NYC Neighborhood Spotlight: Our Favorite Greenwich Village Renovations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• West Village Condo Gut Renovation | 17 Cornelia St
• Co-Op Apartment Combination Gut Renovation | 180 Thompson St
• Pre-War Apartment Combination | 23 E 10th‍
• Apartment Renovation | 61 Jane St
• Apartment Renovation | 49 East 12th
• Pre-War Co-Op Renovation In Greenwich Village | 61 West 9th Street
• FAQs About Renovating In Greenwich Village‍

Once the hub of 1960s counterculture, Greenwich Village remains one of Manhattan’s most beloved neighborhoods, where landmark restaurants and a lively nightlife meet the steady energy of Washington Square Park.

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With so much character to work with, our renovations in Greenwich Village call for our most considered design. A selection of our favorites follows.

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[#1]West Village Condo Gut Renovation | 17 Cornelia[#1]

Our clients at 17 Cornelia Street owned a unique duplex-style residence in the heart of Greenwich Village, consisting of a first-floor apartment and a cellar level connected by an existing spiral staircase. While technically functional, the stair was narrow, steep, and more like a ladder than a true transition between levels. As they began planning for a growing family, this configuration was less practical than ever. Beyond the staircase, the home lacked a genuine sense of connection between floors, as the cellar felt isolated rather than integrated, limiting usability despite such a generous footprint.

That’s when they turned to Gallery. What began as a staircase-focused inquiry evolved into a full design-build renovation of both levels, led from architectural drawings through construction. Their goal was a thoughtful, permanent solution that would not only replace the staircase, but reimagine the residence as a cohesive, family-oriented duplex with safe circulation, improved flow, and elevated design. View the full condo renovation before and after.

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[#2]CO-OP APARTMENT COMBINATION GUT RENOVATION IN GREENWICH VILLAGE | 180 THOMPSON ST[#2]

In 2017, our client purchased a one bed, one bath in a seven-story co-op in Greenwich Village. Three years later, another one bedroom sponsor unit became available next to his, which he purchased in hopes of an apartment combination. To accommodate, we fully gut renovated both spaces (with the exception of one recently-updated guest bathroom), then combined the two apartments to create an immersive and elegant home. View the full Greenwich Village apartment combination renovation before and after.

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[#3]PRE-WAR APARTMENT COMBINATION IN GREENWICH VILLAGE | 23 E 10TH[#3]

For this NYC apartment combination, we worked with a young family who purchased two apartments in the historic Albert building in hopes of combining two apartments into one with a more modern and engaging layout. We were happy to oblige, completing the speciality renovation in six months and providing our clients with a more open, inviting space that will properly accommodate their growing needs. View the full Greenwich Village pre-war renovation before and after. 

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[#4]MANHATTAN APARTMENT RENOVATION | 61 JANE ST[#4]

Our clients purchased this West Village apartment planning to reinvigorate the dated space. After various design meetings, we set our sights on a clean and simple aesthetic, bright yet not so monochromatic as to lose all character. The full Manhattan apartment renovation included a remodel of the kitchen and bathroom, along with new floors throughout, custom lighting in the living room and closet millwork. View the full West Village renovation before and after.

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[#5]GREENWICH VILLAGE APARTMENT RENOVATION | 49 EAST 12TH[#5]

When the owners of this Greenwich Village co-op apartment contacted Gallery, the existing kitchen lacked character, the brick walls were hidden, and the hardwood floors were worn out. During the design meetings our designers discovered that our customer leaned towards the traditional and industrial aesthetic for their NYC apartment renovation. To meet their design goals, we incorporated custom kitchen cabinets in a matte black finish with champagne pull handles and fixtures for a traditional touch, then added contrast and an industrial feel via an exposed brick accent wall with a distressed look. Lastly, we installed new hardwood 5″ select oak floors, renovated the entire bathroom and repainted the entire apartment. View the full Greenwich Village apartment renovation before and after.

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[#6]Pre-War Co-Op Renovation In Greenwich Village | 61 West 9th Street[#6]

For our clients at 61 West 9th Street, what began as a desire to refresh the kitchen and flooring of their Manhattan pied-à-terre evolved into a comprehensive renovation that touched nearly every room. Our goal? Modernize the apartment while honoring the bones, introducing refined materials, improved functionality, and a cohesive mid-century modern aesthetic throughout. View the full Greenwich Village co-op renovation before and after.

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[#6]Frequently Asked Questions About Renovating In Greenwich Village[#6]

How does the Greenwich Village Historic District affect a renovation here?

Much of Greenwich Village and the South Village sits within designated historic districts, which places exterior and street-visible work under Landmarks Preservation Commission review. Window replacement and any facade-facing change typically require LPC sign-off alongside the building’s own approval. Interior work generally falls outside that review, though many buildings fold window and facade standards into the alteration agreement. Confirming a building’s district status early lets the Landmarks track run in parallel with design.

What makes combining two apartments in a Village co-op more involved than a single-unit renovation?

A combination joins two separate apartments into one residence, so it carries two of nearly everything at the outset, from entry conditions and mechanical runs to two sets of existing conditions that need reconciling. Removing or altering the wall between the units often involves structural review and a load letter, and the board evaluates the combined scope rather than a single unit. Sponsor units, common in older Village co-ops, can ease the acquisition while adding their own approval considerations. The reward is a floor plan that lives far larger than either unit did alone.

How do low-rise Village walk-ups without a freight elevator affect a renovation?

Many Village buildings are intimate low-rise walk-ups without a freight elevator, which places material handling and debris removal on the stairs. That reality shapes the schedule and the sequencing more than it shapes the design, since deliveries arrive in smaller staged loads and oversized pieces may need sizing for the stairwell. Planning logistics around the building’s access early keeps the timeline realistic and the work considerate of neighbors.

Can original details like exposed brick be preserved during a gut renovation?

Yes, and preserving them is often the point. Exposed brick and original detailing are a large part of what gives a Village home its character, so the work protects and restores those elements while the systems behind them are brought up to date. Careful demolition paired with selective restoration lets original brick return cleaner than before. The result modernizes how the home performs while keeping the fabric that drew the owner to the Village in the first place.

What should a pied-à-terre owner weigh before a Village co-op renovation?

A pied-à-terre is renovated for part-time use, often by an owner based elsewhere, so two things carry added weight: the board’s posture toward non-primary residents and the logistics of overseeing work remotely. A design-build firm that manages approvals and procurement alongside on-site supervision under one roof removes the need to coordinate trades from afar. It also helps to confirm the building’s rules on subletting and contractor access before design begins, since these shape both the renovation and the way the home will be used.

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Considering A Renovation In Greenwich Village?

Find more priority content to help guide your upcoming Greenwich Village renovation via our NYC Renovation & Design Blog, view a full portfolio of our renovations throughout NYC, or contact us to begin conversations regarding the home of your dreams. 

We are an award-winning design-build firm in New York City with a full-service approach to residential renovations in Manhattan and Brooklyn that includes everything from interior design and architecture services to construction and construction management. That's why we're different from other renovation and remodel firms in NYC. We’re experts in renovating full interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, millwork, and all that falls in between. Let’s design-build together.

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