Vitamin Steve

The New Apartment, Part 20.

2009-07-03T16:17:00.002-04:00

I finally got my poster from that awesome Neil Diamond concert I saw last Mayframed. It's the final piece I needed to complete my living/dining room area.

The New Apartment, Part 19.

2009-07-01T02:07:00.002-04:00

Hey, I have a bed!

My new bed finally came in on Monday, and it's great. Now that this was in the apartment, I was finally ready to start decorating the bedroom. I started by finding a new place to hang the posters from two of my all time favorite movies. I still need to pick up a lamp for my nightstand.

Across from my bed is my bookcase, now all filled up. On top are my Muppet action figures, and below is every book I own that's not a comic book or comic book related. Also, shoes and other miscellaneous items.

Around the corner from my bedroom is my library, where my DVD collection now lives across from 35 longboxes of comic books.

Also in the library is this bookcase, filled with stuff I still need to take care of, including a bunch of pictures that I still need to find a place to hang. Eventually, this book case will be filled with odds and end for the library, including nice boxes for all my mini-comics, and to be read, and to be filed piles of comics.

In the living room, I decorated some more, finding more places for my framed comic book pages.

My original page from Local #2 sits to the left of the display case, while my original page from Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life sits to the right.

And I finally got my table cloth! I really feel it classes up the Ikea table. The space in between the windows is being saved for a very special piece I have currently at my framers. Oh, and if you look in the kitchen, you can see my new microwave above the fridge.

Remember this wire problem?

Well, here's the solution!

All the wires are tucked under this classy door saddle! All it needs is a coat of varnish, and it should be great!

So what's left?

This.

This pile of books needs new bookshelves. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the wall of books idea I want for the best price and quality. I really like what I could do with the Ikea "Billy" bookshelves, but I am aware that the shelves are shit, and will probably start to buckle very quickly under the weight of all my comics. So, for now, they just sit in the spare room, waiting for me to re-evaluate my budget after paying off my bills.

The New Apartment, Part 18.

2009-06-25T00:34:00.001-04:00

CURTAINS!

CURTAINS!

CURTAINS!

The New Apartment, Part 17.

2009-06-21T23:54:00.002-04:00

So, I'm officially 100% in my new apartment. I have a TV, cable, a mattress, and a bed that will be delivered next Monday. With that all behind me, it's time to decorate.

I've moved these metal cabinets that my Great Grandmother had into the kitchen.

I've also hung up my old Masters of the Universe poster, and as always, Milk & Cheese live on top of the fridge. The yellow cat clock used to belong to Great Grandmother. When she passed away, it was all I wanted. Now that I moved into her apartment, I've moved it back into it's original place.

I've started hanging up some of my art from my old place. Above the couch is an original one-sheet from "The Apartment". The Stephen Silver "Goonies" print is once again above my bookcase, and a signed print from "The Simpsons Movie" is above my dresser. I've decided to clean up the dresser for the time being, not sure what to do with all of the old stuff, but once I'm settled, I'm sure I'll find something.

Signed posters from the first two MoCCA Art Festivals are hanging next to the windows. I have another piece currently at the framers waiting to be hung between the two windows. I have already bought curtains that still need to be hung up, and I need to buy a small tablecloth.

My autographed "The Incredibles" poster is next to my TV..

...and my original David Mazzuchelli Batman sketch is on the door. I also decided to use that random piece of furniture to hold up my DVD player, cable box, modem, and router. Currently, the stereo and cable wires are laying on the floor, but I have a fix for that in mind.

With my clothes now moved into my apartment, I moved my books out of my closet, and they currently sit in their eventual home. I'm planning on buying a bunch of new bookcases and building a library, but I think that's a problem for August, once all my other bills are paid, and I re-evaluate my budget.

Here's my currently sleeping situation. I'm using borrowed sheets on my new mattress until my bed arrives next Monday.

And here was my big project for the day. I purchased sleeves for my long boxes, and spent the day building that. And then I topped the whole thing off with my old "New Frontier" poster. Four of those longboxes are filled with comics waiting to be filed. That's a project for another weekend. On the bookcase are a bunch of other things waiting to be hung up and filed, and across from the longboxes is another bookcase waiting for my DVD collection.

The New Apartment, Part 16.

2009-06-14T01:39:00.002-04:00

I moved today! Kinda.

Thanks to the help of some great friends, I moved all of the furniture I plan on keeping to the new place. Sadly, since i still haven't purchased a new bed yet, I'm not over there permanently yet. So, me and all my clothes are still at my old place for the time being.

We also set up the new home theater, and chirstened it with the Kirk Cameron classic, "Left Behind".

This is a temporary possible idea of what I might do with this dresser. All of the items on the table are thing from my Great-Grandparents, and Grandparents that I have found while cleaning the apartment. Also, some items that mean a lot to me from my life are sprinkled in. I'm not 100% sold on it, but my original idea of what to do with all this stuff wasn't going to work.

Also, I was thinking about buying new dining table chairs, but I think I'm going to use these four different chairs that I've found in both my place and my parent's place (there's the only decent Ikea chair from my old place, the last remaining good chair from my Great-Grandmother's old kitchen set, my dad's old office chair, and an old chair that my dad bought a yard sale a few years ago). I think it works.

I thought about getting a coffee table, but instead, I think I'm just going to use these stools Grandfather made years ago.

And this bookshelf is now in the bedroom.

So what's left? Well, the plumber needs to install the thermostat, and test the new heat system. The electrician needs to fix a minor issue that's preventing me from turning on my fridge. I need to schedule an appointment with the cable company to install cable tv and internet. I need to buy a new bed and mattress, as well as sheets and pillows. I need to move and hang up all my art. I need to buy something for my DVD player and cable box to sit on, as well as stands for my surround sound speakers. I need to buy curtains, and a table cloth. I need a microwave, dishware and flatware. I need to move my clothes, and whatever I plan on keeping from my current kitchen, which is mostly just glasses. I need new bookcases for my library.

And then I'll be pretty much done.

The New Apartment, Part 15.

2009-06-11T22:10:00.002-04:00

The new fridge and stove are here! After a brief issue with Sears refusing to carry them up the stairs because of the awesome stair chair, we finally got them upstairs, thanks to the help of my contractor's crew.

I think they look great. Tomorrow, I'm going to go buy my new big-ass TV, and then Saturday, is the big move.

The New Apartment, Part 14.

2009-06-09T21:23:00.002-04:00

So it's been over a week, and now, I must say, we are entering the home stretch of this adventure.

The electrician has finished, putting the final touches on all the outlets, and switches, and installing all of the light fixtures...

...and the plumber has installed all of the radiators, finally installing heat in this building.

Two ceiling fans are now in the living/dining room...

...while the other rooms got these bowl style light fixtures.

The comic books have been returned to their future home, where they await filing, organizing, and new boxes.

In other news, I've moved everything I own that is not furniture, art, and clothes, filling up the closets, and drawers with DVDs, books, and toys. Saturday is the big move, where I'll get all the furniture in, and on Sunday, I'll be purchasing my new giant TV.

The next big thing: the new fridge and stove get delivered and installed on Thursday, and then after this weekend, all I will really have to do is buy a new bed.

Live Long, Prosper, and Don't Walk.

2009-06-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

Live Long, Prosper, and Don't Walk.
Originally uploaded by VitaminSteve

-Steve!

Isn't that adorable?

2009-06-03T20:55:00.001-04:00

Isn't that adorable?
Originally uploaded by VitaminSteve

-Steve!

The New Apartment, Part 13.

2009-05-30T21:29:00.002-04:00

The floors are done!

And man, are they beautiful. Now that the walls are painted and the floors are done, it really feels like a home.

The good news is now the plumber is starting to work on installing the heating system, and since my apartment is on the top floor, it requires the least work. Hopefully, there will be some real progress by the end of the week.

I purchased a new stove and refrigerator last Monday, and they should be delivered and installed sometime in the next two weeks. The big thing I still have to do is pick out lighting fixtures for the apartment.

And a giant new television.

The New Apartment, Part 12.

2009-05-26T22:37:00.004-04:00

The painting has finished!

The kitchen is a lightish blue, with the brown woodwork highlights continuing...

...throughout the hallway, where the kitchen blue continues.

So, with the paintjob done, the floor guy comes tomorrow to start work on the floors, which should be done by the end of the week.

The New Apartment, Part 11.

2009-05-25T21:31:00.002-04:00

The painting is almost finished! Over the last week, they've painted almost the whole thing.

It's a darker green in the living/dining room, with a brown trim that goes along all of the woodwork, and continues throughout the apartment...

...into the bedroom/library, where the green is a little lighter and creamier.

The kitchen will be finished up tomorrow, so photos will come then. Also, today, I bought a new stove and new refrigerator, so they will be installed once the floors are done.

The New Apartment, Part 10.

2009-05-22T01:35:00.002-04:00

The painting begins! After hesitating too long, I finally pulled the trigger the other day, and picked my paint colors the other day. What are they? Well, you're just going to have to wait to see. (I don't want anybody second guessing my decision.)

But right now, everything is white. The painter finished preparing the walls for the paint yesterday, and today, he put on the first layer of primer.

Tomorrow, more primer, including a lighter coat of the final colors.

I really can't believe how great the walls look. I've been told that the plumber might be able to start installing the heat system in the next week.

The New Apartment, Part 9.

2009-05-16T18:22:00.002-04:00

Hey, it's been over a week! Let's see where we are. The electrical work is all done, and all of the wires are now brand new and hidden inside the wall. Yay.

The painter started preparing the walls today. He's starting in the back rooms, tearing down wallpaper I never even knew existed, and applying the first layer of whatever that stuff he's using to fix the walls with.

It's a week long process, but the big news is that he needs to know what colors I want to paint the place by THURSDAY. Ah! I still have no idea.

I had to move my comic books to the hallway, as the painter plans to deal with that room this week. The good news is that I can probably leave them here until that room is finished.

Here is what the room looks like now.

Also, he tore the down the wallpaper in the kitchen...

...and earlier this week, they regrouted the tile work in the kitchen and bathroom. Also, there was a hole in the wall that used to be attached to the stove has been filled and tiled over. It really is looking great.

So that's where I stand. Still waiting on the heat situation to be dealt with, but we're making headway.

The New Apartment, Part 8.

2009-05-06T01:14:00.002-04:00

After a slowdown, work has picked up again. Though we are still waiting on the permit to begin the heat installation, the electrician was able to jump ahead, and begin work.

That's why the place looks like scene from the Matrix. He's installing all new outlets and light switches, and fixing all the old wiring.

Also, I'm still unsure on the paint colors, but I've decided that the molding paint job has to match these doors, since they aren't going anywhere.

Anyway, hopefully the electrician can finish this all by the end of the week. Then, hopefully, if the heating can't be installed, maybe the painter can jump ahead and begin work.

"Oh look, they're having a meeting."

2009-05-02T00:32:00.001-04:00

"Oh look, they're having a meeting."
Originally uploaded by VitaminSteve

-Steve!

The New Apartment, Part 7.

2009-04-21T22:39:00.002-04:00

The sink's been installed! Yay. But it looks like it takes a while for the water to go down! Boo. The plumber said to keep running water throughout to see if it fixes itself with constant use. Yay. But if it doesn't it'll require more work. Boo.

The new air-conditioner has been installed in the bedroom. He also put new moldings around the new windows. It should look great once the whole thing has been painted, and the cracks are filled in with putty.

On the other side of the apartment, they put in great new window sills on the other three new windows.

So we hit a work stoppage again. We're still waiting until the paperwork clears for the heating system, so no work can really be done until then, but in the meantime, PAINT!

I picked up my first set of test paints today. I got two shades of green and two shades of brown. Again, this if for the living/dining room area.

Of course, the dark shades are two dark. I was considering going dark in the bedroom, but I've been told that is a bad idea.

I'm still looking for suggestions. Thoughts?

The New Apartment, Part 6.

2009-04-21T01:30:00.003-04:00

Work continues, slowly. While waiting for all the paperwork for the new heating system to be filed, some other work is getting done. The sink- MISSING! I found out today that the last time this bathroom was redone was when my Great-Grandparents bought the house, in 1935. I would have like to have been able to keep the sink, but it wasn't possible.

The new sink currently sits in the kitchen, waiting for the plumber to install it tomorrow. I didn't have much of a choice, it was the only one that size that Home Depot had. Luckily, it wasn't that expensive, so I don't feel bad in case I ever redo the entire bathroom.

Also, I learned that Home Depot is fucking hell. While I was there, I went to look at the lighting fixtures. I thought I found some I sort of liked. But it wasn't going to work. Now, I got to take a trip down to the lighting district on the Bowery to find ones I like.

New windows! They installed new windows on all six windows in the apartment.

Also, I learned something new, and strange about the apartment.

See that thing that ran across the windows? I had them remove it because I didn't really like it.

See the new windows? Now, see how completely uneven the two windows are? So strange. I guess it's just a quirk of living in an old house.

Work continues tomorrow, as the sink in the bathroom will be installed, and the new air conditioned will be installed in the bedroom. Also, I've decided on the colors for the living/dining room area. I'm going for lightish green, with dark brown on the molding running across the floors and the top of the wall. Above that will be the white ceiling. I'm still looking for paint ideas for the rest of the house, especially the kitchen.

Welcome To Yankee Stadium...

2009-04-16T20:32:00.005-04:00

My sister and I went to the Opening Game at Yankee Staidum...

Yeah, it was a pretty horrific game, but what a great stadium...

I loved the old place, but if you have to move, what a great place to end up...

It even has a butcher!

We ran into David Wells while walking through the bleachers...

Meanwhile, this was the highlight of the day...

The New Apartment, Part 5.

2009-04-14T22:39:00.002-04:00

The work stoppage continues. The permits have been signed, and submitted. Hopefully, the work on the heating system will begin in a week or so. I have a new air conditioner, which will be installed whenever the new windows that were ordered come in.

In other news, I have decided to keep the dresser. I'm going to take down the mirror, and use it in the dining room area.

The Birth Of Muppet Steve.

2009-04-13T02:47:00.001-04:00

Muppet Steve!

2009-04-11T17:52:00.001-04:00

The New Apartment, Part 4.

2009-04-09T23:04:00.002-04:00

Hey, the stove is gone! They disconnected it, and removed it from the apartment yesterday, so that's one less thing in the apartment.

So, we're kind of at a construction standstill. The floor guy can't do the floors until the walls are painted. The walls can't be painted until the electrician fixes the wiring. The electrician can't fix the wiring until the plumber installs the heating system. And the plumber can't install heat until the the permits clear.

In the meantime, the contractor is waiting for the new windows he ordered to come in, and once they do, he'll come in and install them. I have to get a new air conditioner, which also needs to be installed, and I have to pick new light fixtures (I'm thinking about some ceiling fans), and a new bathroom sink.

This is the bathroom. It's not that huge, but it's fine for me.

Currently, the faucet on the left, which dispenses the hot water, doesn't work. According to the plumber, the sink is so old that he can't fix the pipe without destroying the sink. So, I have to get a new sink, which is good, because now I can get a cabinet underneath it to keep all of my toilet paper.

The rest of the room is fine enough, it just needs some cleaning.

The other order of business is choosing colors for the paint. I have some time to think about it, which is good. I know that the paint really has to be complimentary to my furniture. So, here's what I have. It's not much.

These are two of my Great-Grandmother's end tables. I'm considering keeping them, and using them in my bedroom. The mirror is going back in the hallway, and the recliner is going in the trash.

This is my Great-Grandmother's sewing machine. I'm thinking about using it as an end table. The couch, however is going in the trash.

There's this dresser. I'm thinking about keeping it, but right now, it's hanging out in the comic book room.

As is this end table thing. I have no idea if I'm going to keep it, I just didn't want to carry it downstairs yet.

Then there are these metal cabinets. I'm thinking about putting them in the kitchen to keep dishes. They've been painted, and can be painted again. They look really good with a fresh coat of paint.

And then there's this dresser. It was my Great-Grandmother's, and I don't like it very much. It's already been marked for the trash, but if anyone can convince me otherwise, it could possibly stay.

As for what I'm taking with me from my current place, it's not that much, I guess. These are all old photos, because I'm too lazy to take new ones.

There's this table. The chairs are shot, and are just going to end up in the trash.

This bookshelf, where I keep my DVDs.

The display case where I keep toys.

This bookshelf.

This bookshelf.

And this bookshelf.

And then there's this couch. It's an Ikea Ektorp, which means that I can change the color of it by just buying a new slipcover.

Which is good, because the current slipcover is pretty messed up.

I also need a new bed. I'm thinking about this one, but I'm not 100% sold on it.

So, that's my furniture situation. Now, does anyone have any paint suggestions?

The New Apartment, Part 3.

2009-04-08T01:20:00.002-04:00

Day 3. They wall where there used to be a wall has been finished. Also, the molding now goes all around the room. I'm also planning on replacing the two light fixtures with one or two ceiling fans.

We've also moved almost all of the furniture out, in preparation for for the refinishing of the floors. It looks like the floor guy will be able to get all of the original hard wood floors back to great condition. That should look amazing.

I need to start thinking about paint ideas. I'm not sure what I exactly want to do.

The refrigerator went today, and the stove goes tomorrow. The plumbers coming to take a look at all the plumbing. Things were a little backed up today in the kitchen sink. Hopefully, he's able to work with everything I have, because I really want to keep the sinks.

Anyway, like I said, I need paint ideas. Little help, please.

The New Apartment, Part 2.

2009-04-06T23:14:00.002-04:00

It's started.

As you look down the hallway, you can see the floor is stripped to it's original hard wood floor. It's a bit of a mess, but the floors of the entire apartment are going to be redone.

The current state of the kitchen. Currently, the refrigerator is hanging out in the dining room.

The wall is gone!

It really opens up the room. I decided that I want to keep the molding running around the walls of the room.

The view from the other side of the room. I also think I am going to go with two ceiling fans in these two rooms, since they do need new lighting fixtures.

The closets are gone. Yay.

In the other rooms, the doorway between the two rooms has been opened up.

Yes, I do realize I just turned this six room apartment into basically two rooms. If I ever need more rooms, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Tomorrow, the work continues...