An architect’s solution to creating your home in NYC.

It’s no secret that buying property in New York presents serious challenges. For a budget of $1.0 - 1.3 million, one encounters apartments that, in their layouts and limited square footage, offer challenges to meet contemporary living conditions.

There is an alternative to new development, cookie-cutter apartments that leave little room for customization: Transforming an existing, more affordable, apartment into a more personalized living space. 

At a time when there is not a proto-typical household type, and when changes in society happen at a faster pace than ever before, it is difficult to imagine how these layouts offer an inspiring, or even adequate, living environment to a diverse group of inhabitants. We’ve all experienced the sudden and unexpected pressures the pandemic has placed on our home environment. With little warning or time to adapt, our homes needed to serve as offices, classrooms, playrooms, fitness centers, and more.

When purchasing an apartment in a new development at your full budget, you end up adapting your life to a space.

That's not your only option, however.

Instead, consider the possibilities of working with an architect to find yourself living in a space designed for your life that you could call your home.

A world of opportunities opens up when you purchase an affordable property and work with an architect to transform it into a home that not only reflects your lifestyle and tastes, but is also capable of adapting to the rapid and constant changes that characterize contemporary society.

Apartments in older buildings tend to be more affordable and present more variety of floor plan options, offering a greater range of possibilities when reworked.

Engaging an architect to assess an apartment’s potential – during your home search – could lead to great rewards down the line. Below are some of the apartments we evaluated prior to purchasing.

Older apartments can provide greater potential for architectural redesign to fit your lifestyle.

A world of opportunities open up when you consider purchasing an affordable property and working with an architect to transform it into a home that responds to your lifestyle and reflects your tastes.

Why Buy and Renovate a NY Apartment?

In our latest renovation we redefined the interior of an older apartment employing strategies that allow the space to be reconfigured, offering its inhabitants a diverse series of spatial options that make the apartment adaptable to different scenarios. Going beyond what the standard two-bedroom in NYC offers, we’ve created a home that not only fits the client’s lifestyle but is designed to offer flexibility, and adapt to change and growth.

In addition to creating the floor plans and helping you decide on materials and lighting strategies for your home, working with an architect gives you the opportunity to:

• Live in a home that’s a true reflection of you 
• Reconstruct the floorplan to work for you and your family
• Determine and design the proper amount of closet, storage, and pantry spaces
• Create flexible zones that can be used for WFH, a kid's playroom, etc.
• Adapt space for changing needs, like social gatherings or overnight guests

What to Consider for your own New York Apartment Renovation Project

Is a major apartment renovation the right solution for you? Whether you are buying an existing apartment to renovate or considering significant renovations to the apartment you live in now, you must start with a flexible timeline. Renovation projects can sometimes go on longer than expected, especially during the pandemic where material/labor shortages are common. 

Hiring an architect is your key to success when it comes to your apartment renovation. An experienced architect can help you see the potential in your building while staying realistic about its limitations, manage your budget, and communicate with – and help you select – your construction team.

If you’re interested in hiring an architect for your New York residential or commercial project, get in touch with oneofficearchitects to discuss your vision.