Apartment Renovation Tips

There are countless options when it comes to renovating your Co-Op or Condo. Apartment renovations are very involved but the easiest way to address an apartment renovation is to start with the big picture decisions and then work your way down to finite details.

I am Jorge Fontan an architect in New York and owner of Manhattan-based architecture and interiors firm Fontan Architecture. At our office we work on various project types including apartment renovations. Although there are endless options when renovating your apartment I am going to go through a few tips and suggestions using some of our projects as examples.

 

Open The Kitchen

Many old buildings have small kitchens that are often enclosed with walls on all four sides. Today people like Opening The Kitchen and often the kitchen becomes the centerpiece of the apartment. I think today people are spending a much larger percentage of the total renovation budget on the kitchen renovation then people did historically. Kitchens have much nicer designs now and are far more important to apartment owners.

Opening the kitchen will help make the space feel bigger. If you have an open kitchen you will want to put more attention and potentially more budget on the kitchen design as it will be on display. Not everyone likes an open kitchen this is up to personal choice.

Below is a before and after of an apartment where we opened the kitchen to create an open plan kitchen, dining, and living room. This brought light into the kitchen where it used to be dark and made the space feel much larger.

 

Install New Floors

If anything can upgrade an apartment it’s new floors. Wood floors is one place I think it is well worth spending the money on high quality. You are going to walk on the floors every day and you will always see them.

This picture below is of a Loft Apartment in SoHo NYC where we installed a new 10″ Rift Cut White Oak Floor. Installing a high quality and beautiful floor is one of the best apartment renovation ideas I can share with you.

 

New Lighting

I cannot overstate the importance of good lighting. There is a huge range of options when it comes to lighting but that is why there are professionals to help you with this.

In the image below you can see a powder room in an apartment we renovated. The bathroom mirror has a cove light concealing a light strip the creates a glow around the perimeter of the wall mirror. Details like this can really elevate a space. There are many ways to use lighting in your apartment be it for accent, task, or general lighting.

 

Showers Vs Tubs In Your Bathrooms

One of the biggest apartment renovation trends we have noticed is people removing tubs and putting in showers. Although I personally prefer a shower to a tub I do not always recommend this. I think it is good to at least have one tub in an apartment. Bathroom renovations need careful thought about what types of fixtures you want. Please make sure to think this through and see what works for you. Of course remember small children need bathtubs.

 

Closet Design Is Important

Closets are important, so make sure when planning you apartment renovation that you have enough closets. You may want to look into built ins, closets can be custom designed and built or you can work with closet manufacturers.

 

Understand Your Design Services

Wen you hire an architect or contractor make sure to understand the services included. My favorite question to ask is not only what is included but what is not included. See what services your apartment renovation architect is and is not including.

Is your architect including finish drawings specifying all materials and products? Are electrical and lighting plans included? You also want to make sure if the architect will perform site visits and how many. Architectural renovation services are complicated and not everyone includes the same things in their prices.

 

Communication and Coordination Is Key

If the architect and contractor do not meet before the renovation begins this is a really bad sign. Everyone should be on the same page. The renovation should proceed with transparency and coordination. Make sure everyone on the team is in communication and agreement. Issues will arise and problems may happen. These are no reason to panic and nobody should go around playing the blame game. The team needs to work together to sort out any issues in a manner that is best for the apartment and for you.

Ask your team how often they will be on the job site. Your architect and contractor cannot be there all day everyday, but they will need to visit often enough as is needed to complete the project on time and with the highest level of quality possible.

 

Plan Your Furniture

You need to think about your furniture. With our clients we often get the exact dimensions of the furniture they want and block it out on the plans. This will help you figure out how much space you will have. You can also use tape to layout the furniture on the floor before you purchase it. Make sure to use tape that doesn’t stick too much so you do not damage the floor finish.

 

Read Your Alteration Agreement

Your Co-Op Or Condo will have a contract known as an alteration agreement. Make sure you and everyone on your team reads the alteration agreement. this will instruct you on your obligations and on miscellaneous building rules and regulations. there may be technical aspects to the alteration agreement that you do not understand. Your architect or contractor should be happy to help explain these to you. You may want to have a sit down with the architect to review it together.

 

Its your Apartment

Everyone you know is going to have an opinion on your apartment renovation. People are going to tell you what you should do. Your friends, family, architect, interior designer, and contractor will all tell you what to do. Remember its your apartment. You have the final say on everything. Design your apartment to make you and your family happy.

Professionals are here to give you help don’t let anyone push you into a design that you don’t like. Speak up and make sure your opinions are taken seriously and your concerns are addressed. you are the most important force in your apartment design.

 

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Thank You For Reading Our Blog Post on Apartment Renovation Tips.

We wish you the best of luck with your apartment renovation. If you want to discuss your renovation with an architect you can contact us at Fontan Architecture directly.

 

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