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 work their way to the back of the apartment, through the hallway with its Victorian wallpaper, past the closet with original built-ins, and into the bedroom with high ceilings and a door to the back balcony. They are joined by architect Brian O'Keefe who shows the plans for the remodel. To take advantage of the light in the front of the building, O'Keefe has designed a live-in and eat-in kitchen that will move family space to the most desireable spot in the apartment, which is how people like to live today. The dining room is the next room toward the interior of the apartment and has the elevator that separates it from the large, open living area in the middle of the apartment. O'Keefe is looking for high ceilings and hardwood floors in this main living space. The master suite will remain in the back, with a reconfigured closet area, an updated bath, and French doors to the balcony.

Walking behind the house, Bob makes a few observations about the design. He points out that the house and old barn were not exactly parallel to each other creating some issues fo the breezeway addition. Th architect chose to build the breezeway parallel with the barn, but as the roof is right onto the house, when you look at the roof overhang right on the corner of the addition it subtly increases in width in one direction. Another interesting feature of the architect's design is a 4 ft. wide and t10 ft. long "gang plank"-like balcony coming out from the second floor masterbath.

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.

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