People With Front Loaders: Talk To Me

Ok forgive the tiny image - I'm not motivated to search for a great one this morning. Here's the deal. Joe and I bought our first ever brand new washer/dryer set on Black Friday this year. It was/is awesome. We are still psyched, except for one detail that continues to plague us.


As usual, we were browsing at or near bottom-of-the-line. We can't afford the super awesome LG steam situation - so we decided to opt for the super basic until we can.
We ended up going with an Amana set that the salesman explained had the "old technology" meaning - it won't vibrate across the room or flip over on it's side like some of the latest models (a problem due to super high spin cycles).
Anyway - before we left the showroom, the salesman told us repeatedly not to use dryer sheets in front load dryers. He said that the repairman was always telling him that dryer sheets coat the inside of the dryer and block both the sensor and the lint filter and cause the machine to burn out quickly.
I wasn't psyched to hear that - because dryer sheets are the only thing that has ever successfully removed Bernie hair from our clothing. But I thought, I'll just figure something else out.
But guess what? I haven't figured something else out - because it turns out nothing else works to get the hair off. Several times now, I have washed something "dirty" e.i. covered in pug hair, only to have it come out just as dirty.
For the uninitiated - pugs shed year round. so the hair thing is no joke.
I have visited message boards where people with top of the line front loaders were discussing this very same thing - some women said that they scrubbed out their lint filter with a toothbrush regularly and that this solved the issue (I guess dryer sheets clog the holes of the filter so that it looks OK but actually can't function). Others said they cleaned both the lint filter AND the sensor - which as far as I know, I can't actually access in my machine. Anyone have any experience with this? It's so annoying.

Reclaiming Part of The Guest Room

Here's the deal - on either side of our staircase we have matching rooms. Had our house not been hacked to bits by the former owners, one would have been the dining room (which it is) and the other would have been the living room. Follow?
Unfortunately, the one that should serve as living room had been turned into a bedroom at some point. So it has a closet and an ugly plastic coated bathroom. We've been using it as a guest room slash my office because we have so few rooms done in the house. It hasn't been gutted - so it still has a yucky dropped ceiling and paneling (which we painted to make it more tolerable).
Recently, I had a brainstorm as to how we might make it more living room-like. Our budget? Roughly zero.
Behold: OK, this is not a true before picture. I had already started moving things around, so the room is super cluttered. But you get the gist.

Big console holding the TV right in front of the pretty fireplace. Bed immediately to your right when you walk in the door. CLUNK.


Oh wait, here's another before (pre-console days).

And here is the same view now, walking into the room.

walking in one more step...

Turning to the right where the bed used to be. There you can see my desk sticking out. Now, the TV is on it. Kinda janky, I know - but it'll have to do for now. We need either a flat screen above the fireplace, or a TV cart that can roll out when needed. And I need my desk to be in my office (currently used as the shop). Sigh.


Here's another before:

Here is the wall that the bed used to be against. I'm so jazzed to have this couch out of the dining room where it was sucking up so much space. This still needs tweaking. I should use different lamps, and the end table situation is iffy. There are also some smudges in the paint where the bed rubbed against it.Those paintings are by my old friend Mathew Brannon (hello, solo show at the Whitney). I may hang a bunch of photos on this wall as well. Haven't decided. Stay tuned.


Here's a before for contrast:

This is where the real work happened. I draped the hell out of the closet, and moved the head of the bed into it to create a little sleeping nook. That made the bed (a queen) much less obtrusive in the room. Joe and I also made some great little shelves for reading lamps out of books from Goodwill. I'll post a tutorial in a sec. Don;t ask me why I have that stick over by the fireplace. It's been there for over a year. I'm insane I guess. There, I said it. Are you happy?

I'm having weird camera problems, so forgive the spots.

We can finally admire the pretty fireplace in this room. Both mirrors were "dumpster dives," I found one on the street, and got another from my friend's house-sale for free. The topiaries were also free from the same sale. Oh ps: the great sissal rug is one of two that my aunt Mimi just gave me for free. Hate me yet? It totally makes the room because the floors desperately need to be redone.
Over by the fireplace you can where Terminex tore a bunch of holes in the floor to show us old termite damage. Thanks, Terminex. Don't look at the ugly baseboard heating either please. You're looking! What'd I say?

How hilarious is this picture of me (swoopy bangs) and my little sister? I love it. My Father In-law asked who the boys in the picture were. I don't know what kind of Flock of Seagulls dudes he's hanging out with. PS: could we have looked any more miserable in the shot? 7th grade I think.

Here's the nook with Bernie admiring.

All for now - more later. The little shelves we made are so great. I can't wait to show them to you you.

I'm a Big Fat Winner

About a million years ago, pre-shidt hitting the fan, I won an exciting indoor/outdoor Koko rug from a contest on ILoveUpstate. As part of the deal, I pledged to post a picture of the rug once it arrived.
But then all kindsa hell broke loose and I sort of forgot.
I sort of suck.
So here it is, in all it's glory:

Yep, Bernie the anti-nature dog uses it to get just a teensie bit more comfortable outdoors.
Poor little dude. He was brought up in Brooklyn and has only recently become willing to pee anywhere in the yard. I had to take him to a hydrant down the block for about a year.
Thank God our yard has so many weird cement patches, or he'd totally freak out.
However, cement wasn't quite indoorsy enough for the Bernster who seems to really appreciate the rug.
Thanks Koko! Thanks I Love Upstate!

Bernie Bernstein says thanks!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand We're Back

Hi guys!
A lot has happened. For one thing, Joe got better. And then better and better. He just completed his first week of work on a certain reality show that shall remain nameless (lets just say it stars a certain megalomaniac gazillionaire with hair I can only describe as peachy-meringue-ish).
Joe reports being insanely tired, but is doing alright otherwise. We really don't know which (if any) of his symptoms will linger. So we are opting for all out optimism.
Why the hell not - right?

Though our medical bills are behemoth - we have been able to raise nearly 20 (that's right) 20 grand allready, and we haven't even sold a single eBay item yet. Some of you had a lot to do with that. You know who you are. We love you! No really, we love you.

If you want more health/medical news - including fascinating info about me negotiating those medical bills you can learn more here.

But I feel like it's time to post a picture of us doing some house shidt before everyone mutinies.
Voila: here's Joe tweaking the gutters right before he saddled up and reported to set.
Behold


In other news, Bernie ALSO got diagnosed with Lyme about three weeks ago. I was like, really God? But luckily, it's not as big of a wup for doggies. He's still on antibiotics but he seemed to respond right away.

When Joe got sick people mailed us all kinds of stuff. Stuff to raise money for our bills, fancy supplements to help him rebuild his system... and then stuff like rose quartz, "phone healings" and long distance Reiki. To absolutely everything we said "thanks, we'll take it." I mean cynical or not, we were loving all of the support - and were desperate for solutions.
So this is us torturing poor Bernie with healing crystals when we found out he had Lyme in his lil' kneesies.
You can see in his eyes - in that moment, he would have given anything to have been able to choke us to death.

He hates us a little bit now.
Anyway, I'm back.
Thanks to everyone who reached out to us. It really really really really made a difference.

We have lots of great stuff (that some of you donated) on eBay this week. I'll post links tomorrow.
xx
H

Weekend Yard Project

Even though I should be blogging for one of my paying gigs right now. I'd rather show off a little proj progress from the long weekend. It was such a nice break. We worked like crazy in the yard, but also had some awesome home cooked dinners with friends, and walked to a gorgeous double waterfall nearby. But I digress.

Here's the deal. I snapped up this table and chair set at my favorite affordably priced Warren Street haunt (there are a few I promise!) Carousel.
When I bought it, the chairs were white vinyl.
Ick.
Sticky summer legs, where do I sign up. Right?
Anyway - I'll probably put a clear coat over them so they don't continue to chip and rust. I like the current ratio.
Before...


After (one is an armchair and one is a side)
I'm not super awesome with the upholstery projects yet - I don't suggest starting with stripes btw - but I'm happy with it even if they are a little wiggly.



The cuteness comes together.



The over all sitation:
What you don't see is the huge pile of crappola including but not limited to posts with huge concrete globs on them (deck carcass), tons of rotten wood, three (why) rusty propane tanks, snarled metal fencing etc. etc. etc. that was piled up directly behind this little patch of concrete paradise. That's cause we lugged it outa there!



The yellowish grass is where it lurked.



Ok so maybe this IS too many pictures.
Whatever. It took a long friggin time people, so please humor me.




Bernie loves it - so there.



I made a little DIY firepit out of some of the pretty antique bricks we had. I salvaged these from one of the "chimneys to nowhere" that we took down from the roof when we had it repaired. Note to self, find out city fire laws.
I've seen other neighbors with firepits but God knows I live my life in fear of a scolding, so I'll have to check.



Here's where all the stuff is now - cause I know you wondered.
Note: Alleys are rad!



Here's more of it.
Sometimes things take a long time around here becaue Rainman loves him some organization. But I look the other way because I have found over time that his methods generally pay off.



Anyway - we will probably lay flagstone on top of the little cement patch - or box it in and pour pea gravel. Either of those would be preferable to cement. And both will be fairly simple to do since we don't have to level anything.
But this will do for now.

And after all that Joe mowed


So there's the dirt patchy, former pool area on the right and the cement island on the left. The former home owners sure loved to break up flow. If you are wondering what the heck's up with the rusty pole center frame, why it's half of the gigantic clothes line that diagonally cuts across the lawn.
We know.
It's next on the chopping block.
Joe's totally looking forward to digging out the concrete pilings holding it in place.

More soon!

Mouldings and Such

Member how I was obsessed with achieving the perfect shade of gray flooring? And how I did the steel wool in vinegar experiment and absolutely nothing happened. Then Door 16 blogged about a similar floor and through her I discovered this (for your drooling pleasure) which drove me insane and made me want it even more.
Well then I read THIS and decided to try again.

This time I used some of the hand cut iron nails that I'd collected from the house and cooked them in a jar of vinegar over night with the lid on (ahem controversial).

If you're still interested here's some more info on a similar process.

I only had a teensie area to test on so forgive the weirdness - but I finally got it!
This is the oak floor that's in the living, dining and hall. I stripped and sanded a small test area that will be covered in moulding.

It's not super revealing I realize, but when you enlarge it you will see that I think I've finally got the look I was going for. I've been dreaming of old, dried-out, silvery barn wood.
It's the most peaceful, relaxing color I can imagine and damned if I don't wanna live in it.


Oh we finally got casings inside this doorway. Thanks for bringing that to my attention Bernie.

Nuther view.
Man! I hate that front door. But whatever, focus on the good, focus on the good.

This is what's going on moulding-wise around the door. Almost done!
We have those salvaged rosettes stripped and primered now - I'll do a photo update as soon as they are up. They really make the new boring mouldings look more custom and less sterile.

The wall is pretty much ready for it's finish-pretty coat too. Can't wait to have time for that proj. It'll be so satisfying.
All for now.

Kitchen Floor Part Uno

So here's what we were up to late last week slash last weekend.
OK the me part of we didn't get super involved until Saturday.
This was really Joe's baby.
That's him and his friend Ryan who came up from Brooklyn to help him lay that mofo.


They started Thursday and Joe finished it by himself the next day. It's white pine, which yes we know is super soft. But what we are going for is an old looking kitchen floor that will blend well with the house around it. We plan to beat it up a little, add some face nails and paint it. If we do it right, it should look fairly authentic.

The obligatory Bernie shot. Please do not call child protective services on us just because he is oh so close to a pneumatic staple gun. Bernie knows his way around power tools. Mkay?

There's Ryan taking a moment to admire his own workmanship. Like they like to do.


Is this not gorgeous? We decided to go with a few different widths to give it some more texture. We will be quieting it all down with paint - so I thought the varying widths would be just enough.

Joe and Bernie taking a nice long look. Like they like to do.
With appliances moved back in. Hey, this is what construction looks like when you are living and working in it. You pretty much have to put the house back together at the end of every night. It's bliss. I'll tell you that right now.
Anyway - there's more to come. Stay tuned.
Oh wait - just for old times sake...

The Murderscene Kitchen. OK so the cabinets still hurt your heart? Mine too, mine too.
Just wait. I swear we will put a salve upon your wound soon enough.
Just be thankful that the frilly curtain complete with rust (ahem blood) spatter is gone.
Not to mention the icky back splash. Baby steps people. Baby steps.

In Other Disturbing News

First, let me say that I know this isn't home improvement related.
Don't know if you recall that I've been walking Bernie in a full legth fur (at least at night in the back yard when no neighbors are around).
Now, I don't want to blame family for giving me this beautiful fur coat and with it, recurring nightmares.
I'm just saying that there's something disturbing about how this


Looks exactly like this.


Nuff said.

An Epic Entry To Catch You Up

Well, it's been what... 12 days? It feels like a frigging lifetime. So here's an epic entry to catch everyone up. I started work at the paper - here are a few cover stories I got in my first week. Turns out it's not a quaint little paper. It's a crazy,, hectic little paper. I've been working my ass off and to tired to do anything fun or frivolous after work. hence the blog draught.
But the people are rad and I'm learning a lot. So the good outweighs the ass kicking.


One thing you gotta love about Hudson, the people are friggin hilarious. here are a few "brides" at the Second Show Thrift Shop - they were having a sale to benefit the local hospital. I just totally dug these ladies.

These two called themselves Muffy and Puffy Chardonnay.


This one was mail order...I'm missing Joe like a mofo. He sent me Halloween flowers though - how adorable is that. Here they are. he said they were called something ridic like Autumn explosion. Could he be any more awesome?

My Dad sent me some really cool chairs. They are very mid century - and I tend to like things that were made about 50 years before that - but these are so cool that I'm making an exception. do you like what a gracious receiver I am? Ha! Anyway, they are super comfortable. I may get them reupholstered at some point in a traditional fabric. Thanks Dad. These rule and I know Joe is gonna appreciate them because the no-arms thing makes guitar playing easy. This one is a little dark - Bernie was like what the f's up yo? Why would you ever want to take a picture that I'm not in?
This is Rob and his fairy prince of a son Finn. this kid is so cute it hurts my ovaries. I get to run into these two every other day. Cause that's how it is here. It aint large folks.
Thank god there are so many cool people here.


here's a glimpse of the gorgeous scenery that I happened to snap a shot of after this weird press conference that I had to cover. This looks like one of Dawn's paintings. mmmmmmmm. So relaxing.

Whew! Well, more soon. But that's the gist of it.
love love.
Will be posting more decor related stuff this week. Swear!