RollerCoast

UNCOMMON ABODE

2006-10-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

It's official! We've finally launched our design business, Uncommon Abode, located in downtown New York City.

As seen on Apartment Therapy, HGTV’s “Small Space, Big Style”, Saveur Magazine, New York Daily News, The San Francisco Chronicle and winner of Apartment Therapy’s national “Smallest, Coolest Apartment Contest 2006

Uncommon Abode

Design solutions for the rest of us.

Located downtown, we bring a fresh, hip and eclectic approach
to design. Specializing in New York’s small spaces, our goal is
to maximize functional living space without sacrificing style.
To this end, we offer an array of design options. From professional
organization to re-designs utilizing the things you already own to
complete home renovations from the ground up-- we run the gamut.

Our designers also provide expert real estate consultations from
preparing your home for sale (including interior staging and landscaping)
to assessing the design potential of a new apartment. We can handle your
entire relocation from moving your household to making a new place feel
like home again.

Exceptional service with affordable rates & the initial consultation is free.
Let us help you see the possibilities.

Uncommon Abode
New York, NY 10003

Office: 212-529-8696; Mobile: 917-414-2234
UNCOMMON ABODE

Email: jenny@uncommonabode.com

Anniversary: San Francisco Winter of Love

2006-02-15T11:54:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 years since the typical Marriage Equality Valentine's Day protest at San Francisco City Hall turned into actual wedding ceremonies to everyone's surprise. My spouse, Clove & I were one of those couples, jumping immediately on a cross country flight from NYC, traveling 3,000 miles to take part on February 16th- President's Day.

Today all the news media can say is that the issue is hotly "debated", i.e. "was it good or was it bad for gay civil rights?" See the sfgate's lame coverage for example. Like the backlash against our civil liberties wasn't occurring rampantly that winter & hasn't been on the right's agenda for years. Has the media so easily forgotten Bush's State of the Union address '04 & his vow to alter the Constitution in order to ban gay marriage forever? Mayor Newsom, who was present for the speech, has not forgotten. Speaking of the federal constitution same-sex marriage ban, Sen. Frist has another vote on it scheduled for this June.

When we boarded the plane that day, we knew it would shake down this way. We knew the marriages would ultimately be annulled, that the civil disobedience would galvanize the radical right & be labeled as "too soon" by the very Democrats we put in office (see Di Fi among others). This was of no surprise. What was surprising was the way it felt to be married that day and the realization that this simple civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall had changed our lives forever.

Neither of us was prepared for the unmitigated joy. The feeling that all of San Francisco shared in the event from the excitement of the "straight?" folks at the Hertz rent-a-car down to the beneficient pizza deliveries by local pizzerias that arrived throughout the night. Huddled together that night in the pouring rain, we were treated to the delivery of warm food & blankets, whiskey, stools, magazines--survival supplies. The next morning flower bouquets arrived enmasse sent from people all over the country to country to couples they had never met waiting in line to be married. Ours read, "from a grandmother in the Midwest who loves you." No one can take this moment from us. If only to experience just once that a tiny segment of our country, a small piece of our government, welcomed our relationships, celebrated our committment to one another & shared joy in making our love legal.

Bi-Coastal Living --Disorder or Lifestyle? Discuss

2006-02-13T16:33:00.002-05:00

Days like these throw life into a perfect relief of bi-polar realities. New York City is buried under 2 1/2 feet of snow while Cali enjoys weather in the mid 60's - 70's. Surfers are kickin' ass on the Mavericks as ordinary New Yorkers manage Olympic feats getting to the Duane Reade.

Ahhh, & as any true bi-coaster can tell you, February in NYC makes living full time in San Fran or LA look like a no brainer. So why be bi-coastal? It's in the blood my friends, anyone who has had a real taste of living on either Coast would gladly split their time between them to get the best of both worlds. Problem is once you've had the best in one place, you now know what you are missing. Hopefully, this blog can offer you pieces of places you are missing, while you are stuck where you are. Consider it a morning after, hang-over cure.

Olivo Barbieri's aerial photograph

2006-02-13T15:28:00.000-05:00

2006-02-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

Opening Splash

East meets West virtually for those seeking the bi-coastal lifestyle,
Roller Coast is here to make it that much easier to keep your feet
on one coast while your heart & mind are on the other.