Monday, April 6, 2009
NY Design Links: Brownstone, Tool Shopping and Upper West Side Remodel
Apartment Therapy's got a great house tour in a Clinton Hill, Brooklyn brownstone with nice bones. The furniture chosen to decorate the home is low and simple, giving the eye a chance to take in all of the features and curves of the building itself.
In New York Spaces magazine, designer Vicente Wolf shows off a transformational interior design project on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The pre-war apartment had some natural flaws, such as rooms that were small and dark and a complicated entryway. Wolf gave the the apartment a makeover and included an old-meets-news aesthetic with well-chosen colors and sculpture.
The New York Times goes shopping for tools and hardware with Canadian actress and do-it-yourself TV host Mag Ruffman. Ruffman also runs Toolgirl.com and is said to have a massive collection of hammers! Here, she picks a Komelon tape measure, a pair of Irwin Vise-Grip pliers and a Mintcraft 11-piece ratchet screwdriver set. Here's the interactive gallery to see her tool picks.
Labels: Interior Design Upper West Side, Manhattan Interior Design, NY General Contractors, Tools New York
Friday, August 15, 2008
Hottest Trends in Interior Design...At Least According to the National Association of Realtors
Reclaimed Wine Barrel Wood FlooringHere's the deal with the National Association of Realtors and their ability to prognosticate; we'll take their opinion on certain things, but the direction of housing prices and the real estate market, not so much. Of course, regardless of the carnage in housing, this is a group of real estate professionals, so we expect tons of positive spin. NASA would never issue completely factual reports on the cost/ benefit of our trillion-dollar space program nor would the guild of buggy whip manufacturers have predicted the demise of horse-drawn carriages during the rise of the automobile industry 100 years ago.
OK, now that that's off of our chests, the NAR has a cool website to go with Realtor Magazine and they've just put up a feature on the top 10 interior design trends they're seeing in homes across the country right now along with a slide show. On this particular subject, we think they're on the money.
Their picks are:
1. Let it Shine (Wire Mesh Fabric)
2. Bathrooms as Spa-Like Retreats (Custom Bathtubs, Waterproof Wireless Headsets)
3. Faux Wood Trim
4. Transform Garage Space (Floor Space for Kids)
5. Hot Hue Add Blue (Color of the Year Blue Iris)
6. Reclaim Wood (Wine Barrel Counter Tops and Flooring)
7. Food Faster Than Carry Out (High Speed Oven Wall Oven)
8. Green Seating With Style
9. Wallpaper Redux (Recycles Vinyl Wall Coverings)
10. Hybrid Heaters (Water Heaters)
Realtors are in houses and apartments all the time, from open houses in Manhattan high-rise luxury apartments to Westchester and New Jersey walk-throughs and they also know what renovations are helping homeowners sell. Pricing predictions aside, we'll take Realtor Magazine's word for it when it comes to design trends.
To see the whole feature, click here: Top Ten Design Trends
For a list of New York home improvement and design pro's who can help you attain these looks, visit cityhammer.com
Labels: Interior Design Trends, Manhattan Interior Design, National Association of Realtors, New Jersey Interior Design, Westchester Design
