Amanda Berry’s sister has addressed the public to ask for privacy as Berry, who has been gone for more than 10 years, gets reacquainted with her family in Cleveland.

“We want to thank the public and media for their support over the years,” Beth Serrano said to a large gathering of reporters outside her Cleveland home.

Police officials had told reporters that Amanda Berry would be making a statement shortly after she arrived at the house, but it was her sister who came out to address the crowd instead.

Holding back tears, Serrano added, “Our family would request privacy so my sister, niece and I have time to recover. Please respect our privacy until we are ready to make our statements.”

Berry was able to escape the Cleveland house where she had been held captive since her disappearance at age 17 in 2003. Inside the same home, police found two other missing people: Gina DeJesus who disappeared at age 14 in 2004, and Michele Knight, who went missing at age 20 in 2002.

Berry gave birth to a daughter, Jocelyn, while in captivity, who is now 6 years old. The girls’ accused captor, 52-year-old Ariel Castro, is presumed to be the child’s father.

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  PHOTOS: The discovery of missing Cleveland girls 10 years later

The city in Cleveland rejoiced at news that the girls, who were the focus of intense media coverage after their disappearances, were found alive in good health. They have been reunited with their family members since Monday night, who never believed the girls were dead.

Castro and his brothers, Pedro Castro, 54, and Onil Castro, 50, were taken into custody Monday. They are expected to be charged Wednesday, police said.

This incredible drama began to unfold Monday night when a neighbor heard Berry’s screams and pleas to be let out of the house. That neighbor, Charles Ramsey, helped kick through the front door, freeing Berry who then made a desperate call to 911. Investigators have since found ropes and chains they believe were used to restrain the girls in the house. They have not found human remains, fueling speculation into whether Castro was involved in other kidnappings.

Berry’s mother died of heart failure two years after her daughter went missing — people close to the family maintain she died of a “broken heart.” She went to her grave convinced her daughter was still alive, despite a reading from a psychic who told her Amanda was dead.

“It tormented her because she knew she was alive, but her heart gave out,” former Cleveland investigative reporter Duane Pohlman recalled to Metro. “There was something different about her mom that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. She was insistent, almost obsessive, that her daughter was still alive, almost to the point of wanting to convince me.”

Amanda Berry’s sister joined her at the hospital after her rescue Monday night. She has also reconnected with her grandmother in Tennessee by phone.

Gina DeJesus was also reunited with her family. Her cousin, Sheila Figaro, said the family never lost hope that Gina would be found one day. The house where the girls were held for more than a decade was just two blocks from DeJesus’ aunt, who lived on the same street.

“There were all those thoughts that race through one’s mind – is she right under your nose? Has she been taken to another country?” Figaro said to Metro. “But, you just never know. To find out she was blocks two away from her own family…”

Follow Cassandra Garrison on Twitter: @CassieAtMetro

The post Amanda Berry’s sister makes statement: ‘Please respect our privacy’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Working from home sounds like a dream, but the reality is that it requires a lot of skills. To work from home you must be self-disciplined and able to manage time, but there are many other characteristics that come with being a successful at-home worker.

Distinguish work time and play time: It’s easy to fall into the trap of constant connection when working remotely, but that doesn’t help your stamina. You lock yourself in a home office during work, so why not turn off your phone during personal time?

“You must make personal time off-limits for work as much as possible,” says Sabina Ptacin, co-founder of the online business community Tin Shingle. “This could mean no laptops in the bedroom or no calls during dinner. Try to be a realistic business and know when to turn off and on.”

Prepare for social isolation: Working outside of the office means no water cooler chatter.

“Because remote workers are isolated from their co-workers, supervisors and customers, they must be comfortable fulfilling their social needs outside of work or via electronic channels like instant messaging, phone and email,” says Jeff Facteau, vice president of professional services at SHL, a talent measurement company. When you find yourself longing for actual human interaction, schedule a lunch meeting.

Don’t forget, it’s still work: When you work according to your own schedule, deadlines can be tighter and resources may be harder to find. You have to treat work like work, regardless of what else is going on.

“Remember that bosses want employees who get things done. Deliver on what they want and they won’t care if you are in that cubicle or working out of a Starbucks,” suggests Jane Miller, founder of Janeknows.com and author of the upcoming book “Sleep your Way to the Top (and Other Myths About Business Success).”

“If you can get results and wear your bunny slippers, you’ll have the best of all worlds,” adds Miller.

The post Working from home still means work appeared first on Metro.us.

Lo McShay

Credit: Studio Vitri

If you’re hosting pals over this Sunday night for the Academy Awards, roll out the red carpet for them: “Anything to indulge your guests a little bit and make them feel like a celebrity for the evening I think is a nice touch,” says Boston-based event planner Lolo McShay. We got her tips on just how to do that.

Food

Butternut squash soup shooters

Credit: Kelly Benvenuto
You could tie your foods to this year’s favorite films (Life of Apple Pi, anyone?), or, McShay says, you can model your meal after the very dinner the Oscar attendees will be having at Wolfgang Puck’s Governor’s Ball on Oscar night.
“I took my inspiration for the foods that I’m going to be serving at my girls’ get-together based off of his menu, which is all around comfort food this year,” she says. She and Puck will be serving red snapper, chicken pot pie, soup shooters and a grilled peach-and-tomato salad (skewer yours for easy clean-up). You can find her recipes for these dishes at www.loloevents.net.
For an extra touch, “make a little sign for the buffet that hints to your guests that these are directly off the menu that Wolfgang Puck is going to be serving at the Governor’s Ball. Even make a printed menu for your guests that says ‘Governor’s Ball 2013’ on it.” The goal is to “give your guests an experience of being there at the Oscars.”

Drinks
For such a celebratory occasion, McShay says you can’t go wrong with a little bubbly. At her Oscars party, she’s serving up “probably the most iconic champagne cocktail, the New York Metropolitan Hotel’s Champagne Cocktail.” It’s easy to make it yourself: Soak a sugar cube in bitters, toss it in the bottom of a champagne flute, top it with champagne, and if you’re feeling extra fancy, add a bit of cognac at the top.

Décor
For her shindig, McShay is modeling her living room after the “Architectural Digest”-designed green room where presenters and nominees will mingle during the show. “‘Architectural Digest” has said that their inspiration for this year’s green room is a place where contemporary celebrities would run into famous celebrities of bygone eras, so [I’m incorporating] that mix of current, modern interior design with vintage touches.” How to bring a bit of old-Hollywood into your pad this weekend? Serve your cocktails on a bar cart, if you have one, and pick up a luxurious-looking crushed velvet throw pillow or blanket “just add a little something texture-wise to give that sense of a bygone era,” she says. Color-wise, gold is a good hue to play around.

More drinks

The Nominees are…

2 part) Pinnacle® Blackberry Vodka
4 parts Ginger Ale
Splash Lime Juice
Mix in a glass with ice and garnish with an orange slice.

Zero Dark Thirsty

1.5 parts SVEDKA Cherry
Top with fresh apple juice
Build in rocks glass. Garnish with an apple slice.

Pour L’Amour

1 oz Pisa Liqueur
1/3 oz Absolut® vodka
1 oz cream
Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Strain over ice in a rock glass.

“Unchained Western” -Inspired by “Django Unchained”

2-3 chunks of frozen pineapple
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. maraschino syrup
2 oz. rye whiskey
Polar Lemon Seltzer
Lemon twist, to garnish
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the pineapple, syrup, lemon juice and whiskey. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a coupe, top with seltzer. Garnish with lemon twist.

You’ll need an award-winning wine for such a winning night: The Darkhorse 2010 Chardonnay won a gold medal at the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and pairs well with fresh fruit and mild cheeses. $8, Trader Joe’s

The post How to throw an all-star Oscar party appeared first on Metro.us.

The line between décor and art often blurs. And within that margin sits Dream House. This home décor startup launched this month via an exhibition at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, which included Dream House co-founder Molly Rosner’s paintings, photographs and small sculptures. Cleverly, the BU senior and Dream House partner Julie Jackson turned the senior showcase into Dream House’s launch. So in addition to artifacts, the exhibit included inventory.

“We wanted to see if people would be interested,” says Jackson. “Rather than do a focus group, we saw what the reaction was at an exhibition. It was great; lots of people put in orders.”

Jackson says Rosner’s  work can cater to both big spenders and students on a budget.

“Dream House is about making art accessible to people our age with prints of Molly’s work,” she says. “But we also want to sell the more expensive original art as well. That might appeal to a different demographic outside of college. But whoever is buying, it’s wall art, but personal.”

Jackson, a business student, says Dream House’s prints, photographs and original art will expand into other originally designed household goods and accessories. Their design and business inspiration is mass-produced art master Andy Warhol.

“It’s pop art and vintage glamour. Molly’s work is very straightforward. It’s meant to put a smile on your face.”

The pair got serious about Dream House last October and word soon spread via what was also once just a Massachusetts campus start-up, Facebook. This move brought in fellow B.U. students as their first customers.
Buzz at B.U. isn’t their business plan, though.

“It would be great to some day have a physical space, or sell in other stores,” says Jackson, “or show at other galleries. We invited some gallery owners to the exhibit and got a great response. That proved to us that we have a market beyond students and people our age.”

As for the response, Jackson says it has been almost prohibitively good.

“The response has been so overwhelming that we haven’t had time to get our website up, but we will. We need to go beyond social media and school to be a real business,” says Jackson. “This is what we hope will be an empire.”

Check out Dream House on Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The post BU students found Dream House to help you decorate your dream house appeared first on Metro.us.

Editors pick: Zen Home Therapy
For those of you who find cleaning therapeutic, your world is about to get a whole lot calmer thanks to Zen Home. The acclaimed New York-based eco-friendly cleaning service recently launched a range of 100 percent non-toxic cleaning products made with natural ingredients such as lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree oil. Make sure to take deep breaths the next time you’re dusting your table  and countertops and hopefully the essential oils will transport you to a spa. A glass of bubbly helps. $6, www.zenhomecleaning.com

The post Editors pick: Zen Home Therapy appeared first on Metro.us.

Chambord French press, $70, www.anthropologie.com

Desire Gold Mustard wallpaper, $75 per roll,www.grahambrown.com

Exotica Cheetah Pelt Collection, $185 for a 4-by-6 wool rug,www.ecarpetgallery.com



CB2 bookends, $30 for set of two, www.cb2.com

 
Ikea Angenam bowl, $20

One simple way to bring this trend into your home is to buy a gilt frame at a thrift store. Insert a piece of thin board painted with black chalkboard paint. Hang it anywhere.

The post Decorating trend: Black and gold appeared first on Metro.us.

1. “The first thing I wanted when people walked in was something there that would just kind of grab people,” Serhant says of his entryway shark painting by Tom Booth. “I like art and I have a lot of pieces, so I wanted a lot of hallway space. It takes you like five seconds to actually get to the apartment because you’re just walking through the hallway.”

2. “The kitchens were designed to be very New York kitchens, so they’re kind of out of the way, which is perfect for me because I never use it. It disappears into the wall — it’s almost like an art piece where everything hides.” Under the sink are a washer, dryer and dishwasher.

3. A portrait of Serhant hangs in the master bathroom. “Alex Garant painted that of me when I was doing ‘As the World Turns’ and I thought it would be really cool so I framed it. And now everyone comes in here like, ‘you’re a d—bag, you have pictures of yourself?’”

4. “The bathrooms” — which feature all imported stone — “are very pretty,” he says. “You have the rain shower above which is killer to take a shower in, [but] it makes it a little bit harder when you’re taking a shower with two people.”

5. “I wanted a powerful bedroom, something comfortable. I like everything very, very clean, to look like it was there for a reason — even books that are on windowsills. I wanted a powerful headboard. Every art piece was picked specifically for a reason so that it gives off a certain image. I work in real estate, so I show this apartment to a lot of people, and a lot of people who are spending a lot of money on an apartment want to work with a real estate broker who cares about where he lives.”

6. “Because I have people over all the time and I entertain, I didn’t put the TV in here,” Serhant says of the main space. “I put it in the second bedroom” — used as a den — “because that’s kind of like the hangout place.”

7. “It’s very, very simple,” Serhant says of his design aesthetic. “I hate walking into apartments with a lot of stuff. My apartment has like nothing in it and that’s kind of the way I like it.”

8. “I grew up in a house with a lot of animal heads and antlers, but I would never do that in my own apartment, so I got a silver one.”

The post Inside Ryan Serhant’s ‘Million Dollar Listing’ appeared first on Metro.us.

The rugs
   

1. Urban Outfitters Ikat rug, $59, www.urbanoutfitters.com
   

2. Jonathan Adler Mondrian rug, $695, www.jonathanadler.com
   

3. Ikea Tarnby rug, $100, www.ikea.com
  

4. CB2 color field rug, $399, www.cb2.com
   

5. Anthropologie Huari rug, $398-$1,998, www.anthropologie.com

The post 5 rugs to spruce up your home appeared first on Metro.us.

Top designers, including Back Bay interior designer Allison Sheffield, are using it in creative new ways to breathe fresh life into the historically staid wall covering.

Sheffield spoke with us about new trends, the best rooms to use wallpaper in and how to decorate without breaking the bank.

1. The first step in using wallpaper in your home is realizing it doesn’t have to be a permanent commitment, says Sheffield.

“I grew up with a mom who knew how to wallpaper. I never saw it as permanent.”  

2. Ease yourself into it by focusing on a small room, such as a powder room, or an accent wall.  
“Doing one wall seems less daunting, or using it in a powder room is [very impactful]. It doesn’t take a lot of expensive paper to make a big impact.”

Wallpapering an accent wall can take the place of an expensive piece of art to draw the eye to a focal point in the room, says Sheffield. Wallpapering a ceiling is also an option, she says.

“Wallpapering the ceiling in a powder room makes it seem like you are walking into a jewel box.”

3. Scraps of wallpaper can be used to line bookshelves or to highlight moldings or woodwork.

If you’re still not convinced, many reputable companies are now selling removable wallpaper people can easily hang themselves without the help of a professional.

“If you are renting or don’t have the budget to spend a lot on nice paper, it is perfect,” says Sheffield.

The post This ain’t your grandmother’s wallpaper appeared first on Metro.us.

These units are a part of Mayor Bloomberg’s $7.5 billion New Housing Marketplace plan to build 165,000 affordable units by 2014, making it the largest municipal plan of its kind in the nation.

Designed by SHoP Architects and Ismael Leyva Architects, the first phase will include two residential buildings with retail space. Construction has begun this year, with the completion of storm sewers among the project’s January accomplishments. It should take about two years to complete.
Simultaneously, five acres of parkland and a 1,100-seat middle school/high school will be rising to completion by  fall 2013.
 
More large-scale development nearby

Late last year, the mayor also broke ground on Willets Point, touting plans for a mixed-use community around the long neglected grounds near the Mets’ Citi Field. The 62-acre area, which has lacked basic infrastructure such as sidewalks  and has struggled with contamination for decades, will be home to 680,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel, convention center, open space, and 400 units of housing — 35 percent of which will be affordable. The first phase of the project is expected to create 1,800 permanent jobs and 4,600 construction-related jobs, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Reports show rising prices for new buildings in Queens    
New development construction has seen a strong start in 2012. A recent report from StreetEasy.com shows a 43 percent increase in new condo inventory in the area, while median prices increased by 21.1 percent. The report showed the L-Haus, Murano and The View at East Coast as some of the most popular luxury buildings in the area, in terms of searches on StreetEasy.

The post A look at the first phase of Hunter’s Point South appeared first on Metro.us.

Similar to the growth of the Williamsburg waterfront —which took off thanks to the short ride to Manhattan on the L-train — developers are trying to capitalize on the west coast of Long Island City and the 4-minute trip it takes to get to Midtown on the 7 train. For just a short commute, residents get luxury developments at more affordable prices than what they could find in Manhattan.

“It’s like a postcard. The best views of the city are the ones right outside of it,” says Modern Spaces President Eric Benaim, whose firm is handling sales for The View, a 185-unit condo that finished construction in early 2010.

The View has already seen other developments spring up around it, and more are coming. A six-building mega-development from TF Cornerstone, dubbed East Coast — along with another one from the developer’s brother/former business partner, Rockrose Development — will bring 3,500 units to the area upon planned completion in 2014. The newest building to hit the market will be 46-15 Center Blvd., with 367 rental units opening up in the next month.

While it is doubtful the renters paying over $2,000 per month for a studio will have use for the plethora of taxi-repair shops that have called LIC home for decades, TF Cornerstone hopes the retail and recreational additions to their development will keep residents close by and feeling like they’re a part of a community. It remains to be seen if restaurants such as the Asian fusion spot Shi or the upcoming opening of Sweetleaf coffee bar — touted by the New York Times as the best espresso in the U.S. — will be seen as merely building amenities or the start of a “local’s joint” feel.  If they’re lucky, renters will be hustling across the river in a classic tale of “f you build it, they will come” — that is, if the 7 train is running on time.

The look

The views into the city may be stunning, but someone gazing from the other side might not be in awe. All of the buildings except one were designed by Miami-based architects Arquitectonica, giving the area a South Beach silver tower vibe, which seems out of sync next to the East River. What the area lacks in a white sandy beach, however, it makes up for with greenery and parks put in place to get residents out in the open.

Have kids and need more space?
   
That’s what TF Cornerstone is hoping. Three-bedroom apartments will be released in 45-50 Center, which is expected to open in June. A K-8 public school is also under construction.

The post Considering the Queens waterfront appeared first on Metro.us.

While print wallpaper and upholstery may read like a throwback to a bygone age, today’s prints are inspiringly vibrant and make for a room that you’d actually want to spend time.  
As Guild puts it, “Prints lend themselves to a more eclectic look that reflects one’s personality and spirit.”

A harmonious clash
When using a mix of prints, you need to “pick out a color to link the clash,” advises Guild. “In this blue sitting room, we’ve used more than eight patterns. But the effect is harmonious  because the color palette is restricted to a cobalt and white crispness.”

Don’t go wild
It’s important to reel in your creative wild side, especially when it comes to decorating with busy animal prints.

“Don’t mix too many animal prints together, and use a plain neutral such as black along the edges of curtains, cushions, rugs and lampshades,” says Guild. On accent walls, she adds, “I think pattern all over the room is more up-to-date — the feature wall feels a bit passe.”

Make it work
You don’t have to live in a sprawling urban palace to make prints work in your place. If you don’t want prints to dominate, temper the look by “choosing a wallpaper that is not too strong,” says Guild. “Generally, smaller-scale prints are best in tighter rooms or just add accent print pieces like cushions or throws. However, there are no real rules — and sometimes a large-scale pattern can look amazing,” she says.

The post Deck your home in fun prints, patterns appeared first on Metro.us.

“It’s always been the case that certain areas of Manhattan are more desirable; now, certain areas of Brooklyn are more desirable,” says Andrew Barrocas, CEO of MNS. “Williamsburg and DUMBO now have that desirability, whereas there are some parts in Manhattan that haven’t kept up.” Barrocas cites Manhattan’s Upper East Side and the Financial District as having considerably lower rents because of transport and building issues.

Amir Korangy, publisher of New York real estate magazine The Real Deal, agrees.

“While most people assume Manhattan is the most expensive borough to live in, areas like Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and now Williamsburg are all on par with parts of Manhattan. With real estate in New York, neighborhoods tend to impact the price more so than the borough.”

As millions of development dollars flood both the Financial District and the Upper East Side, Barrocas thinks prices will rise there within five years. In Brooklyn, he predicts higher rents will spread out: “Other areas of Brooklyn will absolutely go up,” he insists.

“It’s interesting,” Barrocas adds. “Twelve years ago, people moved to Williamsburg for lower rent. Now people are moving there because they want to live there and are willing to pay premium prices.”

On the up-and-up

There’s no good news for renters in either Brooklyn or Manhattan.
   
MNS predicts rents will rise across the board in 2012. 2011 saw mean increases of 9.6 percent for a one-bed in Brooklyn, raising an average rent of $2,018 to $2,211. In Manhattan, rents generally rose by around $200 per month for a one-bed, too, but in the Financial District, less desirable buildings saw rents drop by around 3.6 percent for one-bedrooms.

The post Brooklyn rents skyrocketing appeared first on Metro.us.

“A lot of people think we’re like Etsy, but we’re more like Amazon — we’re a much more curated site of upcycled products,” says founder and “Chief Hipcycler” Andrew Sell of the site, which he runs out of Asbury Park, N.J. 

As Sell points out, “upcycling” — or finding new purposes for previously used materials — is certainly nothing new: Necessity has made previous generations get crafty with old floorboards, and drinking glasses made from wine bottles have their trendy moment every couple decades. But what was missing, as he saw it, was a one-stop online shop for creatively recycled wares.

For now, Hipcycle — which debuted late last fall — skews heavy on the furniture and homegoods. And while the focus is on environment-friendly products, it’s not necessarily the main draw. “We’re not leading with a message that ‘Hey, this is green’ — we’re offering products that are as attractive and durable as mainstream products,” says Sell.

Top 3
Sell’s favorite pieces now available at Hipcycle.com:

1. Picture frame made from a tin roof ($46)

2. Candelabra crafted from reclaimed wooden spindles ($90)

3. Glass tumblers made from Perrier water bottles ($40, set of four)

The post Hipcycle puts a new spin on green decor appeared first on Metro.us.

“I’ve always been fascinated by Central Park. It’s a large piece of primitive nature surrounded by inanimate [buildings],” explained architect Christian de Portzamparc. We spoke to him at a special media preview for the property last week where he, along with interior designer Thomas Juul-Hansen and developer Gary Barnett, discussed the inspiration and design behind the new landmark.

While One 57’s shiny, sleek façade featuring cascading glass reminiscent of a waterfall is sure to dazzle passers-by, the interior of the skyscraper is pretty spectacular, too.

“We were trying to rethink the meaning of luxury in New York,” said Juul-Hansen. To call this building luxurious is an understatement; units feature hand-finished cherry wood floors, bathtubs made out of hand-carved Italian stone, flat-screen TVs in each bathroom, and polished zebrawood cabinets. But really, the biggest luxury to New Yorkers is space — and these units have plenty of it.

According to Juul-Hansen, a unit the size of a typical five-bedroom has been designed as a three-bedroom. But before you starting dreaming about your wardrobe hanging in all of the closet space that amounts to, know that the ultimate lap of luxury comes with a skyscraper-size price tag. Units start at a little over $7 million, and the six-bedroom, 10,923-square-foot duplex penthouse priced — at $115 million — could potentially be the most expensive apartment in New York.

Amenities
   
Owning an apartment in the building will also grant you access to all the amenities of the five-star Park Hyatt that will occupy the lower 30 floors (did someone say 3 a.m. room service?).

The post A sneak peak at One57, 2012’s most buzzed about residential development appeared first on Metro.us.

Sagaform Happy Days serving bowls, $50, www.burkedecor.com

Bold color
From mixing strong color combinations (think orange and pink or blue and green) to colorful surprise details, pops of bright color showed up everywhere, including trims on neutral pillows or tabletop items.

Sugarboo Designs When In Doubt Pillow,  $120, www.gatheringgrace.com

Pillow therapy
Letters on artwork, linens and dishes have been a big trend, but now designers are taking it one step further by encouraging quotes on our favorite accessories.

The post 3 hot home trends appeared first on Metro.us.

As a longstanding hub of commercial activity, the area essentially ran on office hours, seemingly deserted after 6 p.m. — despite easy access to public transportation that could bring in visitors from other areas. Now, according to Aptsandlofts.com’s President David Maundrell, “It’s starting to come into its own as a well-rounded neighborhood with a steady increase in residential activity. … People are really excited about it.”

The residential invasion into the neighborhood has been diverse in coming from both the rental and sales fronts. Led by mega-condos such as 38-story Toren at 150 Myrtle Ave. and nearby 40-story Oro at 306 Gold St., buyers looking for the next hot neighborhood to invest in are seeing prices nearly $200 per square-foot less than neighboring DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights.

The new downtown

The attack on the highest elevations of the Brooklyn skyline has been led in full force by a flood of rental towers, including 369-unit 80 DeKalb and 631-unit Avalon Fort Greene, where renters look to enjoy luxury amenities without Manhattan prices. The most notable project to rise up has been the Brooklyner, a 515-foot rental building which took over as Brooklyn’s tallest building upon completion just two years ago. That record stands to be broken, though, with two new projects breaking ground in 2012 that are both designed to be nearly 100 feet taller.

For those with doubts that a neighborhood comprising skyscrapers can create an attractive community feeling, the new retail/restaurant scene that is slowly emerging inspires hope that later hours and potential for nightlife could reach the area soon. The opening of Shake Shack and The American Beer Co. on Adams Street, along with the recent announcement of NYU’s Polytechnic Institute coming to the Metrotech Center, should be just the start of what could become a scene for restaurateurs and retailers to find their next jackpot.

Worried that yet another Brooklyn neighborhood is being overdeveloped? Hopefully the increase in inventory will keep prices affordable for consumers and boost the local economy. And if you’ve been around for a while, you know you still have Junior’s, which has been serving Fulton Street since 1950. Having that on top of better quality apartments and job opportunities? That’s the icing on the (world-famous) cheesecake.

New buildings

Two new buildings will be breaking ground in 2012, both designed by SLCE Architects, with plans
to stand above the rest of the already gargantuan buildings of DoBro. Here’s a quick look
at them:

388 Bridge St.:
590 feet, comprising 234 rentals on lower floors and 144 condos on upper floors
Developer: Stahl Real Estate

Avalon Willoughby West:
596 feet, 861 rental units,
rising 57 stories
Developer: Avalon Bay

The post Downtown Brooklyn takes a stand appeared first on Metro.us.

If you’re entertaining option two — or simple don’t have the closet space to build up reserves — the good news is that today’s energy-efficient bulbs aren’t the harsh, unnatural mood-killers you might remember.

“When these bulbs first came out and Americans were just trying to save energy, they were crappy — they did blink, they did look blue,” says Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of design website ApartmentTherapy.com. “But these companies realized if they were going to sell light bulbs to Home Depot or Ikea, they had to improve. If you want a warmer light, if you want a brighter light, if you want a softer light — they’ve figured it out.”

What’s more, the lighter, brighter LED bulbs lend themselves to lighting schemes that are impossible with incandescents. “When we get more into this, what’s really going to excite us is what we can do with LEDs, not the money or the energy that we’re saving. You can recess them, you can put them around corners — because the bulbs are so small, the design that carries them doesn’t need to be bulbous or carry a lot of weight.”

The breakdown

They look nice, but CFLs and LEDs will also save you money in the long run.

Incandescent
Initial cost: $.50
Lasts: One year
Energy cost over six years: $72.30

CFL bulbs
Initial cost: $3
Lasts: Six years E
Energy cost over six years: $16.62

LED bulbs
Initial cost: $20-$40
Lasts: 25-30 years
Energy cost over six years: $5

The post The good news about CFL and LED bulb alternatives appeared first on Metro.us.

Mehary has lived in her two-bedroom apartment in Park Slope for 15 years. She’s spent that time filling the place with carefully chosen figures and textiles she’s picked up traveling to places such as Bali, India and Tulum. “I think of my apartment as a serene oasis in the center of chaos,” she says.

She’s achieved an overall look and feeling of zen through a mix of spiritual figures and colors that she found in near and far-flung places. There’s the gold head of Buddha she found in Chinatown:?“It’s really heavy but I love the serenity it brings to the space.” And an ornate cross that lies next to a box of Bach flower remedies imported from Israel. “I was born in Ethiopia and plan on returning there this year to visit all the amazing churches built into the ground in  Lalibela. The cross is a traditional Orthodox relic from Addis Ababa, originally owned by my mom,” she explains.

“The look of my apartment is constantly changing,”?Mehary admits. But the sense of calm never changes. “I incorporate the feng shui principles in determining location of color throughout the house.”

Get the look


1. Play with accent walls
“I change the accent wall over each fireplace. Red in the bedroom for passion and blue in the living room for calm,” Mehary says.


2. Embrace the blank canvas  
“Many of the walls feature blank canvases because I didn’t want them to look bare, but I did want there to be a sense of space. And because I am a creative, I need lots of inspirational items around for reference when I am drawing or designing,” she explains.

3. Rotate accessories    
“I kept almost all of the walls white so that I could accessorize the place with colorful pillows, fabrics or textures. I switch them in and out according to the season,” Mehary says. 

The post Elsa Mehary: A ‘serene oasis’ in Brooklyn appeared first on Metro.us.

That figure might not work for most budgets, but owning a mountainside second home
isn’t an impossible dream.

“It’s an indulgence — not yacht indulgence, but it’s a luxury,” says Brian Ganey, Massachusett’s Jiminy Peak’s real estate director. “A love of the sport comes first. People who like to ski become homeowners here.”

Homes at Jiminy Peak, which is set in the gorgeous Berkshires, mostly range from under $200,000 for a one-bedroom condo to $500,000 for a four-bedroom.

Like Jiminy Peak, Waterville Valley in New Hampshire’s White Mountains is a cluster of small developments with different style homes. At the Golden Eagle and Black Bear Lodges, one- and two-bedroom condominiums start at $77,900. Four-bedroom town houses begin at $495,000.

“Choosing a vacation home requires the same due diligence as any real estate purchase,” says Jan Stearns, Waterville Valley Realty’s marketing director. “But it is a buyer’s market. It could not be a better time to buy. The selection of properties is excellent; a ski home is as affordable as it will [ever] be.”

Ganey agrees: “Prices dropped about 30 percent a couple of years ago, but are stabilizing. It’s still good time to buy — there’s a high inventory, and mortgage interest rates are low. Long term, prices will go up.”

Buy now
   
6 Boulderwood Way,
Waterville Valley, NH: Four-bed, three-bath duplex with mountain views and split-level design with cathedral ceilings. Listing price: $389,000. Contact: Susan Hammond, Waterville Valley Realty, 603-236-8333.

The post Your very own winter wonderland appeared first on Metro.us.

Clean up the kitchen

There’s splattered cooking oil on the walls, and your appliances are ancient. Instead of ripping out the entire kitchen, Workman suggests painting the hardware in colors like dove gray or black lacquer to give it a fresh, new look.

“Alternatively, if you have glass-front cabinets, try wallpapering the interior shelves for a clean, individual-style,” she adds.

Work in more color

“The easiest thing to do is paint the walls in a bright color like turquoise, emerald green or coral, all of which are cozy colors for winter,” advises the designer. It’s a low-cost way to completely transform a room. Also consider purchasing accessories that you can swap out according to your seasonal moods.
Workman suggests Murano glass lamps, which can be easily found at secondhand stores, and accent coffee tables. “They can change the room’s aesthetic,” she adds.  

Embrace upholstery

Re-upholster your headboard in fabric to add a design change. “Consider using a sumptuous material to give your bed a nest-y feel,” explains Workman. “The bedding is essential too,” she says.
Decorative pillows and throws make big statements with minimal effort. Rotate them based on the season, going for richer colors and heavier fabrics in winter and lighter fare in summer.

Create a bathroom oasis

“It sounds clinical, but I do like to see a lot of white fittings in the bathroom — everyone wants their place to look clean,” Workman says. “You can make the bathroom more inviting by painting the walls in a warm color  — this creates a really intimate ambience. Also, rather than buying all your fittings from Ikea or chain stores, look out for flea markets or auctions where you can pick up really beautiful individual pieces like an antique side table which will do  well next to the bath,” she suggests. For those of you who don’t mind a bit of do-it-yourself, the Los Angeles-based designer says, “Erect shelves above your tub where you can arrange bath salts and candles for a spa-like setting.”

The post Your new year home makeover appeared first on Metro.us.

Tip 1

New York-based Designer Courtney Cachet (www.courtneycachet.com)  pays attention to heat-sucking windows via heavy drapes and honeycomb-style insulating blinds.  “Add heavier curtains in the winter. You’ll be surprised how thermal window treatments can keep a room much warmer. These were not the most attractive, but they have come a long way. Keep the cold out and the style in,” she says. Cachet also recommends adding spot carpeting to hardwood and tile floors. “Use rugs on bare floors,” she says. “A lot of people have hardwood floors above a poorly insulated basement. An area rug does a great job of keeping your feet warmer. A nice shag rug looks great and feels cozy.”

Tip 2

Practical
“The single biggest cause of a cold house is infiltration of air,” says Rose Ann Humphrey of Boston design studio Home Life (www.home-life.com). “You must cut down on infiltration around windows, doors and other openings.” That includes pet doors, too. “Buy weather stripping for doors along sides and the top,” says Humphrey.  “And buy special stripping to insulate at the bottom of the door. You can buy rope like putty, a semi-rigid product, for around windows or other air leaks. Afterwards, light a match to test if air is still coming into your home.”

The post Make your home cozy this winter appeared first on Metro.us.

1. Medications should be stored in a secured area — out of sight and reach of children and teenagers — that has low humidity, a stable temperature and adequate lighting.

2. Check the date on everything in your medicine cabinet and dispose of anything that has passed the expiration date.

3. Dispose of anything you have not used n the past 12 months or that you no longer need. Do not share medications with others.

4. Dispose of medicines that are no longer in their original container, have changed color or odor, or that can no longer be identified.

5. Do not flush unused or expired medications, and do not pour them down a sink or drain. They should be disposed of properly in the household trash or through your community’s medication disposal program, when available.

The post Make your home safer in 2012 appeared first on Metro.us.

Money-saving expert Andrea Woroch of online consumer company Kinoli Inc., shares some easy tips to make the coming cold months more affordable.

 Energy audit: The first step is to assess any problem areas. Ask if your utility company provides a free or low-cost energy audit, which will identify changes you should make.

 Seek incentives: Some states offer improvement incentives, including providing and installing a free programmable thermostat; paying a portion of insulation upgrades; or providing rebates on the cost of materials. Look for such offers at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (www.dsireusa.org).

 Dodge the draft: You can waste 5 to 30 percent of your energy use to heat the great outdoors through drafts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The simplest remedy is to place draft dodgers or snakes at leaking doors. You can use an old towel or make your own easily out of a leg of pantyhose stuffed with rice or sawdust and tied at both ends.

 Weather strip thresholds: Draft snakes are fine for cracks at the bottom of doors, but we often lose heat at the sides and top of doors and windows. Check out this Dummies.com video explaining how to install weather strips.
 
Upgrade attic insulation: Roofs are energy vampires. They’ll suck rising heat right out of your home, if not properly insulated. Types of insulation include the standard fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), rigid foam board, spray foam and cellulose. Unless you’re handy around the house, this is a project best left to professionals.              

The post Winterize your home appeared first on Metro.us.

Construction financing is still the biggest hurdle facing developers, explains Stephen Kliegerman, President of Terra Development Marketing. “Being able to make the banks feel comfortable with large projects and their ability to be absorbed into the marketplace is a challenge, and there is a lack of developable land that could support large-scale complexes.”

For those that have financing in place, construction costs have risen at a faster pace than in past years — up 3.55 percent in 2011 according to Engineering News-Record’s Building Cost Index. This has made larger projects harder to justify, making developers tend toward smaller buildings and conversions.

Nevertheless, all hope is not lost, as a few new projects promise to change the Manhattan skyline. Here’s a look at what you can expect to see climbing upwards in  the next two years.

One57 sits at the top

Extell Development’s 1,005-foot Park Hyatt/Condo residence project at 57th Street and Sixth Avenue is by far the most talked-about new development in years, as it will rise as the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere upon completion in 2013. This 13-year-in-the-making behemoth is already past its 27th floor, and the penthouses are rumored to be priced at $98 million.
www.one57.com

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Paint!
“Bite the bullet and paint your apartment. Even if your landlord is not going to pay for it, it’s really worth it. A nice color is so much better than that awful [standard] yellowy white.”

Happy touches

“[One] thing that I talk about in the book is ‘Jollifiers.’ When you are starting out you don’t have great stuff, you don’t have a lot of stuff, so it really helps to have a few things around that are sentimental and make you happy to look at — like a picture that you love and you just blow up really big, or my friend Rita Konig had this big poster that said the word ‘love’ on it. There’s just something about when you look at the word ‘love’ or ‘yes!’ you just feel better and that is supercool.”

Ditch the overhead lights

“The main thing is lighting. In a rental [lighting] is pretty awful because it’s usually one powerful overhead light. If the light is harsh it’s kind of a style crusher. So it’s worth either ignoring that light and getting lamps, or spending a little bit of money and changing that fixture out to something more flattering. I have in my apartment a giant rice paper globe [shade] — probably the cheapest solution there is. I think they are so pretty and they are, like, $10.”

Create a foyer

“It’s important, especially in small apartments where things get messy very quickly, to have some place where you can deal with your mail. You can either have a skinny shelf or a narrow console where you put books, your bag, a bowl to toss your mail into it. If you don’t have any kind of entrance, you can use a nice dresser to put your scarves, dog leash and pens in the drawers and then have baskets on it for your mail, keys, lipstick and whatever.”

Ottomans rule

“I’m a huge fan of the ottoman. It’s just a good, versatile piece of furniture that serves as both a chair when you have friends over and a coffee table when you need it to be.”

Out-of-the-box storage

“Storage is always a huge issue in small apartments. I think covering a table with a piece of fabric is really pretty and lets you bring in a bit of color, and there’s storage underneath.

I also don’t think those giant plastic containers are acceptable. I feel too many people have those out and it’s this idea that ‘I need storage.’ Well, too bad — it’s too ugly. I say baskets, baskets, baskets — for papers, for linens, for offseason clothes that you’re going to stick under your bed, for sticking in the shelves and putting your scarves in. They look great.”

The post Your apartment’s best friend appeared first on Metro.us.

“I think that they are one of the most fantastic pieces of communication. Not a word, just diagrams that people the world over follow,” she says. 

The website is the perfect retreat for those DIYers who want to ditch the Ikea rules and break away from a homogenized home. And no, you don’t have to be a DIY whiz to Ikea hack, but you will need to follow these simple steps.

Ikea Hack #1

Redesign the plain white Melodi lamp

You’ll need: One or more Melodi lamps and permanent markers

Getting started: Wipe clean the lampshade and allow for drying time. Use the permanent marker to write your favorite verses, poems or anything of your choice on the lampshade. Fit lampshade onto light fixture, turn on and voilà.

Ikea Hack #2

Trick out that Dombas wardrobe

You’ll need: A Dombas wardrobe, fabric and glue
Getting started: Remove doors (or do not install doors). Cut fabric of your choice to size with enough to cover the sides of the doors. Cover the sides of the doors in glue. Stick and tautly stretch the fabric across. Allow drying time. Trim any excess material. Cover the sides with a matching ribbon for a tidy finish. Attach handles last.

Ikea Hack #3

Turn Expedit bookcases into a kitchen island

You’ll need: Two two-by-two Expedit bookcases, one Vika Amon tabletop, 4 Vika Curry table legs (only the top part), four Besta legs, screws and Schweden-punk drawers (optional)
Getting started: Assemble the Expedits. Screw them together with brackets. Screw the Vika Amon Curry legs to the tabletop. Drill screw-sized holes into the bottom of the Expedit. Install the Schwedenpunk drawers for items you don’t want displayed.

The post The ultimate Ikea challenge appeared first on Metro.us.

  
Saturday:

Sunday: The Expedit shelving unit — the perfect little cubby — gets a perfect little price tag: $19.99 (regular price: $39.99). Store important documents — like Christmas wish lists — in the Kassett Magazine Boxes ($9.99 for a two-pack), which fit perfectly into the Expedit shelves.
 
A frog for a good cause

With every purchase of a soft toy at IKEA through Dec. 24, the retailer will donate approximately $1.47 ($1 Euro) to UNICEF and Save the Children’s educational programs. IKEA’s adorable plushies (we love the Fabler Groda fairy frog) range from $1.49 up to $19.99 — but this weekend only, these soft toys will be on sale for 50 percent off.

The post Black Friday: Don’t forget the home appeared first on Metro.us.

Arc bench, $2,535

Bauble drum, $1,500

Folie mirror, $4,275

The post Barbara Barry’s newest collection appeared first on Metro.us.

But the supersize amenities aren’t stopping there. New York’s The Aldyn has a bowling alley — plus basketball and squash courts,  a rock-climbing wall and a golf simulator. Never mind the yoga, Pilates and other fitness initiatives onsite — all of which is exclusive for residents.

“Amenities have become the in-building entertainment,” says Larry Kruysman, sales director for The Aldyn, which is part of Extell Developments portfolio. “People are looking for opportunities to socialize and experience quality time with friends and family.”

However, Kruysman doesn’t think huge facilities like the Aldyn will become the norm. “It made sense for Extell to do it here. We had the empty space and 700 apartments to share the expense and make it affordable for residents. Generally, developments are going toward studio and one-bedroom apartments with outside areas where residents can entertain friends, like roof decks and lounges. Smaller developments will remain the norm.”

The post Forget laundry, a building isn’t balling without a spa appeared first on Metro.us.