Bob starts on the balcony of the Manhattan Brownstone where open space was standard for these urbsan town homes. The balcony of this floor-through apartment is actually large enough to be outdoor living space. Bob shows the custom Pella French doors that match the character and era of the Brownstone, tall to bring in the northern light and clad in black metal as was the trim of the 1890s. It was necessary to build up the masonry around the new door, which now matches the original facade. The painted brick on the back wall will be power washed or sanded to remove the paint. Bob also points out the weep holes that have been installed in the header above the doors. These weep holes will allow water that has penetrated the brick to exit without doing damage. Inside, Bob looks at the custom Pella double-hung one-over-one windows that mirror the original windows of the building.

Bob and Chris Vila are in the back spaces of the Manhattan Brownstone floor-through apartment to check on finish details. The refurbished bedroom space has cove molding at the high ceiling, finished with bed and picture molding for visual interest. The boxy closets and enclosed daybed space have been removed to make a large, open bedroom, with symmetrical boxes at the back end to hide pipes and create a visual frame for the view through the French doors to the balcony patio beyond. Architectural details like the moldings, window framing and apron, and the custom radiator covers from Thomas Bump recall the grandeur of 1890s Brownstone living. Bob and Chris Vila step through the custom nine-foot Pella full-pane French doors onto the balcony patio of the apartment. The doors are hinged in five places, making them extremely secure. The masonry around the doors has been rebuilt and repointed, and will be painted come spring to match the surrounding brickwork. Old concrete and brick has been removed from the patio floor and replaced with frost-proof, Durango Stone for a clean, soft-green look. Bendheim's Satin Tech tempered, etched glass is used as a privacy screen for the patio, and will be supported by a stainless-steel railing that is invisible from the patio side. The installation is designed to look like floating glass. Alternating etched lines give an opaque look and provide visual privacy for the residents, who will enjoy stepping outside without leaving their city home. The patio is completed by Frontgate with a stainless steel grill, iron table and chairs, and a decorative planter to give a winter-garden feel to a year-round space.

Bob Vila and project architect Michael Pierce brainstorm ideas for this small condo with a great view of Biscayne Bay. The condo, a collection of closets and closed spaces, is a pearl in the oyster, just waiting to be opened up. The interior is dark because of the closed space and the navy carpeting that absorbs rather than reflects the light that enters. Pierce suggests bringing the outside in and creating an open loft appearance if the tenant board allows. He also advises flattening the popcorn ceiling to make it smooth like the roof of the balcony so it will reflect more light. Pierce's outlook for this small space is a theme of light and views.

The Berles give Bob Vila a tour of the guest suites at the Elm Court mansion in Lenox, Massachusetts. Starting with the Emily Vanderbilt Suite, railroad inspired colors and historic period furniture pieces add to the room�s austere elegance. The room began as heiress Emily Vanderbilt Sloane�s private bedroom, and now has a large dressing room with a coffered wood ceiling, and a state-of-the-art high-tech media room, and a large bathroom. The room also features a large open balcony overlooking the waters of the Stockbridge Bowl. The second room on the tour sustained heavy damage from vandals, but has been elaborately restored down to the finest details. The last suite combines Art Deco- and Empire-style furniture to create a �city-sleek� d�cor.

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…manufacturing process of the stove Bob will be installing in the great room. Back at the Martha's Vineyard site, our contractor Ryley frames a Victorian-style breezeway using bead board and rigid insulation for the open-cabin look.

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