

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.
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.


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.
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.


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.


















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?
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
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
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
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