Wednesday, July 16, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

Battery Park City Photo by Brian Boyd

If 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.

House Number Gallery


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?

Smallest House in Toronto

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 8:23 AM 0 Comments

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:
New York Home Stagers
New York Painters
New York Home Organization
Read the full WSJ article here: How to Sell a House, When You Have to Sell It Now

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 8:19 AM 0 Comments

Thursday, July 10, 2008

 

Introducing...California Closets New York

Sport Garage by California Closets

We'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






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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 8:37 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

 

Wood Flooring and Bathroom Design Ideas to Attract Buyers from Frontdoor.com

Urban Home Office by California Closets NYC

HGTV 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:

  1. A Nice Entryway
  2. Hardwood Floors
  3. Fab Fixtures
  4. Beautiful Baths
  5. Countertop Considerations
  6. Steel This Idea
  7. Pre-Organized Closets
  8. Light Up
  9. Built-In Bonus
  10. Grass Is Greener
  11. Bonus: Furnish That House!
Most of these concepts are well-known but there are some great photos on the site giving you an idea of the possibilities. In the meantime, here are some links to local professionals who can help you remodel if any of the above ideas catch your fancy:

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

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:15 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, July 5, 2008

 

Happy July 4th to New York

Photo by Howard N2GOT

OK, 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!

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 2:58 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

Brooklyn Bridge Waterfall Photo by Epicharmus

Outdoor 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

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:59 AM 0 Comments

Monday, June 30, 2008

 

Dep't of Consumer Affairs Cleans House: Massive Unlicensed New York General Contractor Sweep



Late last week, the DCA (Department of Consumer Affairs) announced the conclusion of a major investigation and clean-up operation of unlicensed home improvement professionals in New York City. Working closely with authorities in both Nassau and Suffolk County, the DCA conducted both routine inspections and undercover investigations resulting in a crackdown of monumental proportions. Over 700 violations were issued and more than 130 vehicles were seized.

Based on statistics provided by the DCA, there are currently over 10,800 licensed home improvement professionals in New York, which is a staggering 70% higher than the total five years ago.

Here at cityhammer.com, we're very impressed with the decisive action taken by the regulators. The primary reason for cityhammer.com's very existence is to help consumers in the New York area find quality home improvement companies. With almost 11,000 licensed contracting firms in New York to choose from, it is amazing that the unlicensed guys were still able to conduct business, but it appears the DCA has had enough. They've received over 900 consumer complaints in the last year.

Always keep in mind that no matter how low a job is priced or how friendly a voice over the phone is when giving you an estimate, hiring a licensed and insured general contractor is the priority. Because this is the case, we strongly suggest checking references, asking for licensing information and reading reviews before entrusting your home to anyone.

For a list of contractors in the New York area, including licensing and liability information, reviews and references, click here: New York General Contractors

Visit the NY Department of Consumer Affairs

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:24 AM 0 Comments

Thursday, June 26, 2008

 

De-Cluttering and Closet Organization

The Last Time Living in a Junkyard was Funny was in the 1970's

Could you get rid of all the extra junk in your home and stick with 100 things that you truly need/ want? That's the challenge that blogger Dave Bruno has set out for himself and according to Red Eye (Chicago Tribune), its inspired people around the nation to de-clutter their lives and whittle down their belongings.

Even the pro's are taking notice and weighing in on Dave's quest. Below is a quote from Nadia Geller, an interior decorator and host of TLC's "Date My House":

"Times are tough right now, and people feel like they need to downsize and live a little simpler...We are now realizing that it no longer makes us feel better when we buy something new, especially if we can't afford it. Gas is higher, food is more expensive and it's not really a great time for over-consuming and having too many things."
Here at cityhammer.com, we're big fans of de-cluttering and organization, especially when it comes to cabinets and closets, but sometimes you just have too much stuff to organize, no matter how many shelves you install. If that's your sitch, then let Bruno's challenge inspire you to pare down your stuff...you probably won't miss most of what you get rid of anyway!

Professional Closet Organizers in New York

Read the article on Red Eye: Living With Less

Visit Dave Bruno's Blog and Follow His Progress: http://www.guynameddave.com/

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:41 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

Photo by felixmolter

Earlier this week we blogged a bit about the emergence of home stagers or real estate stagers and their addition to the cityhammer.com remodeling directory. We forgot to mention how gruesome the flip side of that coin can be. Every day on Real LI, the fantastic real estate blog run by Valerie Kellogg, Laura Mann and Ellen Yan for Newsday, we get a first-hand look at rooms and homes that are un-staged. The homeowners were either too lazy or had decided to throw caution to the wind, and decided to submit as-is photos with unmade beds, garbage strewn across the floor, or hanging pieces of wall paper. The team at Real LI dutifully posts these pics in their "Retake This Photo, Please" series which is good for a chuckle just about any day of the week.
Retake This Photo, Please

In a timely New York Times piece, Rachel L. Swarns reports on the state of the rental market in the US. It seems that President Bush's "Ownership Society" has taken a pretty big hit since its peak of home ownership in 2005 as many families are left with few alternatives but to rent. Even this is proving to be a difficult prospect because rent rates have not declined with home prices. According to the article:

The percentage of households headed by homeowners, which soared to a record 69.1 percent in 2005, fell to 67.8 percent this year, the sharpest decline in 20 years, according to census data through the end of March. By extension, the percentage of households headed by renters increased to 32.2 percent, from 30.9 percent.
This got us thinking about design tips for all of these new renters, and if the trend continues, we think we'll see even more design concepts that are more temporary in nature begin to bubble up into the American consciousness. Here are a few Design Tips for Renters.
Rise in Renters

Wood beams are the discussion du jour at Brownstoner's Forum. A homeowner who was unhappy with the layer of plaster coating his exposed beams in a few rooms has stripped them down to the wood itself and is now wondering if that wood needs some type of treatment. Surely, an experienced New York carpenter would know the answer...if any treatment is necessary at all.
Exposed Wood Beams

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:24 AM 0 Comments

Monday, June 23, 2008

 

Calling All New York Home Stagers...

Does Your Block Look Like This?

Home staging, or real estate staging is said to be more of an art than a science. That said, ever since its beginnings in the 1970's, the home staging profession has been steadily gaining a larger recognition among not only real estate industry pro's, but the general homeowner populace at large. In response to growing demand for staging help and services in our current "buyers' market" for real estate, cityhammer.com has just added a category for Real Estate Stagers in New York.

Are you a home stager serving the NY, NJ, or CT area? Post your profile on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory! CLICK HERE

There's a widely accepted maxim in residential real estate that a buyer decides whether or not they would buy a home within 8 to 10 seconds of walking in the door! If that is actually even close to being true, then home staging could make a huge difference in terms of getting you that great first impression.

Stagers will typically employ tactics as simple as depersonalizing a room (hiding family portraits and vacation souvenirs) to more advanced techniques involving lighting, more neutral paint colors and even renting furniture to fill out an empty room, thus "enlarging" it in the eyes of a prospective home buyer. If you live in a condo or co-op in Manhattan, hopefully you have a nice lobby to help with the concept of curb appeal. If you own a house on Long Island or in Westchester, a stager will help with the clutter in the front yard or tell you what kind of impression the house is making from the street.

What kind of companies will you find in the Real Estate Stagers section on cityhammer.com? You will see specialists like Savvy Staged Homes of Upstate New York, interior design firms like ReDesign Works of the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and even real estate brokers, who have gone the extra step and added a home staging education to their arsenal of services.

Whether you are selling a home or plan to in the near future, we recommend getting some estimates from home stagers, who can help you get closer to asking price and put your house in position to sell faster than other properties that haven't been optimized for a sale.

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:57 AM 0 Comments

Friday, June 20, 2008

 

The Washington Post on Apartment Therapy


Run, don't walk to read the Washington Post interview with Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the majordomo of Apartment Therapy. If there is any truth to the saying, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention", then Maxwell is a living embodiment, having turned his first 265 square foot, New York City apartment into a livable one-bedroom largely through his prowess as a designer.

He started out in 2001 as a design business to help others make use of their apartments' living space, and three years later, apartmenttherapy.com was launched to relay his ideas and expertise to an even larger audience. Apartment Therapy now reaches 1.5 million visitors a month in cities from LA to Boston to San Francisco to Miami. There are also two AT books out which are a must-read when embarking on the design or decoration of a new apartment.

The article, written by Terri Sapienza, covers some great topics, such as design blogs and books, the use of color, common mistakes made in small apartments, and temporary design tips for renters.

When asked about his biggest design mistake ever, Maxwell reinforces the importance of taking accurate measurements:

"The worst one was early on and a great lesson for me. I didn't measure the room I was working on closely enough and ordered a few pieces of furniture that ended up being way too big and looking ridiculous when they arrived. Luckily, I called the manufacturer immediately and was able to return the pieces. But ever since then I always measure very carefully before placing a furniture order."

AT also has some interesting stuff lined up for the end of the year, so if you're already a fan like we are, or you want to read more, here's a link: AT in Washington Post

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:56 AM 0 Comments

Thursday, June 19, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

Photo by neotint

Its official: Ikea has landed in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The Observer's The Real Estate has the story. The emergence of the big box retailer as a Brooklyn fixture has and will be a controversial topic for a long time to come. Unless you are the landlord they are paying the lease to. Or you absolutely love putting together furniture with instructions in Scandinavian. The naysayers will snipe, but we predict the store will be packed.
Ikea Opens in Brooklyn / New York furniture assemblers

As the temperature climbs along with our Con Ed bills, it may be good idea to think about the little things that add up to excess power consumption during the peak summer A/C season. Charles & Hudson reminds us to check and possibly replace our refrigerator's gasket, as cold air leaking out is a big waste. If your fridge isn't sealing correctly, you'll pay for it in electricity bills and food that expires before its time.
Gasket Replacement / Appliance repairman in New York

Cleaning out his camera's memory, Mitchell Hall of NYC Blog Estate came across a bunch of great shots of the Upper West Side. The photos are a good reminder of why we love New York.
Upper West Side Pictures


[where: 12571]


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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:18 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

 

What the Bankruptcy Wave Means for the New York Renovation Business


In a Crain's article yesterday, Daniel Massey laid out the state of the commercial bankruptcy wave in New York City, and as expected, the numbers look ugly.


Through May, Chapter 11 filings at federal bankruptcy courts in the city totaled 335, up from 104 in the same period a year earlier. The increase was due to a nearly fivefold rise in filings at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to 288, from 60.
According to the article, along with the restaurant industry, interior decorators and construction firms are among the hardest hit groups. Essentially, because of a change in Chapter 11 law that went into effect in 2005, it is easier for a business owner to just walk away, rather than attempt to work things out during bankruptcy.

This appears to be the case for Jose Luis Sampedro, who may have to walk away from his 15-year-old company Barrera Construction & Development Corporation. His costs of doing business as an interior and exterior renovator ballooned 70%. Insurance costs, gas prices and construction materials were mentioned as the straws that broke the camel's back. He is trying to reorganize his finances, but the economy in New York isn't doing him any favors.



“Everything is going up, and people don’t want to do renovations anymore. It’s impossible.”

What does this mean to the New Yorker in the market for a renovation contractor? According to cityhammer.com's local research:



  • General contractors and home improvement companies in the area may have shorter lead times, giving you more flexibility when scheduling a project with them.



  • Professionals in the remodeling industry may also be more willing to bid competitively for your business, especially if the work being done is a little more plain vanilla than a gut renovation or complete overhaul. The simpler the task or project, the more compromise you may be able to get on pricing.



  • The negative in all of this is that for many items, contractors have no choice but to pass on the higher costs of materials to the end consumer. This is occurring in almost every major industry in the country, from restaurants making up for prices on dairy and wheat ingredients (which have tripled in price) to truckers adding on a fuel surcharge to their hauls. This could result in a situation where remodeling materials, especially anything metal, and even the cost to ship these materials, will hit your wallet before the project even gets underway.

So to sum up, its a tough time to be a remodeling professional in New York City, but with advertising and patience, the quality firms should be able to survive the cycle and possibly take market share from those who couldn't, emerging stronger than ever.

We wish Mr. Sampedro and the many other construction companies in New York good luck in these difficult times.

Read the full article in Crain's New York here: NYC Bankruptcies Soar

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:02 AM 0 Comments

Monday, June 16, 2008

 

Tips for Hiring a New York Moving Company


New in the Tips Section: a list of important tips and suggestions for hiring a moving company in New York, posted by cityhammer.com staff writer Mitch Mayer.

There are several items that should be on your mental checklist when planning a move, and choosing a moving company will be one of the most important decisions you will make.

There are tons of movers in the New York/ New Jersey area, so availability when picking a moving date will be easy. The key issue is the reputation of the mover, their expertise at handling your type of move, and how comfortable you feel when speaking with them.

Certain moving companies specialize in smaller moves, others are known for handling large quantities of breakables or delicates, and still others are specialists in corporate or office moves.

One piece of advice we can share would be to not be shy about the questions you need to ask upfront. A reputable moving company in New York will spend the time on the phone with you beforehand to make sure you completely understand what they provide and what to expect on the big day.

For more tips and suggestions when hiring a mover, read the article:

"I Want to Hire a New York Mover...Now What?"

For a list of New York moving companies, visit cityhammer.com:

Movers in New York

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:54 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, June 14, 2008

 

This Old House Looking for Historic NYC Homes to Renovate



If you've got a historic home in New York City and have been itching to do a full-blown makeover, your ship may finally be coming in. Hard to believe, but never before has This Old House, the Emmy Award-winning renovation show, tackled a historic home in NYC.

If you have a home that fits the bill, the deadline for submission is Friday, July 4th.

Some of the conditions for their selection include a 4 to 5 month renovation timeframe, an August start date and the ability to get the project "fast-tracked" by the permitting department (best of luck with that...lol)

The produceers of This Old House ask for the following information included in your submission:

  • Brief description of the house including house style and year built
  • Low-res digital pictures of the home's interior and exterior
  • Brief description of the current owners
  • Low-res digital pictures of the homeowners
  • The scope of the renovation
  • How much you plan to spend
  • When you need to start and conclude the project

You have two ways to get your entry in:

Email to pickmyhouse@timeinc.com

or

Snail-Mail to
This Old House Project Proposals P.O. Box 130 Concord, Massachusetts 01742.

For those of us spectators without historic homes, the renovation will air over the course of several episodes in early 2009 on PBS.

Here's the Official Announcement: This Old House Coming to New York City

Want to learn more about historic districts and homes in New York? Visit The Advocate for New York City's Historic Neighborhoods at hdc.org

[where: 10003]

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 9:22 AM 2 Comments

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

 

Who is Alexander Girard? A Giant of Textile Design, That's Who.

Photo from FLOR

We nearly squealed with delight when we saw a post on the Florum Blog about a new line of area rugs based on the design work of Alexander Girard. The Florum is the blog by FLOR, one of the world's leading floor covering companies, especially for modular carpet tiles, which we covered here recently.

In a partnership with maXimo, a design and licensing firm out of New Mexico that works closely with the Girard estate on licensing opportunities, FLOR will be resurrecting some of Girard's mid-century work for an area rug collection that could add a great deal of brightness and color to any room.

If the name Alexander Girard doesn't ring any bells, a brief glance at his work will forever set him apart in your mind as someone who is truly iconic in the design world. Born in 1907, Girard joined the Royal Institute of British Architects followed by a move to New York in the 1930's. He spent some time in Detroit and then headed out to the southwest where his textile designs truly took flight.

Girard will forever be known as the man who zagged when the modern world zigged. As furniture and interior trends were headed in the modern direction of incorporating metals and hard plastics, Girard looked to the unindustrialized world for textile patterns and designs that would complement this new era's trappings.

He looked for inspiration in countries like India and Mexico, where folk art and handicrafts were still in vogue, unfettered by the industrial processing of modern times. His use of aggressively bright colors like magenta and tangerine in his textiles were the perfect complement for the modern and stark furniture designs that were becoming ubiquitous by the 1950's.

Girard is best known for his work at Herman Miller, many of his fabric and textile patterns for that company are considered modern classics and even works of art. An interesting historical note is that he was brought to Herman Miller by Charles Eames, an American legend in architecture, furniture design and many other disciplines.

For examples of Girard's work, visit maXimo

To see the rugs, check out The Florum

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:20 AM 1 Comments

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

 

The Difference Between Interior Designers and Interior Decorators

Interior Design by Alvaro Design of New York

From the Mailbox:

Dear cityhammer,
I 've noticed that you have several interior decorators grouped with interior designers on your site. I've always wondered what the difference between the two professions is?
Thanks,
Olivia M.
Murray Hill
That's a great question, and the answer is simpler than you might think. Many interior designers also do decoration (wall coverings, furniture choice, color ideas, decorative items, art work etc.) but an interior designer will also be able to supervise and plan out a more large scale project, including a major renovation. These days, there are general contractors who are also interior designers and window treatment firms that consider themselves decorators.

So the answer is, be less concerned with the terminology on the business card and more attentive to the professional designation of the designer/ decorator. This designation will be determined by the level and type of education that the person has, rather than what they refer to themselves as when pitching for business.

For example, many experienced and reputable New York interior designers will be members of the ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID boasts over 40,000 members in 48 chapters around the country.

As for interior decorators, they too have a professional organization that was actually founded by an interior designer named Ron Renner in 1997. Renner wanted to create something for the decorators in recognition of their knowledge and skill, and to distinguish them from designers as their own profession. This organization is called CID, or Certified Interior Decorators International. They were the first institution to certify decorators based on degrees of education and experience.

The bottom line would be to worry less about what design pro's refer to themselves as, and more about what licenses they carry as well as what professional organizations they belong to. Don't be afraid to ask the decorator or designer, as they will be happy to tell you about what they do specifically. This will also lead to a discussion on fee structure, which you'll want to be clear on anyway.

There are many advantages to working with both an interior designer and an interior decorator, but choosing between the two will more or less come down to the scope of the project and what it is you are looking to accomplish aesthetically.

For a more specific breakdown on Interior Designers and how to hire them, click the link: How to Hire a New York Interior Designer

For a list of Interior Designers and Decorators in New York and New Jersey, click here: New York Interior Designers and Decorators

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:48 AM 0 Comments

Monday, June 9, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

Bryant Park Photo by Malcolm Tredinnick

In light of last week's horrific crane accident and the one that preceded it a few months before, Mayor Bloomberg's office has announced a new legislation agenda to enable the Buildings Department to flex its muscles a bit more in both oversight and enforcement of construction codes in New York. This new agenda has the "support of construction developers, contractors and labor leaders,"...as if there were any alternative to supporting stricter regulation on building projects. Our new friend Mitchell Hall over at NYC Blog Estate has a breakdown of what the new rules will mean.
Bloomberg's Construction Edict

Here's a how-to subject rarely discussed...what is the best way to dispose of a used mattress? In suburbia, many towns offer what's known as Special Pickup, but not everywhere. There are also mattress companies that will take your old one as they deliver the new one. Maxwell's got some answers also over at Apartment Therapy.
Disposing of an Old Mattress

Last but not least, we were really digging Remodelista's latest product round-up in their 10 Easy Pieces series. This week, it was all about wastebaskets, yes wastebaskets! Lets keep it real, nobody goes out shopping specifically for a wastebasket, unless they are in the process of making over a home office or bathroom. That being said, let one of these 10 ideas give you an excuse to make a small change in the corner of whichever room you desire.
10 Cool Wastebaskets

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:06 AM 0 Comments

Thursday, June 5, 2008

 

Big News...cityhammer Contractor Directory Now on UrbanDigs!

The Greatest Partnership Since PB&J ... jk

Big News! Our favorite NY real estate blog, UrbanDigs.com has just added a Contractor Directory, powered by yours truly, cityhammer.com!

Now homeowners in the New York area can find our member pro's on UrbanDigs as well as on cityhammer itself.

We are proud to announce this content partnership with UrbanDigs, which we consider to be one of the most insightful and value-added blogs on the web. Whether you work or invest in New York real estate, are in the market as a buyer or seller of a home, or you're just casually interested in the subject, the daily postings from superbroker Noah Rosenblatt and contributors Jeff Bernstein and Christine Toes are a can't-miss proposition.

Now UrbanDigs visitors can find some of the best home improvement professionals and information about them updated live on the site. Because the topics of real estate and renovation go hand-in-hand, we believe this partnership will be of great benefit to both UrbanDigs readers and cityhammer members.

OK, so we're still tweaking the look and aesthetics, but here's a link to the new Contractor Directory on UrbanDigs: Contractor Directory

Are you a home improvement company in the New York Metro Area? If so, join cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory, today!

Express Registration

More about UrbanDigs:
Noah Rosenblatt is the Founder & Publisher of UrbanDigs.com. The single mission of the site is to discuss macro economic trends and interpret them into successful investment strategies for Manhattan real estate. The blog also discusses real-time state of the market reports on New York City real estate and tips for both buyers and sellers to enhance profit potential. Noah currently works as a Vice President with Halstead Property, LLC.

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 4:38 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

 

Attention Jill Cordes Fans: Meet the HGTV Star in...Oceanside!



So there's this Grand Opening celebration happening for Design Expressions in Oceanside, Long Island on Saturday, June 28th...and they've secured Jill Cordes for a meet-and-greet. Our fellow cable TV junkies will recognize Jill from the Food Network and, more recently, from the HGTV show "My First Place". The show features first-time home buyers enduring the stress and excitement of their experience in finding and setting up their cribs.

Jill first came into prominence on the Food Network's "The Best Of", where she rolled across country with Mark Silverstein hitting up diners, pizzerias, farmers markets, and other local favorites to showcase restaurants with the best dishes around. She's also very much involved in the world of pets and pet care and has appeared on Oprah and many other big talk shows over the years.

Anyway, she'll be on hand for a day of product demonstrations, the unveiling of the new Marvin Design Gallery, and games and prizes and refreshments and you know the rest...

Visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishables for a food drive that will benefit Long Island Cares as well as the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Design Expressions is located at 389 Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside, New York. They can be reached by phone at 516 764 6600.

Here's the announcement: Grand Opening

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 5:01 PM 0 Comments

Monday, June 2, 2008

 

It's Official, Belltel Lofts will be hosting the Brooklyn Real World

It's official, The New York Daily News is reporting that the Belltel Lofts in Boerum Hill will be hosting the next 7 inmates for The Real World Brooklyn in a 6000 square foot duplex.

In true New York fashion, this will be the smallest residence the show has ever taken place in, but maybe the most expensive, with a price tag of $6 million. This figure may go higher after airing, similar to the rates for the Real World Suite at the Las Vegas Palms Hotel and Casino.

Personally, I'd ask for a discount, not a premium, for buying any residence that housed what's about to go down this season. BTW, they will also have the obligatory jacuzzi, which upon purchase, would have to be torn out and possibly nuked somewhere in the Nevada desert.

Congrats to owner David Bristricer. As P.T. Barnum famously said, "There's No Such Thing as Bad Press." Which may be apropos of this particular circus coming to town, considering the fact that he beat out over 20 other Brooklyn properties to get the show to the Belltel Lofts.

Unconfirmed still is the rumor of San Francisco's Puck as the ornery, yet lovable doorman...stay tuned.

The Daily News had the scoop, click here!

Or The Real Deal version, click here!

Or read the announcement from The Belltel Lofts blog.

[where: 11201]

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 4:43 PM 0 Comments

Sunday, June 1, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol


Verrazano Bridge Photo by Matt Borowick

Our new buddies over at The Home Crowd, a great new home improvement blog out of California, have great pictures up of a granite countertop with an illuminated blue river running through it. Classier than it sounds, the pic's are fantastic. Using fiber optic lighting, the Serafini's of St. Louis have created a "model" of the Mississippi River with crushed glass from blue bottles and resin...just go see the photos already, too hard to explain!
A River Runs Thru It

We spend most of our time discusssing the building or making of things here at the cityhammer blog, but sometimes, you just want/ need to tear something apart. Charles & Hudson put up a list of the best wrecking and destroying implements on the market. Here, they rhapsodize about the Fubar Utility Bar from Stanley:
Our top demo tool is the Stanley FUBAR (Functional Utility Bar). It's a 4-1 tool for prying, splitting, board bending, and striking. It's manufactured from 1-piece forged steel and Stanley offers a limited lifetime warranty. The FUBAR also comes in a mini-version that may be more comfortable for some and is better for working in tighter spaces.
Top 5 Demolition Tools

On a sadder note, the entire city of New York, especially the construction community, is both horrified and shocked at the news that a second crane collapsed on the upper east side this past Friday. We're following the story on the City Room blog section of the New York Times.
NY Times Crane Coverage

[where: 10128]

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 8:02 PM 1 Comments

Thursday, May 29, 2008

 

Janovic Starts a Blog


Photo by Scott Keddy

Back in 1888, when Emil Janovic began delivering paint in his horse-drawn carriage, he probably couldn't have imagined that one day, his eponymous company would grow to include 20 stores around Manhattan and LI, and a 55 thousand square foot warehouse.

He also wouldn't have been able to foresee the marketing potential of blogging, but lucky for us, the folks running Janovic get it and they added a blog to their site in April. Its only a few posts deep but the contributing bloggers they've lined up are Janovic.com Editor Pamela Bloom, Senior Color Consultant Paul Mutimear, and Dr. Toby Israel Ph.D. who is the founder of a new field called Design Psychology.

Sounds to us like there'll be a ton of interesting stuff coming from this team that we'll be sure to share. Unlike most local businesses that are owned by big, national corporations, Janovic's ownership by Berkshire Hathaway and Benjamin Moore hasn't diminished their knack for staying ahead of paint and window dressing trends here in New York and their website and articles are far from being generic, homogenized filler. The content is fresh, inspirational and often features the work and ideas of local designers working here in New York City. Let's hope they keep that up with the Janovic Design Notes Blog.

Good Luck, Guys!
Find New York Painters on cityhammer.com

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:47 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

 

Modular Carpet Tiles, from the Horse's Mouth

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


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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:45 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol: Memorial Day Weekend Recap

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

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 6:23 AM 0 Comments

Friday, May 23, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol

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?

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:25 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

 

Score Big in the Furniture Fire Sale...but Beware of China

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

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 7:04 AM 0 Comments

Monday, May 19, 2008

 

Wood Flooring Pick: A Touch of the Rainforest in New York

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.

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# posted by the master of ceremonies @ 4:50 PM 0 Comments

Sunday, May 18, 2008

 

NY Home Improvement Blog Patrol