End Of The First Month

Today is the one month anniversary of the beginning of my renovation. The project is moving along really well. I had a slight glitch today when I was informed my tile for the master bath was out of stock, but luckily Edward of Daltile came to the rescue and found my tile in Texas. Most of the ceiling is now fully framed and has sheet rock on it. The electrical is a big project, but hopefully that will be done by next Tuesday at the latest.

Peter my contractor showed me the prototype of the door he is making for the custom bookcases and cabinets in the living room. They are exactly what I was hoping for. He will begin making them as soon as we complete the sheetrocking.

I also had a young designer who is working off the books so I can't say who it is help me with a furniture lay-out. She used a lot of what I had already done and than put together a few great options. I am really looking forward to getting the apartment decorated and ready for me to move back in.

Sheet Rock installed on Powder Room Exterior

Permabase Waterproofing around new Tub

Sheetrock on Bathroom Exterior

Ceiling Partially Sheet Rocked with Recessed Lighting

Cabinet Door Prototype

The Door!

Week # 4: Tile, Sheetrock and Lights

April 26th is the beginning of week number four of the renovation. A lot of progress has been made so far. Framing is completed for the new ceilings in all of the rooms. In addition, the powder room and master bathroom have been framed and the perma floor has been put down as well. The new floor in the guest room has been installed, which now brings the level of the floor in line with the main living area. The reason I had to do this was previous owners had just stacked four new floor in the living room. This raised the height of the floor by about four inches, so you had to step down into the guest room. It was dangerous and ugly to boot. This week, all sheet rock should be completely up. The wiring for lighting will be completed, and the shower, tub, sinks will be installed (maybe).

Next week, we begin the tile work. This means the order has to be placed by tomorrow. I have been to many different tile stores, but I kept going back to what I believe is one of the best tile and stone places in Manhattan Daltile Tile & Stone Gallery on East 21st street. They have an incredible selection and website and everyone who works there has a great sense of style. I primarily worked with Edward Borish, a very affable and patient individual who had to deal with my indecision for many visits. In the end, I picked out some great tile for both bathrooms.

Thank you to everyone at Daltile Stone & Tile Gallery

Floor Tile for Powder Room

Eddie of Daltile

So when you think you're ready..come down to Crazy Eddie

The man who's got most everything in stereo sound! Seriously, today was media day. Eddie, from Home Media Bliss, came to install the wires for the in ceiling speakers. Since the sheet rock is not on the ceiling yet, it is much easier to install the wires now. When the sheet rock goes up, the holes will be cut for the five speakers in the ceiling. There will be three front speakers (Right, Center, Left), and two rear surrounds. The sub woofer will be in a corner of the apartment.

The sub floor was also laid down in the 2nd bedroom. This floor raises the height to be even with the living room area. The sub floor for the bathrooms were also completed.

Now we just have to pray there is no doorman strike, as this will make all construction come to a complete halt.

Left Front Speaker Wire

Eddie from Media Bliss installing the wires

I've Been Framed!

Framing for the new ceiling is now complete. This frame will allow my contractor to install the new ceiling that will cover the "popcorn" ceiling that is already there. Now, I was concerned about losing some height in my ceilings, but the trade off is well worth it. The ceiling will now be flush with the sprinkler heads . In addition, installing in ceiling speakers and recessed lighting will be much easier. The framing is also done for the full bath and the half bath. We will be installing the shower/tub basin and the toilets this week (Hopefully). We also extended the opening of the bulkhead. We did this because we needed a bit more headroom when installing the stairs.

Framed Ceiling looking towards front door and bathroom

Framed doorway to new half bath

Framed half bath

Framed Ceiling facing windows (East)

Framed Ceiling

Framed Bathroom

Framed ceiling in 2nd bedroom

New bulkhead opening

MOVIE BELOW...HARD TO SEE THE OUTLINE. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON

Movie of my deconstructed apartment

Antique Roadshow, Brooklyn Style

Since I am currently living with Reggie and Kari in Park Slope Brooklyn, I thought it would be fun to check out some of the antique stores along Atlantic Avenue. This stretch of road starting at Atlantic & Smith have some of the greatest Antique stores around. Newer boutique stores have also opened up such as B-Home and Jonathan Adler. I found a lot of great pieces. Here is a smattering of some of the finds I liked.

Steel Printer Drawers

First Cowhide Chair

Steel Light

Matching Cowhide Chair

Digging these elephants

Big Black Chair

The Chesterfield

I thought I would show you the centerpiece for my living room. The Chesterfield sofa is absolutely the greatest sofa ever! I have seen this sofa in both modern and contemporary settings, and I am positive this will look amazing in my loft. I purchased this sofa from the Original Chesterfield Company in England. I ordered the four seat sofa, which is about 94 inches in length. The sofa will definitely not fit into my elevator or up the stairs, so I will be using Dr. Sofa, to take it apart, bring it upstairs, than reassemble it. I am not looking forward to that, but they come highly recommended.

Lighting & Plumbing Day

Today was very productive. Peter McIntyre, my contractor, and I made a productive trip to Simons Hardware and G&G Electric in manhattan. Simons is a fantastic place for all types of hardware including Bathroom Vanities, tiles, faucets, showers, and toilets. They also have a huge selection of knobs and handles. Contractors use this place often, as the prices are ok when the contractor discount is applied. We managed to purchase two toilets, two sinks, a vanity and all the shower hardware. Once the bathrooms are framed and the plumbing is in place, we will order the glass for shower. It turns out, we have manged to put in a powder room, so instead of just one bathroom in my place, I will have an additional powder room. I am pretty happy about this. The plumber is also extending the gas line to the fireplace, so I will be installing a gas fireplace as well. G&G Electric is a sparse but efficient electrical supply store. There I managed to get all of the recessed lights and switches I needed for the apartment. Next up, framing the ceiling!

Whats Black & White and Red All Over

Answer: My design scheme. Since I am working on my own, sans a interior designer, I needed to come up with some concept to work with. What did I want this new renovation to look like. My biggest challenge was I like so many styles. As an established New Yorker, I have visited countless Open Houses of apartments I can never afford, just to check out its decor for inspiration. The results was a mash up of several styles. In the end, I am going with an industrial black and white themed place, with some color added in for "punch". I must have search over 50 design blogs and I kept coming back to this particular concept. Here is the basic design. The floors will be stripped and stained dark ebony, basically black. The exposed brick wall will be painted WHITE, and custom bookcases will be made with glass doors, again black. The ceiling and walls will be bright white. Furniture will be a mix of modern, vintage and ecclectic styles all creating a funky cool loft. The fireplace will become a gas fireplace as well. Here is some pics that Inspired me. Stay tuned for Bedroom and Bathroom Designs.

Black and White

Custom closet..similar to what I am having made

Loved the Black High Gloss Cabinets

Black Book Cases. Check out the lights on top. My sister said these were Library lights, but I googled that and got no results. I found them under "sign" lights. Still love my sister though :)

These sliding barn doors will be used for my bedroom doors

I would love to do this kind of mural in the 2nd bedroom. Not sure how to find something like this. I did discover digital printing, which makes murals like this

These stairs will be similar to what will be in my living room , leading up to the roof deck.

Demolition Day 1, 2, & 3

Demolition has begun. I was a bit surprised at how much demo work there would be. I thought for the bathroom we would just take out all fixtures and tile and put up new sheet rock. My contractor removed all the walls of the bathroom. "Never build new over bad" he says with his Irish lilt. It is scary and intimidating. Its also a complete mess. Thanks to my friends Kari and Reggie, I am staying at the "cozy shack" for a bit until my next door neighbor lets me move into his guest room. I am also including picture of the bulkhead hole construction which was done the month prior to the renovation.

My Bathroom Demolished

Contractor and me in front of Demolished Bath

Debris

Bathroom being destroyed

closet being removed

Bathroom Mirror Being Taken Down

Bulkhead being constructed





Bulkhead hole leading up to roof from apartment