House Tour: 1885 NYC Townhouse Goes Green

When architect Paul Gleicher and his wife, Lisa Sharkey, renovated their classic New York City townhouse, they started by replacing the original windows with wide banks that bathe the interior with natural light. Mullions keep the home's exterior in sync with surrounding 19th-century building.

One-of-a-kind wooden furniture appears throughout the house. Many pieces are made from responsibly harvested or reclaimed wood. Bringing their labor of love full circle, the homeowners donated the original 18-foot joists to a furniture maker.

The same formaldehyde-free pearwood and IceStone surfacing used in the living room also sets the tone in the kitchen. Green, blue, and white glass tiles alternate in the eye-catching backsplash for a tranquil but cheerful result.

In the master bath, recycled glass and concrete counters complement the water-saving toilet and faucets. And here's an idea to incorporate into your own bathroom: Heated towel racks can replace radiators when floor space is limited.

Gleicher and Sharkey chose to cover the walls of this cozy bath with alternating stripes of tiles made from recycled glass. The neutral earth tones chosen work to enhance, rather than overwhelm, the modestly proportioned room. 

If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!