Gallery KBNY is a full-service design-build firm specializing in the renovation of apartments, co-ops, condominiums, townhomes, and lofts across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The difference from a typical contractor or design firm is structure: architecture, interior design, permitting, and construction are all managed in-house by a single integrated team. Clients work with one firm, under one contract, from the first walkthrough through the final punch list. There are no handoffs between a separate architect, designer, and builder. The entire process is coordinated under one roof, which is how Gallery KBNY delivers over 70% of projects with zero change orders from concealed conditions. For a deeper look at why this model outperforms the traditional approach, read why a design-build firm is the best method for an NYC apartment renovation.

Every Gallery KBNY project is led by a founding partner from the initial consultation through final sign-off. The founding partner is personally accountable for the outcome of the project and remains involved at every meaningful decision point. Supporting the principal is a dedicated team of architects, designers, a project manager, and a project coordinator. This structure ensures continuity of vision and accountability from design through construction. The person who walked the apartment with you at the beginning is the same person who closes it out at the end. To see this model in practice, read about The Gallery Way and the six-phase process every project follows.

A design-build firm handles both the design and construction of a project under one contract and one team, rather than splitting those services between separate companies. At Gallery KBNY, this means that the architects who draw the plans, the designers who develop the interiors, and the construction team who build the space all work together from the start. Because there is no separation between design and construction, decisions are made with full knowledge of what is buildable, what is permitted, and what the budget will support. The result is fewer surprises, tighter coordination, and a finished product that reflects the original design intent rather than a series of field compromises. For a side-by-side comparison, read design-build vs. general contractor: what's the difference.

Board approvals are managed in-house by the Gallery KBNY team, not outsourced to an expediter. The firm prepares the full submission package, including architectural drawings, engineering reports, alteration agreement documentation, and insurance certificates, designed to satisfy reviewing architects, managing agents, and boards on the first pass. Where a project requires Landmarks Preservation Commission review, that coordination is also handled in-house. Clients are kept informed throughout the process without being burdened by it. For a detailed look at what this process involves, read what to know about renovation approvals and permitting in NYC, and for co-op-specific considerations, read what you need to know about renovating in a co-op.

Yes. All DOB filings, permit applications, and regulatory coordination are handled by Gallery KBNY's in-house team. This includes ACP-5 asbestos testing coordination, alteration agreement submissions, and LPC filings for projects in landmarked buildings or historic districts. Regulatory tracks are run in parallel with design development so that the approval process does not extend the overall project timeline unnecessarily. For projects in landmarked buildings, read what to know about landmark renovations in New York City.

Clients receive daily site photo updates through the Job Tracker platform, which serves as a live, auditable record of the project. Job Tracker captures daily progress photos, selection approvals, board correspondence, schedule of values, and change logs in a single place accessible to the client at any time. A dedicated project coordinator manages client communication throughout construction so that clients are never left waiting for answers. Weekly walkthroughs with the project team are standard, and the founding partner remains accessible throughout.

Design is developed in-house by Gallery KBNY's architectural designers, not by a separate interior design firm that hands off to a contractor. Space planning, concept development, material selection, and photoreal renderings of every room are completed before construction begins. Because architecture and interior design are resolved simultaneously rather than sequentially, the design accounts for structural conditions, mechanical constraints, and regulatory requirements from the outset. Every specification is fully fixed before the first wall comes down, which is the primary reason Gallery KBNY projects so rarely require change orders.

Every project begins with a pre-construction risk audit that evaluates asbestos conditions, electrical service capacity, structural elements, and building-specific alteration agreement requirements before a contract is signed. Known conditions are priced into the contract upfront rather than discovered during construction. Allowances are set to reflect what clients will actually spend, not what makes a proposal look competitive on paper. Over 70% of Gallery KBNY projects are delivered with zero change orders from concealed conditions, and across all projects, cost deviations average less than 5%. For a detailed breakdown of what renovation work costs in Manhattan, read gut renovations in New York City 101 and what does a gut renovation cost in NYC.

Gallery KBNY specializes in the renovation of apartments, pre-war co-ops and condos, townhomes, lofts, and brownstones across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The firm's particular depth of experience is in pre-war renovations, which require specialized knowledge of aging infrastructure, board approval processes, alteration agreement requirements, and historic preservation considerations. Gallery KBNY also frequently handles apartment combinations, which involve the regulatory and structural complexity of merging two separate units into one residence.

Gallery KBNY was founded in 2009. The firm has received Houzz Best of Design and Best of Service awards consecutively since 2016 and 2019 respectively, and holds a 4.9-star rating across more than 100 verified client reviews. Gallery KBNY's work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and Inc. The firm holds a New York City Department of Consumer Affairs license (2116734-DCWP), a Department of Buildings license, OSHA certification, and EPA Lead-Safe certification. Read what clients say about working with the team on the reviews page.

A full gut renovation typically runs 10 to 16 months from initial consultation to move-in. That breaks down into 3 to 5 months of pre-construction, covering design, board approval, and DOB permitting, followed by 16 to 24 weeks of construction depending on scope. Pre-war co-ops requiring LPC coordination or engineer-driven approval processes typically run toward the longer end of that range. For a complete breakdown of what drives timeline length, read how long does a full apartment renovation in NYC take. Gallery KBNY maps the full timeline explicitly at the pre-construction stage so clients plan their lives around reality, not optimistic assumptions.

The first step is an introductory call or consultation with a founding partner. There are no sales handoffs and no intermediaries. The principal who conducts the initial conversation is the same person who will lead the project. For clients evaluating an apartment they are considering purchasing, Gallery KBNY also offers pre-purchase renovation assessments during the contract period, at no charge, to provide a realistic picture of scope, cost, and timeline before the purchase is finalized. To get started, visit the contact page or explore the full design-build process overview.