NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2007

Space Dilemma—Designing Small Kitchens and Bathrooms

New York City residents are used to living in abbreviated spaces. A suburban foyer is often larger than the average NY kitchen and bath combined! Please come and listen to Joan Halperin’s highly regarded ideas on effective design for small kitchens and bathrooms.

Joan Halperin’s residential work has been published in the Home section of The New York Times (“Bathrooms to fit Clark Kent,” November 16, 2006 ) and in several magazines including Interior Design, House Beautiful and House and Garden. “Making Space”, “Residential Interiors”, “The Complete Home Office” and “homeStyling” are a few of the books that feature her work. She has appeared on Good Morning America as an expert in home office design and on the television program Interiors by Design.

We’ve been lucky enough to engage Joan for our monthly client event and she’ll give you the inside scoop on everything you need to know before beginning a small kitchen or bathroom renovation–whether to renovate or decorate; how much it will cost and how to spot the right fixtures for your space requirements.

If you’re planning to renovate, decorate, add a kitchen or a bath, this evening will answer all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask.

Ask the Expert - Investing in Your Home: Styles, Projects and Price Points to Help with Resale

Jacky Teplitzky is an executive vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman (PDE), New York's preeminent residential real estate brokerage firm, and the leader of The Jacky Teplitzky Team. She is a top 10 broker at PDE and has sold more than $300,000,000 in Manhattan properties, placing her among the top one percentile of the city's 33,000+ licensed real estate agents. Her illustrious standing makes her a member of PDE’s prestigious Chairman Diamond Circle, the Fine Homes Division and ranks her within the top 100 – out of 64,000 agents total – in the Prudential Real Estate network nationwide.

Jacky is often quoted in the media – she has appeared in nine Sunday New York Times cover stories on real estate. She has also been featured in The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and many trade publications. She has appeared on WABC-TV and New York 1 News. Her properties have appeared in Forbes.com, The New York Post, The New York Sun and The New York Times.

Jacky is a sought-after speaker, presenting on real estate topics to prestigious forums including Smith Barney, Citibank Private Banking, Merrill Lynch, The Real Estate Academy, The Learning Annex, The Penn Club, The Real Estate Board of New York, the Association of Real Estate Woman, Yeshiva University and Barnard College. She is a faculty member at New York University, where she teaches a class on marketing to veteran real estate brokers.

Jacky is a member of The Real Estate Board of New York and the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW), where she sits on its board of directors and serves as the co-chair of AREW’s communications committee.

How the "right" designs/home renovations can add value to a home.

Many homeowners do not consider how renovations/home design can detract from a property's sales price. For example, one of Jacky's previous clients redid her home akin to a Tribeca loft. It was stunning. BUT -- the property was located in a very conservative UES building. It was a hard sell and Jacky did it, but it could have been easier if the design better reflected the building and the neighborhood.

“Be wise—you won’t live there forever and ever.” – Jacky Teplitzky

Q. What is the best way to decide what renovations to perform?
A. The smartest thing a new owner can do is ask the seller’s broker for advice. The broker is familiar with the building, with potential buyers objections to that apartment and what potential buyers liked about the unit. Ask the doorman about other apartments renovated in that building—try to see them for idea of what others in building have done. This may give you some fantastic ideas. Do not do a renovation that makes yours the most expensive apartment in the building because you will outprice yourself. Take type of building into consideration—lofts don’t sell on Park Avenue and decadence doesn’t sell downtown.

Q. How should a homeowner approach materials and color?
A. Use colors and materials that will appeal to most buyers. Even if you think you will live there forever it rarely happens. If you buy a 2-3 bedroom in a middle of the road location, you are going to move to an upgrade, a larger apartment or trendier location eventually. Red cabinets are a no-no despite it being your favorite color! Look at trends, go look at new construction in the area, see what they are using. That way, five years later your residence will still be in trend. Wood cabinets are in vogue now. When it comes to countertops-DO NOT USE a Corian-type product. Instead choose natural stone (marble or granite) as it is an established and durable material. CaesarStone is for a downtown look. For flooring use wood floors in the kitchen but they must be good quality. Wood is classier than stone and granite, especially if used it in open plan kitchen.

Q. Are there appliances that you recommend?
A. For appliances- stainless steel finish is the name of the game. Select Miele, Bosch, Sub Zero, or Fisher and Paykel. No Maytag. The washer and dryer should be self venting.

To learn much, much more from this real estate sales mogul, please attend our client event, April 12, 2007, 6:30 pm-8 pm.


Design & Trend Report – MyHome Custom Made Furniture

Custom-made by Master Craftsman Jim Loomis, the MyHome furniture line boasts all the glamour of European brands like Poliform, B & B Italia, or Donghia at better price points and made here on American shores. Created from kiln-dried solid hardwoods, MyHome Furniture sets the new standard for style, skill, and class in the furniture industry, bringing back the respect and adulation that American-made products should elicit. Manufactured in Bergen County, New Jersey, the new line is distinguished by handcrafted dovetail joinery that’s emblematic of the loving care we put into each product. Continuing our socially responsible tradition, we enable buyers to support the regional economy while reducing pollution via local shipping!

This elegant line is customizable to offer unlimited options to our clients and cater to the even the most eclectic design needs. Our modern, clean-lined pieces for the bedroom, living room, den and dining room, all come in a wide selection of colors and sizes and are protected by MyHome’s extensive warranties. We even cater to requests for upholstered seating! And rest assured, all of our products are produced, sold, and installed by the MyHome team.

A natural extension of our full-service concept, our furniture is meant to deepen our relationship with all of our clients by providing them with everything for the home in each of our three incredible design centers. Think of a world where all of your home design products and services are handled quickly by one contractor you know and trust, and you’ll see the MyHome trucks waiting outside of your apartment. Let us free you from the extraneous calls and price bidding that eats away at your precious time. MyHome Furniture was created to give your home all the style and allure you have come to expect from a world-class brand.

For more information please call or visit one of our three showrooms. The new line debuts in New York City from March 8-11, 2007 at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Pier 94, Booth 268.
What's New – Good, Better, Best Custom Cabinetry

MyHome custom cabinetry is handcrafted to each client’s specific needs and space constraints. In New York City where space comes at a premium, we offer an array of interior options that enable you to utilize every square inch, even in those awkward corner cabinets.

We have a variety of cabinet surface finishes ranging from exotic woods to lacquer, glass, and environmentally green bamboo or poplar. Our cabinetry is equally suited to kitchen, bath, entertainment centers, walk-in closets and den/library/ bedroom built ins.

Exposed legs, concealed stepstool drawers, charming Gingerbread trim, stainless steel, modern, distressed, white glass fronts, tall narrow pull out pantry, whatever you can imagine (and then some) we will craft and install it for you.