tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77171229837548194652024-03-13T05:37:50.160-04:00Baltimore RowhouseRenovations in the Land of Pleasant LivingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-59948773830155043362013-09-15T20:04:00.001-04:002013-09-15T20:12:46.188-04:00Alaskan AdventureBack in June we took an Alaskan cruise and had a few days in Seattle. It was great to spend time with family and Alaska, as expected, was beautiful. We were worried we'd be cold and wet from rain, but we had great weather the entire time and the temperatures were a nice respite from the Baltimore summers. Here are some pictures, and more to come soon.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9738464282/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9738464282_8eef9839f3_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Space Needle"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9765901074/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9765901074_e1dec74c50_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Random Yukon Lake"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9752715175/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9752715175_f854324238_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="Sea Otters of Sitka"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9736092803/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/9736092803_6c5df7b79d_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Carcross, Yukon"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9762341272/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/9762341272_43f64799b9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Bubblenet Feeding"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9738384830/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9738384830_454f982405_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Leigh in Ketchikan"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9735929969/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/9735929969_09e5126bba_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Yukon"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9752714296/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9752714296_2c33edaf99_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Bald Eagle of Sitka"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9752785133/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/9752785133_1db0539411_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="White Pass Yukon Railroad Bridge"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9738478882/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/9738478882_afa8093707_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Ketchikan Creek Street"></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/9762776524/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/9762776524_a0f6ba5cab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Yukon by Train"></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-49640635362435934682013-02-03T11:16:00.000-05:002013-02-03T11:50:09.495-05:00Man CaveAt the old house, I never really got to enjoy the basement <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/basement-complete.html"> after it was renovated</a>. That was a bit disappointing, but the new house came with a great finished basement. The space had a built-in to the side of the room for media components, and some wiring for surround sound. While wire was run, it was just hanging out of the wall in a bundle at the back of the built-in (sorry, no before pics) and cables were not run to the wall where the TV would hang. Please note my foam Michigan Wolverine foam head at the bottom of the cabinet.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8434941061/" title="IMG_7220.jpg by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8434941061_13f346ee0f_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_7220.jpg"></a></center>
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Soon after moving in work began to finish the space. I cut a gaggle of holes into the drywall and ran 2 HDMI cables, 1 set of RCA cables, and an optical cable from the built-in to the TV. I picked up a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-LC-70LE732U-AQUOS-1080p-HDTV/dp/B004OCXGAG">new tv</a> and a <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082802&p_id=7470&seq=1&format=2">slim TV mount</a> because I didn't want my TV sticking out too much, and some wall plates for all the speaker wires. I got all the cables from <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/">monoprice</a> and after reading reviews I decided to the speakers there too. I got some <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083703&p_id=6816&seq=1&format=2">front speakers</a>, <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083704&p_id=6317&seq=1&format=2">center speakers</a>, <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083701&p_id=4102&seq=1&format=2">rear mount speakers</a> for the ceiling and a <a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090602&p_id=8248&seq=1&format=2">small sub</a>. I really liked the look of everything built in and not needing a media cabinet in front of the TV.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8434856829/" title="IMG_7182.jpg by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8434856829_f262252115_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7182.jpg"></a></center>
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Since we loved our previously purchased <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/axis-2-piece-left-arm-chaise-sectional/s499226">Crate & Barrel Axis sectional</a> we decided to also go with C&B for downstairs. We went with the <a href="vaughn-left-arm-sectional-loveseat">Vaughan</a>. While not as comfortable as the Axis, it was a much smaller sectional that fit in the 12'x 12' space and still allowed room for a chair. We threw some beer themed pictures up on the wall to complete the man cave aesthetic and now the space is complete.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8436029384/" title="IMG_7223.jpg by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8436029384_3bcf760742_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7223.jpg"></a></center>
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On the back wall are closets that run the width of the house, and the sump pump in the right-most closet. The chairs are on this side to make sure we can still access the space. We also got a white ceramic deer head as a Christmas white elephant gift, so we decided to hang it above the TV. Gotta keep it classy.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8434855603/" title="IMG_7180.jpg by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8434855603_9e049a3fa0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_7180.jpg"></a></center>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-15483241269546161422013-02-01T10:47:00.001-05:002013-02-03T11:31:11.054-05:00Bawlmer ArtWith the Baltimore Ravens making the Super Bowl, the country is about to be bombarded with the <i>wonderful</i> Baltimore accent. How can you tell if someone is from here? They've abolished the "T" in Baltimore, preferring either Bawlmer, or Baldamore. I don't understand it, but I've grown accustomed to it. But I digress. This post is about art, but especially local Bawlmer art. I love local art because it provides so much character and is just fun to shop for. There is nothing like the feeling of digging through a pile of junky art at the thrift store to find a gem. My second favorite find is a map we found in <a href="http://www.livebaltimore.com/neighborhoods/list/hampden/">Hampden</a>, a young quirky hipster filled haven of art, midcentury furniture and Pabst Blue Ribbon. It is a railroad map of Baltimore from 1948.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8435803368/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8435803368_13c7f86ea0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Baltimore Railroad Map"></a></center>
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The map was in the basement of a thrift shop, unframed and mounted on canvas. It is in great condition, and I loved the historic industrial roots of the city in such vivacious color. After $100 for the art, an arm and a leg to frame it, it has a place in the front of the basement (aka, the Leely-cave).
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8435795314/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8435795314_d64f8f345a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Baltimore Railroad Map"></a></center>
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At the same store in Hampden we found another local artist, <a href="http://www.gregotto.com/">Greg Otto</a>. This picture was at the back of a heap of crappy art, and it was even signed by the artist. $25 later, and a promise of a future first born child to get it framed, it sits in our living room.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8435799654/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8435799654_9f87d0ce3d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Fed / Fells - Greg Otto"></a></center>
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After finding the one Greg Otto print I've kept my eyes peeled for more. The <a href="http://www.mdspca.org/">Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</a> had an online auction with a Greg Otto picture with Uniquely Baltimore written on it. How could I resist? A size wasn't listed and there wasn't much description, but we took a gamble and for less than $20 it was ours. It arrived and we found it in perfect condition. And it was also signed. SCORE. Since this was a standard size, custom framing wasn't required and the promise of a second born is deferred until our next art purchase.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8435797212/" title="Uniquely Baltimore - Greg Otto by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8435797212_aa82fe1b56_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Uniquely Baltimore - Greg Otto"></a></center>
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The next picture was a gift from Valerie, my sister in law, and we absolutely love it. She commissioned a picture of our house from the talented <a href="http://www.mirandamakes.com/">Miranda</a>.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8434717429/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8434717429_dae6d3c96c_z.jpg" width="531" height="640" alt="Our House"></a></center>
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She did an amazing job and we look forward to always having a keepsake of this house. I also keep meaning to commission a print of the other house too. I'll need to get on that. Miranda also does pictures of normal houses (not just rowhomes) and did a great job on a picture of my in-laws home. You should go over to her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HouseLoveShop">House Love Shop</a> to order a print of your home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-33650668817317489912013-01-26T16:11:00.003-05:002013-02-01T15:03:59.689-05:00All is WellAfter living in the house for a year, it isn't really new anymore, but it still feels new to us. Some of the shiny newness has worn off due to some construction issues but we still love the place. It has been adjustment of not being able to start with a blank slate of a space and build what I want. I miss being able to rip out walls, frame new ones, run all the electrical, drywall, paint and trim a space. I don't miss the dust. I don't miss the mess. I do enjoy having more time.
The extra time means more decorating and upgrades and less making a space livable and safe. I've also found my niche for decorating - art. I seem to get lucky by finding art on <a href="http://baltimore.craigslist.org/">craigslist</a>, antique markets, or charity auctions. Our ultimate find was a 4'x6' painting by Gladys Goldstein. <br>
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8418166938/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8418166938_0ed1e9bf84_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="New York Abstract"></a></center>
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The painting is an abstract of the New York skyline, and a label on the back said it hung in DC's <a href="http://www.corcoran.org/home">Corcoran Gallery</a> in 1969. Our first floor has something like 13' ceilings so it fits perfectly in our kitchen. We love it. I'll post some pictures of some other art finds soon.
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During the past couple of years, despite less renovation, life has kept us busy. We had a trip to Ireland, including a stop in Galway where we sat on the grass and enjoyed this view.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8418170232/" ><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8418170232_b1f37c7f16_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Galway"></a></center>
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We haven't taken enough vacations though, so hopefully we can make more time in the coming years to get out and see more. I look forward to more adventures with this lovely lady.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/8417052501/" title="IMG_6974.jpg by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8417052501_3860b5b2ae_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_6974.jpg"></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-10228528240006121472011-08-04T07:50:00.002-04:002011-08-04T08:03:39.922-04:00Basement Complete<a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/basement-framing-electrical-rough-in.html">At last glance</a>, the basement was framed and electrical rough in complete. Not pretty, but well along. At this point, I can proudly say the space is complete. We brought in a contractor to hang and finish the drywall as well as hang and trim the doors. At the time, I was unsure of using contractors, but in the end I'm glad we did this. The price was reasonable and in the tight timeline of getting the place rented out we needed this done quickly. <br /><br />The contractors finished up on Thursday. Friday through Sunday we had a lot of help from the Bro in Law (BIL) and Sister in Law (SIL). By the time the dust settled and the carpet was installed, we went from a space with drywall and doors hung to this.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/6006857421/"> <img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/6006857421_675d6522a3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2767"></a><br /></center> <br />We are still amazed of the transformations. The ceiling height is only around 6'6" but thankfully it doesn't feel too short. I wish it were taller but it wasn't worth the extra money of digging it out. We painted it the <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/master%20bedroom">same color as the master bedroom</a>, and are glad we did so. We painted the area underneath the return duct semi-gloss white for contrast and to the right you can see how the window and bench turned out.<br /><br />Looking back from the front of the house toward the stairs is the door to the utility closet to the left, the door to the unfinished area in the middle, and to the right the stairs up to the first floor.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/6007399160/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6007399160_02d8c87a4b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2765"></a><br /></center><br />Thus far our only regret is that we didn't do it sooner. With buying the new place we won't ever have a chance to truly enjoy this basement. Hopefully our renter enjoys it, and looking back, it is quite an improvement.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/6006857421/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/6006857421_675d6522a3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2767"></a><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-46465776952376157652011-07-24T09:55:00.004-04:002011-07-24T11:01:36.391-04:00Basement Framing & Electrical Rough-In CompleteNow that we <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-saga-continues.html#links">are under contract on the new place</a>, the basement renovation kicks into high gear. Much like in <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2008/12/silver-lining-to-downturn.html">December of 2008</a> when we decided to refinance our mortgage and creating a deadline to finish renovations, we are now in a similar position. We want our house occupied by a renter on 9/1. Yowza. With a basement under construction, a new house upcoming, a trip to Irelend, and finding out what the hell we need to do to rent the place the next month will be <i>crazy</i>. Time to kick things in gear...<br /><br />In keeping with this, we are bringing in some help on the drywall. We got a bunch of quotes that were surprisingly reasonable. We ended up picking a mid-cost quote of a guy that I trusted. We then got him to throw in a bunch of extra work like hanging all the door jambs and doors and fixing a three switch that had gotten the best of me. An aside, when picking contractors, I usually go with my gut. This is never the high cost bidder, but usually someone at the mid to low end that will end up working with me a bit. This sometimes means quality is 90% instead of 100% but the lower costs have been things that I've been able to help fix. <br /><br />Here is where we stand. Coming down the stairs, all the paneling, plaster and lathe, and most importantly the stairs were ripped out and recessed lights on a 3 way switch were put in. It looks great now.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5969750415/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5969750415_eaafee134c.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center><br />During the renovation it didn't look as good. I was hoping to keep the stairs as is, but after looking at them in detail they needed to be replaced. They literally bounced when you walked on them and were held up by about 6 nails total. Scary. Luckily, my amazing father agreed flew in from Detroit to help frame the basement and (little did he know at the time) replace the stairs. This basement would not be done if not for him. As you can see, the stairs were scary.<br /><center> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5969844399/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5969844399_b429bcca50.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="basement stairs"></a><br /></center><br />Walking to the bottom of the stairs and looking out things look much different than before. Before, it was a pile of crap.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5570226936/" ><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5570226936_a48d433be8.jpg" width="500" height="377" alt="dirty basement with captions"></a><br /></center><br />The view looks much better now. All the recessed lights are in, the plumbing lines and electrical to the second floor have all been rerouted to increase the headroom, and insulation is in place to help isolate the sound from the first floor living room.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5969751137/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5969751137_b4b451caf6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center><br />A look back at the stairs and portion of the remaining basement that will remain shows the recessed lights back in that area. I put the lights on a motion sensing/IR switch so when you walk in the space with your arms full of laundry you don't need to find a switch. We were talking about making a bar or closet in the area to the left but now that we are going to rent the space, this isn't a priority. <br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5970313978/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5970313978_d4f1892017.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center><br />To the right of the stairs is the framing around the HVAC. I added a small step at the bottom of the stairs to steer you toward the center of the room and away from the framing around the HVAC return. I was going to put a custom wine rack in this area, but again, this isn't a priority at this point. I added electricals circuit here in case I want to get fancy in the future with lighting the wine or potenially add a small bar over here.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5970312962/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5970312962_39393b1b2a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center><br />Walking a few steps forward, you can see more of what the living space will look like. A small closet is on the left, and I made a bench underneath the window to fill this dead space. On the right, there is a storage area that is accessed through the utility room door. Originally I was going to just do a soffit in this area, but the HVAC and water heater exhaust would still have been too low to make this area usable so I just closed this space in. The soffit change resulted swapping the seating area to the left instead of the right, but it shouldn't be that big of an issue. <br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5970312020/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5970312020_5f3ec77e98.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center><br />Looking back toward the stairs you can see this utility room. This room required moving the water heater to allow one door to be able to service the equipment while allowing space into the closet space to the left.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5969751893/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5969751893_9885b106fa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Basement Reno - Framing & Electrical Rough-In"></a><br /></center> <br />While overall I don't like using contractors, it is nice to know that by the end of this week the drywall will be in and mudded and all doors hung. As I type, guys are loading drywall into the house. Hopefuly it will be hung with a first coat of mud in place by the end of today. :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-3384733210562553962011-07-22T17:10:00.004-04:002011-07-22T17:48:21.250-04:00The New Casa: A Sneak PeakWe considered buying a "shell" and having a contractor do the work to finish it. After we found this house for a good deal, we knew this was the house for us. Take a peak.<br /><br />Here is the outside of the house, which is just fine. No great curb appeal. Since this picture was taken they painted the trim black and the door a nice gray. <br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649257/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5952649257_68002f4d09.jpg" width="258" height="500" alt="front"></a><br /></center><br />Through the front door is the living room, with a small 1/2 bath on the right. The ceilings are 12-14' tall on this floor, so while this house is the same width as our (about 12' interior), the ceiling height helps make it feel larger.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649623/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5952649623_c3dbefd960.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="living room"></a><br /></center><br />At the back of the house is the kitchen and dining room. The stairs of the house are in the middle, bisecting the space. Since they are an open stair it helps to make things still feel open. The kitchen has nice cabinets, counters, appliances, and a pretty good overall design.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952650031/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5952650031_aa8192ef40.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="kitchen 2"></a><br /></center><br />Here is the second floor layout, showing the two bedrooms each with their own bathrooms. Also, having the washer and dryer on this floor is pretty nice.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5953203520/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5953203520_6cc935bec3.jpg" width="248" height="500" alt="second floor plan"></a><br /></center><br />I can't pull the pics of the bedrooms into this post, but both they and the baths are pretty nice. Here is a sample of the bathrooms. Overall the tile quality is good in all of the 4.5 bathrooms. I don't know what we are going to do with all of those bathrooms, but the more the merrier?<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5953202976/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/5953202976_95b38fdf40.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="back bed bath"></a><br /></center><br />The third floor is what we fell in love with. It is a master suite with the bedroom at the front, the master bath in the back, and a wet bar leading out to the rooftop deck. Here is the landing, looking forward toward the bedroom.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5953203798/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5953203798_bba42e9e2b.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="atrium 2"></a><br /></center><br />Turning around 180 degrees and you have the wetbar to the rooftop deck.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649963/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5952649963_6046ec543e.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="wet bar 2"></a><br /></center><br />There is a small deck landing on this level, and then up you go one more level to the main deck area. It has view of the harbor and will be great to watch fireworks from. :-)<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5953203748/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5953203748_bf62a19f27.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="rooftop deck"></a><br /></center><br />The front of the third floor is the master bedroom, with a nice big walk-in closet with a glass panel door. All the bedrooms have recessed lighting and ceiling fans, and the master has the nice coffered ceiling.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649863/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5952649863_9745f887c9.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="master bed"></a><br /></center><br />The master bath at the back of the third level has a double vanity, a soaking tub, and to the left of the vanity there is a stand up shower with a bunch of a jets and a floating glass door. <br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649835/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5952649835_1d38e28d2d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="master bathroom"></a><br /></center><br />Also, the <s>mancave</s>basement is fully finished and runs the length of the house. It also has a full bathroom, just in case I need to shower in my mancave. You never know...<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952649225/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5952649225_075c057fb6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="basement stairs"></a><br /></center><br />We have a parking space in the back, but our one major thing we gave up with this house was a yard. :-( For more pictures of the house, including the full floor plans check out the <a href="http://www.mouseonhouse.com/property/583/15050/?Branding=0">virtual tour</a>.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5953203414/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5953203414_c11a1c3a6a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="parking pad"></a><br /></center> <br />Thus far, all things are heading smoothly, so hopefully all continutes to go well and we'll be moving in a little over a month.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-53184358679510716672011-07-19T23:38:00.001-04:002011-07-19T23:42:36.567-04:00Updated MechanicalsAfter looking at the blog, I noticed a draft I never completed. So I finished it. :-)<br /><br />Looking <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-hvac-system.html#links">back to '08</a>, I was considering a new HVAC system. Our system was old, energy usage was up, and the system wasn't keeping up with the heat and cold. I should have redone the system then. But I didn't. And it continued to get worse.<br /><br />Last October the furnace went down, and since we were in a better financial position than we were in '08 we decided to update the system. Since we had issues with both the furnace and the A/C it was time to update both. I got quotes, and ended up going with a SEER 16 2.5 ton unit outside, and a 80% efficient gas furnace inside. All said and done the costs came in at $5100. We then got $600 in rebates from Rheem, $500 from the State of Maryland and an additional $350 from BGE. With the combination of the SEER 16 outdoor unit and 80% efficient indoor unit, we were also eligible for $1500 in tax credits. What originally was a ludicrous cost became a manageable cost, especially since replacing the equipment late in the year minimized the time between our payment and subsequent tax return. Also, by negotiating our deal in late fall the HVAC companies were looking for work which allowed us room to negotiate. <br /><br />While the up front costs were high, overall it was a good decision that I wish we would have done sooner. I don't know if we will ever get the money back for this, but doing this change two years later than we should have cost us a lot in extra energy bills. If I had to do it all over again I would have done it sooner. <br /><br />Also, as we were looking at the HVAC upgrades we realized our ducts were undersized. Especially our return ducts upstairs. We decided not to undertake this task yet, as we wanted to see how much just changing out the units helped. While it has definitely lowered our costs, at times I can tell we need more air changeover upstairs. In the long run I think this task is something that should be done, but for the next few years it is definitely on the back burner.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-69803805638499875392011-07-18T22:50:00.010-04:002011-07-19T23:39:49.721-04:00And the Saga Continues...While some news of late hasn't been good, there have also been some positive developments too. The largest development as of late has been that we are now under contract for a new house. :-D<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5952650085/" ><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5952650085_4e14cee18e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="before reno"></a></center><br /><br />It is the three story house on the left. Isn't it beautiful? Yeah, not so much. But that is the <i>before</i> picture, and we are definitely purchasing this place in <i>after</i> condition. So, after renovating a house ourselves, why are we buying a renovated house, and more importantly why this house? Here are a few reasons:<br /><br /><ul>1. Some high end properties are going for cheap. Prices have dropped a lot in the past 5 years, and it is a great time to buy.<br />2. Mortgage rates are really low. Low prices <u>and</u> low rates? Double awesome. After paying for the current house's renovations with cash on hand, we know major renovations require major cash on hand. Our cash, blood, sweat and tears are in the house already. We may be able to generate more sweat and tears but cash is hard to come by.<br />3. Our 2 bed/1.5 bath won't magically sprout more bedrooms and bathrooms and overall square footage. While renovating the basement helps the value, it only helps to close the gap of making us competitive instead of just being overpriced for the size. <br />4. After going back and forth for the last couple of years of city vs. burbs, we've found that despite higher taxes and increased crime we like cities. Also, most burbs houses we like require us selling our house and taking a hefty loss. I don't like taking losses.<br />5. It has parking. The parking pad is essentially removing your backyard and replacing it with a parking space. Being in a city with mostly street parking and higher than average crime rates, having a guaranteed spot is important. We would have liked a yard AND a parking space, but most properties with both were coming in at $150-$200k more. Ouch.<br />6. This house price allows us to get approved for this mortgage without selling our current house. While home prices and rates are low, rent in the city is increasing. A great time to buy means sellers are screwed. By not selling our property and getting decent rent we will have someone else pay off our house for us as the market improves.<br />7. We are ready for something new. Hopefully this scratches our itch. :-D</ul><br />Most importantly, I'm glad this blog will be able to continue, though probably more in a decorating/life updates stance versus a ohmygodicantbelieveimdestroyingthewholehouseblog. Hopefully this is ok. <br /><br />At this point, we are hoping all contingencies are met and there aren't any issues that prevent the sale. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best, and will keep you posted along the way. <br /><br />P.S. I swear I'll post some pictures of the basement soon. It is framed, electrical run, and sound insulation in place. You'll have to trust me on this since there are no pictures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-52304759294096928532011-07-17T20:47:00.008-04:002011-07-18T22:49:33.815-04:00Dear GrandmaI'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye. I was glad to hear that mom and dad were by your side when your time came and that it was peaceful. I'm also happy that after 31 years, you'll once again be reunited with Jerry. I wish I could have met him. <br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/1199512036/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/1199512036_5288b9c1cf.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Grandma"></a><br /></center><br />I want to remember all the good stories and times past. Like in Hawaii how we drove around with Aunt Harriett on the hunt for the perfect Mai Tai. And how happy Leigh and I were that you made it to our wedding. Or how when I threw fishfood at your feet and you called me a little shit (you were right, I was). And when after the in-laws came to visit Michigan you begrudgingly told them they were alright. The thought of no new memories with you in them is a tough pill to swallow.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/1178073594/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1410/1178073594_ed5c91c3d7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Grandma's Hands"></a><br /></center><br />While I wish I was there to say goodbye, most of all I'm just flat out going to miss you. I'm going to miss the sound of your giggle, the sight of you pushing your walker/chariot around with a martini on it, and your voice on a phone call. You always ended the call reminding me how proud you were of me. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day, and Leigh and I would talk about how postively sweet you were. My heart keeps hoping you'll call but in my head I know that memories will have to suffice.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/1188780536/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1400/1188780536_fede480539.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="G-ma"></a><br /></center><br />G-ma - I'm glad that your pain is over, but I'm really going to miss you. And most of all I am proud to have known you.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />CoreyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-54384014002236568102011-04-03T19:23:00.005-04:002011-04-03T20:55:08.470-04:00King Sized Bed Leads to Massive UpheavalWhen you last saw the bedroom, it looked like this. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/3006322365/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/3006322365_9e1e2917f8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1240"></a><br /><br />While we definitely finished it off after that, and promptly forgot to take pictures, we then moved on to the next project. For years we lusted after king sized beds, but didn't think one would fit. We found a way around this and took the plunge. This started a massive upheaval in the bedroom design... Now that the house is pretty well done our style has shifted away from purely modern, and more toward something cozier. For the bedroom, the Queen was inspired by <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/">Restoration Hardware</a>. We quickly tired of the bright blue wall and wanted something calming, so she picked the color palette from there, and we DIY'd a few pieces from there. Here is the inspiration.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5586622153/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5586622153_df27a23c48.jpg" width="500" height="258" alt="Fall10_126_Warner_bedrm"></a><br /><br />And here is our final product. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5587164342/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5587164342_1c0f914e1a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2674"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5587165222/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5587165222_9784670554.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2684"></a><br /><br />Even Wally approves, and in this photo there is also a sneak peak of a future blog post... We even took time to finally put up crown molding. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5586570507/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5586570507_6d6d1b4e1b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2680"></a><br /><br />We copied the headboard from the <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod560015&categoryId=cat160051">Wallace Headboard</a> and redid a couple of dressers we snagged from craigslist to mimic the <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1679359&categoryId=cat1536015">Zinc Dresser</a>. I thought about making a bedframe myself, but decided it would be too much work so we bought the <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/narrow-leg-wood-bed-frame-f828/?pkey=cheadboards-bed-frames">narrow leg bed frame</a> from west elm. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5587165938/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5587165938_988ea48d18.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2690"></a><br /><br />While the bedding is actually from Restoration HW, it was on sale so we didn't feel too bad about it. :-) The Queen also picked up a new mirror from <a href="http://www.homegoods.com">Home Goods</a>, which matched the paint color and style perfectly. We also took the plunge and decided to paint our mantle the same color as the wall, and we are extremely pleased with the decision. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5587166290/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5587166290_cb6a2a111f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_2691"></a><br /><br />For the next post we'll talk a little bit more about the headboard and our restoration of the dressers. Both projects took quite a bit of time, but at a price savings of $4,200 off Restoration Hardware we are quite pleased. We are also waiting for a huge 50" x 35" vintage map of Istanbul that will be placed over the bed. Once the map is in place this room is considered complete.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-80103446976046159592011-03-28T22:39:00.005-04:002011-03-28T23:25:16.358-04:00Pit of Despair DesignNow that you've seen the pit in all of its unfinished glory, here are some explanations of the space. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5570226936/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5570226936_a48d433be8.jpg" width="500" height="377" alt="dirty basement with captions" /></a><br /><br />Pay special attention to my return duct in the way of the stairs and the pile of crap on the floor. Also notice the plumbing and electrical conduit lines underneath the joints through the middle of the space. It will be lovely rerouting this. I greatly look forward to this endeavor... Also, as we go forward please be patient with my adjustment of the space to make sure it <s>corrects for my screwing up the initial measurements</s> accurately represents what is really there. For instance, in the following picture I screwed up the return vent width at the foot of the stairs showing it as 24" long when it is really 61" long. Oops.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5566296219/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5566296219_f33f9db2c8.jpg" width="500" height="366" alt="basement1" /></a><br /><br />Here you can see the overall space and the new doors to the gas meter (it says "water meter", but I screwed up), the door to the water heater (I actually got this right). To the right side of this door is the furnace. On the right side is the new door back to the unfinished portion of the basement. Planning around the many obstacles is creating dead areas, and the fun part is figuring out ways to minimize these areas to maximize usable floor space. For instance, to use the space to the left of the stairs underneath the return vent that juts 24" below the joist I've thought about adding a bar counter high enough to add some glasses and a mini fridge. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5570226810/" ><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5570226810_7811f53170.jpg" width="500" height="263" alt="basement4" /></a><br /><br />I'm not sure what else I can do with this low space, other than adding a wine rack or something of the like. Also take a peek to the left to see where I put the couch, which is a way to use the 5'-6" height underneath the supply vent without eating into the space. I put it on this side of the house as I want a chaise or an L shaped couch and the new closet for the <s>water</s> gas meter means I can't put an L/chaise here. If I put the couch in space shown, it uses the dead space forward of the gas meter as a place to put the TV on the opposite wall. This is shown in the next picture where I was too lazy to create actual built in shelves in sketchup and instead just show an orange call out where I'd put the shelves. Hopefully you all have excellent imaginations. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5569639265/" ><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5569639265_40f3ce1f3f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="basement5" /></a> <br /><br />The custom built-ins would create extra work for me and while I probably wouldn't get them 100% right it would allow me some good practice. The bad news about this is it would pretty much take up this whole wall. With the door to the gas meter where it is I'm not sure what else I could really put in this area though. In this view I also added a notional space for a closet in the dead space between the stairs and the unfinished portion of the basement. This could serve as a good space to hang winter/summer clothes during the off season, and since the space is so narrow I'm not sure what else I could use it for... One layout I'm considering for resale purporses is to create a space separate from the stairs that I can market as a bedroom in the future. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5569639301/" title="basement6 by Baltimore Rowhouse, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5569639301_a2e683beb3.jpg" width="500" height="308" alt="basement6" /></a><br /><br />Making a wall here creates a deadspace at the bottom of the landing. While I can fill part of this space with a closet, it really chops up the space. That said, a chopped up space that creates an extra bedroom in a two bedroom house is something that deserves consideration. <br /><br />Well, now that you've seen the space what are your thoughts? It would be nice to hear some opinions on how you would configure the space. I'm not sold on any specific design and am curious to hear peoples' opionions. Please help! :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-56658006924567077712011-03-27T23:04:00.005-04:002011-03-27T23:43:09.331-04:00Basement BeginningsInstead of spending the last couple of years renovating, I've been off getting married, getting fat, and doing many things other than renovating. But now it's time to get back to work. In the past few months the Queen and I have been busy finishing up the crown molding upstairs, redoing the bedroom in a Restoration Hardware style, and have started to finish the basement. The first two items will be covered in later posts, but for this post I'll focus on the basement. Or from now on, I'll call it the pit of despair, or just the pit. The pit has been so horrendously scary for the past couple of years we've been afraid to do anything with it. Check it out...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/5566874746/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5566874746_ac870319d2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="dirty basement" /></a><br /><br />Scary, eh? And this is after I spent a long time cleaning it and selling a ton of crap on craigslist. After making it so I can actually see the floor I have motivation to now cover it with plushy carpet and make it <s>my mancave</s> a non-gender specific den. I have so much motivation that I told my father about it and ask him to come in from Michigan in a few weeks to help renovate it. Oh yeah, it's on like Donkey Kong...<br /><br />In normal spaces renovation is pretty straight forward as there are usually flat floors and ceiling free of obstructions, and you are usually nailing into all wooden surfaces. Not in a basement. My basement has a crusty old uneven floor, the height is about 6 and a 1/2 feet to the joist, and the edges of the rooms are an obstacle course of ducts, plumbing and other goodies. To get ready for this I've started drilling holes through the joist to re-route the electrical and plumbing, and to draw the place up using Google sketch-up. It is going to be a framing nightmare, but once I figure out the floor plan I'm hoping I can do up the place pretty nice. <br /><br />Since I bought the house in 2006 and did a quality renovation, there is zero chance I will get back all the money I put into it. I've come to accept this. That said, the basement renovation plan is to make a space that is usable as a second entertaining space for a very low budget. I'm hoping to to it for under $4,000. This means there will be sacrifices.<br /><ul>1. We aren't digging out the basement. With a ceiling height of about 6 and a 1/2 feet, there isn't much height. To dig out the basement would cost on the order of $30'ish bucks a square foot. There is no way I'll make this money back. To make the space not feel claustraphobic I'll be using recessed lights and trying to keep as much headroom as possible.<br />2. While we only half 1 and 1/2 baths, we aren't putting in a new bathroom in the basement. This would require smashing through the floor, and then without raising the ceiling height we probably couldn't put in a shower. While it would be great to have another bathroom I just don't think it's worth the expense.<br />3. The floor is old uneven cement, and it's going to stay that way. My plan is to carpet over the old concrete. To rip out the concrete, or to attempt leveling it would be some big bucks.<br />4. I will only finish the front 20 to 25 feet of the basement. The total basement depth is 45 feet. The back area house a nice storage area and the laundry area. While it would be nice to have a finished laundry area, it just isn't worth the money. Also, I really like having some unfinished space in the basement for storage. <br />5. I will try to work with my existing HVAC, water heater, and water meter locations. To move my main mechanicals will cost me thousands, and while the constrain the space more than I'd like, I think if I optimized thing I'd only gain a few extra square feet of useful area. My plan is to be creative using lots of storage in hidden/unusable corners and crannies. </ul><br />Next post I'll talk a bit more about the design and some of the design trades I'm thinking about such as whether to make this a future bedroom with it's own door, adding a closet vs. a mini bar area, and building a custom entertainment center with built-in book shelves.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-18844191869528610412010-11-28T11:16:00.007-05:002010-11-28T12:45:40.849-05:00Pat & Lisa's Engagement PhotosIf you are looking for an update on the house you will disappointed. Instead, I'm posting some engagement photos I shot of my friends Pat & Lisa. We spent a couple hours of Halloween Day in Havre de Grace, Maryland and at Susquehanna State Park. Pat did a great job scouting locations, and they both were both just easygoing and fun to shoot.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212645754/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5212645754_3e7704e269_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212946089/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5212946089_a645c5bcf1_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212951599/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5212951599_6cde1425d1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212947123/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5212947123_0b421410a5_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5213548488/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5213548488_ff360526cb_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212954537/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5212954537_d1480bfdb4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5213568978/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5213568978_11c4d8546f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5213003719/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5213003719_af82d9c154_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5213543850/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5213543850_81c2b62247_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5213549726/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5213549726_a05cbaf6c2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212948785/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5212948785_1d7c0daec6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/5212047363/" title="Pat & Lisa by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5212047363_d1386bbfd9_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Pat & Lisa" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-10626215244434435062010-05-09T21:54:00.002-04:002010-05-09T22:04:33.266-04:00YardliciousNow that tax season is over, the Queen has her weekends back. And when she has her weekends productivity at the rowhouse picks up tenfold. On Saturday we went and picked up some obnoxiously orange paint for the back door. While at the Despot we found an unfinished adirondack chair for $30 and also decided to paint it obnoxious orange. <br /><br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs261.snc3/27734_387662661970_512246970_4419661_1863931_n.jpg"><br /><br />The last month or so we've purchased more pots, a five sectional lounge, and a cantilever umbrella from Ikea, and had my parents snag some cushions for the lounger. We even finalized the beds and made a little litter box out of pea gravel for Wally. I was worried I had just wasted my time, but so far he uses the litter box area exclusively. The yard is really looking snazzy. So snazzy that the iPhone pics won't do it justice. Until I get out with my uber-cam all I'm going to show are pictures of the orangeness. :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-64414266238940215472010-03-23T22:40:00.007-04:002010-03-24T09:58:15.185-04:00Community Activism, aka BureaucracyI went to my first community meeting for our neighboorhood association tonight, the <a href="http://www.cantoncommunity.org/">Canton Community Association (CCA)</a>. Let me backtrack as to why I was there.<br /><br />Parking on our street has gotten worse since I've moved here. With a tanking economy properties can't sit vacant, paying taxes and mortgages, while potentially losing value at the same time. This has brought renters or caused folks to sell. Both of these causes increased our population density enough to effect parking in the area. <br /><br />I filled out an online application for angle parking to help increase our parking. Adding angle parking has the ability to increase the number of spots by up to 50%. In an area where garages are rare, and the primary means of parking is on the street, this is a big deal. The request said the city would come out and measure my street, and if it is wide enough (more than 38' wide), it is eligible for street parking. A month or so later we got a letter saying that our street was wide enough, and to contact the CCA. We contacted them recently and were invited to their meeting tonight, which was focused on parking. The city discussed angle parking, garages, permits, and other ways to alleviate the parking issues. Sure there were squabbles and whining about the best way to make parking happen, but I won't focus on that. <br /><br />Overall it was a good meeting, and I met a lot of folks that will be helpful with this process. Adjacent neighborhoods were at the meeting, including <a href="http://www.pattersonparkneighbors.org/">Patterson Park</a> and <a href="http://www.fellsprospect.org/ReverseangleparkingFAQ.html">Fells Prospect</a>. Both communities touting their approval of the angle parking and offering their assistance. It is one thing to deal with bureaucracy to improve your own parking, but offering to help other communities is pretty incredible. <br /><br />I left the meeting 3 hours later, feeling pretty encouraged and energized. This will be a long process with many battles to come, but I'm glad to see there is some support within the neighborhood and an excellent support network in adjacent communities willing to help. I appreciated seeing neighbors in a room together discussing a common issue. While we may not all agree upon a common solution I appreciate folks willingness to come out and try to change things.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-39677514099425989992010-03-16T22:50:00.004-04:002010-03-16T23:01:45.447-04:00Lounging AroundThe Queen and I talked about the backyard and what kind of furniture we should get. Since most stores haven't come out with this year's line we are eagerly awaiting their unveiling. With that in mind, we are leaning toward a backyard lounge and away from a large table. I can imagine something like this.<br /><br /><img src="http://grassrootsmodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/200903310750.jpg"><br /><br />It is all from <a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=112&f=4583">cb2</a>. While I like it, the costs would be at least $1500 for the chairs and cushions. That's not happening. Hopefully ikea has something similar to this or their arholma line (below) that is a bit more budget friendly. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0088797_PE220311_S4.JPG">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-88323088452787581092010-03-14T23:22:00.005-04:002010-03-15T10:16:11.265-04:00SpringThe days are brighter and the temperatures are getting warmer. We deserve spring after <a href="http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/blog/the_score/2010/02/snow_crown_goes_from_buffalo_to_baltimore.html">this year's winter</a>. While we deserve some warmth I am totally unprepared for it. Last year we <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2009/07/backyard-landscaping-update.html">enclosed the backyard</a> and spruced things up a bit. It still needs work though. Here are a few things I'm currently thinking about.<br /><br /><u>1. Figure out what to do with the left wall</u><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22985814@N03/3724402007/" title="_MG_1297 by Baltimore Rowhouse, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3724402007_300d5b4bfe.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1297" /></a><br /><br />The left side of the yard is kind of blah - it is just a big hulking concrete wall. I want to spice it up. I am contemplating cutting out a 6" by 8' section out of the concrete and planting something like bamboo to help add some texture and height to the area. Another thought is to build a neato looking planter, like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/gardening/modern-diy-outdoor-planter-093540"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/665875/potted_rect540.jpg" width="500"></a><br /><br />I've even thought about using this vertical space for vegetable plantings, but the planters would have to be pretty thin and would probably require constant watering. A budget option is to use gutters, but I think this has a high probability of looking like crap.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/gardening/gutter-garden-growing-your-food-in-a-small-spacejuneau-empire-083350"><img src="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/sf/42909guttergarden1.jpg"></a><br /><br /><u>2. Get new furniture</u><br /><br />While we appreciate the donated furni from the Queen's parents, it doesn't really match our style. I kind of like something like this (which they say will also work outside).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=11020&f=5308"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4434499648_8552157feb_o.jpg" width="357" height="357" alt="cb2 table" /></a><br /><br />It is modern, and the glass top while tough to keep clean will help keep the space feeling open and airy. We are also keeping out eye out on other outdoor furni - hopefully the stores start carrying this year's design soon. Since the cb2 table isn't a true outdoor table we'd still like an umbrella for shade. <br /><br /><img width="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31eOaDTTCYL._SS500_.jpg"><br /><br />I'm thinking something like this, and fabricate some custom clamp against the wall so we wouldn't need a hulking base for it.<br /><br /><u>3. Grow veggies & herbs</u><br /><br />I want fresh veggies and herbs, especially basil, at my disposal. I also want the veggie garden to look pretty. I'm thinking I'll just do a bunch of pots. Is there a good source for inexpensive, modern looking pots? I've found cool looking rectangular mod pots that look great, but they are big $. <br /><br /><u>4. Finish the back of the raised bed</u><br /><br />I need to get some sod, and redo the ivy that I planted to climb up the back wall. I planted english ivy last year, but after rethinking it is too invasive and just isn't climbing quickly. I think I'm going to go with boston ivy.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2006/05/15/Upwardly_Mobile_Boston_ivy_w609.jpg"><br /><br />I'm also considering adding some plants with height to the back of the bed, but I don't want to take too much space from Wally's restroom. <br /><br /><u>5. Actually finish the plumbing for the outdoor spigots</u><br /><br />Yeah, that has been on the to do list for almost forever. After checking out some <a href="http://locustpointrowhouse.blogspot.com/">new rehabbers</a> I'm starting to get a small spark of motivation. Gotta get'r'done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-64422276480541369042010-03-08T20:35:00.006-05:002010-03-08T21:22:53.973-05:00Life Goes by and the House Stays the SameI should be full of stories of completed work on the house. But I'm not. Little things have been done. Even less has been documented. <br /><br />At this point, we are in wedding prep mode. Or rather, the Queen is in wedding prep mode. In less than 3 months we'll be hitched and swooping off to <a href="http://www.guana.com/">Guana Island</a> followed by a nice <a href="http://www.moorings.com/vacation-options/bareboat-yacht-charter/destinations/caribbean/british-virgin-islands/tortola">jaunt around the islands</a>. Life is good. We even made time for the annual theme party. This year's theme was the Jersey shore. As usual it was a blast.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/4418097213/" title="_MG_1508 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4418097213_fb95b92a1a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1508" /></a><br /><br />If you care to see more carnage, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/sets/72157623582867108/show/">check out the slideshow</a>. All this and landscaping needs to be finished in the back, crown molding to be hung, and a ton of other miscellaneous other tasks requiring attention. Life has switched gears for now but I'll soon be back in the swing of renovations.<br /><br />P.S. I think I finally have the formatting fixed. I'm glad to finally have all my links back. :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-17272022302543955942009-10-06T14:03:00.008-04:002009-10-06T16:54:36.653-04:00ReflectingI came across <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/top-10-signs-that-renovations-arent.html">this blog post</a> from exactly a year ago today.<br /><br /><ul><U>Top 10 Signs that Renovations Aren't Complete</u><br />10. Your lunch sack is a plastic bag from Home Depot<br />9. You worry about falling through the kitchen ceiling every morning when going into the tub<br />8. Contractors come to your house more often than your friends<br />7. You go to the dog park and someone points out that the dog has paint on him<br />6. Plastic drop cloths are considered a home decor <br />5. Sundays are spent mudding & taping instead of watching football.<br />4. The upstairs foyer table is actually a piece of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board">OSB</a>. With a mitre saw on it.<br />3. Fixing the main roof truss that is 100% cut through is on the same 'to do list' along with purchasing 1/2" screws for the closet.<br />2. You get <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/happy-birthday-to-me.html">certified letters for the weeds & junk in your back yard</a>.<br />1. Two words - drywall boogers</ul><br />I'll never forget moving into the house when renovations were nowhere near complete in August 2008. My brother's friend helped move all my stuff, and when he first walked in you could tell he was thinking, "Kevin, this is where your sister is going to live?" Everything was torn up, tools were everywhere, and there was a hole in the bathroom floor. We ended up just piling all my boxes of things in the guest room to the ceiling until the dust settled and I could unpack. I lived out of moving boxes for months because I couldn't put things in my closet while we were frantically finishing the master bedroom. At the same time, we went to the gym every day for several weeks, not because we were diligently trying to get in shape (I think we burned enough calories working on the house every night and weekend). But because we had no shower while the bathroom was being renovated. Ahhh, the good old days!<br /><br />It's still hard for me to believe that renovations are 'done'. I'm proud of all the work we did ourselves, and I never thought in my life I would learn how to install wood floors or be a mudding and taping guru. Although demolition is still my favorite renovating duty :) Luckily, we don't have to worry much about drywall boogers these days, and we no longer decorate with drop cloths. In fact, now we spend many evenings relaxing on <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Family.aspx?c=960&f=4893">the most comfortable sofa in the world</a>.<br /><br />Kudos to anybody in the midst of renovating right now! You deserve major props for all your hard work - keep at it!<br /><br />P.S. Don't forget to <a href="http://data.baltimoresun.com/mobbies/?vote_for=91#91">vote for Baltimore Rowhouse</a> every day until October 9th! We are in sixth place now, movin on up!Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08339366888138361871noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-39401716205645246092009-10-02T09:53:00.006-04:002009-10-02T11:10:51.070-04:00Mobbies and a Birthday PresentYesterday we came across <a href="http://data.baltimoresun.com/mobbies">a contest for Maryland's outstanding blogs</a> held by the Baltimore Sun. Some of our favorite nominees are <a href="http://coconutlime.blogspot.com/">daily food inspiration</a>, <a href="http://athleat.blogspot.com/">a neighbor</a>, <a href="http://pattersonparkpatter.blogspot.com/">a Patterson Parker</a>, <a href="http://rantinfromcanton.blogspot.com/">a fellow renovator</a>, <a href="http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/">a photography favorite that we met at Patapsco Park last year</a>,<a href="http://weatherinsatin.blogspot.com/"> a new hilarious discovery</a>, and <a href="http://www.ohmidog.com/">a fellow dog lover</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://data.baltimoresun.com/mobbies/images/mobbies.png"><br /><br />We also discovered that Baltimore Rowhouse was nominated! Looks like we are in 7th place in the Neighborhood category right now. Voting is through October 9, and you can vote once daily in each category. We're feeling a bit competitive after coming in second on HGTV's Bang For Your Buck last month :) <a href="http://data.baltimoresun.com/mobbies/?vote_for=91#91">Vote for Baltimore Rowhouse!</a><br /><br />On another note, Corey turned 30 on Tuesday and is now older than 42% of the population in the U.S. Last weekend, his best friend from college flew up from North Carolina with his wife to surprise Corey. We also had a big birthday bash. This weekend I am 'surprising' him with a trip to <a href="http://www.lostrivermodern.com/">Lost River Modern</a>. I decided to spill the beans this morning because he already was suspicious that we were going there. I have had this trip planned since April, and I'm glad the weekend is finally here.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.busyboo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/prefab-cabin-lost-river-3.jpg"><br /><br />We plan on posting about our HGTV experience soon. In the meantime, if you didn't catch us the first time around they are showing a rerun on October 13. Have a great weekend!Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08339366888138361871noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-39713036892318055612009-09-20T18:41:00.003-04:002009-09-20T19:05:24.587-04:00Fully EngagedMy apologies for the lack of posts, but we've been busy with our engagement. I finally made an honest woman out of the Queen. From this point forward we are not living in sin. At least this is what we are going to tell ourselves. :-) <br /><br />If you remember way back when <a href="http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/2009/08/we-have-air-date.html">I posted last</a> we were going to be on HGTV. Well, the episode aired. We didn't win, but at least we didn't lose like the guys over at <a href="http://projectrowhouse.blogspot.com/">project rowhouse</a>. <i>(Actually, I think they won seeing as they didn't really spend $50k and did an amazing job on their place, but I don't want to say anything about that)</i> After our loss the Queen and I headed over to <a href="http://projectrowhouse.blogspot.com">project rowhouse</a> to celebrate. They had a party going on, and it was great to hang out with Jon and Craig again. <br /><br />If you missed the show, check out upcoming airtimes at <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/bang-for-your-buck/50000-great-rooms-in-baltimore/index.html">hgtv's website for the episode</a> and set the DVR. The next time it's on is October 13th at 9:30, and a few hours later at 12:30 am. Make sure to tune in and watch us look like fools.<br /><br />P.S. All my links got wiped out somehow. I'll have to spend some time to reset them to their rightful place. :-(Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-52066585136849499742009-08-17T17:52:00.003-04:002009-08-17T17:57:17.264-04:00We Have an Air DateBang for your Buck contacted us last week and said we are scheduled to be on the air 9/18. <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/on_tv/episode/0,1000145,HGTV_32663_64640,00.html">HGTV's website</a> says the show will air on 9/11 at 9:30. I guess we'll just have to tune in to find out. :-)<br /><br />Here is the rundown of the show from the website.<br /><br /><ul><i>Designer Taniya Nayak compares three great rooms in Baltimore that were recently renovated with budgets of $50,000 each. Along with a realtor, they look at a modern great room with horizontal metal cabinets, a contemporary great room with a wood-burning fireplace and a spunky great room with a built-in bar.</ul></i><br />I'm assuming we are the spunky great room with the built in bar. I'd prefer bad ass over spunky, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-66784765900908343122009-08-10T18:26:00.002-04:002009-08-17T17:49:45.721-04:00More Turkey Pictures<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3741738422/" title="_MG_1853 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3741738422_aa27bc6369_o.jpg" width="500" alt="_MG_1853" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3758539699/" title="_MG_2006 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3758539699_01cfd85b45_o.jpg" width="500" alt="_MG_2006" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3758539797/" title="_MG_2018 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3758539797_8d21c7b247_o.jpg" width="500" alt="_MG_2018" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3763117160/" title="_MG_1998 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3763117160_aafcd38b64_o.jpg" width="500" alt="_MG_1998" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717122983754819465.post-51091787714736127762009-07-18T13:40:00.005-04:002009-07-18T14:00:13.408-04:00Houseblog SchmouseblogWhile I should be in the backyard slaving away at landscaping and plumbing, I felt like writing a blog entry about Turkey. Procrastination is a beautiful thing.<br /><br />While in Istanbul we took a cruise along the Bosphorous. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3732063471/" title="_MG_1884 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3732063471_3cfa0f9b26.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1884" /></a><br /><br />The Blue Mosque was also pretty impressive. The intricate tile work was amazing. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3624419394/" title="_MG_1749 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3624419394_3b3f3a7780.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1749" /></a><br /><br />There were tons of stray cats throughout Turkey. This one was escaping the days heat in front of the Blue Mosque.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3624419548/" title="_MG_1772 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3624419548_98249c5c39.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1772" /></a><br /><br />I liked the look of these doors. I'm thinking about blowing it up to hang on the wall. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3623569205/" title="_MG_1740 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3623569205_1174e8a32f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_1740" /></a><br /><br />While the Queen was smiling here, we were less than impressed with the cave cities in Cappadocia. They are neat and all, but after we saw one we were ready to go. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3623463235/" title="_MG_2140 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3623463235_d8452a0f54.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="_MG_2140" /></a><br /><br />The cave churces at the Goreme Open Air Museum were much better than the caves at Derinkuyu. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3624282102/" title="_MG_2211 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3624282102_a954210055.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_2211" /></a><br /><br />The town of Goreme in Cappadocia was impressive. Our hotel room was in a cave. If you look behind the Queen you can see the valley is filled with cave dwellings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3624281686/" title="_MG_2029 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3624281686_9b7d25aa6d.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="_MG_2029" /></a><br /><br />While riding ATV's around Cappadocia we stopped to pet a horse that was tied out on a hillside. Another lady was stopped by the horse reading a book and enjoying the view. The horse wasn't hers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3624281740/" title="_MG_2045 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3624281740_ea5f80cbe1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_2045" /></a><br /><br />The highlight of Ephesus was definitely the Celsius Library. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprofit/3623464541/" title="_MG_2267 by The Baltimoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3623464541_6e780636d8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_2267" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4