Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form
How We Won 2026 Best Of Houzz For Both Service And Design
For the sixth year in a row, Gallery KBNY took home two Houzz awards for 2026 - best in customer service and best in design.
February 18, 2026
|
8
mins to read
How We Won 2026 Best Of Houzz For Both Service And Design
Another year, another celebration of the Best of Houzz Awards for both Service and Design.
Gallery KBNY has once again been named Best of Houzz in Design and Best of Houzz in Service, marking the sixth consecutive year our NYC design-build firm has received both distinctions.
About Gallery KBNY
Gallery KBNY is an award-winning, full-service design-build firm 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 — with a founding partner involved in every project — manages every phase from board approvals and DOB permitting through design and construction. 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 been recognized by Forbes, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and Inc., and we have received Houzz Best of Design & Service seven consecutive years, along with 100+ five-star client reviews.
The Best of Houzz awards are based on homeowner engagement and client reviews across the Houzz platform. The Design award reflects how often project photography is saved and referenced by users planning their own renovations, while the Service award is based on verified client feedback and overall satisfaction. Winners are selected directly by the Houzz community.
For a firm specializing in Manhattan apartment renovations, Brooklyn brownstone remodels, and full-service co-op and condo renovations throughout New York City, consistency is critical. Each project requires careful planning, coordination with building management and boards, detailed documentation, and disciplined execution. Design alone is not enough, service and predictability matter just as much.
NYC Renovation Firm Credentials Decoded
Gallery KBNY · Evaluating NYC Renovation FirmsWhat Renovation Credentials Actually VerifyA buyer's guide to what each recognition signal confirms, what it leaves unverified, and how to weight it when selecting an NYC renovation firm
What It Verifies
What It Does Not Verify
Buyer Weight
Community & Peer Recognition
Houzz Best of DesignHouzz community · annual
Project photography is being actively saved and referenced by homeowners planning renovations. Real market signal that completed work resonates with buyers at the design level.
Schedule adherence, budget management, board approval capability, or any aspect of project execution. A firm can win on design and deliver poorly on every operational dimension.
Design signal
Houzz Best of ServiceVerified client reviews · annual
A high volume of verified, positive client reviews on the Houzz platform for the award year. Reflects actual client satisfaction across completed projects, not self-reported claims.
Technical capability, regulatory competence, or whether the firm can handle complex co-op board submissions and DOB filings. Satisfaction-based, not competency-based.
Service signal
Consecutive Houzz Dual Wins7 years running · 2020–2026
Sustained client satisfaction and design quality across multiple project cycles, different team members, and changing market conditions. Consistency over time is a stronger signal than any single year.
Specific project type capability (pre-war co-op, vertical combination, landmarked brownstone). Consistency of client satisfaction does not map directly to technical expertise in complex scopes.
Strong signal
Press & Editorial Recognition
Forbes / NYT / Architectural DigestEditorial coverage · earned
A credible third-party editor found the firm's work or perspective worth covering for their readership. Earned editorial coverage is not paid placement and reflects genuine vetting.
Day-to-day project management quality, board approval competence, or how a firm handles a difficult co-op submission. Editorial coverage is project- or profile-specific, not operational.
Credibility signal
Regulatory & Licensing
NYC DCA LicenseNYC Dept. of Consumer Affairs
The firm is legally authorized to contract for home improvement work in New York City. Required by law; absence is disqualifying. Verifiable at nyc.gov.
Design capability, renovation quality, board approval experience, or any indication of how well the firm executes. Minimum legal threshold only.
Required baseline
DOB Filing Track RecordNYC Dept. of Buildings · public
Whether the firm has filed and closed permits cleanly across past projects. Open permits, stop-work orders, and violations are all searchable on the DOB BIS portal. One of the most useful due diligence checks available.
Design quality or client satisfaction. A technically clean DOB record is a baseline competency, not a differentiator at the design or service level.
High volume of recent reviews across verified platforms indicates a firm is actively completing projects and generating consistent client satisfaction. Volume reduces the statistical weight of any single outlier.
Specific capability for the project type you are planning. A firm with 100+ kitchen renovation reviews may have limited co-op combination experience -- the review pool should be read for project type match.
Highest weight
Buyer weight:
Partial signal
Strong signal
Highest weight
Source: Gallery KBNY, 2026. Buyer weight ratings reflect the practical due diligence value of each signal for an owner selecting a Manhattan or Brooklyn renovation firm for a full gut, combination, or pre-war project. DCA license #2116734-DCWP.
With more than 80 completed NYC renovation projects featured on Houzz, Gallery KBNY continues to serve homeowners undertaking significant interior transformations across Manhattan and Brooklyn. From pre-war co-op renovations on the Upper West Side to landmarked brownstones in Carroll Gardens and loft conversions in Tribeca, our work reflects both thoughtful design and structured project management.
Houzz Best of Service: What It Measures
Gallery KBNY · Houzz Best of Service 2026What the Service Award Actually MeasuresThe five service dimensions reflected in verified Houzz client reviews, and what each requires in operational practice to sustain across multiple projects and years
01Communication Reliability
What reviews reflectClients received updates without having to chase them. Questions were answered quickly. The firm communicated proactively when conditions changed.
What it requiresA structured communication cadence built into the project plan from day one, not improvised. Dedicated PM ownership of client updates. Platform-logged approvals so nothing falls through email.
02Budget Adherence
What reviews reflectThe final cost was close to what was quoted. Change orders, when they occurred, were explained clearly and approved before work proceeded.
What it requiresComprehensive pre-construction assessment to identify hidden conditions before they become mid-build surprises. Full cost disclosure before contract execution. Documented change order process with client sign-off.
03Schedule Predictability
What reviews reflectThe project completed within the stated timeline, or delays were communicated early with clear explanations rather than discovered at the end.
What it requiresDetailed production calendar built from actual trade availability and material lead times. Procurement locked before construction starts. No optimistic scheduling that collapses under the first field condition.
04Regulatory Navigation
What reviews reflectBoard approvals and DOB filings were handled without the client being pulled into the complexity. The firm owned the regulatory process end to end.
What it requiresIn-house architectural capability for DOB filings. Familiarity with building-specific alteration agreements. Experience managing co-op board submission packages, revision cycles, and concurrent regulatory tracks.
05Finish Quality vs. Expectation
What reviews reflectThe completed renovation matched or exceeded what was shown in renderings and agreed at contract. The punchlist was addressed fully before keys were handed over.
What it requiresPhotorealistic renderings that lock in finish decisions before construction. Formal punchlist walk-through at 90% completion with documented resolution of every item before closeout.
7Consecutive years, both awards
100+Five-star client reviews
80+Completed projects on Houzz
4.9Aggregate rating across platforms
0Paid placements in review history
Source: Gallery KBNY / Houzz platform data, 2026. Service dimensions reflect the operational requirements behind consistently high verified review scores across multiple project cycles and years.
As a full-service NYC design-build firm, we manage architecture, interior design, permitting, procurement, and construction under one roof. Our approach prioritizes detailed scope definition, transparent budgeting, and proactive communication, all of which help minimize surprises and reduce common renovation challenges in New York City buildings.
Receiving Best of Houzz in both Design and Service for six consecutive years reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, well-managed renovations in one of the most complex construction environments in the country.
We’re grateful to our clients for their trust and to the Houzz community for the continued recognition.
Gallery KBNY Houzz Recognition Record
Gallery KBNY · Seven Consecutive YearsHouzz Best of Design + Service: 2020–2026Seven consecutive dual wins across design and service, and the operational foundations that make consistent recognition possible year over year
2020
Best of Design
Best of Service
2021
Best of Design
Best of Service
2022
Best of Design
Best of Service
2023
Best of Design
Best of Service
2024
Best of Design
Best of Service
2025
Best of Design
Best of Service
2026
Best of Design
Best of Service
Integrated Team StructureArchitecture, interior design, construction management, and permitting under one roof. No handoffs between firms. A founding partner involved in every project from first consultation through punchlist.
Transparent Cost ModelFull project estimate including all fees delivered before contracts are signed. Pre-construction assessment surfaces hidden conditions before they become mid-build change orders. No cost reveals six months in.
Structured CommunicationBuilderTrend project management platform across all active projects. Scheduled call cadence from pre-construction through closeout. Progress photos, approvals, and field conditions documented in real time.
NYC-Specific ExpertiseCo-op board submissions, DOB ALT2 filings, LPC approvals, and pre-war site conditions are handled in-house. Clients are not managing the regulatory process on top of the renovation itself.
Pre-War Co-Op & Condo
Full gut renovations in pre-war Manhattan buildings across Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Central Park West
Apartment Combinations
Horizontal and vertical combinations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including co-op board submissions and ALT2 permitting
Brownstone & Townhouse
Full gut brownstone renovations in Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, and Harlem including LPC coordination in landmarked districts
Loft Conversions
Full interior renovations in Tribeca, SoHo, and Dumbo loft buildings including structural modifications and open-plan configurations
Source: Gallery KBNY / Houzz platform, 2026. Consecutive award years reflect community-verified recognition based on homeowner engagement (Design) and verified client reviews (Service). Project type bars reflect relative portfolio volume, not exclusive specialization. Gallery KBNY DCA Lic #2116734-DCWP.
Gallery KBNY is an award-winning, full-service design-build firm specializing in the architecture, design, and renovation of apartments, co-ops, condos, townhomes, and lofts across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our in-house team — with a founding partner involved in every project — manages every phase from board approvals through construction. No outsourcing, no handoffs, no gaps in accountability.
As seen in
Forbes|The New York Times|Architectural Digest|Inc.|Houzz
★★★★★100+ Five-Star ReviewsBest of Design & Service · 7 Years Running
Pre-Purchase Assessment
We conduct pre-purchase renovation assessments for buyers during the contract period. Walk the apartment with us before you commit — understand the full scope, cost, and timeline before closing.
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.
.avif)
.png)
.png)
