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Apartment Therapy Looks at Brooklyn Heights Couple’s Digs

Apartment Therapy Looks at Brooklyn Heights Couple’s Digs

Brooklyn Heights’ Remsen Street residents “Kim and George” get the full-on lookey loo treatment from home design site Apartment Therapy this week: Continue Reading →

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Iconic 1826 Hicks Street Homes Reveal Fresh Facades

Iconic 1826 Hicks Street Homes Reveal Fresh Facades

The two adjoining wood clapboard multi-level town-homes at 146 and 148 Hicks Street—whose exteriors were seriously damaged when the Mansion House tree fell during last August’s Hurricane Irene—have both been undergoing intensive renovations since, with all new planking installed and replacement windows, many of which were broken by the felled American elm.

This weekend, the scaffolding came down, revealing the refreshed facades of the iconic Hicks homes. The blue three-level 146, built in 1826, was utilized for filming of the Coen brother’s “Burn After Reading,” starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, as well as the site of an AT&T commercial. Continue Reading →

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Brooklyn Heights ‘Dear Genevieve’ Episode Encores Tuesday

HGTV’s “Dear Genevieve” makeover show descended upon Brooklyn Heights in January to make magic at 62 Montague Street, offering residents Chuck (that is I) and Ayhan a bedroom makeover, complete with new floors, moldings, furniture and accessories. Continue Reading →

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Big Crane on Cranberry Street Friday

Big Crane on Cranberry Street Friday

Brian McGorry, owner of 31 Cranberry Street, posted signs today between Willow and Hick alerting neighbors that a crane will be in use Friday around the property.   On the note, he apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

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BHA House Tour 2011 – May 7

BHA House Tour 2011 – May 7

The BHA has announced the date for its annual House Tour – Saturday May 7. This year through the magic of the “internet” you may purchase advance tickets online! Early bird ducats for the grandaddy of all lookey lous are $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Day of the tour tix are $40 for everybody.

On tap for this year’s tour – Continue Reading →

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Sidney Place House Getting Green Makeover

Sidney Place House Getting Green Makeover

According to Brownstoner, an 1846 vintage row house on Sidney Place is being made into a “Passive House”, a technology developed in Germany that, through use of insulation, airtight windows and doors, and high efficiency heat pumps, reduces the energy needed to heat or cool the house by 80 to 90 percent. Continue Reading →

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HGTV’s Genevieve Works Her Magic on Montague Street

HGTV’s Genevieve Works Her Magic on Montague Street

As previously reported, BHB pal/Celine Dion fan/Montague Street resident/author Chuck Taylor and his partner Ayhan Sahin were the lucky recipients of a bedroom make over from HGTV’s Dear Genevieve. While Chuck is still under a “gag” order from the show (it will air in March) he shared just a lil’ bit more about last week’s filming: Continue Reading →

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Brooklyn Heights Apartment to Get HGTV Makeover

BHB pal Chuck Taylor’s Montague Street pad will get the full-on makeover treatment this week courtesy of HGTV. While he’s totally not allowed to blog the cat out of the bag regarding the Dear Genevieve bedroom makeover while it’s in progress he shares a little of the pre-redesign excitement: Continue Reading →

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They’ll Need a Crane on Henry Street

They’ll Need a Crane on Henry Street

Workers at 155 Henry Street (one commenter says it’s work on 161 Henry) are lifted to the job with a crane on Monday afternoon.

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Brooklyn Green Roofs: Sitting On Top of the World

I recently met up with Inger Yancey, architect and founder of Brooklyn Green Roofs, a company that designs and installs green roofs atop city homes and offices. Green roofs not only bring a bit of nature back to the city, but create more energy-efficient buildings as well. More information after the jump! Continue Reading →

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Brooklyn Heights Residents Tom van den Bout and Brenda Nelson Win Preservation Award

36_grace_ct_after_1

At the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 20th Presentation of the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards to be held on April 21, Brooklyn Heights’s Tom van den Bout and his wife Brenda Nelson will be honored for their architecture firm NV/da’s work on 36 Grace Court in the Heights.

Of the projects to be recognized this year at the American Museum of Natural History, which include the Museum itself, the Empire State Building lobby, and The High Line, 36 Grace Court is the only private residence.

“It’s a little intimidating,” van den Bout said, laughing. NV/da will accept the award along with the home’s owners, the contractor, and all of the sub-contractors involved in the restoration, which took place from November 2008 until July of last year. Continue Reading →

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Get a free room from HGTV!

Have a room you want to fix up? Want some friendly competition with your neighbors? You could be on HGTV’s newest home renovation series, Battle on the Block. Get the details at Cobble Hill Blog.

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Brooklyn Heights Brownstone Featured in New York Social Diary

NYSD photo

NYSD photo

The Brooklyn Heights brownstone of designer Kathryn Scott and artist Wenda Gu is featured in New York Social Diary:

NYSD: They are both organized and thorough to a point that fascinated us. Kathryn physically learned how to do various skills such as carpentry when the house was being renovated (one floor also serves as an office space) and, a linguist, she made sure she knew enough Chinese to get Chinese craftsmen to perfect her designs for various projects in China, where they also own property.

More photos at New York Social Diary.

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52 Sidney Place Reno: We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Architects

Contractor/developer Ben Weiner tells the Brooklyn Eagle that his reno of 52 Sidney Place will be a work of “art” for the owners and he’s doing it without an architect:

Brooklyn Eagle:  “With all due respect to architects, you don’t always need one,” he said. “Everyone told me, ‘you can’t do it without an architect.’ But you can. The truth is, all you need is an engineer’s stamp.”

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‘Build a better Brooklyn, block by block’

Borough President Marty Markowitz will host the eighth annual assembly of Federation of Brooklyn Block Associations, with the topic to “Build a better Brooklyn, block by block.”

Per Marty’s press release:

On Thursday, April 23, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will host the eighth annual assembly of the Federation of Brooklyn Block Associations, an opportunity for all residents to meet City agency representatives and discuss issues and concerns facing their blocks and communities.

Presentations will be offered on street activity permits procedures and assistance for community building projects, as well as a Brooklyn Botanic Garden workshop on composting and a panel discussion about energy efficiency hosted by Con Ed, Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC, the Pratt Center for Community Development and the Department of Sanitation.

“Build a better Brooklyn, block by block”: Thursday, April 23 from 5:30-8:30 pm; Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St. (between Court and Adams streets). Questions? Call Mark Zustovich, 718-802-3830.

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