Closer to the promised land?
I headed back to Brooklyn Heights this morning to continue the Great Apartment Search. The best part of today, however, was that I had an entourage: my mom, dad and dear friend and former roomate, Erica. I saw 5 apartments and am now trying to weigh the pluses and minuses of each one (a.k.a. I made a list!)
Should I select:
a. an oval shaped apartment with a loft
advantages: it's oval! I could sing Evita songs or pretend to give presidential speeches from the balcony! Fireplace
disadvantages: $50 over my price limit, might not be able to hang my Berlin painting
b. 5th floor walk-up
advantages: great light! nice tree out the window, brand new bathroom
disadvantages: "bedroom" (and I use that term lightly) might not have fit a double bed, kitchen was 3 feet wide
c. parlor level 1Br Brownstone
advantages: largest of the 5 I saw, eat-in kitchen, AC, 15-foot ceilings, relatively inexpensive
disadvantages: ugly ceiling lights, not yet renovated from the last tenant, a bit further from the subway
d. 2nd floor walkup on one of the fruit streets
advantages: gemuetlich (cozy), wide plank wood floors, bright and sunny
disadvantages: landlord doesn't live in NY, 1 tiny closet
e. ground floor studio
advantages: gut renovated, granite kitchen countertops
disadvantages: not really in Brooklyn Heights, upper end of my price range, bars on the windows, useless nook
Which one should I take? Vote early, vote often:-)
Should I select:
a. an oval shaped apartment with a loft
advantages: it's oval! I could sing Evita songs or pretend to give presidential speeches from the balcony! Fireplace
disadvantages: $50 over my price limit, might not be able to hang my Berlin painting
b. 5th floor walk-up
advantages: great light! nice tree out the window, brand new bathroom
disadvantages: "bedroom" (and I use that term lightly) might not have fit a double bed, kitchen was 3 feet wide
c. parlor level 1Br Brownstone
advantages: largest of the 5 I saw, eat-in kitchen, AC, 15-foot ceilings, relatively inexpensive
disadvantages: ugly ceiling lights, not yet renovated from the last tenant, a bit further from the subway
d. 2nd floor walkup on one of the fruit streets
advantages: gemuetlich (cozy), wide plank wood floors, bright and sunny
disadvantages: landlord doesn't live in NY, 1 tiny closet
e. ground floor studio
advantages: gut renovated, granite kitchen countertops
disadvantages: not really in Brooklyn Heights, upper end of my price range, bars on the windows, useless nook
Which one should I take? Vote early, vote often:-)
posted by Erin at 6:54 PM
14 Comments:
Apt E: nooks are never useless. they are a great storage opportunity - you can put up tons of shelves and hide them behind sliding doors...provided the landlord lets you put up those things. but ground floor might be loud...i had a friend that lived street level and people walked past at all hours, and it was, um, distracting, to say the least.
Apt C: sounds great - you can always change ceilings lights - and where better than nyc to shop for lights?! have you seen the shops on the bowery? plus you have www.apartmenttherapy.com should you ever need to ask for recommendations on what kind of light, where to get it, how to install it, etc.
Can we vote multiple times? How are our votes weighted? Since there are 5 apartments, I'm allowing myself 5 votes: 3 for "C", 1 for "E" and 1 for "A". I agree with Lexy on E - nooks are just an opportunity for creative thinking... but once you've moved in the furniture, ground floor is overrated. And the light issue - hello? Can you say "www.ikea.com"?? Leaving Germany doesn't negate the fact that IKEA is - and will always be - your best decorating friend. Of course, there's always my personal fave - estate sales/flea markets. :-)
I hear ya on the small bedroom issue. My new place "technically" doesn't have a bedroom, even though it was advertised as a 1-bedroom. The German "2-room" description is much more accurate.
When you find a place, maybe we can share small space decorating ideas! Unless you move into the Evita suite, of course.
Happy hunting, and - if you haven't already - check out www.bejane.com and Martha Stewart's newest addition to her magazine empire: Blueprint (www.marthastewart.com/blueprint). The print edition is gorgeous! And thanks for the tip, Lexy - I now have a new online design website to obsess, I mean pore, over.
I want to add that the hardwood flooring in C has an inlay design that follows the parameter of the apartment. Additionally, Erin could put flower pots or planters on the fire escape right outside the 3 huge windows. Gardening, Brooklyn Heights style, if flower pots on fire escapes are allowed. If she were to take apt C she could have a Christmas tree to rival the one in Rockefeller Center!!
Oh yes, and then we could all come up to her apartment for a tree decorating party! I will bring the popcorn to string! Everyone's invited!!! So which apt do you think I am voting for? :) Thanks for including us in the wonderful day of apartment hunting. It was a blast!! Love you , Mom oxoxoxoox
Addendum to my comment…
Years ago, when we lived in Detroit, one of our Christmas traditions was to drive to Grosse Pointe to look at the Christmas lights. As we would drive down the streets, mesmerized by the twinkling array of lighting displays, I also enjoyed looking into the windows of these holiday-lit homes to see the gorgeous interiors. I would make Doug slow the car down, stalker style, so that I could get a little glimpse into these Grosse Pointe homes! If Erin chooses and gets apt C, we will have a Christmas party at her place like the one’s I used to imagine in the Grosse Pointe homes! Oh my gosh, it will be wonderful! Then, Erin will see cars driving past her apartment at a snails pace trying to get a glimpse of the holiday spirit that dwells within!!!! I will bring the Hot mulled cider too!!
I snooze, I lose! Of course I wanted Apartment C and of course it was rented yesterday afternoon. My second choice was Apartment D and that is gone too. Apartment A is really just too expensive and I really don't want an apartment with bars on the windows (Apartment E.) So that leaves B if I want it.
I think I may be back at ground 0 :-( :-( :-(
I vote for the first one! the oval apartment is awesome!
Like the Hale Bob comet...it came... and it went. But like the universe, there are many other comets to observe and enjoy!
PS
The Christmas party is still on... everyone's still invited; time and place to be announced at a later date!!!
Stay tuned.
Love, Mom oxoxoxo
Yes, please don't live in an apartment on the ground floor. You probably already know this but there are three reasons why you shouldn't 1) security; 2) bugs; 3) toilets back up.
If the second one is all that is left, it looks ok, but maybe you should shop around a bit more.
hugs,
AB
Sure thing, Christmas party at my place...which may be my apartment, or my car, or a box...we'll see:-)
oh :-( I was going to vote for C too... too bad. but i'm sure you'll find another one. and i third (or fourth?) the nook comment-- definitely useful. i
Something tells me that if you do the same thing next weekend, you'll have another bunch to choose from. I predict that by this time next week, you'll have a place. It was great to see you this weekend, and keep us posted on the search!!
I'm all for the oval apartment - you can put your Berlin painting on an easel.
Since money is a factor - keep looking!
I'm all for the oval apartment - you can put your Berlin painting on an easel.
Since money is a factor - keep looking!
I'm all for the oval appt too! How cool is that?? But, gotta have money to keep the lights on, so happy hunting! I'm sure you'll find something awesome!
Aunt Martha - the christmas party sounds wonderful. I'll be there in spirit!
Much Love,
Steph
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