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Does anyone have an update on Room & Board opening a location on 14th? Just curious - thanks!

I don't know if this is what you're referring to, but I got an email from them about 2 months ago that they were looking to open a store around 14th and W and had a survery attached. I think they sent it to their past customers who live in the area. I have bought several things from their NYC store. It also asked if I'd be willing to sit in on some panel discussions about the store, location, etc. I of course said I would but haven't heard anything from them since.

Not sure if this email has already been discussed here but that's the only info I've gotten on this.

Richmond magazine's R-Home supplement is hosting a tour of Richard Neutra's Rice House in Richmond on Feb. 15. $5 donation/person. Space is limited. Call (804) 355-0111, ext. 318, or e-mail tour@rhomemag.com.

This house is one of the few Neutra designed outside of California. It is also one of the very few modern homes in the Richmond area. The home is now owned by the Science Museum of Virginia.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the tour begins at 1:00 pm on Sunday, Feb. 15.

I'm jealous that Room and Board didn't contact me! I should email them to support the choice of location.

Any input welcome. I'm doing a pretty aggressive renovation of my condo apartment (where I plan to live forever) including removing and adding interior walls, plumbing, minor electric, and chimney - all the major permit requiring work. I got some estimates from big firms, and they were totally inconceivably unaffordable - some obnoxiously so.

So I've done it all myself. Each project is done significantly above code, and above the "contractor grade" I see at my friend's places. I have several years experience in the building trades, and my father has been a builder for 60 years.

My question is: Can anyone explain what the consequences of un-permitted work might be?

Would a neighbor have to turn me in for me to have a problem (again assuming the quality of the work is impeccable)?

Is it true DC is down to only 11 inspectors?

I am fron Richmond and I didn't even know there was a Neutra house there! Shame on me...Thanks for the info, I might drive down for the tour.

The Rice House Tour filled up quickly. It was for only 40 people to begin with! But the contact person said she's working on getting a second tour going, if the Science Museum of VA will go for it. So, if you want to be on the waiting list, submit your name.

Easyenough,

Unless someone reports you to the city for doing work without a permit, I don't think they have any way of finding out. If someone does report you, an inspector will come out and fine you $2000 per violation (according to the DCRA website) even if the work is up to code. Any work done without a required permit is considered illegal construction. So I guess each permit you should have gotten counts as a violation? You may also have to pay a portion of the fee you would paid for the proper permits. But that's lucky -- in some cities, you have to undo all the work if you get caught!

Easyenough,

Unless someone reports you to the city, I don't think there's any way for them to find out. If you do get reported (any neighbors who might want to blackmail you?) an inspector will come out and fine you $2000 per violation, according to the dcra website. Since any work done without a permit is illegal construction whether it's up to code or not, I guess each permit you should have gotten is considered a violation? Also you may have to pay part of the permit fee. But consider yourself lucky -- in some cities they make you undo all the work and start over!

Easyenough,

Unless someone reports you (any neighbors who might want to blackmail you?) I don't think the city can find out. If someone does report you, an inspector will come out and fine you $2000 per violation. Since any work done without a permit is illegal construction whether up to code or not, I guess each permit you should have gotten is considered a violation? You may have to pay a portion of the fee you would have paid for the permits. Consider yourself lucky -- in some cities, they make you undo all the work and start over!

What happened to the MCM furniture shop that was on a corner in Arlington, VA - where Wilson Blvd meets up with Clarendon Blvd. I went looking for it over Xmas . . . gone gone gone.

Moved?

Thanks AmyV. I'd prefer using permits and this detailing of the stick end of the business is an incentive to start.

When I called Room and Board last week, they said "sometime in 2009" for a DC store. No further details. They said they were still looking. I wonder in this economy.

"Still looking" for a location?

I just had a home energy audit done for my rowhouse (free thanks to pepco!), and I discovered that my house leaks like a sieve. I need to have insulation blown into my attic crawl space and spray foam applied to the underside of my first floor.

Can anyone reccommend a good insulation contractor in the DC (Capitol Hill) area?

(please don't suggest I do it myself, the crawl spaces totally creep me out!)

By chance, does anyone have a white IKEA Hemnes 6 drawer dresser they are looking to sell? They are out of stock at the College park store, and I want to complete my bedroom set.

Thanks!

Leely: What about the Woodbridge, Va., store? The Web site says it's in stock, but I'd call first, because it also says it's in stock at College Park.

Does anyone know of a good home shredder? I need one that's pretty small and I don't want to spend a whole lot ($30). It's mostly for old bills and junk mail, nothing high quantity.

Does anyone know of a art gallery in the District/NoVA for affordable original modern art? I am thinking of

vik,
going to open studios are a good way to find art.
shops such as the pyramid atlantic store in silver spring are good too.

i have a lot of art under 500 if you like glass and concrete relief sculpture ; )

I'm remodeling a small bath that requires a small corner shower.
can anyone recommend a decent prefab unit ( if that's possible)? or do corner tile-ready shower pans exist?

If anything happens to your place like (god forbid) a fire or flood, your insurance company could hold you liable and not pay for repairs.

Emphasizing bedrooms, I wonder if that will be the priority for the Obamas once they settle into the White House. I had some thoughts for the girls' rooms, but I guess the new decorator, Michael Smith will handle that now. Just in case he's reading this thread, here were my ideas: http://www.porterhousedesigns.com/colorsizzle/?p=417

I don't know if this has been posted previously...the World Market store in Germantown will be closing. They are having a liquidation sale. The discounts right now aren't great -- 10% to 30%, but they have plenty of merchandise. A store employee told me the store will be open for another 12 weeks, so if you live nearby it might be worth it to stop in periodically to see if prices have been cut further.

I need to buy an Aerobed... I've heard good things about the one at Bed, Bath & Beyond - but it is much more expensive than the ones at the Aerobed site, Overstock, etc. It looks like the BBB one comes with a mattress pad and a longer warranty (3 yrs), but that doesn't seem worth the extra $50-$100. Is there something special about the BBB model? Thanks!

Does anyone have any info on the local Circut City stores that are closing? Thanks!

All of the C.C. stores are closing, I assume. I went out to the one at Landover Mall on Monday and the discounts weren't tremendous - mostly 10% off electronics like TVs and 20 or so off things like games.

Just to let you all know, during liquidation sales, they usually mark up the prices (beyond the regular markup), then entice people with the % off. You can usually get something cheaper at another store. This happened to my mother when we went to LNT.

The item was $12.99 with the % off at LNT, but was only $9.99 at Home Depot regular price. Buyer Beware!

Room and Board has purchased a building on 14th st already and is probably waiting to see what the economy does. but there are already so many great home stores in DC to choose from: Apartment Zero, Daniel Donnely, DWR, Ligne Roset etc....have you been to any of these?

I have a really quick question that I feel funny asking elsewhere...

How durable are IKEA malm beds? I really love how they look, and if I could afford it, I'd try to find the same bed in solid wood, but alas, I cannot. If cared for (screws tightened regularly, not a ton of moving, etc) do they stand up nicely over time, as nicely as IKEA furniture can?

Re: unpermitted work: illegal work = fines by the city, insurance claim denials, and resale nightmares. Get the permits. A small headache now but it will save you significantly down the road.

Re: insulation installer: did you have a home inspector when you purchased? if so, ask him/her for a recommendation. (Sorry I can't help you other than do it yourself or call your dad... dad's love to do that kind of work for their kids)

Re: Aerobed: I got mine free as part of a grocery store giveaway. It's been working fine for 3 years although it gets used 5 times or less per year. They are very handy to have.

Re: Room and Board: should we start a letter/email writing campaign? I am desparately waiting on the story to open and really don't want to take a train up to NY just to look at a bed....

look at these beds and see who carries them in the Metro DC area:

www.bensen.ca
www.flou.com
www.atlanticousa.com
www.spekeklein.com
www.bludot.com