the cityhammer blog

Photo by Scott Keddy

Labels: 10128, Interior Designers in NYC, Janovic, New York Painters

Jig's Up by FLOR

What did the rug say to the floor?
Don't move, I've Gotcha Covered

Okay, that was awful, sorry...Greg Colando, the President of FLOR, has probably heard that one a million times. FLOR is the modular carpet tiles division of Interface, one of the largest carpeting companies in the world.

Greg has a great post up on where the idea and concept for FLOR started on his relatively new blog, The Florum.

Even though we're suckers for brand new wood flooring here at cityhammer, sometimes a room calls out for a floor covering. A baby's nursery should have at least a soft rug to roll around on, for example. Its also nice to step out of bed in the morning onto something other than wood, if only to avoid feeling like you've woken up back in your bunk at summer camp.

What makes carpet tiles cool is that you can design your own "rug" based on the dimensions and shape of your room. You can take modular carpet tiles to the wall or just cover an area. They stick down on almost any floor surface with adhesive, yet each individual tile is replaceable if they get damaged or stained, unlike regular carpeting, which would pretty much involve tearing up the whole thing.

Greg explains where the inspiration came from:

"In 2002, a few of us at Interface were thinking about diversification of our business. Interface is the leading global producer of commercial modular carpet tiles focused primarily on the office market.

In my position as President, I was on the lookout for industry and lifestyle trends that would impact our business and possibly affect our future strategy.

The big design trends at the time were:

• Design show makeovers
• Young people moving back into the city
• The Starbucks lifestyle
• Shopping on the internet
• Wood and hard surfaces were in

There was a whole new generation of consumers with indvidual attitudes. In the floor covering world, wood and hard surfaces were in and it seemed that carpet just wasn't very cool.

As I observed these trends, I couldn't help but wonder if they were pointing to an untapped opportunity in the carpet world. Did old-fashioned residential carpet really fit these changing lifestyles? My conclusion was that there was definitely room for a new idea."

To read more, visit the Florum

for some additional inspiration for your own home, visit the FLOR site

Labels: Carpet Tiles New York, FLOR, Rugs NY, Wood Flooring in NY

Happy 125th Birthday, Brooklyn Bridge!

Welcome back to the real world on a rainy Tuesday morning in New York...Here are some of the posts/ articles you may not have had a chance to catch over the last few days...

Gothamist has a great online spread from the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday from last week. The fireworks display was no joke as you'll see from the photos.
Happy 125th, Brooklyn Bridge!

If you worked the grill over the weekend the way we did, you'll probably be looking for some tips on giving it a thorough cleaning. Whether in the backyard or in the bathtub, Apartment Therapy Los Angeles has a pretty all-encompassing guide, they get to barbecue all year long out there, after all.
Cleaning the Grill

Whether perpetuating the rumors or inventing new ones, it seems like every blog in New York has weighed in on the fact that the Real World is headed to Brooklyn. MTV's 21st iteration of the reality show has announced that they are currently scouting locales for their next seven "housemates" to bicker, binge-drink and possibly contract social diseases in. Curbed illuminates the latest rumor of a possible location on Third Place in Carroll Gardens. Brooklynians, set phasers on "stun".
Brooklyn Real World Rumor of the Week

Labels: Brooklyn Bridge, Carroll Gardens, Cleaning a Grill, Real World Brooklyn

Photo by Tony the Misfit

The team at Real LI, the real estate blog for Newsday, has the scoop on a designer showdown happening in Montauk at the new Panoramic View Residences. The contest, co-sponsored and organized by Traditional Home Magazine and the New York School of Interior Design, will give three extremely lucky interior design students the chance to spend their internships out east decorating luxury villas. Newsday says there'll be a TV show later this year with the results.
Oceans 3: Showhouse Showdown

Everyone wants a home office, but lots of us are constrained by the space available, especially in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Remodelista's got a wall-mounted desk that just might hold a solution. Designed by MASH Studios, the desk comes in both English Walnut or European Birch Plywood, each with its own unique finish. Great pic's available, too.
Wall-Mounted Desk

They're finally here! What is? UrbanDigs' fabled charts have hit the web after a long and arduous journey to the internet. The amount of depth and data in these charts should give real estate pro's and geeks alike plenty to play with for a long time to come. You can see charts built with data such as:

NEW LISTINGS/CONTRACTS SIGNED
PRICE REDUCTIONS
TOTAL INVENTORY

This is more transparency that prospective buyers and sellers are getting anywhere on the internet and could prove to be an indispensable tool in the hunt for the truth in New York real estate. Rock on, Noah. Congrats!
Oooooh Mama! Did Someone Say Charts?

Labels: Furniture NY, Interior Decorators, Interior Designers, NY Real Estate Blogs

No Pandas Were Harmed in the Making of This Furniture

The Wall Street Journal's Kelli B Grant rounds up a list of retailers offering enormous clearance sales on furniture over the next few weeks. The reasons why, according to WSJ, are primarily due to the weak housing market.

"Furniture is a purchase that can easily be postponed," explains Stefan Wille, president of Aktrin Furniture Information Center, an Ontario-based market researcher. "If you have a fridge that breaks, you have to replace it. But if your table has a scratch on it, you can live with it for a while and replace it when times are better."

Some of the advice is to go for middle-of-the-road product, as custom furniture and high end merchandise has actually held up. They also recommend hitting the overstock stores like Tuesday Morning, looking for liquidation (bankruptcy) sales at Linens n' Things, negotiating with sales people and buying direct.

Some of the most promising sales include:

Manufacturer Thomasville holds its Memorial Day sale May 15 through June 2, offering up to 70% off. Through May 18, Macy's is slashing prices on select items, with discounts of up to 75%. And Pier 1 Imports is offering clearance discounts of up to 75% through June 22.

But don't get too excited as this glut of cheap furniture will probably come to an end very soon, thanks to new policies in China.

China is the largest supplier of wood and leather furniture to the world's markets and their ability to keep pumping the stuff out has been severely hampered by incredibly high crude oil prices. Cushion foam is made with petroleum, and then there are the shipping costs to consider.

Other factors affecting their exporting of furniture are a lower amount of tax incentives on "low tech" products like furniture, as the government finally moves to revalue it's currency against the US dollar. They are also shutting down many factories in order to improve the air quality for the Beijing Olympics this year. China has 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities and it may be too little too late, but its all about image this summer so a lot of manufacturing will grind to a halt.

So go out and grab that piece of furniture you've been putting off while their giving it away.

Click here for custom furniture designers in New York

Read the full article here: Furniture Retailers Slash Prices

Labels: Furniture Designers in New York, Furniture NY, Wall Street Journal

Triangulo Flooring in Macchiato Pecan

Triangulo, a line of engineered wood flooring from BR 111, is an excellent choice for New Yorkers looking for something exotic and interesting, yet durable enough to withstand the traffic of their every day lives. There are 9 colors available and some of the key characteristics of the line are a "Thick sawn" hardwood wear layer, a "crystal clear" surface finished so that the true color of the wood comes through and a "tough" aluminum oxide wear surface (this will add years to the floor).

Our top pick in this line is the Macchiato Pecan (pictured above):

Tan to blonde colors mix with dark browns creating a dramatic character unique to this species. The rich mosaic is further enhanced with distinctive graining.

While this particular variety will not be affected by sunlight exposure, BR 111 does warn that the Amedoim, Brazilian Cherry, Tigerwood and Oscuro Tigerwood varieties are indeed photosensitive, so they will darken with exposure to light. This may not necessarily be a bad thing, as the new tone may add a little bit of character.

Engineered wood is real wood, and in fact, the Triangulo line is renowned for its environmental and sustainable harvesting techniques. It comes from a 200,000 acre forest in Brazil which is monitored by a 3rd party auditor to ensure best practices. These include marking only the trees that are suitable to be felled with GPS tags and working in a manner so as not to disturb local water and wildlife.

Find a Wood Flooring installer in New York to talk about the Triangulo line for your home.

Visit the Triangulo page at BR 111 to learn more about the products.

Labels: BR 111, Engineered Wood Floors, Triangulo, Wood Flooring in New York

Photo by elestedeloeste

A running toilet can be every bit as annoying as an allergy season runny nose, but way more destructive and expensive if ignored for too long. Charles and Hudson posted a really in-depth look at the the way a toilet works and a primer on the 6 basic parts: the tank, tank lever, fill valve, flush valve, flapper and the bowl. They give you several ways to troubleshoot a running toilet if you're so inclined. For the rest of us who would prefer to leave the plumbing to the pro's, here are some of the top Plumbers in New York.
Running Toilets and how to Diagnose the Problem

The gang at Apartment Therapy had a book party for Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions and ran a live blog post from the event. Murray's Cheese Shop and Rick's Picks (serious pickle guys) supplied the snacks, and from the photos, the staff supplied the gingham clothing. The book is available from Chronicle Books, click here for a closer look.
Book Party with Live Blogging

How do we all feel about outdoor showers? Remodelista's got some drop-dead examples that might convince you that they're not just for honeymoons in Hawaii anymore, including an outdoor shower in Montauk by NY architects Murdock Young. Click the link below to see all of them...
Outdoor Shower Gallery

Labels: Murray's Cheese Shop, New York Plumbers, NY Architect, Outdoor Showers, Running Toilet NY

Cool Since 1953

Crude Oil has pierced $125 a barrel, Natural Gas is over $11 per thousand cubic feet. Don't even get us started on Coal prices. All of this translates into obscene utility bills coming to a mailbox near you this summer, but we have some suggestions to help New Yorkers fight back!

New in the "Tips" section on cityhammer.com today are three easy ways to keep both the temperature and the utility bill down this summer.

While you may want to have a professional A/C repairman come in to make sure everything is connected tightly and running smoothly, there are more simple things you can do on your own. Staff writer Mitch Mayer has explained a few of them.

Save Money and Stay Cool in New York this Summer

Labels: AC Repair NY, Air Conditioning New York, Ceiling Fans

Central Park Photo by tiseb

If you've ever dreamed of fixing up an old house or building to raise a family in, read about a family that's actually doing it on the New York Times Habitats page. The Westergaards found a 1908 rowhouse in Ridgewood, Queens and after extensive renovations, they seem to be loving their new neighborhood and home. A brand new 6-burner Wolf stove probably didn't hurt!
Renovating a Farmhouse


The forum on Brownstoner has a fairly lively back and forth concerning a conversion question. The owner of a brownstone is looking to open a wall and convert the top three floors to a single unit. All sorts of moving and shaking will be involved, including the movement of one kitchen to the demolition of two extra kitchens. Count on the need for closet work, plumbing, heating, stairwell stuff...you name it. New Yorkers who know what's up come to cityhammer for this type of project, of course. Our featured member Andrew Bares of Brownstone Works NYC would probably be a great place to start.
Questions on a Brownstone Conversion

Last but not least, run, don't walk, to read Maxwell's State of the Blog at Apartment Therapy, an incredibly inspiring and informative post on how AT got as big as it is, and where they want to go over the next year. We think AT is the gold standard of design and decor-related blogging, over 1.5 million uniques a month can't be wrong. Congrats, guys!
Apartment Therapy State of the Blog 2008

Labels: Brownstone Conversion, Fixing Up Old House New York, Kitchen Renovation in New York, Plumbing NY, Queens NY Renovations

Clos-ette's New Book, "Shop Your Closet"

When cityhammer.com first launched in March of 2007, we had a category for New York Closet Organizers that was empty...and then Clos-ette came along and became our first member for that section. We thought we'd return the favor by turning you on to the fantastic blog they started at clos-ette.blogspot.com

Recent posts include a story about "Who Build's Hotel Like Homes" with a description of HBA/ Hirsch Bedner Associates, and a spotlight on a talented, up-and-coming designer named Sara Gilbane.

Clos-ette began as the brain child of Melanie Charlton Fascitelli and can give you the luxury closets and "holistic organizational design" you're looking for. The process includes a consultation and a "Closet Edit" which works like this:

Here we examine your closet, inventory your wardrobe and accessories, and then begin working through what stays and goes to help you revamp your style. Taking away the clutter and leaving only relevant pieces is not only therapeutic, but is a necessity for any closet and wardrobe makeover. Merchandising the clothes, similar to a store or showroom, is the the best way to achieve a complete wardrobe clarification. Categorizing clothes by color, or into separates, evening, day, accessories and so on is also a great way for you to really start to "see" the contents of your wardrobe.

To contact Clos-ette for a complete closet and organizational makeover:

Visit the Clos-ette cityhammer.com Profile

or

Visit the official Clos-ette Website

Labels: Clos-ette, Closet Organization in New York, NY Closet Organizers

Yes, they actually put this show on DVD

From the Great White North (yes, Canada) comes an idea for everyone's inner color freak, that pent up personality inside of us that occasionally wants to strip the neutral tones off every wall and go all-Punky Brewster on our interiors...

Writing for the Globe and Mail, Colour and Design Consultant Janice Lindsay has a great article on using areas like stairwells, garages, and the inside of closets to go color-crazy. There are some cool ideas mentioned by different designers, like painting the ceiling of a walk-in closet red, for a touch of boldness.

The story of the Swiss Embassy in London keeping an underground parking garage as a secret graffiti gallery is worth the click over...

Read the rest here: Bright Color Ideas

Labels: Bright Color Painting, Interior Designers, New York Painting, Pinting Closets in NY

CB2 in SoHo

Don't worry, its not too late, you have all day today (and some of tomorrow) to grab the perfect home and/ or garden gift for Mom...

Does Mom's taste in home decor skew modern? Check out the Structure 18 Bottle Wine Rack from CB2 (Crate & Barrel's more modish sister). It's billed as a "cutting-edge locker room for 18 bottles." The rack is freestanding and constructed from metal wire with a satin finish. If she entertains or just enjoys wine, this gift is a killer. Get to the only CB2 store in New York (so far) if you can; it's at Broadway between Grand Street and Canal (SoHo).
Check it out here: CB2 Wine Rack

If Mom's taste is bit more more traditional or country, check out the huge sale at Restoration Hardware. Everything from small gift items to furniture seems to be carrying some type of discount, some categories up to 65%. You can probably hit a New York Restoration Hardware store on the way to your Mother's Day celebration; locations nearby include: 935 Broadway (Union Square area) in Manhattan, 1 Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, Long Island and 125 Westchester Ave in White Plains.
Check it out here: Restoration Hardware Sale

Labels: CB2 SoHo, Home and Garden Gifts New York, House Gifts, Restoration Hardware New York

Photo by srboisvert

Blending in new subway tiles with older tile work is never easy, but the black and white-tiled bathroom for the South Stuy Reno Project over at Brownstoner seems to have pulled it off. Great pictures and description of the project.
South Stuy Black and White Bathroom

Looks like the new owners of a townhouse in New York could use some help...They're looking for suggestions for a "dramatic, dark, arty space", but the canvas itself is the polar opposite. If you can help, check out the discussion on Apartment Therapy.
Ideas for Decorating Wanted at AT

And speaking of subway tile, if yopu're put off by the shiny or glossy finish that comes with the territory, Remodelista just posted a solution today. They've got a "matte" version of the classic subway tile in 2 inch by 12 inch made by Heath Ceramics of Sausalito, CA.
Matte Subway Tiles

Labels: Bathroom Renovation New York, New York Townhouse Renovation, NY Decorator Questions, Subway Tiles