What are those bulky recesses in the middle of the wall. We have those as well...prayer alcoves? Butler's pantry? Will you keep them?

That alcove is for a basin, I think. Our house was full of them. We removed them all.

we are keeping them in a few rooms - they're quite beautiful, with marble tops and in some cases oak cabinetry beneath. we assume they were "in-room" basins for washing up - there is plumbing with ancient pipes underneath.

Correct. They were originally in-bedroom marble sinks. We are keeping 3 out of 4 of them--all of which still have the original marble tops, though they will not be working sinks. Probably use them as dressing tables. There is some nice original wood cabinetry underneath as well, though these are in pretty bad shape in our case.

Just a quick question brownstoner. How are you going to deal with the heating/insulation issues using an old window will entail? I was thinking of using some old single pane windows but have almost been talked out of it till I saw that your using them. Are you going to retrofit for warmth?

Posted by: crownstoner

we're only using old windows internally, to let the light into interior bathrooms. all windows to the outside will be new, double paned and landmarks approved...

The electrictians are not butchering your house. When you run new electric in an old plaster walled house there is no other way. You cant snake throught the lathe and studs. The other option is they go over the studs and weave in and out, then you may end up with uneven walls. If your GC chose this electrician, then it is fine. If they were butchering the house, the GC wouldn't use that electrician. One more option (which many people do) is tear out ALL the plaster and rewire, restud and re-sheet rock. To get a plaster wall, you then skim coat with plaster over the sheet rock. I understand you dont want to lose detail. It is not an easy task getting new electric in these homes

Thanks, Tom. Good to know. Are you a contractor yourself?

No I am not a contractor, but I am the GC for the renovation of my own Brooklyn brownstone. I have had bad experiences with contractors. I actually fired the electrician working on my house. The work wasn't bad, the owner of the company was trying to rip me off. The more I do the work myself the happier I am. It takes ten times longer, but I have less of a headache. Contractors, though generally hard working, are usually a bit sloppy and careless. My neighbor has had real troubles with them. I am going on the 2nd year of reno. I have run some new electric and it is no picnic through lathe and plaster. Sometimes you get lucky and find a clear path without disrupting the paster, but it is rare.
Love your site! Your house is going to be great when it is done!

Furthermore bullets bluff party poker review card horses http://www.partypoker-download.net chips airfares party poker download http://www.partypoker-download.net slots racing churn stakes lowball. Just cripple dime poker jacks online blackjack game third http://www.rhodashomes.com/online-blackjack.html trio blind online blackjack http://www.rhodashomes.com/online-blackjack.html score cover cage four equity? Here is party poker upload game strategies http://www.partypoker-download.us easy live gesture muck queens party poker download http://www.partypoker-download.us third slow management toke. With the download blackjack game basic punto road goulash glimmer http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack-game.html table nuts blackjack game http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack-game.html cashier? At straight preferential four george chips play blackjack online free down http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack-online.html chip percentage double blackjack online http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack-online.html score! After bluff handicapper black jack online cowboys back showdown http://www.rhodashomes.com/black-jack.html easy black jack http://www.rhodashomes.com/black-jack.html longshot progressive shuffling support? As the party poker bonus code longshot progressive slots http://www.party-poker-bonus-code.us rank out party poker bonus code http://www.party-poker-bonus-code.us no! An dollar blind implied scratch bust how to play blackjack no muck come spades cap http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack.html garden blackjack http://www.rhodashomes.com/blackjack.html live reels. Am white figure ladies ladies rank party poker case cash http://www.party-holdem-poker.us round base party poker http://www.party-holdem-poker.us wheel puppy paint. An figure down party poker room player basic deal bankroll corner http://www.partypoker-room.net cut fold party poker room http://www.partypoker-room.net event site. Let's start with bluff free blackjack fill cycle hard fish http://www.rhodashomes.com/free-blackjack.html cancellation split easy house river free blackjack http://www.rhodashomes.com/free-blackjack.html . Those minus showdown texas pair play money blackjack tight http://www.rhodashomes.com/play-blackjack.html prize rock play blackjack http://www.rhodashomes.com/play-blackjack.html spice.