the cityhammer blog

Downtown Flushing Photo by Pro-Zak

Charles and Hudson did a great job blogging the 2008 K/BIS Kitchen Show in Chicago the other day, which is basically a showcase for all the new kitchen products and materials for the new year. Check out that pic of the glass kitchen counter top made by ThinkGlass out of Canada.
Blogging K/BIS 2008

Speaking of counter tops, the Kitchen Chronicles, part of Brownstoner's Bed Stuy Reno, continues apace with some interesting photos of a stripped down kitchen with cabinets just installed and a backsplash ready for tiling.
Kitchen Chronicles Pic's

Over on Curbed, they check in once again with Arlene Greedlinger, renowned for her one-of-a-kind staging method of placing stuffed animals and plush toys around the apartment for maximum...uh...something! She may have gone off the deep end this time, I think that's a teddy bear in the sink?
Real Estate Staging in Toyland

Labels: Counter Tops, Kitchen and Bath, Kitchen Renovation New York, Real Estate Staging NY

Those of you who've been regular visitors to cityhammer.com lately will recognize the name Renovate NYC from their banners across the site. Renovate NYC is a Featured Member in the Kitchen and Bath Category currently, but there's a lot more to this company and we'd like to spotlight this exciting remodeling firm for all of New York.

Renovate NYC offers a mind-boggling array of construction services including:

• Alarm Systems
• Appliances
• Architectural & Design Services
• Moldings – Crown, Baseboard, Chair
• Bathrooms
• Bathroom fixtures
• Boiler & Gas & Hot Water
• Building
• Building Materials Provider
• Closet Customized Fit-outs
• Demolition
• Doors & hardware
• Electrical
• Exhausts and Fans
• Façade – Brownstone, Brick
• Fireplaces
• Floors – Hardwood, Tile, Other
• HVAC – Heating and Cooling units
• Interior Design & Decorating
• Kitchens
• Kitchen Installation
• Landscaping
• Lighting
• Painting – Taping, Skim Coating
• Plumbing
• Procurement – Fixtures & Fittings
• Roofing
• Roof decks
• Security Intercom
• Shower Doors
• Stairs & Rails
• Water Meters
• Windows
• Wiring – Multimedia
• Wood Restoration

They also have a complete Brownstone Renovation Business specializing in gut renovations, updated interiors, exterior or facade work, and much more.

To call for an estimate on a project, call (212) 796-6940.

To visit Renovate NYC's cityhammer.com profile page, click here!

And to visit them directly, go to apartmentworksnyc.com or brownstoneworksnyc.com

Labels: Brownstone Renovation, Kitchen and Bath, Renovate NYC, Updated Interiors

Bathroom by The Argyle Group

Yep, it’s that time of year again! As we sit here with an extra 5 pounds-worth of holiday weight and look forward to the New Year, we’ve come up with the following Resale Value Resolutions. These resolutions are for those of us remodeling with the intention of selling our homes in the near future. There are many other options and cautions when it comes to a renovate-to-sell project and we will be bringing you more of these ideas in the future on cityhammer.com.


Resale Value Resolutions

Because “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”, I will put more thought into the exterior of my home. My lawn, my trees and shrubs, my siding and façade, and my exterior trim and paint job will all get more of my attention and budget this year.

I will revamp my wood or marble floors through screening and polishing, rather than tear them out to start over. While new floors are an important selling point, floors that look “as good as new” are equally coveted.

I will acknowledge that, in terms of resale value, nothing is more important than my kitchens and bathrooms. I will not ignore the power of adding new appliances to my kitchen and I will no longer put off that re-glazing and re-grouting project in the master bath.

I will consider moving the laundry room up from the basement if at all possible. The money spent on plumbing will be more than worthwhile both for the value this adds at resale time and the decreased strain on my back with every load of clothing carried.

I will not waste time with projects that do not add much value or are not necessities. I will heed the research that shows that new windows, while possibly more energy efficient, add very little to the price of my home. The same goes for central A/C, which while infinitely more convenient, is very rarely recouped in a sale. A new swimming pool may keep my friends around this summer, but will certainly not increase my home’s sale price, and may even be a liability.


Heeding these resolutions should give you a helpful basic idea of the types of home improvement projects that will and won’t benefit you in a sale of your home. As always, for the best Remodeling in New York, visit our Home Improvement Directory at cityhammer.com today!

-Mitch Mayer, cityhammer.com Staff Writer

Labels: Exterior Trim, Home Improvement Resolutions, Kitchen and Bath, Laundry Room, Resale Value