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Central Park West Apartment Renovation Contractors
No matter the surrounding circumstances, New York City apartments remain one of the most in demand commodities in the country. Prudent buyers and existing owners in NYC can maximize their home value by renovating with an experienced full-service design-build firm who has the know-how to navigate the demanding but rewarding process.
Award-Winning Manhattan
Apartment Renovations
Since striving to exceed the standards for New York City apartment renovations and remodels is second nature, we’re quite proud to be a consistent recipient of numerous awards in service and design. We are equally as proud of the reviews our clients have given to both Houzz and Google, resulting in a combined average of 4.9 stars. You won’t find anyone better suited to handle your residential renovation project in Central Park West or throughout Manhattan, whether your home is a co-op or condo, loft or pre-war apartment. Your vision is preserved and enhanced with our expertise to create a home that equally gorgeous and functional.
Why Choose Gallery As Your Apartment Renovation Contractor?
The Gallery Way means every aspect of your apartment renovation or remodel is considered and managed from the very beginning of our working relationship.
We handle every step of the process
As a turnkey, full-service design-build firm, we are all-inclusive in our services. From start to finish, we do everything, including: architectural drafting and associated services, interior design, material selection, project management, and all the NYC renovation nuances most of our clients never consider, such as permits, inspections, building board approvals, and if necessary, landmark applications.
We don’t work on a change order model
We work exclusively in Manhattan and Brooklyn and understand how to navigate the complications required to renovate in a city with such rich history. Our proactive planning and due diligence allows us to provide a comprehensive budget and timeline that takes into account all nuances within your desired scope ahead of time to prevent any unforeseen changes down the line. Our proposals encompass the true full cost of the entire renovation from start to finish.
We value communication
From real-time project updates via our JobTracker app to ad hoc phone calls and site visits, we put extra emphasis on our communication with clients. Our projects have many moving parts, and clear communication is of the utmost importance to keeping your renovation on track.
What Goes Into The Process Of Apartment Remodeling?
The apartment renovation and remodeling process is largely determined by the type of contractor chosen for the job. There are two main types of contractors - design-build firms and design-bid-build firms.
While our design-bid approach is a full-service renovation solution, the more traditional design-bid-build renovation method requires contracting a designer or architect to plan and render the project design. They then bid out the construction to a separate build contractor, who may then bid the work out to various subcontractors. Designers and contractors are not always contractually obliged to one another and often require coordination to manage the project. For more information on these main two types of home renovation, read Design-Build Vs Design-Bid-Build: What’s The Difference?
In this section, we’ll be detailing Gallery’s end-to-end design-build process for apartment renovation. Keep in mind every renovation has different requirements, and the process below can be flexible to accommodate unique specifications like pre-war or co-op status.
PLANNING & PREP | Architectural Drawing and DOB Filings
Our in-house architects meticulously plan and draft detailed architectural drawings tailored to your project needs, unique building codes, and specific challenges posed during inspections. From spatial planning to construction documentation, we ensure your designs are not only beautiful but also feasible and code-compliant. Read more on our architectural services and see how our fully-integrated architecture services differentiate from independent architects, who often prioritize their own design, leading to hidden costs and unsettled timelines. For more information on how our full-service approach separates itself from traditional ways of renovating, read What Kind Of Architect Is Best For Your NYC Apartment Renovation?
PLANNING & PREP | Interior Design
As architectural services get underway, our talented interior designer team collaborate closely with clients to bring their vision to life. Once design direction is agreed upon, the designers finalize floor plans, imagining everything from kitchen cabinetry, millwork, bathroom tile, and plumbing fixtures to furniture placement, direction of door swings, and electrical outlet placement. They curate every aesthetic detail, creating a cohesive and stylish living space that reflects your unique taste. Learn more about our NYC interior design services.
PLANNING & PREP | Inspections & Testing
Since the average New York City apartment is around 90-years-old, there are often skeletons waiting to be uncovered when renovating. At Gallery, we prioritize all needed tests and inspections before any renovation can begin, in order to ensure no unwelcome surprises arise and delay our agreed-upon timeline. We handle all of the following on behalf of our clients:
- Asbestos Test
- Electrical Test
- Plumbing Inspection
PLANNING & PREP | Material Selection + Procurement
The most hands-on aspect of any apartment renovation or remodel is finding materials to bring your chosen interior design style to life. That entails paint color, accent walls, flooring style, mouldings, fixtures, countertops, and more. As a full-service design-build firm we take on the design, sourcing, and procurement of every permanent fixture in your home.
Plus, Gallery is brand-agnostic and vendor-agnostic, meaning we’re not limited in any way with our material selections. Some firms or contractors sell their own materials or have relationships with particular vendors, but our commitment is to our clients. We’ll procure from any vendor, whether international or local. This quality makes our ability to design for both taste and budget fairly flexible.
PLANNING & PREP | Design Renders
After materials have been sourced, we create life-like digital renderings of the renovated apartment. This includes every aspect of the design, from flooring to fixtures, even showing how renovated rooms will look under different lighting settings. These high-end renderings provide a visual accompaniment to the blueprint that guides construction and helps clients tweak final design decisions like paint color or fixture height. The kitchen render here is from our Manhattan condo renovation at The Chelsea Mercantile on 252 Seventh Ave. The following image is the completed kitchen.
CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
- Demolition Phase
- Initial Inspections
- Framing & Rough Carpentry
- Electrical & Plumbing
- Finish Carpentry & Fixtures
- Final Inspections & Walk-Through
Common Apartment Renovation FAQs
What Is The Difference Between A Renovation Or Remodel And A Gut Renovation?
Typically, relatively smaller renovations or remodels involve design or interior adjustments, while gut renovations either require taking all rooms being renovated down to their studs and/or touching every inch of the home for a total overhaul of the space. For the full details of what a gut renovation in NYC entails read our guide on Gut Renovations In New York City 101.
How Long Does It Take To Renovate An Apartment?
Every apartment renovation timeline looks different. On average, clients looking for a full home renovation to their two bedroom apartment can expect timelines similar to these:
Renovation Timeline | Planning & Prep
If the apartment reno doesn’t require building additional rooms or significantly restructuring the apartment, the planning process takes approximately 90-120 days. A common factor that extends the planning phase is whether the proposed renovation requires architectural plans. In this scenario, the plans must first be submitted to the building's reviewing architect or condo/co-op board for approval.
Renovation Timeline | Construction & Build
Construction and build timelines are impacted by the scope, site conditions and building rules. Normally, a full renovation of an average-sized two bedroom apartment takes 4-6 months although timelines can vary based on the specific factors. For more information on the renovation timeline, read our breakdown on the typical timelines in full apartment renovations from our extensive NYC Apartment Renovation Guide.
How Much Does It Cost To Renovate An Apartment?
The average cost for an apartment renovation in Central Park West is $250-350 per square foot (including labor and upper mid-range finishes, while more complex gut renovations run around $400 to $500 per square foot and all the way to $600 to 800 per square foot in all custom, ultra luxury renovations. When considering the average size of a two bedroom NYC apartment is around 800-1000 feet, expect to pay around $250,000 to $350,00 total to remodel the full space (two bedrooms, two baths, kitchen, living area) with mid-range to upper-mid tier finishes via a full-service design-build contractor.
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Common Challenges with Apartment Renovation in Central Park West
Light Electrical Load
Many older buildings and apartments that haven’t been renovated in years often don’t have enough electrical capacity to support modern appliances like dual fuel ranges, washer/dryers, speed ovens, central air systems, and induction cooktops. An informal way to determine the electrical capacity of your apartment is to speak with the building super, although performing an electrical load test by a licensed electrician is ideal. This is something we do prior to every renovation. For more heads up reno info, read 6 Ways To De-Risk Your NYC Renovation.
Asbestos
Renovations that disturb asbestos-containing material cannot proceed until the asbestos is remediated by a company that specializes in asbestos removal, so testing prior to demo is essential. Still, just because a property contains asbestos does not necessarily mean the asbestos has to be removed or automatically poses a hazard to your health. If the asbestos will be untouched, we can occasionally work around the issue. However, best practices warrant remediation.
Cloth Wiring
Cloth wiring was typically used in the late 1940's, 1950's and early 1960's. Having been there likely over half-a-century, the potential for problems is high. First, in renovation projects requiring electrical permits, cloth wiring will not pass inspection. Second, and more importantly, old cloth wiring freys over time and becomes increasingly more of a fire hazard if not replaced. We run electrical tests before every renovation to ensure all wiring is up to code.
Wet Dry Restrictions And Plumbing Stacks
Wet over dry restrictions dictate whether or not you can physically relocate a bathroom and plumbing stacks dictate whether or not you can open up certain walls in kitchens. If your apartment is a co-op and these stipulations are in place, we will petition your co-op board to make exceptions, if we feel the request is genuine and worthwhile.
Popular Apartment Design Choices and Materials
Aesthetics can make or break an apartment renovation in NYC. Our knowledge of the most timely interior design trends in apartments throughout New York City allows us to compliment or fully drive the interior design goals of clients in each of our renovations.
Durable Kitchen Essentials
The demand is high for durable kitchen surfaces, such as quartz, in order to provide a natural balance of beauty and practicality. As you’ll see in this condo renovation we did in Carnegie Hill, quartz countertops contain no grout lines, making these surfaces extremely easy to clean and care for.
Expanded Kitchen Functionality
Clients are continually looking to increase functionality and durability within their kitchen space. This runs the gamut from smart appliances and custom-expanded storage to avoiding temperamental materials that may be beautiful but require a great deal of upkeep.
Add Expression With Custom Design & Patterns With Pop
We’re occasionally asked to implement artistic backsplash options, such as geometric patterns, intriguing tonal choices, and hand-thrown ceramics. The natural variation and one-of-a-kind expression of hand-crafted pieces in particular brings an edge into the apartment’s interior design.
Darker Bedroom Tones
While lighter colors may be optimal throughout homes for various reasons, the exclusivity of bedrooms allow you to push the boundaries of interior design, experimenting with bolder, more moody colors to create depth and inherently relaxing qualities.
Practical Interior Design For Growing Children
When designing a room for children, the key is considering growth. By using a bold, imaginative design that’s cool enough to encourage play time no matter their children’s age, parents can display a practical creativity in their design that doesn’t need to be updated every time the kids change their favorite superhero.
Outdoor Aesthetics & Textures
Blend your interiors with exteriors by introducing nature-inspired design styles indoors. House plants have been trending over the last few years, and now we’re seeing demand for floral print wallpapers and accents with natural texture (consider terracotta backsplashes in the kitchen or dried grapewood branches for decoration).
Additional Renovation Services
Apartment Combinations
With a sole focus on NYC properties, we’re quite well-versed in what it takes to combine apartments – everything from how to approach the new layout to accounting for building codes, wet over dry restrictions, and communicating with co-op boards. See our expertise for yourself via this this condo combination in Greenwich Village or this apartment combination project on the Upper West Side, which involved combining an existing one-bedroom apartment with a newly purchased one-bedroom unit next door.
Room Creation
A common NYC housing scenario is purchasing an apartment with the intention to create an additional bedroom. By focusing on residential renovations in New York City, our expertise includes any unique room customization imaginable. Whether you’re in need of additional bedrooms, a room that can serve as an office or a study, or a smaller room that can store your washer and dryer, we are experts in building new rooms in existing apartments.
Full Gut Renovations
Our specialty is full-scale gut renovations of residential renovations in NYC. While all renovations are unique and the project requirements are relative to each client's specifications, the average full gut renovation to an Central Park West apartment with Gallery KBNY includes the following:
- Full Kitchen Renovation (Fixtures, Appliances, Countertops, Backsplash, Island)
- Multiple Bathroom Renovation (Fixtures, Shower/Bath, Vanity, Tiling & Ceramics)
- Hardwood Flooring and/or Carpet Installation
- Pre-War Restoration (Flooring, Framing, Moulding)
- Custom Window Treatments + Fabrication/Installation
- Paint Color + Wall Covering
- Lighting + Electrical Fixture
- Custom Carpentry (Cabinets, Closet Builds, Millwork, Finish Carpentry)
- Integrated Smart Home Technology
- Plumbing Selections
Client Testimonials & Reviews
Job description
PROJECT DATE
RATING
RELATIONSHIP
I purchased a one bedroom apartment with the intention of doing some renovations. As a first time buyer in NYC I was looking for a team that would be able to help me navigate through the process with confidence. I interviewed several design build firms and decided to go with Gallery after speaking with Alex. He seemed to read my mind and understood my vision for the apartment. Going through this process was very frustrating-dealing with a difficult board, architect requirements, the pandemic, and many obstacles and setbacks along the way . They were steadfast in their commitment to completing the project and building the home I dreamed of. The designer, Kate was so lovely to work with as well by putting together such beautiful design options for me to choose. They are a team I felt I could trust to make everything work and they did not disappoint. Thank you so much!
...View moreJob description
PROJECT DATE
RATING
RELATIONSHIP
Worked with the Gallery Team to do a full gut renovation of our home. As a young family we wanted a more modern and open layout but needed a practical and functional layout which the Gallery Team worked with us to design. They were very helpful through the entire process and worked with us each step of the way with great responsiveness and care for our project. They were helpful but not pushy through the design process and efficient through the construction process. They maintained open lines of dialogue and we are very happy with the way our home turned out. Thank you Gallery!
...View moreVIEW OUR COMPLETED Central Park West RENOVATIONS
Manhattan Apartment Renovation | 91 Central Park West
A recent project found us renovating a beautiful pre-war co-op apartment at 91 Central Park West. Our client purchased the unit in solid shape but the unique layout required quite a bit of ingenuity to meet their specific needs which prioritized a commercial-quality kitchen, enhanced office space, along with various other upgrades that required a fine touch. View the full apartment renovation via our Before + After portfolio here.
Upper West Side Pre-war Co-op Gut Renovation | 50 West 96th
For this co-op gut renovation on the Upper West Side, the client wasn't looking to completely change their pre-war apartment from modern to contemporary, or go fully classic. What they did know was being less than a block away from Central Park meant a total overhaul of their recently-purchased space would make the most of their property value. So, we worked with the client to find a design middle ground that tastefully married various styles to create a more open, functional, and overly pristine lay-out. To achieve the look, we did a full gut renovation of the space, including opening up the living room, new closets in the hallway, a total overhaul of two bathrooms and the kitchen, and updated oak flooring throughout. Click here to see see more from this project and the rest of our Manhattan renovation portfolio.
WHY CHOOSE GALLERY KBNY?
Considering an apartment renovation in Central Park West and searching for an experienced residential renovation contractor in NYC? Explore more of our work, or contact us for a consultation to find out how our full-service design-build approach can help your upcoming renovation goals become a reality.
