Savvy Shoppers’ Survey

Janos P. Spitzer Flooring Company
133 W. 24th St. (6th & 7th Aves.)/212-627-1818
Weekdays 8am–4:30pm.

The Edge: A designer of beautiful flooring. § Installs custom wood floors cut and designed by artisans. Prior to commencing work, Spitzer sketches out and shows to the customer a floor pattern that takes into consideration the size and use of the room. The showroom is stocked with samples of pattern styles and wood types, which include exotic flooring from around the globe. Custom floors cost $10 to $100 a square foot. Repairs and resanding available.

Home renovation
Flooring
quality style service value: 45 45 45 45

J. P. Molyneux Studio Ltd.
29 E. 69th St. (Park & Madison Aves.)/212-628-0097
Weekdays 9am–6pm by appointment.

The Edge: Faux but fabulous. § Floors painted to appear inlaid. Noted for doing Kips Bay show house, among other celebrated floors.

Home renovation
Flooring

J. J. Peiser & Sons
475 10th Ave. (36th & 37th Sts.)/212-279-6900
Weekdays 9am–5pm.

The Edge: The place to choose your floor. § The 4,000-square-foot gallery shows off a selection of 50 hardwood floors in simple to exotic woods in their natural shades, stained woods, and borders to go with all. Prices from $8 to $150 a square foot for antiqued “Parquet de Versailles.”

Home renovation
Flooring
quality style service value: 35 40 35 40

Ed McCormack
203-735-1621
By appointment.

The Edge: A quality craftsman. § Does wonderful work laying ceramic tiles, including hand-crafted tiles which really take care to ensure that their spacing is just right. § “Flexible to work with.” “He’s very busy so getting him may be difficult. Prices are reasonable.”

Home renovation
Flooring
quality style service value: 44 44 44 44

Karp & Cantrell Audio & Video
423 Center Ave. (Westwood, NJ)/201-666-0777
By appointment.

The Edge: Designs audio-video home theaters. § No credit cards. § “Superior quality at fair prices.”

Home renovation
Electronics, etc.
quality style service value: 45 45 45 45

Holland & Heim
232 Madison Ave., Suite 514 (57th St.)/212-980-6223
Weekdays 10am–6pm.

The Edge: Satisfy the Bill Gates in all of us—control your home with the touch of a button. § Customized controls for your home so that with one switch you can control your home temperature, music, and lights; lower a screen; dim noise; etc. Expensive—costs $10,000+ for most homes.

Home renovation
Electronics, etc.

Audio Design Associates
602-610 Mamaroneck Ave. (White Plains, NY)/914-946-9595
Weekdays by appointment 9am–5pm.

The Edge: High-tech custom electronic systems. § Makes and installs high-tech audiovisual equipment and home theaters. Integrates electronic systems, connecting pushbutton-controlled drapes, phones, and lights with room-to-room audiovisual systems. Touch screen for commands. $800 key pad that resembles a light switch and a volume control can change the station and dim the lights. Charges $125 per hour or $425 per day for labor. No credit cards. § “Does good work, but is expensive.”

Home renovation
Electronics, etc.
quality style service value: 44 44 44 34

New York Closet Company
1458 3rd Ave. (83rd St.)/212-439-9500
Mon–Sat 10am–6pm.

The Edge: Organize your closet with Melamine and wire systems. § Functional Melamine and wire closet systems tailored to maximize your closet space. Partitions cost $8 to $10 per foot, with a $250 minimum.

Home renovation
Closet design
quality style service value: 42 42 42 42

California Closet
Long Island: Westbury 516-334-0077 / Ronkonkoma 516-737-2224 / New Jersey: Fairfield 973-882-3800 / Cranbury 609-655-1899
Weekdays 8:30am–5pm, Sat noon–3pm.

The Edge: Space savers. § Expensive, but where space and/or time are at a premium these systems can be lifesavers.

Home renovation
Closet design
quality style service value: 40 33 40 40

Wood-O-Rama, Inc.
238 W. 108th St. (7th & 8th Aves.)/212-749-6438
Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm.

The Edge: Molding heaven. § Stocks over 700 moldings in oak, pine, poplar, mahogany, and plastic. Does kitchen cabinetry, too.

Home renovation
Cabinetry/carpenters
quality style service value: 40 40 40 45