It is beautiful, I can't wait to read your posts. I am almost as excited to read everyone elses' comments on your choices. I am hoping you are not too tired or too overwhelmed to write. How are you thinking about heating it?
Good luck.(as well as good workpeople)

Posted by: lauriec at November 10, 2009 9:19 AM in response to Welcome to The Albemarle Reno Blog

I missed this update along the way. Looks wonderful could you tell me about the fridge? This is the first I've heard of them but i am just starting to think about replacing an older one. Thank you

Posted by: lauriec at January 7, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Thanksgiving Edition

I always stop at the Outpost when I am running on a visit to my son who lives on Lefferts Place. I hope this part of Fulton St gets a little less desolate. Brown Betty has nice food too. That building on Lefferts and Fulton is pretty ugly.

Posted by: lauriec at January 1, 2009 10:20 PM in response to Shout-Out to Outpost

While not living in Brooklyn we have owned a 2 family in Cambridge MA and it has let us put our children through school and makes it possible to not HAVE to work full time all the time to support our real estate. If you are careful and have good tenants it is a pleasureable source of fairly solid income. Places in Brooklyn and Cambridge will probably almost always be desireable.

Posted by: lauriec at October 6, 2008 11:28 AM in response to The great experiment 2008

As parkslopemom says these are very hardy trees. I wouldn't worry about the health; just the aesthetics of a very off balance tree. We have always thought as this time of year as Barbie time in front of our house. Until it rains I even like the pink covered sidewalks. The weird thing of course is your neighbors still will have blossoms.

Posted by: lauriec at May 3, 2008 4:40 PM in response to Tree Issue

I think it looks great. It makes me feel as if my husband and I should get back to doing some of our work ourselves (we are old). You certainly seem to be having a less angst ridden experience that those of us who are always waiting for this or that or this guy or that inspector. (In exchange for all your hard labor) Keep posting. Can you tell us what kind of stove you will have.
P.S. I like the floors.

Posted by: lauriec at April 9, 2008 8:14 PM in response to Here Comes the Kitchen!

I believe persian rug weavers also put in an intentional mistake in pattern. The same human not acheiving perfection thing, it gives us all a little space.

Posted by: lauriec at February 24, 2008 3:30 PM in response to Top Floor Bath - Tile Floor In!

I am an out of state (with sibs and children in Brooklyn) compulsive reader of this site. I have watched your reno blog as we finish up some stuff in our 150 old worker cottage. I love my hall closet beyond belief so I totally understand how happy a person can be when it seems as if there will be a place for everything. You have done some beautiful work and it is interesting to see what you choose to write about when there is so much content available. I also had wanted black risers and gave in to white/cream. My husbands size 13s leave scuff marks on the white so someday soon I will get summon the energy to paint it black. I did put in a black tile floor in a small bath and although it does show every watermark and dust from our dog I love it. Enjoy your house.

Posted by: lauriec at February 21, 2008 7:10 PM in response to Is it wrong to love a closet?

Keep in mind nearly all improvements to your office floor can be paid by your business (as long as you're not putting in a wetbar and hottub). Schedule E as a loss.
We've been doing something similar with a second co-op apartment for several years, and it's worked out fine.
Keep paying yourself. Congrats on your new home.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 6, 2008 12:35 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

Glad to hear it's all working out Wasder!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 6, 2008 12:37 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

Just Wondering---The kitchen in the owner's duplex is the thing most in need of renovation but we are going to wait. It is still functional if not our dream kitchen, so we are going to live for a year or two with it while trying to save up for this next phase. We technically have two tenants since I am my own tenant but in effect we control three out of the four floors of the house. The rental income pays more than 60% of the mortgage right off the bat!

I haz--hey there. Good to see you. Yep its working out. So exciting. I spent most of the weekend there, interviewing tenants and checking out the renovations.

buttermilk--good points. I chose to not go the write off route but instead just treat my business as a rent paying tenant. I guess the difference is writing it off and getting a big refund in April or getting the money up front in rent. I chose for the first year to go this second route to make my monthly nut as manageable as possible. Will investigate the financial implications at the end of the year and see if I want to try the other concept the next year.

Posted by: wasder at October 6, 2008 12:57 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

Ditto montrose's comments. Great idea to live with the kitchen for a while before renovating it (although perhaps not exactly a choice). You will have a much better idea of how you want to use the space when you are ready.

Posted by: slopefarm at October 6, 2008 1:16 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

We're going to do a couple of posts on this on the home page...

Posted by: brownstoner at October 6, 2008 1:43 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

I'm still rooting for you wasder!

Posted by: cobblehiller at October 6, 2008 2:16 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

thanks cobblehiller. I think I have it under control now. a few white knuckle moments to be sure but now that the pieces are falling into place it feels like a good move.

Posted by: wasder at October 6, 2008 2:21 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

It's a 'white-knuckle' time 'moment/time' - You're not alone. I agree with MM and others that you really need to live in a place for awhile to figure out what you want to do with, say, the kitchen, for instance. Watch the light in the room, see how you move through it, etc. Will love to see your photos!

Posted by: cobblehiller at October 6, 2008 3:06 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

Congrats, wasder. I look forward to seeing it featured on the home page.

Posted by: Biff Champion at October 6, 2008 3:08 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

Hi Wasder,

I was looking forward to meeting you on the 16th but it now looks as though I won’t be able to make it. You are in a very similar position to me.
I also moved from an apartment in Manhattan to CH and my wife and I had our first child less than 2 year ago.

We bought a brownstone (2005) close to the top. We live in half and have renovated the other half to rent out. I let the renters who were in the building when I bought stay and I did not raise their rent, happy just to have their help paying the mortgage. But the renovated apartments rent for a lot more than the unrenovated ones.

I love the area, I love the house, I have a huge back yard for my daughter and the tenants are great people that I am delighted to share the house with.

Buying at anytime can be a winning choice so long as you do your homework...like you did. It is not all about money (in fact for me it was mostly about being able to get outside, additional space and a quieter area) but almost by accident the trade from the UWS to CH saves me loads every month.

Posted by: Aussie at October 6, 2008 3:53 PM in response to The great experiment 2008