Mid Century Modern Niagara

NOS vintage NuTone model 870 kitchen wall fan for sale

2011-12-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

I picked up this beauty at a local estate sale recently and am excited to offer it for sale, as I already have a range hood installed in my recently renovated kitchen. The unit is new in the box and appears to be complete, although the box is missing it's top. The box includes the exterior wall duct in addition to the fan and motor, wall sleeve and chrome interior grill. The unit is a switch-operated ten inch diameter fan.

New pics of various things.......

2010-07-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

This is a relatively recent pic of the living room. I'm still moving things around and I just purchased a vintage sofa to replace the black banquette. I still have not found the right storage option for my books yet. I've been getting some inspiration for some wallpaper lately, too. The living room wall with the windows would be awesome for a trompe l'oeil of a forest. I like the birch tree wallpaper sold on Anthropologie but it would be cheaper to print dollar bills than buy the wallpaper at full retail. YIKES!

pictures, please.......

2010-04-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

These "afters" are from about two months ago. I've been a bit busy lately.....so much more is finished and it looks absolutely beautiful.

A lot of thought

2010-04-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

went into the design of this house. After living in it for almost a month, I am becoming more and more aware of the integration of the house to it's setting. I find evenings and mornings are something to be experienced. The cross-ventiliation throughout the house is a marvel of good planning. The east-west orientation of the house is ingenious with the home being exposed to summer sun from dawn til dusk. The sound of the nearby cataracts is absolutely intoxicating.....so soothing..... I find that I am getting better rest in this home than any other I can think of since I lived on Lewiston Road.

I have a temporary "working closet" to help me determine the amount of permanent storage space I'll need as far as the closet goes. The laundry room is becoming more and more functional as is the kitchen. The living room and dining room are a work in progress.....I'm still trying to make a good balance of furnishings, textiles and artwork.

I've been too lazy to take photos lately........I'm getting tired of living in a construction site so I'm not too inclined to snap any portraits.

After two weeks of living in the house.....

2010-04-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that I decided to wait on finishing up some of the final detail work. Light fixtures, bath fixtures, closet fixtures, kitchen fixtures, paint. Paint is my biggest struggle right now; the beautiful bright white with blue ceiling in the living room makes the room seem cold and cavernous. All the plush carpets, throws, skins and pillows can't compete with the icy cavernous of that big room. I'm thiking of painting one or two of the walls the same shade of light avocado that I had in the living room on Ferry Avenue. I'm certain that once I have some artwork hanging and all the lighting in place that would make a difference, too.

I'm not entirely happy with my choice of painter. That's all I'm going to say.

The exercise room has taken on the role of "furniture clearinghouse" as far as furnishing the rest of the apartment. There's a lot of stuff in there.....mainly tables and side chairs. I'm torn about what to do with all of it. Do I just store it downstairs or do I turn it into cash to feed my changing tastes? decisions, decisions.

The tenant moved from the lower apartment so the space is vacant. I can't believe that somebody can call a place home for 30 years and never spend a nickel on updating the space. It's like walking back to 1975. The place just reeks of age. My first course of action is to get rid of all the rugs and carpet.

The kitchen is still a work in progress.....the counter has yet to be poured but I still haven't assembled the drawers or doors for the cabinets. The lighting and ceiling are both in but still need to be completed. The tech closet has taken on a life of it's own.........It has turned into a miniature communication/technology hub. It's a neat concept and it keeps modern technology from overwhelming the otherwise period-correct residence.

I'm becoming torn over the second bedroom. I had originally envisioned an exercise room that I could use frequently without hesitation of any sort. On one hand, I'd like to make it into a little den of sorts, maybe even a little home office. I still would like to put the "office" on the sunporch....utilizing the same furniture that I had in the office on Ferry Avenue. The whole office concept runs counter to the tech closet concept, though. I'm hoping to make the office period correct with the collection of old office supplies on display.

Now that I have the entire house to make a home, the possiblities go beyond what I anticipated when I started the purchase process more than fourteen months ago.

Time sure flies, dudn't it?

laundry room progress

2010-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

The laundry room was a second bathroom with a stall shower, small vanity and toilet. The wallpaper was original as was the black rubber tile floor. The shower was porcelain tile set in concrete set in a steel mesh with a lead drainpan. The new laundry room will reuse an old kitchen cabinet. Floor is white porcelain tile....matching the bathroom floor.

kitchen progress......

2010-03-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

kitchen progress

2010-03-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

bathroom before and in-progress

2010-03-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

A personal crusade

2010-02-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

I've worked in government sales for a large "not for profit" HMO in New York State. I made the company MILLIONS of dollars in lucrative Medicare Advantage program sales. I was injured in an automobile accident while working almost a year and a half ago. I was denied the proper care for my injuries from the day I filed my workman's compensation claim. My employer was also my insurer, which continued to deny necessary medical procedures. I was terminated from my job for exhausting my short-term disability benefits. The cervical disc surgery that I've been fighting for was approved the next day. I can't collect unemployment due to my injuries. In the meantime, I cannot pay my mortgage, credit cards, car payment, etc. I am going on public assistance (I've also applied for permanent SSD benefits due to a non-related disability.) I have become a ward of the state and the so-called "not-for-profit" company I worked for is totally within the realm of the law.

If you think you have liberties in this so-called "great country" of ours, think again. I'm thankful for living close to the border with Canada to realize just how broken the so-called American "health care" system actually is. The current system is no better than genocide administered by the health insurance industry. Fortunately, if I am ever denied care due to lack of coverage, I can always cross the border and be given proper care by a society that takes care of it's citizens, unconditionally.

If we don't act now, our future will be one that we will look back upon one day and realize just how uncivilized the United States of America society actually is. HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT......not a privilege.

How long will it take for the citizens of this country INSIST that we take back the country for WE THE PEOPLE?

Park Place historic district

2010-02-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

I attended a meeting a couple nights ago regarding the Park Place historic district, which includes Fourth street. Apparently, there is already a movement to get the area on the New York State and United States register of historic places.

How does this affect the house? One, being that the house is a "contributing factor" to the neighborhood (711 Fourth is the last home built to qualify for that distinction) will qualify for tax credits and/or rebates from New York State and from the IRS. That's the great news!

The other news is that the house is under strict guidelines as to any exterior modifications that can be made. Tom Yots asked me what I was planning on doing to the exterior of the house. I told him that I plan to keep the cedar siding intact. I have an interview on Tuesday with the director of Center City Development to see if I qualify for $25,000 in grants and/or low-interest loans to make repairs to the house. I am hoping to be eligible for funds to replace the balance of the windows on the house (there are thirty-three of them.) I am also looking to cover the soffits/ trim with white aluminum. A new garage door is in order, as well as a new back door. I am hoping to be able to restore the rotted wood section on the facade just below the row of four awning windows on the first floor. If there is any money left over, I plan on having the chimney repaired as the mortar near the top is completely gone is some places.

As far as landscaping, I'd like to do something a bit different than is already extant. I plan on keeping all the trees on the property, but I'd like to utilize ornamental grasses to give the property a more casual atmosphere. The tall bushes that front the sidewalk are history. I'd also like to create a patio in the front of the house, in lieu of the front porch that most of the homes on the street have. I have a pretty clear vision of what I'd like to do. Keeping the house "preserved" as much as possible while making it visually appealing will be relatively easy.

I've been rather neglectful

2010-02-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

It's been some time since I've been here to "document" the saga of this house. I've been dealing with things on a more personal level lately so I've not had much time to dedicate to the progress on the house.

Let's see......the bathroom is tiled and is being grouted to this day. The kitchen is ready for finishes. The electrical has been mostly finished.

Tonight I attended a meeting regarding the historic designation of the neighborhood. I met Tom Yots, who heads up the preservation and historical designation efforts. I met my neighbors, too.....but I don't remember their names. I've been so absentminded lately.

The bathroom has turned out quite nice, thus far........my only concern is the finish on the edge of the tiles between the toilet and tub stalls. I'm not sure if I'm going to like the end product. Everything else looks great, though.....the mirror makes the tiny space seem so much larger, as does the grid pattern of the subway-style bathroom tiles. Even the "baseboard" of floor tiles has turned out beyond expectations. I'm very happy with the progress and the results thus far have been rather extraordinary.

Now I can't wait for the kitchen to be done.

I can see the cheese!

2010-01-29T19:59:00.000-08:00

It seems like this purchase/renovation has been going on forever.......actually, it has been about a year since I first looked at the house on Fourth. So much has happened over the past year.......I was out of work due to an accident......I went back to work......was out of work again for accident-related injuries.......have fought with my employer to pay for surgery for my back.......only to have them terminate my employment effective 2/10/2010......three days short of my six-year work anniversary. In the meantime, I bought a house that needed a hell of a lot of work to even make it partially habitable.

Well, I had originally planned to do a good chunk of the renovation work on my own but since I have become incapacitated I have had most of the work done for me by Sean Mort of Progressive contracting.

Now I'm broke....my credit cards are maxed out and I am unemployed and unable to collect insurance because I am not "ready, willing and able" to work due to my injuries, which my former employer has been denying my services for the past year, saying that I had a pre-existing condition. Ironically, I found out yesterday that workman's compensation is going to pay for my surgery after all.......perhaps it was my call to my case manager at work. I still believe there was a conflict of interest in the way my case was handled, but I just want to get my life back to normal, albeit an unemployed normal.

I can say with all my heart that I have absolutely no respect for Excellus.....Lifetime Health Companies.....for the way that the company has ruined my life in the course of only one year. Apparently, my former boss has cancer; I can only hope that the company treats her as poorly as she treated me when I was laid up due to a work-related back injury.

The kitchen ceiling

2010-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Larry and I had dinner at Billy Reed's tonight.......as we were drinking in the atmosphere of this old-style Palm Springs dinner house (think mid-seventies faux victorian......ferns and fake gaslights and lots of golden oak) I noticed the ceiling........knotty pine planks with an edge bevel mounted end-to-end. It's the kitchen celing! The wood at the restaurant had been varnished to a high gloss and a deep golden amber color. It made for a very warm and cozy atmosphere, even though the combination of oak and pine made for a "wood overload." I can see the wood in the kitchen making for a warmer, homey atmosphere.

I am soooooooo jealous!

2010-01-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Larry and I decided to get away for a mid-winter escape to Palm Springs. I am sooooooo jealous as most of the homes and architecture in this rather sprawling place are mid-century or southwest influenced. The city is very "calm" feeling, probably due to a very strict signage code that prevents any large roadside or building-mounted signs. The cars are all neat and clean (and rust-free) and the mountains surrounding the city are absolutely gorgeous. This is truly a laid-back, vacation-resort kind of place.

Would I ever consider buying a vacation home here? Of course! :)

Ah.......the aroma of fresh-cut pine!

2010-01-14T19:23:00.000-08:00

The knotty pine planks for the kitchen ceiling were picked up today; Sean pointed out that this wood was not intended to be used for flooring, since only the side edges are tongue-and-groove, not the ends. Of course, this means that the boards will not interlock now when placed end-on-end. How was I to know?

The wood is very light and very aromatic and loaded with high-quality deep, dark knots.......just as I had hoped. The wood surface itself is sanded but not overly smooth. I plan on oiling the ceiling to give it a coat of protection from kitchen grease; I really would like it to darken a little over time but not too dark. Seeing it and the concrete countertops acquire a patina over time will be great. The natural surfaces of the counter and ceiling will be a nice counterpart to the shiny white ceramic tile of the floor and the blue, green and white glass mosaic of the walls. The shiny chrome fixtures will be like jewels against the warmth of the wood, which will cover the entire ceiling and soffit.

Sean also made a suggestion that I will pursue once I have the wherewithal; insulate the underside of the sun porch and use the same pine planks for the ceiling outside, since they will be sheltered......the addition would be very inexpensive and will save a ton of money as far as heating fuel goes.......it will look great, to boot.

a photo is worth a thousand.......

2010-01-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Another view of the rear of the house; there is paved parking for five cars off a paved alley. Trash pickup is back here too. The big tree to the right side of the photo is a Chinese Elm that has since been cut down. I remember looking at the house with the realtor and the neighbors next door, looking out their dining room window; pointing up to the tree and making a strange face.

The light gray siding hides what was at one time one hell of a water leak. The dressing room is just beyond the small square window upstairs......the baseboard in that room was rotted to powder.

The backyard is nice in that it has a smaller, secluded area in the L of the house.

The last photo was taken in the spring.

progress is a fine thing

2010-01-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

The drywall and plaster work is in progress now...perhaps this signals the end of the demolition work and the beginning of finishing work. The kitchen is the most changed room in the house, although the laundry room (replacing bath number 2) is the most drastic transformation, space-wise.

The latest pix show the entry to the kitchen from the living room, which was moved about eight inches to the left and opened up to the ceiling. The other pix include the newly drywalled kitchen, the repaired firebreast and the former shadowbox in the dining room wall.

The cutout section of wall in the third photo is the location of a "landing" area cubbyhole for keys, phone, ipod, bluetooth, etc......the space will include an electrical outlet to charge such devices. The closet behind the cubby is going to be the "brains" of the house; it will contain the modem, wireless router and security system; nicely concealed out of sight.

the house.....it is a'changin'.

2010-01-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

I stopped by the house today to check on the progress of the work. My first thought was "how the hell could anyone endure a renovation in an occupied home?" The place is a mess....sawdust and plaster dust everywhere. The eight-foot-long icicles made the house as uninviting from the outside as it is from the very stark white inside. I'm looking forward to moving in and warming things up a little.

I am marveling now at how the small detail changes are really going to make a HUGE difference in the house. I thought of eliminating the door and trim from the entry to the dining room, but it would be too much work at this point.......the drywall is already up in the kitchen. I was noticing the ceiling lines of the dining room and the newer, wider, relocated entry to the kitchen with a higher, matching ceiling line. The pine plank ceiling should visually lengthen the already very long vista from the foyer through the kitchen. The stove will be THE focal point of the living space to the right of the entry. Low-key and elegant but stunning nonetheless. I'm really looking forward to seeing the mosaic tile on the kitchen walls, too!

What else.....I'm still looking for progress on the utility area in the front of the house. The laundry room is roughed-in but the bathroom is still rather forlorn...I suppose I'll be a bit more excited once the drywall is up and the tile is finally laid. I haven't even enjoyed the new wall-to-wall in the bedroom area yet.

I'm still on the fence regarding the living room floor. I may have a little extra cash once tax-time rolls around, so I may end up installing a real cork floor after all. With the thought going into the detail of the rest of the apartment, I'd be a fool to settle for anything less than what I really want. The faux-cork vinyl I purchased is going to look a bit out of place next to the new marble thresholds to the kitchen. Not to mention the collection of new rugs that I've compiled over the past eleven months or so.

I'm finally feeling like there is light at the end of this endless tunnel!

Thank you, Apartment Therapy!

2010-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Again, I've been inspired by the idea of being able to share my home with others who appreciate the same combination of textures, colors, collections, interests. This is a chronicle of my purchase and restoration of a multi-unit home in a historic section of the city of Niagara Falls, New York. I love Western New York because we have all the amenities that the most cosmopolitan of world cities has within an hour and a half drive. My weekend home is an hour to the north, the city of Toronto, Ontario. For those of you who last journeyed to Toronto during your high-school field trips, I urge you......Go....Go to Toronto. There's so much to do, so much to see......and it's right across the border. Larry and I would love to meet you for lunch if you're ever in town!

the first floor apartment

2009-12-31T16:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't mentioned the first floor office/apartment area too much in all the excitement surrounding the renovations of the house. Let's just say that the first floor will need a gut rehab when I do finally decide to do some work on it.

As it is now, the apartment is rented as an "office" by a man who has lived there for thirty years. He has a living room, a bedroom, a tiny little kitchen and a split bath; tub and sink in one room, sink and toilet in another. There are also numerous closets and a big storage area. The walls are covered primarily in knotty pine paneling and the ceilings are covered in acoustic tile. The floor has the original carpeting over concrete. It reeks of age.

When I have the wherewithal to do the renovation, I envision either an in-law apartment setup or a "quiet retreat" area. The idea of storage also crossed my mind, but I'd rather use the space for living area. The total area is about 600 square feet.

Details, details, details......

2009-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

Love the details. As work progresses on the Fourth Street renovation, Sean has been open to and has even suggested many custom touches. For example, I mentioned the other day about doing a solid wood ceiling in the kitchen. After discussing the way the boards will fit into the existing finish, he suggested a soffit covered in stainless steel.......what a GREAT IDEA! To save on cost, rather than using stainless steel, we decided to cover the soffit with the same knotty pine wood as the kitchen ceiling. I'm thinking that the warm pine of the ceiling will offset the hard surfaces of the rest of the kitchen. The ceiling will also butt against the original wood sliding window that is being retained in the kitchen.

New dilemma.....what color to paint the lone plaster wall in the kitchen? Common sense is telling me white-ivory. My expressive side is telling me bright-yellow, lime green or tangerine. I'm planning on warming things up even more with kitchen accessories and potted plants by the window.

Perhaps "birch tree" wallpaper? I'm thiking of doing the same thing in the vestibule on the first floor. Urban outfitters has a wallpaper photo-mural that covers a large wall with an actual view of a birch forest. I like the idea as it fits the "aerie" theme of the apartment. The apartment will be a very bright and spacious nest.......elevated and secluded from prying eyes.

I was at Gui's lumber today to purchase the durashield panels for the shower walls in the bathroom. Sean discussed the mounting of the sink and the mirror in the bathroom. The towel hoops I ordered from Rejuvenation.com may need to be placed somewhere other than I had planned......perhaps a bit higher, mounted to the plaster rather than tile.

Speaking of tile, I am still undecided about the placement/pattern of the bathroom tile. The tile is white railroad tile with a black trim and white mortar. I'm thinking either vertical or horizontal grid-style instead of bricklayer-style. I thought maybe herringbone or basketweave, but that may be too difficult to. I have to check with Sean to see if its doable.

I'm still deciding on a final window-treatment for the house, although the pleated shades I bought from JCPenney will be used in the meantime. I would like to go with something period correct, yet attractive and easy to use.

Inspiration.......

2009-12-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

I find inspiration in beautiful rooms is a great way to decide what suits my taste the best. I love this bedroom featured in Metropolitan Home several months ago for several reasons.......I find this room to be very serene and calming in the mix of muted colors and soft, luxurious fabrics. The colors are masculine yet elegant. The details are outstanding as well.......the spot of color in the light blue of the coverlet on the bed......the contrast in textures of the nubby-textured headboard and the lacquered bedside tables with sleek and shiny lamps is very pleasing to my eye. I could spend many relaxing hours in a sanctuary such as this. With the fabric panels on the wall, I imagine that this space is very quiet, too.....the use of luxurious materials to make an impact is simply inspiring.

It's a work in progress

2009-12-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

When I was fourteen years old, my parents purchased a landmark home in the DeVeaux area of Niagara Falls, New York. The home was the Dr. and Mrs. Scott residence and office on the corner of Lewiston Road and Van Rensselaer Avenue. At the time, the house needed quite a bit of work. I remember my Mom saying "yes, it needs some work, but we can do it over a period of time." That period of time was about three months prior to our moving in to the imposing twelve-room brick and slate home.

Although I was only fourteen, I learned a lot from that renovation.........the carpenters, plasterers, glaziers, painters, plumbers and electricians were all true craftsmen who took extreme pride in their work. A lot of care was taken to make sure that any renovations respected the original character of the circa 1927 home.

Ironically, I signed the contract on the Fourth Street residence on March 26......my birthday. The contract was signed 28 years to the day that my parents bought the house on Lewiston Road. The price I paid was also the same price that my parents paid back in 1981........Niagara Falls is well known for it's low cost of real estate. The amount of work that I am putting into the Fourth Street home is a lot like the work that went into the house on Lewiston road. When I purchased the home, I was very much aware that the house needed a LOT of work. My real estate agent, Robin Radomski or Great Lakes Real Estate, said "this is only the second time I've told someone that they were crazy for buying a certain house." I didn't care......the house met all my criteria; mid-century, open, one-level floor plan, mostly original finishes, and above all, affordable. This renovation is a labor of love as much as a home renovation/restoration. I am passionate about mid-century modern furnishings and design and this house allows me to express my passion to the nth degree.

Being that the home is in a designated historical area, I am proceeding forward with the intention of making very few changes to the exterior of the home, although I do plan to re-create some elements of the home's design that were never executed to plan when the home was built in 1952. I am also planning on upgrading the landscaping and setting of the home, as the years of benign neglect really show on the exterior of the home.

The siding is a "combed" wood shingle siding that has weathered quite nicely to a silvery gray-brown over the years. I am keeping the siding as-is. The soffit and exterior trim at this point is a mix of kelly green painted wood trim and white aluminum and vinyl replacement pieces. Since the green color will be difficult to replicate (the cost of custom wood replacement windows would probably exceed the cost of the home itself) I am anticipating making all the exterior trim white, as the replacement windows that were already in place are white vinyl.

I would also like to note that the renovations/restoration was done to a cost. In many cases, I could have purchased higher-price finishes for the home. I maintained a critical eye toward quality but have been able to find, in many cases, low-cost alternatives to more expensive finishes such as cabinetry, flooring, plumbing fixtures, and so on. My only regret to date is that I purchased a vinyl cork-look floating floor for the living area that I am going to return to Home Depot. I am going to buy a cork plank floating floor like I had originally envisioned. I also splurged on lighting fixtures from Rejuvenation.com. The photo above is the "cove" fixture of which I purchased five in polished chrome for the kitchen.

Collector = pack rat

2009-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'll admit that I have an obsession with my collections, although it's more a compulsion.....I'm not the type oif collector who goes on a shopping trip looking for one thing in particular. I have many collections......when someone asks if I am looking for anything in particular, my answer is always the same...."yes, I am.......I'll know what it is when I see it."

The accompanying photo is another one of my on-again-off-again collections; vintage health and beauty - pharmaceutical supplies and packaging. These items can usually be found for a buck or two apiece. My fascination with them is how primitive these remedies seem considering that many of today's treatments are so much more effective than what could essentially be labeled "snake oil remedies." The other surprising element about these little time capsules is that so many of these vintage items are still produced. Some things never change, I guess.

I bought a great cabinet from Ikea to display my entire collection.......I'm not quite sure yet where I am going to put it yet. I just want to get these little gems out of storage and on display where they can be enjoyed and appreciated.

Insulation has become a new priority

2009-12-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

BRRRRRRRRRR............nothing makes winter more unbearable than knowing that my gas utility bill will be TRIPLE what I was paying in my current apartment. I'm thinking that my next priority after moving in will be insulating the entire house. Perhaps I'll qualify for a grant from the City of Niagara Falls??????? BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

more about the house

2009-12-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

The exterior of the house is rather deceptive. From the street, the house looks like a small center-entrance traditional home. In actuality, the house is most unusual.

The main residence is located on the second floor. It is accessed through either a rear service staircase that comes up from the first-floor utility room and garage, or through the main entrance. The main entrance consists of a small vestibule on the first floor with a winding staircase to a small foyer in the second floor apartment.

The first floor office is accessed through the main entrance which faces Fourth Street. There is also access to the first level by way of a back door out to the first floor utility room and garage. The office is currently used by a thirty year tenant who owns the very well-kept multi-unit home next door at the corner of Fourth and Pine.

Speaking of pine, the first floor office consists of two main rooms with knotty pine paneling on the walls and a series of smaller utility rooms and closets. The unit is functional as is but is in dire need of updating. Once the current tenant decides to leave, I will renovate the lower apartment with more modern amenities and technologies.

Being that the historical district has strict regulations on modifications to a home's exterior, I will be very limited on the amount of change I can implement outside the house. The home needs to be insulated with blown insulation and the kelly green wood trim needs to be replaced in many places. The entire front of the home needs to be landscaped. I am also condering building on a pergola-trellis that was planned for the front of the house but never executed according to the original blueprints. I would like to have white aluminum trim on the soffits, but I'm not sure if I am able to change the color or not. I will see about staining the original shingles and replacing ones that are in disrepair.

The double hung windows on the second floor are all newer replacement vinyl. The original custom-size windows are all still original and many need to be replaced. There are at least twelve single-pane "awning" windows that need replacement and the six casement windows in the sun-porch need to be replaced, too. I am planning on using insulated glass on all new windows as the house is like a seive, energy-wise.

Life in Western New York

2009-12-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

I'm "home" in Toronto for the weekend thinking of how fortunate I am to live in this part of North America. The proximity of Niagara Falls is less than many American's one-way commute. The cost of living is still very low and the people are the best in the world. I love where I live and the people in my life.....thanks to all my friends for making Western New York and Southern Ontario the greatest place to live in North America. I love it here!

The rental fell through

2009-12-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

Bad news bears......the tenant I had lined up for my apartment called today to express regret at not being able to wait as long as needed for the renovations to be finished. I don't see being able to move in until February, with my pending surgery. I've been stringing them along since June. I would have given up a long time ago. Anyone know somebody who might be interested in a spacious two bedroom with large living room, large eat-in kitchen, beautiful condition including a basement family room, large fenced yard and garage parking?

So much news.......

2009-12-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting the chronicle of the renovations lately. Let's just say I've been preoccupied (and probably will continue to be) with some health issues. I have a lot to look forward to!

What's been done lately? Lots.......
All of the interior demolition is complete. The bathrooms and the kitchen have all been gutted to the studs. All the electrical in those areas has been replaced with new wiring that is up to current code standards. The bookcases in the living room have been removed. The closet in the dressing room has been removed. The shadowbox in the dining room has been removed. The door to the kitchen from the living room has been moved to accomodate the refrigerator, which will replace a pantry closet in the corner of the kitchen.

Laundry room.......currently in a rough finished state.......finishing plasterwork, electrical and flooring need to be completed. Hanging cabinet to be installed once large opening in ceiling is filled with drywall.

Bathroom....about half finished. Still needs drywall on one wall and in the tub area. Entire bath needs to be painted or tiled, including the floor. Medicine cabinets, mirror and lighting fixtures all need to be installed.

Bedrooms....both rooms are pretty much complete with the exception of some closet painting in the exercise room.

Dressing room....in a rough finished state. Carpet is installed, but walls still must be finished with plaster and some bits of baseboard. New light fixture to be installed.

Foyer, Living room and Dining room......in a rough finished state. Flooring is not yet laid, yet most of both rooms are already painted, including the robin's egg blue ceiling. The water damage above the fireplace, the scars from the removed bookcases, the former shadowbox space and the entryway to the kitchen all have to be finished. Some minor pieces of baseboard are missing.

Kitchen......the hub of construction activity at this point. Walls are still down to studs, but drywall is in process. Subfloor yet to be resurfaced. Wood plank ceiling to be installed. All cabinets to be assembled and installed. Concrete counter top to be poured and installed. Tile to be laid on floor and on walls. Applicances and sink to be installed. Walls to be finished and painted.

Sun Porch.....pretty much complete except for the installation of some shelves in front of the windows.

Entry Vestibule (first floor)........Keeping existing birds and butterflies wallpaper. Stair runner to be removed.....solid oak stairs to be cleaned and kept bare. Onyx tile floor to be installed over concrete in main vestibule. Baseboard trim and stair railing to be painted. Ceiling to be painted .

First-floor utility room.....old deep sink removed. Plumbing capped off for future use if desired. Entire room needs painting, floor covering needs to be installed.

I suppose that I just wrote a punch list, but there are some other detail projects that will probably commence over the next several months......replace all interior door hardware. Refinish and replace all interior HVAC vents. Install new lighting fixtures throughout. Install window treatments throughout. Maximize closet space through use of organizers.

On a high point, I must remind myself that 95% of the supplies and materials and finishes for the house have already been purchased. I also have to remind myself that I must pay the contractors, including Sean, Tony, and Brian, not to mention the Moving Man.

The carpet has already been installed, most of the interior has already been painted, and the state of the art security system has been installed by Doyle Security. As Sean put it "This is NASA technology!" I have to say that the new electronic security technology is pretty amazing!

At this point, I'm going to say that I will be moved in by February or even March. The thought of moving in midwinter is really not very appealing at this point.

learning through frustration

2009-12-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

I'm going to chronicle the restoration process starting today, although the work is well underway. Work is being done by Progressive, aka Sean Mort of Niagara Falls, New York. Electrical work performed by Tony Paretto, Master electrician, City of Niagara Falls, New York. All work that has been completed to date meets or exceeds current city codes for plumbing, electrical and structural elements. No structural walls have been removed. Thanks to AtomicIndy for the inspiration to actually work on this after all this time.

Winter exterior photos

2009-12-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken in March, 2009. The exterior is actually well-preserved considering the age of the home and the period of benign neglect it had endured for many years. The shingles are a "combed" wood. The forest-green painted wood trim is mostly original, as are the green-painted windows. The white gutters, soffit trim and windows are all newer. The house has a multi-pitch flat roof that is covered with newer rubber. The original blueprints are on the premesis.

Restoration versus renovation

2009-12-15T03:17:00.000-08:00

Restore or renovate? Decisions, decisions, decisions. The Fourth Street neighborhood has been designated a historic area within the city of Niagara Falls. I am not aware of the bylaws governing the district but I assume that, like most historic districts, the exterior integrity of the home must not be changed.......the interior is pretty much mine to do as I see fit. I'll present a slew of photos of the renovation in progress.

A done deal!

2009-09-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

Finally! Commitment from the bank and all purchase pre-requisites are met. May the work begin!

Sean Mort will be contracting most of the work. I am really excited to have Sean's vision and knowledge to help me make the most of this renovation. Now the real test......can it all be done before October first?

I'll be posting photos on a regular basis to show the work in progress.

My philosphy has stayed pretty much the same on this project; to use low-cost materials to create an atmosphere of quality and style. I already have all the fixtures, cabinets, paint and flooring purchased. The only thing I really have left to buy is a dishwasher for the kitchen. I am planning on buying a Bosch brand dishwasher as the entire line has a stainless interior and is highly rated by all consumer magazines and surveys.

What else? Stay tuned!

light at the end of the tunnel

2009-07-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Finally.......
A commitment from the second mortgage company (Banas mortgage in Williamsville......excellent to deal with) and a resolution promise by the seller to take care of the occupancy permit for the house. My only concern is that the entire staff of the City of Niagara Falls Buildings and Permits office is on suspension pending the outcome of a bribery investigation. Only in Niagara Falls, right?

I'm hoping to have the keys by the end of next week, although I'll be in Montreal for Divers-cite events. I suppose Mom could start on the work, right?

...the saga continues...

2009-07-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

Let's see......the sale still hasn't closed yet, but the seller has at least made an effort to ensure the house has a certificate of occupancy, although the 29-year tenant of the first floor "office" may be forced to leave. Oh, well.......that will leave more to renovate, but I can use it for storage in the meantime.

The ball is in my court now; Banas mortgage in Willliamsville is working on getting a lender to give me the cash to make the deal. I've already purchased flooring, paint, kitchen cabinetry, light fixtures, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, window treatments.....the whole nine yards. Pretty much all I have left to buy are the slate for the vestibule and the ceramic for the kitchen floor.

Perhaps my next update will be a happier one? I hope so.

and so it goes......

2009-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Well, the issue now is the financing and the backlog of mortgages that the banks are processing. I'mhoping to know by the end of the week if the owner will hold the mortgage until I can get the financing through the bank, which is going to take about eight weeks! F.....er, Yuck!

The seller did indicate that he wants this deal to proceed asap and was very apologetic about the whole title farce. It turns out that the "liar" that I've been dealing with who claims that he is the "owner" only has a very small minority interest. The actual owner is an investor in Buffalo. As I'm out of town for the week, I'm hoping to have some clarity by next week at the very latest.

I have the contractors lined up and I'm ready to purchase the materials to get the work done.....I'm also anxious to have a sale on Ferry Avenue to sell off a lot of the furnishings and collectibles that I don't plan on taking to Fourth Street. It's going to be quite a nice sale.

Will this house EVER close?

2009-06-16T17:41:00.002-07:00

I spoke to my attorney today regarding the sale of the house. The seller hasn't supplied a title or abstract yet, nor has he rectified the zoning issue at City Hall. My bases are covered, as far as I'm concerned. The financing is a go.....the contract is legit....I'm ready to take possession of the house as soon as possible. I have the feeling that I won't be closing until August. That thought turns my stomach, as I wanted to have the work done over the summer and be in the house by August. I want to see how badly I might need to save up for central air conditioning.

Will this house ever close|?

2009-06-16T17:41:00.001-07:00

The saga continues.....

2009-06-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

.....my offer on the house was accepted back on March 26th (my birthday.) I am still waiting on the seller to provide the title and abstract to proceed with the sale. I am also resolving the financing issue in my own way; I'm using a different lender.

In the meantime, the new fixtures, finishes and such continue to pile up in my garage. I would have already ordered the flooring, but I'd rather have it delivered to Fourth Street instead of hauling it over in my car. The ceramic tile is the same story. And the kitchen cabinets. And the paint.

I'm so anxious about this....I just want to get in there and get the work started! While Brian is doing demolition work, I can start painting the bedrooms, since they need nothing. Ditto for the living room. I'm going to ask Sean to cover the dining room shadow box and widen the laundry room doorway FIRST, before starting the bathroom and the kitchen. If I can get the place completely painted (except for the kitchen and bath, of course) I can get the flooring down, the window treatments up, and start bringing things over. I don't imagine that I will be closing much before the end of July. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!

I picked up a few new things

2009-06-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm still getting anxious and I'm getting antsy since I still don't have an answer on the closing and th title and such. Oh, and the financing, too.

I bought a couple metal wall sculptures, a george nelson "style" ball wall clock and a couple dozen half-mirror lightbulbs for the sputnik fixtures. The total cost was about $530. One of the sculptures is a 3-piece brass "starburst" design with "bursts" ranging in size from eight to thirteen and a half inches. I'm going to put them on the fireplace after it is painted in a bright, gloss turquoise color. The other sculpture is a white powder-coated steel item comprised of flat steel disks and half-globes mounted on white steel rods......it resembles a tailed comet. Its fifty inches long and 27 inches high. I plan on mounting it in the living room above the sun porch windows. The ball clock can go anywhere since it is a quartz clock.

I opened the accordion shades yesterday and "tried them out" on the windows in the apartment.....they look so much more expensive than their 19 dollar price. The fabric is very high quality and the entire blind is a crisp, cool white. I love the top-down bottom-up feature. I'll probably keep them top-down halfway most of the time since they would act like cafe curtains and block the view inside from the street. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the windows between the LR and the SP. I also need to pick up something for the hallway window at the top of the back stairs. I'm planning on mounting modular shelves in front of the windows on the sun porch, like I have in the front window of the office on Ferry avenue. The colored glass will be the "window treatment" in this room. I can't wait to see how it will look since there will be room for more glass items that I currently have on Ferry avenue. I think there are five or six windows in the sun porch, with each having a shelf that will hold one or two pieces of colored glass, that means that I could display up to 36 pieces of glass if I use three shelves per window, or alternate 3-2 on the windows......It's going to be absolutely stunning!

That tree

2009-05-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

It's a Sunday night, late......and I can't sleep. Larry is already in bed but I'm having a hard time finding mister Sandman. Hopefully the 5http will kick in soon. In the meantime.......

.......the giant chinese elm tree in the backyard needs to be cut down, pronto. Sean said it will run "a couple thousand" to remove it entirely. Figures.....another expense. Speaking of expense, I think I may be replacing my washer and dryer with a more compact stack unit. As it is, I already have to widen the doorway since it's only 24 inches wide.

The window treatments for the kitchen and the living room and dining room have been delivered. I thought I ordered for all the windows except the bedroom......I'll have to check the order. The kitchen blind was delivered last week. I also received the faucets for the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and the ceiling fixture for the bathroom. I'm still undecided on the sconces for the bathroom.....I can replace them later on when I find exactly what I like. The ones from Sattelite are awesome but rather pricey. I'll see how much money I have left in my budget once the bulk work is done.

I'm dying to order the tile and sinks for the bathroom and the kitchen. I'm also getting antsy to order the kitchen cabinets and the range hood. Same goes for the flooring. I'll be keeping the folks at Home Depot busy for a month or so.........I need to buy paint, too.

Oh, yes.,......bathroom cabinets. I was thinking of ordering a few stainless steel ones from Ikea, but I may end up going with something a little more "domestic." Ikea has a high wall-mount cabinet in white laminate with plenty of glass shelves. I think it's designed to hold CD's but it would be great in the bathroom as a toiletry cabinet.

What else....furniture is on my mind now, too. I almost ordered a bench for the bedroom dressing room but now I'm not really sure what layout I'll use for my closet system. I may end up putting the chest under the window as I originally planned with the Ikea Stolmen units on either side of the entry door. This would give me more storage space but I won't have a "lounging" area like I planned. As if I would ever "lounge" in my dressing room.

Good night.

Still waiting......

2009-05-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

......GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR! I heard from my bank today regarding why my mortgage is being held up. Apparently, the appraiser has an issue with the fact that the home is zoned as single family residential, yet it appears that the house is currently used as a two-family. DUH! It's only been that way for the past 30 years!

Why is it that I feel that the house of my dreams is going to go by the wayside due to a technicality that has been identified by a mortgage appraiser? If anything, the bank should be happy that I am able to generate some extra income from renting out a few rooms in my house. What a shame.

I'm hoping to hear a resolution by tomorrow. I've already ordered materials for the renovations, so if this deal falls through I'll truly be screwed.

I'm hoping for the best.

This is excruciating!

2009-05-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

I received a call from the bank today to let me know that the appraiser wouldn't appraise the house as a single family, even though the first floor unit has no full bath, the street is zoned single family residential, and the listing was for a single family residence. What gives? I'm going to stick to my guns and insist that the appraisers "opinion" be changed to reflect the eyes of the law. If the house is processed as multi unit, I would have to come up with close to $18,000 just to close. That would blow my entire budget that I have set aside to do all the work the house needs. AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!

So many decisions, so little time

2009-05-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to worry.....I have to pack my entire apartment. Thank goodness I can keep most of the stuff in the basement since I'm not selling the house on Ferry Avenue.

As far as finishes and such, I've changed my mind a hundred times about flooring and such. I was going to put ceramic tile in the kitchen but now I realize that it's going to cost a bundle, on top of having the cabinets, counter and backsplash installed. Basically, the kitchen is a gut rehab. I'm going to explore the possibility of the Ikea black and white laminate for the kitchen....it's very inexpensive, very attractive and suited for the kitchen. As far as the countertop goes, I'd like to go with concrete, but I have the feeling the cost is going to be a bit more than I can afford. I may end up going with a solid wood countertop, courtesy of Ikea, of course!

I've already ordered some things online......I ordered pleated shades for all the windows except for the bedroom. I ordered a kitchen and a bathroom faucet from an overstock website.....the prices were unbelieveably low. I ordered the dining room light fixture from CB2, and I am planning on placing an order for the living room and dining room flooring, bathroom sink, and range hood from Home Depot online. I have to go to the store to buy the bathroom tile and paint.

As far as photos, nothing has changed as of yet....as soon as the work starts, I'll be posting pix to show the progress and the time it takes for each project. I'm getting excited and nervous at the same time. What else is new?

I decided on a bedroom carpet

2009-05-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I had Home Depot come out to the house to measure the bedrooms and the bedroom hallway and dressing room for gray "roll" carpet.....it's only 87 cents a square foot! I got a call from HD today to tell me the total would be $996! Now all I have to do is decide the floor for the living/dining room. I'm leaning more toward the Trafficmaster Allure in "cork." Why? I was enjoying my current living room last night and was marveling at the warmth in the room despite few items of warm color in the room. It's the floor that makes it so warm and natural feeling. That's why I'm leaning more towards the cork floor. I want the new house to have the same feeling as this one, but on a much larger scale. I don't imagine using much more furniture than I am already using.....it's just going to be spread out over a larger area. I'll be able to appreciate it more.

I stopped by the house this afternoon just to air it out. I pulled the refrigerator away from the wall and pulled off two of the doors leading to the kitchen to see what it would look like with the doorway opened up and the refrigerator moved across the kitchen.....it makes the kitchen seem so bright, spacious and open. The dark cabinets looming on the walls don't make it any better. I also realized today that the floorcovering and the wallpaper are dark and dreary as well. The kitchen will brighten right up with a coat of fresh paint, some crisp white ceramic tile on the floor, and white cabinets with a gray concrete countertop.

The countertop! Yes, the countertop.....I want concrete....I stopped at Sean Mort's yesterday to see his kitchen and bathroom installations of concrete. I am thoroughly impressed! Sean's bathroom countertop is absolutely stunning.....it's gray and shiny but it has surface imperfections that add so much character to what would otherwise be overly sleek and cold. The concrete actually adds warmth to the room. I only hope that the cost isn't so high that it blows my budget. I think I'm going to have Sean do the work regardless of what I do with the counter. Believe it or not, I still like the idea of a wood countertop or even Corian. Wood would give the kitchen so much warmth and character....it will be a great contrast to the cool blue, white and green glass tiles that I'm using for the backsplash. The range hood will end up being the focal point of the room, centered at the end of the long, narrow kitchen. It's going to look incredible!

It's late Sunday and I can't sleep

2009-05-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

SIGH....the melatonin hasn't started working yet. Perhaps the fact that I slept until almost six pm today has something to do with the fact that I am an insomniac lately. Or maybe it's something else.

It's the house....I am thinking about it constantly as it is constantly evolving. I may have mentioned this before, but I am gradually making fewer and fewer changes to the interior of the house. Main reason? Of course, it's the cost. Second reason? I'm finding a whole slew of high-quality, high-end-appearing materials at rock bottom prices. The bedroom carpet is a case in point....same with the bathroom tile......and the laminate floor for the foyer, living room and dining room. It's going to end up costing me far less than I originally anticipated, meaning I'll have more money to work with in doing the kitchen and bathroom and some additional furnishings specific to the house, like the closet shelving system from Ikea that I fell in love with this past Friday. I'm planning on an open closet in the dressing room, using the STOLMEN closet system from Ikea. It's really hot....it reminds me of high-end retail store fixtures. It will force me to keep my closet and wardrobe tidy and in good repair. My shoes will always be polished and no more wire hangers!

Notebook!

2009-05-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

I showed Larry a sample of the laminate floor I like and he says it looks like an old school notebook.....everyone knows the black and white kind. It does! I'm going to refer to it as notebook from now on.

Flooring quandary

2009-05-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

I'm at an impasse as far as flooring goes for the house. I originally decided that I wanted real cork floors throughout the entire house, but the cost if prohibitive. I have a fifteen thousand dollar budget to work within, and I have to say I really enjoy the challenge of having to come up with creative and affordable solutions to my budget.

Since the cork floor thing didn't pan out, I looked at "Trafficmaster Allure" vinyl (I think it's urethane) plank flooring at Home depot.....the "cork" one looks wonderful....it looks just like the real thing with a subtle texture and warm, honey tones. At $2.19 a square foot, it's about half of what other comparable floors cost. For the bedroom, I decided to go with carpet since it is, after all, the most affordable flooring choice, but I don't want it in the living room and dining room. I got prices on carpet from a local flooring store and the cost for carpet for the bedroom and hallway would run around a thousand dollars. I stopped at Home Depot again to see what "roll" carpets they had available.....you know the roll carpet....it's the cheap stuff that slumlords buy and put in all their rental properties. Well, I was surprised to find a 100% nylon loop carpet in shades of charcoal with a subtle basketweave effect.....it's very rich looking and the color is exactly what I was looking for. The best part? It's 87 cents a square foot! Bingo....I have the carpet for my bedroom, hallway and exercise room picked out.

Today I stopped at Ikea in Burlington to get some ideas for the bathroom. I'm still deciding what to do with the dressing room area of the bedroom and the bathroom. Well, I was surprised to find out that Ikea sells laminate flooring in an array of attractive patterns....they don't have cork, mind you, but they do have this awesome black and white "terrazzo" style laminate. It's absolutely beautiful and exactly what I would pick for the living and dining room, cost no object. The best part? Of course, the price! It's $1.29 per square foot, Canadian......it will come in at just around $1.00 per square foot once the exchange rate is taken into consideration. I now have my living room and dining room, bedroom and hallway flooring picked out.

The kitchen is another story.......and the bathroom. I've decided to go with white ceramic tile in two-inch squares for both the kitchen and the bath. I'm waiting on a price for installation to determine whether it will be viable in both areas, but the cost is only $2.25 per square foot for the materials and the white will never go out of style.

I bought a house!

2009-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Let's see....what was I talking about? Oh, the work that the house needs, right? I'll get to that in a minute....I want to keep a chronicle of things that I've purchased for the house on Fourth since I first saw it. I bought an aluminum and glass vintage ceiling fixture on ebay. I bought a Bernhardt burled maple bachelor's chest from TJMaxx for $199! It was a steal...the same one online retails for about $900. I bought glass mosaic tile in turquoise, mint green and white for the kitchen backsplash....i ordered it from Mosaic Tile Supplies and it was only $2.39 per square foot. The colors looked rather dowdy online but in person they are absolutely spectacular. I must confess that I first bought it to cover the firebreast, but I'm going to do something more substatial than I can afford at this time, so I've decided to wait on the fireplace tiling. The other thing(s) I bought are four original Bjorn Wiinblad posters from a dealer in Denmark, ala Ebay. The posters are absolutely magnificent....one could be classified as "breathtaking," based on my Mom's reaction when she saw it for the first time. The total cost with shipping was about $250.

Okay, now that I have that off my mind....what work does the house need?
1. New bathroom, except for medicine cabinet, tub and toilet.
2. Remove second bathroom and convert into an ensuite laundry room.
3. Remove existing closets in MBR dressing room and replace.
4. The kitchen needs to be gutted and completely refurbished with new counters, cabinets, flooring, lighting, backsplash, and so on......it's by far the worst room in the house.
5. The house needs a couple new windows, although upon closer inspection, two of the biggest ones are actually in very fine shape.
6. The wallpaper in the entrance hall needs to be removed, although after looking at it and deciding that it is in pretty close to mint condition, I've granted it a reprieve.
7. The bookcases in the living room need to be removed. I later decided to keep them. I have since been convinced by Sean Mort to remove only the one closest to the foyer. Brilliant idea!
8. The door between the kitchen and living room needs to be closed up. I've since decided to open it up into a passage instead of a doorway so the beautiful new kitchen will be visible from the foyer.
9. The entire apartment needs new flooring.....with the exception of the sun porch (which needs a little bit of cosmetic repair in a couple of spots.)
10. The entire apartment needs to be repainted....no exception.
11. The shadow box in the dining room wall needs to be covered over. I haven't changed my mind on this one.....it's hideous.
12. The house needs all-new window treatments.
13. The house needs all-new lighting. The current owner replaced every fixture with a current "boob" fixture. I imagine they cost about three dollars each; they're awful!
14. The house needs all new door hardware. Some idiot painted over the current ones. Yes, it was the prior owner who took the term "whitewash" a little too literally.
15. The fireplace has a leak at the junction of the roof and the chimney needs some mortar work.

What else? Well, nothing! It's all cosmetic, basically. I figure I have the wherewithal to do it. I'm finding out that some things are going to cost me a bit more than I expected....like flooring. It's expensive!!!!!

2009-04-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've been here, but I don't like the fact that facebook technically owns all postings. I'm going to chronicle the renovation of my new house on this website.

A little history....the home I'm in is at 2205 Ferry Avenue in Niagara Falls. I purchased it about five years ago. It's all brick and was in incredible condition for a two-family. I paid $53,000 for it at the time. I thought this would be the last house I would buy, but since purchase, my collection of mid-century modern furnishings has grown and grown and grown. I now have so many great pieces that I decided it was time to find a new home for the collection.

I wasn't really actively looking for "a home." I was looking for "the home." I had a pretty long list of requisites, some of which I didn't meet. The house had to be built during the thirties to the sixties. The house had to be of the "modern" style......no colonials, no cape-cods, no mass-produced rancher. I wanted something unique and unusual. I got it in spades.

When I found the house on fourth street, I knew it had been on the market for a very long time. I checked it out a while ago and the original list price was about $139,000. The photos of the interior made the place look like an absolute dump. I was intrigued by the fact that the house was a "one-of-a-kind," "custom built," with "in-law apartment." I drove by the house and immediately forgot about it. Until about six months ago......I'd say about a year had lapsed since I first drove by it.

I had been thinking about buying another home lately, since the economy tanked and the real-estate market dove even lower than it had been. I decided to look at the house again, but this time I wanted to see the interior. I was still very much intrigued. Fortunately, I was able to cash in a good chunk of my retirement fund before the market hit bottom. I've also spent the past two years paying down my credit cards and improving my credit score. I now carry a balance on only one card (versus six a year ago) and my credit score is over 700 for the first time in my adult life. It's a perfect time to start looking for a new home, I thought.

I looked at the house without the aid of a realtor....I honestly had no idea I would be wanting to put in an offer on the house as soon as possible. Needless to say, I fell in love with the house because of the layout and because of the neighborhood. The price was astoundingly low, as well, considering the poor condition the house seemed to be in upon first inspection. I called Robin Radomski the next day to ask her if she'd represent me in a purchase and she was much obliged. We went back the following week to look at it again and Robin said she thought I was nuts because the house needed so much work. I was still in love with the layout, though....and the neighborhood.

Let me talk about the neighborhood for a minute. Most of you think that Niagara Falls as a city is an absolute disgusting, cesspool shit-hole of a city. Of course, that's to an outsider. Those in the know see Niagara Falls for what it is; an old city with a lot of history that just needs a "good polish" to really shine. Niagara Falls is a struggling rust-belt city that has been mismanaged for the past forty years. Over 65% of the population of about fifty thousand is on some form of government assistance. The average home price is probably less than sixty-thousand dollars. Some of the neighborhoods in the area still have lovely homes that are lovingly kept. DeVeaux, Cayuga Island, Orchard Parkway, Buffalo Avenue, and Park Place - Fourth Street are the notable neighborhoods with a nice stock of larger homes. The taxes are higher than other parts of the city as well and the homes are well-kept for the most part. The Fourth street neighborhood is about 85% well-cared for, with the property at 711 Fourth being the most neglected in the neighborhood, maintenance-wise. The other homes are all large, traditional, tudor, colonial, or Italianate in style. The average square footage of the homes on this block and Park Place is probably around 3500 square feet. The taxes start at $3,000.

My home is the 711 Fourth street property. It is the only "modern" home on the block and is rather unusual in that it is completely covered in unstained cedar wood siding. It's the only house on the street with a flat roof. It's the only house on the street without a basement, and the only house on the street with an attached garage. Very modern, indeed! It was built in 1952...."the golden age of home building" as the home inspector called it.

How much work does it need? I'm going to take a little break now because the list is long. I already had visions when I viewed the home for the second time....and third time....and when I signed the contract and when my offer was finally accepted.....on my 42nd birthday, March 26. The price? exactly $60,000!!!!!

Back in a few!

A good find!

2008-11-20T07:03:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like the feeling of finding something that is so unique and so well priced. Yesterday I made a trip to the Farmington Antique Mall south of Rochester. The place is huge with over 1000 quality dealers. I have to keep my trips there infrequent as the quality of the merchandise is usually top notch and I can always find at least one item that is a great deal.

Yesterday I picked up two great items. The planter on the left appears to be made of copper but is actually pottery with a matte copper glaze with an orange & brown abstract overglaze design. The pieced is marked "Sascha B 093" in black on the bottom. I collect Sascha Brastoff pottery and this is the first time I have seen this design. The usual Sascha B designs are high-gloss with lots of gold and very detailed painting. This piece seems very primitive compared to the usual pieces.

The bottle on the right is a Blenko free-form bottle that is blown rather than molded. The bottle stands about eleven inches high and has a ground stopper and pontil with an acid-marked "Blenko" stamp on the bottom. It's a great form and it's the first piece of acid-marked Blenko I have in my collection. I have many other Blenko pieces but they are all molded items and none of them have the acid mark on the bottom. Purple isn't my favorite color but this is such a neat item I made an exception to the "no purple" rule in my house.

It's been a while

2008-11-14T21:07:00.001-08:00

Hi. I know that it's been some time since I've published any new photos or written anything new, but I've been really busy with work and such. It's open enrollment time, therefore I'm working long days and my evenings are spent in relaxation mode. the bedroom ceiling project is on hold until I have the patience and the desire to get it done. The ceiling fixture for the bedroom arrived this week; it's another sputnik fixture just like the one in the kitchen, albeit smaller. I also ordered a new rug for the kitchen. It's very art deco and rather elegant, if I might say so myself. Wait til you see it. I can't wait!

yes we can!

2008-11-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

I am still in a state of euphoria as far as the election last night. America will become a united nation again, rather than the divided one we are now. Last night brought us one step closer to liberty and justice for all.

the launch of sputnik I

2008-11-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

The problem with changing something as simple as a light fixture is that it always leads to other projects that you never knew you had. take my kitchen, for instance.

I replaced the fluorescent tube fixture with an authentic Sputnik fixture. I also replaced the switch with a rheostat to keep the ten light bulbs under control. Now I want to paint the ceiling. The current citrine shade is a bit dated all of a sudden. I now have visions of a pop-inspired yellow, orange and red bullseye painted with the fixture as the center. The rest of the room will be painted a gloss white. Appliance white, if you will. I'm only talking about this now, but I have this vision, you see, and it involves making the kitchen more living-room like. I see a sleek banquette against the wall with my saarinen-inspired tulip table and three eames-style fiberglass bucket chairs with eiffel bases.....the colors? Yellow, orange and red, of course!

the sputnik light

2008-10-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

I'm going to hold off on photos until the fixture is installed. I still haven't decided where the sputnik 10 will hang. I think it's going to end up in the kitchen. I hate to sacrifice authenticity and get rid of the dual doughnut fluorescent fixture currently hanging in the kitchen. I remember removing the godawful ceiling fan as soon as I bought the house. I wanted to go authentic. I did.

Now it's time to go the way I like. I'm hanging the sputnik10 fixture in the kitchen. I'm sure i'll be able to find the chromed-ball light bulbs somewhere. I'm going to hang the same fixture but smaller in the bedroom. The fixtures are pure class. Wait til you see them.

OCD can be good...

2008-10-26T17:06:00.001-07:00

I chuckle to myself every time I open the door to my "clothing" closet. You know, clothing, as in "the fancy work clothes."

I never knew the difference between clothing and sportswear until I worked at Saks. That was seven years ago. I have since become a clothes snob again, but unlike my last clothes-snobbery phase, I am now a sportswear snob. My point? I'm not too excited about my clothing wardrobe. It has to do with the mundane; work, dinner with family, travel to visit relatives, and even *gasp* estate sales. I'm far more excited about my sportswear wardrobe.

Why? Well, it's my weekend wear. The funny thing is that most of my wardrobe is in Toronto. I don't take nearly as good care to ensure that it is stored in neat rows and in orderly fashion. Yes, the shirts are organized by "theme" as is the denim, but I am not as "curatorial" as I am with my clothing.

Perhaps it's because of my "joie de vivre" attitude about my weekends, which I truly live for. ....and am obsessive about...and during which I am excessively compulsive in my actions. I suppose it is OCD. What a wonderful thing!

I'm turning into Martha

2008-10-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

I realized today that I am turning into Martha. Reading her magazine for years led to one fascination: storage organization.

Now I find that I am "decorating" my closets with fashionable baskets and boxes to hide all those little things known formerly as "clutter." I've even decorated my drawers, for chrissake! Take a look at the drawers in the credenza in the living room. I have my ephemera collection stored here; it's perfect for paper documents since most of them can lie flat, hence no bent corners.

My point? Do you think I have a case of OCD or is it just an addiction to design and aesthetic style? I like to think it's the latter.

Martha would be so proud.

Insomnia

2008-10-22T20:39:00.001-07:00

I can't get no sleep!

I've come to the conclusion that I have OCD. Just look at my closets and storage areas. It's sick. Remember the film Sleeping with the enemy? Well, I feel like the guy who loved Berlioz.

All kidding aside, I am very proud of my organizational skills. My being able to "work smarter, not harder" has made me successful in my career. I feel that organization in all aspects of life (especially in the home) is a true sign of happiness and contentment.

Look at the photo of my corner table in the living room. The table itself is an incredible piece of danish rosewood by Sibast. It has a laminate top that slides, ala 007, to reveal a secret liquor compartment. Very Ian Fleming. Very elegant. This was one of my first "refined" purchases in which my collector taste shifted from kitch to luxury. I graduated from UB at the time and felt that I graduated in life as well. Everyone has their own midlife crisis; mine is called Mid-century modern.

The ceramics and glass on the table include Bitossi Rimini Blue items...a bank in the shape of a cat, a bulbous vase with a long slender neck, and a huge lampshade that serves as a very impressive objet d'art. The glass canisters are contemporary Schott-Zeisel.

The books? They're from the Albright-Knox art gallery....art books written in German. A sure-fire way to help me fall asleep. G'night.

Ah, to dream!

2008-10-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well, a lot has transpired since my last post. I suffered the embarrassment of not making the final cut in the CB2 contest. I figure the judges were looking for budget-looking themes. I have to console myself somehow.

I finally started the bedroom ceiling project. I picked up the batting tonight only to realize once I got home, that I couldn't find the staples for the staple gun. UGH.

I improvised a tile with masking tape and it turned out beautifully. I have to stretch the patent for it to look it's best, so the staples are going to be necessary. I decided that once I hang them, they will line up with the two balinese reliefs hanging on the wall. The tiles happen to be within an inch of the size of the black and brass reliefs. The continuity in the frames to the seam will be attention to detail at it's finest. Like the matched fabric panels on the bed. Wait til you see it!

I'm planning on a little change in the kitchen....a detail change that will have a profound effect on the contemporary aspect of my current apartment. Can you spot the proposal in the images above? One is before the other is after. The finishing touch? A cork-tile floor for the kitchen.

Ah, to dream.

the gods are in the details

2008-10-10T05:00:00.001-07:00

Mies was right. Details make the room.

A sure-fire way to determine what your place REALLY looks like is to take a photo of it and look at it closely in large format. You'll notice things that you may not have seen from your normal, everyday perspective.

Take this bedroom photo for instance. An earlier photo taken from the same angle showed off the bed and the padded wall. Everything seemed in perfect order. Au contraire. Closer inspection of the photo showed a rumpled bed skirt, sloppily hanging on the bed. My Mom said it needed to be ironed. That doesn't surprise me.....she irons everything.

My solution was to pin the same fabric used on the wall and valances to the existing bed skirt. This covers the unsightly rumpled poplin with a heavier silk fabric that hangs straighter. It also creates a continuity in the room that shows attention to the details.

I'm going to do a bit more work in the bedroom soon. Let's just say that it involves yards of black patent. Stay tuned for photos. I think it's going to be simply stunning.

too random with no coordination

2008-10-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's how my place was described today by an astute observer on one of my favorite websites. I guess "you can't please everyone so you got to please yourself." Thanks, Ricky.

I suppose the choice of photos on the website don't necessarily show a flow from room to room and the colors do seem a bit disparate. When seen together, the rooms do indeed flow, due to elements other than color. For example: this photo of the kitchen looking toward the living room is tied together by the sheen of the vinyl floor and the similar smooth texture and color of the hardwood floor in the living room. In addition, the blonde oak furniture in the kitchen ties in nicely with the light wood on the eames-inspired cabinet in the living room. The interior of the kitchen china cabinet is painted red. The vibrant color ties in nicely with the red of the abstract painting hanging on the wall in the living room. I call it "visual flow."

You know, those darn critics can be so harsh.

I'll bet his favorite color is lavender. I detest lavender.

what came first?

2008-10-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

The chicken or the egg?

After seeing this painting I believe the answer can be "both." When I look at this painting I see two big chicken legs with an egg yolk firmly planted between them. Believe it or not, I had already eaten lunch when I had that thought.

I picked this up today along with three other amateur paintings at a tag sale on Troy Del Way in the upscale Buffalo suburb of Williamsville. The owner of the home was the artist and he painted them in 1970. He actually won an award for this one. I would guess that it was probably an award for the most unusual abstract painting. I should have asked him if it was LSD or Hash that brought about the inspiration.

inevitable change

2008-10-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't it somewhat ironic that the possessions we treasure most are usually the ones we've most recently acquired? Looking back at the photos of the apartment four years ago is a study in how tastes evolve over time. I'm certain that four years from now I'll look at the photos taken recently and think that my taste at the time was so primitive.

The color of the wall in the living room is very close to the actual hue. The rug is my first handmade. Believe it or not, it's from Ikea. The plum colored chair is part of a set with the sofa. The chair is in great shape. I keep it in storage for the most obvious reason; the color is ghastly. The ever-present blue bottles are already arranged in front of the window. I like to call this my "fireplace" since the bottles look like natural gas flames. I tried the same display with warm color bottles but it just didn't look right. The mural painting behind the sofa is the same view of Istanbul that hangs above the sofa today.

The second photo shows the green chair again, this time with the ottoman visible. The lines are more pronounced when you see the chair from this angle. It reminds me of a captains chair on a spaceship. The 3-arm floor lamp behind the chair is a "faux" arredoluce lamp. Some of the drawings and advertising mockups are now on the wall behind my desk. The red and black peruvian pot is visible alongside another piece of "red and black." The screaming orange-yellow chair in the foreground is a Selig bucket chair with heavy woven wool upholstery. The legs are square chrome tubes. Very space age.

The last photo is the bedroom.
This is the same view that now shows the Corbusier lounge. The chair is an
exaggerated "hollywood regency" style....wasn't it "french provincial" when it was in vogue? The relief plaques are still in place as is the valance, albeit covered in a more contemporary fabric. This photo makes evident the "oriental" theme of the bedroom. Of course the theme now is pretty much the same, albeit much sleeker and more polished.

About the chairs: they were my parent's chairs that were purchased in 1958 from Mendelson's furniture store here in Niagara Falls. They were part of a living room suite of extravagant french provincial furniture. I'm certain it was elegant at the time. I had the chairs (this is one of a "bookmatched" pair) reupholstered in a black corduroy-style fabric. I did this while in Chicago and couldn't afford to have them done in black leather. The original yellow silk upholstery had deep button tufts all over the back rest. You should have seen the 3-piece sectional in robin's egg blue. And the elaborate pineapple base cocktail table with the pink marble top. Or the immense "picture window lamp" of a young woman looking desperately lost. The shade is a silk monstrosity of pleats, swags and tassels. It's still in Mom's living room.
Some things never change.

underground haven

2008-10-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

When I bought the house I was fascinated with the basement....high and dry and half finished. The rubber tiles on the floor made it seem so clean and dry. The half of the basement that was finished was at one time a beauty parlor. There is a shampoo sink still mounted on the outside wall. I've since disguised it with a cabinet that better blends with the theme of the room.

Theme? I would have to say "chrome and black." The furnishings are primarily metal-base pieces. This not only gives the room an airy look, it's also relatively waterproof (no, the kilim on the floor isn't waterproof.) Just by chance is how I accumulated the pieces. When I purchased the Knoll-style black vinyl sofa and chair, it was because of their lines, not their chrome frame and black leather appearance. The Wassily chairs came from the same estate as the Corbusier lounge in the bedroom. I kick myself when I think of the "petit comfort" chair I left behind.

By coincidence, the Eames pieces in the background happened to be metal as well. I originally bought the Aluminum Group table for the kitchen but it became lost in the rather large room. The chairs are two of three that I picked up from an antiques dealer in Rochester (the chairs are covered in deep blue vinyl with black trim.) The chrome and smoked glass cocktail table in the foreground came with the sofa and chair. The maroon Saarinen armchair is from an antiques dealer in Toronto. None of these items were purchased with this room in mind. Most of the furniture was in storage until about two years ago and each individual piece just happened to work so well together....perhaps our tastes really don't evolve much over time.

I have to mention the textiles since they comprise most of the interest in what would otherwise be a very boring, antiseptic room. The rug is an authentic afghan rug purchased on ebay. The matching pillows are from Target. The green "pythagoras" look-alike fabric shown upper right left is from Ikea. The red and black vessel on the table is a peruvian pottery piece. It's part of another collection.

What's behind the fabric curtain? The door to the electrical closet; someone kicked a hole in it and I desperately wanted to hide it.

elevation of style

2008-10-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

Looking at the before photo of the bedroom below, taken about four years ago, is a study in the joys of color. I've always been a fan of bright colors, coordinating unusual combinations found in items that I like. The pillows and the comforter on the bed, for example, coordinate with the lamps and pottery on the night tables as well as the artwork hanging on the wall.

My fondness for vintage fabrics shines through in the before photo. The patterned pillows on the bed are all made of vintage fabric purchased from estate sales. The patterned rug on the floor is also vintage....a bit threadbare, but vintage nonetheless.

Fast forward to the after photo. Elegance and sophistication are the rule. The blonde bedroom suite was the catalyst to really transform the bedroom into a sanctuary of calm and repose, versus the rather exciting color scheme of the before photo. Exciting? Yes. Restful? Absolutely not!

I don't know where the idea for the padded wall came from, but it certainly turned out well and it was very inexpensive. The costliest aspect of the wall was the vintage patterned silk fabric that graces the four lower panels.....it's the same fabric that covers the window valances shown elsewhere.

I'm particularly proud of this room. Why? It's a "wow!" room that never fails to elicit oohs and aahs from visitors. The best part about it is that the total cost of everything in the room, including the Corbusier chaise (I bought it used, of course) was less than seven hundred dollars. That, to me, is truly comforting.

evolution of style

2008-10-08T17:32:00.001-07:00

How often have you looked at a photo of yourself only a couple of years ago and wondered "what was I thinking back then?" Well, that's how I felt when I came across some photos of the house when I first moved in. It's truly amazing how much difference only four years makes!

The photo on the left was taken from the same spot four years apart. Rather than spot the differences, can you spot any common elements in both photos? About the only thing I can see that is common to both photos is the bookcase that is visible in the background of the after photo and the bottom right corner of the before photo.

I still remember when I acquired the green chair. I was living in a loft apartment in Indianapolis and was driving past a little antiques store when I spotted the chair and ottoman out front. At the time I was a bit short on cash, so I stopped to inquire about the chair, hoping that it would be ridiculously low priced. No such luck. I asked the dealer if she would be willing to do a trade for a comparable item....she seemed interested. I rushed home and loaded the two armless swivel chairs into my car and brought them back to the little shop and held my breath. Fortunately the dealer loved the swivel chairs as much as I loved the green chair. It was mine and didn't cost me a penny. As a bonus, I finally was able to find a use for a pair of chairs that I really liked but didn't have a home for.

The chair is in mint condition. It is labeled "Rowe." I imagine that it dates from the mid to late sixties. The other items in the before photo are my collection of Maddux of California pottery...so cheap and so cheerful and so colorful. I still have the collection, it's just packed away. I think the low console that the pottery is displayed on is still in my basement....or maybe not. I do know that it is a danish modern-style portable television stand. I had no idea of it's origin until I saw an ad for one in an old Better Homes and Gardens magazine from the 1960's.

The clock on the wall is a cheap reproduction of a George Nelson clock in polystyrene plastic. That same clock is now hanging in the entrance hall sporting a stark white paint job.

Where did I get the Eames chair? Well, it was the grand prize in Highbrowfurniture.com's "Love at first sit" sweepstakes two years ago. Needless to say I was ecstatic and dumbfounded that I was so fortunate to win something so extravagant. The lamps in the second photo are a Lightolier by Gerald Thurston floor lamp with table and a genuine Luxo lamp in chrome. I turned the shade up on the Luxo lamp to act as a torchiere of sorts. I have an affinity for lamps....a friend of mine commented on seeing the forty or so lamps in my basement, "you're the Imelda Marcos of home table lamps." I beg to differ. I like to think of myself as someone who appreciates seeing things in a beautiful light.

sanctuary

2008-10-08T12:43:00.001-07:00

Comfort. Serenity. Warmth. Characteristics of a true "sanctuary" from the stress of the day. That's how I'd describe the bedroom, my favorite room in the house. The calming dove gray color of the walls, the light mocha carpet, the tailored yet overstuffed bed linens, the cream-colored alpaca blanket and the upholstered wall behind the bed all combine to create an atmosphere of serenity and calm.

This room had the potential to be rather stark due to the muted color palette. The furnishings and accessories in combination with a few areas of bright color make the room elegant and intriguing at the same time. Black highlights stand out against the muted tones.

The bedroom suite is blonde limed oak with bronze-colored hardware. The unique "quilted" design of the hardware provides an elegant counterpoint to what would be a very severe suite of furniture. The Corbusier chaise and lucite and brass table relieve the severe lines of the oak furniture. The window valances are new and custom made to fit the windows.....the rather exaggerated scroll design provides another unique counterpoint.

A friend of mine commented on seeing the wall behind the bed, "How Trading Spaces!" I don't know where the inspiration came from, but the treatment is so simple and creates such a major impact. The squares consist of Andersen ceiling tiles covered with cotton batting and silk fabric. Velcro strips hold the squares in place on the wall. It really was that easy; and very inexpensive.

The statue on the table is from CB2....it reminded me of the ruins of Angkor Wat, hence the trained vine that envelops the statue to create a unique vignette of a once-undiscovered lost civilization. The black lacquer and brass reliefs on the wall are also inspired by far-eastern culture. Most of the accessories in the room show the same exotic influences.

ablution style

2008-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Bathrooms are banal places. Fixtures for the necessities in life stand arranged according to function, in most cases. White porcelain predominates. Changing the look of a bathroom can be a challenge but is well worthwhile.

I spend the first and last minutes of my day in the "necessary room." I want to be in a place that puts me in a cheerful, sunny mood and makes me feel good. Bright light color and bright white light make preparations that much easier. I read an article once that stated that a bathroom should be "as bright as a dermatologist's office." I tend to agree; hence the four seventy-five watt bulbs in the fixture over the sink, and the rheostat to adjust the brightness. Yellow (again?) is the color of choice, not so much because I like it, but because it matches the tile on the floor.

Luckily, the bathrooms in this house were well preserved. I prefer the bath in the lower apartment because it has full-tile walls around the entire room in a gorgeous matte yellow glaze. I've managed to "make do" with the white, turquoise, sage green, forest green and yellow tiles in the upper bathroom. All the colors combine to make a stunning combination that, surprisingly, works very well.

I've always been a fan of chrome; hence the awesome "tray" fixture that holds an adjustable mirror and has two adjustable shelves for display. The chrome cabinet is from Ikea, enhanced with decoupage vintage pharmaceutical labels from my ephemera collection. Real seashells and coral add visual interest as does the two black and white prints hanging on the wall. The prints are part of a set of amazing turn-of-the-century Milton Bradley lettering boards used to instruct graphic artists. Each print features a different city in addition to the alphabet. My favorites are Buffalo and Toronto with Chicago a distant third.

My inspiration for the room came from a photo of a bathroom in Claridge's hotel in London....the room struck me as very clean and sleek and bright and modern, yet comfortable enough to relax in. As a friend of mine once commented upon seeing the bathroom, "I wish I could live in here."

seasonal decorating

2008-10-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

To most individuals, the words "seasonal decorating" conjure images of red and green, not to mention orange and black. My Mom has a wonderful saying that is her mantra in the days following the year-end holiday season, "no more red, no more green."

To me, seasonal decorating means the changing of accessories and textiles to celebrate the season. Western New York is fortunate to have four very distinct (and yes, sometimes extreme) seasons. I like to think of two two types of weather: the "warm" seasons of spring and summer and the "cool" seasons of autumn and winter.

My living room typifies my philosophy on changing colors to suit the season. Summer is hot and sticky. Being in a cool-colored room makes the heat swelter a bit less. The warm weather room is decorated in primarily cool colors: blue, turquoise, green, black and white. The accessories are chosen to impart the same feelings; glass is usually clear or blue. I have a neat collection of Swedish glass that has the appearance of ice. Orrefors and Iitala are two names that are known for that kind of "chunky" glassware. The pillows are an easy change, as is the artwork on the walls. The biggest change and the one that has the most impact is the rug.

The cool weather room is meant to impart a feeling of warmth and coziness. Natural fibers in coarser textures make the room appear more casual and hence, warmer. Sheepskins cover cold leather surfaces. Pillows are bigger and softer. Artwork is primarily in warmer shades of red, yellow and orange. The difference in the feel of the room is stunning. Although none of the furniture is changed, the room feels like an entirely different room. (sharp eyes will notice the Eames low cabinet is not present in the warm weather room. That's correct; it's new and it's staying where it is.)

Why bother? The change makes me feel good and the colors either warm me or cool me psychologically. I also have an opportunity to circulate accessories from my collection. What better reason could a collector ask for?

so many collections...

2008-10-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

...so little display space. I thought my place was rather "uncluttered." That is until Larry came to visit. I remember his comment after seeing my Mom's place for the first time, "Now I know where you get your fondness for tchotchkes." I was devastated. I had already pared "down to the basics" as far as the items I had always displayed with such pride. I realized that I was afflicted with the desire to see all my favorites. The problem is that every item in every one of my collections is my favorite.

The credenza was an early purchase from an estate in Amherst. Ednalouise estate sales conducted the sale; Charmaine and Diane are fair dealers who are always a pleasure to do business with. The sale was at a home that had never been updated since the early sixties and it was absolutely LOADED with Danish teak in absolutely flawless condition. I bought the credenza without haggling since I had been looking for one for over a year (I mean, an affordable one.) If I had the money at the time, I would have bought the drop-front desk, or the bedroom suite, or the table and chairs. Everything was pristine and fairly priced.

The easy part was filling it. Which collection to display? Today's display pieces are a collection of Sacha Brastoff pottery, a collection of Steuben vases (recent purchases,) a collection of art glass paperweights, and a collection of carved balinese figures. I have to exhibit restraint, lest I be accused of harboring tchotchkes.

The lamp is a laurel "mushroom" lamp....I almost got into a fist fight over it at an estate sale. It's from the same sale that the white and blue wool "Karastan Collectibles" rug came from. It's the rug in the summer living room photo. The red art glass ball vase is a contemporary Czech piece by Beranek.

The Wright Cabinet

2008-10-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the famous Wright. The less famous Wright was Russel, mid-century designer extraordinaire. Author, designer and engineer, his name is synonymous with the term "casual living."

Most famous of Russel's works is the line of pottery for Steubenville Pottery, American Modern, introduced in 1939.

American Modern liberated the American housewife. Formal, victorian standards of housekeeping were quickly becoming outmoded soon after the depression. The pessimism of the depression led to the promise of a bright future that would be everything modern. Many scholars credit the depression with sparking the craze for "modern" in American design...out with the old and in with the new was the order of the day.

The line was originally available in several somber colors including chartreuse green, bean brown, seafoam, coral, and dove gray. These colors in combination will always evoke early modern design.

The cabinet pictured is in the kitchen. I removed the sliding glass doors to facilitate picture taking. Items in the photograph include the beautiful celery dish with overlapping sides, as well as the elongated forms of the teapot, creamer, and water pitcher. Non-pottery items include the background tablecloth by Simtex, an Iroquois China covered casserole, highball glasses by Libbey, and a rare spun aluminum bun warmer that looks like a Muppet. Every item in the cabinet was designed by Wright.

Collecting is an illness

2008-10-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their horror stories about starting a collection with one or two small pieces growing into a sickness that consumes every spare hour and every spare dollar and every spare inch of one's home. I subscribe to the theory that we should surround ourselves with the things that we love, whether it be people, music, surrroundings, etc....my home is a reflection of who I am and not a mirror-image of a page from the Restoration Hardware catalog. Don't get me wrong; I love Restoration Hardware. I just can't afford it.

Hence my collecting. I can't resist a bargain. Who can? When I returned home to Western New York after three wonderful years in Chicago, I decided to go back to school. I earned my bachelor of arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo (I'll refer to it as UB from now on.) I was working part time at the Saks Outlet and found a good source of extra income in Ebay. I heard stories of people making a fortune selling things from garages and attics.

I've always been a fan of estate sales. I began going to sales in earnest as soon as I returned to Niagara Falls. I remember going to a sale the weekend that I moved back. I was with Mom and Tony (thanks again for helping me move!) The estate was a mid-century modern split-level on the most prestigious street in DeVeaux (a section of Niagara Falls.) The original owner had passed and everything was pristine; it was like stepping back to the year 1956. I was entranced. Not only the furnishings...most of them were of the "hollywood regency" style... but also the toaster, the mixer, the range hood, the bathroom tiles, the vacuum cleaner. The most banal of objects all had a style about them. I truly stepped back to an era of DESIGN and pride in workmanship. I think I bought a doctor's mallet at that sale. Although I only left with a trinket, my mind was branded in the design of the middle twentieth century....and the illness deeply affected me.

Thanks Apartment Therapy

2008-10-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to ApartmentTherapy.com for inspiring this. Thanks a million for publishing my photos. Check out the site if you haven't already....lots of great ideas.

Now I get it!

2008-10-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with this for the past couple of hours and now I get it! It's like a personal powerpoint presentation! I can see this becoming an obsession. I promise to keep this about the house and the collection. I hope you find it as fun as I do!

How do I use this thing?

2008-10-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

Bear with me on this. I plan on downloading photos and then seeing what happens. then I'll take the time to explain each one in detail....and add others. It's going to take a while.

The collection

2008-10-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

When I bought this house almost four years ago, I remember walking in with my Mom and Nick, my stepfather. My mother almost immediately blurted out "This is your house." I moved in less than a month later. I saved some old photos from when I first moved in. I look at them now and think "how quaint." My tastes have changed. So has my wherewithal to upgrade my collection. The transformation over only three years is rather astounding. I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I have enjoyed doing it.