Time Remaining: 5 days
Last night we slept with all the windows open and the three air purifiers running as well. I was for holding out one more night until the fumes were less, but SKGR said it wasn't so bad and she really wanted to be home. How nice it was. Even without our kitchen, a whole bunch of small punch list items and everything still in boxes, it was absolutely glorious to be home. This weekend, it's all about the nest.
Having dinner across the street last night, Tamara - who I met because she was the first apartment I did for Mission Organization (the orange wall one) spotted us and stepped in to say hello (no kitchen = no cooking). She now lives in a glorious new apt down the street with lots of light.
We chose wide plank (5.5") oak flooring with a deep chocolate stain and Vincent Devaney did a beautiful job with the installation despite the fact that the electricity in the building is so bad, he couldn't use his belt sander or any of his machinery. He worked by hand. The poly seal is waterbased and will be getting two more coats in semi-gloss when the kitchen is done.
This yellow wall will be behind the kitchen cabinets. Peter and Tino thought the color was way too much, which is exactly what we wanted to hear ;-). It's called Nacho Cheese! It is the only strong color in the apt right now and we intend for it to really warm up the room.
Our new rocker was found for the lowest price at Design Public. We chose the Nurseryworks Sleepytime rocker in off-white ultra-suede and with the natural legs. It's much more comfy than it looks.
Ah, our first shower was last night and I finally had the opportunity to buy my favorite shower curtain: the Matouk seersucker (Block Island).
Bill Skinner's great closet makes it easier to reach and organize everything but it is filling up quickly.
A new air purifier we bought which seems to work very well. It's by Honeywell, who seems to have bought up the business.
What used to be a desk is becoming a baby changing station. Note all the open windows.
The baby bed awaits.....
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
props on the bathroom. i'm taking off from work next week to get the bath done for once and for all. yesterday the fabric for my shower curtain came in the mail, although it's hardly as understated and pristine as yours........in fact it's downright gaudy. but i love it.
LOOK at that floor!
I love the bright yellow kitchen.
The real pain with moving into a small space is that you have no staging area for stuff waiting to move in or halfway unpacked -- I think it ends up feeling slow because it's such a little Rubik's cube problem to get it all done in the right order and everything cleared away.
Wow guys, looking great! It must be such a relief that at least you can sleep and shower in your own home. May I ask about the paint color in the bathroom? (My apologies if you have already posted this.)
Love the yellow wall in the kitchen (and the floors too). I've been hoping to do something like that in my kitchen, now I'm psyched.
This is just beautiful. I love the "nacho cheese" color wall and think it will look amazing with the cabinets. And that floor! It's really beautiful and I cannot wait to see the finished nest when the fabulous new kitchen makes its debut. The rocker and baby-changing station warms my heart, so sweet. I recently returned from a 2-week trip and though it was nice to be away, I have to say that it was just so nice to be home.
i feel unbelievably gay for saying this, but i'm extremely jealous of your base moulding... shoulda gone that route. very nice and clean.
It's really coming together so beautifully. Already conveys such warmth. So glad this part is winding down. There is nothing like the relief as the end to living-space-upheaval approaches. Best wishes as you settle in.
Do you have air purifier recemmendations? I live in 560 sq ft studio. and had an ionic breeze..which I liked bc there were no filters and it didn't take up much space. But then I learned that the model I had was not the way to go because it released harmful levels of ozone and HEPA was really the way to go...
Lookin' good!
I love the floor. Also the bathroom.
I have plans to renovate our bathroom (which is about 2 1/2 x 6 feet), but I'll have to see how much of the damage is from bad plumbing throughout the line, and how much is from decades of slapdash repairs from various landlords.
Amazing! I wish you "three" the best of luck, love, and happiness in the new digs. This is truly a wonderful space and I can't believe that you fulfilled your goals on time. I am trying to convince my dh that we (2 parents and 2 preschoolers) can move from a large house to a smaller square foot home to cut house purchase costs. I will be directing him to your site. Again, Congrats on your amazing renovation.
Best wishes in your beautiful apartment. I love the kitchen color. One question-Is this a rental apartment?
The place looks beautiful. Love the floors and the nacho cheese wall. That is the best paint color name ever!
very exciting. the floors are gorgeous and your place looks much like mine at the moment.
i am 97% done with the gut renovation of my studio. thanks to apt therapy, organization and good friends, the process was as painless as it could be, despite waiting for 15 hours for a tile delivery one friday and despite the "white glove" delivery guys dropping f-bombs and throwing all of my neighbors doormats around (in hulk-like rage) while climbing the 5 flights up to my apt with my 30" viking range...note: i felt very sorry and apologetic towards the deliverymen that i lived so high up when they were struggling with the delivery, but when i reminded myself that i was paying top-dollar and that it was THEIR JOB to do such deliveries, and when they ultimately RIPPED THE KNOBS OFF MY STOVE even though they are easily removable, i stopped feeling bad. now i am in a 2-week feud with pc richards for the delay in supplying replacement knobs.
new walls, floors, custom-ceiling, custom-kitchen, bathroom reno, etc alost all complete. i just need the fronts to my kitchen cabinets and the bathroom vanity to be completed. everything should be wrapped up by mid-week next week.
my contractor and his crew were a dream come true. if anyone is looking to do minor to major work on their apt, i whole-heartedly recommend my contractor who is timely (ahead of schedule), honest, fairly-priced, professional, super-skilled and sweet. email nestor kalogrias at creativ.concepts@verizon.net.
i'd like to share my gut renovation with apt therapy (i have before, during and after-ish photographs) and ask for advice on the late game stuff (furniture, lighting, decorations).
i assume i should use flickr - any advice for someone who rarely does this kind of stuff? does it matter that i am a mac user?
So far everything looks great. I like the floor and peaceful bathroom especially.
BK -- am intestested in contacting your contractor. Please let me know which of your
home renovation projects he did.
I am mostly interested in kitchen renovational
work.
Thank you,
Juan
BK -- am intestested in contacting your contractor. Please let me know which of your
home renovation projects he did.
I am mostly interested in kitchen renovational
work.
Woo-hoo to the yellow, which is my favorite wall color after orange. And the floors are amazing. The place already looks fantastic. Congratulations!
Wow! Looking great.
I have no plans to have kids anytime soon, and yet I have been coveting that rocker, just to put in my office or anywhere really. I bet it would be great to read in.
Eileen:
Concering air purifiers/cleaners, we have a Vornado (the bigger model of the two)
It's a taller, "flatter" model than the Honeywells, and replacement filters are less expensive too.
Boony
eileen, i think i have the same one as bobby jones. it's a vornado hepa (vaqs35 it says on top) and we LOVE IT. very low maintenance and it seems to work really well. (this one that i linked may be the same, i can't quite tell from the photo).
on the highest setting it's a bit loud so we save that setting for when we leave for the day but at night we keep it at 3-4 (out of 5) and find that we have become so accustomed to the white noise sound that we cannot sleep without it. we've had it for about a yeare and have been very happy with it.
The bathroom looks very serene, inviting.
juanito - my contractor, nestor, did everything...and you are in luck as kitchens are his specialty - he did custom cabinets for me and the installation of all my appliances, etc...beautiful work and he really knows his stuff...and makes helpful suggestions, while not being pushy...good luck.
...lovely bathroom and floors. where did you find that small sink?
i want to replace mine and the space is tiny...
Team Decor, yes this is a rental. Check some of the other "9 Month Cure" posts. This decision of Max and SKGR was much discussed and ultimately most of us concluded was justified.
BK -- thanks for this. I sent him an e-mail, but will you still be posting the work he did for you?
Hi jimkk-I didn't mean to imply anything about it being a rental. I too have restored a rental. I was just wondering. Thanks.
I am a relatively new devotee so I spent a SIGNIFICANT amount of time today reading all of the previous posts about the renovation - from the very beginning! Seeing the transformation is 100 times more impactful now! I can't wait to see the finished product... and hopefully hear exciting news from SKGR here in the next few days!!
Sorry, just realized that there is another Katie... not that anyone cares besides her but just wanted to clear things up... So the post above is from me, "the other one." Told you I was a newby! ;)
Now the only thing remaining to be seen is the lucky little one who gets to share this beautiful space with you guys. Can't wait to hear all the details! May your next few weeks be *peaceful.* :)
Wow, so gorgeous- the yellow wall, the dark floors, the new bathroom, the shower curtain, the lighting...so exciting. Thank you for sharing this with us. I am inspired.
so great to see you both last night! the apt looks great, and i'm looking forward to seeing the newest addition around the neighborhood!
Tamara!! So cool to see her in Maxwell's Cure update.
It was the Mission Organization episode featuring Maxwell's awesome transformation of Tamara's apartment that led me to the AT site. I was totally wowed by how Maxwell successfully and magically transformed Tamara's apt. into truly a home. Yes, that pumpkin orange wall was simply gorgeous. Plus the sheer curtains dividing the living room from the bedroom. Plus the hydrolic coffee table...
I taped and saved the episode and then decided to find out more about Maxwell, which led me to this great AT community.
In the above photo, SKGR glows. : )
Congrats and good luck Maxwell and SKGR. Can't wait to see pictures of the baby soon.
Tamara,
You look terrific too.
That's wonderful you and Maxwell and SKGR all live in the same neighborhood so you've gotten to see each other even after the tv show.
Do you realize that I caught that Mission Organization episode on cable here in Asia? You and your apt. were seen all over the world.
One of these days I'm going to make it to an AT party in NYC to meet you all in person. : )
The desk has become the changing table. What will you be using for a desk now and how have you handled other displaced functions of the apartment?
I think it looks beautiful. I do think you have to start thinking about where the baby will sleep (hi, smallcitybeth!) in a couple of months. The American Association of Pediatricians does not endorse co-sleeping, although it is very popular is some circles. Is there room for a crib anywhere?
Am I the only one to notice that SKG is a great looking woman?
Love the floors! ...course, they look just like ours ;-)
I am getting jealous at all your progress - we have 6 1/2 weeks to go until our bundle of joy arrives (the ob says he thinks that he will make an appearance 2 weeks earlier, but I am putting my foot down!), and we are still arguing about sinks and faucets. Bathroom demolition has yet to begin. We are at the point of harrassing suppliers who never return phonecalls. And to top it all off, I am being accused of mortgaging our child's future over a thermostatic shower control...(really, it is not THAT expensive). (did I mention that I have developed a blood pressure problem with this pregnancy? I REALLY don't need this hassle right now -- but after the birth, we have to move away on posting for 3 years, and the place has to be finished so that we can get decent rent on it, or sell it of the need arises -- so no choice.)
...sigh...
Funny - I painted our backsplash BM American Cheese about a month ago after weeks of paint stubs on the wall - totally love the Nacho Cheese and I feel somehow affirmed because AC is so similar! Beautiful reno, wishing you continued success with all..
hi,
the place looks great! congratulations and best of luck with the new addition.
i am curious about the lights -- did you buy these at chinatown electric? do you have the manufacturer/model no and approximate cost?
thanks.
The floor is gorgeous, the sconces in the bathroom are beautiful, but what really got me is that sweet little Moses basket in the corner. Just too sweet. Good luck, kids!
I looked at the back posts, but I don't see it mentioned. Who is the tile contractor for the bath tile? I need an excellent tile installer in Manhattan, a perfectionist is preferred. Maxwell, please share!
Wow! people are braging about me, just a reminder for my new email address, verizon screwed the other one up.(creativeconceptsfirst@gmail.com)
also my website, (renovatemykitchen.com)
Thanks, Nestor.