South Stuy Blog
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December 1, 2007
Help me if you can I'm feeling down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZOjwXBz3Tk&feature=related (this is my current reno theme song)
Or just overwhelmed, not so self assured.
So we finished the second apartment and although we are thankful we made it through and are happy with the results, and oh-so-glad it's rented, we're spent, stalled out a couple weeks from finishing the last apt.
We haven't said much about our living quarters--the garden and parlor floors--largely because we've been living in just a bedroom, bathroom, and what used to be a kitchen, but is now where we keep our desk and computer.
Our working bathroom:
Our 2 non-functional kitchens (no stoves, working water, 1 frig; T has been grilling almost everyday for the last 5 months):
The floor in the office/kitchen:
Other than pulling up all the nasty carpet and staples, taking out the drop ceiling in the front parlor, stripping the bannister and attempting to strip one of the bay windows, and getting a false start with the painting, we haven't done much with our space, though we've tried to make at least the bedroom comfortable:
As those who have been reading along know, our financial position (thanks in part to our first 4 contractors spending a lot of their time and our money making not very much progress) forced us to spend all of our own time and energy on getting the rentals renovated. The two one-bedroom rentals have been largely cosmetic work; since we blew out the closet walls in order to create a kitchen alcove for each, we have not needed to reconfigure anything. It's now a matter of finishing the details, replacing what needs replacing, making what's there better.
Our area--on the other hand--needs LOADS of work. There is the layout that does not quite work for us. We tried to think of our duplex in terms of the current floor plan, but that just didn't suit our needs, so now we have more of a reconstruction than a renovation on our hands. Our 2 bathrooms are in the middle of each floor, with large rooms before and after and a hall connecting all three. The garden-level back room is the lovely green kitchen seen above and the smaller kitchen, which is going to become a bathroom and is where I am sitting while writing this, is in on the parlor floor, in the back, connected to a large room which will be the library, but which is now where we keep our bed). The current parlor-floor bathroom is going to be blown out to create the kitchen, along with the walls separating the bathroom from the parlor and the walls separating the whole area from the stairs to the garden level, creating an open floor plan. The parlor itself has no ceiling, the original plaster one having been pulled down at some unknown point in the past and the whole covered with a drop-down, which our first contractor tore out and carted off.
We plan to put up a tin ceiling at some unknown point in the future. The downstairs master bath needs to be gutted and rebuilt.
The green kitchen, which will become the master bedroom, has a badly sagging oak floor that needs lots of repair work. There is cracked plaster on the walls and ceilings throughout. The front room on the garden level is largely fine as is, needs some light electrical work, but will make a great office/guest room. It has wainscoting and beautiful woodwork throughout. The problem is that the whole room is full of amazing wood and all of it is under probably 100 years of paint.
You can take a hammer and crack off pieces, like the chocolate coating on an icecream bar, without damaging the wood in the slightest, but damn sure releasing all kinds of neato lead dust. We won't be happy with the room until we restore at least some of its wood. But we tried to strip the bay area and that little bit of progress was more demoralizing than anything else.
(The banisters look fantastic, though, and we're almost done with the smaller newel post on the garden level.)
We need all kinds of electrical work done (on top of the several thousands of dollars of work we've already had done to upgrade the electrical service and to switch everything over from fuses--we had 40 amps service until just recently--and to do wiring on the third and fourth floors. We're planning on gutting one bathroom, moving the other, along with both kitchens (well, getting rid of one kitchen, moving the other), so we obviously need loads of plumbing work done (again, on top of the several thousands of dollars...). We'd like a cooling system of some sort installed. Basically, the works.
Which brings us back to the Beatles. We need help--someone but not just anyone. We're feeling pretty scorched lately and don't want to invite another scoundrel into our house. I know we need an architect with vision, creativity, and experience with these old houses to draw up plans, file them with the city, and to give us some guidance and support. But it needs to be someone who doesn't work on a percentage of the overall cost because we plan on hiring a building contractor separately and working with our current electrician and plumber. And there's still a lot we can and plan to do ourselves. Does such a person exist?
We aren't sure if we need a GC; we prefer to hire a kitchen/bath guy(s) who can do everything if needed, but we need to keep our jobs, so we might be forced to get one. Regardless, we'd love to get some recommendations for people who do kitchens and baths.
The one thing we know for sure is that we need some help and good advice. We've exhausted our pool of names and numbers. Please send info, contact numbers, actual people ready to work (genius craftsmen who work for next to nothing are preferred), money, building materials, just kidding (kind of). As of now, we plan on finishing up the third apt, moving into that, getting a HELOC loan to cover all of this, try and find a kind of architect we're sure doesn't exist, hire some good builders/contractors, finish our duplex ASAP, and maybe start living again.
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Comments
damn those feet girl
Posted by: guest at December 1, 2007 9:28 PM
You have done a helluva alot of work; Don't despair. I am also trying to renovate a brownstone on Macdonough; have been through two contractors; run out of money because the first one took it all; and I am still not in the house.
You guys have inspired me to believ that I can eventually get to the stage you have achieved.
Posted by: guest at December 2, 2007 11:43 AM
Mind sharing what kinds of rents you got for the junior 1 bedrooms? Was it hard to find good tenants? Did you use Craigslist?
Posted by: MrHancock at December 2, 2007 1:35 PM
11:43 thank you for those kind words- We find the Bed stuy bloggers (peter and G) to be our inspiration so its a novel and i must say-slighty thrilling concept that someone thinks that way of us.
Mr. Hancock-we found our tenants pretty easily through Craigslist and we put all candidates through a screening process using TVS. We are renting the apartment for 1250. When we eventually rent the last apartment. we will probably rent it for a bit less as it is smaller.
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at December 2, 2007 3:10 PM
I'd love to be able to give practical advice (such as the name of an architect, etc.), or that I've done the same sort of renovation as yours and everything turned out all right, etc., but I haven't so can't :) ... that said, what I do know is that you have an AWESOME house underneath the paint and notwithstanding years of awkward design decisions and abounding carelessness for the building and its character. Good luck - and just try to remember that one day, in the not too distant future, you'll have a kick-as$ new home and loads of spare time on your hands!!
Archiefina
Posted by: guest at December 2, 2007 7:59 PM
my wife and i are in the same situation as you, if not deaper. we are renovating two brownstones simultaneously, no kithen for 18 months and lots of aleve. I would love to pat you on the back and say its going to get better but it ain't gonna happen. it will never get easier. one hundred year old homes are tough projects. brooklyn handymen can tell you are desperate and you don't know what you got yourself into so don't try to find your savior there. contractors want to deal with people that have money and plans, their jobs are harder than people can imagine without dealing with someone with neither. there are so many projects for contractors to choose from in brooklyn, they smell trouble coming out of your front door. having an architect draw even the simplest plans is out of your budget. it takes tons of time and money even if you know how to do everything yourself. the amount of time spent blogging about how bad it is takes you away from the problem at hand. it isn't going to happen by itself so roll up your sleeves and get dirty, really dirty. clean the place up as much as you can, sell it, recoup as much of your money as possible and try something smaller, more realistic and manageable.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 11:07 AM
Just want to chime in with moral support. You've done a lot of work and you should be proud of what you've done. Take some solace in that.
As for advice, I'd say that if you are in a tight financial state, I wouldn't advise doing a major renovation. Its simply too hard to predict what things will actually cost once you open up the walls to run on no cushion. Also, if you are feeling burnt out, this is not the time to start a huge project like this. Even if you had plenty of dough and the worlds best craftman and artists, you still have to put in so much of your own time, effort and heart into a renovation like you are describing that you have to be in the right mindset.
If you can make your place liveable for now, do so on the very cheap. Forget stripping paint and blowing out walls for now. Then find an architect whose style you like and take your time on the plans you are talking about. He/she can make suggestions on how to keep costs down and help you find good contractors.
Hopefully by the time you've done all that, you'll be in a better mindset to start such an undertaking.
And of course feel free to disregard anything Ive said and do whats best for you. Your situation is tough to live through but when its all done, you will look back and laugh. Its just hard to care about that while you're living there.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at December 3, 2007 12:30 PM
Thank you fo all your moral support but what we really need are names and phone numbers of good people (we know you have them--give em up to us). We are in this for the long haul 11:04 not just to turn a quick buck. We have done most of the renovation on the rentals on our own and are damn proud of what we have done(and our tenants love their apartments). We have learned a lot and will continue to do so. We will contune to get dirty and use our own hands to improve our own house--its satisfying. Yes we have spent more than we thought on the reno thus far but we have also saved a ton of money. We have reached a point where we can not move forward until we get an architect and bathroom/kitchen contractors. We probably won't get started until january which will give us a small break before we get going on the next phase of this adventure but we want to get estimates now so we can start the year with a bang or rather the crash of plaster.
We need the brownstoner community to give us some good recs and keep the moral support coming!
Thanks!
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at December 3, 2007 2:30 PM
HomeSweetstuy
We might be able to help with your architect problem (or recommend others for you). Check out our webpage at www.phdesign.us if you are interested in setting up a meeting.
Good Luck with everything and thanks for sharing your stories!
Posted by: pHdesign at December 3, 2007 2:54 PM
When we did our place, mostly by ourselves, we had no kitchen for 2 months. We ate almost every night at Olive Vine or the diner. Funny thing we stored our fridge in the bedroom, at the foot of the bed so midnight snacking got a hell of alot easier. Our reno took so long that by the time we finished everything the renovated stuff had already worn out (10years). The truth of the matter is we had no cash, but lots of skills. By the way Mr. Brownstoner, you need more reno posts with pictures of women's feet.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 3:45 PM
Some good recs here, maybe a good starting place:
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2007/11/seeking_contrac_2.php#comments
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2007/07/good_contractor.php#comments
Good luck!
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 4:16 PM
remember when you finish, you can sell and buy a nice new deluxe condo and never have to spend another dime on sheetrock.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 4:27 PM
all the moral support is making me gag. since this morning's comment i have realized what is making me so angry about south stuy in my eye. i come to this sight as a forum and a resource, to check out other people's ideas and to comiserate with people who might understand just how difficult and involved these homes can be, not to witness some needy therapy session. i don't know which is more depressing, this old house and extreme home makeover where houses appear before your very eyes and everyone's shirt is still tucked in or south stuy's blog where some victim needs emotional support. i have a few good numbers i am going to keep away from you because they would kill me for exposing them to and involving them in the psychological sponge train wreck going on down in south stuy. i am not suggesting you flip that house, but if i am going to have to hear the bitching and whining for the next two, three, four, five or more years its going to take you to finish i am going to flip that house. by the way, get a good vacuum, a good respirator made to handle toxic particles and don't strip doors with a hammer. no one else is crying about this.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 4:40 PM
I guess things just wouldn't be right if some jerk didn't climb out of their hole to speak their peace. thanks guest @ 4:40!!
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 4:54 PM
We bought our house in 1988 and it was a dump with zero mechanicals and lots of beautiful detail. We had no budget and did things as we could afford them over the years, with lots of our own sweat equity in the mix. I highly recommend hiring an architect for a master plan. You can pay them for the plan and implement it as you are able. I hesitate to pass along the names of architects on a public forum, but recommend asking neighbors, friends in design fields, wherever for recommendations for architects and making sure the people you hire have experience with townhouses. Good luck -- many people have had similar experiences and come out the other end with a home they love.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 4:59 PM
4.40, you are a dick. First, the posting is not a cry out for therapy, but an admission that this is harder than we ever imagined--and that's after coming into it with a very solid idea of what we were in for--and now that we're at the point where we can begin looking seriously at our own space, we realize we don't have the people we need to help plan and then do the work. And if you couldn't read the irony/smart-assed deprecation for what it is, then you need to back off calling someone an emotional trainwreck. And if you are so literal-minded that you think I'm going around the house stipping doors with a hammer and cleaning up the dust by breathing it in, you're not just a dick, but an idiot too.
Please do keep your numbers to yourself, and your bullshit attitude while you're at it.
Thanks to everyone who gave us some good info or moral support--and please do keep the info coming. If you get the sense that we are running around screaming-mad in desperation, please don't worry yourselves. We're pretty much on target with the rental renovations, which took more time and money than we'd hoped, but what doesn't with these houses? We are now at the point of getting started on our living space and while we're tired and not exactly sure of our next steps and could use more money, we aren't in financial collapse, our marriage isn't in trouble, and we don't need to be told we can't do this just fine the way we're proceeding.
-T (South Stuy blogger's irate husband)
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 5:23 PM
CONGRATS 4:40 you actually got T to post something on this blog!!!
I just created a special email account so anyone who wants to send us a direct message with names and numbers can email M and T at
Southstuy@gmail.com
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at December 3, 2007 5:32 PM
From an architect:
Take a break from the physical work and shift gears. It will be MUCH easier for someone to pitch in and help if you've got something to work from. I'm not talking about drawing up solutions like an architect but rather just documenting the existing conditions. A survey of the house as it exists to within 1/8" to 1/4" accuracy would be where any professional would start, and it requires little or no training, just measuring everything. Make special note of any plumbing or electrical that you know of. You'll find that simply drawing things accurately will get some juices going again. I'm sure I can get an intern (cheap) at my firm to turn it into a AutoCAD file when you're ready.
Posted by: HDL at December 3, 2007 6:09 PM
DAM THOSE FEET NEED MORK WORK THAN YOUR HOUSE
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 6:41 PM
dear t:
since you took the time to reply, you should also read your wife's blog from the beginning. whine, whine, whine. she even mentioned that she was afraid of losing the house due to the cost of renovation. you obviously did not know what you were getting yourselves into. did you really think you could just hire someone and renovate your house 1,2,3? your reply was much more palatable than your wife's constant bitching and whining. i'd rather you call me every name in the book and give me a piece of your mind than read about your woes. thank you. your reply has been the best thing about your blog thus far.
i really enjoy reading the other renovation blogs. the bed stuy bloggers really know what they're doing and have earned my respect. however, you guys are just a disappointment. the gates, windsor terrace, and crown heights blogs are interesting as well and portray many different ways to approach and deal with brownstone renovations. there is an entirely different vibe to the other reno blogs. they are informative and the bloggers are able to share their setbacks without acting like victims.
that being said, we must of touched a nerve.
-S (amused wife of 4:40 aka dick)
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 6:58 PM
My name is Nicolas and I am an Architect/Construction Manager. I provide Design Build Services for residential projects, which means that I help people design their spaces, file drawings at the DOB and manage my own construction crew.
I just finished a 4 story brownstone (that i own) in MacDounough which is in the market since yesterday. Please feel free to visit RevivalConcepts.com to see some pictures. You can also find my phone number in case you decide to get some help.
Thank You and Good Luck
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 7:01 PM
We should form a ROUND ROBBIN of sorts or more like an AMISH BARNRAISING group (probably sans Amish):
1)Organize a group of people in similar circumstances.
2)Clearly estimate the kind of work and the amount of work needed in each member's house. Decide what needs a professional (e.g. plumbing and electrical probably).
3)Estimate time and materials needed for each project (simply called "Estimating" in the construction industry).
4)Project management phase:
Set up timelines
Coordinate schedules of members
Coordinate materials purchases and in bulk if this is possible and saves money (at least get materials to each member's house in a timely fashion)
THEN start doing those heavy group projects following the project schedule.
Jobs that would be best tacked are jobs most of feel we need to hire contractors for but loathe one more headache/nightmare and feel we could do ourselves if we had 3 or 4 decent friends who cared(!):
Tasks could be:
Hanging drywall (and esp. putting it up on ceilings!) taping, sanding, etc.
Wood floors could be done (if anyone has talent a machine could be rented and used in multiple households)
Tile laid with one wet saw rental
Woodworking
Kitchen cabinet installation
ETC., ETC., ETC.
It would sort of be a Time Bank sort of idea. And, for projects that just simply need more "man" hours from the group, then there can be a tit-for-tat in materials maybe.
Ideas?
Anyone want to form a D-I-Y BUILDING COOP?
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 7:24 PM
United We STAND!
United We STAND!
United We STAND!
United We STAND!
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 7:24 PM
OK, I wasn't going to post, because I didn't feel like I had anything constructive to say. But then someone insulted your foot. First of all, if you're living the way you're living and going through what you're going through, and are still managing to keep your toenails painted, you're doing OK! You still care about what your toenails look like! There's hope! :-)
Second, as someone who has had every rude, idiotic, and just plain obscene comment posted on her blog that you could imagine, and who was called fat in her own reno blog video, I wanted to let you know how much most of us appreciate you letting it all hang out there, for all the world to see and comment on. It's a brave thing to do. I learn something from almost every single post on all of the reno blogs. Whether the bloggers are doing the work themselves or hiring others, enjoying the experience or barely hanging in there, it's all interesting to read.
Third and last, it's hard to settle in when you know how much more you want to do with the house. I like your plan of moving into a rental so that you can really dig in with the duplex. If you stay in the duplex, the work will go slower and your lives will be disrupted on a daily basis indefinitely. At least in the rental you can unpack and live normally for a while. You'll feel so much better.
Good luck, and don't let the jerks get into your head (although judging from your response, no worries there).
Amy
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 8:00 PM
4:40 needs to learn how to spell. There is no 'a' in deeper. That said, South Stuy needs to jump back into reality. I don't see how you can post on this forum, looking for sympathy, talking about how you are ready to break and post a picture of someone watching tv. That's great you have, and take, time to relax, but did you ever think that picture didn't fit with your cries of desperation. Probably not. It doesn't seem that you even thought what a reno such as yours would cost or entail. These projects aren't as easy as they seem on those crappy cable shows. They disrupt your lives because they are WORK!!
There is a big difference between seeking guidance and whining. Figure out which one you want to do.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 9:06 PM
Lighten up people. They have worked VERY hard and I think they can watch TV if they want. Some of you are the biggest jerks. Some of us can relate to what they are going through and it's nice to know we are not alone. Not everyone can move into a "move in condition" place. I think they are brave for sharing and appreciate it. I wouldn't put a picture of my house on here if Mr. B. paid me, but I can totally relate.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 10:41 PM
I agree with everything Amy said-- and if memory serves from reading her blog, Amy is hot. SouthStuy, you guys are totally an inspiration, and 4:40, you are totally a dick. Try doing something this difficult on your own, fucktard.
SStuy, that picture of your bare foot on that nasty floor is all too familiar to me--my bare foot, generally sans nail polish, is walking on even nastier subfloors covered with gooey, waxy, tarpapery shit right now. Blecch. We're putting down cheap vinyl sheet flooring as a temporary, clean, cleanable measure. Perhaps that might work for you?
Don't have any tradesmen to share with you, but I hope you find 'em. Good luck, and we'll keep cheering. xo
Posted by: Rehab at December 3, 2007 10:49 PM
Amy could not have said it better. Don't listen to anyone who has enough venom and free time to post a hateful response to a very understandable problem you're facing.
And your feet look fine. I actually think its a really cool photo.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at December 4, 2007 8:31 AM
dick here, fucktard, or however you want to refer to me. i am being dead serious. if you are taking out another loan to pay for plans and those plans to be submitted you are in no position to be renovating your duplex. listen to "architect" for one. you sound as if you know where everything is going to go, not only should you document what you have, try and plan as much as you can yourself. listen to the guy who spent ten years renovating. this is not out of the ordinary. I would take skills over money any day of the week. you have been through four contractors (cheap,inexperienced handymen)in less than a year. do not let anyone in your house. having an architect and a gc and all the strangers this guy is going to invite into your home is going to be like having two more full time jobs. if these guys go to california with your money are you going to take out more? all of you cheering south stuy to keep going and telling them not to listen to people like me are probably sharks herding these two onto the county courthouse steps for a foreclosure party. and i guarantee there are a few of these people peaking at your site licking their chops because they come here on their hunts. i am not just being a dick T. keep your tenants happy. don't turn their home into a construction site that they can watch online as well as in person everyday of the week at 8 am. you need their money. hole up in your bunker, while you are planning your attack do more research, because you need to, and save your fucking money. that sagging oak floor is an army of termites that ate the sweet spot out of five beams, or some plumber in 1920 who literally chopped out a header beam with a hatchet. even if your new hero is an honest guy you won't be able to absorb the unforseen hurdles and roadblocks. i cannot believe i care. i "came out of my hole" because you need a reality check. one would think that your experience so far has been that but i guess not. I wish i had the tender voice of Mrs Limestone. i am imagining her as an attractive woman pulling some fresh baked bread out of her viking stove in her chef's kitchen. hi Mrs. Limestone. if you don't listen to me listen to her.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 9:45 AM
please let's now all sing Kumbaya
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 9:51 AM
Here is an EXCELLENT architect you should contact. She is very good and knows how to work with you and the contractors.
caroline@carolinebeaupere.com
http://www.carolinebeaupere.com/
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
Posted by: tomgee at December 4, 2007 11:10 AM
You guys are doing a FANTASTIC job. Sift through the negative stuff, someone will always have some crap to say...
Like you, we also bit off a huge project like you in Bed Stuy. we started 4 years ago, no money, eyes for restoring/ replicating each and every detail.
We work a lot with Warren to do the stuff we can't bare to do anymore, and he does a lovely job (917) 912-2097. He is reasonable and reliable, and will get the basics going for you (walls, ceilings, just about everything, etc) for a good price.
We managed to get the tenant apt done over the course of one full year, and that includes moving the bathroom and kitchen, updating the plumbing and electric for the whole house, new roof, lots of basics, etc.
However, in the owner's unit, we were sans kitchen for 2 years in our unit and without a shower/tub for 1 year. Yes, it SUCKED!!!!! Just a crack house sink and a toilet, and way too many bodega sandwiches, I never want to see one again. Got me to the gym daily though to shower and work off the crap food... It was money, time, level of effort- We both needed to work two jobs to just keep up mortgage payments, until tax refund time!!! Woo hoo! But now, we are almost done with a really beautiful home.
I am delighted with what we did, but if I had to change anything, I would not have tried to replicate every last detail (SOOO many were destroyed already), but enough to maintain the character of the home. And not bought the most lovely of hardware for each and every piece. I think that I lost perspective that this is not my last home, but my first home.
I think that the best money spent of all of this was the architect who we absolutely love, and using Warren when we wanted to get the basics up. We do the details, he gets the walls up so we can make the walls beautiful. And of course, upgrading the basics.
Best of luck, and take it slow as the money comes in. It is a tremendous amount of work, but will happen in time. GOOD LUCK!!!
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 11:12 AM
try my husband, mohamed... we recently bought and renovated a townhouse on franklin.
he manages renovations, is flexible, not over priced and MOST IMPORTANT , reliable.
he has a large network of people who do differnt jobs.
permits, arcitects, heating cooling systems, plumbers, etc.
646 226 4575
good luck, jenny
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 12:55 PM
Do you have a wider angle pic of the ground level staircase? I have an identical post, spindels and molding and I'm curious to see what is to the right, the triangular panel under the staircase. Thanks. ksm107@earthlink.net
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 1:23 PM
Hi guest at 11:12,
Would you mind sharing the name of your architect? One the ellicits such praise and works with folks inclined to rough it and not outsource the whole thing to a GC and call when it is done is what we need right now.
Thanks.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 1:58 PM
First of all-Thank you Mrs. L, Amy and the gang for coming to my, and my poor foot's, defense and for sharing your stories and insight.
1:23=I will post another shot of the bannister for you.
Rehab-before you put down that vinyl flooring check out the FLOR system--we have it down in our safe room (bedroom) and its actually nice and better yet--its easy to take up and move around.
7:24-Love the idea of a DIY co-op-you should email Mr. B about it. At the very least-it would be great to have a materials exchange on the site as even we have extra construction materials that someone else may need.
The good news is we have started the interview process and hope to hire an architect before the end of the year. We will keep you all posted.
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at December 5, 2007 8:58 AM
Dec 4, 11:12 here, my architecht is a dream! His name is Christoph, we loved his idea, and reconfigured our home in a genius way. 718-415 1499. Best of luck!
Posted by: guest at December 6, 2007 4:05 PM
Renovation is hard work but you need the right tools from reliable suppliers. I suggest you create an initial construction plan including a budget and schedule. A good way to reduce your costs is to purchase tools and consumables online. Many feel it difficult to trust items before touching them, but some suppliers have a great track record and if item descriptions are sufficiently detailed you be risk free.
Also, get some marble countertops in that kitchen. It will give your kitchen an extra punch and it will increase the value of your property.
A great place to start looking for construction gear is on Ebay (www.ebay.com). For marble polishing and coring equipment, go to http://stores.ebay.com/Techservice-Online.
Posted by: techservicea1 at December 8, 2007 11:35 AM
Re: The "Dick" or the "Fucktard."
We are all reading reno blogs because we have done it or are in the throes.
And I have refrained from posting multiple comments on this blog because I didn't want to be the "fucktard."
Renovation is very difficult. The house is never what you thought it was. The financial picture is never what it was supposed to be. I am living in a house that I am gutting, and we thought that we would get a tenant like nine months ago, but instead it makes sense, because there is so much deep structural work, not to have a tenant for another year. This is a financial hardship, on top of the hardships of not having basic amenities like a bathroom or a shower or heat. I am living without heat right now.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to compare pain or blast you for not having the stiff upper lip I have, or otherwise negate you, HomeSweetStuy. But I do want to say that I make a point of avoiding your blog because it is so negative. If you really want advice, a negative attitude toward *anything* tends to make it so much worse than it is when you just have a good time with it.
Your good attitude makes your contractors stay, and it makes people listen to you. It makes options appear where there were none. It makes everything better, your attitude. Seriously.
I am going to go back to assiduously avoiding this blog, because I work too hard to make things as positive as I can in my own cold, nasty, kitchenless, house.
But really. I know that telling someone to have a good time is stupid, but it's all good. Have a good time. Enjoy this. Find all the things that are enjoyable about it, and focus on them. You will find contractors on your side instead of tolerating you. You will find things getting done.
Posted by: guest at December 9, 2007 6:47 PM
dear guest 6:47,
finally, there are other sane people out there. my husband, aka "fucktard", has never ever responded to a blog before nor does he even email. he just got so sick of hearing me talk about this particular blog that he just blew up. i think you said it perfectly. it is their attitude that gets us down. i read the other blogs for information and a general feeling of comraderie. we too are kitchenless for almost a year and a half now and are doing most of the work ourselves. we kept finding more structural and plumbing issues as we kept opening more walls. we have had our ups and downs, but we are doing everything we can to keep our chins up and to focus on the job at hand. we don't usually respond to blogs or give our two cents about much but the complaining just got to us. thanks again for your response and hopefully you will have heat soon.
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 5:27 PM
Keep your chin up. Your doing a great job.
Posted by: MrHancock at December 13, 2007 7:33 PM
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