the cityhammer blog

The Cabin House birdhouse by Louisville Stoneware ($85)

In times like these, adding to or changing the decor of your apartment can seem like a trifling task for many, as the national unemployment rate creeps above 10%.


But for design freaks, this is exactly the moment when you should be thinking about making some adjustments to your surroundings to shake off the dust of yesterday and move forward. New design and decor items do not necessarily have to cost a fortune but can go a long way toward making your home feel livened up and different, yet somehow the same.

Architectural Digest did the heavy lifting for us and found a bunch of cool design items that cost under 100 bucks, collected in a slide show gallery over at their website.

Here's the gallery: AD Design Finds Under $100

Labels: Architectural Digest

We love this quote from an article in today's New York Times Home & Garden section:

“Architecture is a negotiation between a husband and wife,” said Makram el Kadi, who designed the loft.

The story is about a couple, the Greene's, who both have very different aesthetics (She's Zen, he's Victorian) but were able to design the perfect living situation by being creative with rolling walls, cabinetry and closets. Despite the fact that Jeffrey Greene has a collection of about 200 musical instruments, they were able to work with a New York designers to create a perfect living space that accommodates both of their tastes and sensibilities in the SoHo loft they live in.

One design decision reflects a compromise of sorts: the music room can be enlarged or compressed as needed. The rear wall of the room is hung on a track system and can roll farther back in the bedroom to open up the loft for a party of 100, or, if Mr. Greene wants, an area for performances.

The full article is worth checking out, especially if you and a spouse or roomate are sharing a space in New York but not necessarily the same taste in decor.

Also, don't miss the attached slide show, with 12 great photos of the space by Fred Conrad.

Closeting the Arguments (NYT)

Greene's Loft Slide Show

Labels: New York Designers

Sales abound as we head into the summer, and picking up small touches for decoration can certainly make life easier on your wallet. The big chain stores are giving it away right now, here are a few quick examples:

Pottery Barn needs to move outdoor and patio furniture and they need to move it now. Check out their 20% sale here: Pottery Barn Sale

Is there anything better than a 50% off sale? Crate & Barrel has tons of select items right now that are half off, check it our here: Crate & Barrel Sale

And if you're a Crate & Barrel fan but your taste skews more toward modern design, check out their sister store, CB2, which is also running a 50% select items sale. We like the Warehouse Sconces (above), currently selling for $49.95, down from about $70. See all sale items here: CB2 Sale

The New York CB2 Store is located in SoHo at:


Happy Shopping!

Dear cityhammer blog,
I find myself slipping into the usual summer doldrums completely bored with my apartment. I already have fairly new furnigture and I certainly can't afford a remodel of the whole place. What can I do to add a little excitement to my home?

Allie on W 12th Street

Hey Allie,
Never fear, sometimes a drastic remodel is ill-advised, whether you can afford it or not. Some of our decorators believe that by bringing in a new piece of interesting furniture or some great accessories, you can transform your living space overnight.

Color Forms Gallery (NYT Mag)

New York Spaces magazine also does a pretty good job of keeping an updated online gallery of objects and home accessories on their site.

Statements (New York Spaces)

If you're still stumped, don't be shy about reaching out to a New York Interior Decorator on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory.

Good luck!

cityhammer.com

Labels: New York Interior Decorators, New York Interior Design, NY Furniture Ideas, NYC Decor

Dishwashers are expensive, so attempting to repair one is usually your best bet, especially if the unit is less than 7 years old. There are plumbing components to dishwashers as well as electrical aspects, so hiring a qualified dishwasher repairman in New York is very important.

Our fave column of the week, The Fix from the New York Times, discusses common issues with dishwashers this week. The discussion is centered around a question for homeowners as old as time itself: "Why isn't my dishwasher washing dishes?"

Some of the answers to this basic question may surprise you. For example, did you know that pre-washing dishes can actually do more harm than good?

According to Mike Edwards, a senior dishwasher design engineer at BSH Home Appliances in New Bern, N.C.: “Dishwasher detergent aggressively goes after food,” Mr. Edwards said, “and if you don’t have food soil in the unit, it attacks the glasses, and they get cloudy,” a process known as etching that can cause permanent damage.

Other tips include not using the pots and pans cycle and the reason for using proper amount of detergent.

Find Appliance Repair in New York on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory.

Read the rest of the article on the New York Times: The Fix - Dishwashers

Labels: Appliance Repair NY, New York Dishwasher Repair, New York Times, The Fix

We just finished processing New York Magazine's annual design issue and, like every year, it is filled with interesting and cutting edge edge work from some of the best NYC interior designers working today.

Featured in the spread are the apartments of artists, fashion designers other New Yorkers who both live and work in their space here in New York. Our favorite was the Brooklyn's Future Perfect owner David Alhadeff for it's sheer madness in color choice.

The whole issue is worth a look for both casual decor browsers and interior design professionals.

Check it out here: Spring 2009 Design (NYMAG)

Labels: New York Magazine, NYC INterior Designers, NYC Interiors, Spring 2009 Design

Better Homes and Gardens has a fully-loaded site in terms of tips and galleries to inspire you for pretty much any home improvement of redesign project you could think of.

There is a special feature on the site today that highlights hidden storage ideas for your bathroom that's definitely worth a look, and many of the ideas are remarkably simple and relatively inexpensive to pull off.

The feature show you how to carve out a tiled niche in the shower, add turntables to the inside of cabinets, add gliding drawers or a vanity iron board and disguise medicine chests.

New York is filled with great bathroom remodeling pro's who can help you get that extra storage advantage in the bathroom. For a list of these service providers in your town or borough, click here.

To check out BHG's bathroom storage feature, visit BHG.com.

Labels: Bathroom Remodeling, Bathroom Renovation New York, Bathroom Storage

Now more than ever, New York and New Jersey residents need to be sure they have a go-to solutions provider for flooding, leakage, poor drainage systems and other issues that can be caused by water or sewers.

We're pleased to introduce the newest member of cityhammer.com, Strata-Tek LLC, based in West Babylon, NY and serving the entire Tri-State Area.

The professionals at Strata-Tek LLC have over 40 years of experience in residential waterproofing for both new and existing structures. We specialize in the installation of home drainage systems and sump pumps; foundation and crack repair; basement remodeling and refinishing; and dehumidifiers, carpet underlayment, window wells as well as egress windows.

To contact Strata-Tek, visit their cityhammer.com profile here: Strata-Tek

You can also call them toll-free at (866) 787-2829.

Strata-Tek's website is found at www.strata-tek.net

Labels: Drainage Companies in NY, Long Island Sewer Company, New York Water Damage Companies, Water Leakage NY

In a landmark state court decision in the state of Texas, last week the fifth circuit court decided that interior designers and decorators DO NOT need a license to refer to themselves as interior designers or decorators when advertising to the public.

We discussed this issue last year during a flap over the issue in Connecticut, see that post here: CT Interior Designers Wage Title Fight

The crux of the court's argument is that the language used by designers to explain what they do is not inherently misleading, as their trade name is exactly the service that they provide.

Below are the details of the decision (excerpt from the Volokh Conspiracy):

The State advances a circular argument that the speech inherently tends to mislead consumers. It runs: Texas created a licensing regime; therefore, unlicensed interior designers who refer to themselves as interior designers will confuse consumers who will expect them to be licensed. The descriptive terms “interior designer” and “interior design” are not, however, inherently misleading. They merely describe a person’s trade or business. The terms can be employed deceptively, for example if a person does not actually practice interior design, but the speech is neither actually nor inherently misleading. This argument also proves too much, as it would authorize legislatures to license speech and reduce its constitutional protection by means of the licensing alone.

The State next relies on two pieces of evidence to prove that unlicensed interior designers who use the title are engaged in misleading speech. The district court correctly rejected both proffers. The State offers a survey that asked irrelevant questions concerning the respondents’ general preferences for “licensed” professionals. The survey included five substantive questions and seventeen demographic questions. The only question even arguably relevant to whether the job title “interior designer” is misleading was, “if there were two professionals offering the same service, one with a license, and one without a license, do you think that it is deceptive or misleading or both that the licensed and unlicensed person can use the exact same professional title?” Unfortunately, because no definition of the qualifications of the “licensed” professional was included, no probative value can be attached to the responses. We are also unable to attribute probative value to a legislative report, prepared three years before the statutes here at issue were passed, finding that some people are confused about what type of services interior designers provide and marshalling comments for and against licensing these occupations. Significantly, the legislative committee that authored the report made no suggestions for legislation of any kind.

Both the survey and the legislative report expose the fallacy in the State’s effort to characterize certain interior designers’ professional practices as misleading. There is no fixed definition of the covered occupations. Interior designers may confine their work to harmonizing color schemes and selecting furnishings for private residences; or they may design the physical layout of commercial spaces, including aesthetic, functional and safety attributes; or they may furnish services on a wide spectrum between these alternatives. Where no fixed definition of the services exists, there can hardly be a claim that the public is being misled about particular individuals’ truthfully expressed level of expertise or services. The State has offered no evidence that the public has actually been misled about interior design services.

Source: The Volokh Conspriracy April 09 Archives

Labels: Connecticut Designers, CT Interior Designers

Living in the 'burbs certainly has its perks, one of which is gardening and growing your own veggies. Right around this time of year is when you want to start getting your seeds in the ground. There are few important things you'll need besides the seeds, one is good soil, another is water, but the third is something many people don't think about until its too late; you need a good fence.

Wildlife is everywhere on Long Island and if your garden is left unguarded, your plants will be consumed.

In today's New York Times, there is a great article on protecting your New York garden with fences that we thought we'd pass on to the horticulturally-inclined.

It’s a helpful corollary to the paramount 21st-century horticultural imperative: I garden, therefore I fence.

The story is filled with anecdotes from your friends and neighbors which highlight the necessities when building and protecting a garden.

Learning wildlife habits has since sharpened our defensive tactics. We now know that rodent types can push their flat skulls into improbably slim spots, so any new fencing is of finer-gauge chicken or rat wire, or dense plastic netting. White-tailed deer have landing and enclosure anxiety: they won’t leap even a three- or four-foot fence if there is an obstacle or another row of fencing a few feet before or beyond it. Thus some people dare to surround their veggie patches with handsome picket or willow fences, and then string two or three strands of low trip wire fences outside them.

If you're going to grow this year, get smart about fencing options and check this story out.

Click Here For Fence Installers in New York

Read The Art of Fencing (NYT)

Labels: Fence Installation NY, Gardening NY, Long island Fence Companies, New York Fences

A cityhammer.com member was profiled on The Business Insider the other day and the gist of the article was that Handyman Services are in more demand during these tough economic times, not less.

From TBI:
This afternoon we placed a call to Richard Shogun, the founder of Spotless Services, a Manhattan-area cleaning and handyman service to gauge the temperature of that business.

Not surprisingly, says Shogun, cleaning services are down. People have more time on their hands or they're saving money. But handyman services are "more than offsetting" that loss. He's even had to hire 2 or 3 extra handymen to make up for the endless volume of leads he's been able to generate through internet, lead-gen advertising. The handyman, he says, are "busy almost every day."

We were very pleased to hear this upbeat assessment from a New York handyman company. Spotless Services has been listed on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory, for over a year and currently offers all types of services to the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens areas.

For Spotless Services' full profile, click here: NYC Handyman

For the complete list of handyman companies in the area, click here: New York Handyman

Full Article: Recession Winner: The Handyman

Labels: Handyman Manhattan, Handyman Services, New York Handyman, NYC Handymen

Apartment Therapy's got a great house tour in a Clinton Hill, Brooklyn brownstone with nice bones. The furniture chosen to decorate the home is low and simple, giving the eye a chance to take in all of the features and curves of the building itself.


In New York Spaces magazine, designer Vicente Wolf shows off a transformational interior design project on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The pre-war apartment had some natural flaws, such as rooms that were small and dark and a complicated entryway. Wolf gave the the apartment a makeover and included an old-meets-news aesthetic with well-chosen colors and sculpture.


The New York Times goes shopping for tools and hardware with Canadian actress and do-it-yourself TV host Mag Ruffman. Ruffman also runs Toolgirl.com and is said to have a massive collection of hammers! Here, she picks a Komelon tape measure, a pair of Irwin Vise-Grip pliers and a Mintcraft 11-piece ratchet screwdriver set. Here's the interactive gallery to see her tool picks.

Labels: Interior Design Upper West Side, Manhattan Interior Design, NY General Contractors, Tools New York

For those of you who haven't heard of David Beahm, he's an event designer who has planned the look and aesthetic feel of many of the biggest galas and parties in New York.

At the opening of the Plaza Hotel’s renovated grand ballroom last year, he bathed the space in a purple glow, hanging a mobile of crystal, glass and orchids, and directing a spotlight to splash shadows against the ceiling.

He is also known for his interesting use of lighting, especially candlelight.

One of Mr. Beahm’s favorite forms of lighting is the humble candle. For safety reasons, candles weren’t allowed at the Diffa event, he said, although candlelight “makes everyone look beautiful, and if people feel like they look nice, they’re going to have a good time.”

The New York Times recently went shopping with Mr. Beahm, hitting up antique and design stores in Greenwich, Connecticut along with Restoration Hardware. There is an accompanying multi-media piecewith the article to show off 9 of the best lighting items they came across.

Full article: Shopping with David Beahm

Multi-Media: 9 Lighting Objects

To achieve these looks for your own home or apartment, here are cityhammer.com's New York Lighting Companies.

Labels: Candles New York, David Beame, Lighting Contractors New York, Lighting NYC, New York Lighting

Everyone in New York is cost-conscious and trying to be smarter about their money these days. This extends to pretty much every aspect of life and home improvement spending is no different.

That said, Better Homes & Gardens has put together a slide show featuring low-cost architectural touches that can make a big difference for your home even if you're on a tight budget. These updates add value as well, which is helpful if you plan to sell your home or you can see this possibility coming.

Among the 10 ideas in the article, you'll see ceramic tile updates, a wainscoting shortcut, carpeting for the master suite in lieu of hardwood floors and an idea for varied lighting fixtures.

On cityhammer.com, you can find NY Interior Designers and General Contractors to help you achieve these looks and put these ideas to work in your house or apartment.


Read the full article here: BHG on Low-Cost Remodeling Projects

Labels: Better Homes and Gardens, Cheap Remodeling, NY General Contractors, NY Interiror Designers

Last April, ThreadBanger posted a funny and informative video full of Spring Cleaning and organization tips for apartment dwellers. I thought it was definitely worth a re-post.

One of the items on the list was installing blinds which let you enjoy a more restful sleep. There are tons of Window Treatment companies in New York, so this project should be pretty easy to get started with, just in time for the longer daylight hours.

Enjoy!


Visit ThreadBanger

Labels: Closet Organization in New York, New York Window Treatments, Spring Cleaning, Window Treatments NYC

Paulette Cole, the founder of ABC Home is serious about her company's green sourcing initiative, unlike many of the retailers and home furnishing companies who have only claimed to be eco-sensitive.

Every time we buy something for our homes, we have a chance to invest positively in the planet,” observes Paulette Cole. “That gives retailers an enormous opportunity—and responsibility—to influence the earth and its people for the better.”

The above is a quote from the most recent issue of NY Spaces magazine. According to the article:

Wood is reclaimed or harvested from responsibly managed forests; organic fibers and feathers are used in chemical-free upholstery; and a well-curated collection of vintage and artisan-made accessories fosters a connection to cultures around the globe.

Now that the national focus is on whether or not consumers will even show up at the store, its nice to see that someone is still taking their green initiative seriously and is not letting the economy stateside be an excuse to cut corners in merchandising.

Read the full story here: ABC Home in NY Spaces

Here's a list of New York Interior Designers

Labels: ABC Home, Green Decorating, Home Furnishings NYC, New York Decorators, NY Interiror Designers

Hope everyone got out from under the 63 million inches of snow we woke up to this morning...

There was an interesting article in the Daily News he other day that really illustrates how dangerous mold in the home can be to your family's health and it happened to involve a celebrity, which helped it get serious attention.

Campbell Brown, an anchorwoman on CNN and 11 year veteran of NBC News, went for weeks without a rational explanation for her newborn baby's illness:

Last September, her son, Eli James (now 14 months old), developed a cold that wouldn't end.

"It was crazy to me," Brown said. "The doctors couldn't figure it out. I would get home at 9:30 or 10, and he would wake himself up with these horrible coughing attacks."

But Brown noticed two days into a trip to Florida, the symptoms stopped.

Later, she spotted something on the wall of their apartment that looked odd. After some research, she was convinced it was mold - and her son was showing the symptoms of exposure.

Mold specialists confirmed her findings and had them leave. Once they were out, her son immediately got better.

"It was the not knowing - and as a mother, to know something's wrong with your child, you instinctively feel, this wasn't right," she said. "Finding out, there was a great sense of relief."

Campbell was told to "get your baby and get out," and she realizes how fortunate she is that she has the wherewithal to do that financially. She's been at a hotel since January with some of her belongings and husband Dan Senor.

Listen up New Yorkers, we have a fantastic community of abatement and environmental specialists here in our area, use them!

Click here for a list of environmental and mold companies in New York



Full Story: Campbell Brown in the Daily News

Labels: Mold Abatement New York, Mold New York, Mold Removal NYC, NYC Mold

I know, I know, you don't live in a cave. Fair enough, we all know how bad the real estate market is, but the Barron's article by Leslie P. Norton is interesting because we get some anecdotes and details from the front lines of the luxury tier of the condo/ rental business...you know, the luxury tier that we were told would be just fine.

In this particular economy, Barron's makes the case that the wealthy are harder hit than what anyone expected due to the collapses and layoffs on Wall Street as well as the general malaise in many of the important industries that affect New Yorkers, like fashion, real estate, marketing and advertising.

Some of the price cuts, like the one on the late socialite Brook Astor's penthouse are astounding, and they may only be the beginning!

PRICE CUTTING HAS BECOME SAVAGE. The 14-room Park Avenue apartment of the late socialite Brooke Astor -- which Barron's highlighted in that earlier story after its price had been cut from $46 million to $34 million -- is now down to $29 million and probably has to be cut further.
But even with dramatic reductions like that, the inventory of unsold luxury housing is ballooning. Streeteasy.com, a Website that pulls together listings and insights from a variety of brokers and buyers, now shows 795 New York apartments offered for $5 million or more, up from 518 a year ago.

The entire article is worth a read, if only to keep up with the latest on the most luxurious apartments in Manhattan and what they're going for and will go for in the near future.

Check it out: Manhattan On Sale (Barron's)

Labels: Barron's, High End NYC Condos, Manhattan Luxury Apartments, New York Real Estate

Introducing...Tzoc Construction of Queens, New York!

We'd like to take an opportunity to introduce you to our newest member on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory. Tzoc is a full service contracting firm that does work in all 5 Boroughs plus Long Island and New Jersey.

Some of Tzoc's specialties include:

Brick Work
Stucco
Siding
Window Installation
Tiling
Drywall
Painting
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling

Labels: Queens Construction, Queens New York Contractors, Queens NY Renovations, Queens Remodeling

Today, the cityhammer blog brings you a special report about renovating a home and dealing with the potential problems caused by asbestos. We interviewed Joe Lederman of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center and were amazed at how much information is out there that many New York homeowners are probably not aware of.


CH: How does a one know what the status or history of asbestos could be when they move into a new home?

JL: Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral used throughout the 20^th century in thousands of industrial and building applications. Making sure whether or not asbestos-materials are present is ideally the first step. Unfortunately, asbestos cannot be seen with the naked eye. The home is not only a financial asset, but a place to live and raise your family. If a real estate agent is assisting you in finding the right home, you should ask your agent to verify if the property has any past history with asbestos or other health damaging materials. If a home was built prior to 1980, there is still the likelihood of containing asbestos. Material in good condition will generally not pose any health risks. Therefore, it is highly recommended that home owners leave any suspected materials un-disturbed, as this can cause its toxic fibers to become airborne.

Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of serious health ailments such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. These forms of asbestos lung cancers take the lives of thousands each year so taking steps to ensure you and your family’s safety is of the utmost importance.

CH: What do you recommend a homeowner do before embarking on a structural renovation that could lead to exposure?

JL: Prior to embarking on a renovation project, home owners should hire a certified inspector to determine if any harmful materials are present and what the best course of action should be. Your family’s protection comes with knowing what you are dealing with and handling it in a responsible manner. States also require a property owner to file a written notice at least ten days before remodeling or demolition has begun. If there is asbestos in the property, it should be removed by an abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous materials. The removal and disposal of asbestos is a finite process that requires professional care and protective equipment. Stating how workers will protect themselves and how the prevention of the release of asbestos into the community will not happen may also need to be stated.

CH: Do you have any statistics or approximations for how many homes in the US may still have asbestos in their makeup?

JL: It is difficult to estimate the true amount of homes that may still have asbestos-containing materials. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency found asbestos in at least 700,000 public and residential residences across the United States. More than half were estimated to contain damaged asbestos. Due to the widespread use throughout the last century, it is still probable for homes built before 1980 to have asbestos in their makeup.

Asbestos professionals can perform home inspections, take samples of suspected material, assess the condition, and advise on what corrections are needed. Once again, material in good condition need not be sampled unless it is likely to be disturbed. An abatement contractor will repair or remove asbestos materials but is usually the last option chosen.

CH: Which building materials or products that have been historically used in homes are the most dangerous?

JL: Manufacturers of asbestos were aware of its toxic qualities, but continued the shipping of the product anyways, leading to millions of civilians, workers and military personnel being wrongfully exposed. Its qualities as fire resistant and durable made it one of the most sought out building applications in the world.

Asbestos was typically used as insulation, steam pipes or boilers, floor tiles, cement sheets, door gaskets, soundproofing, cement roofing, shingles, siding, automobile brake pads and linings. All of these products could potentially become damaged and release fibers into the air. The most difficult asbestos materials to locate include ceiling tiles, vinyl wall coverings, and popcorn ceilings. If any suspected asbestos is found, leave it un-disturbed until a professional can help determine the next step.

CH: How do the remodeling industry and its professionals protect itself from the possibility from asbestos-related sickness?

JL: Licensed abatement contractors will be familiar with the regulations in protecting you and themselves from exposure to asbestos. They must wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves to avoid any exposure. The area is usually isolated from the rest of the house by shutting down ventilation systems and sealing them. The materials should be removed in as large pieces as possible and places in disposable bags.

There are now many eco-friendly green alternatives to asbestos such as cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene. Not only will these options provide a safe replacement to asbestos, they can even lower energy costs annually. These options should be considered upon removal of asbestos.

CH: What is the number one thing that people should know about Mesothelioma?

JL: Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive lung ailment which the only known cause is asbestos exposure. It accounts for nearly three percent of cancer diagnoses in the U.S. and has a latency period that can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years. This compounded with many symptoms that appear in less serious conditions make it one of the more difficult illnesses to accurately diagnose. Mesothelioma treatment is limited to a handful of options, but new diagnostic procedures are being tested specifically for detecting diseases such as mesothelioma. Home owners should take all the steps necessary to avoid exposure.

CH: Thanks, Joe.

Labels: Abatement Companies in New York, Asbestos, New York Renovations, NY Asbestos Removal, Renovation Safety

Labels: Design Expressions, Interior Design New York, Long Island Showroom, Oceanside

There are certain jobs that, no matter how handy a person is, most people just wouldn't want to do themselves. Debris removal is one of them. If you're ever going to hire a pro for help, cleaning out out a home or garage after renovation or some type of disaster would be the time to do so.

Enter The Junk Pros, a uniformed crew who specialize in cleaning out estates, renovation sites, offices and homes, regardless of the condition they're in. In addition, they will do a heavy duty cleaning after they've removed the debris or junk you've specified. As the homeowner, you sit back and do nothing as Gary Monteil and Co. roll up with a truck and all the labor necessary.

We welcome The Junk Pros to the Debris/ Cleanouts section of cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory, and hope that you will think of them when you're in need of a junk removal or clean-out anywhere in the New York area.

To get you started, click here and print the coupon shown for $25 off your first junk removal!

To check out The Junk Pro's full profile, click here: The Junk Pros NY

Labels: 10001, Cleanouts New York, Debris New York, Junk Removal NY, New York Junk Companies, NYC Junk Pros

Today we welcome new member KT Design Solutions and it's principle Keita Turner to cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory.

Keita launched her full service design firm in 2000 and has been the recipient of many honors and awards as well as mentions in the press. KT offers everything from custom furniture to cabinetry to interior design and renovations to project management.

Located on West 126th Street, KT Design Solutions serves Manhattan, Brooklyn Bronx, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut.

To check out KT Design's full profile, click here: KT Design Solutions NY

Labels: 10027, Interior Design NYC, Interior Renovation NY, New York Design, New York Interior Designers

When the news broke last night that Hauppauge-based Agape World was a Ponzi scheme, many Long Islanders said, "no, duh". Over the course of 8 years, CEO Nick Cosmo and his company convinced thousands of investors, mostly middle class people, to invest with him in bridge loans for construction projects. The payouts promised were usually 14% guaranteed.

Many of our friends and neighbors here in New York that were caught up in the scam were cops, firefighters, municipal workers and in retrospect, that should have been a clue, as anything with a 14% guarantee would have naturally attracted big money investors, not people who could barely afford to put $50,000 in.

Another warning sign that was ignored was the fact that many of the employees of Agape World who were listed as loan analysts and such were nightclub DJ's and bouncers (how idiosyncratically Long Island is that?).

Scams like these usually come along when there is a major demand for the ability to "invest" in a specific craze or bubble that people feel as though they are missing out on, and the Long island construction/ home improvement fever of the early and middle part of this decade was as bubblicious as any we've ever seen.

It seemed as though every town in Nassau and Suffolk Counties were going through a construction renaissance and everyone wanted in. Agape World claimed to be a vehicle for regular people to be involved in loan syndicates that financed these building projects.

The reality, however, was that many of the companies that were listed as loan recipients had addresses in the same building as Agape World. This, in addition to Cosmo's own criminal record for securities fraud, which he did time for in 1999, may have helped people avoid the allure of guaranteed returns.

The good news is that with the atrocious economy, many of these scams and schemes get exposed because the money to keep them going dries up. To paraphrase Warren Buffett, "When the tide goes out, you can see who is swimming naked".

Read the full story: Newsday Agape World

Labels: Agape World, Long Island Construction, Long Island Home Improvement, Nassau County Construction, Suffolk County Construction

With Super Bowl XLIII right around the corner (February 1st), now is an excellent time to get your den or living room ready for company. If you're not headed down to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, you can at least get your home entertainment system hooked up right for the game day.

From surround sound to flat screen installation, New Yorkers have many companies to call for a great home theater system and we've highlighted the top rated home theater companies listed on cityhammer.com below:

First up is East Village-based Bright Home Theater headed up by Kerry Bright and David DuPuy and serving New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Bright has been designing and installing custom-built home theater systems since 2003.
Bright Home Theater's profile on cityhammer.com

Based out of New York City and Bellmore, Long Island, Electronic Concepts has been serving the Tri State area since 1986 and boast a staff of Level 1 Intsallers and Certified Designers.
Electronic Concepts profile on cityhammer.com

Dmitri of Brooklyn's Home Video & Sound has been doing speaker and home theater installations since 1996. Some of his services offered include plasma and lcd tv installation, speaker systems and projector set ups.
Home Video & Sound profile on cityhammer.com

Renaissance man Che Carlotti was one of the first pro's to join cityhammer and his USA Plasma TV Installation company has been well-reviewed from the get-go. Che is currently offering TV mounts for $150 and mounted hidden wiring for $190, these are some of the best prices in New York City.
USA Plasma TV Installation profile on cityhammer.com

New Rochelle-based NYC Plasma has been doing TV installations for New York since 2002. They also offer indoor and outdoor speaker systems and pre-wiring services for new and old homes.
NYC Plasma profile on cityhammer.com


Click the link for the complete list of New York Home Theater Companies listed on cityhammer.com.

Labels: Flast Screen Mounting New York, Home Theater NY, Home Wiring NY, NY Home Theater, Plasma Installers NYC

This is truly cool...head over to Lexington and 59th-60th if you're in the area over the next 2 weeks and you will see the installation of the Big Window Challenge, a partnership between Apartment Therapy and Bloomingdales. The AT gang is helping Bloomies with the launch of Furniture on 5 (5th floor) by showcasing the interior decor work and imagination of four different designers as they create a four complete rooms, each in a different style.

Maxwell posted some photos of the work in progress over at AT yesterday, and the rooms look amazing. We especially like the "Blogger's Office".


Check out the pic's over at AT for a sneak peak of what the rooms/ windows will look like:
Big Window Challenge

Labels: 10022, Apartment Therapy, Big Window Challenge, Bloomingdales, Interior Design Manhattan

Cold enough for ya, New York? I know, I hate when people ask that question, too.

According to Mayor Bloomberg's office, the 311 lines have seen almost a 40% jump in New York City residents complaining about the heat in their buildings. City inspectors are making the rounds to make sure that landlord and building owners maintain an indoor temperature of at least 68 degrees whenever the outside temperature is 55 degrees or below.

Well, today it's under 10 degrees, so we figured we'd give you some New York plumbing and heating companies to call if you're not getting the warmth you need during this arctic blast.

First up is Archer Plumbing and Heating, serving Westchester and the Bronx since 2003.
Visit their cityhammer Profile Page: Westchester and Bronx Plumber

Next, we've got Staten Island's Duo Plumbing & Heating Corp, who've been serving the Staten Island area since 1938.
Visit their cityhammer Profile Page: Staten Island Plumber

Lastly, here is BMG Plumbing, a family-owned and operated business that's been serving the Nassau and Suffolk county community for almost 30 years.
Visit their cityhammer Profile Page: Long Island Plumber

Visit cityhammer.com for a complete list of Plumbing and Heating Companies in New York

Labels: Bronx Plumbing, Long Island Plumbers, Plumbing and Heating New York, Staten Island Plumbers, Westchester Heat Plumbing

There are few problems more annoyng and disgusting to deal with at home in New York than a bed bug issue. According to The New York Sun, lately, call volumes to exterminators and pest control companies in New York have gone up, making bed bug solutions one of the few booming industries around these days.

Below is a list of some of the highest-rated NY exterminators in New York if you find yourself in the midst of a bed bug infestation or dealing with any other pest problem in your home.

First up is cityhammer.com Featured Member 4 Seasons Termite and Pest Control. Luis Pimental's 4 Seasons is ready for your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He handles everything from carpenter ants to carpenter bees.
Visit 4 Seasons Termite and Pest Control's Profile on cityhammer.com

Next we have Brooklyn-based Bugs Are Gone Exterminating, a member of the New York State Pest Control Association. Todd Pemberton guarantees that their work will leave you with "100 % peace of mind".
Visit Bugs Are Gone Extermination's Profile on cityhammer.com

For New Yorkers looking for a greener solution to their pest problems, check out Ecology Exterminating Service Corp, a company that's been servicing the New York metropolitan area since 1973. They work with "children, pets, and plants in mind".
Visit Ecology Exterminating Service Corp's Profile on cityhammer.com

Lastly, we've got T.P. Exterminators, a North Bellmore-based outfit that recently serviced cityhammer.com user Brian King, who says, "TP did the termite inspection on my new home 4 years ago and took care of a carpenter ant problem just 2 weeks ago.They were thorough, efficient and honest on both occasions."
Visit T.P. Exterminators' Profile on cityhammer.com

For the Main Exterminator Page on cityhammer.com, click here: NY Area Exterminators

To read the full article in The New York Sun, click here: Bed Bug Boom

Labels: Bed Bugs NYC, Long island Exterminator, New York Exterminators, Pest Control in New York, Pest Manhattan