January 21, 2009 by foresthillsnests
So, if you’re hunkering down and staying put in this economy, you can still imbue a sense of the new and exciting into your current abode. Here are a few affordable projects to consider:
#1 - Install a fireplace insert
The image and insert above is courtesy of Rais, a Danish wood stove and fireplace insert manufacturer. While roaring fires in an open fireplace are romantic and cozy, they remove more heat than they create. A fireplace insert essentially closes off the fireplace and serves to create heat in the home. The whole package should include a stainless steel flue liner and a blower to circulate the heat throughout the house. Estimated cost: $5000 – significantly cheaper than a new house.
#2 - Install a backsplash behind your stove
Okay, so I’ve done this one already…and I love it! Measure the area behind your stove and have a piece of glass cut with pre-drilled holes for the screws. We used Stanley Schoen glass at 212.369.4934 – call in the measurements and pick it up on the Upper East Side. Then simply screw in the glass and cover the screws with these Baldwin screw covers. Apartment Therapy has an even easier version of this project here if you hate drilling holes in the wall. You’ll just sacrifice a finished look. Estimated cost – $200, depending on the size and thickness of the glass. Continue Reading »
Posted in Projects | Tagged backsplash, Fireplace, FLOR | 1 Comment »
January 17, 2009 by foresthillsnests
388 Burns Street (see pics and description here) is still available for sale. Note, however, that when it was being marketed last year, the garage was converted into a 1 bedroom rental unit, with the stairway leading from the garage level to the first floor blocked off by a bookcase in the first floor 1 bedroom rental unit. Looks like this irked the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation. On behalf of the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, the president of the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, Bruce Eaton, signed a Notice of Violation of Covenants and Restrictions dated January 25, 2008 which stated that written approval was never obtained from the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation regarding the “Illegal Conversation [sic] to a Three Family Dwelling” of 388 Burns. The Notice further stated that the violation needed to be remedied by February 7, 2008. See the recorded copy of the Notice on ACRIS here.
Interestingly, Bruce Eaton resides at 398 Burns Street. “Illegal conversation” indeed.
Posted in Hot Nests, Uncategorized | Tagged Hot Nest | Leave a Comment »
December 18, 2008 by foresthillsnests
68-16 Harrow is still FSBO and has been renovated and reduced to $639,000 – but only if you haven’t already seen it through a broker. See 6816harrow.wordpress.com for more info and before and after pics.
Posted in Properties, Real Estate Listings, Renovation | Tagged Forest Hills, FSBO, Real Estate Listings | Leave a Comment »
November 7, 2008 by foresthillsnests
After a bumpy renovation process that included our soapstone supplier going out of business and our contractor going to Disney World for two weeks, we finally finished the Arbor Close kitchen. We settled on cork for flooring since it stays warm and is soft and springy. As a bonus, we learned from the builder’s specs of the house (back in 1928) that cork was installed in the kitchen originally.
Since this was our first renovation project, we agonized over every decision and had a heart attack every time something didn’t go right. Now, we’ve learned adjust our expectations and are elated when something does go right! As a refresher, here are the before pics…see the after pics after the jump.
BEFORE
Continue Reading »
Posted in Arbor Close, Properties, Renovation | Tagged Arbor Close, Arbor Close Kitchen, Renovation | 2 Comments »
October 3, 2008 by foresthillsnests
Had enough of this economic mayhem yet? I haven’t. Everywhere I turn, I hear the same facts recited over and over again…Lehman declared bankruptcy, Merrill sold itself, Wachovia sold itself, former i-bankers are now bank tellers. There’s no disputing the facts, but the question is, what are you going to do about it? I’d like to remind you all of a simple principle that people seem to forget during downturns and boom times – buy low and sell high. Go against the grain. Buy when everyone else is selling and sell when everyone else is buying. The tough part is having the stomach to do this. But if you do, these are unprecedented times. Conforming loan limits are still raised ($729,000 or so as opposed to $417,000), but won’t stay that way for long. Interest rates are still low (I’ve got 5.625% on a 30-year fixed jumbo conforming loan) and house prices are rock-bottom. So if you want that house in the Gardens, go make an offer for 20%-30% under asking price and I bet you’ll get a counteroffer.
Posted in Neighborhood, Properties | Tagged Real Estate | Leave a Comment »
September 26, 2008 by foresthillsnests
Check out this video profile of our neighbor Kate Orff and her landscape design firm SCAPE at Dwell Magazine’s website. Look for Arbor Close’s cameo towards the end of the segment. Enjoy.
Posted in Arbor Close, Architecture | Tagged Arbor Close, Dwell | Leave a Comment »
July 28, 2008 by foresthillsnests
Check it out – another Forest Close house up for sale for $990,000. See Terrace’s website – it is the “English Tudor Townhouse”. I’m guessing it’s not renovated.
Posted in Arbor Close, Properties | Tagged Forest Close, Forest Hills | 1 Comment »
July 10, 2008 by foresthillsnests
Sold for $1.06 million – 7% off the asking price of $1,138,000.
Posted in Arbor Close, Hot Nests | Tagged Forest Close, Forest Hills, Hot Nest | Leave a Comment »
