Investing in an apartment renovation is a daunting task, because not only are you making a heavy investment, but you want everything to come out perfect. If you are looking for an apartment remodel for your New York City dwelling, you will want to make sure you are making design decisions that are appropriate for an NYC dwelling. So here are some small but important mistakes you will want to avoid for your apartment remodel.
1) Replacing Windows
You should never replace windows in an apartment unless it is necessary. These jobs are expensive and can easily run five figures. Only replace windows if there is water getting in or they have poor energy ratings.
2) Too Much Technology
Although some household technology is cool, it can be overwhelming to turn an apartment into a complete smart house. Focus on some key areas like built-in speakers, heated floors, and home security features, but anything beyond that might be over the top.
3) Giant Furniture
Unless you have a large open space, refrain from getting huge furniture that can take up a lot of space within a room. A room that feels like furniture will occupy most space or impacts the ability to move throughout can be a wasted investment.
4) Not Hiring a Designer
When doing a full NYC apartment renovation, do not try to design plans on your own for your apartment renovation contractor. Be sure to bring on a design-build who has experience in transferring customers’ visions into blueprints that contractors can understand well.
5) Trying To Do Things Yourself
Unless you are 100 percent certain you can do a task, it is strongly advised to not try to do parts of a renovation yourself. While things like painting and putting together furniture may be okay, you may be causing more trouble for your apartment renovation contractor by making mistakes or not being on the same page of how to do a task.
6) Too High-End Appliances
While a dated kitchen can benefit from new appliances, it is important you do not go over the top and choose the highest end you can find. While stainless steel is generally the preferred type of appliance for your kitchen remodel, going for the highest model may not get the return on investment you are hoping for.
7) Bold Color Choices
It is tempting for homeowners to choose a unique color palette for a certain room to match a certain theme, but in some cases, it can be too much. Going for colors that are bold tends to take away brightness into a room. While some rooms this might be okay if there is a lot of natural sunlight, it is advisable to stay away from bold colors.
8) Unnecessary Gutting of Kitchen
While a fresh look to a kitchen is always nice, keep in mind that a kitchen renovation contractor will charge you a hefty bill if you decide to do a full gut and renovation. It is only recommended to gut a kitchen if you need to greatly expand the footprint and the kitchen is dated. Otherwise, you should just keep a kitchen renovation simple.
9) Too High-End Bathroom Fixtures
A bathroom remodel is necessary from time to time but be careful not to go over the top. In situations where there is not a lot of space to work with, consider efficiency over aesthetics with bathroom fixtures. While a deep soaking claw tub may be nice, it is better to stick to a shower tub combination unless you are living in true ultra-luxury.
10) Bidets
Along the lines of a bathroom remodel, it is important to remember that New York City is not Europe. Therefore, you should not consider installing a bidet, as these perks are not in demand for the typical NYC tenant. They will not be willing to pay a premium because you put the investment into an unnecessary bathroom fixture.
11) Expensive Hardwood Flooring
While hardwood flooring is the most popular flooring material to use in many apartments, there is no real incentive to go for the expensive materials in this case. Flooring is meant to wear out quickly, and therefore you do not want to dump money into something that may need to be replaced more frequently. Consider using something like Pergo flooring, an ultra-cheap, easy installation that still delivers a high-quality finish.
12) Hovering Microwave
If you are bringing in a kitchen renovation contractor for a kitchen remodel, make sure you instruct them not to install a microwave over the stove. While this use to be a more efficient set up in kitchens, the preferred style is to leave this area open with a hood. If space is not a huge concern, make the decision to place the microwave somewhere else.
13) Not Double Checking Measurements
There is a saying that you should always measure twice and cut once. This is critical because not getting measurements solidified early on can cause major problems when your contractor starts to construct in your apartment. Always make sure that the measurements are confirmed with your design-build firm before moving ahead on any design task.
14) Low Shower Head
When it comes to installing showers as part of your bathroom remodel, it is important to prioritize putting a shower head as high up as possible if your ceiling clearance allows it. While apartments with lower ceilings limit this, it is advisable to have a shower head be at least 78 inches high, and potentially 84 inches high if able. You should also consider a rainfall shower head that is connected to the ceiling.
15) Eliminating Closets
Many times, it is tempting to eliminate closets to gain a few square feet in key areas like a kitchen or a bathroom. While maximizing space is key in some areas, this could backfire if you lack sufficient storage space. Giving up a closet or two is okay, but always keep in mind the importance of adequate storage space.
