Bathroom In Progress February 13 2011

Here is the "lead pan." This will be the floor of my shower soon. The lead pan keeps the floor waterproof. (Can you say, "Yay! no more slipping and sliding getting in and out of the bathtub?") When this is finished, the bathroom floor will be one level. No ridges, no bumps, no stuff to fall over or slip across! This is gonna be great!

My super high toilet will be here. Again, my tired old legs thank me for this renovation. Take That MS !

LEFT: Future home of my sink, medicine cabinet and shower.

RIGHT: One more photo of my future shower.

Soap.com ~ Absolutely Fabulous!

Just like all the other NY'ers, I got a coupon or postcard from Soap.com this month.

I am a cleaning product addict. (Please - no comments from the peanut gallery about whether or not I actually use said products. I am internally organized. Just like the Boy Scouts, I am prepared. Prepared for any cleaning whim which may overwhelm my normally mellow state of mind.)

Anyway, I have to buy a new broom and swiffers for the new apartment. I was hoping my old swiffer would suffer through until it met its fate in the trash room on my current floor. But, fate was not on my side. The dust bunnies and hair balls are mocking me. The broken swiffer has forced me to take serious action.

To answer the one dear reader who cared enough to email me regarding my post last week:

"Are you really that crazy that you believe it is bad luck to bring an old broom to a new house?"

Yes. I am that crazy. A spinster I may be, but I listened to all you old wives.

And my old swifter dry dust mop broke last week. I love having such BIG problems. I remember the days of actual due dates and real work, a broken 10 year old swiffer mop does not compare, but still..... I have to fill my thoughts before I fall asleep in the evenings and befor my 2 daily naps....

So, here I am. A broken Swiffer dry dust mop. A fever. Its cold out. AND The nearest CVS or Duane Reade is a whole 1/2 block away. Serious problems require serious solutions.

Suddenly, I remembered, my ol' pal had recommended I stock my new apartment with cleaning supplies from Soap.com vs sending him out in another snow storm for Lavender Dr. Meyers Dish Soap. (No, I don't like the Basil. I am washing dishes, not making a pizza)

So, I grabbed my trusty iPad and was online in a jiffy. 10 taps later, I was in the Soap.com site. Typically I am not affected by a website. But I have to say, Soap.com did have me at the first page. They have tons o' stuff. I happily filled my basket with a bevy of bottles I couldn't possibly live the next two weeks without. The new Aveeno spf 42 lotion - promised to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, must be that extra 2 spf, the stuff I had before was only 40 spf. Phffft ! 40 spf? I laugh at you! Weak 40 spf little lotion! I need the powerful stuff. Freckles are waiting beneath my epidermis, just ready to spring to life. 42 spf: Now we are rocking.

Luckily I remembered my bathroom needed to be scoured. I found the miracle of all miracles. How could I clean my old bathroom properly, to ensure I would get my whole security deposit, without the "Naturally It's Clean Tub & Tile, Natural Enzyme Cleaner?" Really. Seriously. I have been cleaning my kitchen, tub & tile and preventing mildew without natural enzymes all these years. The shame of it all.

So, tap, tap, tap, the items flew into my little basket. I found all the lotions and potions, cleaners & swiffers I had to have, entered my credit card, punched in the coupon code and poof ~ my shopping was done. I received an email letting me know my critical items will all be delivered later today. Sure enough, right before Mike's Pizzeria brought me my raviolis, a gentleman knocked on my door. Owen let me know and within seconds I was opening my the sturdy box filled with stuff guaranteed to clean, renew and refresh my home and my face. Who could ask for more? Okay, it would have been a little bit better if the delivery guy had looked like Billy Crystal or Robert Guillaume , but I'm not exactly a Jessica Tate myself.

So, after a healthy low carb dinner of ravioli and garlic knots, I was energized and enthusiastic - ready to take on every dust / hair ball, determined to show that mildew which enzyme is boss. Throwing caution to the wind, I assembled my new swiffer dust mop, without one glance at the directions, wondered what Benson would wear as he swept the apartment and reached for the remote. Tomorrow is the perfect day to clean.

Mostly Done? Friday, February 11, 2011

At the end of this renovation, it seems like things are sloooooooowing down. I am sure things are moving along, but for a non-construction professional like myself, it was easier to see progress when big things were being ripped out or cupboards installed. These last days are very stressful. Every time I think "this is the most stressful part of this process - another level of apprehension pops up. I am very thankful to have found such a great General Contractor (GC). I wonder what people do who manage the work themselves? How can you work full time and manage this kind of job? (I nap full time and it is impossible for me) I can completely recommend my GC. He has been great and I am very confident he will be finished a couple of days before my "moving date." I know how lucky I am to have found him. So many people have nightmare tales of woe, horrible sob stories of projects never finished, running overtime, or being done wrong. Again, I am very fortunate. So far, this project has been exactly what was promised. I am very happy at this point. In a whole apartment renovation, the biggest problem was a wall painted gray instead of beige? And the wall was repainted before I even got to go see the "wrong" color. This is unheard of - I am very lucky. From my days at a hardware store, I know every project has hiccups. And many projects have out right severed arteries. I was prepared for problems. Mistakes happen. I know this. But, in this job, so far, no problems. I keep thinking, "Who is going to pinch me to wake me ? This is toooooo good to be true. I really did find the perfect GC." (God, I hope I am not jinxing it, by saying this out loud. smile.)

My official moving date is at the end of this month. At the beginning of this project, it seemed like everything would be done far, far, far ahead of schedule. Now I am worried I won't be moving into a "finished" apartment. Maybe I've got Moving Mania? Project Conclusion Cold Feet? I am sure lots of things are happening every day, but the little things are harder to see. A few folks have emailed me asking for a progress update, so here goes:

My Posh Project Manager (PPM) checked out the apartment tonight. He reports:

This week the GC has completed:

~ The cable wire is run. Thank goodness, my cable wire will be "hidden" behind the molding, no ugly cable wire stapled to my new sparking moldings.

~ Moldings are in

~ Kitchen backsplash is grouted

~ Bathroom floor drain is in

~ Lead pan for the bath room floor is in

~ Shower Body is in (this is the stuff behind the tiles that you don't see)

~ Kitchen cabinets have all the remaining pieces (little panels between cabinets or to hide appliances).

~ Bathroom Painted (the bathroom will be tiled up to 4 feet outside the shower and from floor to ceiling in the shower)

I haven't seen the apartment in a few days. I got a fever during the week and have been "napping" for about 14 to 16 hours a day. But thank goodness, I am feeling better, so I will go see the new apartment tomorrow or Sunday to take more photo updates.

So, what's left for my GC? I am sure there are lots of things I am not thinking of right off the top of my head, but I believe (based on what my PPM reports and my best guesses):

~ Bathroom tile (floor and wall)

~ Bathroom sink & faucet installation

~ Bathroom toilet installation

~ Medicine cabinet installation

~ Bathroom moldings and door installation

~ Bathroom lights

~ Hallway Ceiling Light (between bedroom and bathroom)

~ Kitchen Ceiling Light

~ Bedroom Ceiling Light (yes, I went full out for the Auntie Mame fancy schmancy chandelier. Lots of twinkle and baubles!)


PUNCH LIST

So, two people asked if manhattan renovations included a "punch list?" I guess maybe people thought this only happened outside of the city? The good news is: A Punch List happens everywhere (I can't imagine where it doesn't exist).

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure/stress/nightmare/gift/hell/dream of a renovation: A punch list is a list of the final touches. Basically, you go throughout the home and point out things that need to be tweaked or fixed. Because I love my GC, I imagine this punch list will be very, very short or non-existent. But yes, I will go through the apartment with my GC and make sure everything is A-Okay.

Did I mention my GC hires a cleaning company after he is finished with the renovation? I am super happy about this. I have never lived in a BRAND NEW home. Honestly, I never imagined I would ever put my knives in a virgin drawer. It is very exciting. I am still getting used to the idea: I will be the first person to put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, I will be the first person to bake a pie (okay - I do make a mean rhubarb crumble, I doubt an actual pie will ever be baked in my oven, but you never know. Maybe I will get a Betty Crocker Bug and start cooking up a storm?)

I have one DYI project saved for myself (or myself and friends). I will be installing the closet myself. I am trying desperately to choose which company to go with. If you have experience: good or bad, with a closet company, please let me know.

Other small stuff I am going to take care of myself:

~ I am not putting up pulls or cabinet hardware in the kitchen. I don't need it. The cupboards have a cut out so they open easily without knobs or pulls. I may add them later, I have plenty of time to decide.

~ I am going to switch out the doorknobs on some doors. I found some antique NYC Board of Ed doorknobs on eBay and I am going to switch out the bedroom and bathroom door knobs with these antique ones.

~ I will hang up my curtains / shades / blinds / sheets (kidding). I haven't decided what kind of window dressings yet.

~ I will secure the bookcases to the walls. I think I know which walls will be home to my many tombs, but have not officially decided.

Of course, my PPM, experienced in the fine art of living in a brand new home, did point out: I will be crushed with the first scratch, nick or break. As usual, he is right. But I am damn excited to experience this whole thing.



Moving Company Update:
As I mentioned in an earlier post, FlatRate has been great so far. They dropped off my boxes on Wednesday. So far, I have packed 2 boxes. 98 more to go.


So far so good.

Day ?? The Moving Company

So, last week we began the rumored horrific process of finding a mover. For those of you outside the litigious city of NY, I am moving into a building which requires a bonded and insured mover. (This is code for: you can't hire "a guy with a truck") It is also code for: This. Will. Cost. A. FORTUNE. Money. Money. Money. Or, so I have heard.

So, my PPM went about calling a company which had been recommended. We thought they would come and give me a quote - hopefully it would not be a small fortune. So, we booked a day and time for the guy to come and look at all my junk and give me a quote. Two people who have been extremely good at estimating cost all along this process told me they thought it would be between $2,000 and $3,000. This is just for the actual move, not for packing my stuff. So, I was incredibly nervous to have the moving expert come and give me the estimate. To be honest, do I really have things that are actually worth $3,000? Its more than I paid for my first car for god sakes.

So, today, promptly on time, the "moving expert quoter" arrived. He was verrrrry business like. My apartment was sort of a shambles (even for me it was a shambles, so those of you who know my "external organization" aura, understand this means it was pretty crazy.

He walked around quickly, pointing at this piece of furniture, that couch, asking, "All these books going?" "Is this couch going?" "All these books going?" "How about this TV?" "These books too?" "This too?" "So, basically, every book is going?"

So, after a five minute whirlwind through my apartment, he sat down on my couch (the one that I am not bringing, sorry owen). He began to complete a form, then brought out his laptop and began entering information. He asked if I needed insurance. I said yes. He asked about the hours of the move, confirmed the day and date, and confirmed both are doorman buildings.

During the whole calculator, laptop typing process, Owen was very happy to say hello. The poor guy dropped his calculator a bunch of times. Owen of course, wanted to pick it up. After the second time, I said, "he just wants to pick it up for you." So, the next time he dropped it, he did let Owen pick it up. Owen promptly brought it to me. I told him, "Go give it to him." Which he did. He seemed very impressed with Owen's attentiveness. He dropped the calculator one more time; I think it might have been just as a test for Owen, which he passed beautifully.

So, finally he said, "Okay, so the total cost for the move, without boxes will be ........."


I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and pray for the moving fairy to come dance through my window. But, I took a deep breath and....

"Okay, the total cost for the move, without boxes will be one thousand dollars."


I wanted to jump up and kiss the guy. One Thousand dollars? Absolutely Fabulous! I was thrilled. Then my stomach dropped, I asked, "How much fo the boxes?" My head filled with dread.

"It will be $395 and we will buy back whatever boxes you don't use." He also explained I don't have to take my clothes off the hangers from my closets. On the day of the move, THEY will remove the clothes on the hangers, place them in a wardrobe box for me. Fabulous! Love it!

Again - absolutely fabulous ! So, I gave him my credit card for the boxes which will be delivered tomorrow. And to make it better, he told me he would make sure the boxes were delivered right to my door and not left downstairs with the doorman.

The moving company emailed me and confirmed my address for the boxes to be dropped off tomorrow. And they sent me an email to set up an account in their system. So, far, my experience couldn't be any better. If I could, I would have jumped up and down in relief. This is going to be a great price. If the service is great.... it will be fantastic. I will keep you posted.


Just in case you are looking for a moving company, after the move is over, I will post my review on their website and on Yelp! etc. I will post the links to my reviews so if you are interested, you can see how the whole experience went.


Now, to pack up alllllllllllll those books. Still have to finish buying the damn lights for the bedroom, hallway and kitchen. And begin / finish packing. 16 days left to get packed and ready for the move.


Thanks for sharing the fun & misery of this renovation. I'd love to hear from you, email me at manhattanRenovation@gmail.com

What's Left ? Shopping & Packing, Sunday, February 6, 2011

So, what's left? It's only been a month, but I feel like this renovation has gone on forever. I thought it was going to be really easy: I had been cutting out photos from magazines and saving website articles for months. So naive. This process has been so stressful. My hat goes off to all those folks who do this regularly and make it seem so easy and elegant. As a very smart friend of mine would say, "I don't have the ______ gene." I certainly don't have the interior design gene. But miraculously process has been made because of all of those folks who have helped me out and done so much. Thank you!

So, what's left for me to do?

I have to go shopping (again!). I will be going to the Home Depot sometime soon to buy:

~ Bedroom Ceiling Light

~ Hallway (really my "mini" hallway between the bedroom and bath)

~ Kitchen Ceiling / Track (?) Light

And, if I am motivated, a "swag" light for above the dining room (really the "dining area").

For the bedroom light, I am hoping to find something suitably "Auntie Mame-ish." Hopefully a perfectly wonderful chandelier. The bedroom / living room wall is open about 18 inches at the top. I am hoping if I find the right light, it will illuminate the living room / tv area as well as light up the bedroom. I know, maybe a chandelier is not the most appropriate bedroom light, but I really want something fancy schmanty - not schmaltzy. Fingers crossed.

The hallway light is easier - as long as it looks fairy inconspicuous, I should be okay. I was thinking of something equally fabulous in this light, but two chandeliers in an alcove studio might be a little over the top?

The damn kitchen light is going to drive me insane. My PPM has recommended "track" lighting. I found one that is about 2 feet long, and you can connect them together like lincoln logs. So, theoretically, I would end up with a four foot light in the kitchen. I am terrified I am going to end up with something that looks like a spot light in a gentleman's club. Maybe the term, "track lighting" has me hung up?

And then, the "Dinning Room / Area" desperately needs a light as well. But I am very worried I will hang the damn thing in the wrong spot and will end up lighting up a chair, not the table.

And then, there comes the packing..... da da dommmmm.

One moving company is coming this week to give me an estimate. God knows I have tons of books. Literally, I probably have an actual ton of books. I am not bringing the mattress. Yes, I am destined to get another mattress. I am thinking about the Sleep Number mattress. I am hoping being able to adjust the mattress will help me stay happy longer. Princess and the Pea that I am.

Does anyone have any experience with the Sleep Number bed / mattress?

I have to really get going on the packing. I am hoping the moving company is going to give me an estimate of two dollars, and then will drop off boxes the next morning. And the following morning I will wake up to find all of my stuff appropriately sorted: trash, thrift, take and also everything will be packed up, labeled and ready to move. Maybe I need Ruby Slippers? A Lucky Penny? Horseshoe? Pigeon poop?

Thursday, February 3, 2011 Sunshine, Sunlight, Silver Paint and Final Questions

Sunshine, Sunlight and Silver Paint?

Well, my Posh Project Manager (PPM) did his nightly check in on my renovation last night, to find, Horror of Horrors - My Bedroom Painted Silver? Okay, gray, but still.

As I explained in a post last week, I selected a delightful duo of floor and wall tiles - both in chic shades of grays. Of course, I selected the perfect shade of paint ( #1591 "Sterling" by Benjamin Moore" for the little bit of space not covered in tile for my bathroom.  Check Out the Bathroom Color: Sterling Here

I had chosen "Roasted Toffee" #988 (Benjamin Moore)  Toasted Toffee at the Benjamin Moore Website for the rest of the apartment (bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc.) And "Super White" for all the moldings and doors.  See "Super White" here

So, back to business. Tonight, my PPM discovered my bedroom had been painted the gray/silver bathroom color, "Sterling" !! Horror! Of course, my PPM did say he rather liked this gray/silver in the bedroom, but I was not brave enough to change my plan mid-stream. So, a repaint it is.

I texted my GC to talk about some of the minor remaining details:

• Correct Paint Colors:  Okay, I have to say, any construction project is going to have problems.  Even with the best of General Contractors.  And my GC is absolutely fantastic!  I texted him to ask to meet Friday morning.  By 10:00 the next morning (Friday), the construction guys had already repainted the bedroom - the pretty silver, albeit wrong, was gone.  And my apartment was now the lovely shade of Toasted Toffee!   So, long story short:

Any construction project will have hiccups.  That being said, an incorrect paint color, in one room, that was only visible for less than 12 hours, is a pretty great hiccup to be had.  My GC was great.  Calm, attentive and really just fabulous.  I would definitely recommend him for any renovation!  He is fantastic.  Of course, I mentioned this blog, and now I am worried maybe he won't want to be identified, after I outed him on the wrong paint color so I will be emailing him this blog address.  I know there are probably some folks out there who expect a project to go forward with no mistakes at all.  (This is naive and ignorant in my opinion, nothing is perfect.   I wanted someone who was going to make sure I was completely happy and deliver a perfect job at the end.  So far, my GC has done this without questions.  If he wants to be identified by name and number, I will be posting his info very soon!  

• Kitchen Cupboards - no pulls or knobs right now. The cupboard doors and drawers have a cutout underneath, so hardware isn't necessary. I am hoping to find the perfect gorgeous, ANTIQUE cabinet hardware on eBay. I am thinking a nice, ornate Brass or Silver.

• Cable Outlet location:  My GC already had done the work for this.  He is fabulous like I said.  

• Bathroom Tile Orientation (should the long tiles be put up horizontal or vertical? Horizontal. Definitely.  I met the man who did my kitchen floor tile, will be tiling my kitchen backsplash this afternoon and will be doing my bathroom tile next week.  I am very impressed.  Great Job!  Thank you N!  

• The Kitchen Countertop - Granite? Corian? Some other kind of Plastic?:  God, Granite seems so damn expensive.  But like my PPM and GC said, after the cupboards and the floor tile and backsplash are installed, I really did want granite countertop.  So to hell with it.  We are going with a very chic, black granite (with a little bit of color speckles).  I will post the picture next week.  I also had to decide how to have the granite countertop cut.  There are a bunch of options.  Rounded, square, double rounded, (I don't remember the exact names of each of these, they have more sophisticated names for each style).  I picked the rounded, thinking it would be one less sharp corner for me to bounce my head into.  

• The Entry Door Threshhold - with the new hardwood floors, the old threshold is not the right height.  So my GC explained the ways we could address the problem.  All systems go.  Have I mentioned how much I like my GC?   I was so concerned about not having any thresholds or bumps in the floor; I fall all the time in my current apartment because of the difference in my current kitchen and the rest of the apartment floor.  This GC is fantastic.  He has managed to get it so it is alllllll one level.  No more tripping for me.  And when we discussed the entry door threshold he actually apologized, and said, "there will be a slight bump.  I know you didn't want that, but we can't avoid it."  Okay, this guy is fabulous.  Honest and dedicated.  My brain, hopefully less scrambled in the future, thanks him!