The Ardsley house that I renovated for the market has just been listed for $649,850. You can take a look at my before pictures from my earlier posts: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4442553/work-completed-and-ready-for-market--ardsley--ny-10502 http://activerain.com/blogsview/4324892/staging-a-house-is-a-labor-of-love--ardsley-10502- and you can see lots of professional photos taken by the Realtor, Valerie Leis, North Country Sotheby's right here: http://hgmls.mlsmatrix.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=649757389#1 Keep your fingers crossed! 07/31/2014

So, the Ardsley house that needed some renovation to get it market ready??  Well, it's ready!!  Just wanted to share some before and after photos so that you can see the value added of a westchester county interior decorator and home stager: Bathroom Before                                                                     Bathroom in Process                                                                     The bathroom was gutted and the 1970's blue tile and old double vanity replaced with white subway tile, new bath and light fixtures, recessed double medicine cabinets, a granite countertop and a gorgeous 12"x12" ceramic tile floor, more appropriate to the scale of the bathroom.  The tub was the only fixture that remained but I  glazed it white as the last step in the remodel. Bath... 07/15/2014

Staging homes for sale is the most emotionally challenging part of my work.  As a Westchester County Interior Decorator and Designer, most of my clients hire me to help them make memories.  But when I stage a home, I am most often called in to dismantle them. I wrote a post on February 11, 2014 about a very neglected house that needed to be emptied of its past and made ready for the future.  At that time, the mother of my client had passed away and the father was in a nursing home. Needless to say, it's been a slow and arduous process.  For everyone.  The father is now gone and the house is the largest asset in the family estate.   I've enlisted the help of an estate sales professional to value and sell what no one wants and to box and ship the remaining valuables to my client, his brot... 06/12/2014

Yes, we do! There are some hardwood flooring companies in Westchester that will not move furniture. They will either require you to move the furniture or recommend a professional moving company. At Floor Coverings International in Westchester, we move most furniture for you, regardless of whether we are refinishing hardwood, installing new wood (or laminate) floors, vinyl as well as carpeting.     The homeowner will need to move all loose/breakable items as well as computer equipment/electronics, but we will take care of the heavy lifting. If you have extremely heavy or unusual items (e.g. granite tables, antiques, etc), it's best to have a professional moving company, but for standard items, we can help you.     We always ask our customers if they would prefer to move the furniture or ... 07/04/2013

Laminate flooring is imitation flooring made to look like real flooring – usually made to look like hardwood, and occasionally meant to look like tile flooring. Laminate floors have come a long way and many actually look quite real. Laminate flooring is made with recycled hardwood, so it’s a “greenish” product, and while it often looks real, it isn’t. On top, it has a digital picture of flooring, covered with a melamine wear layer which gives it scratch protection. Underneath, it has a high density core board to give it strength.     Laminate flooring is a floating floor, meaning that is it not directly attached to the subfloor underneath. Rather, the pieces of laminate click together and lock into place. They are then secured to the floor at the edges with the base molding so that the ... 01/19/2013

There seems to be a lot of confusion between vinyl flooring and laminate flooring.   Here in Westchester NY, many customers get these terms mixed up...they say vinyl when they mean laminate or laminate when they mean vinyl.  So, part of my job is to help clarify which type of flooring they mean as well as which type of flooring makes the most sense for them.     What is laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is a hard surface that usually looks like hardwood (occasionally looks like tile) and is made with recycled hardwood.  It has a picture of hardwood floors (it isn't real), but some of the more upscale versions do look very real. On top, it has a melamine wear layer which gives it strong scratch protection, and underneath, there is a high density core board.  Laminate flooring is usual... 08/25/2012

Below is the 20th installment of my flooring posts (along with links to the previous collections).  It's a helpful way to find my higher quality educational posts as well as give them a bit more link juice.   Black and white hardwood floors  This is a great way to add some drama to your home by using extreme colors (or even using both colors).  It's a modern and sleek look with lots of style.   What is the difference between select grade and No 1 Oak hardwood?  Not all hardwood is created the same and this post attempts to explain and visualize the difference in the grades of oak hardwood flooring.   What species of hardwood flooring are there?  This show 6 of the most popular species of hardwood.  And, it reminds me that I need to work on part 2 of this.   Laminate flooring - Is it wat... 06/29/2012

Selecting carpet for your home in Ardsley NY has never been easier...now, you can Shop at Home for your carpeting in Westchester NY. Have you ever gone to a carpet store and just felt lost and overwhelmed?  Sometimes, there are so many options that you don't even know where to start.  Sometimes, you may go into a store and find so many choices that you leave more confused than you felt when you entered?  How do you know what's the best type of carpet for your home in Ardsley NY?  What's the right one for your budget?  And, what's the right color? We make shopping for carpeting fun and easy. Everything starts with the area you are looking to carpet.  Is it for a bedroom or a lviing room or a family room or basement or the step?  Different rooms require different types of carpeting.  We'l... 04/29/2012

Are you looking to sand and refinish hardwood floors in Ardsley NY?   It's amazing what a difference refinishing your hardwood flooring can make.  Your floors will look brand new and you even have the option to change the color.  You can go light, dark, mid tones, or red tones. It can really give your home (or room) a whole new look.   If you have hardwood underneath your carpets, we can restore the beauty of the hardwood underneath. It's amazing what a big difference this can make in your home.  And, believe it or not, it is usually less expensive to refinish your floors than to recarpet.  Refinishing your wood floors will also improve your home's value and it will be easier to clean and maintain.   At Floor Coverings International, we are a shop at home service.  We will bring the "st... 03/11/2012

Yesterday, I found myself at Starbucks in between appointments...what else is new?   This Starbucks was one I don't frequent that often because they don't have a free parking lot (and I keep running out of quarters).  So, I pulled in yesterday, and I was about to make a quick phone call, and the car next to me "lightly" beeped.  I could tell, it was a nice beep.   He said, "I'm about to leave and I have 46 minutes left on my meter.  So if you want, pull into my space."  I was thrilled.  He made my day.  Yes, there are nice people out there and these little gestures can really make your day. 03/05/2012

What can you buy in Ardsley for $250,000? How about a nice condo at Ashford Court? The building was once a school that was converted to condominiums in the 80's with splendid results- the old school yard is now a huge parking lot with 2 spaces per unit, and the structure has mad character and charm. The units enjoy high ceilings, individual heating and central cooling, LOTS of windows and natural light, and it goes without saying that they are in the Ardsley School District.  The unit our client just closed on was a corner unit with a rear view, a very large living room, and a master walk in closet that deserves its own zip code. It is 940 square feet and has a very reasonable comon charge of only $308 per month. It is walking distance from downtown as well. We wish Julie and Leah, who ... 10/15/2011

Are you looking for flooring for your Westchester home in Ardsley NY 10502? We know there are many choices..and sometimes the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you're looking for hardwood floors, tile, carpet, laminate flooring, or if you just want to refinish your hardwood floors, Floor Coverings International can help make the process fun and simple. We are a shop at home service. Our tagline is "We bring the store your door." This is important because first, you can see the colors in your lighting and color coordinate with paint color, cabinets and furniture. Second, it allows us to provide a true estimate for you. And, third, of course it is more convenient this way. We provide guidance - Which is the best type of flooring for your environment and your budget? We'll help explai... 09/15/2011

Are you looking for tile flooring and installation for your home in Ardsley NY? Whether it’s a kitchen floor, bathroom floors and walls, an entry way or mudroom, or even a Kitchen tile backsplash,we can help you at Floor Coverings International. We understand that it can be challenging to find the right type of tile for your floors, walls and backsplashes. What’s the right type of tile – ceramic, porcelain, tumbled natural stone, marble or granite? What’s the best style and color? What types are easiest to clean. Many customers seemed to get overwhelmed when they visit a tile store. Well here’s where we can help. Floor Coverings International makes it simple by “bringing the store to your door.” That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting and color coordinate with your cabin... 06/29/2011

As many of you know, when I enter new places, I usually look down...so I can check out the floors. It's fun and I get lots of creative ideas this way. A couple of weeks ago, I was so intrigued by a floor in an Italian/Pizza restaurant in Ardsley that I just needed to snap a picture.  Not only was the floor a mixture of granite slab pieces, but the tables were all granite...and all different types.  The decor really worked.  I was thinking of bringing my mom by to lunch so she could check it out.  She's redoing her kitchen and still trying to figure out what type of granite to use. View Larger Map ______________________________________ Some past flooring posts that may interest you: Hardwood Flooring What types of hardwood are best for pets? I have hardwood underneath my carpets. Should ... 06/01/2011

I thought this was pretty funny...or maybe sad.  I couldn't help but laugh. (And, thankfully my customer was laughing too). I have a nice customer in Ardsley NY who just moved into their new home the day before.  They want to redo their bathroom (as well as several other places) because they just couldn't live with this.  I warned them that redoing bathrooms can be expensive, especially when the walls are plaster (as they are in this house). So I walked in to see it and I couldn't stop laughing.  It was clear that the original work was not wonderful, but OMG on the repair work.  They couldn't believe it either. I told them, I had to take some pictures and blog about this. This looks like the previous homeowner took the tile off and then reaffixed it on top.  It's so bad that all you can... 04/27/2011

Are you looking for laminate flooring for your home in Ardsley NY? We know it can be challenging to figure out which flooring is right for your space and whether a laminate floor is right for you. Which wood species and color will look best? Which ones work with your budget? Who should you have install the laminate floors? What is a floating floor? Well here's where we can help. We make finding laminate flooring simple. We "bring the store to your door." That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the way it will look in real life. We'll help you color coordinate with your paint and furniture colors. We'll explain what a floating floor is and, we'll help you figure out whether laminate flooring makes sense for you and your budget. If you want, we can even show you hardwood ... 04/04/2011

Are you looking for carpeting for your home in Ardsley NY? Whether you're looking for carpeting for your bedroom, living room, family room or basement or even the whole house, we know it can be challenging to find the right carpet. How do you know which type of carpet is best for each setting? Which is right for your home and your budget? Which types are better for steps and high traffic areas? Which colors work best? Which ones last longer and which hide or repel dirt the best? Who should you have install your carpet? There's really a lot to consider and sometimes it gets overwhelming and more confusing when you go to a store. Well here's where we can help. We make finding carpeting simple. We "bring the store to your door." That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the ... 02/18/2011

Are you looking for hardwood flooring for your home in Ardsley, NY?  We know it can be challenging to find the right hardwood.  How do you know which type of hardwood is right for you and your home?  Which wood species and color will look best and last longest?  Which ones work with your budget?  Who should you have install the hardwood floors?  Well here's where we can help. We make finding hardwood flooring simple.  We "bring the store to your door."  That wey, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the way it will look in real life.  We'll help you color coordinate with your paint and furniture colors.  We'll help you find hardwoods that stand up well to pets or work well in kitchens.  Just let us know what your concerns are and we'll help you out. We are very reasonably pric... 12/24/2010

Seems to me that in order for a town to be considered a Rivertown they must have frontage on the Hudson River.  Ardsley doesn't have any Hudson River waterfront yet a lot of people consider it a Rivertown.  I don't.  Ardsley, New York is a 1.3 mile Village.  Ardsley has Route 9A running through the center.  Proximity to the city, centrally located and close to all highways and great schools make Ardsley a popular place to settle.  However it is not a Rivertown.  In Westchester County the following communities have Hudson River frontage and would be considered "Rivertowns": Yonkers, Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown, Mt. Pleasant (Sleepy Hollow), Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt Manor and Peekskill. "Historic Hudson River Towns is a consortium ... 02/07/2010

The following numbers are taken from the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service and are for the period July 1-31, 2008.  These figures may not represent the entire market activity for this period. SINGLE FAMILY HOMES Active Single Family Homes            38Sold                                              8Average Sold Price               $654,438Median  Sold Price                $676,500Average Days on Market               129 CONDOMINIUMS/CO-OP'S Active Condo/Co-Op's                   13Sold                                             2Average Sold Price               $757,500Median Sale Price                $757,500Average Days on Market              117        Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES        Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New YorkRE/MAX Prime Pr... 08/09/2008