STUDIO APARTMENT RENOVATION
(“AFTER” photos by Martyn Gallina-Jones)
Before renovations, the California owner of this small NYC studio apartment “In the Heights” was undecided between modest updates or renovations throughout. Naturally, it was stressful to consider undertaking a large project while located 3,000 miles away. After HUMANSCAPES’ vision was shared with the owner, overall renovations were approved to transform this “ugly duckling” that was suffering from years of neglect and renters’ damage into a beautiful swan.
FLOOR PLAN
During renovations throughout the entire apartment, peeling and cracked plaster walls were skim-coated, broken moldings were removed and replaced, and the damaged parquet floors were repaired and refinished. HUMANSCAPES chose a sophisticated color palette and eco-friendly, no VOC paint for the entire project.
MAIN LIVING SPACE
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BEFORE
The small main living space was dreary, unimpressive, and in disrepair
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BEFORE
Cracked plaster walls, peeling paint, broken moldings, and damaged floors all needed help
LIVING ROOM
AFTER
After renovations, this small room is now big on style, comfort, and function with new lighting, furnishings, and accessories
BEDROOM / HOME OFFICE AREA
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BEFORE
Could living, home office, and bedroom areas actually work in this small main room?
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AFTER
This lovely and comfortable bedroom and home office area is now behind the living room console
BEDROOM / HOME OFFICE AREA
AFTER
Discreet privacy is found beyond the generous-sized living room console that also provides ample added storage in the modest-sized space
During renovations, HUMANSCAPES maximized this tiny kitchen’s usability. To lower costs, the good-condition, existing cabinets were reglazed. The awkward full-height divider wall between cabinets and refrigerator was demolished. All other materials were upgraded, including new backsplash, fixtures, hardware, lighting, plus gorgeous quartz replaced the laminate counters. Now, this “ugly duckling” Studio was becoming the “beautiful swan” that it was intended to be.
KITCHEN
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BEFORE
This dated kitchen needed all the damaged, poor-quality materials to be replaced
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BEFORE
The refrigerator was disjointed beside an oddly-placed painted full-height panel
KITCHEN
AFTER
Bright and beautiful with new quartz countertops, backsplash, refreshed cabinets and hardware
KITCHEN DETAILS
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AFTER
New fixtures and backsplash
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AFTER
New marble-look quartz countertop
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AFTER
Detail of beautifully-veined new quartz countertop
EAT-IN KITCHEN
BEFORE
In its existing condition, the eat-in kitchen wasn’t the great benefit it should be for a NYC studio
AFTER
Now it says, “welcome home”
EAT-IN KITCHEN
AFTER
In a modest-sized studio apartment, this eat-in kitchen is a now gracious entertaining space
Years of neglect and poor-quality repairs were most evident in the studio’s tiny bathroom that had missing tiles, unfinished plaster patches, uneven flooring, and damaged fixtures. The remote owner was initially reluctant for a gut renovation, yet, existing-condition photos made it apparent that a full overhaul was needed for this rental property to now be listed for sale.
BATH
BEFORE
This tiny bathroom was in a sad state of disrepair
BEFORE
Damaged floor and plaster, and a bare heating pipe
BEFORE
All fittings and finishes were in disrepair
After HUMANSCAPES’ renovations, it’s now clear that a well-thought-out design and cleverly-chosen materials can transform small spaces into stunning and gracious living environments
BATH
AFTER
With new fixtures, fittings, and finishes, it was transformed into a petite oasis, including wood-look floor tile and large-scale wall tile that help to enlarge the space
BATH DETAILS
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AFTER
Sleek new space-saving vanity with contemporary faucet
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AFTER
Wood-look porcelain floor tiles, and new vanity storage
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AFTER
Large-scale wall tile continues to the window in place of molding
