Security Gates on Fire Escape Windows Can Be Pretty!

This is likely not a problem for people who live in the suburbs, but for urban area dwellers, securing fire escape windows is serious business. Unfortunately, when you go to source protective gates for your windows, this is standard:

It's unfathomable to me why anyone would cover a window with all this metal, much less "show" a home for sale with iron bars on the windows, but many do. When we first viewed our home, it had both security gates and child gates. Literally every window was obscured by iron bars of some kind. How inviting! (Not.)

Removing Old Paint from Door Knobs and Hardware

The door knobs in our mid-century home are original, circa 1946, which means they're made of solid brass.

Unfortunately, former residents painted over them. Boo! What's a Renov8or to do?

Bathroom Reveal: Statuary Marble + Subway Tile = Modern Classic

It's incredibly rewarding to take a midcentury gem of an apartment like this one and scrape away residue of poorly executed past "renovations" to bring out the beauty that lies beneath.

You recall my inspiration board and final design plans?

As bad as it looked, this bathroom had a few things in its favor. 1. A separate shower stall, which allowed me to get rid of the redundant shower head, ugly curved shower rod and plastic shower curtain and bring in a free-standing soaking tub as a focal point. 2. The original art deco chrome and glass shower door, manufactured in 1946 by G.M. Ketcham MFG Corp., Brooklyn, was in salvageable condition. And 3. Surprisingly good news beneath the walls. Pipes were in great shape. No leaks, no mold. A testament to how amazingly well built this 1946 home is. It's rare that you open walls of a bathroom and find no issues.

And now, for some photos.