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Armonk Real Estate for Sale

North Castle Administrator Goldberg Returns Shortly After Abrupt Firing | Armonk Real Estate

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Less than a month after her firing, the new North Castle Town Board recently welcomed Joan Goldberg back as town administrator, according to a report from LoHud.com.

The North Castle Town Board voted unanimously to bring back Goldberg on Wednesday, Jan. 8, during the board’s first meeting of the year, according to the report. The North Castle Town Board voted 3-2 to fire Goldberg in December “without cause,” 16 months after she was hired. Town Supervisor Howard Arden and council members Diane Didonato-Roth and John Cronin, who voted for the firing, were not re-elected.

“My only concern is for the work force in North Castle to be able to understand what happened,” Goldberg said in the LoHud report. “It’s disconcerting to see this type of political stuff. When they see something like this, it really shakes the force.”

http://armonk.dailyvoice.com/news/north-castle-administrator-goldberg-returns-shortly-after-abrupt-firing

Bob Vila’s 5 December ‘Must Do’ Projects | Armonk Real Estate

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This month is all about the holidays — from decorating the house inside and out to making sure you have everything you’ll need to keep warm and safe. With so much to accomplish, it’s best to develop a plan and stick to it. Here are my top-five “must-do” projects for December, with a Christmas countdown topping the list.

No. 1: Countdown to Christmas

The holiday clock is ticking and there’s so much to do, right? Pick up a fresh tree (or unpack that artificial one), untangle and test the strings of mini-LED lights that you hastily put away last year, and start looking for places to hide the gifts you’ve already started to purchase at stores and online. No! Stop! With a little smart planning, you can get all of your holiday activities done in record time — and still enjoy the season.

For starters, begin to clear away everyday decor from shelves, mantels and tabletops. If you are going to decorate for the holidays, it will be much easier to work with a blank canvas. Likewise, make sure you have sufficient room for the tree. A tree that looked to be a perfectly appropriate size at the lot may actually appear quite different once it’s made it through the front door into the living room. Consider rearranging the furniture — or even removing some — to give the tree the space it deserves. And, if it’s a fresh-cut tree, be sure to locate it away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and water regularly to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Next, before the holiday cards begin to arrive, plan a spot to display them, whether on the mantel or in a decorative holder. Check the return addresses on the incoming envelopes against those in your address book to be certain you’re up to date, then recycle the envelopes. Before you start wrapping gifts, create a wrapping station where everything you need is in one place — scissors, wrap, ribbon, tape, tags and a pen. Once the gifts have been wrapped and tagged, be sure to designate an out-of-the-way spot to hide them, like in a guest room, under a bed or at the back of a closet shelf. You’ll probably want to find a different hiding spot from last year, just in case the kids are on to you!

Because food and entertaining are an important part of the holidays, be sure to create some order in the kitchen as well. Clean out the pantry and refrigerator before you start shopping for food and ingredients for your holiday meals and treats. If you bake, make sure countertops and work surfaces are clear and uncluttered. You’ll want to have space not only to roll out the cookie dough, but also to hold the cut-out cookies prior to and after baking. Take inventory of your containers to make sure you have enough on hand for storing cookies as well as keeping leftovers fresh and available.

No. 2: Firewood prep

Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs, and unlike oil and coal, wood is a resource that can be replanted for future fire-burning pleasure. Before you start using your fireplace, make sure that your wood is properly seasoned and the right type for your heating requirements. Hardwoods, like oak and maple, burn slowly and steadily. They must be seasoned for at least a year, or you’ll be making more smoke than heat. Softwoods, like pine and fir, season faster and grow faster. They’re easy to split and easy to start but watch out for sparking and creosote buildup in your chimney. Because most firewood is seasoned outdoors, it will contain insects, so you don’t want to store more than a day’s worth inside your home at a time. You also don’t want to stack great piles of it against the outside of your house. To store a year’s supply, you’ll need a woodshed or some other covered storage area set away from buildings.

No. 3: DIY decorations

While there is an infinite supply of ready-made holiday decorations to purchase, there’s something about the season that heightens the appeal of handmade decor. A wreath form purchased at a craft or hobby shop can be transformed easily into a festive wreath to hang above a mantel or on the front door. Pinecones and evergreen branches can be woven into garlands to decorate the house inside and out. And if you are looking for a way to personalize your tree, there are an endless number of creative ornaments you can make. Here are 58 outstanding DIY ornaments to get you inspired. Make one for yourself — or as a gift to give.

 

 

 

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-12-09/bob-vilas-december-projects/

Eichler Remodel Spawns a Design Career | Armonk NY Homes

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Sometimes you don’t know what you want until it’s right in front of your face. Pamela Lin and her husband, Erwin Tam, had set out looking for a run-of-the-mill, contemporary cookie cutter home with two stories that they could move into without much renovating. But none of the dozens of homes they toured wowed them. Until they walked inside a home designed by well-known California developer Joseph Eichler.
Seeing the open-sky atrium surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and the open floor plan, Lin and Tam’s style compass completely shifted. Turned out, they weren’t lovers of contemporary style at all; they were midcentury modernists at heart. “Right away we knew this home was for us,” Lin says.
Another thing they soon discovered: Lin is a natural designer. A full-time project manager for Google at the time, she reached out to a few professionals, but her tastes were so particular that she just decided to design the whole house herself, reimagining the kitchen and bathrooms and choosing furnishings, materials and paint colors. Two of her fellow Googlers saw the end result and each hired her to do their homes. Then a neighbor’s friend saw the house, knocked on her door and hired her. After that a different neighbor procured her services as well.
With such demand, Lin decided to start her own interior design company, Urbanism Designs.
Houzz at a Glance Who lives here: Pamela Lin, Erwin Tam and their daughters, Eniko (8 months) and Eliana (4) Location: Sunnyvale, California Size: 1,890 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Lin researched Eichler homes because she wanted to preserve the Eichler feel but modernize it slightly. Previous owners had already altered a few features — they had removed some original interior wood paneling and painted the ceiling, for example — but she tried to keep the structure as original as possible. “We tried to preserve as much as we could and just modernize things without losing the structure and bones,” Lin says.
The exterior form is virtually unchanged apart from new paint. Lin also added frosted glass to the front door sidelight, changed the side fence to ipe wood and added landscaping steps and concrete planter boxes, which she designed based on a photo she saw on Houzz.
Exterior paint: Dolphin; door paint: Pumpkin Cream, both by Benjamin Moore
The front door opens to this atrium, which originally wooed Lin and Tam into buying the house. In their research they saw that many people opted to cover Eichler atriums to add more interior square footage, but they chose to preserve it.
Lin believes the previous owners thought to hire a company like Elizabeth Gordon Studio to design  a wood wall originally separated the interior and exterior and that changed it to frosted glass.
AFTER: Lin took the connectivity a step further by adding clear, double-pane glass. She also replaced the concrete with an ipe wood deck and a fire pit. Mexican pebbles keep other areas clean looking and low maintenance. “We wanted to make it a place where you’d want to hang out as a family,” Lin says. Cube: Frank Gehry; glass doors: Palo Alto Glass
The atrium leads to the kitchen, where Lin removed a partial wall that had blocked views inside. With that and the frosted glass removed, this outdoor space has become a focal point.
Previous owners had painted the ceiling white. “I would have loved to have the original wood color,” Lin says. They had also added generic veneer wood cabinets and a Spanish terra-cotta tile floor.

China’s penchant for property evokes US bubble mentality | Armonk NY Homes

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Amid the government’s effort to pass aggressive legislation designed to cool the housing market, China’s home prices soared to record heights in October, underscoring the persistent danger of a price bubble, Reuters reports.

China’s booming market is reminiscent of the U.S. bubble, since it is driven in large part the view that property is one of the soundest investments. The government has said it intends to pass legislation aimed at curbing a possible bubble as part of what Reuters called its “boldest set of economic and social reforms in nearly three decades.”

 

 

 

Source: Reuters

Armonk NY Real Estate Weekly Report | #Robreportblog

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Armonk   NY Weekly Real Estate Report11/14/2013
Homes for sale85
Median Ask Price$1,999,000.00
Low Price$499,000.00
High Price$24,900,000.00
Average Size5800
Average Price/foot$456.00
Average DOM166
Average Ask Price$2,953,827.00

Dodgers Ex-Co-Owner Jamie McCourt Buys In Napa for $11.25M | Armonk Real Estate

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14 images

Jamie McCourt, former CEO and co-owner of the Dodgers with ex-husband Frank McCourt, spent $11.25 million on the sweeping Napa Valley estate at 40 Auberge Road. Situated on over 21 acres next to the Auberge du Soleil resort, the property boasts a 4 acre working vineyard that yields between 6.6 to 10 tons per year, a 3,500-square-foot 2-bedroom main house, an architecturally renowned 2-bedroom guest house, and a show-stopping lap pool.

The main house was designed by Scott Johnson of Johnson Fain Partners. It contains two bedrooms, an office, a gym, and views of both the valley and the property’s outdoor space, which was designed by Roger Warner and Jack Chandler. The guest house, designed by Stanley Saitowitz, won an AIA Award for design.

The property’s former owner was attorney Robert Lieff, founder of the law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein. He reportedly purchased the land in 1998 for $805K, and built the house and guest house over the next three years. He used the vineyard to produce a highly-regarded private-label Cabernet Sauvignon. He listed the property in April 2012 for $17 million, and then reduced the price to just under $15 million.

McCourt’s broker in the purchase was Ginger Martin, who has the current record for closing the sale on the most expensive Sonoma County property on record ($35 million). Martin was at one point the broker for the seller of 40 Auberge Road, and it’s not clear if she represented both sides of this transaction. Regardless, McCourt got the property for well under the original asking price, and now plans to split her time between LA and Napa. · Former Dodgers CEO Pays $11.25 Million for Napa Vineyard Estate [WSJ] · A Glass House In Napa Wine Country [WSJ] · 40 Auberge Road [Ginger Martin & Co.]

Armonk NY Election Results news | Armonk NY Homes

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Moving Forward Together
Dear North Castle Resident,
Please forgive me for sending one last email blast now that our Town’s turbulent political season has, thankfully, come to a close. I want to thank every North Castle resident who made the effort to vote on Tuesday; your vote was your voice, and the majority of those who went to the polls expressed a desire for change. To those who voted for me, I pledge to do my very best to serve all the residents of North Castle, and I am humbled by your support and confidence in me. For those who supported the other well qualified candidates, I hope you will give me the opportunity to prove my ability to be fair, hard working, and non-partisan over the next four years.
I would also like to remind you to take a moment to observe Veterans Day tomorrow, Monday, November 11th. North Castle’s American Legion Post 1097 located on 35 Bedford Road in Armonk, will hold its annual Veterans Day Service at 11:00AM. Although the first Armistice Day was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on November 11th, 1919 to honor those who died in World War I, in 1947 it was expanded to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. North Castle has countless men and women who have over the decades served our country. Let’s remember them and honor them on Veterans Day.
As we approach in the next two months the various holiday celebrations, I wish you and your family all the best, and look forward to 2014.
Sincerely,
Barbara DiGiacinto

Schiliro Celebrates North Castle Supervisor Win | Armonk Real Estate

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Michael Schiliro is now the man in charge in North Castle.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Democrat Schiliro, a councilman, defeated incumbent Republican Howard Arden to become North Castle Town Supervisor, 56 percent to 44 percent.

The Republican majority of Arden and council members John Cronin and Diane Didonato-Roth had governed the town over the past two years. Arden and Cronin were defeated, and Didonato-Roth was defeated in a primary in September.

“It feels great,” Schiliro said.  “Campaigns are always a lot of hard work but they are enjoyable because you get to meet so many people. It’s a real privilege and honor to serve the town and to be chosen supervisor by the people of North Castle.”

Schiliro said residents were concerned about the financial health of the town and the lack of civility at meetings.

“Residents can expect a respectful government and a civil atmosphere,” Schiliro said. “Nobody will be talking over each other. We have cohesive board that will make well informed decisions. We’ll disagree, like a full functioning board should be doing. I’m looking forward to it.”

Arden blamed his loss on residents disapproving of the Brynwood Golf and Country Club’s development proposal. Brynwood is proposing 88 luxury condominium units for older adults.

In Sept. 2012, Arden, Cronin and Roth voted to accept Brynwood’s environmental review while Schiliro voted against it.

“You have to maintain integrity,” Arden said. “They have a right to present their application. We had never gotten to the point of making a decision. At the end of the day, it’s more important to maintain character and be fair and open.”

Arden said he plans to take a break from town politics.

“I put a lot of time and effort into it and the results were outstanding,” Arden said. “There shouldn’t have even been an election if you look at the results. I had two great years, the town is in the best financial and quality of life shape it’s ever been in.”

Republican Barbara DiGiacinto and Democrat Barry Reiter were elected to the town board with each getting 28 percent of the vote. Democrat Jose Berra had 22 of the vote, while Cronin had 21 percent of the vote.

Patricia Colombo ran unopposed for receiver of taxes, while Republican Douglas Martino defeated Democrat Linda Napolitano for town justice

 

 

http://armonk.dailyvoice.com/news/schiliro-celebrates-north-castle-supervisor-win

Schiliro Leads Arden In North Castle Supervisor Race | Armonk NY Real Estate

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Councilman Michael Schiliro remains in the lead in the race for North Castle Supervisor as of 11:50 p.m.

Schiliro is leading Supervisor Howard Arden 56 percent to 44 percent with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Republican Barbara DiGiacinto and Democrat Barry Reiter are pulling away in the race for town board, leading with 29 percent of the vote each. Incumbent Republican John Cronin trails with 22 percent of the vote and Democrat Jose Berra has 21 percent.

Arden, a Republican, was running for a second term as supervisor, is opposed by Schiliro, who has served three terms on the Town Board. Cronin was running for a second term on the board. Cronin campaigned with Diane Didonato-Roth, who was defeated in the Republican primary by DiGiancinto.

Berra and Reiter were running for the first time on the Democratic line.

 

 

http://armonk.dailyvoice.com/politics/schiliro-leads-arden-north-castle-supervisor-race

 

14 Steps to a Perfectly Polished Bedroom | Armonk Real Estate

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Have you been putting off finishing your bedroom? Had it with procrastination, and just need a push to get the decorating job done? Then you’ve come to the right place. The following 14 steps will walk you through the decorating process from start to finish, leaving no detail overlooked. Let’s get started.

1. Find inspiration. This is the time to save favorite images from Houzz, blogs and magazines for bedroom inspiration. Sift through your collection and choose two or three images that together best represent the look and feel you want to create in your bedroom. Once you have your inspiration images, make a list of all of the elements you like about the photos. Try to move beyond “mood” words (“serene,” “fresh” etc.) and nail down specific furniture styles, colors and accessories that you want in your space. Using the room shown here as an example, you might list:

  • Upholstered headboard
  • Nailhead trim
  • Chests as nightstands
  • Marble
  • Creamy tones and black accents
  • Round mirror
  • Bench at foot of bed

List each detail separately: “nailhead trim” and “upholstered headboard” each get a separate line. The reason: If you get too specific, you can get stuck trying to track down one item from your wish list (an upholstered headboard with nailhead trim); this way you can create your own look that still contains your favorite elements.
You might find an upholstered headboard and pick up a bench or chest with nailhead trim, for instance. Or the marble lamps shown in the room here may translate into a marble-topped dresser in your finished room. Browse thousands of bedroom photos by style

2. Paint or paper the walls. It’s important not to get too wrapped up in the inspiration phase of your project — you may never really get started! Get a jump on things by choosing your wall treatments early in the process. Another reason it’s a good idea to paint or paper early on is it will give you a chance to live with the colors and tweak if necessary. Plus, going to all the trouble of painting is usually a great motivator to get the rest of the work done.
3. Decide what to keep, what to revamp and what to buy. Most of us cannot feasibly go out and completely redecorate a room in one go, and you may not want to anyway. Try to look at each item in your bedroom with fresh eyes (sometimes taking photos helps) and decide what you can work into the new scheme. Some pieces can be used as is; others may be moved (for example, use an old dresser as a nightstand); and some pieces you may want to alter (repaint an armoire and line the glass doors with burlap). Once you have your list of keepers, make a fresh list of what you still need, including supplies for refurbishing your old stuff. And don’t forget, you can always shop other rooms in your house, too.
4. Take measurements and create a furniture plan. Measure the length and width of your room, the distance between windows (that is, available wall space) and the windows themselves. From your measurements decide what size pieces will comfortably fit in your room. If you were thinking of getting a king-size bed, but a queen would give you more room for a dresser and sitting area, now is the time to make the call about what is most important to you.
Plug your measurements into an online tool (search for “free floor plan tool”) or make a sketch on paper and play around with potential furniture arrangements. It’s much easier to move or swap out furniture on paper or onscreen than in real life — so do some virtual lifting before you plunk your money down on new stuff.
5. Choose a bed. If you are buying a new bed, you probably already have a pretty good idea of the kind you want, but if not, it’s time to make a decision. Four-posters and canopies are quite tall, so be sure to measure your ceilings before committing to one — you should have well over a foot of clearance.
If you like to read in bed, consider an upholstered headboard or a wood headboard with an ergonomic shape. Try to see the bed you want in person before buying it. If that’s not possible, at least be sure to check the return policy in advance.
6. Track down the right-height nightstands. It’s important not to choose your nightstands before your bed, because the height of the nightstands will depend on the height of your bed, including the mattresses. The ideal nightstand height for most people is mattress height or a few inches higher. The tabletop should be no lower than your mattress, but up to 6 inches higher can work. The reason: It’s easier to reach up than to reach down when you are in bed.
In a tiny space, hang a shelf or bracket on the wall, a few inches above the level of the mattress.
7. Choose or revamp a dresser. Look for a dresser that complements your bed but is not identical in style. If you have the space, get a long, low dresser; it will provide lots of display space, and it won’t tower over the bed. If you move frequently, consider a tallboy style, since it will fit into more spaces. If you plan to revamp an existing dresser, look at potential paint colors and finishes, and choose new hardware if desired. Mark a calendar date for working on your project.
8. Add lighting. For bedside lamps you can’t go wrong with a matched pair. If floor space is tight, look into sconces — plug-in sconces with cord covers are a good solution for renters. Bedside lamps are essential, but a room really needs at least three light sources to feel well lit. Add a pendant light overhead or wind fairy lights over the top of a canopy or four-poster for extra glow. Overhead lights in the bedroom should be on dimmers; bedside lamps should have dimmers or three-way bulbs.