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INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
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living and more
TABLE OF CONTENT Where Worlds Collide; The history of immigrants to the Lower East Side
Home Decor Would You Like to Buy a Bridge? What is the City planning to raise cash?
Artist Profile Lynn Russle A preview of her captivating landscapes
Sushi 101 Everything you need to know
Under the Covers How to Find the Perfect Bed Linens
Basement Remodeling Just a few ideas on what you can do with the extra space
Living Green in New York Green apartment buildings, the wave of the future
Diet Proofing Your Home Ways to curb your appetite
Get Organized The Bedroom A head start on spring cleaning
Interior New York Directory 4 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
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EDITOR’S NOTE
hen we look back to simpler times, however difficult times may have been, we look back with a twinkle in our eyes, remembering that life was good. Years fromnow,reflectingbackonthesetimes,willwerememberthese times as good? I remember life was good in my old neighborhood, the Lower East Side, and things haven’t changed much.When I visit my old “stompingground”Iseeeverythingisstillthere,fromthecorner candystoretothePittStreetswimmingpool. Readthehistoryof its vast culture, Where Worlds Collide. Sadly enough, not all change is for the better.With the state oftheeconomyandourdeficitsobad,isitreallynecessarytosell (rent)outtheCity?Willourneighborhoodscarrysponsorstitles? Will I be saying I grew up in Microsoft’s Lower East Side? Will advertisementscovereveryspareinchofavailablespaceNewYork has left? So, if the governor asks you “Would you like to buy a bridge?” give it some thought, before you sign any leases. Landdevelopersaregoinggreen,adefinitechangeforthebetter. Energysaving,environmentfriendlyapartmentbuildingsareonthe rise. It’samazinghowmuchenergyrooftopgardenscansaveand recyclingwaterisnotasbadasitsounds.Whowouldhavethought Living Green in NYC was possible. Spring,theseasonofrebirthandjustaroundthecornertoo. It’s timeforspringcleaningandpackingawaythewinterblues. Ilike tostartwiththebedroom,comfortersandflannellinensarethefirst to go. For a real fresh change, a new look with linen is fine with me,butthechoicesareendless. Let’scheckUndertheCoversand see what we find. Next up, the kitchen and what I really mean is me. It’s time toshedthosepoundsIpackedonthiswinter. Soemptyingoutthe refrigeratorandfillingitwithhealthyfoodsandsnacksistheway tostart.WhatelsecanIdotosabotagethosechocolatecravings? Diet Proofing your Home has the answers. Is sushi fattening? Is it all raw fish? If you want to give it a try butneedmoreinformation,giveSushi101aread. It’sallyouneed to know and more. We hope you enjoy reading this issues articles and as always wewouldliketohearyourcommentsandsuggestionsforfuture issues.
Carole
6 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
living and more
PUBLISHER W MEDIA EDITOR IN-CHIEF CAROLE DELMONICO SENIOR EDITOR DAVID P. KAUFMAN ART DIRECTOR EFRAIM SCHNALL PHOTOGRAPHY W MEDIA DIRECTOR OF MENASHE SCHWARTZ OPERATIONS SALES RAIZY NEUFELD PRODUCTION ABE BERKOWITZ COORDINATOR CONTRIBUTING JULIA LISANTI WRITERS ZACHARY SCHLEE ADVERTISING 1227 60th Street OFFICE BROOKLYN NY 718.854.3773 www.interiornewyork.com
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Interior New York has openings in its sales department. Commissioned sales are offered at a competitive rate in a great work environment. Please contact Carole Delmonico at (718) 854-3773
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Where Worlds Collide The Lower East Side
T
he Lower East tells the storyofNewYorkCitylike no other neighborhood. It speaks of our past and our future,butisreallywhere thetwocollide.It’swhere dilapidated150-yearoldtenementsand amuseumcelebratingthemmeetluxury high-rise condominiums and trendy boutiques.It’saplacethatretainsarich historicalcharacterwhilesimultaneously remainingontheforefrontofthecity’s ever evolving culture. Originally farmland, the area now known as the Lower East Side exploded in population the 1840’s and 50’s, when hundreds of thousands of immigrants begantopassthroughtheareaafterleaving EllisIsland.Manyremained,andthearea quicklybecamethesingle-mostcrowded neighborhoodontheplanet.Aforestof denselypackedtenements,thesecramped and squalid buildings often housed as many as seven families in a single flat. By the 1860’s, the population of the LowerEastSideaveragedouttoroughly 240,000 per square mile. People were packedsotightlyintothefiveorsixstory buildingsthattheCouncilofHygieneand PublicHealth,formedin1864todealwith the issue of overcrowding, declared: “Itisonlybecausethisrateofpacking is somewhat diminished by intervening warehouses,factories,andotherpublic buildingsthattheentiretenement-house populationisnotdevastatedbythedomestic pestilencesandinfectionsthatarisefrom overcrowdinganduncleanness…Such concentrationandpackingofapopulation
has probably never been equaled in any city as may be found in New York.” To say that the living conditions in thetenementswereunsanitarywouldbe agraveunderstatementofthefact.The tinyapartmentswereusuallynomorethan 325 square feet, and comprised of three small rooms: a living room, a kitchen, and a miniscule bedroom. There was no bathroomtospeakof,noranyotherkind of running water. Thetenement’sprivieswereusually located in the building’s back yard, but were not necessarily hooked up to the sewer system, so the stench was awful. Earlyeffortstoreformthecity’shousing, notably the “Old Law” passed in 1867, required landlords to provide a single toilet for every twenty residents. Lighting and ventilation in the tenementswasalsoinadequate,andseveral effortswereundertakentorectifythis situationovertheyears.Startingwiththe “OldLaw,”andcontinuingwithTenement HouseActof1901,landlordswererequired to put in skylights, air shafts, electric lightinginstairwells,andflushabletoilets. These renovations were costly and cut downontheapartment’ssquarefootageto thepointwherealreadysmallroomswere rendereduninhabitable.Wholewallshadto bemovedsometimes,andmanylandlords wentinto“noncompliance”ratherthan making the necessary renovations. LifeinNewYorkCitywasnoteasyfor thenewlyarrivedimmigrants,particularly thosewhosettledontheLowerEastSide. The overcrowding resulted in rampant disease, among other dangers. Petty
thievesandconmentookadvantageofthe overcrowding,windingtheirwaythrough thethrongsofpeopletolookforaneasy mark. Firewasanotherdangerinthedensely packedareaand,inthelate18thandearly 19thcenturies,nearlyhalfofallfire-related deathsinthecitytookplaceontheLower East Side. The immigrants who settled in the LowerEastSiderepresentedthediversity of all the immigrant groups that passed through Ellis Island. They were Irish, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, and German. TheGermanpopulationwasparticularly large, and these immigrants settled in anareanorthofDivisionStreetandeast of the Bowery which became known as Kleindeutschland,or“LittleGermany.” By far the largest immigrant group to populate the Lower East Side, Jewish immigrantsfromEasternEuropesettledin the area en masse.They made the Lower East Side their own: a center of Jewish cultureandtraditionintheNewWorld.The culturalinfluenceandaccomplishmentsof theseearlyJewishimmigrantsresonates in the area to this day, but for now- let’s linger in the past. FortheseJewishimmigrants,therewas asenseofcomfortinliving,working,and worshippingtogether.Americacouldbean intimidating,ifnotdownrightfrightening, place for any immigrant, and they took solace in the sense of the familiar. From theirearliestdaysintheLowerEastside, theseimmigrantsestablishedsynagogues, mutualaidsocieties,socialclubs,libraries, and numerous shops and businesses.
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 11
Landmark Businesses
Althoughlifewashardformostnew immigrants,theJewishimmigrantsfrom EasternEuropefaceduniquechallenges in their efforts to find meaningful employment. Fleeing persecution from theRussianEmpire,whichhadprohibited Jewish people from working in a variety ofprofessions,thesenewcomerslacked theexperienceinprofessionaltradesthat manyotherimmigrantgroupspossessed. As a result, they had to get creative. MostoftheseJewishimmigrantswent toworkeitherinmanuallabororretail sales.Forthoseinmanuallaborjobs,the vastmajorityofthesewereinthegarment manufacturingbusiness.Thehourswere grueling,thepaywaslaughable,andthe
workerstoiledinhot,airlesssweatshops or from their equally hot and airless tenements.AreporterforTheCentury describedtheabysmalconditionsthese workers faced as follows: “[They] toil from six in the morning untilelevenatnight.Fiftycentsisnot an unusual compensation for these murderous hours.Trousers at 84 cents per dozen, 8 cents for a round coat, and 10 cents for a frock coat, are labor pricesthatexplainthesuddenaffluence oftheheartlessmerchantmanufacturers, andthebitingpovertyofthemiserable artisans.” The conditions of the sweatshops were not only uncomfortable, but couldbepotentiallylife-threatening. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 killed146workers,nearlyhalfofwhich were teenage Jewish girls. It’snowonder,giventhealternative, whysomanyoftheseimmigrantspursued anotheroption-retailsales.Ofthese,a largepercentageworkedasstreetvendors who sold their wares, whether it was foodorpracticallyanythingelsethatone couldthinkof,frompushcarts.Goinginto business for oneself provided a level of freedom,andpotentiallyagreaterincome, thanwaspossibleworkinginsweatshops. Somevendorsbecamesosuccessfulthat they subsequently opened shops and departmentstores,afewofwhicharestill in business today.
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Several world famous businesses locatedintheLowerEastSidegottheir startinthe19thcentury.Themostfamous of these is probably Katz’s Deli. Katz’s deliisacarnivore’sparadise.Established in 1888 to serve pastrami sandwiches to hungryworkers,Katz’sfamoussandwich is still considered among the best in the city.Katz’sisalsofamousforitshotdogs and salami, and currently serves 5,000 pounds of corned beef, 2,000 pounds of salami,andastaggering12,000hotdogs per day. Gaining notoriety during WWII, the deli began a program to “send a salami to your boy in the army,” a phrase which came from a popular song of the period,withlyricsthatread,“Remember Mommy, I’m off to kill a commie, so send me a salami, and try to smile somehow.” The “send a salami” program continues tothisday,withcarepackagescurrently being shipped to US bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Katz’s is still a popular destination forlocalsandtouristsalike.Featuredin many tours of the Lower East Side, the deli has filled the bellies of countless celebritieswhosepicturesgracethedeli’s walls,andarealmostaslargeanattraction asthesandwichesthemselves.Amongthe famouspeoplewhohaveeatenatKatz’s arethreeformerUSpresidents,namely Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Countlessmoviesandtelevisionshows havealsofeatured,ormadereferencesto, Katz’s. The most widely recognized of theseisprobablythefamousrestaurant scene from “When Harry Met Sally.” Guss’ Pickles is another Lower East Sidelandmarkthatgotitsstartaroundthe turnofthecentury.IsidorGusscameto
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 13
America from Poland in 1910 and, like many of his fellow immigrants, began to sellhispicklesfromacartbeforeopening his own shop. At one time, there were more than 80 pickleshopsandcartsintheareaofEssex and Ludlow streets. The area became known as the “pickle district” before restrictionsonimmigrationandpushcarts, nottomentionthesteadyeconomicdecline of the Great Depression, forced most of these shops and carts from business. Guss’ Pickles not only survived this period,itthrived.Whilethestore,which was located on Hester Street for many years, served as the center for Guss’ retail sales, Gus made his real money in thewholesalemarket.Sellinghispickles to places as diverse as ski resorts in the Catskillsandhotel-casinosinLasVegas, Guss made New York style pickles recognizablethroughoutthecountry. Today, Guss’ Pickles serves not only itsfour varieties of traditional pickles, buttheyalsomakejustabouteveryother typeofpickledvegetableknowntoman. Served in quart containers from huge barrels,Guss’openstorefrontcurrently featuresolives,giardiniera,sweetpeppers, hotcherrypeppers,marinatedmushrooms, pickledcelery,sauerkraut,horseradish, relish, and even pickled tomatoes. Another snack stop on Lower East Side, Kossar’s Bialys is a carb lover’s paradise.Forthoseofyouunfamiliarwith bialys,letmejustexplainthattheyarelittle onion rolls of pure deliciousness. They were a staple food in Poland, and named foratowntherebeforebeingbroughtto America by Polish immigrants. Bialys wereoncesuchahugesellingitemonthe LowerEastSidethattheyhadtheirown union, The Bialy Bakers Union. Founded in 1936 as Mursky and Kossar’s, Kossar’s Bialys still serves up thousands of baked goods every day. Besidestheaforementionedbialys,they alsomakesmallherostylerollscalled bulkas,focaccia-likeflatbreadscalled pletzels, sesame sticks, and bagels. Otherhistoricfoodlocationsonthe Lower East Side include Schimmel’s Knishes which opened in 1910, and Russ&Daughters,agreatbreakfastjoint establishedin1914thatfeaturesasuperb bagel with cream cheese and lox. Historic Houses of Worship
the neighborhood, some of which have only recently been restored. Ofthese,EldridgeStreetSynagogueis probablythemostwidelyvisited.Founded in 1887,The Eldridge Street Synagogue wasthefirstmajorhouseofworshipbuilt intheneighborhoodbyJewishimmigrants fromEasternEurope.Itrecentlycompleted a $17 million renovation that took a staggeringtwentyyearstocomplete.The renovationsincludedtheconstructionof anearbymuseumwhichcelebratesboth the museum and the neighborhood’s Jewishhistoryandculture.Themuseum is open Sunday-Thursday, 10 am – 4pm, andadmissionis$10foradultsand$6for children. Anotherfamoussynagoguetorecently begin a major restoration project, Beth HamedrasHagadol,wasbuiltin1850and isprobablythelargesthouseofworship to be restored by the Lower East Side Conservancy.Theplannedrenovationson the1,200seatsynagoguewilltransform thespaceintoavisitors’centerandinclude spaceforeducationalprogramsandgallery space.
Putting aside their significant gastronomicinfluence,immigrantstothe LowerEastSidehavemade,andcontinue tomake,evenmoresignificantcultural contributions to the city of NewYork. Among their accomplishments are the multiplehistoricsynagogueswhichdot 14 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
In its prime, Beth Hamedras Hagadol attractedoverflowcrowdsonweekends, withthrongsofworshippersflockingto the building to hear lectures by Rabbi
EphraimOshry,aworld-famousscholar. The synagogue was also once home to “the first and only chief rabbi of New York City,” Rabbi Jacob Joseph. A far cry from its heyday, city engineers forcedthesynagogue’stwentyremaining congregantsfromthebuildingseveral yearsago,deemingthebuildingunsafe. $400,00 in private funding has been secured for the first phase of the renovation, which is to shore-up the roof,withseveralmillionmorepromised by the city, Mayor Bloomberg, and the ManhattanBoroughpresident’soffice. Othersignificanthousesofworship in the neighborhood include: Bialys tokerSynagogue,amajorHareKrishna temple,severalBuddhisttemples,anda small mosque called Madina Masjid. “You’ve got to get some culture.” This is what my mother would say to me beforedraggingmeandmysistertosome museum or play when we were kids. At the time, I had no interest in “getting culture”unless,byculture,shemeant goingtothemuseumofNaturalHistory toseethedinosaurs.“Culture,culture, culture,”Iwouldrespond.Idon’tthink Ieverfullyappreciatedthewomanuntil about five minutes after she died, but I digress. Forthoseofyouwhohavenotgotten yourfillofLowerEastSidehistoryand culture,thereareafewmuseumsworth mentioning. First and foremost is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Exceptforthebasementandfirstfloor, which underwent some renovations before the museum opened in 1998, 97 OrchardStreetisafullyintacttenement. The building was sealed in 1935 when the owner could not comply with changes in housing law, and has remainedvirtuallyunchangedsince.Asa result,thebuildingservesastheperfect windowintothelivesoftheLowerEast Side’s immigrants.Authentic in every detail,fromthetwentytinythree-room apartmentstoclaustrophobia-inducing butstillusablewater-closet,themuseum seekstopreserveandcelebratethelives of America’s immigrants. Exhibitsincludeanaudiotourfeaturing recordingsofanItalianAmericanwoman who lived in the building as a child and returned to the museum to share her memories. The museum also features a one-bedroom apartment which once housedan11-memberfamily,andanother whichhousedasweatshopinadditionto a family of five.A new exhibit, “An Irish FamilyinAmerica,”isthefirstpermanent
Photo by Wally G
“Culture, Culture, Culture”
Central Synagogue, designed by Henry Fernbach in 1872, is the oldest building in NewYork State in continuous use by a single Jewish congregation, CongregationAhawath Chesed, a German Reform congregation founded in 1846 on the Lower East Side by Jews from Bohemia. Dominated by two onion-shapped, green-copper-domed octagonal towers rising 122 feet, meant to be reminiscentofSolomon’sTemple,CentralSynagoguereflectsMoorishIslamicRevivalformreflecting theheritageofJewsinMoorishSpain,aresponsetothe19thcenturydebateontheappropriatestylefor synagogues.Theexteriorfeaturesonelargerosewindow,accompaniedbymanysmallerarchedwindows. CentralSynagoguewasdesignatedalandmarkbytheNewYorkCityLandmarksPreservationCommission in 1966.
exhibitinanymuseumtofocusexclusively ontheimmigrationexperienceoftheIrish to NYC. The Tenement Museum receives 300,000 visitors a year, many of them
16 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
students. The museum offers a wide rangeoftoursandeducationalprograms, includingthoseforESLstudents.There are also free discussions, readings, performances,andmoviescreenings.The
The Old Jewish Daily Forward Building
avibrantnight-life.Barsandclubshave beenpoppingupeverywhere,muchtothe chagrin of long-time residents. Itisnosurprise,consideringallthese changes, that efforts have been made in recent years to preserve the historic qualityoftheneighborhood.Lastyear,the NationalTrustforHistoricPreservation named the Lower East Side one of “America’s11MostEndangeredHistoric Places.” The Landmarks Preservation Commission, the city organization chargedwithgivingbuildings“landmark” status,hasrecentlynamed25buildingin theareaaslandmarks.Theyarecurrently reviewingover2,300otherbuildingsto see if they qualify. The city is also considering placing heightrestrictionsonnewbuildingsinthe neighborhoodtoinsurethatthehistoric buildingsarenotovershadowedbynew construction.
tour of the museum begins and ends at 108OrchardStreet,wherethegiftshop is located. The museum is open daily from 11am until 5pm, and until 7:15 on Thursdays. Admission is $17 for adults and $13 for students. Two recent additions to the neighborhood might appeal to those museum-goerslookingforsomethingabit morecontemporary.TheNewMuseumof ContemporaryArtopenedlastyear,and is open onWednesday and on weekends, from 12pm until 6pm.ABC Rio is another recently opened gallery dedicated to outsiderart.Billedasthe“quintessential exception to commercial rule,” the museum features new and innovative exhibits by up-and-coming artists. A Neighborhood in Flux
TheLowerEastSideisaneighborhood inastateofflux.Havingoncestretched alongtheEastRiverfromtheManhattan Bridge, to Canal Street, all the way up to14th Street,thegeographicareofthe neighborhoodhasshrunkconsiderably over the years. The Lower East Side once included neighborhoods that are nowcompletelyseparateentities.These
neighborhoodsinclude:theEastVillage, AlphabetCity,theBowery,Chinatown, and Little Italy. Aside from being hemmed in on all sides, the Lower East Side is also goingthroughinternalchanges.The demographics of the neighborhood arechanging.Earlierpopulationsof PolishandUkrainianimmigrantshave largely been supplanted by newly arrived Japanese immigrants, many of whom have opened up their own restaurantsandshops.Newcomersfrom Bangladeshandothermiddle-eastern countriesarealsohelpingtochangethe face of the neighborhood. Thelandscapeoftheneighborhood isalsochanging.Thegentrificationof theEastVillage,whichbeganaroundthe year2000,hasrapidlybeguntospread totheLowerEastSide.OrchardStreet, whichwasoncelinedwithbargainand discountstores,isnowhometotrendy boutiquesandeateries.Intacttenement buildingsarebeingsurroundedbyhighrise condominiums, including Blue, a 16-storystructureofpixilatedglass. The gentrification of the neighborhood has also added an increasedsenseofsafety,givingriseto
18 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
HOMEDECOR
W
elcome to Accentuations by Design. You are about to experience a virtual tour of the most exclusive design center in the tri-state area. Accentuations is a family owned and operated business that has been serving the community and abroad for over 25 years. We are an inclusive showroom which can eliminate lots of unnecessarily spent time and money. As you walk through the doors, our experienced staff will treat you with personal and courteous service, working with you through every detail. At Accentuations by Design, customer care is what they care about. President Joel Brach oversees and ensures that you walk away satisfied. Their goal is to please every taste and budget. Go in and feast your senses on the newly updated merchandise that 20 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
arrives daily. A more modern look has been displayed in a huge space dedicated to contemporary style. The straighter lines and bolder colors will complete that sharp look that you desire. Our designers will assist you in using this furniture in your home correctly. Be it an entire room or just a small piece — you are sure to find what you are looking for. The furniture at Accentuations is of the highest quality. Only after the merchandise has been carefully inspected and deemed to be of superior will it be displayed. Imports from Italy, France, Spain, and Belgium to name a few, have been pleasing clients for many years. Accentuations welcomes experienced designers to get lost in our exquisite collections of fabrics, trimming, lace and wallpaper. We bring Manhattan showrooms to you at discounted prices. Everyone feels at home at Accentuations by Design, especially with our in-house consultation service to assist you in the vicinity of your own home. Shaindy and
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 21
Suri Brach are two experienced designers; they work as a team with you on a personal level, to give you free interior design service. They are extremely devoted and won’t stop until you, their customer, are fully satisfied. We offer step by step guidance from your blue prints to floor plans, paint colors, window treatments and furniture and everything in between. We take control so you can have a most enjoyable decorating experience. Of course, for the finishing touches a vast array of giftware and accessories are available to complete the look of each room in your home. What’s a meal without a well dressed table? That’s right, be it for yourself, or that perfect gift for every occasion you are guaranteed to find something amongst our selection of styles, color and price range. Accentuations understands that we are all feeling the economic crisis. We realize what society today wants and needs, more quality and style for lower prices. We have proven ourselves time and time again that we can design an entire home while keeping the expenses at a minimum. So where do you go when you need light fixtures, furniture for the bride and groom, sofas, dining rooms and just an escape to an unimaginable display of diversity? That’s right — now that you’ve taken the virtual tour — be sure to visit Accentuations by Design — 1501 60 Brooklyn NY 11219. You’ve got to see it to believe it. 22 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
718-972-2300 Store hours Sunday 10.30-6 Monday 10.30-6 Tuesday 10.30-6 Wednesday 10.30-8 Thursday 10.30-6 Friday CLOSED SALES@ACCENTUATIONSBYDESIGN.COM
Would You Like to
Buy a Bridge?
W
e’veallheardtheexpression, “Well,ifyoubelievethatone, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.” Well, as it turns out......... Maybe not buy, so much as rent. TheStateofNewYorkiscurrentlyso strappedforcashthatGovernorPaterson has actually formed a commission to investigatethepossibilityofleasingstate assets,includingtheTappanZeeBridge, to fill the budget gap. Butthat’snotall.Ifyouactnow,maybe he’ll even throw in a park, beach, golf course,tollroad,orpartoftheNewYork StateThruway.Maybeyou’reinterested inowningyourownstateLotterysystem. Wellthen,you’reinluck.Alloftheseand more could soon be up for grabs. The concept of leasing state assets to raise cash is not a new one. The idea hasbeenfloatedaroundforatleastthe last five or six years running, but the
state’sdireeconomicsituationismaking itmorelikelythaneverthatsomesortof public-privatesectorpartnershipwillbe implemented in the near future. Thereisagreatdealofinterestinthe conceptonbothsides,asthestateseesit as a quick way to get a large infusion of cash,andprivatesectorbusinessesseeit asastable,longterm,investment-asafe placetokeeptheirmoneyuntilthiswhole economic crisis thing blows over. Roads andbridges,inparticular,areaguaranteed money maker, as consumers have no choicebuttopaythetolliftheywantto have access to said infrastructure. Inthecaseofthelottery,stateofficials estimatethatleasingittoaprivatesector firmcouldimmediatelybringthestate$4 billion,withanadditional$200million beingraisedeachsubsequentyear.Private firms around the country have shown interestintheidea,believingthatthey canimprovemanagementandmarketing to make the system more profitable. In return,thestatewouldgetaguaranteed
24 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
return, money that would primarily be used to pay for higher education. As far as the Tappan Zee Bridge is concerned,theheavilytraffickedspan isoverfifty-threeyearsoldandalready wellpastitsexpectedexpirationdate.The staterecentlydecideditwasnotworthit torepairthebridge,anditwillneedtobe replaced at a cost of about $9.3 billion. Thestateisconsideringleasingthespan asawaytopayforthenewbridge,which will include a high-speed bus corridor. Unfortunately,it’snotjustthestate that is having budget problems at the moment. New York City is also in dire straits.TheMTArecentlyannouncedits own“Doomsday”budget,whichincludes a 23% fare hike, raising the price of a single Metrocard ride to $2.50, and the priceofamonthlyfarecardtoastaggering $100. To go along with the rate increases, the MTA is also contemplating massive service cuts, which may include doing away with entire subway lines, The W
and Z lines are on the chopping block, and other subway lines may see drastic service reductions.The G and M lines, in particular,mayseetheirservicecutinhalf, andallsubwaylinesmayseeareduction in the amount of late-night stops. Up to 1,500MTAemployeesmayalsolosetheir jobs under the current proposal. Thepotentialfareincreasesandservice cutshavecausedireamongNewYorkers, oneofwhomthreatenedtothrowhisshoe at the MTA’s chief executive at a recent publichearing,inhomagetothejournalist whorecentlythrewhisshoesatPresident Bush. Looking for his mark, the enraged shoethrowerdemanded,“Where’sElliot Sandler? You made $300,000 last year. Shoes for you!” And New Yorkers do have plenty of reason to be angry. Many of us were surprised when our property tax bills camelatelastmonth,completewitha7% rateincrease.Thebillsincludedanotice apologizingfortheincrease,andblaming it on the, “current financial crisis,” and the drop in revenue from “Wall Street businesses.” The tax increase came in the same monthwhenMayorBloombergthreatened
towithholdourannual$400rebatechecks. Themayorrelentedunderpublicpressure, but the move cost the city $256 million. But wait, there’s more! The city is alsoconsideringchargingtolls,forthe firsttimeever,onmanyoftheEastRiver bridgesleadingintoManhattan.Charging tollsonallfourbridgeswouldbeahard sellforthemayor,sootheroptionsinclude placingtollsontwoofthem,orcharging tolls only during peak hours. Inaddition,themayor’sfullcongestion pricing plan is reportedly back on the table, as is an increase in payroll tax for employers. The only upside to the last optionwouldbethatthetaxburdenwould beplacedonemployersratherthanalready struggling employees (not that many employers aren’t also struggling). Alltold,thecity’sbudgetdeficitfor 2009 is about 4 billion, but could rise as high as $5 billion by 2011. The mayor has orderedallgovernmentagenciestocut7% fromtheirbudgetstohelpfillthegap,but thetruthisthatwon’tbeenough.Plus,you have to add to that the MTA’s projected budgetdeficitofastaggering$1.9billion. So, aside from tax increases and service cuts, how does the city plan to
makeupthedifference?Itseemslikethey want to fill the gap with ads. Unlikethestategovernment,thecityis notplanningtoleaseitsassetsoutright,but will,apparently,beingrentingoutevery inchofavailablespacetoadvertisers.The cityhasbroughtinrevenuefordecadesby rentingsubwaybillboardsandbusshelters toadvertisers,butthis,asitturnsout,was only the beginning. The MTA, in particular, wants to saturate as much of its real estate as possiblewithadvertisements.Theprocess actuallybeganabouttenyearsagowhen CBSOutdoor,whichhandlesthesubway’s
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 25
The city has brought in revenue for decades by renting subway billboardsandbusshelterstoadvertisers,butthis,asitturnsout, was only the beginning.
advertisingspace,beganallowingadvertiserstheuseofsubway station poles and floors. Fastforwardtothepresent,andwenowhaveadscovering 26 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
everythingfromtheturnstilestothestairs.Wealsohavetheentire exteriororinteriorofsubwaycarsbeingplasteredwithasingle gigantic ad known as a “wrap.” (This may be, by far, the most annoying and distracting innovation.) Butthat’snotall!Someofthenewestinnovationsinsubway advertisingincludedigitalscreensinsidethestations,adsprojected againstsubwaystationwalls,andevenadsinsidethetunnels. That’s right, I said inside the tunnels. In one of the more uniqueadvertisingployshoisteduponcommuters,adsarenow beingprojectedinsidesubwaytunnels.Theyworklikeachild’s flipbook,withstaticpicturesbeingprojectedeveryfewfeetorso insuchawaythattheycreateamovingpictureasthetraintravels between stations. Subwaysaren’ttheonlylocationsgettingthemarketsaturation makeover.Thecityrecentlyinstalledvideoscreensin5,000of itstaxicabs,givingpassengerstheuniquepleasureofwatching commercials(alongwithsomeNBCcontent)whileenrouteto their destinations. Butnoteveryattempttoselladspacehasbeenmetwithopen arms.ArecentplanbythePortAuthoritytoplaceadvertisements forGeicoattollboothsandelsewhereonandaroundtheGeorge WashingtonBridgewasaxedaftercomplaintsbypoliticiansand preservationists.Thepreservationistscomplainedthattheads wouldbeaneye-sore,andthepoliticianscomplainedthatthead space was being offered too cheaply. Onehastowonder,though,willtheplanberesurrectedifthe price is right?Will it be long before the Geico Gecko is smiling up at us from toll booths all around the city? And,ifthepresentcourseofeventscontinues,howlongwill itbebeforethefuturepresentedinMattGroening’sFuturama comestofruition,whenthestillcash-strappedcityofNewNew York beams commercials directly into our dreams?
Tuscan Stairway - American Landscape
Lynn Russel ls an American artist, post modernist, whose ambitious landscape paintings speak quietly while presenting fresh and vivid images of majestic beauty. Admired for her use of light and color, the artists pursuits span three decades and are acclaimed internationally. Studio visit by appointment artthou@earthlink.net
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Prospect Park Springtime
PROFILE
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Palm Garden Lake in the Open Air 30 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
Prospect View Landscape Study
PROFILE
Lynn Russel
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Sushi 101
A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Cuisine
S
o, you’ve decided to try sushi forthefirsttime.Goodforyou! Trying something new can be intimidating,especiallyifthatsomething involveseatingrawfish.Itshowsyouhave an adventurous spirit and an open mind, and going into this experience with the right attitude is half the battle. Mostpeoplewhoarereluctanttotry sushi just automatically assume they won’tlikeit.Afewwillevensay,“Idon’t like fish, period! Why would I possibly consider eating raw fish?” My normal response to this would be, “Do you like tuna?”As it turns out, about 99 percent ofpeople,particularlythosewhosaythey
don’t like fish, like tuna. Whatpeoplewhosaytheydon’tlike fishreallydon’tlikeisfishytastingfish. Tunahasaverymild,almostsweetflavor andisthereforeagoodplacetostartwhen trying sushi for the first time. Granted, rawtunaiscompletelydifferent,interms oftexture,thanthestuffthatcomesoutof acan.Thetextureisclosertothatofmeat, andisagoodchoiceforpeoplewhothink they only like meat. Wheneatingsushi,thetrickistonot jumpimmediatelyintothedeependofthe pool. If you are afraid of raw fish, begin withvegetablerolls,thentryasushiroll made of cooked fish (there are plenty of
32 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
these,includingthepopularCalifornia roll),andthenmoveontoamildrawfish, liketuna.Don’tstartimmediatelywhich astronglyflavoredfishlikemackerelor salmon(unlessyouarealreadyfamiliar with, and like, salmon). Misconceptions
Acommonmisconceptionaboutsushi isthatsushimeansrawfish.Thewordsushi actuallyreferstotherice,whichisflavored withvinegar.Theliteraltranslationofthe wordsushicomesfromanobsoletephrase meaning, “it’s sour.” The term sushi encompasses a great
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 33
asparagus, yams, sweet corn mixed with mayonnaise, gourd, burdock, pickled daikon radish, and fermented soybeans called natto. Maki-zushi
Makirollsarewhatmostpeoplethink of when they think of sushi. Maki rolls are cylindrical pieces of sushi formed withtheuseofabamboomat,andusually wrapped in a piece of nori. Nori is a kind ofdehydratedalgae,orseaweed,which is dried and formed into sheets. Nori is placedonthematfirst,followedbyastrip ofsushiriceandotheringredientswhich mayincludevegetablesand/orseafood. The bamboo mat is then used to form the rollintoalongcylinderwhichiscutinto bite sized pieces. Some maki rolls have nori on the inside with the sushi rice being the outermostlayer.Theseinvertedrollsare called uramaki. Nigirizushi
Another common type of sushi, nigirizushiisasimplepreparationwhere a slice of fish, known as a neta, is draped over an oblong mound of sushi rice.Two piecesofnigirizushiaretypicallyserved per plate. Oshizushi
A specialty of Osaka, oshizushi is formed using a block-shaped wooden mold.Fishand/orotheringredientsare placedintothebottomofthemold,which isknownasanoshibako.Theingredients are then covered with sushi rice and pressed, forming a block which is then unmolded and cut into pieces. Inari-zushi
many dishes, all of which include sushi rice.There are wraps and rolls, pressed and formed items, and dishes which simply incorporate various ingredients scatteredoversushirice.Alloftheseitems are properly referred to as sushi. Alone, slices of raw fish served in sushibarsandrestaurantsareknownas sashimi. Only when sashimi is placed on top of sushi rice does it become sushi.
Types of Sushi
Some common fish used in the preparation of sushi include: tuna, yellowtail, toro (a fatty cut of tuna), snapper, mackerel, salmon, kani. For those of us who are squeamish about fish, some vegetable rolls are available. Common vegetables used in sushi include: cucumber, avocado,
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Inari-zushiisaformofsushiinwhich a pouch is made in a piece of fried tofu whichisstuffedwithsushirice.Thistype of sushi is a great option for people who don’tlikefish,asthereisusuallynofish involved. Fukusa-zushi is a common variation onInari-zushi,inwhichathineggomelet replaces the tofu as the wrapper Chirashizushi
This is sushi in its simplest form. Fish andotheringredientsaresimplyspread on top of a bowl of sushi rice. This style ofsushimakesforaheartier,morefilling
meal and is a good choice for someone who is particularly hungry. Narezushi/ Funazushi
This type of sushi is hearkens back to the oldest forms of sushi, but variations on the dish still exist today. Originally developedalmostathousandyearsagoas awaytopreservefish,thetechniquefor making Narezushi is lengthy, involved, andtobefrank,notveryappealingtothe averageWesterner.As such, I will spare you the details, except to say that it is a processwhichcantakeyears,andinvolves preservingandfermentingthefishusing layersofsaltandcookedrice,stickingthe saltedfishinabarrelforsixmonthsorso, andrepeatingtheprocessuntilthefishis edible. Sushi Etiquette
Besides being intimidated by the idea ofrawfish,theotherconcernthatfirsttime sushi eaters usually have is in actually goingtothesushibarorrestaurant.They don’tknowhowtoorder,whattoorder, whatthepropertablemannersare,oreven how to use chopsticks. Unfortunately, the latter is not something I can really help you with. It takespractice,andit’sbesttogetafriend to teach you. So that is my first piece of advice. If you are intimidated, go with a friend,preferablyonewhohasbeentoa sushi bar before. Butthetruthistherearenotagreat manyrulesinvolved,onlyafewcustoms which it might be polite to observe. Firstly,it’sagoodideatositatthebar. Seeing your sushi being prepared is half thefun. Italsogivesyouanopportunity sociallywiththeothercustomers,aswell as the sushi chef, known as an itamae. Orderallyoursushifromtheitamae,and anythingelse,includingdrinks,fromthe servers. Almostimmediatelyafteryousitdown, itiscustomaryforyoutobegivenawarm towel.Usethistocleanyouhandsbefore youeat.Itmaybeleftduringthemeal,or taken away before the food comes. Itisacceptabletoeatyoursushiusing eitheryourhandsorchopsticks.Ifusing chopsticks,theywillcomestucktogether atthetopandneedtobeseparated.After pullingthemapart,rubthetopstogetherto dislodge any splinters. If you are ordering any communal dishesthatyouwillsharewithyourfriends
or family, it is considered good manners totakethefoodfromthecommunalplate usingthetopsideofthechopsticks,orthe opposite end of the chopsticks from that which you stick in your mouth. Ifyouarefeelingadventurous,askthe itamae to prepare his choice of sushi. He willknowwhatfishisfreshestthatday,and whathisspecialtiesare.Thechef’schoice menu is known as omakase. Many sushi restaurantsofferafixed-pricemenu.They areusuallylistedinorderofprice.Matsu isusuallythemostexpensive,followedby take, and ume is the cheapest. Whiletherearenorulesforordering sushi,itisconsideredgoodformtoorder sashimi first if you are going to be eating sashimi. The delicate flavor of the fish is thought to be best enjoyed when you palette is fresh. Beyond this, you may order as many pieces as you like as often as you like until you are satisfied. When you have finished your meal, thank the itamae. “Domo Origato” is considered a very polite form of thank you.Tiptheitamaewell,andseparately, from the rest of the wait staff. A Note on Condiments
The most common condiments used inJapanesecuisineare:soysauce,wasabi, and sweet pickled ginger known as gari. Soy sauce is usually served in a small bowl on the side of your meal. It is consideredpolitetodipthefishsideofthe sushiintothesoysauce,sothatyoudon’t
endupleavinglittlebitsofriceinthesoy sauce. Wasabiisaverypungentrootsimilar tohorseradish.Infact,mostofthewasabi we get in this country is an imitation form of wasabi made from horseradish anddriedmustard.Wasabicanbeapplied directlytothesushiormixedintothebowl of soy sauce to your liking. If it is too strongforyou,youmaydecidetoleaveit out altogether. Gari,orpickledginger,isacondiment that is not applied directly to the sushi, butrathereateninbetweensushipiecesto cleanse the palette. Kosher Sushi
Sushi is gaining in popularity among peopleoftheJewishfaith.Becausethere arespecificrulesforkoshercookingwith whichthetypicalJapanesechefmaynot befamiliar,koshersushirestaurantshave beguntospringuparoundthecitytofillthis need.Manyingredientscommonlyusedin traditionalsushi,includingshellfish,are notKosher,sopeoplewhofollowakosher dietareadvisedtoeatonlyatkoshersushi restaurants.
One such restaurant is Sushi KBar See Ad On Page 31 For Details
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 35
Under the Covers How to Find the Perfect Bed Linens
S
leep is a valuable commodity in this city. We do what we can to makesurethatwegetenough,but betweenwork,family,chores,errandsand alltheothergeneralstressofeverydaylife, it’snoteasy.Onethingwecandotoassure a good night’s sleep is to make sure that our beds are as comfortable as possible. Havingsoft,smooth,andgenerallywell made bed linens is one way to ensure our sleep experience is as satisfying as possible. Besides these more practical considerations,therearesomeaesthetic reasonstoinvestinhighqualitybedding. Your bed is the first thing that you, or anyoneelsewhoentersyourbedroom,will seewhentheopenthedoor.Itisthefocal pointoftheroomandassuchitshouldsay something about you or to you. Do you wantacalm,neutralsettinginwhichto
relaxandunwindafteralongday’swork, or do you want your bedroom, which includesyourbed,toreflectyourwildand outgoingpersonality?Doyoupreferbright colors or more somber, muted shades? Whateverthecase,it’simportantto givesomethoughttotheoveralldesign or decorating scheme for your bedroom before you begin to shop for bed linens. Keepinmind,though,thatwhateverlook youaregoingfor,choosingtherightbed linensisnotwithoutitspitfalls.Thereare pros and cons to each type of linen, so we’ve broken it down for you. Before You Shop Bedlinensarealongterminvestment. Wellmadebedlinenscanlasttentofifteen years, so it’s a good idea to buy the best qualitylinensthatyoucanafford.Ifyouare notlookingtomakeamajorinvestment,
36 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
theexceptionstothisrulewouldinclude rarelyusedguestroomsandthebedrooms ofsmallchildren(whereaccidentscanstill happen).Fortheserooms,regularcotton sheetsfromadiscountstoreareperfectly acceptable. No matter what bedroom you are shoppingfor,itisimportanttoshoparound. Beforegoingouttoanystore,takealook onlineandseewhat’savailable,andwhich stores or websites are offering the best prices for the same product.The highest pricedoesnotnecessarilymeanthebest quality,sotakeadvantageofhighquality items when they are on sale. If you are buyingwarmflannelsheetsforthewinter, getthemduringtheoff-seasonwhenthey are likely to be less expensive. Measure the Bed Also, it is important to carefully
measure your bed before you shop. Believe it or not, bed size is not really standardized in any way. There may be variation in size from one Queen sized bedtothenext,dependingonthebrand. Thatbeingsaid,itisvitaltomeasureyour bed’slength,widthanddepth,andtohave thesemeasurementswithyouwhenyou shop. Knowing the depth of your bed is particularly important, as buying the wrongdepthsheetistheprimarycauseof sheetsslippingduringthenightwhileyou sleep.TheStandardDepthforbedsheets is 7 to 9 inches, while Deep Mattress usuallymeasurebetween10to15inches. IfyouownaPilloworBoxTopmattress, you will need to purchase Extra Deep sheets, which measure between 15 to 22 inches.
Color Whenselectingacolor,orcolors,for your bed linens, there are a few things to think about.White sheets are by far the most common, and they may be the best choice for many people. White is a neutral color, so it will go with any blanket,comforter,orduvetthatyouown ormaypurchaseinthefuture.Theremain drawback maybethefactthattheyare white,whichmeansthattheymaystainor justgetplaindirty,andthereforerequire frequent laundering. Colorlinens,ontheotherhand,have a tendency to fade over time. Some inferiorcolorsheetscanbleedoutmuch oftheircolorafteronlyasinglewash,but allcolorsheets,nomatterhowhighthe quality,willeventuallyfade.Asheetthat onceperfectlymatchedyourcomforter
may,afteracoupleofyears,completely clash with it. Ifyouarenotbotheredbythefading problem, color linens are a great idea because they give you the opportunity to mix and match. You can get sheets andpillowcasesthataredifferenthues of the same color, or mix it up with bright,contrastingcolors.Youcanalso mix solid colors with patterns, or get differentpatternswiththesamecolors. For example, try mixing red and white stripes with red on white polka dots, or solidblackwithablackandwhitezebra print. In general, it’s not a bad idea to buy extra linens so that you can instantly changethelookofyourroomwhenever itstrikesyourfancy.Buyingextrapillow cases,inparticular,isagoodideabecause
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theytendtogetsweaty,andthereforedirty, more quickly than your sheets. Having extrapillowcasesallowsyoutorotate thesemoreoftenthanthesheets,andmay helpstaveofffading(asyouwon’thaveto launder them as much). Fabric Types There are two basic types of fabrics used to make bed linens: natural and synthetic.Mosthighqualitybedlinensare madefromall-naturalfibers,withcotton being the most common. Other natural linenmaterialsinclude:silk,linen,wool and bamboo fiber.
Syntheticsheetsincludepolyesterand nylonfabrics.Mostarecotton/polyester blends,whichtendtowrinklelessthan 100% cotton sheets. Wrinkles are also easier to get out if they do occur at all, requiringnothingmorethanaquickpress or ten minutes in the drier. Theprimarybenefitofnaturalfiber linens is that they are breathable and readily absorb moisture, making for a lesssweatysleepexperience.Bycontrast, synthetic fibers are warmer but have a tendency to repel moisture, which can make for a sweaty bed. The up-side to syntheticandpoly-blendbedsheetsisthat
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theyarelessexpensivethanpurecotton, and more durable. Cotton The highest quality bed linens are made from Egyptian cotton. Egyptian cotton is made up of the longest cotton fibers known to man, resulting in the softest,mostluxuriousfeel.Itisalsothe most expensive type of cotton you can purchase, so those not looking to break thebank may wanttoopt for a more runof-the-millfabric.Also,thereisalotof phony,counterfeitEgyptiancottonout there, so only purchase this type of bed
linen from a reputable dealer or store. Foraslightlylessexpensiveoption,try Supima or Pima cotton. This fabric also consistsoflongcottonthreads,resulting inasoft,smooth,andverydurablefabric. Silk Therereally is nothing more luxurious feeling than silk sheets. They can be pricey, but you made decide it is worth it totreatyourself.Silksheetsaremeasured on the “momme weight” (mm) scale, a Japaneseunitofmeasureusedexclusively todescribetheweightofsilk-thehigher theweight,thebetterqualitythesilk.A good quality silk averages at about 1012mm. The primary disadvantage of silk bed linensisthattheyneedtobedrycleaned. Considering the fact that sheets are normallylaunderedeveryweekortwo,this cangetexpensiveveryquickly.Thisbeing the case, it’s not a bad idea to get a set of silksheetstobeusedonspecialoccasions, but stick with cotton for everyday use.
Linen Don’t get confused! Linen is the generictermforallhouseholdgoodsmade of fabric, but it is also a type of fabric.To bespecific,linenisafabricmadefromthe fibersofflaxplant.Itisoneoftheoldest
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fabricsknowntoman,andwasoriginally used by the ancient Egyptians in the mummification process. It is cool to the touch and excellent foruseinhotweather,butitisalsovery expensive owing to the difficulty in its
manufacture.Linenconsistsofthelongest fibersofanynaturalfabric,whichmakes itdifficulttoweavebutextremelysoftand durable. Wool Wooliswarmbutscratchy.NeedIsay more? Bamboo Fiber Thelatesttrendinfabricsforlinens, bambooisverypopularrightnow.Bamboo fiberhasexcellentwetpermeabilityand moisture vapor transmission, which makesitsimilartocottoninthisrespect. Itisalsoverystrong,durable,dyeseasily, and is soft and comfortable. The only downside of bamboo is thatittendstowrinklemoreeasilythan cotton.However,thewrinkleswillpress out readily, so this is not a big concern. Weave Besides the type of fabric used to make the linen, the other major factor to consider when buying sheets is the weave.Theweavecontributesgreatlyto theoverallsoftnessanddurabilityofthe
fabric. AStandardWeaveusesonestitchover andonestitchunderinarepeatingfashion. APinpointWeaveusestwostitchesover andoneunder.Pinpointweavingresults in a more durable, but less soft, feel. The most highly prized weave is probably the Sateen Weave. A Sateen Weave consists of four stitches over to everyoneunder,resultinginmorethreads onthesurface.Thistypeofweaveresults in the smoothest surface, but is less durable that other weaves. A Percale Weave is a good middle of theroadoption.Mostpeoplecan’ttellthe differencebetweenaSateenWeaveand aPercaleWeaveintermsoffeel,butthe PercaleWeaveisgenerallylessexpensive and more durable than the Sateen. Lastbutnotleast,aJacquardWeave refers to the type of loom used to make the fabric. Jacquard fabric is any fabric weavedonaJacquardloom.Historically used to create tapestries, damasks, and brocades Jacquard looms can be used tocreateintricatepatternsanddesigns. These fabrics tend to be expensive, and moreover,arereallyonlysuitablefortop
sheet,asthedesignscreatedinthefabric will leave an impression on your skin if you sleep on them all night. Thread Count Finally, we come to it! Most people considerthreadcounttobethebealland endalloflinenselection.Whilethread countisagoodindicationofquality,itis not everything! Allofthefactorslistedaboveshould be considered and given equal weight when purchasing bed linens. Thread count literally means the amount of threads per square inch in a givenpieceoffabric.Ingeneral,ahigher thethreadcountwillresultinasofter linen, but there is a limit to the amount ofthreadsthatcanexistinasquareinch of fabric. Athreadcountof150to250isusually verygood,butbewaryofextremelyhigh numbers. Any thread count above 500 shouldbeconsideredsuspect,asnumbers thishighusuallydescribethinner,lower qualitythreadsthathavebeentwisted together.Theydonotnecessarilyresultin a softer, or longer lasting, sheet.
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BASEMENT REMODELING
T
here are many basement ideas out there.And which one you choose depends on what you are into and what are your needs. It depends really if you are a single person or you have a big family. It depends on your lifestyle and how you see yourself in the future. Working on your basement takes a lotoftime,moneyandeffort.Sothat means you wouldn’t want to end up withabasementthatyouwillhardly use. That will simply be a waste. Here are some popular basement ideas taking the country by storm
the floor, you can opt to remodel your basementintoaguestbedroom.Youcan evenhaveatoiletandbathplacedthere as well. This is perfect for people who always have family or friends staying over at their place. Workshop
Thehandymaninyourmindiscalling outforaplaceoftheirown.Ifyourgarage istoofulltoaccommodateaworkshop, why not use your basement? You can evenshareitwithyourkidsandwifeand addanartsandcraftsarea.Itwillbethe perfect place to make their projects. Home Office
Guest Bedroom
Ifyouaretiredoflettingyourguests sleeponthecouchorextramattresseson
A lot of people are doing business in theirhomealready.Withtheageofthe computer and the internet, this makes
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running a home business easier. Why nottakethetimetocreatealittlespace for your business? This will be a great investment. Home Gym
If you dread going to the gym everyday,whynotbuildyourowninthe basement? Among all basement ideas mentioned, this is perfect for the busy gymbuff.Youdon’thavetodriveallthe way to your gym to get the exercise you need. Playroom
This is a great idea if you have children.Justthinkneverhavingtopick uptoysonthelivingroomfloor.Andthe kidswillappreciatenothearingyoutell them to clean up their rooms.
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Living Green in New York City
C
onsidering the vast and increasinglydireenvironmental challengesfacinghumanity-global warming,pollution,deforestation,species extinction,andtheholeintheozonelayer (yes,it’sstillthere)tonameafew-it’sno surprise that more and more people are looking for ways to go “green.” But living “green” in New York City is starting to mean a lot more than changingyourlightbulbsandrecycling. City residents looking to live a more environmentallyconsciouslifestylenow have the option to find an apartment in buildings designed to be eco-friendly. Almost a dozen green apartment buildings have opened in the city since 2003,whenthecity’sfirstenvironmentally sustainablebuilding,theSolaire,opened itsdoors.Sincethentherehasbeenaboom ingreenbuildinginNewYorkCity,with newgreenapartmentbuildingsopeningin variousspotseachyearandseveralothers in the planning or development stages. Sowhataregreenapartments?Green apartmentsaresodesignatedbecausethey havebeencertifiedasenvironmentally responsible by the United States Green BuildingCouncilthroughtheLeadership in Environmental Design, or LEED, RatingSystem.TheLEEDRatingSystem is a nationally accepted certification processwherebybuildingsareawarded certificationbasedonafour-tieredpoint system. Platinum is the highest rating, followed by gold, silver, and certified. PointsintheLEEDsystemareawarded basedonthegreenfeaturesincorporated 44 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
The city’s first environmentally sustainable building, the Solaire, opened its doors in 2003
living “green” in New York City is starting to mean a lot more than changing your light bulbs and recycling.
into the building’s construction and operation.Pointsareassignedforfeatures likeenergyefficientappliances,rooftop solarpanels,multi-layeredwindows,the useofrecycledand/orrenewablebuilding materials, internal sewage treatment systems, and green roofs covered in vegetation. The latter feature really is worth discussing in further detail.Aside from beingbeautifullittleoasisinaseaofurban sprawl,rooftopgardenscanreallyprovide extraordinarybenefitsforthebuildings which incorporate them. A rooftop coveredinvegetationisanaturalinsulator, providingaprotectivelayerbetweenthe roof and the outside elements.As much as 50% of the heat from a building can be lostbythemovementofcoldairacrossits surface,andtheinsulationprovidedbythe vegetationcutsdowndramaticallyonthe building’s energy costs. Rooftop vegetation can also help combat a phenomenon known as the “urbanislandheataffect,”whichcauses
urban areas to be, in general, about six degreeswarmerthantheareasurrounding them.Thisstrangephenomenonisthought to be caused by the replacement of the naturallandscapewithdarkermaterials, like paved roads, which absorb sunlight andradiateheat. Whilegrassysurfaces usually stay at or below 77 degrees, a gravelroofcangetashighas140degrees inthesummer,necessitatinghighercooling costsandcontributingtotheoverallheat in the atmosphere. Rooftopgardensalsohelptoremove fine particulates from the air, create a habitatforbirds,anddecreaserainwater runoff(whichcansometimesoverburden sewagesystemsleadingtothepollutionof nearby streams and ponds). Whilenotallgreenapartmentsfeature rooftopvegetation,therearesomefeatures thattheyallseemtoshare.Forexample, mostcirculatefilteredairthroughthe apartments to improve air quality, incorporaterecycledmaterialsintotheir construction,anduseproductsthatcontain
little or no V.O.C.’s (volatile organic compounds). V.O.C.’s, such as methane and formaldehyde, give off gases thought to be dangerous both to humans and the environment. They are found in many commonhouseholditemsincludingpaints, cleaningproducts,carpets,andadhesives usedincabinetmaking.Livingorworking inabuildingcontaininghighamountsof V.O.C.’scancausehealthproblems,among themaconditionknownas“sickbuilding syndrome,” characterized by multiple symptomsincluding:headaches,dizziness, irritability,and/orgastrointestinaland respiratory problems. Indoor air-quality aside, green apartmentbuildingsarereallyallabout energy efficiency. Green-certified apartmentsaretypicallyrequiredtouse atleast35%lessenergythantheaverage apartmentbuilding.Toachievethisgoal, most use photovoltaic, or solar, cells installedontherooftogenerateelectricity. TheOctagon,agreenapartmentbuilding
INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 45
whichwasconstructedfromanabandoned lunaticasylum,features250photovoltaic cellsonitsroof,thelargestnumberofsolar panels on any building in Manhattan. Butsolarcellsareexpensive,sosome buildingshavefoundmorecost-effective ways to conserve energy. All green apartmentsfeatureenergyefficientlighting andappliances,whichsavetheoperators andresidentsmoney.Someofthenewest greenapartmentsfeaturemicroturbines, which are powered by natural gas, to produceelectricity.AttheKalahari,an affordablegreendevelopmentlocatedin Harlem,thedeveloperschosetoinstalla heatexchangertorecycleheatexhausted from the apartments. Some green apartments, like 1400 onFifth,alsofeaturegeothermalwellsto providethebuilding’sheatingandcooling. Thisfeature,inparticular,isnotwithout its kinks. Grit from decomposed rock in thedeep,undergroundwellscangetinto thesystemcausingclogs.However,this gritcanberemovedbyinstallingfilters, and is therefore not a major concern. Internalsewagetreatmentplantsare anothergreenfeatureincorporatedinto some buildings.The Helena, located on
the Upper West Side, features such a system. It recycles the building’swater,alongwithrainwater runoff, for use in the cooling tower, irrigationfortherooftopgarden,andother non-potable needs like the building’s toilets. All these green features can dramaticallyaddtothecostofconstruction. Onaverage,thecostofaddingthegreen features necessary for a gold LEED ratingwilladdabout6to8percenttothe building’stotalcost.Thiscantranslate to about $10 to $18 million in cold, hard cash. Developerssayit’sworthitthough, partly because they believe in the importanceofprotectingtheenvironment, butalsobecausetheybelievethatgreen apartments are the wave of the future. AccordingtoDouglasDurst,adeveloper who has built both green apartment buildings and office towers, “We think that it’s important to do, and we think thatotherbuildingsthatdon’tdothiswill becomeobsolete,andourbuildingswill continuetomaintaintheirvalue.”Green featuresareincreasinglyattractiveto consumers,thedevelopersargue,many
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ofwhomarewillingtopayalittlemore money for a healthier environment. But not all green apartments come withaheftypricetag.Thecityiscurrently workingwithseveraldeveloperstocreate affordable green developments. The KalahariinHarlem,forexample,features 250 condos, half of which are available tolowerandmiddleincomebuyers.Also in Harlem, the David and Joyce Dinkins Gardens, billed as the city’s first green buildingthatisexclusivelyforlow-income residents, opened last year. Whether you are a hardcore environmentalist,orjustsomeonewitha passinginterestdoingtheirparttoprotect the environment, the truth is that our environmentalchallengesareaserious andgrowingthreat.Westandattheedge ofaprecipice.Wecancontinuetorapeand pillageournaturalenvironmentandthen goextinctwithalloftherestofthelifeon thisplanetwhentheecosystemeventually collapses,orwecanchangeourwaysand, hopefully, survive. If you look at it that way, we really don’thavemuchofachoice.It’stimefor all of us to go “green.”
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DIET PROOFING
YOUR HOME By: Tanya Rosen
H
ave you ever heard this expression, “Diet proofing your home” before? Chances are,youhavenot.Nowbefore yougetnervousandthinkyoumusthave missed a major “to do” thing, read on. Don’tworry,chancesare,youareagreat mother and housewife, balabusta, and superwoman.Iamsurethatallyourmatters areinperfectorder.Thehouseholdandits membersareclean,fed,andonschedule. The fridge is stocked, the freezer is too, and you’re ready with lists and all for anycommunal,natural,orchildcreated disaster (the latter being most likely). Ok, so what is diet proofing then and how come you have never heard of it? Well,let’sthinkaboutthe“proofing”you arefamiliarwith.Take“mouseproofing” forinstance.Theexterminatorcomesin, sealsallholes,tellsyounottoleavefood
around, and maybe even recommends yougetacat.Congratulations,youhave officially “mouse proofed” your home. On to fireproofing.You install the best smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, implementafireescapeplan,lightcandles as far away from shades as possible, and teachlittlekidsaboutthedangersoffire. Ofcourseyoualsomakesuretohavefire extinguishers,sprinklers,andladders.Can miceorfiresillcomeafteryouhavetaken thesecrucialsteps?Sure.However,you cansitbackandknowthatyouhavedone yourpartandputintheeffortrequiredof you. So now can I finally explain what I mean by “Diet proofing?” Being that home is where you (hopefully) spend a largechunkofyourtime,whatstepshave youtakentoensureyouwillbesuccessful on your weight loss journey EVEN at
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home? Put simply, no matter how much will power you have got, if your house is notwellequippedforyourdietandfitness plan, it simply won’t work. Throughout my experience as a nutritionist, aerobics instructor, and personal trainer I have seen many otherwise strong, determined, women fullofwillpowerstruggleunnecessarily because they failed to take simple “Diet proofing” steps in the home. I will share with you some ways to startthedietproofingprocess.Remember thatthisisanewconcepttoyou.Justlike withanythingelse,proceedcautiouslyand donotattempttodoitallatonce.Aiming to implement one strategy weekly, or biweekly, is a smart move. Kitchencolors.Researchhasshownthat eating in room with warm colors such as
redsandorangesincreasesyourappetite. It is no surprise that many restaurants choose this color scheme. However, if youcanhelpit,avoidthesecolorsinyour dining room and kitchen. Plate colors. The color of your plate alsoaffectshowmuchyoueat.Research hasshownthateatingfromwhiteplates increasesyourappetiteandmakesyoufeel asthoughyouarenotsatisfied..Hence,the colorschemeofmanyrestaurantplates. Music.Loudbackgroundmusicdisables/ limitsyourbrain’sabilitytosendamessage toyouthatyouarefull.Tryeatingwith theradioortelevisionoff.Thebraincan only process so many senses at once so if yourauditorysenseisbeingusedtoitsfull
capacity,youarenotabletoprocessbeing full. Platesize.Tryeatingfromappetizersize plates as opposed to dinner size plates. Sometimes we just need to visually see ourplateasfull.Asmallerplatecanhelp cutthecaloriesandfat,whilestillgiving youtheimpressionthatyou’vehadalarge meal. Stock up. Be fully stocked with fruits, vegetables,andreadytodrink(filtered water).Ifyouknowyourscheduleisbusy, spendalittleextramoneyandbuyprecut fruits and vegetables. These need to be ready and available. Whole grain versus white. Yes, it does INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 49
matter.Wholegrainprovidesfiber,anecessarynutrient,andan importantcomponentforweightloss.Wheneverpossiblechoose brownriceoverwhite,andwholewheatspaghettioverwhite.
youareeliminatingafeelingofdeprivation.Thisplannedtreat puts YOU in control. Planahead.Takeaminuteandplanoutyourentiremenuforthe nextday.Thinkaboutwhereyouwillbeandprepareaccordingly. Willyouhavealongdrive?Packsomehealthysnacksalong.Will youbestuckintheofficepastdinner?Packahealthydinnerwith you.Thiseliminatesspontaneouseatingduetoexcessivehunger. Spice up your food life. In other words, make it exciting withoutmakingitfattening.Isthatpossible?Absolutely!Add healthyvarietytoyourhealthyfoods.Forexample,poursome blueberriesintoyourmorningcereal,ortryanewinteresting spice on your baked chicken. Make it a family event. Involve your family members in your goalsandplans.Letthemknowwhatyouaretryingtodoand askthemforhelp.Thiscouldmeangentlereminderswhenthey seeyoueatingsomethingyoushouldnotbeeating.Itcouldalso
Make yourself a chart. It works wonders with kids, and even betterwithadults.Foreveryweekormonththatyouare“good,” rewardyourselfwithanonfooditem(i.e.anoutfit,avacation,or a new book). Trackit.Keepalogofeverysinglethingyoueat.Jotdownyour feelingsandthoughtsaswell.Thiscanbehelpfulwhenyouare abouttoengageinnonhungerrelatedeating,suchasemotional eating. Treat yourself. Did we not just say that?This one is different.
meanextrahelpinthekitchenchoppingupvegetablesforthat healthysalad.Youcanevenmakeitafamilyteameffortandgo walking or dance around the house together. Goodlucktoyouonyourdietproofingjourney.Noproofing iseverfoolproofbuttryyourbestandenjoyreapingthebenefits of diet success!
HereIamreferringtoafooditem(gasp!).Itellmyclientsthat ondaysthattheywereabsolutelyperfectontheirdiets,theycan haveonetreatuptoacertainamountofcalories(dependingon theirweightandage).Thisisimportant.Byplanningto“cheat” 50 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009
Tanya Rosen is the owner of Shape Fitness, a women’s’ fitness studio in Kensington. As a certified and experienced Personal Trainer, Aerobics Instructor, and nutritionist, Tanya offers these three services to the community. Tanya specializes in Pre & postnatal fitness, and is best known for her personal and caring approach towards every member of the Shape Fitness family. Tanya can be reached at 718438-2400.
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GET ORGANIZED The Bedroom
W
e’ve all done it. Utterly exhausted after a long days work, you come in, walk straight into your bedroom, pealoffyourclothes,andleavethemonthe floor.Maybeyouevenhaveaspecificcorner offyourbedroomthatyouhabituallytossyour clothesinto.Fortheworstoffendersamongus, perhaps this pile grows for a period of weeks beforeitgetslargeenoughthatweactually decide we need to do the laundry. Howeverlarge,orsmall,themessesinour bedroomsare,thetruthisthatwecanallstand tocleanandreorganizeourbedroomsoncein a while. Inmyfamily,organizingthebedroomwas alwaysa“twiceayear”affair.Everyfallmy motherwouldhavemysisterandI“putaway” oursummerclothes,meaningthattheywent into a large box to be stored in the highest, mostinaccessiblepartoftheclosetuntilthe following spring.At the same time, we were to“takeout”ourwinterclothes:allofthe sweaters,longjohns,heavypants,hats,gloves, scarves, and various other accessories that wewouldneedforthewinter.Inthespring, the closet would again be rotated when we unearthed our lighter clothes. Wealsorotatedourblanketsandbedlinens twiceayear.Inthefall,theheavyblanketsand flannelsheetswouldcomeoutofthecloset, and in the spring the lighter sheets and two thinner blankets would be taken out to be placed on the beds. Thetruthisthatthismethodfororganizing one’s bedroom is a good place to start, but isreallyonlythebeginning.Thereareother times of year when it’s a good idea to give yourbedroomanoverhaul,andrightnowis one of them. Most of us receive some gifts during the holidays, and many of us get new clothes.Whatevergiftswereceive,bethey decorativeorfunctional,thesegiftsneedto findapermanentplaceinourhomesandthere
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is no better excuse is there to do a bit of rearranging. When reorganizing our bedrooms, beginningwiththeaforementionedcloset is always a good place to start. Chances arethatyourclosetiseitherprettywell organizedtobeginwith,oraplacesofull toburstingthatyouareafraidtoopenthe door.Whateverthecase,therearestill probablyafewthingsyoucanstandtoget rid of. Whensortingthroughyourclosetit’sa goodideatofollowthe“oneyear”rule.If youcomeacrossanarticleofclothingthat youhaven’tworninmorethanayear,it’sa safebetthatyouwillprobablyneverwear itagain-iteitherdoesn’tfit,isoutofstyle, or you simply got it home and decided it wasuncomfortableoryoudidn’tlikethe wayitlooked.Inanycase,it’stimetogive it to the SalvationArmy or some other charity.Getabigbagandtakeoutallof the clothes that fit this description. Once you are done with the closet, moveontoyourdressersandtreatthemin asimilar,brutalfashion.Thetrickisnot tobetoosentimental.Youmayreallylove thatpairofjeans,butiftheyhaven’tfit sincehighschoolthanyouareprobably never going to be able to squeeze into themagain.Theyaretakingupvaluable space and need to go. Now that you made some room, you canfindaplaceforallthenewstuffyou gotovertheholidays,andperhapseven haveroomtospare.Extraroomindrawers andclosetsisalwaysagoodthingtohave in any case because it makes it easier to findwhatyouarelookingfor.Ican’ttell you how many times I might have missed theshirtIwaslookingforsimplybecause thedrawersweretoostuffed.Overstuffed drawersalsohaveatendencytogetmessy asweriflethroughthem,whichinevitably causes our clothes to get wrinkled. Nowthattheclosetsanddrawersare neat, it’s time to deal with the pile of clothesinthecornerofyourroom.Itmay be that this pile only existed because it consistedofclothingthatwouldn’tfitinto thedrawerstobeginwith.Eitherthator itwasafunctionoflazinessonyourpart. Either way, you should get rid of it. If you know that you are going to continuetogethomefromworkandtoss yourclothes,whynotatleastgetahamper totosstheminto?Youmayhaveahamper in the bathroom or laundry room, but if theclothesareonyourbedroomfloor,it
meansyouweren’twillingtomovethem thatfar.Believeme,Iunderstand.Solve the problem by getting a hamper to keep in the bedroom itself. Tuck it away in a corner(maybeeventhesamecornerwhere youusuallytosstheclothes).Thissimple actwillmakeyourbedroomappearalot neaterandalotlesslikeacollegedorm room. Next,it’stimetoturntoalltheother various nic nacs and personal effects that may be littering your room. If you are in the habit of leaving brushes, hair accessories,jewelry,ormakeupontopof your dresser, it might be a good idea to movethesethingstothebathroom,ajunk drawer,orstoragebinsasappropriate.You mightconsidergettingonebasketforyour hairaccessories,oneformakeup,etc.The point is just to remove these items from view. If youhaveanindividualplacefor eachtypeofitem,youwillbemorelikely to put it back where it belongs. Ifyouarelikemeandyouliketoread
a book, watch a movie, or listen to music beforeyougotobed,thantheotheritems clutteringupyourbedroommaybebooks, CDsVHStapes,orDVDs.Likeyourother personaleffects,theseitemsneedtohave aspecificstoragespaceinyourroomand youneedtoactuallyputthembackwhen youaredone.Forexample,ifyoulistento musicatnight,thankeepaCDracknext toyourbed.Thereisnotricktothis-just do your best to stay on top of it! If you knowthatyouarenotthetypeofperson thatwillstraightenupyourroomevery day, than pick a specific day of the week on which to do it. Once you have gotten your room in order,youneedtokeepitthatway.Don’t fall back into your old habits! If you do,it’simportanttorecognizethatthat is what you are doing and put a stop to it before it gets out of hand. Remember, your bedroom is a place of solace and relaxation,andit’simpossibletorelaxin a disaster area.
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INTERIOR NEW YORK DIRECTORY ACCESSORIES Parci Parla 4904 13th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 686-6858 Success Office Products 5120 Ft Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 972-3800 www.4successoffice.com See ad page 51 ARCHITECTURE Avalon Designs 5922 18th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 236-8600 Maviz 718 305-5990 See ad page 9 APPLIANCES AJ Madison 1416 38th Street Brooklyn, NY 718 732-4950 www.ajmadison.com See ad back cover Drimmers Home Appliance 1608 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 338-3500 www.drimmers.com See ad page 1 S&W Appliance 162 Wallabout St Brooklyn NY 11206 718 387-8660 ART Brilliant Strokes 5814 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 338-7287 See ad page 46 Lynn Russel artthou@earthlink.net See ad page 28 Ani Brieger 212-724-0621
BATH B & H Home Expressions 728 kings Highway Brooklyn, NY 11223 718 513-3700 www.bhhomeexpressions.com Stone & Bath 856 39th St Brooklyn, NY 11232 718 438-4500 World Wide Kitchen & Bath 3920 15th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 853-3000 CARPET Boro Rug & Carpet 1141 37th St Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 853-3600 www.bororug.com See ad page 23 Levi & Sons Oriental Rugs 264 39th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232 718 768-1070 See ad page 7 Quality Carpet 214 Ditmas Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 941-4200 www.qualitycarpet.com See ad page 43 CLOSETS Closet Maven 63 Flushing Ave Unit 318 Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 855-0028 www.cmclosets.com See ad page 4 Organize It All 718 812-9916 See ad page 53 Closets by Portwoordwork 718 832-1714
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European Closet & Cabinet 214 49th St Brooklyn, NY 11220 800 640-2567 www.europeancloset.com DOORS Exclusive Doors 376 Flushing Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 246-2200 www.exclusivedoor.com See ad page 5 Heritage Doors 1923 8th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 499-3667 See ad page 17 Madison Doors 939-941 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 506-9000 www.madisondoorsinc.com FlOORING TivTov Flooring Warehouse 1572 61st St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 234-5511 www.tivtovflooring.com See ad page 31 Top Floor 718 256-1120 FOOD Edible Delights 1318 Ave M 11230 718 336-7333 www.edibledelightshop.com Sushi K Bar 718 871-KBAR (5227) www.sushikbar.com See ad page 33 FUNDING Fairmont Capital 212 710-4018 1333 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 www.fairmontcap.com Fairmont Funding 1333 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 431-7795 www.fairmontfunding.com Rockwell Abstract LLC 1333 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 431-7795 www.rockwellabstract.com
FURNITURE Accentuations By Designs 1501 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 972-2300 www.accentuationsbydesign.com See ad page 21 Brilliant Home 1797 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 645-1600 Frankels Furniture 3921 14th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 438-4848 www.designmywallunit.com Kingdom Furniture 1371 39th St Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 435-5444 Living Quarters 5926 16th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 256-4367 Mega Babies 6007 14th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 437-3400 www.megababies.net Renaissance Custom Interiors 4305 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 851-3977 See ad page 47 Rivka’s Antiques 5824 11th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 436-0807 See ad page 46 Sofas ‘n’ More 329 Hewes Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 599-7623 See ad page 15 Sleep Tight Bedding 5211 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 438-3933 S & G Fine Chair Collection 63 Flushing Ave Bldg # 3 Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 522-6500 S & S Fine Furniture 306 Penn St Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 963-1466
Ultimate Design 1229 39th St Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 437-7272 www.ultimatedesignny.com
Grand Kitchen & Stone 920 3rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 718 788-8301 See ad page 3
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Moda Custom Italian Kitchens 1935 McDonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11223 718 787-1444
CV Design Associates inc. celiavogeldesign@gmail.com IRON WORK Signon USA 171 Powell St Brooklyn, NY 11212 718 485-8500 www.signonusa.com SoHo Iron Art 68 Greene St New York, NY 10012 212 343-9993 www.sohoironart.com JEWLERY SIMPSON 4922 13th avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 871-0120 See ad page 29 KITCHENS Artistic Kitchen Designs 206 Webster Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230 800 521-2904 www.artistic-kitchen-designs.com See ad page 8
LIGHTING Aura 1355 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 972-5400 City Lights 2603 Nostrand Ave Brooklyn, Ny 11210 718 252-2237 Lighting Palace 2148 Flatbush Ave Brooklyn, NY 11234 718 252-7722 See ad page 27 Rainbow Lighting 2214 59th St Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 234-3393 www.rainbowlightingny.com Sunshine Lighting 744 Clinton St Brooklyn, NY 11231 718 768-7000
Brookville Cabinet & Design 119 Spruce St Cedarhurst, NY 11516 516 374-4675 www.brookvillecabinet.com
LINEN ELEGANTE 4702 16TH AVE BROOKLYN, NY 718 871-9800
Capital Cabinets 5306 New Utrecht Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11219 718 435-7005 www.capitalcabinetsinc.com
Lermatage 1483 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 854-4550
Complete Kitchens 99 Rutledge St Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 782-4010 Empire Kitchen 170 Division Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 384-1444 Enterprise Wood Products 344 Beach 74th St Averne, NY 11692 718 853-9243 www.enterprisecabinets.com
LOCKSMITHS Key Master Locksmith 144 Lee Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 388-1105 Neiman Locksmith 917-577-7796 MOULDINGS Architectural Decorators 102 Foster Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 871-5550 Crown Millwork 12 Melnick Drive Monsey, NY 10952 845 371-2200
Moulding Classics Plus 6913 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 236-3566
Custom Tile 4607 16th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 438-1515
Trim Worx 718 624-6900 See ad page 51
L & T Kitchen Depot 121 11th St Brooklyn, NY 11220 718 492-8282 See ad inside back cover
PLUMBERS Plumber on Call 718-438-7656 SECURITY BSD Home and Personel 877 273-9114 See ads inside front cover & page 4 STAIRS All American Stairs 130-23 91st Ave Richmond Hill, NY 11418 718 441-8400 McDonald Stairs 1013 McDonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 436-9714 STONE - TILE Royal Marble 1542 McDonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 998-1222 Super Stone 87-89 14th St Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 832-1808
Tile Decor 718 246-5900 745 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 See ad page 19 Pedulla Ceramic Tile 4906 20th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 377-7746 See ad page 13 TRAVEL Luxury 4 less 1-877-2 flyl4l www.flyl4l.com See ad page 39 WINDOWS Elegant Window Fashions 4512 11th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 436-4490 Imperial Windows 2009 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY 11229 718 646-4420 See ad page 2
The Blue Stone Creation 300 Norman Ave Brooklyn, NY 11222 718 486-0500
Act II Interiors 1661 Utica Ave Brooklyn, NY 11234 718 338-5448 www.act2interiors.com
Classic Tile, Inc. 1635 86th St Brooklyn, NY 11214 718 331-2615
Window Palace 660 McDonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 854-3500
30 S. Bridge St. Staten Island, NY 10309 718 967-5700 www.classictileny.com See ad page 41
Signature Home Fashions 160 Williamsburg St Brooklyn, NY 11211 718 302-9500
TO BE LISTED NEXT MONTH CALL 718 854 3773 INTERIOR NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2009 55
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