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Combining Apartments
Have you and your family outgrown your apartment? If so, it is time to find a space large enough for everyone to be spread out in. A three-bedroom apartment would be ideal; but, unfortunately, few are available and prices are escalating rapidly. The search for the right space can lead to another more creative alternative which may provide the answer: combining two apartments. Read More
Authenticity Fetches Big Bucks
Real estate brokers are familiar with the scenario: An excited buyer enters a spacious apartment in a building located at a desirable address. Despite the fact that she's been warned by the broker that the interior has been modernized, the buyer is convinced that it will be love at first sight. But instead of her dream home she sees a bland space that has no character. Excessive renovation has resulted in an apartment that seems out of place in the charming pre-war building. Read More
Urban Landscaping
Landscaping is often associated with garden apartments that boast acres of land and rolling hills decorated with towering trees, bountiful flower gardens and lush courtyards. However, landscaping is just as important, if not more so, in buildings with limited outdoor space. From vibrant impatiens and azaleas to flourishing mums and pansies to handsome shrubs and fruit trees, even high-rise buildings can create beautiful greenery and colorful gardens. Read More
Kitchen Makeover
How do you take a small kitchen, make it three times as large and make sure that it fits in with the rest of the apartment? Read More
Re-Designing Common Areas
If two people have a hard time agreeing on what movie to see, it would seem impossible that the residents of even the smallest co-op or condo building would be able to agree on a color scheme for the new lobby. But that's no excuse for putting off a badly-needed re-design job in your building's common areas. Read More
A Sign of Good Design
Everyone agrees that a building's exterior and lobby make a lasting first impression. But have you ever noticed how many signs you pass between the curb and the apartment you are visiting? As we breeze through on our way upstairs, we barely notice these important pieces of print, yet they do make a lasting impression on us. Read More
Renovators Beware
Renovation. It is a process that is approached with both excitement and trepidation. The excitement has everything to do with the results that are anticipated, while the trepidation, for many, is based on the stories told by others. I begin by telling my clients that it will cost more than they think and take longer than they think. So, we start off by planning the budget and schedule accordingly. Beyond that, I put my experience to work and hope that luck is with us, because luck is a factor. Read More
Designing for the Environment
As issues such as global warming, shrinking rain forests and overflowing landfills move to the top of our national agenda, environmental considerations have taken a higher priority among interior designers as well. These days, a kitchen renovation can't just tuck a small garbage receptacle beneath the sink; bulky recycling containers have to be accommodated. And concerns about air quality and toxic substances from lead paint to floor finishes are commonplace. Today's designer should be equipped to answer questions and solve problems that take the environment into account, a service their clients have come to expect. Read More
Renovation Woes
Every day in New York City interior renovation work is taking place that is illegal to a greater or lesser degree. Just because the work looks good, does not mean that it meets Building Code requirements or that it's what the board of directors of the co-op or condo approved. In some cases, the board may not even know about the work. This presents serious potential hazards for the other shareholders or unit owners in the building. Read More
First Impressions Are Lasting
Just as the entrance hall of an apartment welcomes and sets the tone for the rooms beyond, a lobby creates an instant impression for anyone who enters, including guests and potential buyers. A lobby is a building's best foot forward and must be designed and maintained to reflect the character and personality of those who live there. Read More
