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- Follow a Brownstone Renovation in the Wall Street Journal
- Re-Cover House is the Ultimate in Recycling-Remodeling
- Here Comes the Sun: 5 Furnishings by Delia of Portland
- Gutters Solve More Problems Than You Think
- How To Install a Retaining Wall (So It Won't Fall Over)
- From Countertops to Texturized Wall Relief: Reinventing Quartz
- Crisp White Bedroom Furniture
- Green Housing Legal Advice: The Basics - Part I
- Textured & Smooth: 5 Amazing Farzan Nemat Pieces
- Area Rugs and Runners: Style, Strategy, and Your Wood Flooring
| Follow a Brownstone Renovation in the Wall Street Journal Posted: 08 Feb 2010 02:17 AM PST
The Wall Street Journal is one of my favorite papers and this goes beyond their outstanding business news. If you dig a little deeper you'll find some of the greatest coverage of art, science, fashion and home related stories that you would read anywhere and with newspapers and original reporting becoming more scarce the WSJ is a must-read. I always peruse the Real Estate/Home Garden sections and they've recently launched a series called Brownstone Diary which will follow the gut renovation of a Harlem Brownstone by a couple who have two kids and both work full-time. She (Julia Angwin) is the senior technology editor for the Journal and it seems the couple has very limited experience in the process of remodeling a home. We will be following along what should prove to be an interesting journey. The place needs a complete overhaul: new electrical, new plumbing, new roof, new windows, new floors and all new appliances and cabinetry.
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| Re-Cover House is the Ultimate in Recycling-Remodeling Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:26 PM PST
What if you could remodel your home using only the materials you remove? One couple, with the help of their 35-year-old home’s original architectural firm, did just that. With only some new materials used in the renovation, all of the removed supplies were reintroduced to the home.
The house, originally a vacation home on Long Island, changed hands over the years. The most recent owners decided a renovation was in order to give them more room for their family. So, they expanded the existing kitchen and dining room, up-scaled the bedrooms and refinished the floors, walls and countertops. Since the integrity of the home's original construction was of the utmost importance to the new owners, they looked to the design-architect firm for ideas. New York-based Bates Masi + Architects realized that they could give the owners what they wanted by reusing materials.
Ingeniously, they managed to salvage the cypress boards that composed the home's south-facing wall and deck for use in the new addition. The original siding was repurposed to serve as the new siding, stair treads and scrim material, allowing the house to keep its aged patina. Not only did this save money and natural resources, but it kept that old, cozy feeling that made the home's exterior so great. New materials would have needed another 35 years of aging to achieve that same effect.
By reusing the old siding, the home is now seamless. So many older homes have that distinct division between the old house and the new construction projects that subsequent generations have tacked on, but here, there's no telling where history ends and the present begins.
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| Here Comes the Sun: 5 Furnishings by Delia of Portland Posted: 05 Feb 2010 01:55 PM PST
#1 – Some things look better in multiples, especially if they're brightly colored – flowers, jellybeans… and these sunny tables. At $65 each, a trio is an affordable complement to any room.
#2 – Remember the Sleestak's on the Land of the Lost? I'm certain my love of intensely colored glass stems from their use of that crystal matrix table. And it may also explain why I want this $150 piece bad. "Add to Favorites" – click!
#3 – Check out this whimsical spiral bed with optional canopy. Easy assembly is required, and we're told it's sturdy. $900 (with canopy in Queen, Double or Full).
#4 – Or, if you're not clumsy like me and thus less likely to impale your body parts on the spires, perhaps this bed is more to your liking. The Dingle Bed – yes, the Dingle Bed – is said to be Willy Wonka-inspired and features fired-clay ornaments. $800.
#5 – And finally, the Arching Bed in Steel (cat not included). Shown here in a most suitable environment, it really illustrates what a difference a headboard can make. Will the list of home furnishings I crave never end? $700. For more Delia furnishings, click here. |
| Gutters Solve More Problems Than You Think Posted: 05 Feb 2010 10:48 AM PST Most homeowners use gutters to stop water from dripping directly from the eaves for protection of exterior walls and soffits. Gutters also help prevent several other problems which can become potentially very expensive to repair. Protect the Foundation of Your HomeFoundations tend to shift more when the surrounding moisture levels dramatically increase. Gutters with appropriate downspouts and runoffs keep the water away from the foundation of your home. This helps in keeping the moisture level around the foundation more consistent. Protect Plants and ShrubsHow about the dirt and grime sticking to your exterior walls from water falling directly from the eaves onto the lawn? Hard water drops cause a backsplash of dirt onto your walls. Gutters can also protect plants and shrubs which are in close proximity to your house. Gutter Shields Keep Debris OutUse gutter shields to keep out leaves and other debris so water will flow freely through the gutter system. Protect the valuable assets of your home exterior by installing high quality gutters. DirectBuy has gutters and most everything else you need for home improvement. Not only can you remodel your home and make needed improvements, you can furnish your entire home with brand-name furniture at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices that can save you big bucks. |
| How To Install a Retaining Wall (So It Won't Fall Over) Posted: 05 Feb 2010 10:33 AM PST
If you have the need to retain soil or prevent erosion, a wall may be just the thing. Any projects under 18" in total height are simple and straightforward. Once you go over that height the project becomes more complicated, but with the proper machinery and prep, it's still entirely doable.
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| From Countertops to Texturized Wall Relief: Reinventing Quartz Posted: 04 Feb 2010 01:00 PM PST CaesarStone proves that stunning texture isn’t just for countertops anymore. Quartz counters are slowly climbing the walls and lending themselves to a variety of special applications. Check it out…
Part of the Motivo line, this textured surface was created using patented embossing technology. The design is subtle yet remarkably detailed.
Here's a dark variety, Ebony Reflections. The surface was used for the company's showroom in an earthy bathroom setting.
A fireplace gets a unique twist with CaesarStone's Blizzard Corian. Pure, clean and brilliant.
You can also order laser-etched designs to create awesome artwork. CaesarStone shows quartz in a whole new light. Let it spark your imagination as to what you can do with this timeless, practical material. |
| Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:26 AM PST
With white bedroom furniture , you can create any look you want and nothing beats a crisp, clean look like white, which although they say is the absence of color, it surely lays the groundwork for the start of a beautifully designed bedroom. Easy Maintenance with White Bedroom FurnitureWhite furniture is easy to care for because you can simple clean it with a damp cloth. It's great for children's rooms, guest rooms or master suites. If you start with white furniture as your basis, your imagination can run wild with the colors you can choose for your walls, rugs, bedding and other accents. So if you're ready for a whole new look in any bedroom of your home, think white and see where it may lead you in your design. DirectBuy carries a beautiful selection of white bedroom furniture as well as most any other style, color and design. With brand-name furniture from leading manufacturers and savings of up to 50% off retail, you just might have found the place to begin with all of your home redecorating or remodeling. |
| Green Housing Legal Advice: The Basics - Part I Posted: 04 Feb 2010 09:51 AM PST This post is the first of a three part series. Part II and III will cover Litigation Issues and Legal Contract Advice and are due for publication the second and third week of February,2010. This is a guest post by Andrea Goldman, the principal in the Law Office of Andrea Goldman 305 Walnut Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02460. She is a litigator, mediator and arbitrator. Ms. Goldman focuses on construction, contractor/homeowner and business law. She is fluent in Spanish and French and has served international clients in their native language. For more information about Andrea Goldman visit andreagoldmanlaw.com or call (617) 467-3072.
Green housing is all the rage these days, and contractors and consumers are faced with a myriad of confusing options when it comes to "going green." Despite the confusion, however, contractors should not ignore green construction methods and products because statistics show that green construction is on the rise even though the market for construction has been depressed. In addition to being challenged by how much there is to offer in environmental choices when contemplating a renovation or new construction project, contractors and homeowners need to protect themselves when buying green systems and materials. First, a few statistics: The National Association of Home Builders recently released figures from a survey of multi-family builders and developers that stated that 74 percent of respondents said that their buyers and renters are willing to pay more for green amenities. The median additional amount that they're willing to pay is just 2 percent.
On the residential side, McGraw-Hill Construction's 2008 summary shows that 56% of green home purchasers earn less than $75,000 per year and that 29% earn less than $50,000. Why should contractors and homeowners consider green options? There are:
There are currently many standards to choose from:
There is more risk in green construction because so many of the products and systems are relatively new. By following the recommendations in this article, builders and homeowners can protect themselves from potential disputes, failures, or poor performance. Going green is both environmentally and personally beneficial, but one needs to make choices that are both informed and profitable. Resources :
Part II of this series, Green Housing Legal Advice: Litigation Issues will be published next week. |
| Textured & Smooth: 5 Amazing Farzan Nemat Pieces Posted: 04 Feb 2010 09:00 AM PST The chockablock style of these wood pieces from MSTRF adds texture to traditionally smooth furniture.
Varying colors create a most eye-pleasing headboard with interest and depth. For $2,358, you're getting the bed frame as well.
$853 will net you this solid zebra and poplar side table with glass top to complete your urban lair.
This coffee table is available in black or white lacquers and walnut for $888.
Packed-together pieces of black-stained poplar form this limited-edition, numbered and signed wall piece. It's 24"x32", and yours for $388.
Last on this list, but at the top of our shopping list, is this walnut night stand. This is the look I was going for when I cobbled together wooden blocks in shop class to create a miniature version for use as a planter. My creation failed; this one's a success, and thus the $1,155 price tag. |
| Area Rugs and Runners: Style, Strategy, and Your Wood Flooring Posted: 04 Feb 2010 09:00 AM PST Wear due to frequent foot traffic on your wood flooring is inevitable. But really, when you think about it, your floor is installed to serve you not the other way around. So, the balance to strike is how to minimize that wear on your wood floor, while also getting the most out of your life while you’re walking on it. By this point, you’ve taken some simple steps to help you strike this balance. You’ve installed mats at your entrances, to catch the unwanted outdoor materials that will affect your flooring in the long-term. You’ve also taken on a no-shoes-on-floor policy in your space too, to avoid introducing that dirt, grit, and tiny glass fragments that your mats didn’t quite catch.
First, there’s area rugs. In a post about area rugs written a couple of months back by Rob Banks, a number of advantages that area rugs offer you were outlined including noise reduction, look, and plain old comfort. Area rugs on your wood flooring can also help you to control the continuity of your space, particularly if it’s an open concept. Area rugs in your space that establishes maximum eye appeal and flow which help make each room unique, even if they’re connected. Protection is another aspect that area rugs render in areas of your home or office where there is the most foot movement. In this, an area rug can be a strategic element too, cutting down on the contact your floor has with the abrasion of frequent foot traffic.
Runners can even serve in kitchens, along the front of your sinks and kitchen cabinets. Think about how often you’re pacing back and forth in this relatively small space, just doing the dishes or cooking up to three times a day. That’s the level of abrasion your runner will spare your wood floor. But, like area rugs, runners can serve a visual benefit, too. Style and strategy meet again, and the overall look of your interior on the whole is enhanced, as well as preserved. Magic! Circling back to how durable your wood floor is, and how great it looks, you really do want to establish a balance when using area rugs and runners. You didn’t invest in wood flooring to cover it with protective surfaces. That would be a waste. But, those surfaces can help to protect your wood floors where you get the most foot traffic, while also serving as complementing textures that help to create an appealing contrast to bring out the best in them. Cheers, Rob. Area Rugs and Runners: Style, Strategy, and Your Wood Flooring is a post from: Laminate Flooring, Hardwood Floors and More from BuildDirect |
If you don't think you can create an awesome looking bedroom with white furniture, think again. White furniture is always in style and is amazingly versatile in what you can do with it design wise.
But, even without the abrasion of soles and the materials that often come with them, the very act of walking on a certain section of a floor can be a source of subtle wear over time. Once again, quality wood floors are made to resist abrasion, and often do so for decades. But the goal here is to be an ally to maintaining the original luster of your flooring. And if you can take some easy steps to do that, why wouldn’t you? So, here’s another couple of choices to undertake that accomplishes this, and then some.
Second, there’s runners. These additions are basically elongated versions of area rugs placed in transition areas of your space. This specifically means in hallways and foyers. These areas are like the highways of your home or office, because they connect popular destinations - bedroom to bathroom, bathroom to kitchen, kitchen to living room - together. And because of the amount of traffic these transition spaces get, a layer between feet and floor can go a long way in reducing the subtle effects of wear over time.
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