Reclaiming Rainwater

I have been placed in charge of "the systems" for the harlem brownstone renovation. Heating, electricity, hot water, intercom, power generation, security, lighting, and fireplaces. Basically, if the project involves electrons or fire, I'm on it. Why? Because I'm a research geek and can't get enough of specs/manuals. More on my fascinating journey through the secret decibel rankings of refrigerators in a later post...

One of the items I've been researching is a rainwater harvesting system. We have a yard. The yard will need water. As we all know, the water doesn't seem to fall when the yard needs it most.

Sooooo... why not catch the rainwater from our big flat roof, and capture it for later use? Easy! Green! Started talking to a few folks. Nearly every single person said, get a rain barrel. Stick a hose on it. Done. Right?

Hm. Not to sound snarky, but that isn't really the form and function I'd like to shoot for. Can we do better? Yes We Can! (oops, wrong blog...)

I was thinking about a tank that

• is buried
  
• has a filter (no asphalt spritzers for the azaleas)
  
• has a pump to power a drip or spray irrigation system
  

And I found these folks: Rain Water Management. Now, they do make just the cutest darn rainbarrel ever, but not exactly what I was hoping for.

They also sell a system that seems right for us (charmingly named "Package 2"). Container, filter, pump. Voila! Have to get pricing. Am sure it's a bargain...

[where: 10032][where: Harlem][where: Sugar Hill]

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Previous owner's security system

Found a lovely box of bullets, mix of .38 Special and .380 Automatics in the cabinet over the refrigerator. Can't wait to find the peacemaker somewhere in the house. Yikes.

Remember, bullets don't kill people, eco-conscious brownstone renovations do!

[where: 10032]

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Fun with old mail

So we're at the house the other day, going over Ellen and Jen's latest drawings (did we mention they rock?) and the Lady of the Manor does this:

This may be the best use of the thousands of pieces of mail we STILL receive from everyone who EVER lived there since 1895. Yes, we spoke to the mail carrier. Long story. No help. We're supposed to write down all the names and go somewhere terrifying, like the post office.

So we use mail to outline our kitchen countertops and appliances. Is that weird?



[where: 10032]

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Parlor or Kitchen?

splitting the house into 2 family homes means we can't use the garden level for a kitchen, which is where the original house had designed for the kitchen.

using the parlor - originally the center of the house, used for entertaining and relaxing - as our living room would not work.  the room is very narrow and does not accommodate contemporary furniture.  the addition on the back of the house, had a very small, very nasty kitchen in the back of the parlor floor.  

kitchen in the parlor.  we have finally decided to put the kitchen in the parlor tying together the contemporary way of living in the kitchen and using the old dining room - large and square- as our living room.

thanks to ellen and jen, we have what looks like the first successful rendering of our parlor kitchen.

[where: 10032][where: Harlem][where: Sugar Hill]

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And so, it begins...

Yes, we bought a brownstone - 4 floors, 4500 sq ft, plus full cellar. 

Yes, it's in Harlem (Sugar Hill, actually). 

Yes, we are restoring it. And Yes, (Yes!) we are stark raving mad.

We managed to find a brownstone in the city that hadn't had its original character sliced, diced and sheet-rocked out of existence. That means it's pretty close to original. That also means its pretty hard to make it work as a modern living space. But that's the trick. And the fun. And the madness.
So how can we take this lovely, 1895 house (supposedly built for a "German Industrialist" - hehehe love it) that was used as an SRO for ~50 years and turn it into warm and cozy nest? Dunno. But we're gonna try... and it's gonna be as GREEN as possible. 

So, come on in and please let us know if you're any good with a hammer... 

A full slideshow is below. Caution: some images are shocking.

[where: 10032] [where: Harlem] [where: Sugar Hill]

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