives a bit of privacy), so perhaps if I had to look into the toilet while I cooked I would think differently. But if the powder room is well-placed on that floor, I would bet that you don't regret having it. Our toilet was broken for a day, and it was such a pain to troop up stairs each time you wanted to wash hands or use the toilet. Especially with kids -- even my 8 yr old can't easily reach the higher kitchen sink to wash hands comfortably. Of course, you can always live without it, but I'd prefer a slightly smaller dining room or living space (or even kitchen) to having to change floors all the time, especially if most of your living is on that floor.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 10:57 AM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

We are just finishing a renovation of the garden duplex of our brownstone and we have a tiny powder room on the garden level, where our kitchen and living areas will be. In order to fit it in, our archtect slightly changed the direction of our staircase, so that the landing was moved to make room. We also have 2 bathrooms upstairs. The garden level powder room is something I insisted on, as I can't imagine our family and guests to go upstairs, where the bedrooms are, to go to the bathroom.

Posted by: luvtocook at January 2, 2008 11:05 AM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

We don't have a bathroom on the parlor level and I've never missed it. The bathroom is right at the top of the stairs so no one goes into any bedroom areas. We had little kids in the house too and it just isn't a big deal to go up the stairs. I'd rather have the big counter space in the kitchen for messy art projects.

I've been in a lot of brownstones where the parlor floor powder room feels like it's in the middle of the action - no privacy.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 11:51 AM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

Add a powder room to the main floor.
There are so many new choices for a small kitchen.
18 inch dishwashers, 20 or 24 inch gas or electric ranges.
Tall narrow refrigerators which are designed efficiently, etc.

Posted by: Ysabelle at January 2, 2008 12:45 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

We faced the same dilemma and went for the more spacious kitchen. The area we would have put a powder room is small and provides a little desk/computer/recipe book nook now. Guests have no problem making their way to the top of the stairs to use the facilities, and we also have a funky but functional basement half bath. The more I thought about having a bathroom right in my kitchen, well, ewwwww.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 3:20 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

big kitchen!
add a 2nd bath on another floor.

bathrooms are overrated.

space space space is key.

main reason why i do not like brownstones is exactly this problem. too many small cramped rooms.

bought a 2 1/2 bath duplex condo. took out a bath to expand the living room, then upgraded the lower level bath by adding a full tub and shower.

love the above idea to open up the whole floor for open kitchen/dining plan.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 3:33 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

SO weird to me people think there's a problem sending guests to the 2nd floor to the bathroom. I hate a whole group of people sitting there watching me enter and exit a bathroom if I'm a guest. Also if you have a large party you end up with a line for the bathroom right there where the party is going on, which is weird. Visible bathroom lines are okay for apartments but undignified for houses.

Our 2nd floor bathroom is also right at the top of the stairs and nobody goes near any bedroom doors much less into any bedrooms to use it. We also have a garden level bathroom. Two options for people. We have had many many parties and nary a complaint about having to use some stairs to use the bathroom. Our friends are healthy folk. Hearty. They're okay with stairs.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 3:49 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

So weird that having a large party has anything to do with this. This is about how you live your life ALL the time. Do you and your family want to climb up stairs whenever you have to go? I don't understand why you can't have a configuration with a door that doesn't open right into the kitchen or main living area.

If you are fine always having to run upstairs, then you should definitely go without a powder room on the main floor. For me, I prefer the convenience for myself and family. The discussion as to preserving some dignified bathroom experience for guests isn't part of my thinking.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 4:21 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?

I vote for teeniest possible powder room. We use ours a LOT (2 children!), although I agree that the upstairs is more private for guests. You can put in a corner toilet and amazingly small but still functional sinks.

There are ways to extend your kitchen. For example, who says all the cabinets need to stay inside the kitchen? We have a nice cabinet made of the same natural maple the kitchen cabinets are that lives outside the kitchen "footprint." It holds the less-used appliances, pans, serving stuff, etc. Depending on how you look at it, it is a kitchen cabinet or nice dining hutch.

Posted by: guest at January 2, 2008 4:25 PM in response to poll: add a powder room to the main floor of a house or have a bigger, better kitchen?