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HGTV's 'Battle on the Block' Wraps in Jersey City

Lillian Africano — 2010-06-01T11:20:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

The final episode of HGTV's "Battle on the Block" with host Genevieve Gorder (left) takes place in Jersey City, a gritty North Jersey municipality that was once the seat of power for notorious political boss Frank Hague.

With a population of more than 240,000, it's the state's second-largest city; given its proximity to Manhattan, it's considered part of the New York metropolitan area.

Housing is more affordable here than in Manhattan, so for this episode of "Battle on the Block," we see three couples, all living in historic brownstones, battle it out for best living-room renovation. All will end up with great new living spaces, but who will win the $10,000 prize? Read on.
As usual, three couples have three days to transform one room in their homes. They get a budget of cash, merchandise and contractor time, as well as access to the HGTV tool truck to do the job. And as usual, host Gorder gives a pep talk to get everyone started. This final episode has been billed as "more intense," but it proceeds pretty much like all the previous shows.

Couple One. Shelly and Travis Skinner want to rip out a wall between their living and dining rooms and refinish their home's original hardwood floors. They've been yearning to open up their living space for five years and are raring to go. They hope to create a room that's "urban, mid-century, modern, eclectic."

Couple Two: Iris and Phil Rivo want to create an adult living area out of a cluttered downstairs room that's dominated by a ping-pong table. He describes himself as "anal-explosive," and sees himself as the neighborhood comedian. (His neighbors call him "a complete lunatic.") Iris is an artist, who has been inspired by the colors and designs of Turkey and Morocco. The couple visualizes a room with a Middle Eastern theme, a fireplace, and a window bench. They want to sheetrock a part of a brick wall to create space for some of Iris' artwork.

Couple Three. Marni and Matt Schapiro are the youngest and "newest" additions to the neighborhood. They recently moved into their home, so their living space is basically a blank canvas. They want it to be "modern comfy," and to achieve this they will paint, buy new furniture and lighting, add a new media center, and redo their floors.

Host Genevieve Gorder advises the Rivos to think about texture, cautions the Skinners about overzealous demolition, and suggests that the Schapiros paint stripes on one of the walls to make it pop. So of course Travis Skinner runs amok with power tools and rips out so much wall that the contractor is at a loss for words. The Rivos waste time trying to figure out how to disguise the big ping-pong table. And the Schapiros decide there's no time for stripes and just paint their wall purple.

Pressure builds as the Schapiros find mold and spiders in one of the walls; they argue about whether there's time to rip up their existing floor to uncover original flooring -- or to simply refinish it. He wants to rip up the existing floor; he prevails.
As the Rivos shop, Iris goes overboard buying pillows and bolsters in Middle Eastern designs. She wants to buy "poufs," but Phil argues he's not a pouf person. Travis yearns to buy a high-end sound system; Shelly reins him in, saying their budget won't cover it.

Gorder wanders in and out of the renovation sites, expressing disappointment in the Schapiros solid purple wall and suggesting that the Skinners probably are not going to finish.

But surprise! Everyone does finish, and when the local judges view the results, there are pats and pans all around. The Skinners have managed to create a spacious loft-like room that's a big improvement over their old space. The judges love the floor but hate the "1970s chandelier," and view the fireplace as "a desperate attempt to modernize."

The judges like Iris' artwork but aren't crazy about covering up the brick wall.

The Schapiros are praised for opening up their space, for the "new" floor, and for their colors. For the light in the hallway? Not so much.

The winners: the Skinners. They have the room they've wanted for five years; the money, they say, is a bonus. Phil Rivo has the last word, saying that the Skinners did an amazing job, even though their room wasn't to his taste. He adds that he'd love them to put up their home for sale and leave the neighborhood. (A local newspaper revealed that Phil is a realtor, so the comment was probably not personal but "just business.")

What we learned:

1. Be careful when doing DIY demolition. You can always take away more, but it's not so easy to restore what's gone.
2. If your home has original hardwood under an exisiting floor, remove a board or two to see if the original is in good condition -- and then go for it.
3. Don't go cheap on light fixtures. Poor choices can can bring down your room design.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Read more homeTV coverage.
See homes for sale in Jersey City, N.J.

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Jon Stewart Buys Home in New Jersey for $3.8M

Lillian Africano — 2010-05-25T12:00:00 00:00

Jersey boy Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, went back to his roots, sort of, when he bought a house on the Navesink River in Red Bank, N.J. With a sale price of $3.8 million, was the deal a steal or a ripoff?

Realtor Emily ("Peggy") Kaeli of the Gloria Nilson office in Rumson said that the selling price was in line with prices of comparable properties and that the $3.8 million price has now become the "comp" for similar homes.

According to RedBankGreen.com, Monmouth County records show that the house, located on Alston Court, was appraised at $2.6 million, with an annual tax bill of almost $42,000. (Many properties show an appraised price that's considerably below current market value.)

"It's an exquisite property in a beautiful location, with a wide expanse of river," says Kaeli of the cedar-shake-sided house sitting on 1.3 acres, with 166 feet of river frontage. "I had a client who was interested in the home -- but he didn't move quickly enough."

The house was actually sold to a family trust, through which Stewart and his wife, Tracey, also bought a Tribeca loft for $5.8 million in 2005.

The Stewart family has not yet moved into the Alston Court house; reports indicate that some renovations are currently in progress. There has been no word about whether or not the family will make Red Bank their primary home, and Comedy Central says that Stewart is not doing any press right now.

Though Stewart is the first big celebrity to buy in Red Bank, neighboring (and much ritzier) Rumson is home to The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who also has a "country" home in horsey Colts Neck. On the other (fancier) side of the river, in the Navesink section of Middletown, is Jon Bon Jovi's French-style chateau.

However, it should be said that Stewart will have the better view on his side of the river: He can look across the Navesink and see a panorama of stately mansions and lush landscaping. (Just like the people who live on the Jersey side of the Hudson get to enjoy Manhattan's gorgeous skyline.)

While Red Bank may not be chichi rich, it has occasionally been described as New Jersey's hippest town. (Stop laughing, it's not nice.) If you don't believe that, check out the official (copyrighted) phone number -- 888-HIP-TOWN.

Unlike its richer, quieter neighbors, Red Bank has art galleries, an abundance of restaurants, upscale shops (even a Tiffany & Co. store), and a movie house that often shows indie films.

Understandably, Red Bank residents are excited about the borough's new star power. According to RedBankGreen.com, former Red Bank Mayor Mike Arnone, who lives two doors away, has said that he goes to bed too early to catch "The Daily Show," but likes Stewart from what he knows of him from interviews. The former mayor was quoted as saying: "I find him to be an extremely interesting guy, and very comedic. I admire the guy's quickness."

Another Red Bank resident expressed the hope that Stewart would not attract groupies to the street. But maybe some real-estate groupies would be OK?

See homes for sale in Red Bank, N.J. at AOL Real Estate.

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HGTV's 'Battle on the Block': Family Time in Jersey

Lillian Africano — 2010-05-25T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

For Episode 6, HGTV's "Battle on the Block" went to the Central New Jersey borough of Eatontown, a quiet 'burb that's home to the Army's soon-to-close Fort Monmouth, the Monmouth Mall and not much else.

Three families have three days to redo their family rooms. So who will we root for in this battle? Read on.

Actually these are all pretty nice people, decidedly Jersey, but not like the "Housewives" or the stereotypes on "Jersey Shore." They're all eager to transform tired family rooms into stylish digs to win the $10,000 prize. As usual, they get a budget of cash, merchandise, and contractor-time. As usual, they expect to pull some all-nighters because the contractor's crew will only work normal daytime hours.

Couple One: Lynne and Vinny Spence are a likable couple. She's a bit of a neat freak, he's a guy who gets scolded for taking his cellphone to the dining table. They want to make their uninviting family room into a place that is actually family-friendly. They want a new floor, a new face for their fireplace, a new counter, and new paint colors. When host Genevieve Gorder looks over their design plan, she warns them that the brown, black and charcoal colors they've chosen will virtually suck the light out of a room.

Couple Two: Tammy and Marvin Jetter. Visibly pregnant Tammy announces that she's a design diva and that the other two couples live on "loser street." The look this couple wants is contemporary, chic, relaxed. They want to create a focal-point wall, add a fireplace, dramatic lighting, a stone wall, and a new floor. Tammy seems preoccupied with the question of where they will mount their TV.

Couple Three: Michelle and Ron Mackenzie are poker-playing couch potatoes who want a natural, organic design that incorporates a stone wall, dark wood floors, and new window treatments. Genevieve warns this couple that the Jetters have a similar design plan, so execution and results will make a big difference.

There's some mild-mannered trash-talking (you'd hear worse on a few minutes of the "Housewives of New Jersey" show), but everyone quickly gets busy with demolition. Soon it's like a block party, with couples breaking up tile, bricks, walls and everything that stands in the way of design success. Tammy: "These tools look great, but I have no idea what to do with them." Ron and the contractor break up the giant built-in, so it's easier to dump.

Disaster comes to the Mackenzies in the form of a fireplace that is too short and too narrow. The solution: to build the wall out -- a lot. There's no other choice. The fireplace drags the Mackenzies down, and Ron complains that it has turned into a time and money suck. As the deadline inches closer, the contractor tells the couple that they are "dead, dead last." Ron bravely jokes that the turtle won the race.

The Spences are also moving slowly, and Marvin Jetter says that both they and the Mackenzies have bitten off more than they can manage. Though Tammy is still concerned about where to mount their TV set, Marvin is working steadily. Tammy runs into a small problem when the floor she wants isn't available for quick delivery, so she has to settle for darker boards.
Gorder visits the couples and offers advice: "Make lists!" "Focus on what you can do!"

Day Three: The contractor is installing the Jetters' designer lighting. Tammy compliments herself on her "amazing style." The Mackenzies, with contractor help, are still struggling with that fireplace wall. The Spences are confident that their room is coming together. Everyone works well into the night.

After she calls "time," Genevieve compliments all the couples for coming in on budget. The local judges like the Spences' lighting, design and counter top, but criticize the carpet, which seems to be "thrown in," the fireplace, which seems "unfinished," and a design that has "no pop."

The Mackenzies, in spite of their fireplace problems, are praised for good floors, good carpet, good use of natural stone, and for managing an "amazing change." However their accessories are not bold enough, a "mish-mosh," and their cheesecloth curtains look like "dirty laundry."

The Jetters get props for a "fantastic wall," their fireplace, for their "stunning using of color," and attention to detail. They're criticized for the opening in the stone wall where their cable box and its wires are exposed.

The winner: No surprise -- it's the Jetters. Marvin credits Tammy, and she announces that "now, I'm really going to get into design."

What we learned:
1. Keep your D.I.Y projects manageable or they could overwhelm you.
2. Measure, measure, and measure again, whenever you're ordering something that has to fit within a given space.
3. Be bold with accessories. The right ones can make a room pop, and if you make a mistake, the cost to replace them isn't major.

Read more "Battle on the Block" updates.

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'Battle on the Block': Tampa Bedroom Showdown

Lillian Africano — 2010-05-17T12:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

What does it take to turn a bedroom into a romantic getaway? Episode 5 of HGTV's "Battle of the Block" takes us to Ybor City, also known as Tampa Florida's Latin Quarter, to find out.

Established by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center, Ybor City is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. It's also home to three couples who want to win the $10,000 that goes to the pair who transforms their bedroom into a special couples' retreat.

One couple goes for colors that are more zoo than zen. Will they win anyway?
As always, the couples get three days to do the job, with a budget of cash, merchandise and contractor-time, plus access to the show's tool truck and design advice from host Genevieve Gorder (pictured above). She gives the couples a peptalk, telling them they can win through time-management, drive and dedication.

Couple One: Lauren and Steven Erickson want to transform their dull bedroom (which another couple described as pure "Golden Girls") with chartreuse walls, new lighting, new furniture, a wood wall, and a ventless fireplace. Genevieve expresses concern about color choices. (The audience probably does, too!) But Lauren decides to disregard this and Gorder's other warning about being too "matchy-matchy."

Couple Two: Jose Garboza and Tony Lacolla have a bedroom that's the "smallest and tallest" of the three. They want to create a boutique-hotel look by putting up a mural, redoing a closet and cutting out a series of niches in one wall to hold their TV and various decorative items. They scoff at the idea that either of the straight couples could possibly win over two gay guys who are design experts.

Couple Three: Newly engaged Jenna Becker and Ryan Clements want a bedroom that reflects how hip and trendy they are, so they go for recessed lighting and bold (purple with dark, dark trim) colors that seem to alarm Gorder.

The Race: As demolition begins, everyone seems to be having fun. Jose mischievously asks his partner if he's turned on by power tools. Lauren says demolition is "awesome."

When the Ericksons meet Tony and Jose in the lighting store, insults are traded. Similar encounters in other stores generate more insults. As for the actual work, it seems to go smoothly -- until it doesn't.

Jose and Tony's new closet door is way too short, so Jose has to go dumpster-diving to find the old one. He doesn't, so they will end up with an open closet. Both of the other couples have issues with their paint choices. Gorder tells Jenna her paint choice could be "in your face," adding: "I wouldn't choose it for my bedroom."

Lauren finally has second thoughts about her wall color; she thinks a second coat will make it richer. As usual, the contractors' departure is followed by misery and exhaustion as the couples work throughout the night.

The Judges Weigh In: They have mixed reactions to Jenna and Ryan's bold design, giving a thumbs-up to the light and spirit of the room, a thumbs-done for the outlet on the ceiling.

Tony and Jose get props for their niches and their mural, which reflects the spirit of their neighborhood, but are criticized for their door-less closet and for having too many design elements.

The Ericksons are praised for their unusual wood-wall treatment and for creating a retreat area. However, the judges didn't like the mirror propped against a wall.

The winners, in what Gorder described as the "closest race ever," were Tony and Jose, who promptly announced that: "We plan to brag. We are master designers." Then, like good neighbors, they invited the other couples to go out for pizza.

What we learned:

1. Don't throw away something you're replacing until you're absolutely sure you won't need it.
2. Colors that look great on paint chips might be overpowering on your walls.
3. If your design scheme seems to be going wrong, stop and consider starting over.

Read more "Battle on the Block" updates or other TV home show coverage.

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'Battle on the Block': Living Room Makeovers in Miami

Lillian Africano — 2010-05-10T14:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

Episode 4 of HGTV's Battle on the Block moved to Biscayne Plaza, a high-rise apartment building in Miami Beach. As usual, three couples with a budget of cash, merchandise and contractor-time are given three days to remodel some part of their homes.

This time it was living rooms.

Who will be the most annoying person on this episode? Read on.

Couple One, Naomi Stern and Grant Stern have the same last name but aren't married. They moved into their apartment four months ago, so their place doesn't look like much.

Couple Two, Tara Gill and Paulo Grayson aren't married either. They are BFFs sort of like Will and Grace, but flakier.

Couple Three, Cristina and Al Lloyd are married. Cristina is described as an alpha female, so of course the other couples make jokes about who wears the pants and who wears the skirt. But as the days progress, we see that while Cristina likes to yell and give orders, Al gives as good as he gets, and that the marriage is pretty solid, and yes, loving.

There are the usual half-hearted digs at one another: the Sterns' place looks like a barn, smells like one, too; Paulo doesn't look strong enough to pick up a drill, and so on.

Designer Genevieve Gorder, wearing skintight jeans this week, urges everyone to plan on all-nighters.

The Sterns want to paint their place, rip up the old carpet, install a new floor, add new lighting, change their furniture placement, and create a breakfast bar -- which they propose to somehow hang from the ceiling. Genevieve suggests that they might struggle to complete their plan. They consult with the contractor about their proposed flooring and decide to run it horizontally, though that will mean many cuts.

Tara and Paulo want a grown-up boutique look, a setup that's good for entertaining. They start bickering early; he throws a hissy and says: "Don't tell me what to do. They talk about choosing colors that "embody who we are as people." (As opposed to what, turtles?) They, too, want a new floor, new baseboards; they want to "make crazy happen." Genevieve suggests they try for some balance.

Al and Cristina Lloyd want to create a spa-like atmosphere that's soothing, relaxing and zen. They will add lighting, install a decorative wall, and reposition their TV. Genevieve cautions that as they will be using some of the same colors they already have, the challenge will be to make everything look different. (Cristina has a blog about her experience on the show.)

Day One sees Tara and Paulo arguing at the flooring store; they can't agree on what to choose. Tara to Paulo: "Don't be a jerk."

The Lloyds buy a couch, zebra-print stools, and a knock-off Mies van der Rohe stool (which one of the judges loves).

Demolition begins, and now we see who will be the annoying person on this episode. It's Grant Stern, who will spend much of the three days wandering around and looking busy while Naomi is hard at work. He wanders into the Lloyds' apartment and mumbles something about "big budget," then wanders back to his own place.

Tara and Paulo start demolition; he accidentally rips some wallpaper.

At the Lloyds, Cristina is shouting at Al: "Stop staring at me." It sounds like some little kid yelling: "Ma, he's looking at me." Some of the bickering that goes on is so pointless, you have to wonder if it's staged.

Day Two sees Grant making breakfast while Naomi works. She says, indulgently, "He can't go for a day without breakfast. I mean eggs, bacon, potatoes, the whole thing." We have to wonder about the future of this relationship.

Paulo and Tara prepare their sub-floor while Cristina is now yelling at the contractor for looking at her.

At the Stern apartment, Naomi is painting while Grant sits at his computer, scanning photos for the wall. The contractor takes in the scene and pretty well spells it out: Grant is a slacker.

While Al Lloyd puts up a faux rock wall, Cristina complains about the slow pace.

On Day Three, the contractor tells the Sterns they will not be able to hang their "floating" breakfast bar from the ceiling. Grant spends the better part of the day trying to prove the contractor wrong. He's on the phone while Naomi works on the floor.

Paulo and Tara have their own bad news: Instead of the baseboards they ordered, they now have crown molding. As it's too late to make the exchange, they cut down the crown molding to create baseboards. Genevieve applauds creativity born of necessity.

The Lloyds have painted soft blue horizontal stripes across one wall; Genevieve suggests they extend the stripes. Al decides they should stick to their own vision.

There's the usual hysteria when the contractor leaves, the usual "How will we ever finish?" In the wee hours Al Lloyd mentions that this is the 10-year anniversary of his father's death -- and that he felt the divine hand of guidance. He talks about how his father loved Cristina the first moment he met her, "just like I did." See, we knew all the yelling was just noise.

Somehow all three living rooms get more or less pulled together for the judging. The BFFs get props for lightening the place up, for creating symmetry and balance, and for good furniture placement. Not so good: The living room is too busy.

The Sterns get thumbs up for their carpet, thumbs down for their trim, for an excess of mosaic, and for too much green. The Lloyds are told they should have extended the stripes on one wall, that they over-decorated their walls-and that they had the best furniture placement.

The winners: Tara and Paulo

What we learned:

If you hook up with a slacker, you will do all the work in the relationship.
Be careful while doing demolition or you might create another job for yourself.
Just because a wall exists doesn't mean it has to be decorated.

See past reviews of "Battle on the Block" or more of our home TV coverage.

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HGTV's 'Battle on the Block': Masters in the Bedroom

Lillian Africano — 2010-05-04T10:00:00 00:00

So this week HGTV's "Battle on the Block" goes to Jersey -- hey, don't laugh, The New York Times says that all the smart money is going to New Jersey.

The location is suburban West Orange, with three couples renovating their master bedrooms in three days, on a budget of cash, merchandise and contractor-time.

Will this end in a Jersey-style bar fight? Or will the battle be more genteel? Here's what you missed....

Couple One: Carla and Greg Schmidt, a pair of competitive overachievers who want to turn their master suite into a combination study, sitting room and bedroom.

Couple Two: Lynda and Chris Alleyne, who call themselves the "smart couple," while Lynda quickly points out that her IQ is higher than his. She proceeds to prove this throughout the show by treating Chris like an idiot and paying no attention to his ideas, even when she's clearly wrong, demonstrating clearly who is master in this bedroom. They want their bedroom to be a sexy retreat, but her color choices invite eye-rolling rather than applause.

Couple Three: Emani and Robert Randolph are another female-dominant couple; he's a musician; she's good at name-calling. They want a rocking, Vegas-style master suite with touches of bling.

The Action: The couples gather at the West Orange Country Club, where red-booted designer Genevieve Gorder gives her usual peptalk. Trash-talking ensues, but it isn't as enthusiastic or heartfelt as what you hear at the WWF; it's more like the stuff kids throw at each other in the schoolyard.

As Gorder checks out the three sets of plans, she finds that the Schmidts plan to use warm colors and want to tear down their old closet and build a new one. She's guarded about their scheme to use a piano top as a desktop.

The Alleynes' dark, dark color scheme merits a frown; it's meant to be sexy but just looks dismal.

The Randolphs have a reasonable plan to create sexy glamour by painting the walls and creating a sitting room by breaking a wall to make a doorway. As Robert hits the wall with power tools, the power goes out. Never mind. The couple has fun punching out the wall.

Couple One's Carla also has fun in this first phase; she enjoys screwing in drywall. Couple 2's Lynda says she'll take about 10 percent of Gorder's advice (and none of her husband's). Couple 3's Emani goes shopping and says Robert has ADD because he wanders off to look at lamps. When he starts to do a little bragging, she tells him to shut up. Then she suggests that the store owner might have taken bribes from the other couples -- to what end, we can't quite figure out.

Couple 2's Lynda goes back to the paint store and Gorder again cautions about color choices. Do we think Lynda will heed any of this? Not a chance. Later, she's heard screeching through the phone at her husband. Chris says, with a touch of irony: "Meet my wife." Couple 3's Emani also gives her husband grief over what she sees as his slacking off.

On Day Three, there's stress building in all three homes. Couple One's project is going slowly, though Carla is thrilled when the new closet doors are delivered. Couple Three's Emani still wants to shop. Couple Two's Lynda is still obsessing over paint colors, and when she starts on Chris again, he finally gathers up some steam and says, "Back off!"

By time the contractors leave at 9 p.m., all are overwhelmed and there is general bickering.

In the morning, paint gets spilled in home No. 1; Carla cries because there is only one hour left. Somehow everyone finishes. All seem satisfied with their work. Carla declares that they might have to move if they don't win.

The Judging: Couple 2's Lynda gets points for creating better flow but is told that the bedroom looks unfinished. Thumbs down on her drapes, which are two different colors.

The Schmidts (Couple One) get thumbs-up for their piano-desk and for creating three areas; thumbs-down for their area rug, for commercial-looking closet doors and for a cluttered look.

The Randolphs' getaway suite, now adorned with mirrors and a sparkling chandelier, gets points for the ironing board in the closet and for the eco-fireplace; but criticized because the room is disjointed with too much going on.

The winner: the Schmidts. This is the third week in a row that Couple One has won. Is that the lucky position? A coincidence?

There's applause for all the couples, who then agree that there are no losers. Well, we're not sure the audience would agree.

What we learned:

Don't load up your electrical circuits when using power tools.
Be careful when you have open cans of paint around.
Less is more when decorating a room.
A multi-functional space is a good thing, clutter is not.

Read about past episodes of "Battle on the Block" or other home TV coverage.

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HGTV's 'Battle on the Block' Goes Back to the Kitchen

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-29T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

After a kitchen renovation and a patio remodel, HGTV's "Battle on the Block" returns to the kitchen and turns up the heat, pitting mother vs. daughter vs. same-sex couple in a three-way battle for design dominance. Who gets $10,000 and bragging rights forever? Here's what you missed....

As usual, three couples get merchandise, cash and a one-third share of contractor hours for three days to do their renovation. The winners are judged on creativity, functionality and total transformation.

The venue: Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. (the fictional home of wealthy villain Palmer Cortlandt in the popular soap, "All My Children").

The first couple: Mike and Sharon Lombardi. They want a rustic, New England look and have the most ambitious floor- plan change, involving the removal of a wall to join the kitchen with the living area. Mike is a chef -- a quiet, handy guy, who is organized and focused. A good sign if past shows are any indicator of who will win. Sharon complains and stands around a lot, while repeating how badly she wants to win, mainly to one-up her daughter .

Second couple: Same-sex couple Ingrid Wittman and Jan Melillo. Their galley kitchen is cramped and dark. They want to move the refrigerator, install a new counter and backsplash, bring in more natural light, lay a new floor and add some Tiffany art-nouveau style. They also have a painted, faux tin-ceiling that is starting to peel. Their first thought is to repaint, but after Jan points out that the weight will just increase the peeling, they decide to install a bead board ceiling over it.

Third couple: Christa and David Daniello. They have a well-kept but plain-white suburban kitchen. They want new cabinets with better-organized space, a granite counter with a new sink layout, and stainless steel to replace white. She's a hyper-organized spa-and-plastic-surgery diva in competition with her mother.

The drama: As work commences, Mike Lombardi is a one-man wrecking crew, clearing out old cabinets and appliances and making short work of the demo phase. At times the Lombardis seem to be struggling more with each other than with their renovation. At one point Mike says: If she'd just listen to me, life would be so much easier. At least for me. Their biggest problems: an uneven subfloor and a fridge that's shorter than the cabinet overhang allows. Mike perseveres; even by Day 3, he keeps his cool, going to bed at 3 a.m. and leaving just a few finishing touches for the following morning.

Ingrid and Jan seem to get overwhelmed early on, spending big chunks of their three days trying to get their ceiling up. The DIY-ness of this is very difficult, working against gravity while cutting pieces to butt up seamlessly. While the other two projects fell largely on the husbands, the two women roll up their sleeves and struggle together. Ingrid scores a direct hit when she mocks Christa, saying she wouldn't want to mess up her manicure.

Ingrid and Jan have the most even relationship, as they are never seen bickering, just expressing mild disappointment when something goes wrong. They are shown sharing moments of joy when they find retro-glass cabinet knobs and lighting fixtures-and when they learn they can punch a big pass-through in the doorway area to create a nook with barstools on the other side. This gives them their light and space, and they jump up and down with pleasure.

Their biggest problems: the ceiling and the wrong color grout. They get points for their beautiful backsplash -- and for finally finishing the ceiling properly. They are criticized for the purple/blue paint scheme.

The Daniellos seem to have the least ambitious plan, but even this gets stuck when their design plan is derailed because they didn't fully check out their design concepts. They are not able to move their corner sink and they put a big double-door fridge against a side wall, so one door could not be fully opened. Also, they constructed a rangetop island with a breakfast nook that was right next to the burners.

Like her mother, Christa complains a lot and states the obvious: "I'm so panicked." By day Three: "I want to, like, do something, but I can't do anything." The departure of the work crew really throws her into a panic.

Biggest problem: The sink is too big and it has to stay in the corner. Christa dresses up as Tinkerbell for reasons unknown.

The winners: Mike and Sharon Lombardi. Christa concludes: "The worst thing about losing is that I'll have to hear about this from my mother for the rest of my life."

Probably.

Home Improvement Lessons Learned:

When buying integral materials like grout, bring a sample of your material to the store. Buy multiples if you're not sure; you can always return unopened merchandise.
Estimate the time you need for working overhead; then double it. Gravity, standing on a ladder and neck strain make everything much more difficult, along with the awkward angle it takes to hammer, staple, and get something to stay in place. Consider some kind of safe makeshift scaffold.
When dealing with a floor, check a small sample area before going big.
Measure twice, cut once. Don't believe listed dimensions for appliances without considering features like hinges, handles, opening-and-closing clearances, directionality of doors, etc. Call company help-lines for information or actually view the item you're buying at an appliance store.

Read more home tv coverage or reivews of past episodes of "Battle on the Block."

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Home TV: 'Battle on the Block' Pimps the Patio

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-21T15:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

So last week, it was kitchen remodels on HGTV's "Battle on the Block". This week, it was patio makeovers in the upscale Florida community of Daytona Beach Shores. We watched while three couples got down and dirty. Here's what happened....
Once again it was three neighboring couples competing for a $10,000 prize and bragging rights forever (or until someone moves). HGTV's designer Genevieve Gorder, wearing what looked like outdoor dominatrix duds, spelled out the mission: to see who can best transform a ho-hum patio into a dreamy retreat in just three days. Each couple gets $5,000 in cash, $10,000 in merchandise, access to a tool truck and a one-third share of a professional contractor's daytime hours. The couples, however, can work all night, and we get to see the true meaning of sweat equity as everyone gets down and dirty in their respective backyards.

Couple #1
The first couple, the Boatners, Carrie and Barry, are DIY champs who expect to take home the prize and leave their neighbors in the dust. Literally. Their elaborate makeover plans include a daybed for lounging, new landscaping, granite countertop, new iron railing and so on. Funny, it was the first couple last week that had the biggest plans, but somehow you don't root against the Boatners this week. They aren't annoying in their grandiosity, just a little bit cocky.

Couple #2
The second couple, the Manleys, Nada and Kevin, want to take an outdoor space that's doing nothing and create an enclosure for an outdoor kitchen with some new patio furniture. Right away, we see that she's a big spender -- the woman has 500 pairs of shoes -- so will she stick to the budget? (Spoiler: She doesn't.)

Couple #3
And finally, there are the Akers, Will and Dee, who are so laid-back and mellow, you figure their parents must have been hippies. They have a nice backyard pool but a really ugly screened enclosure that they'd like to tear down and replace with a summer kitchen. They start out strong; ripping up stuff is easy. But as the battle builds, those nice Akers play dirty!

Crunchtime
They double-up on tools so the Boatners can't work. So the Boatners take all the lights and no one can work in the dark.

Nada Manley runs amok shopping for patio furniture and soft goods and when time comes to buy the big-ticket items, she's shocked to learn the cash has run out. (She has to take back a bunch of stuff.) After spending so much time shopping, the Manleys have to get busy. While hacking away at overgrown shrubbery she says, "Physical labor is really, really hard." Well, duh.

Barry Boatner runs amok with a Bobcat and pretty soon the Boatner backyard is nothing but rubble. Carrie is worried. Genevieve is worried. She does an OMG-you-can't-possibly-finish. Barry's exhausted but battle-hardened. He will persevere. He and Carrie are bickering, though. "You're frayed," says Genevieve, switching to couples-therapist mode, explaining that the stress is impacting the relationship.

In the Akers' backyard, Will turns his wife on with his vigorous demolition skills. So that's a good thing. Unfortunately they have a case of wood rot. A bad thing.

Well, of course, we know that in spite of the wood rot, the wrong materials showing up, and so on, everyone more or less finishes the patios.

The Boatners win. He has pulled off the victory by taking the broken pieces of concrete and laying them down in a kind of crazy-quilt design.

What We Learned:
1. Estimate the cost of your renovation and take care of the big ticket items before you splurge on soft goods.
2. An intensive DIY project can really strain a relationship.
3. Beware of wood rot when you dig up stuff.

Read more Home TV updates including about past episodes of "Battle on the Block."

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HGTV's 'Battle on the Block' - One-Up Thy Neighbor

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-12T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Design

You might enjoy HGTV's "Battle on the Block" if you're into DIY TV -- or if you yearn to one-up your neighbors and would get a kick out of seeing other people do it. On the show we see three sets of neighbors compete for 10 grand -- and neighborhood bragging rights. Here's our take on Episode 1.

The premise: three neighboring families get three days to remodel some part of their home. The families are given a cash budget, a limited amount of contractor help, plus access to necessary tools. It's up to them to plan their project, then budget their time, money and resources to get everything they need in order to finish in three days. As they work, designer Genevieve Gorder wanders in and out of the three construction sites dispensing advice, encouragement and words of caution as needed. After three days, the projects are judged on creativity, functionality and the overall transformation they've accomplished.

Episode 1 on April 10 featured three neighbors in a Jacksonville, Florida suburb: the Zorns, the Fiscors and the Holzendorfs. The assignment was a kitchen remodel. As this is a reality show, it's easy to spot the couple you don't want to win: the Zorns. Laura comes across as a bossy, everything-in-its-place controlling type who shoots down every suggestion her husband makes. They plan a massive renovation of their kitchen that includes moving plumbing; it's difficult to see how it could be accomplished in three days, even with the Zorns pulling all-nighters.

In contrast, the easygoing Fiscors seem like neighbors anyone would like. Melissa is the un-Laura, declaring that "a home is not a museum," while husband Steve is the handiest guy on the block, someone you might call on in a DIY emergency. Their kitchen project is also ambitious, but with Steve able to do much of the work, their renovation seems doable.

The Holzendorfs, an attractive couple given to making lists, have a limited renovation in mind. What they really, really want is a beautiful wine room. Their project seems like the one most likely to finish on time.

Once the demolitions gets started, the couples start pulling all-nighters as the magnitude of their various projects begin to seem overwhelming. Will they finish? Won't they finish? What happens when the Zorns' granite countertops are late? When the Fiscors get the wrong doors? Is the Holzendorfs' proposed wine room taking up too much time? Will the Fiscors' new floor get put down properly? Melissa Fiscor predicts that no one will finish--and that she and Steve will have the best incomplete kitchen.

She is wrong.

The Zorns win; their remodeled kitchen is a knockout (pictured above) and you have no doubt whatsoever that Laura Zorn will be more irritating than ever. But then the other couples also ended up with nice kitchen remodels as well.

Practical stuff we learned:

1. If you're planning a DIY renovation, keep the project manageable and don't bite off too much.

2. Don't paint laminate. It's nonporous.

3. If you rip up your floor and lay down a new subfloor, it will need time to cure and dry before you can lay down a new floor.

See more home tv coverage or find homes for sale at AOL Real Estate.

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'Jersey Shore' Returns to Seaside Heights, Neighbors Mixed

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-12T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Lifestyle

So how does the real Jersey Shore feel about the return of MTV's "Jersey Shore" show to Seaside Heights? The big-hair beauty parlors and tanning salons are probably rejoicing, as is the owner of Bamboo and Karma, the clubs favored by Snooki and the rest of the cast. Not to mention the owner of the house at 1209 Ocean Terrace, who has been renting the place this spring for $1,800 a night, for Sweet Sixteen parties and other events. In other words, people who make money from the show have put out the welcome mat. But the area cop shops, not so much...

Just last week Stephen Izzo, who was famously knocked out by Ronnie Ortiz -Magro during Season 1, was arrested by the Berkeley Township Police Department and charged with aggravated assault against a police officer, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated, and other motor vehicle charges. This is the same guy who was in court earlier this year trying (unsuccessfully) to block the release of MTV's boxed set of "Jersey Shore," claiming the knockout episode caused him embarrassment.

Many area residents are also less-than-thrilled about the return of the guidos and guidettes.The April 10 edition of the Asbury Park Press had an editorial titled: "More Flotsam in Seaside." It included reader comments: "Another summer of 'garbage' that washed up at the Jersey Shore. Exactly what this show is." And "Why would Seaside Heights allow MTV to continue filming this garbage? It makes Seaside and the Shore look like a complete cesspool of fights, drunks and complete idiots. Seaside should revoke the permit to film this show."

The answer to that last comment is this: the borough cannot deny a permit to shoot unless the content is illegal or involves nudity. Fights, drunks and complete idiots may be filmed. In a recent interview, Borough Administrator John A. Camera took a "you gotta take the bad with the good attitude." "Bottom line," he said, "it's not what we'd pick as the promo piece for Seaside Heights. But the magnitude of the audience they've reached has been well worth some of the negative aspects of it."

Read more news about MTV's "Jersey Shore" or find a rental listings in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.

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New York's St. Vincent's Hospital Pulls the Plug

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-12T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Lifestyle

After a long struggle to stay alive despite a crushing $700 million debt, New York's St. Vincent's Hospital pulled the plug on itself on Tuesday, April 6. Though an exact date was not given for the closing, it appears the end will come soon. On Friday ambulances stopped taking patients to the hospital (except for psychiatric issues) and on April 14 elective surgeries will cease. What will this mean for the hospital's Greenwich Village neighborhood?

Despite the fact that the hospital has been faltering for months, news of the closing stunned area residents.

"The obvious loss is the proximity," said longtime West Villager Susann Tepperberg. "When my daughter was in a car accident on the West Side Highway with facial injuries, a top-notch plastic surgeon was immediately available at St. Vincent's."

Tepperberg said she'd also miss the general enrichment that comes from having a hospital nearby -- such as discussions on nutrition, diabetes, and high blood pressure -- as well as "the programs by St. Vinny's at the local Y." Outstanding physical therapy is yet another loss, said Tepperberg. "When someone has foot or disk problems, it's great to have the best care nearby without dragging one's aching body a distance."

A broker who handles many Greenwich Village sales pointed out that the NYC real estate markets are specifically defined by neighborhood. "Apartments and town houses in Greenwich Village and the West Village -- West Side Highway to Broadway and 14th Street to Houston Street -- have always been a magnet for buyers and renters, particularly for those with families, because of a number of unique factors," she said. Among these factors: exceptional schools, both public and private; safe, well-maintained parks; neighborhood amenities, such as greenmarkets, gyms, restaurants, etc.

"Greenwich Village is a walking neighborhood," she added, "where the near proximity of all these destinations negates the need for bus, taxi or subway transportation. Until very recently we were secure in the knowledge that St. Vincent's -- whose emergency room has for several years consistently been named number one over all five boroughs in the New York magazine poll of physicians and surgeons -- was within walking distance.... a major benefit and comfort to anyone raising children in the neighborhood."

The closure of the St. Vincent's Hospital Complex means that the nearest hospital available to Greenwich Village residents will now be New York Downtown Hospital, which is south of City Hall and East of Broadway (up to six congested avenues east of 10th Avenue and 32 congested blocks south of 14th Street). Or the other option is St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital on 10th Avenue at 58th Street, 44 congested blocks north of 14th Street on 10th Avenue.

"This is a breathtaking negative that will undoubtedly have an appreciable impact on the Greenwich Village real estate market in the months and years ahead," concluded the broker.

A retired physician who worked at St. Vincent's for more than 20 years was not surprised by the closing, citing mismanagement of epic proportions for years. "Also, the hospital has too many beds, given the fact that medicine and medical insurance have changed. Where a hernia surgery once kept you in the hospital for several days, now it's an outpatient procedure. So you end up with a 900-bed hospital serving 400 patients. When the cardinal [O'Connor] decided to merge all the city's Catholic hospitals, that hurt St. Vincent's. The consolidation was supposed to draw patients to St. Vincent's. It didn't happen."

Queried about the the loss to the neighborhood, he replied that the very neighborhood that is now bemoaning the closing is as much to blame as the hospital. "When St. Vincent's wanted to knock down the old Maritime building [also known as the O'Toole Building] to build a small, modern, efficient 400-bed hospital, neighborhood activists [led by Susan Sarandon and husband Tim Robbins] fought the proposal--even though the hospital said it could not survive."

Sadly, the hospital will not survive.

Local and state officials including Gov. Paterson say they are trying to find a way to replace the hospital's emergency room functions with an urgent care center that would provide some emergency services.

See Greenwich Village and other New York homes for sale at AOL Real Estate.

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Rent from a Rocker in Harlem

Lillian Africano — 2010-04-08T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Renting

You say your Andrea-Bocelli-loving landlord won't renew your lease unless you stop playing Green Day? So get a cool new landlord -- like the drummer for David Byrne's band. Drummer Graham Hawthorne is renting out the entire top floor of his renovated Harlem townhouse. Interested? Here's what you get...

The Details: The open, 900-square-feet can be either completely open or configured as a one- or two-bedroom loft.

Original Ingredients: Parquet floors and mahogany pocket window shutters.

Modern Extras: New kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer, skylight, cable and high-speed Internet, alarm system, two exposed brick fireplaces.

And if your secret vices include the occasional session with Kenny G, no one ever has to know. The apartment has soundproof, sliding-glass doors, so you can enjoy your secret shame in private. Did we mention that the rent is just $1,800? Or that the building's other tenants love living here?

Tenant Testimony:
Current tenant E.F. says: "I feel truly at home in this beautiful building, on this lovely street, where there exists a real sense of community amongst neighbors with the coolest landlords on the planet. Living here has offered me a unique opportunity to experience life in NYC in an authentic neighborhood and in a personal and peaceful building. And I can always find a parking spot! The best kept secret."

Outgoing tenant RG: "We have loved living in this apartment for over four years and are only leaving now because of a job location. The space itself is fantastic -- plenty of light, great air flow, high ceilings, and the original details...contribute to the overall charm. The landlords are very cool but also very responsive to their tenants' needs. The neighbors in the building are very friendly, quiet and trustworthy. I cannot say enough positive things about living her and would absolutely recommend it to a friend."

The location: 127th Street, around the corner from the 2/3 trains; Metro North is two blocks away.

Neighborhood Conveniences: Citarella, Fairway and Pathmark supermarkets, Starbucks, Sylvia's famous soul food restaurant, Gap, Old Navy, H+M, Marshall's, Office Depot and upscale developments, include the Dafina.

The downside: It's a walk-up, so prepare to climb some stairs.

Contact: Email to w127st@gmail.com. There is no broker's fee.

See more rental apartments in Harlem, N.Y.

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New York Rents Up, But Still a Renters Market

Lillian Africano — 2010-03-29T16:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Renting

It's still a renter's market in Manhattan despite recent reports that rents are up -- slightly.

According to the Real Estate Group NY's March report, average rents increased .62 percent month-over-month, but were still down 1.52 percent compared to figures from last year. Culled from about 10,000 listings, all priced under $10,000, in TREGNY's database, showed significant gains in average rent price for lower Manhattan units, particularly those with doormen.

Lets take a closer look.

Doormen one-bedrooms in Battery Park City, the Financial District and the Lower East Side showed gains of 5.71 percent, 2.74 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.

Citi Habitats' February market rental report, which includes only apartments leased by Citi Habitats, found the average monthly rent for a studio increased 2 percent to $1,756, from $1,725 the previous month. Both figures are down from February of last year. Average rents for one-bedroom apartments increased by 1 percent from the previous month, with rents rising to $2,335 from $2,318; these rents fell 3 percent from the same period last year.

However numbers don't tell the whole story, as a quick scan of Craigslist and broker listings will show. Halstead, for example, had 42 listings two days ago (down to 30 this morning), both studios and one-bedrooms for $1500 and under. Included were two one-bedrooms in the East 80s for $1500 (yes, both were walk-ups), as well as a studio in Washington Heights for $1,000 and a two-bedroom walk-up in West Harlem for $1313. Many of the listings were no fee.

Corcoran also had some interesting listings, including a junior one-bedroom walk-up in the Sutton Place area for $1600 and a 400 square-foot studio in a full-service building on West End Avenue for $1600 (with the offer of a long lease).
So while rental averages may be inching up, there are still plenty of good deals to be had. Said one broker: "Many landlords are paying broker fees and giving the kind of concessions we haven't seen in a long time-like one-month free rentals and free utilities."

Look in our listings for great rental apartments in New York.

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