"It'd be an easy take down with shillstoner in his period appropriate costume...those high heeled boots with sterling silver buckles, his butler holding the gauzes for his wounds."

Anytime, ensuite lover.

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 5:46 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

DIBS, it seems to be obvious to pretty much everyone but you. And I certainly will admit when I'm wrong. That just hasn't happened yet.

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 3:55 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

"Well it's propertyshark and the listing against you. Where are your facts to back u your claim??? You're like a stubborn child."

The flooplan. But if you prefer to trust the realtor and the city records over what you can see before you in the flooplan, go ahead.

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 3:28 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

"propertyshark does not get the square footage wrong."

Hello? That is the single silliest thing you've ever said. You can check Propertyshark for identical houses and they'll count the basement sguare footage in one house and won't count it in the next. They are not actually visiting each house and making a judgement--they simply get the number form the city records, and we all know how dependable those are.

"I don't give a rats ass what's on your garden level."

Good to know, since you seem rather obsessed with it.

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 2:59 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

"It's the same thing as where your formal DR and kitchen are, maybe just a foot or two lower. "

DIBS, I feel like you're special needs or Aspberger's or something: must we have the same conversation over and over? There is no boiler or water heater on my garden floor. Those are in the basement, a whole floor below. What my garden floor does have, however, is original wainscotting, plaster moldings, gorgeous original parquet floors, and a built in buttler's pantry with copper sinks. Not what one finds in a basement.

As for this basement--it is a basement with little basement windows, no details, and a boiler. Part of it can be converted into a rec room or a screening room, but it is not living space and does not count in the square footage. All clear now?

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 2:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

Oh, DIBS, made me laugh.... At best it is an English Basement, which is not to be confusied with a Garden Floor above the basement. A garden floor is living space. A basement isn't. A garden however...

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 2:17 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

It's 1,900 square feet, not 3,000 (unless we're suddenly calling basements "living space"). And it needs major updating. And it only really works as two one bedroom apartments. 950K.

Posted by: shillstoner at November 4, 2009 2:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

I don't mind sharing a hall bath--but I don't want my kids going through my bedroom to pee in the middle of the night.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 23, 2009 3:57 PM in response to Open House Picks

Kitchen, smitchen. The bedroom floor of the WT house has just one bathroom--and it's ensuite, as DIBS would call it. The non-masters have to go to the parlor floor to poop. For 1.4M, I say No Thanks.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 23, 2009 1:46 PM in response to Open House Picks

It's a studio apartment in a area in which condo prices are crashing fast and have a ways to go. 500K max.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 20, 2009 1:30 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 55 Berry Street, #5D

"Shill, please tell us more of your nonsense!"

Speaking of stupid people, hi 11217! I meant in Brooklyn, not natioanlly. But thanks for the data. dumb-ass.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 4:52 PM in response to

"Antidope is right, stoner. Your definition would make every sale an overpay in every market except where there were multiple legitimate bidders at the same exact price. It would also make every ebay transaction an overpay. market is price whereever willing buyers meet willing sellers."

So no one ever over-pays? What ever price someone is willing to pay is the market value, even if no other would-be buyers would be willing to pay it? Even if the buyer couldn't turn around and sell it for the same price? I think not.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 1:39 PM in response to

I have friends in a identical one in the row. The houses are lovely, though the front parlor and the dining room are pretty narrow. But the rest of the rooms are nicely proportioned. The problem is the movie theater towering over the garden and casting the houses in darkness. You are really aware of the tower in the yard--and why buy a brownstone if it doesn't have a good garden? Also, the noise from Court and the people going into and out of the movies can be overwhelming.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 1:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 171 State Street

Oh sorry, I was responding to antidope, not wasder...

But now to respond to wasder: whatever the current average time on the market is.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 1:26 PM in response to

Wasder, the price reflects the current market value if a number of would-be buyers are willing to pay it. If only one idiot is, then they over-priced. The test is can they turn around and sell it for the same amount plus expenses? If yes, they did well. If no, they over-paid.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 1:14 PM in response to

"...so the widget is a good predictor of the house's current "market value" but not a good predictor of what it might sell for."

And, no, they are not the same thing. There is indeed such a thing as "over-paying" for a property. God knows. I'd say that most people who are buying right are over-paying for the current market.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 12:48 PM in response to

The reason the Widget average is lower than the sale prices is that the only people buying now are overly optimistic idiots, wheareas most of us--even people who waste time on this site--are more realsitic about the market and where it is currently at and where it is heading. That s why so few things are actually selling--most people are waiting. Of course, it only takes one fool to buy a house, so the widget is a good predictor of the house's current "marvet value" but not a good predictor of what it might sell for.

Posted by: shillstoner at October 1, 2009 12:34 PM in response to

Now, if this curb cut is to allow for a floor-through ensuite master bath, with lap pool and sauna, that's okay. But a garage?

"Since when is it our business to gang up on someone and tell them what they can or can't do to their property??"

Since they bought an historic home in an historic neighborhood. "Property rights" are outwieghed by community rights.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 23, 2009 10:39 AM in response to A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? Really?

This will probably be far nicer--and have a more positive impact on the neighborhood--than whatever downsized and "price-adjusted" trash is eventually constructed.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 17, 2009 5:31 PM in response to Closing Bell: Stalled Project Mural

dt, I apologize for having been mean yesterday and joking that you are always saying PLG houses will sell for over ask. But...Back when the PLG place HOTD, you said:

"This house is under-priced at $985,000. A two story on Midwood just closed for slightly under 1mil. This house may need some freshening up, but it also has garages that could be rented out and useable, light filled garden level space that could be rented out as office space or lived in. It is on a great block and it has original detail."

Now you think 920K was a lot for the place? Granted, I said it would sell for 895K, so I was under. But really...

Posted by: shillstoner at September 17, 2009 2:09 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

Yes, Bob, even DIBS doesn't want a full bath on the parlour floor. Just a wall-papered powder room for the guests (those who aren't invited up to a bubble bath in the ensuite, that is).

Hey, where's "dt"? He never misses a PLG post. I'll stand in for him: "All listings in PLG are selling for well over asking in 5 minutes or less. This one will sell for at least 1.5 million, no question about it." Okay, that's better.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 16, 2009 4:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 165 Fenimore Street

"Thank you for that unbiased observation, shilly."

I'll take every opportunity to engage in potty talk with you, hon.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 16, 2009 2:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 165 Fenimore Street

"I don't think you could find too many 4 story houses without at least a toilet on the parlor level."

Pre-DIBS renovation? Perhaps not. But the vast majority of 4 story brownstones do not have a parlour floor potty. But, while eveyone knows my hatred of ensuites, I do think the lack of a single tub is a serious issue.

"On a per square foot basis the Rutland house sold for $276/sqft. That puts this house at 653k. Assuming Rutland is a comp."

Rutland Road is considered pretty prime Lefferts Manor, while Fenimore is far fringier. So I would expect the Rutland house to go for a lot more per squae foot (not that I put much faith it ppsf).

Posted by: shillstoner at September 16, 2009 2:24 PM in response to House of the Day: 165 Fenimore Street

Yes, DIBS, wood floors in one of the bathrooms. Limestone in the other. But no marble, thanks.

House Hunters, especially International. Unlike you, I watch to laugh at the people (being an arrogant a-hole and all), not for tips on kitchen island placement and window treatments.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 3:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"Oh yes you can. And you'll get more for the house when you sell it. Nobody wants those god awful chopped up little rooms on the top floors of brownstones. They are a useless waste of space."

Thanks for proving my point. Have fun with Vern in the soaker. Don't slip on the marble.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 3:08 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

DIBS, how dense and dim can you be??? I was "ranting" about preserving the structure and integrity of the brownstone, not the countertops or the chandeliers!! You cannot rip out a bedroom in order to put in a huge ensuite bath with soaking tub. Nor can you destroy the parlour by shoving a kitchen into the corner. But you can certainly put in a mod light fixture and poured concrete counters. No contradiction there. Sorry if the nuance is too hard for you to get.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

Sorry, had to do some work....

My chandelier is DWR, totally modern. I removed the original. The point is not to keep things as they were 200 years ago--the point is to update the house with a degree of respect and a modicum of taste. Hard to grasp for some, I know.

As for granite, even the yahoos on HGTV are over that tacky material. My counters are poured concrete.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"YOU ARE THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BEACON OF TASTE AS WE ALL KNOW."

Well someone has to try to stave off the granite-loving, ensuite-bathroom-needing, kitchen-island-coveting, double-sink-installing barbarians before you butcher every last brownstone and reduce all of Brownstone Brooklyn into one big tacky McMansion.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:20 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"I also need to see the article in Architectural Digest where your "taste" was deemed the most appropriate."

DIBS, I take it you consider Architectural Digest to be a beacon of taste? Snort.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:11 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

DeLepp, it depends on the specific house--the dining room placement varried. My garden level dining room has very gorgeous wainscotting, a very orante mantle, ornate plaster moldings, and a chandelier--definitely not for the servants. But the kitchen was always on the garden level.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:08 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"shillstoner....do you have problems with marble bathrooms??? Are they too, "suburban comforts?"

Totally. Glad to see you're cathching on. Maybe there's hope...

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:05 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

DIBS, dining rooms have been on the garden level since the first brownstone was built. If you really need your dining room on the parlor, then you need to install a dumbwaiter--you can't put the kitchen on the parlor. Why not? Same reason you can't install an ensuite bathroom, double sinks, or a kitchn island. Its called taste.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 2:03 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

No DIBS, in a 4 story with a garden level, the dining room MUST be on the garden level (one floor above the basement, and one floor below the parlor). This house is a 3 story with english basement and the dining room was designed to be right where it is. Ah, the ignorance.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"The lack of an ensuite bathroom can be forgiven by the fact that the master bedroom is the only one on that floor. But that bathroom could be larger. I'm not complaining, just nitpicking and when someone pays close to $3.0 MM it should have ALL the bells and whistles."

I'm shocked that you've relaxed your bad taste and need for suburban comforts. Go on vacation, and the whole world collapses!

Other than the tacky kitchen island, this looks nicely done.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 14, 2009 1:47 PM in response to House of the Day: 591 2nd Street

"The two story houses are selling right not at around $975,000."

Actually, the last few 2 story homes on prime LM blocks have sold for 920K.

Posted by: shillstoner at September 4, 2009 10:09 AM in response to House of the Day: 168 Midwood Street Revisited

"Central air conditioning? I was thinking shrillstoner has the house servant work the crank that turns the fan that pushes the air over the block of ice in the basement.Whale oil and coal are too new for someone so perfectly attuned to the period of the house."

Which goes to show how stupid you're being and how you haven't bothered to read my posts.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 20, 2009 1:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

At home now, hanging at the kitchen table, comfy in my central AC cooled home and safe in the knowledge that my house is pristine and lovely and free of any tacky suburban horrors like double sinks and granite counters, but slightly sad thinking of all the poor brownstones out there that have been defiled by people too stupid to realize what they're doing...

"No shrilly- I came up with a lot more but you were too full of your own self-aggrandizement to comprehend it. Just goes to show- all your self-declared impeccable taste didn't come with a matching IQ."

Bitchy, please, you said nothing of any intelligence. DIBS is a danger to the very integrity of mankind, but he does on occasion say something worth responding to. Which is far more than one can say about your retorts.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 8:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"shillstoner, it has been fun. i hope we can resume this discussion here tomorrow morning, or on tomorrow's HOTD. I'm sure there will be ghastly, obscene and tacky parts of that house as well."

Chances are. As the tasteless masses like yourself bring their suburban lack of taste to Brooklyn more and more houses have been desecrated and defiled with hideous "comforts" like ensuite bathrooms, kitchen islands, and double sinks. Avoiding people like you is the very reason I stayed in Brooklyn rather than moving to the burbs. And now you're here. Meanwhile my friends who have recently moved to the burbs all have gorgeous old homes that have been beautifully renovated without being defiled by such hideous things. Makes one wonder.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 6:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"And the Constitution "intended" for black men to be counted as 3/4 of a white man, and women not to be counted at all. Be careful, shrill one, that original intent argument can really go too far."

Oh, please. That is too stupid to repond to. Whoops.

"Yes, shrilly- because you still live here."

Really, bitchy, is all you can come up with?

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 6:02 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

Oh what a sad fate has become my borough

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 5:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"A truly formal dining room cannot be on the garden level. PERIOD. The homes were built originally with them on the parlour level. Making people dine "below grade" as opposed to within the rooms with the high ceilings, plaster molded crowns and fireplaces is just tacky."

Brownstones with english basements have the kitchn on the basement level and the dining room on the parlor floor. Brownstones with garden floors have the dining room on the garden level, with a fireplace, wainscotting, and plaster molded crowns (as you put it).

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 5:16 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"That's funny. I wonder which house will sell for more. All things being equal, like the nabe and the sft, the 'permamently destroyed' one, or Stoner's?"

Assuming he waits a few years, DIBS's house will be practically unsellable due to the out of stlye kitchne island, granite counters, tacky appliances, and the "modern" bathrooms. Mine, which has been renovated and updated from top to bottom in timeless and brownstone-appropriate style, will still be worth a fortune.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 5:13 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

We dine in the formal dining room, which is on the garden floor as the architect intended. We chat around the kitchen table. And they make lovely shower curtains for clawfoot tubs.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 5:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

A clawfoot tub is the most comfortable shower around. And a kitchen table is far better for socializing than an island.

I'm sorry you two are so offended that I think you are tacky and have permanantly destroyed your houses. I do. But you don't know me, so you shouldn't really get so upset.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"He should have registered under the name "shrillstoner."

I like that, and DIBS can be "bidetinbedstuy"

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:34 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

Not to sound too holier than thou, if you don't get it then you don't get it. But your justifications are identical to those used to explain knocking down an older home and replacing it with a McMansion. Cause, we don't live that way anymore, you know.

DIBS, My brownstone is stunning. The garden floor kitchen has lovely black appliances and a huge table in the center (where the island should be). My hallway bathrooms are gorgeous, especially the clawfoot tubs.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

bxgrl,

Converting a bedroom to become an ensuite bathroom is a far cry from installing electricity and running water.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"What do their kitchens look like??? Do they have an island??? Are there stainless steel appliances?? That certainly does not respect the authenticity of an antique home; and most likely on the main floor as well."

An island? Stainless steel appliances? Certainly not. I don't know tacky people.

But even if they did, changing the surfaces of an existing kitchen is very different from altering the use of a room. Putting a kitchen on the parlor flor, for example, is unforgivable.

"I still can't understand your hangup with remodelling what are otherwise chopped up old useless victorian rooms on the second and third floor of a brownstone."

Ah, yes, I can hear the respect now!

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:13 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

"if someone buys a house they have every right to fit it to their needs inside? what other rules do you have?"

Not at all. We are only temporary custodians of these historic structures. If you need to dramaticially alter a historic building in order to enjoy, then you should not buy it.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:08 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

DIBS, why do you think it has to do with how much money people spend? My friends who spent 6M for their brownstone in the Heights do not have an ensuite bathroom. They actually go into the hallway! My other friends who recently bought a 1.9M weekend place don't have one either.

It is a question of respecting the authenticity of a particular building. If you buy a McMansion, you should have an ensuite bathroom. If you buy a historic brownstone--or an old farmhouse--you shouldn't. Pretty simple.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:00 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park