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The
Gallery
Way
WHO WE ARE
You're house hunting in New York City and have finally found the perfect home. The location is exactly what you were looking for, and the space itself is nice. There’s only one problem: The apartment needs a renovation before you call it home.
IF YOU’RE READING THIS, YOU PROBABLY DON’T HAVE TO IMAGINE THE SITUATION ABOVE. IT’S LIKELY YOUR REALITY.
YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON A NEW APARTMENT, TOWNHOME, OR BROWNSTONE IN MANHATTAN OR BROOKLYN, BUT BEFORE YOU MAKE THE MOVE, YOU NEED TO RENOVATE THE ENTIRE UNIT.
In that case, you've come to the right place. At Gallery KBNY, we offer an end-to-end renovation solution for busy NYC professionals looking for a trusted partner who can handle every aspect of their renovation.
Full-Service Design-Build Firm
Gallery KBNY is a turnkey, full-service design-build firm specializing in the renovation of co-ops, condos, brownstones, townhomes, and lofts in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
When you choose to work with Gallery, you'll receive a full, dedicated team to help bring your vision to life. We'll drive all aspects of your renovation start to finish, from interior design and architectural planning to building board management and demolition plus construction. There's no need to hire various outside parties, because architecture services and interior design services are included in the renovation cost - with no additional fees.
We also handle the complicated formalities of renovating in NYC, like procuring permits from the Department of Buildings, ensuring your historic property is updated according to guidelines, buying and transporting materials, and generally making sure your project stays on time and on budget.
You’ll have full access to the agenda and the ability to communicate with us throughout the project via an easy-to-navigate project management app.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our end-to-end, full-service approach means we handle every single aspect of the renovation process, which includes:
Planning & SOW
Phase 1 - Intro Phone Call
- Determine desired scope of the project
- Assess our client’s key needs and objectives
- Confirm building rules and requirements contained in the alteration agreement
- Get details to determine feasibility of the renovation with respect to property type, building rules, and rough timelines and costs
Phase 2 - Site Meeting
Phase 3 - Concept Design and Project Budget
- Proposed 2D floor plans
- Detailed Project Budget containing all timelines, costs, and allowances needed in order to complete the project in its entirety.
At the conclusion of this planning phase, our prospective client decides whether they want to formally retain us. At this stage a formal contract is entered into which details every aspect of the renovation including:
- Full Project Scope
- Material allowances
- Timelines
- Design, Architectural, Project Management, and Construction Services
Pre-Construction & Formal Design
Phase 1 - Inspections, Diagnostic Testing & Risk Management
- Electrical Load Test: Determines whether the existing electrical amperage is sufficient for the proposed load or whether an upgrade of existing amperage (or reduction of electrical demand) is required
- Asbestos Test: Determines whether proposed areas of demolition contain asbestos that either needs to be remediated or planned around
- Wall Probes: Determines whether unforeseen obstructions exist inside walls that are proposed to be moved or removed
Phase 2 - Formal Design & Material Procurement
- Design meetings at our design studio and outside showrooms
- Review of detailed 2D and 3D lifelike renderings
- Review and client approval of all material options and design plans
- Procurement of all selected finishes and fixtures
- Receiving and inspection of all ordered finishes and fixtures
Phase 3 - Building Submission
Phase 4 - DOB Submission, Approval & Permits
Phase 5 - Production Calendar & Logistics
Production
- Demolition
- Initial Inspections
- Framing & Rough Carpentry
- Electrical & Plumbing
- Delivery of finishes and fixtures
- Finish Carpentry & Installation of finish fixtures
- Final Inspections & Walk-Throughs
- Close Out of Permits and Sign-offs
WHAT TO KNOW
Here are some to get you started:
Q:
DO YOU HANDLE THE ENTIRE PROJECT?
Yes, we handle the entire process from end to end, from architectural drafting, permits, and board approval to design, material procurement, and the build.
Q:
WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN REGARD TO MY PROJECT’S FINAL COST?
Every project is different — there’s no one- size-fits-all answer. Generally speaking, we take a consultative approach with our clients regarding budget and the scope of work needed. Our first step is to understand the goal of your renovation, what’s most important to you, and what you have in mind for your budget. From there, we make suggestions on how we can bring your project to life within your budget.
Q:
DO YOU CHARGE FOR DESIGN WORK?
No. Our design work is a value add.
Q:
DO YOU SUBCONTRACT?
Every single person working in your home, with the exception of three trades, is a Gallery KBNY employee. The only exceptions are architects, licensed plumbers, and licensed electricians. There’s a very practical reason for this: These three licensed tradespeople never work as employees for contractors, as it’s not economically feasible. That said, we use a handful of firms with which we have long histories, and they act as an extension of our company.
Q:
HOW LONG DOES A TYPICAL FULL INTERIOR RENOVATION PROJECT TAKE?
Although the timelines vary between projects, the average entire apartment renovation takes around 16-20 weeks. Read more here.
Q:
HOW LONG DOES A TYPICAL KITCHEN RENOVATION TAKE?
Six to eight weeks. Read more here.
Q:
HOW LONG DOES A TYPICAL BATHROOM RENOVATION TAKE?
Four to six weeks. Find out more here.
Q:
DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT MINIMUM?
Yes: $250,000.
Q:
DOES YOUR PROCESS TYPICALLY INCLUDE CHANGE ORDERS?
We take time up front to ensure the contract is inclusive and considers not just the requirements you're asking for, but the potential requirements of the city and building we’re working in. This allows us to adhere to a project schedule that meets everyone’s expectations - effectively eliminating change orders along the way.
Q:
DO YOU ONLY WORK WITH SPECIFIC BRANDS?
No. We are brand-agnostic and we don’t limit your selections to what we carry in our design studio. Our team can procure any item from anywhere at no additional cost, and we pass our trade pricing to you.
WHEN CAN WE BEGIN?
We are extremely proud that we’ve been named “Best in Customer Service” by Houzz for 2016-2022. We’ve also won Houzz’s “Best in Design” award for 2019-2022, Sweeten’s “Excellence in Contracting” award, and we made Home Builder Digest’s “Top 12 Remodeling Contractors in NYC” list.
OUR PASSION LIES IN HELPING OUR CLIENTS CREATE THE HOMES OF THEIR DREAMS WITHOUT THE HASSLE OF MANAGING A REMODEL THEMSELVES. IF YOU HAVE A RENOVATION PROJECT IN YOUR HEAD AND YOU'RE READY TO GET STARTED, PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY.
TESTIMONIALS
When you partner with us to create your dream home, we listen every step of the way. That doesn’t end when your project is over. We love to hear our clients’ perspectives on the project after the dust has settled and been swept away—the successes and surprises, the hiccups and highlights. Every client should have a five-star renovation that makes their home a place they love to live in.
NAME
PROJECT DATE
RATING
RELATIONSHIP
Worked with the Gallery Team to do a full gut renovation of our home. As a young family we wanted a more modern and open layout but needed a practical and functional layout which the Gallery Team worked with us to design. They were very helpful through the entire process and worked with us each step of the way with great responsiveness and care for our project. They were helpful but not pushy through the design process and efficient through the construction process. They maintained open lines of dialogue and we are very happy with the way our home turned out. Thank you Gallery!
NAME
PROJECT DATE
RATING
RELATIONSHIP
Gallery did exceptional work in a complete redo of a large kitchen and bath/powder room and then a large scale "sprucing up" of the rest of the apartment (paint/skim coat whole apartment, re-did floors, took down a wall, installed some AV and new lighting/electric). Kept to the timeline (even with delays caused by our building), creatively solved problems that come with work in an older building (and NYC in generally) and were very fair on price and change orders we requested. As we found things that were out of scope post living in the apartment (or problems created by other third party vendors involved in our project), they were happy to efficiently complete this additional work and fix others' errors. Work quality was high - if some detail was "below par," they would catch it, call it out on their own and fix on their own dime. For example, after wall papering our bathroom, on their own they decided it was not up to snuff and just re-did it at their expense (incl materials). I think that is a pretty unique approach and experiences like this reduce stress in the otherwise painful process of a full apartment renovation. Highly recommend using them for any remodel/renovation work.
NAME
PROJECT DATE
RATING
RELATIONSHIP
I started this journey with 1 1970s bathroom that needed renovated and dreams of adding a second bathroom and a kitchen that did utilize all the space. I went through the process of interviewing companies that have a team of people who do design, architect, construction, and permitting. The first 2 companies gave me a quote of only "labor". That absolutely wasn't helpful because I wanted to know how much the entire project would cost. I just needed to wrap my head around the cost of renovating a bathroom, adding a bathroom, moving the laundry room, renovating the kitchen, making my office a proper office but also needing a bed for guests and then on top of all of that, making the closets that I had, useful. When I told Avi this, he told me a rough estimate. It was so REFRESHING to have an idea of what my dream would cost. It was honest and he was creative in solving my bathroom addition and the office/guest bedroom dilemma. His solution - add the bathroom, move the laundry room and create a Murphy bed/desk area that also included a closet. It's perfect and beautiful. So that was Avi, my first encounter with GKB. Then I met Kate. The super hero behind the project. She managed everything. She helped me with colors and faucets and cabinets and all the tiny decisions that come with designing new things. She also worked with the construction crews and plumbers and electricians. She scheduled everything, chased them if they didn't show up on time, gave them very clear instruction to make sure everything was completed to perfection. She hustled and worked extremely hard. Every email was responded to timely and very thoroughly. I met a lot of the people during this process and every, single person that I encountered with GKB was kind, respectful, ready to help out with anything. I absolutely made the right decision in hiring GKB. My project stayed on budget (except when I wanted more), my project stayed on time (minus one tiny shipping delay on cabinets), and my project turned out to be more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. My kitchen is stunning. My office is stunning. My bathrooms are perfect. The laundry room is functional. And every closet utilizes the space in the most efficient way. One last thing about GKB - they have an app. And EVERYTHING is on the app. You will know EXACTLY what you're paying for, you will see pictures of progress, you will sign off on every tiny detail and it is all aggregated on one platform. You don't need to gather receipts and check emails...it's all in the app and it's a game changer. This is my 4th renovation project and GKB is by far the best firm I have ever used. I'm so thankful that I found them! You will be too!
Ready to renovate? Contact us to schedule a one-on-one design consultation, free of charge. Our award-winning renovation experts have years of technical and design experience and can’t wait to hear from you.
