Awesome home renovation, especially liked the use of Ikea items and higher end fixtures/accents. Way to go!
2
Nice to see an affordable house featured. Cute dog. But seriously an ad in between every picture? So annoying.
4
Too much envy in these comments.
1
Why such mean comments? Now nobody's going to want their house written up for fear of being mocked. Can't we be nicer? They seem like a nice couple and did a good job. Maybe not as good as I would have done but still.....
6
What a lot of clever ideas this couple incorporated into their "redo"! I love the studio/workshop with the tools displayed as art. Great job!
6
Oh you two, you are never done.
5
You two have a very cute Welsh Terrier. We lived up in that area for about 3 years full time, and I strongly urge you to either get an appropriate sized wood burning stove or a vented propane stove. When the power goes out - and it will - you want to be able to stay warm. Didn't notice if you have a propane stove in the kitchen - I hope you do so you can cook when the power goes out.
You're very fortunate to be able to afford to own two places.
8
Think they do not own both. Just being subsidized by the landlord of their rent stabilized apt.
2
It is unfair that people can take advantage of rent stabilization in NYC to be able to afford a weekend home.
15
Awww, the trials and tribulations of finding and decorating a second home when you have a rent stabilized apartment. Heartbreaking that they don't have a fireplace isn't it?
11
Your nastiness is pouring out. They qualify for a rent stabilized lease. They can afford a second home. End of story unless the rent laws change.
9
The designers did an amazing job. Instead of spending millions of dollars buying a developer-house, they bought a smaller house and did all of the work themselves. They utilized their profession and their knowledge to create a dream house utilizing a very tight budget.
I think people are hating because they can't do what these amazing designers just did.
23
What a beautiful home. I don't know why the commenters have to be so negative -- jealousy? Are the owners sure the main house dates from 1941? It looks like a Greek Revival circa 1840s or 1850s to me.
11
I agree about the negative commenters. These guys worked for two years renovating this home, had a fairly low budget and the results are lovely. Plus, they get the award for cutest dog in the Times real estate section.
21
I agree that this couple is too snotty for their actual taste and talents. I think the house is 'Meh"....and they should get over themselves; a Cape Cod house is one of the ugliest structures there is-dated, no flow, ugh. Wouldn't own one if you PAID me to!
Snotty? Like your comment?? I am a lifelong NYC resident that just purchased my first home upstate and am in the process of making it my own...I would love to hear your opinion on some of my choices! Buying your first home, renovating it primarily on your own all while traveling back and forth weekly is a daunting task at times. I think this couple did an amazing job, and while my structure is completely different, I hope it turns out as beautiful as theirs did.
And just out of curiosity...what structure do you own if you must be paid to take on a Cape Cod?
10
says Debbie Downer
4
Before all the haters start in, let me say, this is beautiful.
23
Lovely fixture above the dining table. Source?
5
I find it distressing that this couple so wantonly got rid of the LED lighting as if they'd never heard of climate change or that being energy efficient is vital for all of us. They already had the tools and yet they threw them away for cheap and extraordinarily inefficient incandescents? They couldn't even bother with CFLs? I mean if they can't even be bothered to care for that, I can only imagine how little they care about how any of their other choices impact the environment. Come on people.
5
On the other hand, they have no kids, so they could each be driving a Hummer while leaving the incandescents on full-time, and still have less environmental impact than the average family with 2 kids. Not to discount global warming or the value of energy efficiency in any way but population growth remains the third rail of most political discourse. Also, the house has new insulation, new windows, new roof, etc., all of which no doubt are big improvements on 1941-standard energy efficiency.
23
It depends. I am also a lighting designer and have to explain to you that CFL lamps are actually the most inefficient light source designed compared to LED or incandescent lamps. Compact Fluorescent lamps (commonly known as CFL) are high in mercury. Each CFL retrofit lamp has an integral ballast, which is filled with unnecessary electronics. CFLs are non-directional sources, as which when used in a downlight application will cause majority of the light to be trapped inside the light fixture, mostly with a 40% efficiency, causing it to be a use-less light source.
It was actually a bit smart for the designers to do a incandescent retrofit. It was mentioned in the article that the house was provided with a 'frigid LED', which most likely seems to be a LED-Retrofit trim with a cool color temperature (typically 4,000k cool white). LED lighting that is not done properly can cause optical stress and reduction in your health. LED lighting is a natural phosphor coated 'blue LED chip', so when not filtered correctly can cause a dysfunction in your circadian rhythm. I am sure that the low wattage incandescent lamp (looks like a 25 watt lamp) dimmed will utilize a fraction of power (dimmed to 50% will be ~12-watts) and if LEDs are dimmed, due to the integral power supply will still utilize the same amount of energy.
You may want to reconsider your CFL lamps in your house. Maybe that's why you are so groggy.
19
Anyone know what brand of attached wall shelving was used in the studio? Very clean!
5
Dear Pedigrees,
White kitchens are not necessarily ugly. My feelings are hurt.
6
Very well done. I love the kitchen. If it were mine I'd add huge pots on that front porch, and fill it with plants. Once the snow melts...
7
There is a lot of playing the "I'm so clever, look at me bargain hunting!" For designer furniture! !! Ha! Made me laugh.
Poor little couple in their Hyundai Santa Fe...
Don't mock Home Depot..it just shows your ignorance at the amazing craftsmen out there really making do with less money.
8
"Home Depot" - the horror! And isn't "cheap cherry" a contradiction in terms? Their house is nice, but did they have to be so snotty about it?
13
Nice house and I like the look of most of it. But they replaced cherry cabinets (cheap or not) with white Ikea? Ick. Glad they didn't design my kitchen. The white kitchen cabinets fad will have run its course very soon and millions of American homes and homeowners will be stuck with ugly white kitchens and big ugly gray appliances.
6
yeah, they could have just replaced the doors - and the company they used for doors is super expensive.
2
From someone who can hang a picture just, I'm in awe of Kevin and Charlie.
10
I wish they hadn't removed LED lighting and replaced with incandescent. LED lighting comes in so many different warmths these days, and looks. They have LED bulbs that look incandescent or vintage but use only a minor fraction of the electricity.
22
I concur with their dislike of recessed lighting. They could replace the incandescent bulbs in Charlie's brass fixtures with new-technology warm LED bulbs that now are available in various "color temperatures."
3
I hope Kevin and Charlie are reading these comments because I have a suggestion: Instead of a fireplace, they should consider a modern wood or gas stove. They are easier to install than a full-on wood-burning fireplace with brick chimney, are more environmentally friendly than a traditional fireplace, take up less space, and have clean lines that go with their decorating aesthetic. My favorite is the Jotul 370 (which comes in white enamel as well as black) but Morso and Rais also make similar styles that are somewhat smaller.
33
What a sweet home! Rent stabilized studio and a country home is definitely living the dream.
17
Though it does seem to raise questions about the equity of giving rent stabilization to someone who can clearly afford to pay more like market price.
24
Why?
3
@E Rent Stabilization law allows landlords to increase rents when income and rental rates reach specific levels. Why deny if a renter is in compliance?
1
A really nice mix of high and low, old and new. And nice to hear about so much repurposing -- the wood for the fence, the old cabinets. Great job. Separately, I can understand not wanting to give up a rent-controlled place, but how does that work if you own a home?
15
Their apartment is rent stabilized not rent controlled. Different rules apply.
6