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 didn't use MCKB for kitchen design, but did purchase our stove, fridge, dishwasher, hood and kitchen sink from them. Some of their prices were lower and others higher than other places -- I think on the whole, it evens out. We purchased from them because they were so helpful in helping us figure out which items to purchase. They don't seem to be given commissions by certain companies to push their brands, so they are objective. Also, they were very helpful with our contractor so that all the appliances fit in perfectly.

Posted by: luvtocook at January 2, 2008 11:12 AM in response to MCKB? (Manhattan Center for Kitchen and Bath)

Come to think of it, no one has ever told me how much water the washers use -- they just say that the water level does not go over the bottom of the window, so you are able to actually open the washer once it's started (unlike the ones in the laundrymats)

Posted by: luvtocook at January 3, 2008 12:18 PM in response to LG or Whirlpool Steam Washers -- comments?

Our floors are stained dark -- but not too dark -- you can see the grains. I forget the name of the stain, sorry! Previously, the floors were stained light, and that looked nice as well, but with the renovation that included new kitchen cabinets, the darker stain looks nicer.

Whatever you choose, don't super gloss it! I've seen some super-glossed old floors in brownstones and they look awful, no matter what stain shade.

Good luck!

Posted by: luvtocook at January 3, 2008 1:47 PM in response to What color floor stain did you use?

We knocked down the back wall on the garden level and put up sliding glass doors. We had an architect draw up the plans. A steel beam had to be put up for support.

Posted by: luvtocook at January 17, 2008 11:12 AM in response to Adding a window in back parlor?

I agree with Dean Street. Many dog owners allow their dogs to pee on other people's property and it is just not considerate. Even peeing on garbage bags that will be picked up by the collectors is inconsiderate. And of course, not picking up -- that is just awful. I used to live on the Upper West Side and you can see where dogs' pee have eroded some really nice pre-war buildings.

For all the dog owners who claim they can't control when their dogs decide to do their business -- it's called training -- and it's your fault, not the dogs', if they ruin other people's property.

Posted by: luvtocook at February 1, 2008 8:23 AM in response to Curbing dogs

We have soapstone countertops, which are beautiful -- and naturally hygenic.

A friend of mine has limestone countertops and they are beautiful, although I think they are pricy.

For both soapstone and limestone, there is a lot of characther in the stone so if there is a scratch or a stain, it really doesn't matter. And for soapstone, if the scratch bothers you, you just need to sandpaper it down and rub in some mineral oil. Easy.

Good luck!

V.

Posted by: luvtocook at February 4, 2008 4:35 PM in response to Tumbled Marble Countertops?

We knocked down our back wall and installed Pella sliding glass doors and windows, knocked down all the walls AND raised the ceiling in the back section so we could add transoms -- and the house is still standing. We worked very closely with an architect and engineer to make sure everything was sound. We love it. Our garden level feels like a loft.

V.

Posted by: luvtocook at February 6, 2008 11:46 AM in response to blowing out rear wall in historic district.

The reasons for this family to move to Ft. Greene are similar to those of many families and individuals who have moved to Brooklyn (and other boroughs and New Jersey) from Manhattan. Manhattan is like a big mall, with too many banks and Gaps.

Coming from a family who moved 3 times before I turned 13, I can understand why the family in this article still sends their kids to the West Village for school -- the mother says the kids seems to be adjusting quickly, but when it comes to the friends at school, it is harder.

As far as private vs. public -- it's a personal choice. In my family, three of us attended public schools and two attended private. Is there a difference among the siblings in terms of worldliness, demeanor, etc? Not really. Did my public school suffer because people in the neighborhood also sent their kids to private schools? Not really either.

This is NYC -- people have been moving among the boroughs for years -- I know many people who have lived in at least 3 boroughs. And people have been sending their kids to schools in other boroughs, pubic or private for years. None of this is anything new.

Posted by: luvtocook at February 11, 2008 11:21 AM in response to From the West Village to Fort Greene, With Few Regrets

I hope the artists do get to move back in. It's because of artists that so much of NYC came out of the housing slump -- so many people seem to forget that there was a time when nobody wanted to live in NYC. Whether is is downtown Manhattan, DUMBO, Long Island City or Williamsburg -- these neighborhoods required somebody who would take the risk -- legal or illegal -- to live there when everyone else thought they were crazy.

Posted by: luvtocook at February 11, 2008 11:30 AM in response to Glimmers of Hope for 475 Kent Residents

Or buy one of those special stainless micro clothes and it polishes up a treat. Not to dis the ever-wonderful Mrs. Limestone, but there are great non-toxic, biodegradable options for all cleaning. Micro cloth or eucalyptus oil are both excellent and smear-free stainless. Both windex and paper towel are bad for the environment.

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 9:46 AM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

I agree to buy what you like...as a renter I'm perfectly happy with my new white appliances. My cabinets are white too and everything looks neat and clean. The low-end stainless definitely looks cheap and I think it will look outdated before long.

If stainless is going to go out of style, what's next? I saw some all-glass Jenn-Air appliances that were cool-looking, but perhaps hard to keep clean. Maybe white will come back in style?

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 10:33 AM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

The only color I hate are those almond color appliances, to answer someone's question above. Oh and I hate all-black appliances. The all-black appliances look like Darth Vadar's kitchen.

Otherwise I like white appliances. I love colorful appliances, like green and blue. We bought the steel ones because our cabinets are dark.

It depends on the type of apartment and the neighborhood. If it were a family-sized apartment at a higher price and you're aiming for well-paid professionals who will be cooking at home and want a nice kitchen, definitely spring for nice appliances. That way you attract the best tenants. If you have smaller apartments and you're aiming for young professionals who are clean and nice but don't make a ton of money, just get the white appliances. They'll eat out or order Chinese all the time anyway.

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:14 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

I saw some bronze colored ones in a magazine - maybe that's the new stainless steel. (I'll stick with black and white, or, if I ever have a lot of money to spend renovating, those cool retro ones that come in mucho colors.)

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:43 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

Oh yeah, 12:43 is right, I did hear bronze was the new steel. But I also am crazy in love with the cool retro appliances, or even better, a fully refurbished vintage O'Keefe. Yum.

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:18 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

Perhaps for their trouble, you could reduce their rent?

Posted by: moreteasir at February 22, 2008 4:09 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

Stainless is the avocado green of the 21st century.

Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:16 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

I'd love to have avocado green appliances. What's old is new again, like they say.

Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

Yeah, now.

In 2030, stainless appliances will be reborn. Until then, I think white is classic.

Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 5:48 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

11:16 - as the poster who first mentioned avocado green as yucky, I totally loved your:
"Stainless is the avocado green of the 21st century" !

I've always hated staineless - it seems cold and institutional to me - from the first time I saw it, much as I hated the avacado green - and harvest gold, remember that? - of my childhood. Yes, dating myself here...

White is good. Black/white combo is good (black door stove with white tops especially nice); retro in bright colors and pastels are cool. I will never like stainless or the colors from the 60s/70s.

Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 2:12 PM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances