VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3
MANHATTAN
l
LONG ISLAND l BROOKLYN l QUEENS l STATEN ISLAND
USA $2.95 CANADA $3.95
4 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
living and more
TABLE OF CONTENT The Brooklyn Bridge 125 Years Young
The Vue
New Developments
Coney Island The End of an Era or the Beginning of a New One
An American Ideal Decorating is not as easy as you think!
The Great Debate Gas Or Charcoal?
Pool Safety Keeping it Fun for All
Historic New York Architectural Day Trips
Stained Glass A New Approach with Old World Style
Get Organized! Your Kitchen
Weekend Redecorating A change for your own good
6 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
10 18 22 30 34 38 42 46 52 56
EDITOR’S NOTE
living and more
There’s no doubt about it, Summer is here!!!! Fromtheminuteyouventureoutofanairconditionedroom, themindnumbingheatblastthatgreetsyouoncethedoorisopen, isusuallymorethanenoughtomakeyourunbacktowhereyou camefrom.Whatbetterwaytomakethebestofthethesedog daysofSummerthantocozyupwiththetall,cool,beverageof yourchoice,findanice placetostretchoutandcatchupwith yourreading;You’reinluck...thismonthsissueisfeaturerich and sure to have something of interest for everyone!! Coney Island, once America’s Summer playground, has becomeapoliticalandeconomicbattlefield.Thefightisover howtoredevelopthatevershrinkingstripofnostalgicBrooklyn beachfrontproperty.Inpart2ofourcontinuinglookatConey Island,we’llexaminetheuncertaintyofit’sfutureandthe “player’s”and“playa’s”whowillultimatelydecidethefateof whatwasonceNewYorkCity’sgreatget-awaydestinations. TheBrooklynBridgeopenedtothepubliconMay24,1883 at 2:00 PM.A total of 150,300 people crossed opening day and were charged 1 cent to cross. We’ll take you back in time to oldNewYorkandtellthestoryoftheBridge,alongwiththe personaltragediesandsuccessesofthosethathelpedtobuildit. We should all look so good at 125 years old <wink>. Usingstainedglassaspartofadecoratingplanneverseems togooutofstyle,andisawonderfuldecoratingadditiontoany roomofthehouse.InStainedGlassEntersthe21stCentury, therichhistoryandartofstainedglassistraced, alongwith invaluabletipsaboutplanning,buyinganddecoratingyour home. Jointhegreatdebate;GasvsCharcoal.Let’stakeitoutside andletthe“taleofthetape”decideaswebringthemhead-tohead to determine what is right for you!! In past issues, we’ve offered suggestions to help you get organized in many areas of your home. One area that is the easiest to lose control of is the kitchen. This months GET ORGANIZED is a road map for setting up your kitchen and rules for keeping it that way. As soon as the weather warms up, many home pools will be openandreadyforchildrenandadultstojumpinforacooldip. Learn what is necessary to make this Summer a safe one. Finally, we spend a lot of time writing about other folks design ideas.We’d like to see yours!! If you are interested in submittingaphotographofaspecialareaofyourhousewe’d lovetoseeit,alongwithabriefexplanationandifselected,it willbeshowcasedinanupcomingedition.Pleasenotethatall submissions become the property of INTERIOR NEWYORK livingandmore©.Onlydigitalphotographswillbeaccepted and should be sent to editor@interiornewyork.com. David P. Kaufman
8 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
PUBLISHER W MEDIA EDITOR IN-CHIEF CAROLE DELMONICO SENIOR EDITOR DAVID P. KAUFMAN ART DIRECTOR EFRAIM SCHNALL CONTRIBUTING GOLDY MILLER DESIGNERS RIFKY SCHMELTZER DIRECTOR OF WILLIAM A. MILES SALES & MARKETING PHOTOGRAPHY W MEDIA DIRECTOR OF MENASHE SCHWARTZ OPERATIONS
SALES RAIZY NEUFELD PRODUCTION ABE BERKOWITZ COORDINATOR CONTRIBUTING JULIA LISANTI WRITERS ZACHARY SCHLEE ADVERTISING 5104 12th AVE 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
INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
9
The Brooklyn Bridge 125 Years Young
10 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
W
hen the Brooklyn Bridge opened on May 24, 1883, it was so singular an achievementthatHarpersWeeklydeclaredit,“Likelytobecomeourmost durablemonument,andtoconveysomeknowledgeofustothemostremote posterity.”Theyweren’tfarfromthemark.Theiconicstructurejustcelebratedits125th birthdayovertheMemorialDayweekendanditremains,tothisday,apowerfulsymbolof engineering might and Gothic beauty. INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 11
“Stretching 5,989 feet across the East River the bridge was six times longer than the longest suspension bridge of the time”
The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was undoubtedly the most ambitious feat of engineering undertakenbythiscountryinthe19th Century.Stretching5,989feetacross theEastRiver,thebridgewassixtimes longerthanthelongestsuspension bridgeofthetime,anditstowerswere thetallestmanmadestructuresinthe WesternHemisphere.Constructionof the bridge began on Jan 3, 1870 and took thirteen years to complete, at a cost of 15.5 million dollars and 27 lives, including that of its designer, John Roebling. Like many construction projects of the time, work on the Brooklyn Bridgewasfraughtwithdanger.John Roebling, the bridge’s celebrated designer, succumbed to a tetanus infectionheacquiredafterhisfootwas badlydamagedwhenitbecamepinned inbetweenapylonandapassingferry. His son,Washington Roebling, took overtheprojectafterhisdeath,butwas soon stricken with caisson disease, a 12 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
decompression sickness commonly referred to as “the bends.” The disease was caused by working incompressedaircaissons,andaffected so many of the caisson workers that constructionofthebridgewashalted ontheManhattansidesomethirtyfeet shortofbedrock.Asaresult,thetower ontheManhattansideofthebridgerests onlyonsand.Fortunately,thebridgeand trusssystemwasconstructedsixtimes strongerthanitneedtobe,whichisthe mainreasonthebridgeisstillstanding. Washington Roebling’s wife, Emily WarrenRoebling,becamehisaideafter he fell ill. She was instrumental in assuringthecompletionofthebridge, learningengineeringandcommunicating her husband’s wishes to the on-site assistants.When the bridge opened in 1883, she was the first person to cross
it.WashingtonRoeblingrarelyvisitedthe site after his illness. Tensofthousandsofpeopleattended theBrooklynBridge’sopening,including PresidentChesterA.Arthur.Itsdedication was dubbed “Peoples Day,” with good reason:150,300peopleand1,595vehicles crossedthebridgethatday,inacelebration whichalsoincludedtwoparadesandan hour long fireworks display. Thecelebrationwasshort-lived.Two weeks after the bridge opened, on May 30,1883,arumorstartedthatthebridge was in imminent danger of collapse.The resultantstampedekilledtwelvepeople and injured dozens more. Fortunately,thetragedyofthebridge’s early days ended there, and the bridge now stands as a symbol of triumph and perseverance, especially during times of difficulty. The bridge has served as a lifelinewhentheusualmeansofcrossing theEastRiverbecameunavailable,like the2003blackoutandthetransitstrikes of 1980 and 2005. On Sept. 11, 2001, thousandsofstrandedNewYorkersused thebridgetofleelowerManhattanafter subway service was suspended.
Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Tour de Brooklynbikeride,walkingtours,anda free Brooklyn Bridge Film series which includedhistoricaldocumentariesand WaltDisney’s“Enchanted,”amodern-day fairy tale set in NewYork City. For the kids,therewasalsoaminiaturegolfcourse featuring famous sites from Brooklyn, includingtheBridge,GrandArmyPlaza and Keyspan Park. Amongthemostinterestingfeatures of the birthday celebration was the instillationoftheTelectroscope,which wasplacednearthefootofthebridgeat FultonFerryLanding.Thedevice,which lookslikeagianttelescopeconnectedto huge mirrored dome, was created by the artistPaulSt.George.Thereareactually
Historians also note that the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge played a major role in shaping the city as we know it today. The bridge linked Manhattantowhatwasthenalargelyrural Brooklyn,helpingtospuragrowthspurt inBrooklyn’spopulation.Between1880 and1890,Brooklyn’spopulationgrewby 42%, while Manhattan’s grew by 26%, according to census figures. Nowadays, the Brooklyn Bridge serves not only as a means to move into and out of the city, but is also a major destinationforsightseersandtourists, and an iconic part of the NewYork City skyline. The bridge was designated a NationalHistoricLandmarkin1964,and aNationalHistoricEngineeringLandmark in 1983.At the city’s last count in 2006, thebridgenowcarriesabout126,000cars aday,andisusedbycountlesscyclistsand pedestrians. The city hosted a four-day 125th birthdayblowoutforthebridgeoverthe MemorialDayweekend,whichincluded fireworks,aNavyflyoverandthedebut ofatributesong,amongotherfestivities. The Brooklyn Bridge went “green” in a lightingceremonyinwhichits100-watt mercuryvaporlampswerereplacedwith energyefficient24-wattbulbsknownas light-emitting diodes. There was also a concert by the 14 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
two Telectroscopes, one in New York andtheotherinLondononthebanksof the Thames River near Tower Bridge. Thetwodevicesareconnectedcourtesy ofanunusualliveopticalhookupwhich allowspeopleinNewYorktosee,inreal time, people in London. Paul St. George claimsthedevicewasinspiredbyhisgreat grandfather,StanhopeStGeorge,whohad madeintricatedrawingsandcalculations for the device, which he envisioned as a visualamplifierconnectedtoanimmense tunnelwhichwouldrunundertheAtlantic Ocean. The Telectroscope display is scheduledtorunthroughJune15,butthe artist hopes it will become a permanent fixtureinbothNewYorkandLondon.
F
airmont Funding’s Specialized Financing Helps FastPacedSalesVUE,oneofSouthSlope’snewestresidential condominiums, combines elegant features and finishes withbreathtakingviewsoftheentireNewYorkCityskyline,the StatueofLiberty,theVerrazanoBridge,NewJersey,andStaten Island,tocreate45modernhomesintheburgeoningBrooklyn neighborhood. And, with the help of specialized financing created by Fairmont Funding,VUE has nearly sold out in just nine months. “VUEhashitthemarkwithspaciouslayouts,unparalleled views,andincrediblepricepoints,”saidPeggyAguayo,principal ofAguayo&Huebener,theexclusivesalesandmarketingagent for VUE. DevelopedbyFairmontCapital,LLCandtheKatanGroup, and designed by Karl FischerArchitects and Lessard Design Associates,thechic10-storynewconstructionbuildingboasts one-, two- and three-bedroom residences ranging in size from 671 sq. ft. to 1,168 sq. ft. Homes are priced from approximately $510,000 to $890,000. Fairmont Capital makes the purchase seamless for buyers by providing access to its mortgage lending services through FairmontaffiliateFairmontFunding,LTD.Alocalmortgagebank withmorethan25yearsofexperience,FairmontFundingoffers abroadrangeofcustomizedlendingpackagesforVUEbuyers, includingtheexclusiveFairmontFundingBuyersAdvantageTax Rebate (BAT). With this program, buyers are able to save on mortgage and transfer taxes at the time of closing.
“Bycreatingspecializedfinancingoptionsforbuyers,weare able to make purchasing a home atVUE easy and affordable,” saidMordyHusarsky,managingdirectorofFairmontFunding, LTD.“Ourlendingpackagesareamajorsellingpointforbuyers, emphasizingtheimportanceoflendingoptionsthatsavepeople money in today’s market.” AtVUE,residentsenterthroughabeautifullylandscaped frontcourtyardandamodernlobbylounge,relaxinaZen-like meditationgarden,andexerciseinaspaciousfitnesscenteranda fullyequippedchildren’splayroom.Bicyclingandstrollingina nearbyparkwillbemadeconvenientwithprivatestoragerooms. On-site parking is also available. Floor-to-ceiling windows in each ofVUE’s light-infused 18 three-bedroom, 18 two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 19
backsplashes. Each kitchenalsofeaturestopof-the-lineappliances, including Bosch refrigerators,microwaves and dishwashers.
residences offer spectacular views in all directions. Residents enjoy intimateprivatebalconies,highceilings, extravagant5”Braziliancherrywood floors, and washer/dryer units. Kitchens boast high-end finishes, such as American walnut and white acid-etchedcabinets,BlueMotionselfclosing cabinet doors and drawers, and Ceasarstone countertops and
Sumptuous master baths include custom cherry wood vanities andQuartzcountertops, oversized soaking tubs, CremitaItalianlimestone, Whitesand Italian limestonefloorsandToto toilets.Guestbathsoffer opulentBambooOysterItalianPorcelain floors and Stile Bianco and Techno VanillaItalianPorcelainMosaicwalls, customvanitiesandQuartzcountertops, oversizedsoakingtubsandTototoilets. Eachtwo-andthree-bedroomresidence is designed with two full bathrooms.
20 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
Located within Park Slope’s 5th
Avenueand7thAvenueretailcorridors, residents ofVue enjoy shopping atThe ChocolateGirl,JasmineFloralDesigns andotherneighborhoodhotspots,and dining at Side Car, Tamari, Olive Vine and other local favorites. Steps from ProspectPark,theBrooklynChildren’s Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, residents have easy access to activities year round. What’s Available A limited number of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes are available at VUE. To schedule an appointment, please call 718.788.6100 or visit www. vueparkslope.com. If you are a developer or potential buyer interested in more information on Fairmont Funding’s BAT program, please contact 718.431.7795 or visit www.fairmontfunding.com.
Coney Island
Present & Future Continued from last issue
F
orthoseofusundertheage offorty,ConeyIslandhas always existed as it does today: a shell of its former self. That being said, there are still plentyofreasonstogotoConey Island,nottheleastofwhichbeing nostalgia.FromtheConeyIsland Museumwithitsantiquesignage, totheclassicscreammachinethat istheCyclone,toNathan’swhich hasservedthebesthotdoginthe worldfornearlyahundredyears, everywhere one looks in Coney Island is alive with history. In addition,althoughtheareahasyet toundergomajorrevitalization efforts, there have been some improvements in recent years which have served both to pay homage to the area’s past and bring it into the 21st Century.
The Coney Island Museum is a great place to start if you are interestedinthehistoryofConey Island.With an incredibly cheap admission price of 99 cents, the museumisasmall,butfascinating, placetoviewrelicsfromthearea’s past. The Coney Island Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to interpreting and preserving the history of Coney Island. Coney Island USA, the non-profitgroupthathousesthe museum,alsoproducesSideshows bytheSeashore,theworld’sonly non-profit circus sideshow. The sideshow,whichrunsonweekends duringthesummermonths,features firebreathing,swordswallowing, glasseating,snakecharming,and alltheotherbygoneartsthatmade Coney Island so popular in the past. Another great place to view thehistoryofConeyIslandisthe newlyopenedConeyIslandHistory Project,whoseexhibitioncenteris convenientlylocatedunderneath theCyclone.Theorganization’s goalistoincreaseawarenessofthe historyofConeyIsland,primarily throughthecollectionofanoral historyofthearea.Thecenteralso offersanextensivecollectionof exhibits,performances,toursofthe area, and other events. Itshistoricvalueaside,there areplentyofotherreasonstovisit ConeyIsland,nottheleastofwhich beingthebeachitself,aswellasthe boardwalk.ConeyIsland’stwoand ahalfmilelongbeachiscontinuous and is served through its entire lengthbythebroadRiegelmann Boardwalk. The beach a free public space which is groomed
andreplenishedregularlybythecity,and seemstobemuchcleanerthesedaysthan it has been in years past. In addition, the beach’spositionandlackofobstructions meansthatitreceivessunlightvirtuallyall day,whichisgreatnewsforsun-bathers. Manyofthearea’sattractions,including the New York Aquarium, food shops, arcades, and a number of amusements, are accessible from the land side of the boardwalk, which makes a great place to take a walk even if it’s not swimming weather. Despiterecentdeclinesinthesizeof ConeyIsland’samusementdistrict,there arestilltwomajoramusementparksinthe area:AstrolandandDeno’sWonderWheel Park.Althoughthefutureofbothparksis uncertaingivenrecentlydisclosedplansto redevelopthearea,bothparksareopenfor the2008season,andit’sprobablyagood ideatovisitthemwhiletheyarestillhere. Bothparksfeaturenumerousinexpensive rides,generallyaboutfivedollarseach, andAstrolandfeaturesapay-one-price option.Additionally, each park houses alandmarkrecognizedbytheNational
RegisterofHistoricPlaces.Astrolandis thehomeoftheCyclone,whichisactually ownedbythecityandleasedtothepark, and Deno’s is, of course, home of The Wonder Wheel. ConeyIsland’snewestattractionis Keyspan Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team owned by the Mets. The park was constructed in 2001 as a first step in revitalizing the area, on the old site of SteeplechasePark.Itfeaturesaconcourse withfree-standingconcessionbuildings andoverhangingmulti-coloredfluorescent lamps, which evoke an amusement park atmosphere. It also provides beautiful viewsoftheoceanandthenewlyrestored ParachuteJump.TheBrooklynCyclones seasonstartsinJune,andticketsarevery inexpensive,generallyundertendollars. Inadditiontothebaseballgames,thepark has also held many concerts in its brief history,includingthosebyJay-Z,Bjork, Phish, and Def Leppard.
24 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
FUTURE Coney Island has undergone some majorchangesinrecentyears,beginning withtheconstructionofKeyspanPark in2001,therestorationoftheparachute jump during 2002-2004, and continuing withtherecentdemolitionsofsomeofits amusementsbyThorEquities,whichhas bought up about 70% of the land in the amusementdistrict.Morechangesareyet tocome,butthenatureofthosechanges remainsunclear.Toquoteoneofthestallholdersintheareawhowishedtoremain anonymous,“It’sallveryupintheair.No one knows what is going to happen.” Thor Equities, which was founded by Joe Sitt, has spent nearly 100 million dollarsbuyingupahugeswathofproperty intheamusementarea,includingAstroland Parkwhichitpurchasedfor$30millionin 2006.Sincethen,ithasbeenembroiledina fightwiththecityoverrezoning.JoeSitt’s originalplansfortheareaincludedalarge Bellagio-stylehotelresort,surroundedby ridesandamusements.WhenSittreleased renderingsofahotelwhichwouldhave
takenuptheentireareabetweentheAquariumandKeyspan Park, there was immediate public outrage. The proposed constructionwouldmostlikelyhaverequiredthedestruction ofTheWonderWheel,Cyclone,andNathan’sOriginalhot dog stand, along with all the other existing buildings and amusements in the area. In June of 2006, after the public outcry, Thor Equities releasednewrenderingsoftheareawiththeresortnowreplaced withaseriesofhigh-risecondotowerswithgroundfloorretail space.Blogseverywherepublishedthesenewrenderingsand Eek, Thor’s design firm, quickly removed them from their website.Thorthenimmediatelyreleasedrenderingsofnew ridestheyproposedforthearea,includingasteelrollercoaster andatwo-tieredcarousel,buttheyadmittedthatcondoswere partoftheirplanandinsistedthattheamusementresortwould onlybeeconomicallyfeasibleifitwaspaidforbytheaddition of said condos. Thenewplanwouldrequirethatthecityrezonethearea forresidentialuse,butcriticspointoutthatifThorgotthe proposed rezoning, they would be under no obligation to buildanyamusementsatall.Thorhadalreadyevictedseveral 26 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
acresofamusementsfromthepropertiestheyowned,andhad plannedtoevicttherest,aswellasclosingAstroland,afterthe endofthe2007season.Anewamusementpark,calledConey IslandPark,wasplannedfortheAstrolandsite,alongwitha Nickelodeonthemedhotel.Theamusementparkplannedfor thesitewouldhavetosharespacewiththehotel,andithas notyetbeendeterminedhowlargethehotel’sfootprintwillbe, so very little, if any, space may be left for rides. Critics also pointoutthatthecondoresident’swillbeunlikelytowanta loudboisterousamusementparkrightoutsidetheirwindows, furtherdecreasingthelikelihoodofamusementridesactually being built. ThereisalsotheproblemofThorEquitiestrackrecord. The city is skeptical ofThor’s motivations for wanting the zoningchanges,pointingoutthatJoeSitthasnotrackrecord ofactuallybuildinganyoftheprojectshehasproposedinthe past,whileThorEquitiesdoeshaveatrackrecordofflipping property to other developers once they get the necessary zoning.They point out thatThor had already owned many acresofpropertyinConeyIslandareathathadbeenearmarked forrezoning,buthassincesoldthemforprofit.Inaddition, thecityisalsoupsetaboutThor’shardballnegotiatingtactics,
includingtheirdemolitionofthepropertiestheyownandtheirthreats toleavethelandvacantforuptotenyearsuntiltheygetthezoning changes they want. AnewdealbetweenthecityandThorwillkeepAstrolandopen through the 2008 season, and perhaps beyond. Thor has offered leasestomostofthebusinessesalongtheboardwalkand allofthe controversyhasactuallybeenaboonforConeyIsland,whichhadits bestseasonlastyearsincethe1940’s,asmillionsofvisitorsturnedout for what could have been the amusement area’s last year. Thecity’snewestplansfortheareahavejustbeguntotrickleout overthelastweek,anditlooksliketheyaregoingtocave-intoThor Equities’demands.Underthelatestrezoningplan,theamusementarea is going to be trimmed down from the 15 acres in the city’s previous plantoapaltry9-acrestripalongtheboardwalk.Muchofthearea betweenNathan’sandtheCyclonewill,infact,befilledwithstores andhoteltowers,althoughthereisnowordyetonwhereorwhether condoswillcomeintothepictures.Cityofficialshaveexplainedthat providinglessspacefortraditionalridesandmorespaceforthemore lucrativefinancialenterprises,theyareensuringthatsomethinggets done.Thequestionremains-justwhatwillbedone,andwillitstillbe ConeyIslandwhenit’sallover? INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 27
An American Ideal
?
What makes us think that decorating is easy
Celia Vogel
I
nmylastarticleIwrotethattheexperienceshould be “enjoyable and exciting” but not necessarily easy. It is because of this that the Interior Design profession,sheltermagazines,in-storedesignteams, self-help shows and sites have proliferated. Like so many things in our consumer-oriented society the choices are endless. The only difference is the investment we need to make. I am not merely talkingaboutthefinancialinvestment,whichisoften timesconsiderable,but,moreimportantly,theemotional commitment one must make to the purchase. I am constantlyremindingmyclientsthattheyneedtolove theirfamilyandfriends....notnecessarilytheirfurniture, and...that only insurance brokers offer insurance. There is no possible way that I, or anyone, can assure youthattoday’sStainlessSteelwillnotbetomorrow’s HarvestGold(orAvocado,orCoppertone,orAlmond, etc.).Neithercananyoneguaranteethatyouwilllove something“tenyearsfromnow”.Orthatitwillstillsuit yourneeds.Orthatthereisn’tanother(better,cheaper, newer, etc.) option. The best we can do (jointly or individually)istomakeintelligentchoicesandkeepin mind that, when something is done well, it looks good despitebeingdated.Oneneedonlylookatolderissues of Architectural Digest to reaffirm this. How can you achieve this? Assuming that you now have an accurate and functionalfloorplanandaninspirationalstartingpoint(a fireplace, rug, view, etc.) let’s get ready to shop! Some of the things we need to keep in mind are the following:
A realistic budget. I cannot emphasize how frustrating it is to be with a client who comes with clippings of custom designed, imported, or one-of –a –kind designer pieces and wants to achieve “this look” with Ikea, WestElm,PotteryBarn,CrateandBarrel or the equivalent.All of the above are excellentoptionsforlimitedbudgetsand theycanbepairedwithinterestingpaint colors, window treatments and accent pieces to yield a “designer look”. They cannot, however, be used to replicate a customfurnitureinstallation(suchasa paneledlibrary)antiquefurniturepieces, orcustomizedupholsteryandtrimdetails. This is not to say that one cannot find a bargain.....itjustmakesmoresensetoknow yourlimitationsandproceedaccordingly.
these“imperfections”addcharacterand patinatoyourpurchase.Therearesources whomarketthisincontrasttosomething thatisantisepticallynew.(Iamnothere discussing inferior workmanship which obviously needs to be addressed. I am merely reminding you to keep things in perspective.) Furnishing a new home or updating an existing one is a happy and positive experience. It should not be viewed as a chore butratherasachallenge....one wecanwithadequateknowledgeand/or
guidance....master. So this month’s article espouses an Oriental philosophy. When an Asian artist begins his rigorous training he is forbiddentoputpentopaper.Instead,he must spend weeks and sometimes months contemplatinghisenvironmentandtruly seeingitbeforehecanproceed.Inmuchthe samewayitisnecessarytoorganizeyour plansandexpectationsbeforeenteringan arenawherepreparationandstaminawill yieldawinner.
Celia Vogel is the principal designer of CV Design Associates, Inc. She has worked since 1979 on numerous projects in the Metropolitan New York area, Long Island, Florida and Texas. She has participated in a dozen show-houses and has had her work published extensively. She can be reached by e-mail at celiavogeldesign@gmail.com
A realistic time frame Most case goods take 16- 20 weeks to produce.Evenwhentheyarecompleted transitwillusuallyaddanother2weeks toyourtimeframe.Shoppingforfurniture withatimedeadline(aBar/BatMitzvah, Sheva Brochot, Machatonim meeting, etc.)willusuallynecessitategoingtothe “in-stock”options,buyingatsamplesales andauctions,or,whathappensmostoften, making an inappropriate (never wrong) decision. Upholstered goods take about the same amount of time from receipt of fabricandtrim.Alsokeepinmindthatthis industry, like many others, experiences slowdownsanddelaysduringholidaysand summer vacation. PleasealsofactorinthatmostEuropean countriesclosedownduringthemonthof August. Do not pester your supplier for a delivery date. They are as anxious as you are to complete the order, get paid, and,hopefully,generateanewreferralor purchase from a satisfied customer. A realistic expectation This is the most difficult for a professional like myself to negotiate. I once had a partner who would tell our clients that if they looked at their newborns as critically as they looked attheirfurnituretheymightbeequally dissatisfied with them. He had a point. This is not brain surgery or any form of science.Pleasedonotexpectperfection. Itrarelyexistsanywhere.Thecraftsman whomakesyourfurnitureisjustaperson. Sometimeshecanoverlookasmalldetail andwillhappilycorrectitifapproached in a rational and reasonable manner. Rememberthefirstdentorscratchwhen youfirsttakeanewcaroutofashowroom. Eventuallyyoudon’tseeitortheseveral othersthatfollow.Weliketothinkthat 32 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
The Great Debate Gas Vs Charcoal T
obarbecue,ortogrill,thatisthequestion.Thedebate overusinggasversuscharcoaltobarbecuehasbeen ragingfordecades.Infact,itprobablybeganabout fiveminutesafterthepropanegasgrillwasinvented.Diehardbarbecuepuristswillinsistthatnothingbeatsthesmoky flavor imparted by using real wood. On the other side, proponentsofthegasgrillpointoutthatthereisnotany realdifferenceinthetasteofthefood,oratleastnotenough difference to warrant all the extra work. The truth is, they both have a point. It all depends on howyouplantouseyourbarbecue,andwhatyourdefinition ofbarbecuingis,forthatmatter.Whatmostofusthinkof asbarbecue,especiallyintheNortheast,isactuallygrilling. Inviting your friends over, cooking up some hot dogs and hamburgers,maybethrowingonafewsteaks,istechnically grilling.Grillingreferstocookingmeatoverdirectheatfora shortperiodoftime,usuallyamatterofminutes.Barbecue, asitspractitionersknow,involvessmokinglargercutsof meatforhoursatverylowheat,usuallyabout200degrees Fahrenheit.Thetwotermshavebeenconflatedinthiscountry andareusedinterchangeably.Addtothatthefactthatthe wordbarbecuereferstothecookingvesselitself,andisalso atermusedtorefertotheactualgatheringwherebarbecued foodisserved,anditseasytoseewhytheterminologyisso confusing. Allyouneedtoknowisthatdecidingbetweengasversus charcoalisreallyamatteroftasteandconvenience,and lookingatafewkeyfactorswillhelpyoudeterminewhat kind of barbecue is best for you.
Taste & Authenticity Thebestwaytothinkaboutthetasteofbarbecuedfood istorealizethatthereisaspectrumofflavorthatcanbe imparted through the act of cooking on a barbecue. The amountofsmokyflavorthatyourfoodreceivesisinversely proportionaltotheamountofworkthatyouhavetodoto createandmaintainthefire.Gasgrillsaretheeasiesttouse, butdonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tprovideanyrealfireflavorbecausethereisnoreal fireinvolved.Yourfoodiscookedonwhatisessentiallya heatedgrate,andcomesouttastingthesameasifyouhad cooked it in a pan inside your house. Charcoalgrills,ontheotherhand,maytakesometime
tostart(usuallyabouttwentyminutes), butyourworkisrewardedwiththedeeper smokeflavorthatcookingwithcharcoal provides. Hardwoods such as mesquite, hickory,maple,appleandoakimpartthe trulyauthenticflavorofsouthernorTexas barbecue.Theproblemis,all-hardwood fires are notoriously hard to start and mustbeconstantlyattendedtoinorderto controlthetemperature.Manybarbecue practitionersuseacombinationofwood andcharcoaltooptimizesmokeflavorand maintain consistent burning.
Convenience Onthesubjectofconveniencegasgrills really are the hands-down winners. If you want to be able to come home from workandbeabletothrowafewsteaksor hamburgersontothegrillwithvirtuallyno hassle,thenagasgrillmightbeforyou. Forthoseofuswholiketogrillonadaily orweeklybasis,thereisnothinglikethe convenienceofbeingabletoturnadial, pushabutton,andhaveaheatedgrillin ten minutes or less. However,otherswouldarguethatthis istakingtheeasywayout,andcompletely misses the point. For some people barbecuingisallabouttheritual.Piling up the coals, getting them lit, tending tothefire, and manually adjusting the temperatureareallpartandparcelofthe experience of having a barbecue. Inaddition,gasgrillsarenotasuseful for“lowandslow”methodsofbarbecuing. If you want to cook a large piece of meat likearoast,turkey,orrackorribs,then youwillneedtopurchaseagasgrillwith atleasttwoburnerstoallowforindirect cooking. The meat must be placed on
theoppositesideofthegrillfromthelit burneroritwillburnbeforeitiscooked through. Tofurthermuddythewaters,recent innovationsincharcoalequipmenthave madeiteasierthanevertostartacharcoal grill.Byusingacharcoalchimneystarter, inwhichcharcoalispouredintoacylinder whichislitfrombelowusingnewspaper,a charcoalgrillcanbelitintenminuteswith aminimumeffort.Chimneystartersalso eliminatetheneedforlighterfluid,which isoftenaboneofcontentionforpeople who don’t like charcoal. Many people havetroublelightingcharcoalgrillsand enduprepeatedlyaddinglighterfluidand restartingthefiretothepointwherethe foodtheycookendsuptastingmorelike lighter fluid than smoke.
Cost Thefinalconsiderationyouneedto make before purchasing a grill is cost. Charcoalgrillsaregenerallymuchless expensivetopurchasethangasgrills.If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, orbarbecueinfrequently,thenacharcoal grill might be a better choice. They usually range in price from $20 to $80, withhigh-enddeluxemodelsmaxingout at about $400.The most popular models of gas grills range in price from $120 to $400,buthigh-endmodelswithmultiple burnersandfold-upsidetablescanrange from $1,500 to $7,000. Also, keep in mind that although theinitialoutlayforacharcoalgrillis lessthanthatforagasgrill,charcoalis the more expensive fuel.You can easily spend four to five dollars a cookout on charcoal,whilecookingwithpropanegas for the same amount of time only costs abouttwentycents.
Safe Barbecuing Tips For the Gas Grill
For the Charcoal Grill
Beforegrilling,makesurealltheconnectionsaresecureand therearenoleaks,cracks,orbrittlenessinanyofthetubesor the propane cylinder itself.
Charcoalgrillsshouldneverbeusedinsidehomes,campers, oranyotherinclosedspaceduetotheriskofcarbonmonoxide poisoning, even if ventilation is provided.
Neverstartapropanegrillwiththelidclosed.Gascanbuild up and may cause an explosion when the grill is ignited.
Uselighterfluidsparinglyandneverputitonanopenflame, or to rekindle a dying fire.The flame can easily flashback along the fluid’s path to the container in your hands.
Never store propane cylinders indoors or near any heat source. Toavoidfirehazards,alwaysshutoffthepropaneatthegrill and at the bottle when you have finished grilling. Whenusinganextensioncord,makesureitisproperlyrated fortheamperagerequiredfortheelectricgrilltoavoidtherisk of electrical fire. Incaseofafire,turnofftheburners(andthetankvalveifyou cansafelyreachit).Iffireinvokesthetank,evacuatethearea and call the fire department. 36 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
Removetheashesonlyaftertheyarecompletelycooledand no warm embers remain. Incaseoffire,closethebarbecuelidandwaitfortheflames to die down.
Safety at the pool S
wimmingpoolscanbetremendous funfortheentirefamily,butthey alsopresentadanger,especiallyfor youngchildren.Drowningisactuallythe mostcommoncauseofaccidentaldeath in this country for children under age five.Approximately350childrenunder fivedrowneachyearinswimmingpools, accordingtotheUSConsumerProduct SafetyCommission.Sadly,mostofthese deaths are preventable.
yourchildcloselyatalltimeswhenthey are in the pool. This may seem obvious, but 69% of recent drowning incidents occurredwhileoneorbothparentswere responsible for supervising the child, so not everyone seems to be getting the message.You must never take your eyes off the child, even for a minute. If you mustleavethepoolareaforanyreason, makesurethatanotherresponsibleadult, who knows CPR, is present.
The key to pool safety is to have multiplelayersofprotectionaroundthe pool.Theselayersofprotectioninclude both physical barriers, like a fence, as wellaslesstangiblemeansofprotecting your child, like learning CPR.
If your child is under the age of five, youshouldpractice“touchsupervision” with them. This means that the child should always be within arm’s length of the adult when they are in the pool. Learning to swim is one of the best ways tostaysafeinthepool,anditisadvisable tobeginacclimatingtoddlersandyoung
Themostimportantthingthatyoucan do to prevent a drowning is to supervise
38 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
childrentothewater,butalwaysatarm’s length. Toddlers and young children shouldalsobetaughtbasicpoolsurvival, likehowtofloatontheirbacks,andhow togettothesideofthepoolandhangon. These survival lessons should be given frequently,andreintroducedeachsummer as if they were new. No matter how good a swimmer your child is, they must never have access to the pool when you are not present. To thisend,itisimportanttoinstallafence aroundyourpool.Thefenceshouldbeat leastfourfeethighandinstalledaroundall foursidesofthepool.Ifyourhousemust form one side of the barrier to the pool, thenthedoorleadingtothepoolshould beprotectedwithanalarmthatsounds when the door is unexpectedly opened.
Thegatesonthefenceshouldbeself-closingandself-locking,and thelatchesshouldbehighenoughsoastobeoutofasmallchildâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach.Also,makesurethereisnofurniturenearthefencethatthe child can climb over to enter the pool area. Apowersafetycoverisanotherlayerofprotectionyoucanadd toyourpool,butitshouldnotbeusedinplaceofafence.Instead, itshouldbeusedasanaddedprecautioninconjunctionwiththe fence.Makesurethatallpoolcovers,includingsafetycoversand solarcovers,arecompletelyremovedbeforeusingthepool,asthey pose a suffocation risk. Poolalarmscanalsobeusedasanaddedprecaution.Thereare twobasictypes-underwaterpoolalarmsandfloatingpoolalarms. Underwaterpoolalarmsgenerallyperformbetter,asfloating alarmsrequirethechildtodisturbthesurfaceofthewaterenough tosetthemoff.Ifthechildentersthepoolusingthestepsorladder, afloatingalarmmaynotbetriggered.Ineithercase,poolalarms shouldhaveremotealarmreceiverssothattheycanbeheardinside the house or in other places away from the pool area. Finally,ifyourchildisevermissing,checkthepoolareafirst. Mostchildrenwhodrowninpoolswanderoutofthehouseand fallintothepool.Childrenarenaturallycuriousandimpulsive explorersandevenafencewillnotstopsomeofthemfromgetting intothepoolarea.Secondscountwhenachildfallsinthewater, andcheckingthepoolfirstcouldmeanthedifferencebetweenlife anddeath.
40 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
A WALK THROUGH
HISTORIC NEW YORK
L
ocatedinthescenicHudsonValley,the historictownofHydeParkissituated abouthalfwaybetweenNewYorkCity andthestatecapitalofAlbany.Originally settled in 1742 by Jacobus Soutenburg, the town bore his name until it was officially changedin1812.Today,HydeParkisprimarily aresidentialcommunitywitharichhistory thattheresidentsareconstantlyworkingto preserve.A picturesque town lined with its trademark stone walls, Hyde Park is most famous for being the home of both FDR and the Culinary Institute of America.
Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Amongthemanyhistoricallysignificantattributesof thetown,HydeParkisboththebirthplaceandfinalresting placeofthe32ndPresidentoftheUnitedStates,Franklin DelanoRoosevelt.TheRooseveltEstate,alsoknown asSpringwood,washisprimaryresidencethroughout muchofhislifeandisnowthelocationoftheFranklin D.RooseveltNationalHistoricSite.Springwoodisnow a museum which is open to the public, and FDR’s grave islocatedintheRoseGarden,whichisonthegrounds. FDR’s Presidential Library, which was actually the nation’sfirstpresidentiallibrary,isalsoonthesite.In addition,thereisseparatemuseumcontainingartifacts, gifts and memorabilia of the former president and his wife, Eleanor, from their years in public service. Admittance to the grounds and gardens is free, but there is a $14.00 admission fee for adults (over 16 yearsofage)toenterthePresidentialMuseum.Thefee includes a guided tour of the FDR Home. Eleanor Roosevelt also maintained a separate residence,knownasVal-Kill,about2milesawayfrom thehomeofFDR(insertanyjokeyoulike).Val-Killwas Mrs.Roosevelt’sofficeandprivateretreatandisalsothe onlyNationalHistoricSitededicatedtoafirstlady.Itis opentothepublicdailyMaythroughOctober,andfive daysaweekNovemberthroughApril.Admissiontothe museumis$8.00foradultsandincludesaguidedtour.
42 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
“the opulent 54 room mansion is a shiningexampleofBeaux-Artsstyle architecture”
Vanderbilt Mansion Builtonasmallpieceofwhatwasonceahugelandpatent datingbacktothelate17thcentury,VanderbiltMansionandits groundsrepresenttwohundredyearsofHudsonValleyhistory andarchitecture.ConstructedattheheightoftheGildedAgeby FrederickVanderbilt,grandsonofshippingandrailroadtycoon Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the opulent 54 room mansionisashiningexampleofBeaux-Artsstylearchitecture. BesidesconstructingthecurrentMansion,Vanderbilt’smain contributiontothepropertywastoredesignandrestorethe formalgardensintheItalianstyle.Amongthemanychanges Vanderbilt made were such improvements as the addition of thebirdbathfountain,afocalpointofthegarden,aswellas theadditionofthemanygeometricallyshapedbedsofflowers which are the trademark of the formal garden. AfterVanderbilt’sdeath,presidentFDRpersuadedhisniece, whohadinheritedtheestate,todonateit.ItbecameaNational Historic Site during FDR’s presidency, and his passionforthe property seemed second only to his love for his own home. Unfortunately,afterthepresident’sdeaththegardensfellinto disrepairuntiltheywererestoredinthe1980sthroughtheefforts oftheFrederickW.VanderbiltAssociation,anonprofitgroup. The grounds and garden ofVanderbilt Mansion are open dailytothepublic,freeofcharge,fromdawnuntildusk.There isan$8.00fee,forthoseaged16andover,totourthemansion. INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 43
The Culinary Institute of America
Thecountry’sfirstculinaryschool,the CulinaryInstituteofAmericawasfounded in 1946 and is the only residential college intheworlddedicatedentirelytoculinary education. The 150-acre campus is located ontheHudsonRiver’seastbankandfeatures 38professionallyequippedkitchensandbake shops. Among the many features of the school open to the public are five awardwinning,student-staffedpublicrestaurantsThe Escoffier Restaurant, serving classic Frenchcuisine;StAndrewsCafe,featuring contemporarycuisine:TheCaterinadeMedici Dining Room, servicing regional Italian cuisine;TheAmericanBounty,featuring(you guessed it)American cuisine; and theApple PieBakeryCafe.Reservationsaresuggested forallrestaurantsexceptthebakerycafe. The school also offers public tours conducted by current students, classes, a bootcampforhard-corefoodenthusiasts,and abookstorefeaturingepicureancookbooks, souvenirs, and assorted kitchen utensils.
AnothergreatexampleofGildedAgearchitecture,the Staatsburgestatewasoriginallypurchasedin1792byMorgan Lewis, the third governor of NewYork. Ruth Livingston Mills,MorganLewis’sgranddaughter,remodeledthehome in1896andtranformeditintothe65roomBeaux-Artsstyle mansionthatitistoday.Theexteriorwasembellishedwith balustrades,pillars,floralswagsandamassiveporticowhile maintainingmanyofthearchitecturalfeaturesoftheoriginal home. ThepropertywasgiventotheStateofNewYorkbythe Livingston’s daughter, and is now open to the public.The mansioniscurrentlybeingrestoredtoitsturn-of-the-century appearance,andtheworkisexpectedtogoonforsomeyears tocome.Thesite’sstaffareveryknowledgeableaboutthe restorationworkandwillbehappytoansweranyvisitors questionsonthesubject.Callaheadforinformationregarding fees and hours of operation. More Recreation in Hyde Park OtherplacesofinterestinHydeParkinclude:theHyde ParkTrainStation,asmallmuseumdedicatedtotheareas railroadingpast;theBeatrixFerrardGardenatBellefield,an enclosedformalgardencreatedbythenation’sfirstfemale architect;andtheHydeParkHistoricalSocietyMuseum, which offers tours.
Staatsburg 44 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
Thetownalsohasseveralattractionsgearedtowards children and the young at heart. Strike is a 60,000 foot recreationcenterfeaturing38lanesofbowling,anindoor electricgokarttrack,asushibar,andarestaurant.Thereis alsoaYoungChef’sAcademyfeaturingcookingclassesfor children,adrive-inmovie,theater,apublicswimmingpool, andnumerousparksandplaygrounds.
Stained Glass Enters the 21st Century
T
he origins of stained glass have been lost in the sandsoftime.Thisisironicconsideringthefactthat glass is actually made from sand which has been transformed by fire. Man learnedto make glass, and to coloritusingmetallicsaltsandoxides,beforerecorded history. Theearliestexamplesofcolored glassknowntoexist come from Egypt and Rome. The most famous examples oftheseearlyglassartworksincludetheLycurgusCupand thePortlandvase,Romanworkswhichcurrentlyresidein the British Museum. Inthe4thand5thcenturies,there wereelaborate windows made of thinly sliced pieces of alabaster which gave the appearance of stained glass. In the 8th century, an Arab chemist named Jabir ibn Hayyan described46originalrecipesforproducingcoloredglass inhisbookKitabal-Durraal-Maknuna(TheBookofthe HiddenPearl).Lateradditionsofhisbookfeaturedtwelve more recipes added by the author al-Maraski. Duringthe10thand11thcenturies,theartofcreating
46 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
stainedglassflourished.Glassfactories sprangupeverywheretherewasaready supplyofsilica,theessentialingredientfor glassmanufacture.Thestainedglasswas coloredusingvariousmetallicsaltsand oxideswhichwereaddedwhiletheglass wasinthemoltenstate,creatingwhatis knownaspotmetal.Thesemineralswithin theglasscapturespecificportionsofthe fullspectrumofwhitelight,allowingthe humaneyetoseeparticularcolors.Copper oxideswereaddedtoproducegreen,cobalt wasaddedforblue,silvertocreateyellow, andgoldwasaddedtocreateastunning shade of cranberry. In1100AD,Theophilusthefirstauthor todescribethemethodformakingstained glasswindows.Hedescribesatechnique for creating stained glass which has changedlittle overthelast900years,“If you want to assemble simple windows, first mark out the dimensions of their length and breadth on a wooden board, thendrawscrollworkoranythingelsethat pleasesyou,andselectcolorsthatareto be put in. Cut the glass and fit the pieces togetherwiththegrozingiron.Enclose themwithleadcames...andsolderonboth sides. Surround it with a wooden frame strengthenedwithnailsandsetitupinthe place where you wish.”
includeLouisComfortTiffanyandJohn LaFarge,whorevolutionizedtheartglass industrywiththeircuttingedgeinnovations. JohnLaFargeinventedopalescentglass in 1880, for which he received a patent, and Louis Comfort Tiffany received severalpatentsforvariationsonthesame opalescentprocesslaterthatyear.Tiffany was also credited with inventing the copperfoilmethodofconstructingstained glass,asanalternativetotheuseoflead cames. This copper foil method was used extensivelybyTiffany, especiallyinthe stained glass lamps for which he is still famous. Over the last ten years, stained glass has made a strong comeback as a decorativeandfunctionalart.Theancient art of creating stained glass has been transformed into a contemporary art form, oftenusingtraditionaltechniques,
Asanartform,stainedglassreached itspeakduringtheMiddleAges.Itserved bothtobeautifythebuildingsinwhichit was placed. In the Gothic age, as public buildingsbecameincreasinglylargerand moreornateintheirarchitecture,thestained glass windows followed suit. Painted elementsontheglasswhichhadoncebeen crudelydonebecamemoreelaborate,and leadlinesthatwereonceseenasnecessary anddecorativebecamestructuralevilsto be camouflaged by the design. DuringtheReformationinEngland, many stained glass windows were destroyed and replaced by plain glass, but thepracticeofcreatingstainedglasscontinued throughout much of the rest of Europe. Duringthe19thcentury,there wasarenewedinterestintheGothicstyle inEngland. Thisrevival createdahuge demandforstainedglass, andmanyindustrial scale firms, such as Hardman & Co. andClaytonandBell,spranguptomeet the demand. Most of these 19th century firms failed early in the 20th century as the Gothic movement was superseded by newer styles. NotableAmerican practitioners of stained glass art from this time period 48 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
butexploringthemediumofglassinnew and different ways. Nowadays, the term stained glass referseithertothematerialofcolored glassortotheartandcraftofworkingwith it.Traditionally,theterm“stainedglass” was appliedexclusivelytothewindowsof Publicbuildings. Inthemodernvernacular, theterm“stainedglass”hasbeenextended toallformsofleadlight, or decorative windows and partitions made of small sectionsofglasssupportedbyleadcames. Sincethetraditionaltechniqueofsetting glassintoleadcamesisthesameforboth stainedglassandleadlight,inthelate20th centurythedistinctionbecameblurred,and thetermsarenowusedinterchangeably. Althoughmoderntechnologyisoften employed to streamline the process of making stained glass, and to allow for larger and more complex designs, the
processofcreatingstainedglasstoday has changedlittlesince Theophilusfirstdecried it.The first step in the process is for the glazier to sit down with the customer and decide what style of stained glass is appropriate.Thereareliterallyhundreds ofchoices,includingtraditionalpotmetal, texturedclearglass,beveledglass,receded glass andVenetian glass, to name a few. Thereareseveralconsiderationswhich mustbetakenintoaccountwhendesigning apieceofstainedglassincluding:limiting theriskofbuckling,overallstructural integrity, limiting the convergence of leadlines,andthecuttabilityofeachpiece of glass within the design. Oncethestyleofglassandthedesign are decided upon, a life-sized sketch is created and, using the sketch as a guide, the pieces of glass are cut. There aretwodifferentwaystogoaboutcutting the glass.The easier of the two involves usingaringorbandsaw,whichpermitsthe cuttingofshapesthatareimpossiblewith awheelcutter,theothertypeofcutting toolusedbyglaziers.Iftheglazierusesa wheelcutter,thepiecesofglasswillhave sharpedges andinaccuraciesintheshape which must be smutted out. This can be donewitheitheranelectricglassgrinder
withadiamond-coatedgrindingwheel, or a carborundum stone. Next, the pieces of glass are then attachedtogetherwithleadcames,being piecedtogetherone-by-onetocreatethe pictureorgeometricdesign. Eachpieceof glassissetinplaceuponaglazingdrawing, with came shaped around it to make a matrix.Horseshoenailsandscrapsoflead are used to hold the already-assembled piecestotheworksurface.Theglassand leadareassembledgradually,beginning fromonecornerofthework,andbuilding up away from that. Finally,theleadcameissolderedatthe jointsbetweenstripswithleadortinsolder, andreinforcementbarsareaddedtothepiece. Modern stained glass design is also decidedly less busy, and overwhelming to the eye, than the more traditional forms. Colorisgenerallyusedsparingly,if atall.Itcanbeaddedinoraroundtheframe asanaccent,oraspartofthedesign.If,for example,thereisaflowerinthecenterofthe window,thenit wouldreceivecolorwhen appropriate. Thecolorsused in modern windowdesignare oftenareflectionofthe colorsthatappearinthecustomer’shouse, andareusedtotiethepiecetogetherand makeitfeellikeanintegralfeatureofthe
50 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
home. For instance, the customer may wanttoincludethecolor oftheir rugor wallcoveringsinthewindow,andthiscan easily be accommodated. There are many advantages to using stained glass in both residential and commercialsettings,nottheleastofwhich being that they can often be installed whereothertypesofwindowsmightnotbe feasible.Theycanbeinstalledabovethree storyhighstaircaseswheretraditional windowswouldbetooinconvenient,and franklydownrightdangerous,toclean. Using stained glass eliminates your need to clean such windows while still providing you with light, privacy, and decorative appeal. In addition, stained glasswindowscanbeinstalledoveryour existingwindows,ontheinteriorofyour home, in situations where you can’t, or don’twantto,removeyourexistingglass. One company on the forefront of modern stained glass window design is Act IIGlassandMirror,headquarteredat 1661 UticaAvenue in Brooklyn.A fullservicecommercialandresidentialglass and mirror company, Act II Glass and Mirrorcreatescustomdesignsbasedonthe customer’sneeds.Formoreinformation onthelatestinnovationsinstainedglass, visittheirwebsiteatAct2glass.com.
INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 51
GET ORGANIZED The Kitchen
F
ormanyofus,especiallythoseofuswholovetocook, the kitchen can be one of the hardest rooms in the housetokeepcleanandorganized.Thesheervolume of dishes that many of us have to do, combined with all the actualcookingandtheattendantpreparationandcleanupthat cookingentails,meansthatmuchoftherestofourgeneral kitchen organization can be ignored. Items that are used daily seem never to get put away, cabinets get filled with precariously stacked piles of cooking vessels and plastic containers,drawersbecomeadisorganizedjumbleofutensils, andseldomusedappliancesandgadgetssimplycollectdust onourcountertops.Ifthissoundsatallfamiliar,Ihavesome tipsandtechniquestosharewithyouthatcanhelpyouend your kitchen nightmare. First,startwithyourcabinets.Onebyone,emptyouteach ofyourkitchencabinets.Taketheopportunityofhavingan empty cabinet to wipe out the inside of and put down new contact paper if necessary. Carefully access each of the cabinet’scontents.Inparticular,lookforitemsthatarerarely, if ever, used. If you come across items you haven’t used in morethanayearortwo,chancesaretheywillprobablynever beusedagain,soit’stimetogetridofthem.Thisruleapplies toallyourcookware,appliances,dinnerwareandutensils. Give them to charity, or consider having a yard sale. The exceptiontothisrulewouldbecertainseasonalitems,family heirlooms, and more expensive items that seldom get used. Your food processor may not get used that often, but you neverknowwhenyoumightwanttomakeadipforaparty,or when you’ll get a craving for homemade pesto. Beforeyouputanythingback,separatethoseitemsthat arerarelyusedfromthosethatareusedfrequently.Startwith theitemsyouuseleast,andplacetheseonthehighestshelves, orinthebackofmid-levelshelves.Putthefrequentlyused itemsonthelowestshelvesandtheeasiesttoreachlocations. Consideraddingnewshelvestomaximizeyourspace.Perhaps youmaywanttoaddawireracktoyourkitchenwallforyour mostfrequentlyusedpotsandpans.Makinguseofeveryinch ofavailablespacecanbeespeciallyimportantwithrespectto yourcabinets,soconsiderstackingsimilarlyshapeditemsin size order, one inside the other. Anotherimportanttipistostorethingsascloseaspossible towhereyouactuallyusethem.Keepingtheitemsyouuse everydaycloseathandwillmakethingsaloteasierwhen you are preparing dinner.To this end, it’s not a bad idea to 52 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 53
keepapeppergrinderandsaltshakeron thebackofthestove,oronthecounter nexttoit.Speakingofspices,nomatter whereyoustorethem,it’saverygood idea to sort through them. Put those spices you use most often in the front ofyourrackorshelf,andgetridofthe onesthathavebeenaroundlongenough to acquire a thick layer of dust. The shelflifeofmostdriedspicesmaxesout at about three years, so it is not a bad ideatolabeleachspicewhenyougetit with the date of purchase. Afteryou’vesortedthroughyour cabinets,it’stimetoturntowardsyour drawers.These should be treated in a similarfashiontothecabinets.Empty outeachdrawer,cleaninthoroughly, and dispose of those utensils and gadgets you never use. Once you’ve tossedoutallthejunk,considergetting some dividers, caddies, or even plastic baggies. Store similar items together toavoidhavingyourdrawersturninto jumbled messes. Nowthatthecabinetsanddrawers arecleanandorganized,itstimetotake alookaroundyourkitchenatyourtable, counters,andthetopsofyourcabinets andrefrigerator.Haveyounowfreedup enoughcabinetspacetomakeroomfor some seldom used items that may be cluttering up these areas? If so, move them, keeping in mind that you still wanttokeepanythingyourarelyusein anoutofthewaylocation.Also,look onyourtableforthingslikethatbottle ofketchup,orthecanopener,whichget usedsofrequentlytheyneverseemtoget put away.It’stimetofindapermanent homefortheminaconvenientlylocated, but out of sight, spot. It’s also time to cleanallthosedecorativeitemsthatyou wanttocontinuetodisplay,buthavenot been touched in so long that they are both dusty and greasy. Whileyouarecleaning,it’salsonot a bad time to do something about the refrigerator.Thereisareasonwhywe storeperishableitemsintherefrigeratorbecausetheyareperishable.Leftovers shouldnotbekeptmorethanthreeor fourdays.Ifithasmold,smellsfunny, orseemstobebreathing,throwitout. Lookintothecornersanddarkrecesses ofyourfridgeforcontainersthatmay havebeenoverlookedformonths.Pay specialattentiontotheshelvesonthe door, and get rid of those condiments which are expired, or more than six months old. Chances are you bought thatbottleoflemon-peppermarinade
ayearagojusttotryit,andthereason youstillhavehalfabottleisbecause you didn’t like it very much. Onceyourentirekitcheniscleanand organized,it’stimetokeepitthatway. Mybestadvicehereisalwaystoclean asyougoalong.Therearealwayslulls inourcookingwhenallwehavetodo isstirthepot,sotakethatopportunityto straightenup,washyourcuttingboard, or put ingredients away. By the time dinnerisdone,everythingyouusedto makedinner,withtheexceptionofthe pots, should be cleaned or put away. Soak your dishes immediately, and remembertoputallyourpotsandpans backwheretheybelong.Youjustspent agooddealoftimegettingeverything
54 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
organized, so do everything you can to make sure everything stays in its newfound home. Finally,keepinmindwhatIcallthe “5-minuteclean.”Mosttelevisionshows have commercial breaks of about five minutes.Usethosecommercialbreaks to get up and do something. Wipe off the kitchen table, the stove, or put some dishes in the sink. Wash the pots fromdinnerorstartaloadoflaundry. The point here is that many of us sit through these commercial breaks, or spendthewholetimeflippingthrough thechannels,insteadofgettingupand doingsomethingproductive.It’sawaste oftime,andtimeisallwereallyhavespend it wisely.
INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 55
Weekend
Redecorating
S
o you’ve decided you need a change.You’renotsurewhat, butsomething,anything,needs to change, and it needs to change right now! It’sbeenbotheringyouforweeks, maybe months, but right now you can’t standtolookatyourhouseforonemore minute. Youknowthefirstthingyouusually do in this situation; you rearrange the furniture.It’sactuallynotabadplaceto start. I never cease to be amazed at how thesimpleactofrepositioningfurniture can change the look of a room. If I turn mybedinonedirection,Iautomatically makemyroomappearlonger.IfIturnthe bedtheotherway,Ifreeupvaluablefloor space on which my cat can play. In the livingroom,trymovingyourfurniture awayfromthewallsandgroupingitinthe centeroftheroom.Havingyourcouch, coffeetable,chairsorlove-seatgrouped closelytogetherinthecenteroftheroom createsamoreintimatefeelandfreesup valuablewallspacethatcanthenbeputto use,providinganareaforbookcasesand otherformsofstoragespaces,aswellas more decorative pieces. If moving the furniture around has not satisfied your longing for change: relax. Don’t get on the phone and call thecontractororpainterjustyet.There
are a lot of things you can do short of renovatingyourhousethatwillinstantly transform its look. The trick is to get inspired. Decide on a color palette or a theme and get started. When I decided I wanted to change myall-whitebathroom,Ichosetogowith ablack-and-whitecolorschemerather thanrepaintingtheentireroom.Ipainted thewoodwork,cabinetandmirrorblack. Ithenpurchasedablacktoiletseat,bathmat, and towel rack, as well as a blackand-white checkered shower curtain, soapdish, and toothbrush holder. My sisterwentwithanunderwaterthemefor herpinkandbluebathroom.Inaddition to buying fish and seashell themed accessories,shedecoratedherbathroom withrealseashellsthatshehadfoundat thebeachovertheyears,evenusingone as a soapdish. She finished the look by applying stamps of paint in the shapes of starfish, puffer-fish, and sea-horses. Thepointisthatyouareonlylimited by your imagination. Think about how you want each room in your house to function,butmoreimportantlyhowyou wantittofeel.Findapaintingorapiece of artwork that you like and base your colorpalettearoundthat.Pickafewof thecolorsfeaturedinyourpaintingand getsomenewdraperies,throwpillows,or
56 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
lamp-shades to match. Tochangethelookofyourbedroom, start with the bed. Get new sheets, blankets,pillowcases,orallthree.For a serene color scheme try white, soft greens and blues. To add interest, use boldcontrastingcolors.Getsomenew decorative prints or poster art. Put up some shelves and display that series of collector’splatesthatyouhaven’tquite found a place for yet. Instead of getting a new couch, get a slipcover. In fact, you may want to get two. Slipcovers are an easy and inexpensive way to transform the look ofvirtuallyanycouch(nottomention protect the upholstery). They come in such variety nowadays that you could probably get a separate one for every dayoftheyear,andneverhavethesame one twice. Slipcovers made from crisp whitecottonwillbrightenaroom,while aboldfloralorabstractprintcanreally make a room pop. Just remember to use colorinmoderation.Youdon’twantyour furnituretoclashorcompetewitheach otherforattention.Tofinishthelookof your couch, add throw pillows in bold colorslikelime,pinkandyellowforan instant pick me up, or use warm hues for a calming effect.
INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008 57
ad directory Act II Interiors Aura Boro Rug & Carpet Brilliant Strokes BSD Classic Tile Closet Maven Closets By Port Woodwork Custom Tile Drimmers Home Appliances Elegant Window Fashions Empire Kitchen Enterprise Wood Products European Closet Exclusive Door & Moulding Expert Furniture & Repair Fairmont Capital Fairmont Funding Frankel’s Furniture Heritage Doors Hide ‘N’ Seek Closets Imperial Windows & Doors Key Master Locksmith L & T Kitchen Depot Lermatage Lighting Palace Madison Doors Moulding Classic Plus Pedulla Rainbow Lighting Renaissance Custom Interiors Rivka’s Antiques Rockwell Abstract Royal Marble & Tile Signon America SoHo Iron Art Stone Bath Gallery Super Stone The Blue Stone Creation Tile Décor TivTov Flooring Trimworx Ultimate Design Window Palace Inc Woodcraft Design Inc. World Wide Kitchen & Bath Xolle
47 25 39 53 54 32 6 40 55 3 6 53 33 36 58 57 21 23 51 37 57 4 53 28 48 7 IFC 55 29 45 5 55 17 9 50 IBC 49 16 40 35 57 53 13 14 41 BC 15
58 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008
If you decide that you absolutely mustpaint,tryonlypaintingpartofthe room. Pick a single wall, or just paint the ceiling. When I wanted a change in my kitchen, I simply painted a blue sky on the ceiling, then used a sponge dipped in white paint to create fluffy clouds. I liked the blue so much that the following weekend I painted the woodwork to match. If you don’t want to paint at all, tryputtingupsomedecorativeborder paper along the edge of your ceiling or woodwork. You might even want to wallpaper just the bottom half of your room. You can then apply a decorativebordertoboundarybetween yourwallpaperandthepaintedwall. (However,ifyoudon’thaveexperience putting up wallpaper, you may want
to call a professional to do it for you. Chancesare,eitherway,theycandoita lotfasterandmoreefficientlythanyou can.)There are even giant wallpaper posters which you can get that come inthousandsofdifferentstyles,from landscapes to outer-space scenes. Really,thepossibilitiesareendless. Theworldisyouroysterandyouarethe onewhoshoulddecidewhatyourworld, yourhome,shouldlooklike.Remember, it’syourhouse.Itshouldreflectyour personality and sense of style since youaretheonewhohastolivethere.If youlikemedievalarmor,decorateyour roomwiththat(andtohellwithanyone whodoesn’tlikeit).Getinspired.Start byusingwhat’sathand,butwhenthat fails- go shopping!
60 INTERIOR NEW YORK AUGUST 2008