ABOUT THIS RENOVATION

Before we delivered this timeless Gramercy Park renovation, our client was looking for a bigger space to accommodate their family, including two young kids and aging parents. They eventually bought an apartment that was originally four combined units, an extremely rare find in NYC.

With a massive footprint and strong bones, the clients wanted to open up their layout with a unified kitchen, dining room and living room, then refine the space with a more transitional design. That’s when they partnered with Gallery for a full apartment remodel, welcoming our all-inclusive design-build approach. However, with an awkward floor plan, uneven flooring, dated wallpaper, stale cabinets, and overwhelming old built-ins, our work was cut out for us. 

LESS WALLS, MORE APPEAL 

To achieve the client’s dream layout, we had to rework the floor-plan and refresh the entire space. The main adjustment required knocking down the walls in the living room and between the dining room and kitchen. However, removing the wall sprouted another challenge, as there was different flooring in different parts of the space - one of which was noticeably lower. The solution required removing the floors from the smaller side of the space, then weaving in new flooring to match the existing. The result allows for an optimized layout that achieves our client’s desired flow and sets the foundation for the apartment’s transitional design and evergreen NYC appeal.

CUSTOM LIGHTING SOLUTION

One of the client’s specific goals was to add feature lighting in the dining room - which presented a challenge since they didn’t want to drop the ceiling and the building wouldn’t allow us to channel the existing ceiling. To solve for this we had to conceive an out of the box way to get power to the ceiling. Because the ceilings were already only eight feet tall and the client did not want to lose any more height, we instituted a beam that matched the beam in the living room which is where the light fixture over the dining room table is. Our soft touch solution evened out the rooms with a natural separation while still maintaining the open floor concept.

KITCHEN RENOVATION WITH SEAMLESS PENINSULA

The kitchen renovation included significant changes to the layout and floor plan Most noticeably, we rearranged the layout to accommodate an expansive peninsula, offering comfortable seating for four that simply wasn’t available in the prior floor-plan. For the peninsula, our client was adamant about not wanting seams on the Calacatta Miraggio quartz countertop. This posed a problem, because the service elevator could not fit the full slab and the fact they’re on the 14th floor meant manual efforts like lifting up through a window via crane would be quite expensive. We came up with a solution where we hid the seam with another countertop block, creating a sleek transitional ledge that offers an added design accent along with practical use via conveniently-hidden outlets. 

Additionally in the expanded kitchen, we implemented custom-paneled appliances, a matching pantry wall, plus a mosaic backsplash made from gorgeous Anne Sacks ceramic tile. The Milaris Providence shaker cabinets feature a two-tone blend of Chantilly Lace on top and a darker Andres Summit on bottom to give the design added depth.

ADDED PATH TO POWDER ROOM

Having a powder room in the main area of the home that opens to the kitchen can pose an awkward layout and privacy concerns. To offer more privacy we rethought the floor plan and created a private hallway to the powder room so that guests are not walking out directly into the open kitchen. Beyond added privacy, the updated powder room features an inviting Zebras wallpaper pattern from Scalamandre, which was famously seen in NYC-based classic, The Royal Tenenbaums.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES 

• Updated Electrical, Flooring Throughout
• Refinished Built-ins Throughout Entire apartment
• Repainted Whole Apartment: Including removing wallpaper from the entire and skim coating all areas for proper paint application 
• Smart Home Set-Up: Given multiple entrances and the large size of the apartment we incorporated smart home system by Lutron for added convenience. This allows our clients to operate the lights, sound system and automatic shades from various locations of the apartment. In addition to the smart home system we worked with the client’s third-party AV specialist, guiding the complex installation of plaster-in speakers that are inside the wall and invisible to the eye. For more on smart home options, read Renovations & Technology: 10 Smart Home Remodeling Ideas
• Decoration and furniture by @SRFinteriors

Considering an apartment renovation in Manhattan? For timely inspiration, consider these 8 Factors To Consider When Renovating In NYC. View our portfolio of apartment renovation before and afters, learn more about Gallery, or simply contact us today.

We are an award-winning 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’re experts in pre-war renovations, apartment combinations, full gut renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, and all that falls in between. Let Gallery bring your dream home to life.