Yeah, luckily.

Posted by: rh at February 5, 2010 4:19 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

2003? Rats, we were gone by then. Little gray house? No wait, 302?

Posted by: rh at February 5, 2010 4:16 PM in response to Open House Picks

Bed Stuy has plenty of foot traffic. What I like about it is that people are more interesting than other parts of Bklyn these days. It's still "real Brooklyn". No offense, newbies. ;)

Posted by: rh at February 5, 2010 3:06 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Gemini, when did you live on 15/6&7? That's my old block: 1994-2002.

Posted by: rh at February 5, 2010 2:59 PM in response to Open House Picks

If you're open to second hand, you can get well made cabinets for the price of Home Depot crap. Try Build it Green in Queens or Green Demolitions in CT.

Posted by: rh at February 4, 2010 1:20 PM in response to Kitchen Cabinet Help

Oh yeah??? Well, you can send it in to my guy too! Only, I'd suggest an appointment the first time.

And Kingston homes are awesome! The ORIGINAL NYS capital has 1700's stone houses, brick rowhouses and Queen Annes that would put Ditmas to shame!

Posted by: rh at February 4, 2010 9:33 AM in response to Renovation Costs Deductible?

I've definitely mixed colors. If you ever needed to duplicate, just keep a sample aside to bring in next time.

I think I have mixed finishes, but I forgot the results! Just mix a bit and do a test run. Make sure to wait until it dries before you go crazy painting the entire room.

Posted by: rh at February 4, 2010 9:29 AM in response to Mixing Paint

Will they fix the potholes?

Posted by: rh at February 4, 2010 9:20 AM in response to Big Bucks for Nostrand Ave. Rapid Bus Route

Ok, I wasn't going to post my accountant because he's upstate, but he's even closer than DIBS' guy, so I will....

Richard Merck in Kingston
845.331.9667

He does lots of real estate and knows his stuff. I just went yesterday. Might be difficult to get an appointment though.

All of this financial stuff is over my head. I just want to restore and decorate. That's why I hire someone I trust to take care of it.

Posted by: rh at February 4, 2010 8:14 AM in response to Renovation Costs Deductible?

Polished or painted concrete. Washable throw rugs or foam mat over it if you want.

Posted by: rh at February 2, 2010 7:43 AM in response to Creative Input Needed

If the crack is in the tile you should get yourself a marble repair kit to match the color. It's actually an epoxy. If you're talking about the grout being cracked, replace it with grout. Caulk may not crack again, but if you caulk where there should be grout or marble, it won't match.

Posted by: rh at February 2, 2010 7:40 AM in response to To Grout or Caulk?

Look, I love Bed Stuy. I'm just telling it like it is. On the south west end of the neighborhood, that's the reaction I get. I'm not saying they should not move here, I just don't find it to be the most dog friendly neighborhood in the world.

Disclosure: I have an extremely friendly pitbull and a large mutt who drag me down the street.

Posted by: rh at February 1, 2010 5:41 PM in response to Need Neighbourhood Suggestions

DIBS, do you have dogs? I'm guessing you don't or you would know what I'm talking about. When I walk my dogs down the street in my neighborhood, I'd say 7 out of 10 people either cross, go into the gutter or steer clear. It's not that they are hostile (although a few are) it's just that they are scared of dogs.

I sometimes bring my dogs to the run at Tompkins Park. It's small and they kind of just stand around. I prefer to get in the car and bring them to Prospect so they can really get some exercise. If I wasn't a dog owner in the Slope in my previous life, I might not know what I was missing, but since I do...that's the one thing I miss about the Slope. That and Red Hot Szech, but like I said....less than 10 minutes away.

Posted by: rh at February 1, 2010 3:34 PM in response to Need Neighbourhood Suggestions

I'm an ex-Sloper, current Stuyer (well, actually part time upstate for the moment). If it wasn't for the dogs, I'd say my lovely neighborhood of Bed Stuy is the best!

They can certainly get a full house with a back yard/ close to trains within their price range.

If their lives revolve around their dogs like me, they might want to try for a more dog friendly neighborhood. Got a car? No problem, I still take my dogs over to Prospect Park from BS and it takes me less than 10 minutes to get there.

If no car, there are only smaller dog runs around Bed Stuy and people on the sidewalk tend to be frightened of large dogs.

Soooo, some other suggestions would be places with bigger parks with off leash hours:

1. Surrounding areas of Ft Greene or Prospect Park
2. Bay Ridge
3. Don't forget Coney Island and the beach. I don't think there are off leash hours, but it's easy enough to get away with it off season.

Posted by: rh at February 1, 2010 2:23 PM in response to Need Neighbourhood Suggestions

Isn't Darnelle the hostess?

Posted by: rh at February 1, 2010 9:35 AM in response to Weekday Events

I bet an animal rescuer kidnapped it. (Don't look at me, I was nowhere in the area)

Posted by: rh at January 28, 2010 4:32 PM in response to Closing Bell: Have You Seen This Chicken?

Ok, given...You do want a bargain when buying used, especially for something with holes. But I can't believe the nasty comments on something can be glorious with a little effort! Vinca, those are nice, but I'm all about the recycling, so I just say NO to new unless completely necessary. Hence the name "Reclaimed Home". :)

Posted by: rh at January 28, 2010 10:22 AM in response to 50's Metal Sink Cabinet

Ok, you people with no vision are starting to piss me off now. You can keep your new bland Ikea cabinets. You can do a lot with metal cabinets!

http://reclaimedhome.com/2008/01/29/vintage-cabinets-revisited/

Posted by: rh at January 28, 2010 7:57 AM in response to 50's Metal Sink Cabinet

First Caravelle and now KPD? You said it, Joe....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: rh at January 27, 2010 7:00 PM in response to Wednesday Blogwrap

Thanks and good luck!

Posted by: rh at January 27, 2010 1:12 PM in response to Duplex in Stuy Heights/Bed Stuy

I have a 3BR duplex near Fulton/Nostrand and I'm currently getting $2250. I rented it for $2600 in the summer of 08 and had people lining up with applications. The same tenants have renegotiated because they grabbed it at the height of the market. If I had to put it back on the market tomorrow, I'd probably ask for something in between....$2350-2400.

Here's a link to the 2008 ad:
http://reclaimedhome.com/duplex

Posted by: rh at January 27, 2010 8:06 AM in response to Duplex in Stuy Heights/Bed Stuy

You can post it on this site where people (like myself) appreciate those cabinets. Problem is, it's national.

http://retrorenovation.com/forum/

Posted by: rh at January 27, 2010 7:57 AM in response to 50's Metal Sink Cabinet

How do you know it's poo? Was it still there????!!!!

I'd get rid of it too. I have several pets and cannot ever have carpeting of any sort! Accidents happen.

Posted by: rh at January 26, 2010 4:02 PM in response to Rug Shampooing Poo

I've given bad-credit-history tenants chances in the past and knock wood, it hasn't come back to bite me yet.

They were up front from the beginning. I didn't have to find out for myself through the credit check.

What I do that I find just as important as a credit check is call references. Jobs, past landlords, roommates. I also do some detective work online to make sure they actually are employed, etc. I usually come up with something. Even if it's just a Facebook profile....I want to know who I'm renting to.

Rent up front? Denton might have a point. Where did they get that money? Maybe they're drug dealers. ;)

Posted by: rh at January 25, 2010 5:39 PM in response to Renting to an Iffy Tenant

I agree with Jock. Is it something you think you and a sledgehammer can handle in one area? I wouldn't pour anything on top until I found out what's going on underneath. That's just putting a band aid on it and it may come back to haunt you. Then think of how ungreen, messy and expensive it would be to pull up old and new concrete.

Posted by: rh at January 25, 2010 11:51 AM in response to Basement Slab Eval?

Small 1 BR restored brownstone parlor near Fulton/Nostrand: $1450 including gas & electric. Rent discounted for trash and snow removal. Tenants on 3rd year, 1 increase.

Posted by: rh at January 25, 2010 11:46 AM in response to Poll: Rents in Bed Stuy

I've been trying to research this myself. My problem is that I want to go with something sustainable and/or reclaimed. Best choice?

Posted by: rh at January 25, 2010 9:11 AM in response to Deck Wood Recommendation

Where is the half priced guy dumping it???

Posted by: rh at January 24, 2010 8:40 AM in response to Low Bid Demo?

Old Baby,

Sorry, I was the one who started the whole wife thing.

Hey, there's a "couch" on your furniture pages. Is that on old oil tank? Cool!

Posted by: rh at January 23, 2010 8:24 AM in response to Mantel Mirror Value?

CGar & Pigeon, I don't know how bad of shape the 6th Ave house is in, I just know to take a good look into the pretty photos. I do real estate photography and obviously I get paid to make a house look good. This means NOT shooting anything nasty and concentrating only on the selling points. A well lit, staged photo can make any house look good and draw people in.

What I see in these photos, like you said, are floors that don't look to be salvageable, a sagging staircase and major plaster work. Probably not a complete gut, but close.

I'm usually not one to poo-poo a house, but I'm only bringing it up because people were questioning why it's priced so low.

On the other hand, it's probably the location.

Posted by: rh at January 23, 2010 8:18 AM in response to Open House Picks

If the 6th Ave house was a shell, what would it be priced at? It's the photographer's job to make the place look awesome, but look closely at the photos. It needs lots of work.

Posted by: rh at January 22, 2010 3:24 PM in response to Open House Picks

Get rid of the wife. Keep the mirror.

Posted by: rh at January 21, 2010 6:56 PM in response to Mantel Mirror Value?

Build it Green or Green Demolitions for decent, second hand ones.

Posted by: rh at January 21, 2010 8:32 AM in response to Cheap Kitchen Cabinet

Oops, sorry Greenwood. I sometimes forget that I post things and walk away.

My husband did the joists with my help. He didn't jack the floors (just the staircase in those other pics). We sistered and also added parallel supports every foot or two.

We did lose some material, but it wasn't crazy. If you have time to look over each board and cut them down, you will be fine. The floor was taken from the parlor and installed into a smaller bedroom and 2 hallways. We had 300 sq ft left over, which someone took to reuse, but that must have come from another room. Don't remember now.

If you need replacements, M. Fine Lumber has reclaimed flooring or there are internet sources I listed here:
http://reclaimedhome.com/2007/09/12/reclaimed-flooring/

We use Desmond Harmon to finish our floors. He can also install and maybe even level. 917-642-2752

Good luck!

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 6:54 PM in response to Original Pine Subfloor?

Oh, ok...that's better then. From the photo, it just looks like a sea of white. So, good news: not a jerk.

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 2:08 PM in response to Howdoyaall Like the New Color??

I just use chicken wire, but my backyard literally IS a jail for my dogs AND cats.

You can always get some pieces of 1 x 4 (or whatever size you have there on your fence) and match it to the fence. Paint it the same color. So, all you're doing is extending the fence.

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 2:05 PM in response to Doggie Jail

I love the color! I did a sort of powder blue in my garden apartment front room. My theme is "Hollywood Regency meets Tacky". The furniture is pretty glitzy too.

My only thought is that you should add an accent color to either the crown moulding or decorative plaster. It would frame in the walls more. Maybe a touch of the blue or some gold to the relief?

And if you disagree with me, you're a jerk.

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 2:00 PM in response to Howdoyaall Like the New Color??

We used our subfloor, but we carefully took it up, leveled the joists (there was sagging) and added a plywood subfloor. Love it, yes! But it IS soft. The beauty of that is that every new ding just adds to the antique character of the floor.

There are some before and after shots scattered around my flickr page...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/castleandkeep/sets/72157594378041657/

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 9:18 AM in response to Original Pine Subfloor?

You said you have nice wood moulding? If it's not already painted and it's the original moulding, I would choose to not paint it at all.

If it's already painted, well, imo, I hardly ever paint white. I like colors. And I always accent the moulding in a different color. But yeah...semi-gloss. Too glossy=ick!

Posted by: rh at January 20, 2010 9:09 AM in response to Must paint door moulding white?

I don't know Fitzroy, but I agree with the above posters about the removal of the drop ceiling. Come on, Sara, this is a blessing in disguise! Look at that great original ceiling!

Posted by: rh at January 19, 2010 5:10 PM in response to Ceiling Collapsed

Also, http://www.craigslist.org has an "apartments wanted" section or you can just search sublets. I know that nobody uses Craigs in Ireland, but we're all about the craigs over here!

Posted by: rh at January 18, 2010 9:43 AM in response to Subletting for Summer

I try to salvage whatever is there. If you have wood cabinets in decent shape, you can always reface them. Just a paint job!

Ceramic tile countertops is an inexpensive and decent looking way to go.

If you're handy, check out this DIY resin option....
http://reclaimedhome.com/2009/10/29/brownstones-past-in-resin-counter/

I go with ceramic tile or tin ceiling backsplash.

Flooring...If it's not such a large kitchen, you can try looking on Craigs for leftovers. Many people buy too much. I've done an entire bedroom, a hallway and a bathroom counter and backsplash from people's high end leftovers. At a fraction of the cost.

Also, Weinstocks or Weinsteins (???) on McDonald Ave has overstock. I used some marble from them. It was a bargain!

AJ Madison or Drimmers for appliances.

Posted by: rh at January 11, 2010 3:23 PM in response to Best Materials for Rental Reno

Eddie on Greene and Grand may have some. His hours are funny...opens at noon Wed-Sat only. No phone.

I have a slate one leaning against my garage that I intended to repaint and sell. It was originally done in a faux marble, but it really does need to be redone. It's all faded. You can make me an offer on that if you want. I'd deliver.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23427316@N03/2674963248/in/set-72157603872943267/

infoATreclaimedhomeDOTcom

Posted by: rh at January 11, 2010 9:03 AM in response to Original Fire Place Mantles

On second thought, it could've been well over 10 years ago. Like early 90s?

Posted by: rh at January 8, 2010 3:46 PM in response to Open House Picks

G10, There were drug dealers on that block about 10 years ago. What else do you want to know?

Also, my next door neighbor on 15th, but we got his ass out of there! (circa 2001)

Posted by: rh at January 8, 2010 3:36 PM in response to Open House Picks

Enough with the blue! It can be stripped or repainted.

We just got back from visiting the mother in law in Ireland. Talk about open showers being all the rage over there. Yup, everybody is installing them. We used her brand new en suite bath for the first time. Hated it. I had to stand all the way over by the toilet to keep my feet dry, but how sanitary is that when you guys can't aim properly? The water did spray all over...on her wood molding, near the wood floors in the bedroom, on the dry towels. I give that bathroom 6 months before it gets all moldy.

PS: Anyone remember the drug dealers on 12th & 6th? I'm going back about 10 years.

Posted by: rh at January 8, 2010 3:26 PM in response to Open House Picks

PS: It takes me less than half the time to get from Bed Stuy to the Village than it took from Park Slope. There are some drawbacks to the neighborhood, but geographical location is not one of them.

I now I need to get to work. I said "Good day, sir!"

Posted by: rh at January 7, 2010 9:59 AM in response to The State of Brooklyn Rentals

cozy=tiny!!!!

Nice= clean, not roach or mouse infested, no peeling paint, basically well maintained. And large enough to fit more than 4 people in the room or you might as well live in Manhattan.

Posted by: rh at January 7, 2010 9:56 AM in response to The State of Brooklyn Rentals

You might be able to find crap 1 BRs for that price, but not NICE ones!

Posted by: rh at January 7, 2010 9:39 AM in response to The State of Brooklyn Rentals

Sorry Rob, but 11217's response to my question was probably more accurate than yours.

Posted by: rh at January 4, 2010 3:17 PM in response to House of the Day: 226 11th Street

Is there actually a known hierarchy of what cabinets are the best?

Posted by: sogo at February 5, 2010 11:22 PM in response to Kitchen Cabinet Help

Hi,

I am primarily a furniture maker, but I am branching out to cabinetry. Having observed some of your concerns in this post, I am confident that I can offer you a great design, quality construction, and strong customer service at a competitive price. I also build with wood, glues, and paint that won't bring VOC's into your home.

Here is some of my recent work:
http://www.brooklynmodern.com/store/

I would be glad to have you by the shop, provide references, or come by to offer a free quote.

I can be reached anytime at info@brooklynmodern.com and 917-509-5852.

Sincerely,
Gerald
www.brooklynmodern.com

Posted by: brooklynmodern at February 6, 2010 2:39 PM in response to Kitchen Cabinet Help

There are panels that are made specifically for this problem. They attach to the bottom of your fence to close the space and match your existing fence. Please feel free to give me a call to discuss your options. I own a fence company. Brooklyn Fence distributors. My name is Don and you can reach me at 718-444-8554. I look forward to hearing from you

Posted by: Donfenceman at February 7, 2010 2:35 PM in response to Doggie Jail

There are panels that are made specifically for this problem. They attach to the bottom of your fence to close the space and match your existing fence. Please feel free to give me a call to discuss your options. I own a fence company. Brooklyn Fence distributors. My name is Don and you can reach me at 718-444-8554. I look forward to hearing from you

Posted by: Donfenceman at February 7, 2010 2:37 PM in response to Doggie Jail

I have cherry mantel pictured in Architectural Salvage under October. I'm very motivated to sell. Email me and I will send you photos. pkslapt@gmail.com
thanks
Dave

Posted by: dlp at February 8, 2010 9:04 PM in response to Original Fire Place Mantles

For your structural engineering needs you can contact Design Everest Consulting Engineers at http://www.designeverest.com/ . They do residential, commercial, and industrial projects, and even 3D BIM modeling.

Posted by: berkeley_10 at February 9, 2010 4:23 AM in response to need a structural engineer (I think)

For your structural engineering needs you can contact Design Everest Consulting Engineers at http://www.designeverest.com/ . They do residential, commercial, and industrial projects, and even 3D BIM modeling.

Posted by: berkeley_10 at February 9, 2010 4:23 AM in response to need a structural engineer (I think)

For your structural engineering needs you can contact Design Everest Consulting Engineers at http://www.designeverest.com/ . They do residential, commercial, and industrial projects, and even 3D BIM modeling.

Posted by: berkeley_10 at February 9, 2010 4:23 AM in response to need a structural engineer (I think)

Hi- I want to do some renovation work on my galley kitchen. I am not moving walls or doing anything with plumbing or electricity. Not sure how to approach- do I hire someone to do everything or someoen to design and install and I buy the cabinets.. Any suggestions and recommendations for firms to work with are greatly appreciated.

Posted by: DWhelan at February 9, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Kitchen Cabinet Help