According 2 Hank

We're Going Out...

2008-05-11T22:42:00.001-07:00

The foundation has begun!

The Dig!

2008-05-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the Foundation for the rear Extension!

OK.... I'm Back and Up WE GO!

2008-05-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

Please pardon the looooooooooooooooooong delay since my last post. Times are challenging - a lot has happened since I last posted but I have photographed it all, so I will bring you all up to speed sequentially.

We expanded the house a bit in two directions out (the back) and up (the roof)

These pictures are of the building before the additions and of the start of the addition on the roof, which will be my office, for those following this outside of new york city, town house here have flat roofs for the most part so it makes expanding up relatively easy.

This was started at the end of January... It is FREEZING in January, so you could Imagine my delight when I spotted the work as I was walking down the street - They were Brave men to work up there in those conditions, with the low temperature and wind conditions - I went up and could not stay any more than 10 minutes (and that was because my excitement kept me warm.)

Video - Before The Renovation

2008-02-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

THE BENEFIT OF SISTERS

2007-12-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

The beams in this house are so twisted and turned that every single one of them, every one needs to be replaced. Here is where the learning curve of how Frame Houses are built in New York City... Wow!!! There is a single row of bricks between the wood frame that seperates my house from each of my nieghbors. WOW! a single brick.

The G-Man Teaches Me A Lesson

2007-12-14T23:21:00.000-08:00

I stopped at a friend's office while they were apparently in the throes of some holiday celebration and I was presented with this Gingerbread Man Cookie. If you all know me at all you know I LOVE SWEETS... therefore I did not have this Gingerbread Man for more than 30 seconds before my teeth tore into it... then I was sad because it was so pretty and I wanted to take a picture of it for my blog... but there it was missing limbs simply because I am GREEDY!

But then I noticed that even though he was missing limbs, His Smile was still intact. No left arm or left leg and a sizable portion of his abdomen gone, and yet a SMILE.

I could learn something from this inanimate edible object... Even though you may not be 100% you still have a reason to Smile! So when the tough times come around, remember my dear eaten and digested Gingerbread Man... and JUST SMILE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

DEMOLITION - YIPEE!

2007-12-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

Ok. So based on the existing condition of the house we were left with few options...

1) To Live in that forsaken space as-is
2) Cry
3) Demolish.

We chose to Demolish. The bank was not interested in the tears, and we were not remotely interested in living in the space as-is, and so we began (actually we just wrote a check, but you get the point) to Tear and Rip Everything Out - and I mean damn near EVERYTHING!
Partitions, ceilings, flooring, electrical, plumbing lines - everything to the the bare bricks, bare studs and the bare floor joist... To the point where we will be left with a shell and to start from scratch.

Oh - we did keep 2 of the original marble fireplaces, the original 2nd set of doors, and the stairs - all else GONE.

I stopped by the site often to monitor the progress - (there is video that I'll add later) It went relatively smoothly - except one of the Hundred plus year old original fireplaces that was being kept was broken, @ this I did cry and felt strangely like one of my clients when the inevitable happens - Pissed Off and was going to chew the Designer out -then I realized that would be me and I'd look pretty silly yelling at myself .

Let me tell you this folks, no matter how nasty or horrible the condition of your house - it is down right scary at some point during major demolition and you begin to rethink it as if you could somehow reverse it - the Feeling is like - WTF have I done... you panic - your heart races as you realize although it was a dump it was a functional dump and now in this condition you can't even sell it... you hyperventilate some more and think about ALL the money you have to spend and where and the Hell is it coming from... You breath deep to keep from passing out and to get some oxygen to your brain. Then in a moment of clarity you relax and go with it - because you know the end result will be FAB.

My clients would pay money to see me experience this - but you never will B#@@@hes! You never will!

Renovation is not for the Faint at Heart.

Santa Claus Came to Town...

2007-12-05T00:38:00.000-08:00

I ran across these photos I stole from my mother several years ago - so it being the Christmas Season and all I figured why not scan them and put them on my new blog.

So the top photo is myself and my sister pam and the bottom photo is my brother adrian and my sister yolanda... check out our clothes, PLAID RULED - WOW! it was 1973 or 1974.

Everybody seems to be happy and all smiles except me and santa... WTF?? santa's not happy - hopefully my mother bitched about santa looking so damn drab and got the pictures for free - I vaguely remember this... EASTMONT MALL in OAKLAND in it's heyday when there was a JC Penny's, Mervyn's and a Montgomery Ward! an Orange Julius, a Movie Theater - the whole nine it was a real mall (now I think its a big jail and police station - so sad)

I really did look sad... I wonder what was wrong? Was I tired? Did I not get something I wanted? or was It my OUTFIT? Don't recall so I'm got to assume that maybe I was just tired because I really was not a difficult kid - (right MOM????)

The Condition We Found Her In

2007-12-04T22:50:00.000-08:00

Nasty Right?

These images speak for themselves... Horrifying! But strangely enough, we Loved it! We see the potential and the possibilities in it (the fact that this is my line of work did not Hurt One BIT).

As others who had seen the place ran as fast as they could out of it - We lingered... contemplating the soon to be Legendary parties that 7 would host.

Chomp! My Bite Outta The Big Apple!

2007-11-28T23:57:00.000-08:00

Below are the words in an Email I sent out to Friends on November 1st:

On Thursday, April 26, 2007, I notified you all of my strict financial diet to get to home ownership... Well as of Today October 30, 2006. I am ECSTATIC to announce that I along with my very good friend Are now Proud Homeowners. YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! YIPPEE!

We purchased a neglected 4 story townhouse on a Great Block with lots of trees and plenty of Black folks. (I love trees and Black Folks equally - both are necessary for life) A little love and a Lotta work is all this Diamond in the rough needs to become HOME.

This does not by any means indicate that my diet is over, not by a long shot... there is the renovation to handle, so keep those free meals, free concerts, dinner at your house or on you and low cost fun activities and things like that comin. (and if you so desire gift cards from loews, home depot would come in handy. yeah I know tacky, but at least i did not say manhattan kitchen and bath or artistic tile)

All jokes aside, I really am HAPPY to finally have my share of the American Dream... CHOMP! and a bite out of the Big Apple. I will Keep you all posted and LOOK for the Housewarming to be in Late Spring/ Early Summer. And you all know me, the space will be FAB! (even if its just plain floors and walls, standard lights and run of the mill materials... which it will not be) The FAB comes in with it being MINE!

YES!
YES!
YES!

MINE, MINE, MINE - i would stick my tongue out, but i realized that everybody on this list are Homeowners - I'm glad to be part of the fold.

I'se a Homeowner now, I'se a Homeowner I say!

Thank you all for your encouragement. Now to the drawing board....

Best,
H

And so, the story begins of my renovation of the House that we call 7.

2007-07-27T09:37:00.000-07:00