The original purpose of this blog was to document the renovation of our 100+ year old limestone in Brooklyn, NY. Naturally there are lot of posts on the topic but I've a little pictorial guide to help you find what you're most interested in. Just click on any of the images to bring you to most of the posts about that space. If you have any questions that aren't already answered within these pages, feel free to drop me a line.
Recent posts
I don't know what came over me yesterday but I had enough of the painted birds in my office window. Off they went.I still hate the view so I want to replace it with something else. They hung around for 3 + years so that isn't so bad. I will say it feels a bit weird to walk past my office door and not see them there....read more
Posted 1 day 5 hours ago.
One topic that comes up a lot in reader emails: What should I paint my {insert room here}? I actually really enjoy talking color and decor so I don't mind the question at all but I know first hand there is a lot of color choosing anxiety out there. For those feeling the pressure, I have a little secret: there simply is no one 'perfect' color for any space. Trust! So if you are one of these people that get a bit antsy choosing a color (and who doesn't?), I hope that knowing that there are LOTs of great shades that will work! Hope that makes you feel more zen when faced with the endless wall of paint chips.Yea, that still leaves the question: what color? When you are really stuck, sometimes a little outside help can be just the thing....read more
Posted 2 days 7 hours ago.
This winter has been really mild - very little snow or freezing days but I'm still ready for it to be over. Now that the days are getting longer, I'm really anxious for spring. Who's with me?reflection / walking in the first snow of winternew shoes / sharpies are my weaknessnew job, new photos / bodega rosesRewind to snaps from from spring, summer, fall and christmas.Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram for more....read more
Posted 5 days 6 hours ago.
We need a new mattress. Anyone have one they really love? As far as I can remember from the last time we needed one, mattress shopping is about the least fun kind of shopping in the universe. Boo-hiss.Having nothing to do with my mattress, I've been a bit of a funk lately. I really don't enjoy feeling down at all so I need to snap myself out of it. Bear with me, I'm sure I'll be back to to normal in a bit.What better way to cheer myself up than with some room revamping? If all goes well, we are going to repaint the shore bedroom a inky dark blue next week! Yeah. More on that later....read more
Posted 1 week 5 hours ago.
Happy Valentines Day!Its just a regular work day for me but how about a little homage to true love via some of my favorite old photos? Alfred Eisenstaedt's most famous image is his VJ day in Times Square, but it never seemed that romantic to me - I've always preferred some of the more private moment photos like the ones below (I liked them so much I used them to create some art in my bedroom!)Or how about a couple from another master, Robert Doisneau.Swoon.In case you missed them, don't forget about my Valentine Days gifts to you - some absolutely free downloads for your romantic pleasure.love is all around / makes the ride / instant valentinesHoping your days are filled with love - romantic and otherwise....read more
Posted 1 week 1 day ago.
Technically this isn't strictly a Valentine's Day project but the timing was just perfect for anyone looking for something simple, fun and personal to give tomorrow.Inspired by the beautiful pottery of Jonathan Adler (specifically the Misia and Salvador vases), I added a little personality to an $8 ikea vase to create a cheeky display for a single bud.I started by rolling out a bit of Sculpey clay (i couldn't find my rolling pin so I just used a drinking glass instead) and cut out some face shapes. I wanted to do a girl and a boy so I made cat eye glasses, a pouty mouth, manly eyebrows and a mustache. Of course you could make these just about anything that suite you. Once they were cut out, I baked in the oven as directed to firm up the clay....read more
Posted 1 week 2 days ago.
Hellloooo out there - its me again. Did you miss me? I hope you all loved and were inspired by the conquered closet series....read more
Posted 1 week 2 days ago.
Today is the last day of the Conquered Closet series and I hope you've been able to take away some great ideas to help master your own messes. The final installment is coming from the pro's: professional organizers! ( I know I can't be the only one who has longed for some professional help in this area). What better way to wrap it up?Welcome Molly of Neat Method who is sharing any apartment dwellers dream come true.The New Year brings new promises, new diets, and if you are a renter in a big city it may mean a new home. In 2011, we at NEAT encountered one of the most interesting challenges in a client's rental space....read more
Posted 1 week 5 days ago.
Heys all around to Wendy of Old Town Home. As a old home devotee, her blog name certainly got my interest peaked but nothing could win my admiration more than the fact she painted her front doors aqua blue and black. Clearly we can be pals. Her struggles with storage space is something any old home owner can appreciate and I absolutely love how she transformed a messy hallway space into a beautifully organized, schoolhouse inspired feature. Read on.Living in an 1880's row house can present some serious storage challenges, especially since we don't have a single closet on our first floor....read more
Posted 1 week 6 days ago.
Welcome back to Rebekah of Wild Ink Press. You might remember her aMAZing bathroom renovation from a while back (easily one of my favorites). She is back today to show us how she made over her laundry room into a simply charming spot.Hello, Brooklyn Limestoners! When Stefanie mentioned on twitter last week that she was looking for a couple of guests posting before-and-afters, I thought right away of my newly refreshed laundry room, and she graciously accepted my suggestion. Thanks for having me back again, Stefanie.Little did I know what I was getting into - that a laundry room might be the MOST difficult room in the entire house to photograph, unless you are either a magician or own your body-weight in professional photography gear!!...read more
Posted 2 weeks 5 hours ago.
Recent posts
I don't know what came over me yesterday but I had enough of the painted birds in my office window. Off they went.I still hate the view so I want to replace it with something else. They hung around for 3 + years so that isn't so bad. I will say it feels a bit weird to walk past my office door and not see them there....read more
Posted 1 day 5 hours ago.
One topic that comes up a lot in reader emails: What should I paint my {insert room here}? I actually really enjoy talking color and decor so I don't mind the question at all but I know first hand there is a lot of color choosing anxiety out there. For those feeling the pressure, I have a little secret: there simply is no one 'perfect' color for any space. Trust! So if you are one of these people that get a bit antsy choosing a color (and who doesn't?), I hope that knowing that there are LOTs of great shades that will work! Hope that makes you feel more zen when faced with the endless wall of paint chips.Yea, that still leaves the question: what color? When you are really stuck, sometimes a little outside help can be just the thing....read more
Posted 2 days 7 hours ago.
This winter has been really mild - very little snow or freezing days but I'm still ready for it to be over. Now that the days are getting longer, I'm really anxious for spring. Who's with me?reflection / walking in the first snow of winternew shoes / sharpies are my weaknessnew job, new photos / bodega rosesRewind to snaps from from spring, summer, fall and christmas.Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram for more....read more
Posted 5 days 6 hours ago.
We need a new mattress. Anyone have one they really love? As far as I can remember from the last time we needed one, mattress shopping is about the least fun kind of shopping in the universe. Boo-hiss.Having nothing to do with my mattress, I've been a bit of a funk lately. I really don't enjoy feeling down at all so I need to snap myself out of it. Bear with me, I'm sure I'll be back to to normal in a bit.What better way to cheer myself up than with some room revamping? If all goes well, we are going to repaint the shore bedroom a inky dark blue next week! Yeah. More on that later....read more
Posted 1 week 5 hours ago.
Happy Valentines Day!Its just a regular work day for me but how about a little homage to true love via some of my favorite old photos? Alfred Eisenstaedt's most famous image is his VJ day in Times Square, but it never seemed that romantic to me - I've always preferred some of the more private moment photos like the ones below (I liked them so much I used them to create some art in my bedroom!)Or how about a couple from another master, Robert Doisneau.Swoon.In case you missed them, don't forget about my Valentine Days gifts to you - some absolutely free downloads for your romantic pleasure.love is all around / makes the ride / instant valentinesHoping your days are filled with love - romantic and otherwise....read more
Posted 1 week 1 day ago.
Technically this isn't strictly a Valentine's Day project but the timing was just perfect for anyone looking for something simple, fun and personal to give tomorrow.Inspired by the beautiful pottery of Jonathan Adler (specifically the Misia and Salvador vases), I added a little personality to an $8 ikea vase to create a cheeky display for a single bud.I started by rolling out a bit of Sculpey clay (i couldn't find my rolling pin so I just used a drinking glass instead) and cut out some face shapes. I wanted to do a girl and a boy so I made cat eye glasses, a pouty mouth, manly eyebrows and a mustache. Of course you could make these just about anything that suite you. Once they were cut out, I baked in the oven as directed to firm up the clay....read more
Posted 1 week 2 days ago.
Hellloooo out there - its me again. Did you miss me? I hope you all loved and were inspired by the conquered closet series....read more
Posted 1 week 2 days ago.
Today is the last day of the Conquered Closet series and I hope you've been able to take away some great ideas to help master your own messes. The final installment is coming from the pro's: professional organizers! ( I know I can't be the only one who has longed for some professional help in this area). What better way to wrap it up?Welcome Molly of Neat Method who is sharing any apartment dwellers dream come true.The New Year brings new promises, new diets, and if you are a renter in a big city it may mean a new home. In 2011, we at NEAT encountered one of the most interesting challenges in a client's rental space....read more
Posted 1 week 5 days ago.
Heys all around to Wendy of Old Town Home. As a old home devotee, her blog name certainly got my interest peaked but nothing could win my admiration more than the fact she painted her front doors aqua blue and black. Clearly we can be pals. Her struggles with storage space is something any old home owner can appreciate and I absolutely love how she transformed a messy hallway space into a beautifully organized, schoolhouse inspired feature. Read on.Living in an 1880's row house can present some serious storage challenges, especially since we don't have a single closet on our first floor....read more
Posted 1 week 6 days ago.
Welcome back to Rebekah of Wild Ink Press. You might remember her aMAZing bathroom renovation from a while back (easily one of my favorites). She is back today to show us how she made over her laundry room into a simply charming spot.Hello, Brooklyn Limestoners! When Stefanie mentioned on twitter last week that she was looking for a couple of guests posting before-and-afters, I thought right away of my newly refreshed laundry room, and she graciously accepted my suggestion. Thanks for having me back again, Stefanie.Little did I know what I was getting into - that a laundry room might be the MOST difficult room in the entire house to photograph, unless you are either a magician or own your body-weight in professional photography gear!!...read more
Posted 2 weeks 5 hours ago.