Lynn Gets To Live It!

SOLD

2010-04-20T07:52:00.003-04:00

I'm afraid that I neglected to mention that we DID sell our co-op.

We got our (reduced) asking price & thankfully, it wasn't to the clients of the

"mean realtor" to whom I alluded in my last post.

Eat yer heart out honey!

Sold?

2009-07-01T08:45:00.051-04:00

After months of searching for a new home & trying to sell our place,
I think that we're finally in the home stretch.

But this experience wasn't without its bumps in the road.

We count ourselves very lucky to have worked with several decent & kind realtors along the way, whom we now consider to be our friends.
We were lucky, because we also encountered some who disrespected our home (by breaking things!) and another realtor who was actually downright mean.

Point in case is the realtor who consistently brought clients to our home far earlier than agreed (30 minutes or more) & then had the unmitigated gall to find fault with us over their inconsiderate & unprofessional behavior.
To add insult to injury, this person took it one step further, by vocalizing their frustration over being "inconvenienced", on their blog!
I find this to be not only cruel, but incredibly cowardly and unfair, since the only voice that is being heard by the blog-reading public in that scenario is the realtor's voice.
The sign of a true coward is to blame the entire world for one's short-comings & to do so in a format that leaves no room for rebuttal.

The selling of one's home and the finding of another to which to relocate & build one's life again is a difficult and stressful experience.

That said, there is no room for mean-spirited behavior, harassment or hissy-fits from realtors.
My best advice to anyone selling their home - in today's market or any other market for that matter - is this: don't be bullied.

Don't be bullied, because no matter how reasonable or accommodating you are, there will always be someone out there who will try to harass you into doing things their way.

It's like this in life of course, but in real estate, there are people who will have you believe that they are entitled to all that you own. My response to that is to say, GO AWAY.

When you have agreed upon a day & a time at which a realtor may enter your home, the realtor must respect this agreement. Period.

This does not entitle said realtor to arrive 20 minutes early with several people in tow & to expect to gain entrance to your home.

Or to stand outside your building with their client, within view and within earshot, looking up at your window as they impatiently tap their foot, check their PDA & loudly whine that you're still home! Sound bad? This actually happened to us!

But there are nice people in the world.

Some of them are actually realtors, believe it or not.
Realtors who behave as if they are entitled to arrive at your home early and unannounced are not nice, plain & simple.

And they are certainly not ethical if they allude to you in a negative manner,

on their lame, self-promoting little blog.

Even if they are clever enough not to mention you by name, you will know of whom they speak when they bitch about how you "inconvenienced" them.

Realtors are not entitled to find fault with you if you refuse to allow them to come & go as they please, because until their clients buy your home, it is still YOUR HOME!

In closing, I need to say that this same realtor allowed their client to make an obscenely low offer on our beautiful, reasonably-priced home.

When we didn't accept, this realtor again posted their annoyance with us on their blog saying something to the effect that, "We would come crawling back, begging to sell"!

Oh really???

I find the unmitigated gall it took to make this statement nauseating.

If there is an afterlife for people who are this unkind, my only hope is that an exterminator will make short work of them.

Lynn Gets To Live It!: FOR SALE!

2009-03-22T09:41:00.001-04:00

http://920hudsonstreet2a.realtors.officelive.com/default.aspx

FOR SALE!

2009-03-22T09:33:00.005-04:00

This is my final post on this blog, just to wrap things up neat & tidy.
The kitchen is finished, I love it, everything works - overall, it adds value to our home while also providing a wonderfully functional room in which to cook & entertain.
And ... IT'S FOR SALE!

That's right, we're selling our home.
Please visit my website & view project: Kitchen "Her Just Deserts"
http://lmdesignsllc.com/Kitchenherjustdesserts.aspx

And if you're interested in our apartment, please visit:
http://920hudsonstreet2a.realtors.officelive.com/kitchen.aspx

ENJOY!

99.9%

2008-11-11T17:31:00.002-05:00

Apologies for being AWOL everyone.
The kitchen is 99.9% done.
The gas-filled lifts are finally installed & working properly.
Ceiling, wall & backsplash are painted (by yours truly).
Overall, I am very happy with the new kitchen, especially when I'm cooking.

Still Not Working

2008-09-30T21:07:00.011-04:00

On 9/04 I posted that my upper cabinets - the lovely aluminum & frosted glass lift-ups you see in the uppermost row - still did not have the correct hardware to keep them safely up.
It is now 9/30 & guess what?
They are STILL not working.
This is how efficient the distributor of this product is:
1. they sent us half of a hinge, with no screws
2. I picked up the other half a hinge & this time, got screws (imagine that -what a concept)
3. we discovered that they were the wrong hinges
4. we were sent the right hinges (both halves this time) but no screws
5. the pneumatic lifts turned out to be too weak to hold up 2 of my 5 cabinets.
6. they sent stronger lifts, which were still too weak to hold my cabinets open
7. they sent what were supposed to be stronger lifts, but they turned out to be the same lifts that they sent before. It's a good thing that I didn't put aside yet another day to have the tech come back. Again.
8. they sent stronger lifts but now, I have to schedule the technician, yet again.
So there is MORE of my time wasted.
Want to know who this nincompoop is?
Anyone who knows me only has to ask.
I'm going to make damn sure that no client of mine EVER buys this particular product.

A True "Working Kitchen"

2008-09-27T15:34:00.019-04:00

Now this is what I call a working kitchen.
This is the concept I try my hardest to help my clients to envision, with my guidance.
I ask them to trust me.
I know how to make a kitchen work.
I COOK!

a countertop that can be used solely for prep ...

a trash receptacle which is in immediate proximity to said prep area ...

and is accessible from more than one location ...

& includes a recycling bin ...

Falling in Love Again ... You Know, I Can't Help It ...

2008-09-27T15:24:00.009-04:00

DAMN ... I'M GOOD!!!

Recycling Agita

2008-09-19T19:28:00.007-04:00

How do you get rid of a refrigerator?
I called SEVERAL CHARITIES before turning to Craigs List.
And FYI:
Salvation Army doesn't do appliances.
Good Will will pick up, but they won't take a fridge if the doors are removed, since apparently, nobody at the Good Will facility can put them back on again.
This, after I set aside an entire day to await the pick-up.
And, the chatty driver was more concerned about complaining about GW services & trying to convert me, than he was about taking my fridge of my hands.
Now THAT would have been an act of kindness pal. Thanks for nothin'!

Fast forward to Craigslist.com.
Why are some people so weird? Deceitful? Creepy?
I finally sold it to a nice gal who seemed to be somewhat normal & communicative.

I was beginning to think that my old fridge would sit in my dining room forever!

AWOL

2008-09-04T22:11:00.036-04:00

Today, a SBF (secret blog follower) asked me, "Why haven't you posted anything new?
What's going on with your project?"
Truth be told, I want it over.
The blush is off the rose.
The honeymoon is over.
Enough is enough.
ABASTA!
And tomorrow should be the day ... almost.
There is always something to tweak here or adjust there.
And if anyone knew how the pneumatic lifts to my upper cabinets were supposed to be installed, well - they'd be installed. Not my GC's fault mind you. My salesman was admittedly "unfamiliar with the line".
Well after my project, I hope he feels more enlightened.
If the lifts are not in by tomorrow, I'm going to be thoroughly disgusted by the disinterest & the lack of customer service by the very people who have profited from my purchase.
And anyone who knows me knows that I will make this known.
Like just now.
Now, you know.

The other thing that has kept me from my blog writing recently is that I felt that I was obsessing over what to write, rather than experiencing what was happening around me hence, missing the opportunity to live in the moment, as it were.

And so, my apologies to all you SBFs out there (you know who you are).
If all goes as planned, I should be literally (FYI - this is the actual meaning, of the word) "cookin' with gas" by tomorrow night, when my cooktop goes in.
And my dishwasher, and my faucets ... did I mention that I adore my plumber?
What a sweetie. Like everyone else who has passed through my door, these past few weeks.
Well ... almost everyone.

And another thing.
I'm sitting here, going through my credit card statement as I do each month, checking to be sure that someone in East Jabib hasn't absconded with my cc # & purchased a fleet of camels.
This - the credit card that I pay off IN FULL each month ON TIME & what do I find?
An over limit fee.
Oh really?
Thanks a lot.
So here's the other thing.
At the end of your project?
You WILL feel broke. And taken advantage of by people who can legally take advantage of you when they see an opportunity.
Like (starts with the letter C & it means to run after something) Mastercard.
But do not despair - your new soft-closing drawer glides should give you comfort, each time you try to slam them shut (after reviewing your credit card statement of course).
But I'm afraid there's precious little satisfaction in a "whoosh" sound, as opposed to BAM!

2008-08-27T13:10:00.008-04:00

Prayers & best wishes going out to the families of my wonderful contractors, as a new addition to their family enters the world today!

Tanti auguri e buon' fortunata!

And, in keeping the with spirit of this blog, LIFE HAPPENS.

'nuff said.

It's Electric!

2008-08-26T21:17:00.086-04:00

I'm overwhelmed at the difference the lighting makes in my kitchen.
This is what I mean when I talk with clients about "designing with light" and how, when cleverly used in layers, smart lighting design adds an intangible element of grace to the overall design of a room.
On my client's projects, I look forward to having them see their project 'electrified'.
But, as with all things relating to my own project, I didn't realize the impact that it would have on ME, until I walked into the room.
At last, here it is, in all its halogen, low-voltage, dimmable glory.

When the day arrived to complete the electrical work, my (now) favorite electricians - Angelo & Alex - showed up (a key talent in this industry) prepared, on time & finished up their part of the project with their usual aplomb.
I'm so excited, I feel like a kid with a new toy!
Once in a while, I stand in the kitchen & turn the lights on & off, then dim them.

My countertops will be installed on Sept 4th, so if my ponytailed plumber - a musician & a relative of Chuck Mangione - is available on the 5th, we'll be done.
ON SCHEDULE!!!
What an interesting group of people have come through our doors during these past few weeks.
Thanks to the communication, coordination & cooperation between myself & my GC, this project has moved steadily along & on schedule.

Most of the time, I take for granted just how much insight I've gained into what my clients feel during a renovation (rhymes with 'home invasion').
Until of course, that homeowner is ME.
This experience has been truly invaluable, on so many levels.
I continue to learn so much about myself, my talents as a designer, my expectations
and the people with whom I interact.
It has been - and continues to be - a strange & interesting journey.

Still In Love

2008-08-20T17:46:00.006-04:00

... and getting stronger every day ...
Now if only my upper cabinets weren't taking up floor space in my living room, due to the fact that hinges weren't sent with them.
Hinges. What a concept.
It would have been really nice to have spent the weekend with a less cluttered apartment.

Going, going ...

2008-08-20T16:31:00.000-04:00

I can see my sofa ...

I'm in Love ...

2008-08-19T21:53:00.001-04:00

... with my kitchen ... so far ...

Space Challenged in the City

2008-08-19T09:39:00.006-04:00

And you think that YOUR apartment is small?
This is my living room, post cabinet delivery.
Let's play the disappearing box game over the next few days.
Maybe by the weekend, we'll be able to sit on the sofa again.

Smile

2008-08-10T09:28:00.041-04:00

Because no matter how kind you have been to your neighbors over the years, there will always be someone who takes issue with your project.
A 'snake in the grass' lying in wait to pounce on you.
Pick your cliche, because you can insert any of them here.

And you'll walk away - feelings hurt in my case - saying to yourself,

"Huh? What'd I ever do to them?"

Suck it up.
And smile.
Apply packing tape to that Temporary Police No Parking sign that you just shelled out $75.00 for.
Per week.
Per sign.
You know, the one that some dolt will rip down only moments after it goes up - as if the absence of a sign makes it legal for THEM to park there instead

(FYI it doesn't - the permit is on file downtown).
Vacuum & Swiffer the footprints from your hardwood floors.

And always remember, never forget (Dr Seuss said that I think):
your new kitchen is just around the corner (100%).

Over the years, I've taken issue with all the same things that bug my neighbors:
- parking being hogged by contractors (who don't pay for permits)
- the whistling Roach Coach guy who follows jobsites around town like a gypsy
- the inconvenience of work being performed inside my bldg
- the racket caused by moving vans & delivery trucks on the street
- never ending construction all summer loooooooooooooooong

I know that I haven't always reacted well.
Hey man, I'm human, OK?
I've seen my own neighbors throw veritible tantrums over the same things, while I simply sulk inside, in private, martini in hand.
But I digress. My point being that yet another remodeling lesson is: be nice.
Or try to be nice.

Before, during & after your project is complete.
It's the least we can all do for each other.

And smile.

Cookin' With Gas!

2008-08-06T15:35:00.004-04:00

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
And we didn't need a flex line either.
Turns out that the leak was located where?
Where PSE&G had 'capped' off the old meter!
Nice to know that the people we entrust with our safety are doing their jobs so well.

But who discovered the leak?
MY CONTRACTOR!
Someone who actually loses more sleep than I do I think!
Thank you Robert. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

JINX!

2008-08-05T18:16:00.008-04:00

Things may be looking up ... tomorrow will tell ... can a flexible gas line be run up to our unit?
Will I get my gas cooktop?
These questions and more will be answered on the next episode of ...
As The Stomach Turns.
It's the waiting that's the hardest part.
How do non-yoga practitioners do this?
How do people who hate their contractors do this?
(take note: MY contractors RULE)
It's too damned bad that HGTV (aka The All Fiction Network) never shows what really goes on during a renovation.

Kitchen Psychology 101

2008-08-04T14:24:00.007-04:00

Lesson #1 to anyone & everyone who ever dreams of a new kitchen:
never fall in love with a specific product.
That way, when you find out that your gas line is old & needs to be replaced & that the beautiful, stainless steel gas cooktop which you have already purchased cannot be installed, you don't cry.
You suck it up & buy an electric (gag me) cooktop.

I have often wondered why the previous owner of our unit had a horrid electric range.
Now, I have my answer.

So there is lesson #2: beware of buying any property which has electric cooking appliances in the kitchen.

I didn't cry. But I sure as hell wanted to.

FREEEEEE BIRD!!!

2008-08-01T13:48:00.010-04:00

I'm as free as a bird now ... how 'bout you?

Yeah, that's right.
My brick stays exposed.

May I please have my new kitchen now?

The novelty of camping has worn thin.

I want my dishwasher!!!!!!!!!!

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

2008-07-31T20:35:00.006-04:00

He met the electrical inspector.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Maya Angelou

I don't mean to make light of Ms Angelou's powerful poem - I love the title & the last phrase spoke to me on a level different than what she originally intended, I'm sure. So again, I mean no disrespect.
BUT I am an artist.
A creative soul.
A rarely understood individual.
Good LUCK being allowed to have that kind of spirit, in a city that squelches people's dreams.
Tomorrow, I'll find out if I have to cover my exposed brick.
Why?
Who the F knows why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hurry Up & Wait

2008-07-31T09:18:00.011-04:00

This is the part where I get to say, "I know how you felt" to my clients.
This is the part where I get to wait.
And wait & wait & wait & wait ... for city inspections.
You can't close up walls or ceilings or floors, if a city inspector needs to see the wiring & plumbing.
And you don't dare complain about how long you have to wait.
Not in a city like Hoboken.

Fortunately, I fully understand this process & the need for it.
Unfortunately, many clients do not - even when it's explained to them.
You see, it's not that work has stopped, because a good GC will be waiting too - just as you are - until work can resume again.
And work should resume immediately after the inspections take place,
providing that your project passed.
THAT is why it's so important to use qualified sub-contractors.
THEY know how to pass inspection. LEGALLY.
If everything goes as planned, we should be back up & running tomorrow.

Here Lizard, Lizard, Lizard, Lizard ...

2008-07-28T23:32:00.021-04:00

Ain't he sweet?
I've loved lizards since I was a child - ever since my kid-brother Rob got a horned toad, then a chameleon ... I've just always liked them.
They are too cute!
When most women run away screaming, I run after them, cooing.
And this little guy is a gecco.
Think hip, animated character with a cute Northern Brit accent who represents an insurance company on TV. Got it?
At least that's how I have always envisioned them to be - if they could speak that is.

The best thing about this guy?
HE EATS WATERBUGS & ROACHES
(searching the net for a pic made my stomach churn ergo, no pic here)
Which - by the way - have finally made their appearance.
It took them a full 2 weeks to do so (cowards).
But here they are & they have balls of steel, blatantly sneering at me from atop my radiator.
But they don't know who they're dealing with.
So look out boys, the party is going to end early.

Of course my 1st instinct was to blast those bastards with bug spray.
And I did.
But once my arms began to go numb from the chemicals, I realized that there had to be a more natural way, me being the hippy that I am & all.

Here are some suggestions that I found on line:
boric acid & sugar
bay leaves
baking soda & sugar
diatomacious earth
lavender oil
orange oil
geccos (my favorite)

And while I would love to own one of these adorable, little fellows, I'm not so sure that this is the best cure.
Or is it?
Meanwhile, as I contemplate my next move, the doorways are strewn with bay leaves & sprinkled with lavender oil.
I gave the bugs a good talking to (this is MY home! YOU must GO!)
but I'm not sure if they're listening yet.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Om ... Shanti, shanti, shanti ...

2008-07-26T17:36:00.024-04:00

"Ommmm ... peace, peace & perfect peace".
This is how my yoga teacher, friend & guru Nicci ends each of her lovely, love-filled classes.
After our last class together, she helped me hit on what may be causing my insomnia:
It is most likely the result of being a highly empathic person.

Let me 'splain.
When everyone working on this project has gone home for the day, the energy they've brought with them is left behind & lingers with me long after they've gone.
Like an echo.
And that would be great, if I were writing my doctorate or working on my final design project at FIT again.
But when a gal just needs some sleep, it's disturbing as hell!

Enter purification herbs, oils & incense.
Hey, it all smells good & aromatherapy can't be beat.
And before you think I'm too off the wall, I'll let you in on a little secret:
ever wonder what that smokey ball & chain thingy is that they swing around in church? It's frankincense.
Why? It's a remnant of the pagan purification ceremonies of 'yore'.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know how this sounds - hokey as hell, but do a little research & you'll find that a lot of this stuff is in your own life, whether you're conscious of it or not.
And besides, I've always subscribed to the metaphysical & leaned toward the east with most things.
My biggest "secret"?
I don't care if anyone thinks that what I like is weird.
I learned long ago to trust my instincts.
It's when I don't trust my inner voice, that things become imbalanced.

Like I tell my clients, Hey, whatever works to get you through!

Youuuuuuu Light Up My Liiiiife ....

2008-07-25T16:34:00.010-04:00

Week 2 was electrifying.
The week started off slowly, as we waited for the electrician & his crew to become available.
But once they walked in the door - BOOM!
Out with the old (wiring & bad lighting) in with the new.
Legally this time!

Electricians have been the bane of my existence on past projects.
I've worked with GC's who swear that their guys "are the greatest" only to find that they leave a god-awful mess in their wake OR get furious when asked to read a specification OR come to the jobsite stoned (that was the worst) OR leave fixtures without power long after the walls have been closed & painted OR don't speak a word of English OR are so mean & rotten that they frighten me ... the list goes on.

With this crew (Angelo, Alex & Sergio), I didn't have a single complaint, other than they arrived 1 day late.
They read my floor plan (and understood it), they did every single thing that they were hired to do & they were nice! I was honored to work with them.

Walking Thru Hell with Heavy-Soled Shoes

2008-07-24T22:05:00.012-04:00

My "sistergirlfriend" Cindy, who lives in CA gave me the title, after listening to my tales of construction-site-living & how happy I am with my contractors & their crew.
It's a gem of a phrase & speaks volumes in just a few words.
This work isn't easy to live with under any circumstances, but hiring a GC that you trust is like wearing a suit of armor.
Or in this case, heavy-soled shoes.

This past week I couldn't help but think that if only my clients would hire the contractors that
I trust to work in my home, that their projects would progress with far less headaches.
What is it with people?
They hire me for my talent & advice, yet don't believe that in addition to my knowledge of design, construction & materials, that I also know good people with whom to work.
But it's all good, because my own project is moving forward at a pace so fast that it's never been matched by any project I've done for a client in the past.
YAY FOR ME!!!

I've decided that, in addition to everything else that I tell my clients,
if a homeowner:
A. dislikes or distrusts their GC
B. doesn't play an active role in their project
(that means being a good listener & decision maker)
C. doesn't hire a design professional to see them through their project ... then they are going to be even more stressed-out during the process than they would be, under normal circumstances.

Thankfully, I do like my GC &
I am playing an active role in my project & hello?
I am the design professional!!!

Just Like Camp!

2008-07-24T08:40:00.013-04:00

As Tom Hanks said in Big, " … otherwise, it's just like camp!"
That's right.
If you go with it, it is (kinda).
Just like camp that is.
We can't really cook - except for whatever we can manage to do in the microwave.
We're using paper plates, paper cups, we've got a dirt floor ... wait, make that a dirty floor.
We're trying to have fun 'camping' by doing everything short of pitching a tent & building a camp fire in the middle of our living room.
Our co-op board would certainly object to that, I'm sure.

If you're married, be prepared for added stress in your relationship.
Don't be surprised, life is hard.
Above all, remember that we each handle stress differently.

As for me, I'm having night terrors.
The 1st time that it happened, I thought it was a quirk (something held me down, as I tried to catch a few more minutes of shut-eye after hitting 'snooze').
The next night, spectral boogeymen came crawling down the hallway into the bedroom (board members & bldg inspectors - oh my!) as I fended them off by throwing design magazines at them (hey, it was a dream).
Of course my sweet husband lay next to me in a sound asleep, snoring his head off, unable to protect me.
Last night, I actually heard myself yell out loud to wake myself, in order to dislodge the weight I felt was pressing down on my chest as I slept (on the sofa so as not to awake my poor husband who, although he is very sympathetic, also needs his sleep. Why should we both suffer?)
If you search online for this phenomenon, you'll come up with all kinds of creepy stuff. Apparently in Asia, people believe that spirits are visiting you as you sleep.
Too bad I can't conjur up the spirit of Heath Ledger!

Apparently, my subconscious can't handle home invasion & being under the sneaky, unscrupulous crutiny of "certain people" in our bldg, as well as my conscious self can.
And I'm suffering.
Awake, I'm a brave warrior.
Asleep, I want to run away. Perferably, to Club Med.
I get the feeling that until this project is complete, I'm probably going to spend
M-F sleepless, making up for it on weekends when the work stops for 2 days & I can clean, recoup & attend yoga class.

Recycling Goes Down the Drain

2008-07-20T11:00:00.014-04:00

I've been asked what happened to our wish to donate our old cabinets & appliances, when we were initially planning our project.
The answer is, I gave up. It was too hard. Hard, or impossible.
Why should it cost money to give something away?
I'm so ashamed. Really, I am.

The electric range & dishwasher were so old, out-dated & ugly that I wouldn't wish them upon anyone nor could I give them away, in good conscience (they probably weren't safe & used too much electricity).
And the fridge - which is sitting in the dining room, chock-full of cold or microwavable foods until the new fridge gets installed - will be given to family.
And if family doesn't want it, the GC & their subs can have it.
Buh-bye.

Certain well-known organizations had such ridiculously strict requirements regarding the condition of items to be donated that in the end, I finally gave up.
I mean, c'mon - this stuff is USED!!!
They also were not willing to pick up in the Hoboken area.

On-line recycling groups (who shall remain nameless) had such stupidly complicated, rigid rules & guidelines & obnoxious, never-ending e-mails, that they discouraged my participation from the word "go"!
When I attempted to join 2 of these groups in Hoboken & Hudson County, I was bombarded by e-mails cheerily telling me exactly how my posts should read, exactly what I must & must not do, exactly what will & will not be posted blah, blah, blah ... that after I while I threw up my hands & said, SCREW IT!
Why does doing something decent have to be so hard?

In the end, it was more stressful, expensive & complicated to do (what I felt was) the right thing, than to just let my demo crew throw it all away.
The latter choice got it over with in a single day, rather than dragging things on, ad nauseum(must post "taken" - most post "trade only" - most not take cash - must blah, blah, blah, BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHdy blady blah ... ).

Demolition Demons

2008-07-19T16:25:00.020-04:00

That's the name of the my 2-man wrecking crew AKA Joe & Rob.
My heroes!

Kitchen demo is complete & now that the fog has cleared (literally) we're ready to start from scratch, clean slate etc.
In the process, we've uncovered scary-looking, ancient pipes, even scarier DIY wiring,
2 ceilings (1 of wallboard, the other of plaster & lath) & 4 - count 'em, 4 - layers of floor!
Starting from the top: ceramic tile, then plywood, then vinyl & finally, linoleum.
Ironically, the new floor will be ... linoleum.

Well, isn't that nice.

2008-07-19T16:00:00.021-04:00

The person who got away with the illegal wiring of our kitchen should be in jail for endangering the lives of everyone in our building.
Why they were not required by the past co-op board or the current management company to do their renovation legally - with licensed electricians, permits & inspections - is beyond me.
The very same, inept, idiotic "management" company,
who finds fault with everything WE do (legally & above board) allowed some DIY bozo to endanger the safety of everyone in our bldg for years to come.
I found this discovery to be despicable.

So check it out! Isn't that nice?
How a previous owner was allowed to create such a hazard, is unbeknown$t to me.

Before Shots

2008-07-19T15:51:00.004-04:00

Commencing countdown ...

2008-07-13T23:42:00.007-04:00

10, 9, 8, 7 ...
Tomorrow is demo day.
woooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Microwave is on dining room table.
So are 2 coffee mugs, 2 water glasses, 2 wine glasses & a stack of paper plates (made from recycled paper).
No plastic forks for us (yuck) I'm going too move the 15" base cabinet that holds cutlery into the dining rm too & use it to hold the micro. Like a mini kitchen.
GREAT idea!
And of course, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
When things are going well, does something have to go wrong to even it all out?

Get ready, get set ...

2008-07-07T15:43:00.003-04:00

2 weeks before demo: go though kitchen & discard (or sell) anything that hasn't been used in the last 5 years, including herbs & spices.
Begin scavenging & accumulating cardboard boxes.

1 week before demo: pack up kitchen & leave behind only the bare necessities.
Decide where in the apt the fridge & microwave will go until they too can be moved curbside.

Week of demo - next week, hopefully - buy paper plates & cups.
Cover clothes in closet & roll up rugs.
Resign yourself to "go with it", no matter what.
Have lots of wine on hand, just in case ...

Making progress

2008-06-09T22:43:00.020-04:00

Over the course of the past month, I've made significant progress, despite personal tragedy.
My father had a bad fall & until he was stable & on the mend & my mom feeling strong about his care, I feared that I would be unable to move forward with anything at all, the least of which was my kitchen project.
Everything pales in importance, compared to the health & well-being of my family.
These are the kinds of things that I urge clients to be prepared for when I help them plan their projects, especially when they throw an impossible completion date at me.
I urge them to - you know - be prepared for LIFE to step in.
It's the unforeseen 'stuff' that you cannot (but must) plan for, even on the most carefully researched & well-planned projects.

Thankfully, dad is on the mend & I can move forward.
This is design, after all.
It's supposed to be enjoyable, creative & exciting - not a chore.
It's not supposed to keep me awake at night with anxiety attacks (yet it does).

When other design professionals have told me that working on their own home was an impossible feat, I didn't believe them - but now?
I believe! I believe!
After much deliberation, I've decided upon a GC.
This was based upon a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is that I am hoping to find yet another trust-worthy professional with whom to collaborate on future client projects.
We'll see. I'd rather be the guinea pig in this scenario.

And the GC whom I had asked for an estimate back in January?
NEVER GOT BACK TO ME.
Anyone who doesn't want my $ isn't going to have me begging to spend it with them.

This past week, I've ordered the final version of my kitchen cabinets, having explored & exhausted any & all custom options such as toe-kick storage, skinny tray holders & a 2-way roll out garbage & recycling bin in my peninsula.
That last item is the only custom option that I AM getting btw, thanks to help from colleagues but mostly, due to my own persistence & diligent research.

And now, it's time for me to post some before shots of my kitchen.
On demo day, I'd like to strike the 1st sledgehammer blow.
It will be cathartic, to say the least.

Really "getting to live it"!

2008-05-19T15:46:00.008-04:00

Or at least, I'm getting to FEEL it.
The intangible part of the renovation process that is.
Now that it's down to the wire, all kinds of emotions are rising to the surface.
I'm still secure in my ability as a designer - I know that my design concept is thorough & well thought out & that both my expertise & the expertise of my colleagues is 'right on', but ... I'm feeling the anxiety & insecurity that I'm sure many of my own clients feel, when we come to this point in the process.
The point where they have to sign on the dotted line. Literally.
The point where there's no turning back & one has to accept that their home WILL be a mess until the kitchen is completed & the city inspectors WILL slow the process down & leave us all twiddling our collective thumbs as we await inspections etc. & blah, blah, blah
OR ...
I do nothing & live with my ugly, old, decrepit kitchen.
It's all a lot like a root canal:
you hate to go through with the procedure, but to wait is to postpone the inevitable.
And once it's all over, the terrible pain is a vague & distant bad memory.
So now, I'm really 'getting to live it', which is what my intention was when I created this blog.
Xanax anyone?

It's Not Easy Being Green ...

2008-04-28T09:26:00.014-04:00

To my dismay, I'm finding that in order to 'go green' you need to have a lot of it. Green that is. And deep pockets. Filled with green. Get it?
This holds true at least when it comes to kitchen cabinets & building materials such as plywood.
This was revealed to me by my colleague in cabinetry, who took great pains to price up 3 different versions of my kitchen cabinets. I would extend this same service to a client in order to assist them in making an informed budgetary decision, so I owe it to myself to do the same.

Originally I had wanted my cabinets to be custom made & of plyboo:
plywood that is composed of bamboo, a sustainable material, which is actually a grass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo

The increases in price are as follows for the 3 options below, beginning with a stock cabinet line as the base price.
I've not mentioned names, as no manufacturer's representative has made it worth my while to do so.
1. Popular brand name cabinet line which offers high-quality features & construction = "X" amount of dollars.
2. Add $2300.00 for bamboo veneer doors & drawers, on particleboard cabinet boxes.
3. Add $8000.00 (!!!) for plyboo doors & drawers (still particleboard cabinet boxes).
4. And for the motherload - formaldehyde-free plywood boxes & plyboo?
Add 20% to that 8K.

More green thoughts:
Going green has become a popular buzz word in the media, yet few lay people know the true meaning of this concept.
I've always been into this kind of thing, as far back as I can remember.
Third grade perhaps?
For me, eco-consciousness has always meant recycling.
And in the spirit of one of the tenets of yogic philosophy,
ahimsa or 'do no harm'.
To be truly green is to do the least amount of harm to the earth, to ourselves & others and to our world as a whole.
So, in the spirit of 'being green', we will donate our old cabinets & our fridge (the only appliance worth giving away) to a charity who will come pick them up & re-use them. I'll post the charity name when we've decided who it will be.

Another eco-conscious material, which has been around since its invention in 1860 is linoleum, which I intend to use on our floor.
Unlike plyboo, linoleum is affordable & it has always been 'green'.
It also looks great, wears well & is easy to maintain.

Taking matters into my own hands ...

2008-04-24T18:36:00.000-04:00

That's it!
I am sick & tired of waiting for something exciting to happen around here.
Hammer in hand, I have begun to explore my plaster-covered walls with the hope of finding extra inches.
And EUREKA! I've struck brick!
At least now I know that living through the messy demo which will be
worth it.
It's gonna be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.
But the end result is gonna be so gooooooood.

Getting impatient ...

2008-04-17T08:14:00.000-04:00

One of the many reasons I decided to create this blog is so my clients (& potential clients) can see, once & for all, that contractors truly are the bane of my existence.
I began asking for estimates back in January & have yet to see a single one!
Suffice it to say, I am not immune to what goes on in my industry.
Like many of my clients before me - I WANT MY NEW KITCHEN and I'm growing more impatient by the day.
No wonder people want to do their own demo!
Not only would it get things started, but it would be an outlet for all my pent-up aggravation!

This stinks.

2008-03-01T14:49:00.000-05:00

Just found out thru my architect that the Hoboken Bldg Dept will not allow a vented hood to be installed within ten feet of a window >:-(
So my dream of venting the cooking odors of caramelized onions, spicy Indian curries, herb-infused fish dishes & garlic-studded sirloin burgers (sounds like the Dining In section of the Times, doesn't it?) has just gone out the proverbial window. Which, incidentally, is where cooking smells from my kitchen will now have to go. Out the window!
It's a less effective solution than a vented hood, but it's better than nothing at all. I am determined to find a good solution to this. I'm in love with a Miele hood that I saw on display in my distributor's showroom & thankfully, it can be ordered with a recirculating system. It won't work nearly as well, but at least it'll LOOK good!

2008-02-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

After having lived with - no, make that endured - my kitchen since my husband & I bought our apt over 8 years ago, we are finally ready to get serious about ripping it out.
I've been re-designing my kitchen the entire time that we've lived here, so at this point, the new design is either perfect or the result of a serious cook driven to the edge of sanity by cheap materials, shoddy installation, old appliances and BAD ventilation!