Mayra David
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Room For Improvement: A mud room, an open kitchen and a roof with a view would be much appreciated
By Mayra David
August 21, 2013 - 11:12 AM
Mud rooms, guest rooms, and professionally designed rooms. We asked five New Yorkers how they would improve their city abodes.
A room that can take getting dirty It would be great to have a “mud room.” I recently met neighbors who combined two apartments and they created a “mud room” by one of the entries. This means they have one “formal entry” and the other door enters into a tiled room where they have their laundry, plus space for bikes and strollers and a place to enter with dirty shoes. - Pamela, Upper West Side
Read More Would you rather have pre-war charm or modern convenience? Read More
By Mayra David
August 14, 2013 - 11:08 AM
The character and idiosycracies of a pre-war or the reliable convenience of a new development? We asked six New Yorkers which they'd rather dwell in, and their answers were split.
NYC Renovation Chronicles: When the project is DIY, it helps to have the right tools, a good rapport with the super, and lots of plastic sheeting
By Mayra David
August 14, 2013 - 09:23 AM
I have fond childhood memories of delicious smells wafting through the house, welcoming me home after school, or waking me up on a weekend morning. It wasn’t so much the smell of cooking that would wake me up, but rather the smell of sawdust and freshly cut wood combined with the noise of my dad’s table saw.
Read More Room For Improvement: A total bathroom reno and a break from the sirens might be nice Read More
By Mayra David
August 7, 2013 - 13:35 PM
Claw-foot tubs, storage, and some distance from the city soundscape--including fire trucks. Five New Yorkers share what is on their home improvement wish list.
Would you rather live in a dark and quiet apartment or a loud and sunny one? Read More
By Mayra David
July 24, 2013 - 14:56 PM
Quiet and dark as a tomb--or as bright and loud as a street fair? We asked five New Yorkers which kind of apartment they'd rather call home, and the answers were nearly unanimous. Seems like city-dwellers really appreciate their peace and quiet.
NYC Renovation Chronicles: My Bathroom Remodel, Part 2
By Mayra David
July 24, 2013 - 08:59 AM
After a round of "auditions" (see Bathroom Redo Part 1 - Finding a Contractor) we felt we had found our guy.
The scope of work included removal of tile, reglazing of tub, replacing the branch lines to the fixtures, painting, and installation of everything that needed installing, from the toilet to the toilet roll holder.
We had decided our budget should include a reserve fund of about 10% of the cost of the project--cash on hand in case anything should go wrong, The price we had been quoted ($13,850) was the maximum we felt like spending on the remodel. So we asked the contractor if there was any wiggle room and/or any way at all to lower the costs.
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