Mortgages-In-Law Rock a Righteous Renovation
We got a kick out of reading the “Mortgage-In-Laws” piece in the House & Home section today. Aside from the creative approach to affording a brownstone, the interior design of this Carroll Street house blew us away. This kitchen may be the best adaptation of an original parlor floor we’ve ever seen. And the rest…
We got a kick out of reading the “Mortgage-In-Laws” piece in the House & Home section today. Aside from the creative approach to affording a brownstone, the interior design of this Carroll Street house blew us away. This kitchen may be the best adaptation of an original parlor floor we’ve ever seen. And the rest of the Park Slope house has a wonderful mix of the traditional and the modern with just the right amount of whimsy thrown into the mix. As the article implies, the $500,000 reno budget probably understates the cost because of all the free input and discounted materials the couples were able to get. Still, what a great job.
Mortgage-In-Laws [NY Times]
It’s a nice block. But not the most beautiful IMO.
I looked at this house when it was on the market 2 years ago. It hadn’t been maintained very well, so it really needed a lot of work (water damage, new electrical, plumbing issues, termite damage, etc…) I would have estimated more than $500K to fix it up (I guess because I would have had to pay for the materials). That is why I didn’t bid on it. Still, it had amazing detail and, the earlier poster was wrong about the location, it is on what I would say is the most beautiful block of Carroll. It would definately go for well in excess of $2 million today. They still got an OK deal.
2:21, what sources? Cookie magazine? Or what secret source sells a queen bed for under $11k? Is that a burning question?
You know, I was just wondering the other day where I could buy a plain stripe linen for $180/yard and then, lo!, I see this guy’s company sells it!
The renovation was cool, but all the product pitching was not. I could use a good contractor or electrician, but never in my life will I spend four grand a piece for kitchen chairs.
ohhh. I see you’re right.
ugh, If this were me I just know I’d be in the garden apt while my older brother would have the 3 floors.
still, 2 million?
3:09, unless I read it wrong, the house is a 4-story, with one couple occupying 3 floors an the other the bottom floor.
But $2M was probably not a bargain for 4 floors, either, at least 2 years ago. Maybe it would be now, considering the block of Carroll (which I won’t name, considering Bstoner’s sensitivity about giving up people’s locations, even when they agree to have their homes photographed and profiled in major NYC dailies or weeklies).
I didn’t think it was an especially creative way to live in NYC. I mean, they did end up paying (or mortgaging) 1mm each for a floor and a half on a less than price block of Carroll.
I thought the renovation for creative, but not the financing.
2:21 pm — I don’t think it helped anyone re-create this renovation to spend 10 or so paragraphs puffing up Cookie magazine. Sounded totally like either a publicist or a friend on the Times staff got this piece placed.
It did note that Pilar Guzman freelanced for the Times — which means that the promotional aspects should have been toned down, for appearance purposes if nothing else. It only confirms the suspicion that journalists don’t write about anything beyond the interests of their own peer group.
if you were in a design or creative field, why not share your ideas and your sources (or your company)?? why is it cheesy? for those of us who are not in those fields, but want to be able to create something like this, it fantastic to know the sources.
yes the intereior design is jaw droppingly gorgeous! but no one is commenting on the main point of the article: living with extended family as a creative way to live in nyc (to afford to live in nyc). i thought the plan was brilliant – esp. the way they designed that space with a large communal kitchen. also regarding cost of renovation — isn’t labor 2/3 of the total cost? so $500,000 seems abt right for materials and some labor.