NYC renovation blog
Notes on kitchens, bathrooms, apartments and co-ops in New York City, from a renovation contractor at work here since 2005.
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What You Need to Know Before Renovating a NYC Co-op
What to know before renovating a NYC co-op: which work needs board approval, what an alteration agreement asks for and how to get consent without delays.
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How to Choose Bathroom Tile: Size, Grip, Grout and Layout
How to choose bathroom tile: size, how many kinds to mix, a calm floor, a palette, slip resistance, matching dimensions and grout. Seven tips for a small room.
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Home Decor Trends: How to Use Them Without Dating Your Home
Home decor trends come and go faster than a renovation. Put them in lamps, fabrics, tables and paint, and keep the built parts of the home calm. Here is how.
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Interior Renovations Step by Step
Interior renovations step by step: demolition, framing, plumbing and electrical, walls, floors, cabinets, appliances and finishing, and why the order matters.
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How to Make a Plan for a Home Remodel
How to make a plan for a home remodel: the must-have list, the size of the job, a style that lasts, the budget and its reserve, and the order of the work.
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Staying vs Moving Out During a Renovation: The Pros and Cons
Staying vs moving out during a renovation: how scope, budget, children, lead and asbestos, a missing kitchen or bath and your apartment’s layout decide it.
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NYC Apartment Renovation Mistakes to Avoid
Five NYC apartment renovation mistakes that cost owners at resale: the only tub removed, the wrong floor in a pre-war, lost closets, wrong tile, a lost bedroom.
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Ways to Add a Splash of Color to Your Kitchen
Ten ways to add a splash of color to your kitchen, sorted by commitment: what you can change in an afternoon, over a weekend, and during a renovation.
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The Best Kitchen Countertop Materials, Compared
The best kitchen countertop materials compared: granite, marble, soapstone, quartz, concrete, solid surface, laminate, tile and wood, with what each one asks.
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10 Design Tips for Small Bathrooms
Ten design tips for small bathrooms, from corner sinks to wall-mounted faucets, with the clearances the New York City plumbing code requires around fixtures.