Manhattan Classic 8 Pre-War Apartment Renovation | 255 West 108th

Home office with pale blue trim, built-in bookcases and French doors in a pre-war apartment at 255 West 108th Street by Gallery KBNY
Gallery KBNY's five-month design-build renovation of a 1,800-square-foot pre-war co-op at The Manchester in Manhattan's Upper West Side
Map showing the location of The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY

About This Renovation

This project was a full home renovation of an Upper West Side classic 8 pre-war apartment, meaning we updated all the flooring, renovated the kitchen, bathrooms, closets, and office space, then painted throughout. The cherry on top: we maintained and enhanced the pre-war charm with restoration and refinishing work throughout the apartment.

Project at a glace

Job Type
Full Pre-War Apartment Renovation
Ownership Type
Co-Op
Building
The Manchester
AddresS
The Manchester, 255 West 108th St. NY, NY
Neighborhood
Upper West Side, Manhattan
Year Built
1910
Square Footage
1,800 sq ft
Duration
5 Months
SCOPE
Full Renovation
SERVICES
Design-Build (Interior Design, Architectural, Board Approvals, Construction Management)
DESIGN STYLE
Transitional pre-war
DESIGNER
Design By Gallery

Design Details

An aesthetic and architectural gem, this classic 8 (a 7 with an extra laundry room to make 8), boasts ten foot ceilings, French doors, a wood-paneled dining room, and a generally well-maintained structure. But certain elements, like most of the previous kitchen, were entirely out of character with the historic charm inherent to the appeal of many pre-war apartments.

To bring the entire space into design sync, we crafted a transitional style to match the original details, refinishing and restoring the moldings and other fine details while bringing in modern touches where needed.


Renovated interior detail of a pre-war classic eight co-op at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 1)
Renovated interior detail of a pre-war classic eight co-op at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 2)

Pre-War Particulars

The clients have a big family, so the space needed to be reconfigured to accommodate that, at least in part. Alongside the new floors, in-set cabinetry with glass panels, and classic tile backsplash, we built a dining nook right into the kitchen. 

The parents are both busy professionals, so a functional and aesthetically pleasing home office area was key. To that end, we rejuvenated the existing space with fresh wallpaper, refinished woodwork, and built-in bookshelves. 

The bathroom received a luxe gray palette with a transitional vanity and contrasting, eye-catching marble basketweave tile on the floor from New York design favorite Classic Tile & Marble.

Off Site, On Line

JobTracker, our mobile app and communication tool, played an important role in this classic 8 pre-war apartment renovation. The family was living off-site and used it to stay up to date with the project. As is typical in our renovations, we handled all project management, architectural drawings and filings and building management and board approvals – making it more important than ever to make sure all the latest info was always shared in JobTracker.

Renovated interior detail of a pre-war classic eight co-op at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 3)
Renovated interior detail of a pre-war classic eight co-op at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 4)

Some Highlights

  • New hardwood floors throughout, including a specialty herringbone cut from raw unfinished whIte oak
  • Custom built-ins in various places throughout the apartment, including closets in the bedrooms, bookshelves in the home office, and the dining nook in the kitchen 
  • Mosaic tile-cladded fireplace – non-functional, but now aesthetically pleasing
  • Refinished French doors and restored moldings throughout

Considering a pre-war apartment renovation in NYC? View our portfolio of pre-war apartment renovation before and afters, learn more about Gallery, or contact us today.

We are a New York Times-featured design-build firm in New York City with a full-service approach to residential renovations in Manhattan and Brooklyn that includes everything from interior design and architectural services to facilitating building management and board approval, to construction and construction management. We offer the expertise required to maximize the timeless details of your pre-war apartment.

BEFORE

Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 1)
Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 2)
Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 3)
Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 4)
Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 5)
Pre-renovation or in-progress view of a pre-war classic eight co-op renovation at The Manchester at 255 West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, by Gallery KBNY (view 6)
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NYC RENOVATION FAQS

How Long Does A Full Apartment Renovation Take?

For a full apartment of about 1,700 square feet, construction typically runs five to six months. Design, board approval, and permitting come first and usually take four to six months, so most full renovations move from first consultation to move-in in 10 to 12 months. Scope, building rules, and how much infrastructure is being replaced set where a project falls in that range.

Read More: How Long To Renovate An Apartment In NYC?

How Long Does A Kitchen Renovation Take?

The construction portion of a full kitchen renovation typically takes 7 to 11 weeks. Door to door, the timeline depends mostly on the building: about 10 to 14 weeks in a private townhouse, 14 to 20 weeks in a condo, 16 to 24 weeks in a post-war co-op, and 20 to 30 weeks in a pre-war co-op, where board and engineering review take longer. Gallery KBNY orders custom cabinetry, stone, and long-lead appliances during design and approvals, so materials arrive ready for the build.

Read More: How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation in NYC Take? A 2026 Timeline Breakdown

How Long Does A Bathroom Renovation Take?

The construction portion of a bathroom renovation typically takes three to four weeks. Gallery KBNY renovates bathrooms as part of larger interior renovations, so bathroom work is sequenced alongside the rest of the apartment within the overall project schedule.

Learn More: Our NYC Bathroom Renovations

How Long Does Co-Op Board Approval Take?

Board review and execution of the alteration agreement typically take 6 to 10 weeks in a post-war co-op and 8 to 14 weeks in a pre-war co-op, where asbestos filings, electrical load letters, and engineering review add steps. DOB permits usually run at the same time. A complete package with full technical drawings and specifications tends to clear the building's reviewing architect in one or two rounds, which keeps the approval phase on schedule.

Get Into The Specifics: In-Depth Co-Op Board Approval Process For Complex NYC Renovations: What to Expect

Our success stories

Forget about any horror story you have heard about contractors. Stop right here. This is the design-build contractor you want to HIRE. It was a breeze working with Gallery on our apartment combination project. We looked at quiet a few design-build companies and chose Gallery because of the great communication and the fact that they were able to manage material purchasing and product selection for us. They were honest, took responsibility and pride in their work.”
Zoe C
Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY.
Gallery KBNY has been absolutely amazing with my renovation. As a complete newbie, I was expecting a stressful process, but they made everything incredibly smooth—and I learned so much along the way. They’re truly a concierge-level service that genuinely cares about both their clients and the quality of their work. I know I couldn’t have chosen a better team. Colin, Morgan, and Leo were fantastic with logistics; Kate is a brilliant designer; and Alex was, hands down, one of the most responsive and professional contacts I’ve ever worked with. The entire experience was marked by ease, efficiency, quality, and grace. 10/10 recommend!
Irene G.
Manhattan, NY.
We used Gallery KBNY to re-design our kitchen and other rooms. Avi Zikry's design was amazing. His vision enabled us to create a whole new look and a better functioning space. That was a year ago, and we are very happy with the results. I highly recommend him. View full renovation: https://www.gallerykbny.com/our-work/manhattan-apartment-renovation-91-central-park-west
Shivraj B.
Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY.
We loved working with Avi and the whole team at Gallery Kitchen and Bath. From our very first meeting, we felt like we were in great hands. Avi is so responsive—always available, quick to come up with solutions, and he and his team helped us pivot whenever needed without losing momentum. Renovating in NYC is complicated, but they handled all the logistics seamlessly and made the process so much less stressful. They do everything—design, architectural work, and managing every detail and skilled trade needed for a full gut renovation of our loft apartment —so we never had to worry. They are in full control of their workers, which allows them to stay on track and adapt quickly. They were creative and helpful when we needed to pivot on design unexpectedly. We felt like we had true partners that genuinely cared about our project and our well being! The finished space truly exceeds our expectations—we are so proud of our beautiful new home. It’s hard to put into words how positive our experience was overall. We would not hesitate for a moment to recommend Avi and the entire team at Gallery. They will be our very first call if we ever need to renovate again in the future… and you should call right now if you’re considering a renovation! View The Renovation: https://www.gallerykbny.com/our-work/chelsea-co-op-renovation-107-w-25th-st
Jason C
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY.
I enthusiastically recommend Gallery, who did a superb job renovating our once decrepit 2-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights. The project involved a full kitchen and bathroom renovation, as well as new electrical, refinished floors, new doors, new baseboards, and some rearranged bedroom closets. What is more, when I have them the wrong paint color for my daughter’s bedroom, and the team started to paint that color, they got the paint I wanted and corrected the “mistake” (which has actually been my mistake) and didn’t charge me for that either. I’d choose them again 100 times over and definitely recommend them to anyone considering a similar project.
Jane M
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY.
We interviewed about 8 different companies before hiring a contractor for our apartment renovations. Although Gallery was not the cheapest option, we chose them based on their upfront billing format, high client reviews, and depth of knowledge. We loved how it was a “one stop shop” and were paying one bill, up front. Everything was very transparent and we could not be happier with the results! Our apartment looks exactly how we imagined. Thank you!!
Fiki K.
Gramercy Park, Manhattan, NY.
View all reviews
About Gallery KBNY

Gallery KBNY is a full-service design-build firm featured in The New York Times, specializing in the architecture, interior design, and renovation of apartments, co-ops, condominiums, townhomes, and lofts across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our integrated team of architects, designers, contractors, and project managers manages every phase from board approvals and DOB permitting through design and construction. A founding partner is involved in every project, start to finish. Because architecture, design, permitting, and construction are coordinated under one roof, the process remains streamlined, accountable, and transparent from start to finish. Our work has also appeared in Forbes, Architectural Digest, and Inc., and is backed by 100+ five-star client reviews.

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Portrait of Avi Zikry, founder and CEO of Gallery KBNY, author

Managing Partner/CEO

Avi Zikry

Avi Zikry is the CEO and managing partner of Gallery KBNY, a full service design-build firm specializing in the design and interior renovation of apartments, townhomes, and lofts in NYC. Under his leadership, Gallery KBNY has earned the reputation for delivering exceptional service and beautiful homes to our select group of clients. Avi's strategic positioning extends beyond the brand. He has strategically cultivated a network of industry partners and suppliers, forging strong alliances that allow Gallery KBNY to access cutting-edge technologies and materials. By staying abreast of industry trends and technological advancements, Avi ensures the firm remains at the forefront of innovation, consistently offering clients the latest design solutions and construction methodologies.