Thursday, July 31, 2008
NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol
Hamptons Photo by mborowickConfession time: we're not watching season 3 of HGTV's Design Star. Tried, but couldn't. Its not a bad show, its just too time consuming for too little "design". We love HGTV, but have found that Design Star is better absorbed in smaller chunks. Thankfully, HGTV has a Vlog (Video Log?) on their site with bite-sized video content so the casual fan can keep up week to week with what they've missed. The Design Star Blog is a nice alternative if you don't have that extra hour for each episode.
Design Star Video Blog
Remodelista's Steal This Look is one of our favorite blog series on the net. This time around they've got a kitchen with black slate counter tops and open white shelves that could go either way...mod or retro. Of course with a canvas that sleek and plain, the deciding factor as far as mod or retro would be what you put on that open shelving. Remodelista's got some interesting ideas like white pottery by Heath Ceramics or Bauer Bowls in different bright colors.
Steal This Look: Kitchen
Sad but true news from the Zillow Blog, they're reporting the foreclosure of a second Extreme Home Makeover house this week. The first one was a home in Atlanta that was featured on the show 3 years ago. The family used the house as collateral to start a construction business, but apparently it didn't work out. The news this week came out of Oregon that the homeowner lost a battle with cancer and the family can't afford to pay the $250,000 mortgage left, along with the utilities and taxes for the property.
Extreme Home Makeover Foreclosures
Labels: Design Star, Extreme Home Makeover, Foreclosures, HGTV, Mod Kitchen, Retro Kitchen
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The New York Times Goes Shopping for Design Books
The Pacific Design Center in LA, home of Potterton BooksEvery designer has different sources of inspiration, be it a color they saw at a runway show or the set design of a classic movie. In the case of Kelly Wearstler, a Los Angeles based designer, inspiration comes in the form of old, out-of-print design and architecture books she finds in specialty stores like Potterton Books (New York location is at 3rd Ave between 58th and 59th).
Potterton Books specializes in architectural books and in this New York Times article by Kimberly Stevens, Kelly Wearstler is shopping at the location in the Pacific Design Center in LA.
As a designer of resorts and residences, as well as accessories and home furnishings, Ms. Wearstler is also a healthy consumer of vintage books and discusses the concept of design book collecting being similar to buying works of art.
She found the illustrations and architectural renderings in “The Bathroom: A New Interior,” published in 1931, so inspirational that she designed a bathroom in her own home based on one of the drawings. And in “The Hermès Shop Windows,” she couldn’t get enough of the unusual finishes and hand-crafted objects. “I have these moments when I’m flipping through a book and a page is so visually compelling — an idea just strikes me,” she said.
To get an idea of some of the books she's into right now, check out the article: Click Here
Labels: 10022, Architectural Books, Books on Design, Interior Design, Interior Designers
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tools of the Trade: New York Interior Designers Use Punch! Software
CAD for the Home by Punch!What is Punch! Software? Very simply, its the top-selling software product for interior design, landscape architecture, cabinetry design and more. With Punch's programs like Home Design Platinum, Architectural Series 5000, and the Super Home Suite, professional designers can draft visual ideas and plans for almost every room in the house.
Punch! was founded in 1998 by a team of software executives who wanted to bring more realism and higher quality graphics to the interior design field in a software product for professionals.
Many professional designers in the New York area use Punch! for creating original designs that conform to the space available in a particular room and incorporate the materials they want to use to create the look they are aiming for.
Each program is different, but in some of the bundled packages, the user can do a "hollywood-style walk or fly-through" as well as design ceilings, try out trims and styles for mantels, see aerial and 3D views of each room, manipulate surface areas, add reflections to objects and floors to add realism, redraw on the fly, and much more.
The next time an interior designer or architect shows you a schematic or proposal for your home improvement project, don't be surprised if they've used Punch! to put it together.
To learn more about the software products and the company that makes 'em, Click Here!
Punch! was founded in 1998 by a team of software executives who wanted to bring more realism and higher quality graphics to the interior design field in a software product for professionals.
Many professional designers in the New York area use Punch! for creating original designs that conform to the space available in a particular room and incorporate the materials they want to use to create the look they are aiming for.
Each program is different, but in some of the bundled packages, the user can do a "hollywood-style walk or fly-through" as well as design ceilings, try out trims and styles for mantels, see aerial and 3D views of each room, manipulate surface areas, add reflections to objects and floors to add realism, redraw on the fly, and much more.
The next time an interior designer or architect shows you a schematic or proposal for your home improvement project, don't be surprised if they've used Punch! to put it together.
To learn more about the software products and the company that makes 'em, Click Here!
Labels: Interior Decor New York, Interior Design New York, Interior Designer NYC, Interior Designers in NYC, NY Architect
Thursday, July 24, 2008
NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol
The Midnight Cowboy on Park AvenueYet another opulent unit in 740 Park Ave has come on the market, this one is listing for $38 million right out of the gates. As usual, Curbed has the scoop and some pics. This one is owned by I-Banker Peter Huang, and its history fits right in with the legendary 1929 co-op's other storied apartments. Its a duplex, note the curved staircase, they don't make 'em like this anymore.
$38 Million Duplex on Park Ave
Maxwell's got a post up on hanging artwork in your house or apartment without "screwing it up." Not many people have been properly taught to do this, and of all the items you'd need a handyman for, hanging a framed photo or piece of art shouldn't be one of them. According to Apartment Therapy, the standard height is 57 inches "On Center", meaning the middle of the piece is at 57 inches height, the hook will be higher. They get this measurement as it is the average human eye-level.
Hanging Art According to AT
For a quick laugh, go check out what Super-Broker Noah Rosenblatt of UrbanDigs is calling the real estate economy these days. It seems they've given this particular recession a pet name, so as to distinguish it from other economic slowdowns of a different character. LOL, guys.
I Survived the ... of 2008
$38 Million Duplex on Park Ave
Maxwell's got a post up on hanging artwork in your house or apartment without "screwing it up." Not many people have been properly taught to do this, and of all the items you'd need a handyman for, hanging a framed photo or piece of art shouldn't be one of them. According to Apartment Therapy, the standard height is 57 inches "On Center", meaning the middle of the piece is at 57 inches height, the hook will be higher. They get this measurement as it is the average human eye-level.
Hanging Art According to AT
For a quick laugh, go check out what Super-Broker Noah Rosenblatt of UrbanDigs is calling the real estate economy these days. It seems they've given this particular recession a pet name, so as to distinguish it from other economic slowdowns of a different character. LOL, guys.
I Survived the ... of 2008
Labels: Duplex, Hanging Art, Historic Homes in New York, Park Ave Manhattan, Staircases NY
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Go Outside and Take a Walk with the Brooklyn Blogade
Prospect Park Boathouse Photo by Alexander H.M. CasconeIt seems that "Brooklyn's Backyard", otherwise known as Prospect Park is the place to be this Sunday. Two great Brooklyn-based bloggers are throwing a Brooklyn Blogade Picnic and inviting everyone down to see the park and what it has to offer.
Brenda from Prospect: A Year in the Park, will be giving visitors a guided tour starting at 11 am, followed by food and drink around the Music Pagoda. The guys from Dope on the Slope will also be on hand, and if you haven't checked out their blog, "Chronicling the Brooklynization of Two Tennessee Hillbillies," hook yourself up...great stuff.
Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, the same team that built Central Park in Manhattan, so if you haven't experienced it yet, this is a great excuse to head over.
What: Brooklyn Blogade Picnic In Prospect Park
When: Sunday, July 27th
Time: 12:00 noon - 3:00pm (walking tour @ 11:00 am)
Who: bloggers, prospective bloggers, their family and friends
Brenda's Prospect Park Site: A Year in the Park
Dope on the Slope: Meanderthal
More Details on the Blogade: Flatbush Gardener
Labels: 11215, Brooklyn Blog, Prospect Park Brooklyn
Monday, July 21, 2008
Real Estate Staging Guide for New Yorkers Now in the Tips Section
Staged Living Room by Another Look Home StagingWith reports across the local media that New York apartment sales are starting to slow to match the rest of the US, now more than ever, homeowners looking to sell should start to familiarize themselves with the concepts and methodology of home staging.
Hiring a professional stager in addition to a listing broker can help reduce your home's time on the market and can be instrumental in getting you closer to asking price.
There are different techniques for different neighborhoods and areas. Suffice it to say that a Manhattan or Brooklyn real estate stager is probably going to emphasize spaciousness and be concerned with differentiating your unit from the other apartments for sale in the building. On the other hand, a stager helping with a split ranch on Long Island or a colonial in Westchester will spend time working on how your home presents itself from the driveway on up.
If you're considering professional help for your impending sale or are just interested in learning more about stagers in the New York area, check out "I Want to Hire a New York Home Stager...Now What?", which was just posted to the cityhammer "Tips" section.
For a list of local Staging Pro's, click here: Real Estate Stagers in NY
Labels: Long Island Home Staging, New York Real Estate, Real Estate Staging NY, Westchester Home Stagers
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol
Battery Park City Photo by Brian BoydIf you're one of the lucky 17 people who've been able to sell a house or apartment over the last month, keep in mind that one of your most crucial concerns should be moving your valuables safely. With that in mind, check out Charles & Hudson's post on the subject. The jist is to move certain items yourself, like sports memorabilia and firearms...yes, definitely move your own firearms!
Moving Your Valuables / Find New York Movers on cityhammer.com
OK, so if youhaven't been able to sell, or you're just looking to boost your house's curb appeal. Here's a simple idea from Remodelista: House Numbers. In their lastest 10 Easy Pieces installment, you can see several fonts and styles to jazz up the front of your house and stand out from the rest of the block.
Lastly, moving aside, things could always be worse. Ask yourself how you would feel living in "The Smallest House in Toronto"? Pictures at The Home Crowd must be seen to be believed. Forget losing your house keys, what if you misplaced your house?
Labels: 10280, Curb Appeal, New York Moving Companies, Small House
Monday, July 14, 2008
Fixing Up Your House When You "Have To Sell It Now"
Yes, that's a Lamborghini parked next to a renovation dumpster...In the Personal Property section of the Wall Street Journal yesterday, we came upon a great article with tips for those who have to sell their houses now.
Among a group of seven ideas, "Fix it Up and Clean it Up" was probably the section most relevant to cityhammer blog readers and most worthy of passing on.
According to writer David Crook:
Buyers are taking your house out on a date. It has to make a good
impression.
Don't spend a lot of money -- absolutely no big-ticket renovations -- but
do see that everything is in good repair. And give the place a new paint job and
a general sprucing up. (Caution: This won't necessarily give you any pricing
advantage over less fixed-up places, but it will attract buyers and keep them
interested.)
As you get closer to the date that the house actually goes up for sale,
start moving out by decluttering the place. No buyer wants to see a house filled
to the rafters with other people's things. They want to imagine their stuff
filling the place. "Stage" the place with only enough furniture to make it look
livable; put the rest in storage.
Once again, we are hearing a clarion call for new paint jobs, home staging services, and of course, organization - subjects we have blogged about extensively.
That being said, it's interesting that while the WSJ is essentially speaking to real estate desperation, Murdoch's other financial bulwark, Barron's, ran a cover story saturday on the botoming of home prices loaded with both empirical and anecdotal evidence.
Whether you believe the housing market improves or declines from here, our message is simply that working with qualified home improvement pro's and home stagers in the New York area, you can distinguish your home from the rest of the "product" for sale in your neighborhood and thus, sell it quicker and at better prices.
For Help:
Read the full WSJ article here: How to Sell a House, When You Have to Sell It Now
Labels: Closet Organization in New York, Home Renovation in New York, New York Painters, Real Estate Staging NY
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Introducing...California Closets New York
Sport Garage by California ClosetsWe've done a fair amount of blogging about how important closet organization is, and now we're pleased to introduce California Closets New York, a new Featured Member on cityhammer.com.
With three showrooms in the NY Metro Area, California Closets is one of the biggest closet designers around . They specialize in everything from bedroom closets, walk-in's, built-in's, and custom home offices. metro area, California Closets is one of the biggest closet and storage design companies around
Their official cityhammer.com profile page is located here: California Closets New York
In Westchester, visit or call at:
16 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Telephone: 914-592-1001
Open from Monday – Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am –
3:00pm
On the Upper East Side:
1625 York Avenue
New York, NY 10028
Telephone: 212-517-7877
Open from Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am –
3:00pm
Or in TriBeCa:
26 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: 646-486-3905
Open from Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am –
3:00pm
Labels: 10013, California Closets, Closet Organization in New York, NY Closet Organizers
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Wood Flooring and Bathroom Design Ideas to Attract Buyers from Frontdoor.com
Urban Home Office by California Closets NYCHGTV appears to have a real estate site in beta right now and its called Frontdoor.com. Most of the content appears to be geared toward consumers either looking to buy or sell a home. Obviously this isn't new ground, but the fact that HGTV is involved leads us to believe that there will be a definite slant toward interior design and home decor.
We'll keep you posted, but for starters, there's a very comprehensive piece on Frontdoor.com about design ideas that get the attention (positively) of prospective home buyers. They list 10 ideas below:
- A Nice Entryway
- Hardwood Floors
- Fab Fixtures
- Beautiful Baths
- Countertop Considerations
- Steel This Idea
- Pre-Organized Closets
- Light Up
- Built-In Bonus
- Grass Is Greener
- Bonus: Furnish That House!
New York Kitchen and Bath
New York Closet Organizer
New York Carpenters
New York Wood Flooring
To read the article, click here: Frontdoor.com's Ten Things That Make Buyers Bite
Labels: HGTV, Home Design, Interior Decor New York, Kitchen and Bath NYC, Wood Flooring NY
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Happy July 4th to New York
Photo by Howard N2GOTOK, so the weather wasn't perfect, and thanks to absurdly priced commodities of every variety and the Wall Street/ Real Estate credit crisis, there's not much economic optimism for the remainder of 2008.
That's OK. Its holidays like July 4th that remind us how great it is to live, work and celebrate in New York, as last night's fireworks display viewed from the Brooklyn Bridge reminds us (above).
Happy Independence Day weekend from cityhammer.com!
Labels: Brooklyn Blog, Fireworks in NYC, July 4th
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol
Brooklyn Bridge Waterfall Photo by EpicharmusOutdoor storage can make or break the neatness factor of your backyard. Living in the Long Island or Westchester suburbs has its minuses, but one of the biggest pluses is how much space you gain and having the ability to enjoy a front or backyard in the spring and summer. The downside is that as you get comfortable, your stuff begins to sprawl out, almost on its own. Kid's toys only amplify this phenomenon, to the point where your backyard becomes strewn with the flotsam of a post-apocalyptic movie landscape. Remodelista has some great pic's of storage options we highly recommend for the homeowner who skews country in terms of design taste. These equestrian-inspired sheds and storage pieces are from Country Barn Collection of Santa Barbara and come in different shapes and finishes depending on the size or look you want.
Feedbins Become Toybins
Speaking of sheds, check out the pre-fab shed that became an electrified office space at Apartment Therapy. They picked up a great post from Lifehacker featuring a man with a new baby who needed more work space than the house could provide. Phone lines and a paint job did the trick and now he's ready for 8 hours a day of uninterrupted Sudoku...jk.
Shed Becomes Office
We love our pets like children in this country and New Yorkers and their dogs are as symbiotic as any two species you find in nature. This closeness can and will lead to the occasional urine stain on a wood floor, no matter how good the training or how frequent the walks. How do you clean the odors and stains from your pets out of a wood floor? Charles & Hudson has a helpful piece on what to do and what not to do when treating wood floors in this situation.
Pets' Wood Floor Stains
Feedbins Become Toybins
Speaking of sheds, check out the pre-fab shed that became an electrified office space at Apartment Therapy. They picked up a great post from Lifehacker featuring a man with a new baby who needed more work space than the house could provide. Phone lines and a paint job did the trick and now he's ready for 8 hours a day of uninterrupted Sudoku...jk.
Shed Becomes Office
We love our pets like children in this country and New Yorkers and their dogs are as symbiotic as any two species you find in nature. This closeness can and will lead to the occasional urine stain on a wood floor, no matter how good the training or how frequent the walks. How do you clean the odors and stains from your pets out of a wood floor? Charles & Hudson has a helpful piece on what to do and what not to do when treating wood floors in this situation.
Pets' Wood Floor Stains
Labels: Backyard Storage, Cleaning Wood Floors, Making a Home Office, Sheds NY, Suburbs Long Island
