Framing

The metal frame for the mezzanine is up. We have a loft!

Goodbye 58th Street

From this...

... to this!

My landlord at 58th Street was moving back so despite the renovations not being completed, I packed up my things and said goodbye. So while Cuomo was hustling the gay marriage legislation, Victor and I filled up the U-Haul and put everything I owned into storage. Nothing stands still, we march forward!

High Beam

Check out these lofty beams, exposed after the demolition and removal of popcorn plaster. The real suprise was this massive nearly 14' column hidden in the bathroom, who would have known?
What else is hidden in the closet?

Grey Herringbone

I'm certain that there are more important and urgent matters than finding the perfect floor colour. So I shall not add fuel to this embarrassing middle-class concern, but keep this short with a few photographs of Floroom 2 in Florence.

BIG Karma

The last time Sergio, Victor and I went to BIG (Build-It-Green) we found this lovely matte gold Waterworks Showerhead set only to be told a few days later that it was no longer there. Also gone was a pitch black granite counter top 2" thick which will be a perfect foil to the black stained kitchen cabinets.The only item which they still had was the heavyweight commercial-kitchen-hose style faucet.
In any case we had to drop off our BIG donations (taken-apart wooden loft, two sinks and the stove) so we made a second trip there today. Imagine our delight when we saw the black granite top still there! I will attribute it to good karma from the donations, notwithstanding the tiny tax benefits. The three pieces comprising the granite top were super heavy but we managed to lug it into Victor's van. This will save us precious days on the work schedule not having to custom cast it on site. No picture of it here but cant wait to see it cut to size and installed.

Donations

We will be back next week for the 4' x 8' wood-panelled panels, lumber (from an old water tower) for the staircase threads, open shelves and window seat. There was also a surfer dude buying the same (it's been drying for 100 years!) to make surfboards - how cool is that!

Surfboard maker

Items for sale

White Console

White Console detail

Habitat shelves

White lamp

Saarinen dining set

Demolition man, finally!

After 3 months of tedious back-and-forth and filing for various permissions and permits, we have finally started demolition - what a huge relief we are moving forward!
With the dividing wall (between the previous bedroom and living room) and the 'attic' housing the old AC unit taken down, we have a blank canvas to start from scratch. It's amazing how much space we salvaged just by taking down the 'attic', and moving the AC unit to a smaller housing and routing it through the new mezzanine floor.
See the picture and check out the old monster AC unit (still to be taken down):

Meeting notes 21 May 2011

From our marathon 4 hour meeting at the apartment.

Bathroom
1. WaterWorks Shower head set
    [Action: Kane to call BIG for availability/price, and if the set includes exposed pipes?]
2. Substitute for Boffi Disco tap
    [Action: Sergio/Kane to check out Kohler's range]
3. Use current toilet if possible and then swap in the NeoMetro Toilet in Phase 2
    [Action: Victor to check specifications if this is possible without reopening the walls]
4. The shower drainage will consist of 1 slope, with an Infinity Drain AG-38 drain.
    [Action: Victor to get quote]
5. Sergio illustrated the quarter inch ledge for the sink to sit on.
    [Action: Sergio to provide dimensions for metalwork quote]
6.  For Vanity lights, install a row of 4 Spot On Lighting's RS-M recessed socket to hold Edison bulbs.
    [Action: Victor to get quote]
7. The wall to the right of the Vanity sink will hold the toiletries cupboard and will be clad in mirror.
8. The wall to the left of the Vanity sink will also be clad in mirror.
9. Bathroom floor will be in poured white concrete.
10. The original trimless downlights are too tall so alternatives are needed, and the ones in the shower needs to be waterproof.
    [Action: Sergio/Victor to find alternatives]


Kitchen

1. Move sink and dishwasher to island.
2. Move stove top and oven under the floating shelves.
3. Back wall will contain built-in fridge and high cabinets (with a pull-out).
4. Use Ikea for inside of cabinets. The exterior will be clad with marine-grade plywood with Behlen Solar black dye.
    [Action: Victor/Kane to get quotes for cabinetry and plywood]
5. The vent shaft will be covered with said plywood with built-in grills.
6. The back splash will be covered with said plywood all the way to the top.
7. The design of the open shelves will be similar to the ledge holding the toilet sink. Depending on cost, this may be postponed to Phase 2.
    [Action: Sergio to provide dimensions for metalwork quote]

8. The original trimless downlights are too tall so alternatives are needed.
    [Action: Sergio/Victor to find alternatives]

Mezzanine
1. The most economical option is Lumber Liquidators' unfinished rustic White Oak hardwood (WO32, 3 1/4" wide x 3/4" thick). This will be used for the flooring and low-wall-headboard. It will be stained ebony and finished with a vinegar wash.
    [Action: Kane to order given 5-7 business day lead time]
2. Depending on cost, the nstallation of the 3-Form resin panels may be postponed til Phase 2.
    [Action: Sergio to provide dimensions for framing for metalwork quote]
    [Action: Sergio/Kane to decide on type of panels]


Living/Hallway
1. The main floor flooring will be patched, sanded and bleached to white. The kitchen and demolished walls area requires some new parquet floor tiles.
2. The window seating will be constructed from plywood and painted a semi-gloss white to match the walls/floors.
3. The staircase bulstrade will be covered with painted plywood for inspection.
4. The hallway cupboard will be frameless and consist of doors that goes from ceiling to floor, painted in black or dark grey gloss.
    [Action: Sergio to get quotes for Rajack hardware]

Schedule Til Demolition Day (24 May - 2 Jun)

It has taken (what felt like many) months between completion in early March til this past Monday when Lane Engineers gave their final approval for the renovations.
This is the schedule for up to Demolition date:
24 May, Fri    - Abestos testing at apartment [Action: Sergio to attend]
27 May, Fri    - Abestos report from H.A. Consultants
30 May, Mon - Memorial Day, yay! and sigh...
31 May, Tue   - DOB filing by Agouti Consulting
1 Jun, Wed     - Electrical filing at DOB [Action: Greg the electrician]
2 Jun, Wed     - Plumbing filing at DOB (approval may take days/weeks) [Action: Plumber]
2 Jun, Wed     - *Victor starts Demolition [Action: Kane to email Brenda for no-plumbing-filing permission]

Final Drawing Set

Here are the final set of drawings for your apt! We've come along way babe : )) !

Staircase Concept

Lovely....

Low wall headboard

Rather clever use of floorboard to clad the low wall, this continued materiality suggests that the floor is part of the bed.
The wall also doubles as a headboard and a light feature.
This is going to feature on the mezzanine if Sergio and Victor can find suitable alternative space for the vertical and rather large AC unit.

Black Spartan Kitchen

Victor & Sergio,

Check out this expose from Dwell. It looks suspiciously like our plans for the kitchen! Concrete floor and countertop, coupled with dark stained wood - how original of us! :)

http://www.dwell.com/slideshows/startin-spartan.html?slide=17&c=y&paused=true

Tho' I am VERY interested in duplicating their build process for our kitchen cabinet doors/panels. Here is their description:

Atherton made the bathtub and sinks by hand, out of marine-grade plywood held together with aluminum spline joints and dyed with Behlen Solar Lux in jet black. To make them waterproof, he coated every surface in a thick layer of West System marine epoxy, popular with builders of wooden boats. The components are inexpensive, but the process is time consuming.

What a beautiful sink! Sergio's cast concrete sink has some serious competition... ;)

Bird flight light

A light installation that reacts to human movement and simulates the flight pattern of a flock of birds...

Bathroom

Feel
- Monastic, stripped-down
- Dark, calm. Monochrome of grey and black
- Industrial, salvaged-like fixtures

Floor and Wall treatment
- Light grey/White glossy concrete floor as per rest of flat
- No tiles but Matt Black plaster (Sergio to show Victor sample)
- Mirrored wall for sink (or black plexi-glass because of Closet?)
- Ceiling painted matt dark grey or black

Manhattan Sauna
- Heating unit embed in Victor's cast-on-site slabs, with Matt Black Plaster
- Concrete seating bench of same profile as sink
- Partition wall of about 12 inches, ie. flushed with bench.
- Shower area covered with plain glass partition with door
- Rectangular slots in plaster wall for shampoo, shower gel, etc

Fixtures
- Industrial style Shower and Faucet (preferably copper with exposed piping, see pic on right)
- Sergio's cast concrete sink or old salvaged one
- Industrial style toliet

Lighting
- Exposed horizontal row of edison lights mounted into mirrored wall
- Down lights over rest of bathroom
- Wall mounted sconce or shelf for candles (only if it's of the right 'look')

Closet
- The space saved by pushing forward the back of the closet housing the flat-screen TV will be used for storing toiletries and bog roll.
- It will be accessed from inside the bathroom, next to the sink.
- Black plexi-glass as closet door?
- Will door to this closet clash with main bathroom door?

Misc
- Hang bevelled decorative mirror on mirrored wall

Power Points 2 and Light Fixtures

Met with Greg the electrician and Victor at the apartment. Here is the agreed list which Jeff will use to provide a quote. Deleted previous entry on same boring details...

Island power unit

- if possible, embed power point in the floor close to stairs. Jeff mentioned a low profile unit which may fit into the concrete floor. I dont mind if it protruded a little above the floor level as the sideboard will cover it up anyways.
- if not, then run wire beneath the lowest stair thread and mount power point on stairs.

- B&O sound system requires existing 110->220 transformer. Victor to drill hole into back (or base?) of black-marble sideboard so transformer and wires can be hidden inside.

- ad-hoc for desk clock, hoover, etc

Living Room

- Floor lamp and table lamp next to sofa. Can use existing point on right wall.

- Wall decorations (eg. fairy lights). Locate power point quite high up the right wall.

- Lightbox for photograph (on wall between windows and main left wall)
- Closet will contain the flat-screen TV so this will require an inside-closet point.

Dining area/Window seating
a. Charging station inside window seating for:
- laptop, ipad, mobile phones, blackberry, laptop, kindle, camera 
b. Along base of window requires 1 power point every 12 feet (assuming if there's inspection)

- desk lamp

- ad-hoc like Hoover, etc.

- SAD lamp (re-visit if I find a wall-mountable unit)

Kitchen

- hood

- fridge

- oven

- microwave

- dishwasher
- garbage disposal unit

- toaster

- coffee maker

- ad-hoc points for spice-grinder, blender, slow cooker, etc

Mezzanine

- table clock

- side lamp

- floor lamp
- charging station for iphone, blackberry, laptop, ipad, kindle, etc
- ad-hoc point for hoover, iron, etc.

Misc

- AC unit

- in-line humidifier unit

- various other points which are requried legally

--------------------------------

We also agreed on the following light fixtures

Living Room
- cluster of edison lights over dining table
- cluster of edison lights near stairs
- inside closet lights
- down lights in hallway

Kitchen
- down lights
- under open-shelf lights

Bathroom
- down lights
- vanity edison lights mounted into mirrored wall

Mezzanine
- no down light due to height restriction
- long thin LED light (as per 9M) on wall above bed
- mounted swivel-arm bedside lamps
- track-lighting for inside of walk-in closet
- vanity edison lights mounted above sink and urinal

Back on the property ladder

The sale closed while I was away skiing. Sergio texted me while I was having breakfast with the London posse at the chalet at La Tania. This was the day after Paul proposed to Ruben on top of the Jerusalem run - what a week!
It's still not quite sunk in that I am a home owner. Does this make me a New Yorker? I hope not! Made in Singapore, assembled in London and living it large in NYC...

I met Victor Rusu through Stanton Young (who is one of the best dressed man I know) and Sergio likes the man as much as I do. So onwards!

New Plan

Hi K-

Attached is the new main level plan based on our conversation before departing for the holiday's. I think this is the best scenario for the appliances and for storage of the 'cooking screen'. I know you want to keep the space as open as possible by minimizing full height cabinetry, but you may want to consider full height storage on the opposite side of the sink. We could bring the pocket doors we had back to hide the sink, so that it creates a full height hidden L-shape kitchen. In that scenario I might also detach the island so that it becomes freestanding instead.

Let me know what you think!

xS