we rented our apt 2 months ago and the tenant paid the fee

Posted by: mimi at November 3, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

I vote with no recessed in parlors, dining rooms, bedrooms for a house with detail - i.e. not a gut, but OK in kitchen, hall, bathroom.

Posted by: mimi at October 29, 2009 6:15 PM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

Ghostbusters had great scenes of the stone animals on a building coming to life if I remember correctly

Posted by: mimi at October 27, 2009 11:29 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: In the Throat of Terror

Well, if you look at the new building across the street, it would be hard to top that - it is its own little horrorshow but the block is a mixture of buildings with different setbacks and styles, so I don't think it will be much worse than other new buildings going up.

Posted by: mimi at October 24, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Development Watch: 112 Underhill Avenue

It doesn't look too bad as is.

Posted by: mimi at October 22, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Major Facade Restoration

Also, Halloween is coming up - you might check out trick-or-treaters.

Posted by: mimi at October 21, 2009 12:09 PM in response to Stolen Statue

We used to have a house with baseboard heating. whereever there is a baseboard it is difficult to put furniture against it so it made walls useless for furniture. Radiators just take up a little of the wall and make decorating easier.

Posted by: mimi at October 21, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Replacing Radiators

hideous

Posted by: mimi at October 5, 2009 12:32 PM in response to 476 Sterling Condos Now For Sale

I think the name of this site says it all - Brownstoner - no one has websites devoted to undistinguished fedders apartment buildings. Even Ratner, when he sent out mass mailings promoting Atlantic Yards a year or so ago, didn't put pictures of his proposed buildings, but pictures of brownstones.
And all the blocks to the east of the landmarked parts of PH are now filled with these homely fedders condos - so those of you who want more modern, utilitarian buildings can rejoice. PH has the old and the new. Personally I perfer the old.

Posted by: mimi at September 21, 2009 6:11 PM in response to City Council Signs Off on Prospect Heights Landmarking

For the uninformed - what are silhouette shades?

Posted by: mimi at September 16, 2009 11:40 AM in response to Shutters or Shades?

For the uninformed - what are silhouette shades?

Posted by: mimi at September 16, 2009 11:40 AM in response to Shutters or Shades?

I love looking at antique hardware online or at places like Good Olde Things - your examples are beautiful

Posted by: mimi at August 25, 2009 6:05 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Hardware: Jewels in the Crown

I hope they have the original BBQ they used when they opened - it was great!

Posted by: mimi at July 31, 2009 2:41 PM in response to Streetlevel: The Return of Hot Bird!

CMU - after seeing a few houses trashed in our neighborhood most owners are very positive about landmarking.

Posted by: mimi at June 23, 2009 2:37 PM in response to Prospect Heights Landmarked!

woo woo

Posted by: mimi at June 23, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Prospect Heights Landmarked!

woo woo

Posted by: mimi at June 23, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Prospect Heights Landmarked!

Mondial always treated us very well.

Posted by: mimi at April 20, 2009 5:10 PM in response to Disappointing A&K Tile Store

We have a 4" one on the bottom of each window. We bought them at Rejuvenation and it looks fine, make opening the window easy.

Posted by: mimi at April 13, 2009 4:54 PM in response to sash lifts

Please print a before and after picture so you can really appreciate this monstrosity. This block was almost all brownstones with a maybe one house built in the 20'th century. Now it has this with that white contraption on the front. It shows the developers total disrespect for the neighborhood and the people who live there.

Posted by: mimi at February 13, 2009 11:24 AM in response to The Blanching of 330 Park Place

I am very interested in buying these, can you please post the dimensions of the plates and the face of the locksets. My email is krona3000@yahoo.com

Posted by: mimi at January 12, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Pocket Door Hardware for sale

I am very interested in buying these, can you please post the dimensions of the plates and the face of the locksets. My email is krona3000@yahoo.com

Posted by: mimi at January 12, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Pocket Door Hardware for sale

Its sad when the most attractive feature of your rendering is a hundred year old building that is next to yours.

Posted by: mimi at December 9, 2008 11:20 AM in response to 150 4th Avenue: The Renderings

Isn't there one agency that won't even show pix of bedrooms - I guess this one is the opposite end of the pendulum

Posted by: mimi at December 5, 2008 3:14 PM in response to Funny photo from rental listing

I would second the recommendation for gardenweb for info on kitchens. There are lots of people with great information there whether your kitchen is plain or high end.

Posted by: mimi at December 4, 2008 10:42 PM in response to need recommendation on inexpensive kitchen cabinets and counter please

The locksmith on Flatbush, near 7'th Avenue has someone who works with old locks and can make keys.

Posted by: mimi at November 19, 2008 3:35 PM in response to Skeleton Keys

At Union the demons of hell are waiting for you.

Posted by: mimi at October 31, 2008 5:09 PM in response to question about the park slope parade tonight...

Also a soon to landmarked block!

Posted by: mimi at October 30, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Foreclosure of the Week: 167 Prospect Place

I was at the meeting and the testimony was overwhelmingly favorable to the landmarking effort. I am unsure what entry level tenants he is referring to as the only new tenants on Flatbush seem to be large telephone companies and there is a trend of evicting long time tenants such as Moody's to get higher rent.

Posted by: mimi at October 29, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Many Thumbs Up for Prospect Heights Historic District

Is there a reason you are not using an agent? they seem to help a lot with screening,etc.

Posted by: mimi at October 24, 2008 5:36 PM in response to ADVISE NEEDED ON HOW TO GET RENTERS

don't have anything to contribute, but wanted to say -
cute house, refreshing change for us brownstone obsessed folks.

Posted by: mimi at October 23, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Chimney Liner, yes or no

This is one of the mysteries of the universe, what to put in the front of your parlor. A grand piano? Some large plants? A separate seating area? A desk sounds like a good idea. Good luck

Posted by: mimi at October 13, 2008 7:29 PM in response to Just wondering...best use of parlor

The Park Place block is great. it is close to the trains, the park, GAP, and Park Slope. Vanderbilt has a nice selection of restaurants, shops, bars etc. for staying in the neighborhood.

Posted by: mimi at October 10, 2008 5:21 PM in response to Open House Picks: Price Cut Edition

There are small globs, a bit smaller than a dime. As this is finished wood furniture I don't want to apply a lot of water.

Posted by: mimi at October 7, 2008 12:01 PM in response to Removing Joint Compound from Wood

All the best, your have made a good decision

Posted by: mimi at September 23, 2008 3:55 PM in response to Congratulations to me?

I have seen kitchens with large black and white tiles placed diagonally and it looks great in the right kitchen.

Also, the old fashioned version linoleum is sold under the brand name Marmoleum

Posted by: mimi at September 12, 2008 6:46 PM in response to A penny for your... kitchen floor??

How expensive is too expensive?? Robern is a great brand and they have a less expensive line - you might look into that. Try HomeClick - these cabinets are easy to order online and have delivered. BTW, we bought a Maax that looked great but now has some problems, I wouldn't buy them again because of that.

Posted by: mimi at September 10, 2008 1:34 PM in response to Medicine Cabinet

Used to love your place, especially when it first opened. Come back - you don't need bullet proof glass anymore on Vandy!

Posted by: mimi at September 9, 2008 1:07 PM in response to Hot Bird Founder

Try quintessentials on Amsterdam/86'th in Manhattan.

Posted by: mimi at September 8, 2008 7:19 PM in response to Good places to buy shower sets

Lot of negativity out there. We finished our project last year and are so happy in our renovated/restored home. It took us over a year but was worth it. My favorite inspiration by far is house tours, but they are usually in the spring. The other thing you can do is go to open houses of the better homes (more expensive) in BH, PS, etc. Walking thru the houses is the best way to get a feel for what works, what you like, etc. For online, I think the suggestion to look at real estate pix is a good idea, and I think the Old House Journal may have pictures on its site. Bringing one of these old houses back to its original (or slightly updated) glory is a great journey and I wish you luck on it.

Posted by: mimi at September 8, 2008 6:07 PM in response to reno pictures

There is a building on Coney Island Avenue someone knicknamed Klingon World Headquarters. This looks like it might be an outpost of the Klingons.

Posted by: mimi at August 29, 2008 4:40 PM in response to Scarano-on-Fulton Finally Finishing Up

You know that in 10 or 15 years the old Victorian brownstones and such will just as beautiful as ever and Gehry's will be a rusting eyesore. People will say 'what were they thinking' - there are a lot of buildings and developments like that, left over from the 50's and the 60's = they look so out of place. Just a shame they are building it now - think people would have learned

Posted by: mimi at August 28, 2008 11:29 AM in response to Modernism in the City/Gehry in Brooklyn

Crown Heights reminds me of Prospect Heights when I first moved to BK. I remember taking my kids to the Bk. Children's Museum years ago and thinking how nice the houses were in that area but how hopeless the neighborhood was. and now it has changed so much for the better. If you take a long view the trend is definitely up for CH.

Posted by: mimi at August 27, 2008 7:26 AM in response to House of the Day: 1252 Dean Street

Mr. What,
Why would I care about new houses - this site is about old houses and the people who love them. There are lots of people who appreciate old houses so there will always be scarcity - and good prices.

Posted by: mimi at August 19, 2008 12:10 PM in response to 445 E. 19th Street Dodges Foreclosure Bullet, Lists Large

I would avoid below grade space that is supposed to be general living space because of a bad experience with a house I own - it is older and not in BK. We have to run a humidifier 24x7 to keep a partial below grade den from smelling. Even with that it is barely under control And the smell gets into the furniture and carpet - not fun. Don't do it.

Posted by: mimi at August 19, 2008 9:54 AM in response to One garden you don't want

I found them very unattractive. There is no central heating, but those big window units that motels have. The room shapes are odd with pillars here and there in the middle of the rooms - I guess they hold up the building. I can't imagine anyone paid a premium to live there.

Posted by: mimi at August 13, 2008 2:59 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Park Place Doubleshot

I agree with Mr. Swiss. Some posters have a particular point of view they wish to promote and they are posting their propaganda rather than participating in a rational exchange of ideas. Also their language and personal attacks have made this site much less fun to read. I'm not sure if they are trying to singlehandedly move the market for homes in Brooklyn or they are just 'sour grapes fools' as suggested above, but their posts are not worth reading. Also, many people start off with money tight between the mortgage and renovation costs, but guess what, rents go up over time, mortgages get paid down, you can take advantage of lower interest rates to refinance if necessary and particularly if you have outside employment which provides a reliable income you will make out quite well. We did and so did our neighbors. I don't know or anyone on our block who lost a house to anything but divorce.

Posted by: mimi at August 11, 2008 12:04 AM in response to Auction Time for 306 St. James Place

NOT TO RATNER STAFF:
DO NOT WRITE IN ALL CAPS WHEN TRYING TO SPIN PUBLIC OPINION ON BLOGS. IT IS CONSIDERED RUDE.

Posted by: mimi at May 6, 2008 7:40 PM in response to Closing Bell: Gehry's Arena Turns Blue

Regarding pollution and public transportation - that is why Coney Island would be a great place for this stadium. This has been suggested before - it is has execellent subway and highway access.
Flatbush and Atlantic is a choke point for traffic and the stadium would make it a total nightmare. I ride the trains to work everyday and you cannot squeeze another person on - no way it could handle the stadium traffic.
BTW I live in PH and everyone on our block is against AY. It is a waste of taxpayer dollars at a time when the city is cutting education, transportation, etc. It would be a crime to give that sleaze our tax money while the people of the city suffer cutbacks.

Posted by: mimi at May 5, 2008 11:09 PM in response to Atlantic Yards or Atlantic Lots?

To all the nattering nabobs out there: We realize that there are many coming to this blog with their own agendas with respect to real estate or social issues. It is a sign of how popular and well known this blog has become that many are trying to spin messages, mostly negative. We who find it valuable ignore the 'noise', skip the stupid posts and get the same useful information we always have. This website made me realize I could handle a renovation and made a big difference in my life. If Mr. B makes a few dollars with the Brownstoner franchise so what. I doubt you make hedge fund money running flea markets. More power to him.

Posted by: mimi at April 27, 2008 2:33 PM in response to Brooklyn Flea Week 4 on Sunday!

Would be very nervous about recessed lighting and updating--it's the kind of thing that will go out of fashion, and which turns off a segment of buyers. And it's expensive.

In general, I'd think going with classic fixtures--wall sconces, ceiling lights, etc--is the smart bet. Using fixtures that are modern (ie, don't turn the gaslights back on) but consistent with the turn of the century "look" of the house is probably the safest thing to do. There's a danger of doing something that screams "2000" and then trying to sell in 2020, when something else is fashionable.

That said, if you're staying a long time, do what YOU like. It's your home.

Posted by: bkrules at October 30, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

Basements and garden levels definitely should have recessed lighting IMO whether you're staying "period" or not. It's not just a ceiling-height issue but it brightens a room that's always shadowy thus somewhat depressing even when it's relatively well lit by windows.

I also like it even in parlors when there's a big space that's not adequately lit by sconces or lamps and isn't right for a chandelier. We have a spot like that and when we do the next round of renovations in a few years I want some recessed lights on a dimmer there. I'd like to add the lights now but there's a whole thing to do with the ceiling so we have to put it off a while. I need to brighten a shadowy section in the middle of an open space in the parlor where we plan to have our son's play area. So if you have a spot like that in your house you think you'll use for children's play, or future owners would, it may be worth it to add recessed lights overhead. People live lives in these houses so the decor must be functional not just faithful to the period. The lights don't have to be huge and they don't always have to be turned on just because they're installed.

Posted by: traditionalmod at October 30, 2009 12:36 PM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

I don't like dark spaces. The gloomy Victorian vibe is not for me; brownstones are naturally dark, since most have light from front and back and no natural light from the sides, to state the obvious. It was extremely important to me to have lots of light in my place. In the double parlor I have two nice chandeliers which work well with another hanging fixture in an alcove. Downstairs where I have the kitchen, dining room, hallway and bedroom, I have a lot of wattage in the kitchen and that is recessed lighting. The rest of the downstairs I have Center ceiling fixtures. I think you need a lot of light in a kitchen - you need to see what you are doing and recessed lighting is very good for that. But in other spaces I prefer center ceiling fixtures. I also hate ceiling fans. I think they look so awful; I don't know if the increased air circulation offsets the spinning propeller look.

Posted by: donatella at October 30, 2009 10:31 PM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

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Posted by: OldManSam at November 2, 2009 12:17 AM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

Contact Erick The Skilled Park Slope Electrician Reliable & Trustworthy @ (347) - 512-4869

Posted by: OldManSam at November 2, 2009 9:09 PM in response to Thoughts on Recessed Lighting

in the current market landlord pays the fee. try renting it out on craigslist

Posted by: bitter_bubble_buyer at November 3, 2009 12:08 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

where's the apt? how much? i know a couple people looking for places in brooklyn. one couple looking for 2BR ~$3k in CG or nearby, and another one looking for a studio as affordable as possible, brookyln heights area.

Posted by: CG_ups at November 3, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

While I did post on craigslist in the "apartment for rent" section - I actually found my tenant because she posted an ad in the "apartment wanted" section!

Posted by: Queenie at November 3, 2009 12:38 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

I do not charge the owner. Tenant pays. Some owners will pay because it will attact more interested prospective tenant because they won't have to pay a fee. Regardless of who pays, the broker is almost always working for the owner. Sometimes, a broker will use a dual disclosure.

Posted by: broker at November 3, 2009 1:27 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

get used to it - that's what happens in weak markets. I'm a landlord and we paid a (reduced) fee to rent out our 2 bedroom. It's a pretty simple calculation: list it with fee and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, or list it as no fee (i.e. YOU pay the fee) and watch it get rented in two weeks. We actually had the broker tell renters that if they rented it no fee, the rent was $100 more per month, and that's what the renters chose.

Posted by: slopenick at November 3, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?