Touting a premium locale and timeless historic charm, pre-war apartments on the Upper East Side remain highly sought after. When properly restored, these century-old residences offer a distinction rarely found in modern real estate, positioning pre-war homeowners as curators of Manhattan’s architectural heritage. However, maintaining and modernizing these historic properties requires an expert touch—one that balances preservation with innovation.
However, a rich history doesn’t come without flaws. As experienced pre-war renovation contractors in New York City, Gallery KBNY helps clients turn their pre-war palettes into masterpieces. We also know how much work is needed before each unveiling. Thanks to scattered ownership and inevitable decay, pre-war properties often require significant planning and renovation before they can meet their full and pristine potential.
What sets Gallery apart is our full-service approach to your UES home renovation. We are a fully-integrated design-build firm, which means our process includes every facet of your Upper East Side renovation project under one roof. Our comprehensive suite of services includes:
Our in-house architectural team brings deep expertise in pre-war building structures, navigating complex code requirements while preserving original details. We handle all necessary drawings, filings, and approvals to ensure renovations meet both aesthetic and regulatory standards. We facilitate the following on behalf of our clients:
Read more on our architectural services and see how our fully-integrated architecture services differentiate from independent architects, who often prioritize their own design, leading to hidden costs and unsettled timelines. For more information on how our full-service approach separates itself from traditional ways of renovating, read What Kind Of Architect Is Best For Your NYC Apartment Renovation?
As architectural services get underway, our talented interior designer team collaborate closely with clients to bring their vision to life. With pre-war renovations, our goals are to identify the following design-driving details up front in the process:
Once design direction is agreed upon, the designers finalize floor plans, imagining everything from kitchen cabinetry, bathroom tile, and plumbing fixtures to furniture placement, direction of door swings, and electrical outlet placement. They curate every aesthetic detail, creating a cohesive and stylish living space that reflects your unique taste. Learn more about our NYC interior design services.
Pre-war renovations demand high-quality materials that reflect the home’s era while standing up to modern use. Our material specialists source and inspect every element—ensuring design cohesion and long-term durability.
Learn more about our material selection and procurement services.
As a full-service design-build firm based in NYC, we understand the complexities of renovating in Carnegie Hill, Lenox Hill, and across the Upper East Side. To deliver a renovation that runs smooth and stays compliant, our team of experts handles all necessary approvals, permits, and filings on your behalf. See our full-scope of board approval and permit services.
Our highly skilled construction team, overseen by dedicated project managers, executes every aspect of the build with precision and professionalism. From demolition to final touches, we manage the entire process, keeping you informed every step of the way through our user-friendly JobTracker app. Read more about our construction and site management services.
Renovating an Upper East Side apartment requires a strategic approach, starting with a deep understanding of the client’s vision, budget, and the unique architectural elements of the space. This foundation sets the stage for a collaborative, structured renovation process that ensures both precision and efficiency. Learn more about our entire renovation process below:
Every successful pre-war renovation begins with a thorough evaluation of the space, structural integrity, and historic elements, followed by detailed project planning.
Before any contracts are signed, our team conducts an initial consultation to discuss renovation goals, expectations, and budget feasibility.
We conduct an on-site walkthrough to assess existing conditions and discuss design possibilities, ensuring all structural and logistical factors are accounted for.
If the project is viable, our architects and designers create an initial concept design, serving as the basis for a projected budget and timeline outlined in a formal proposal. Once the proposal is approved, we move into the pre-construction and design phases.
During this stage, our project managers create a structured renovation timeline while architects finalize all structural modifications. Simultaneously, our designers collaborate with clients to refine the aesthetic vision and select materials that align with the project’s goals.
While many potential issues can be identified in preliminary walkthroughs, a deeper inspection is necessary. This includes testing wall integrity, evaluating mechanical systems, and consulting with specialized contractors to ensure all internal components are ready for renovation.
Our in-house design-build team manages all architectural planning and filings, streamlining the process and ensuring compliance with building and city codes. Whether adjusting layouts for better functionality or extending a townhome’s footprint, we oversee every modification while coordinating material sourcing and procurement.
While plans are awaiting approval, our interior designers work closely with clients to curate the materials and finishes that will bring the project to life.
Renderings play a crucial role in this process, allowing clients to visualize the final design before construction begins. Below is an example from one of our condo renovations at 170 E 87th, followed by an image of the completed kitchen.
Gallery’s full-service design-build approach ensures that renovations are executed efficiently, with seamless coordination between trades and careful project oversight.
By handling every detail from initial consultation to final walkthrough, our process ensures a smooth renovation experience with exceptional results.
For each project type, review Gallery's approach and highlight specific challenges and solutions unique to pre-war properties:
Our specialty is full-scale gut renovations of the various styles of residential homes that make up New York City. While full details on this extensive overhaul of your home are noted in our guide on Gut Renovations In New York City 101, the average full gut renovation to an NYC apartment with Gallery KBNY includes:
The tipping point for a full home renovation in NYC can come from many directions. Whether you’re purchasing with plans to renovate, modernizing a historic home that’s been in your family for generations, or finally ready to reconfigure a layout that no longer works, a full home renovation offers the most streamlined path to achieving your ideal living space.
Unlike a gut renovation, which strips a home down to its structural framework, a full home renovation can be tailored to preserve and enhance key architectural elements. This is particularly important in pre-war and historic properties, where the goal is often to modernize while maintaining period charm.
A full home renovation balances the best of both worlds—preserving what makes a space unique while integrating modern functionality for a home that’s built to last.
As the premier kitchen and bathroom contractor on the Upper East Side, our end-to-end design-build process ensures a seamless renovation experience—especially in pre-war apartments. We specialize in preserving historic charm while integrating modern functionality, handling every aspect of your project with precision and care.
From architecture and interior design to board approvals, permits, and construction management, we handle every step of your renovation with the expertise and attention to detail our Upper East Side clientele expect.
First and foremost, we always have your best interests in mind, via a consultative and client-first philosophy with clients. Even as the Upper East Side’s premier design-build renovation contractor, we still go out of our way to offer budgetary insights to suggest priorities wherever possible, helping clients find the middle ground between an AD-ready luxe look and staying within budget. How else can we help? Let’s find out.
Whether you need a full gut renovation of a spacious industrial loft in Williamsburg or an apartment combination for your downtown luxury high-rise, we handle all types of residential renovations in neighborhoods like Carnegie Hill, Lenox Hill, Yorkville, Sutton Place, Upper Carnegie Hill. But, don’t take our word for it. View our full portfolio of before and after renovations.
With a full-service team of design and construction professionals accustomed to the complexities of pre-war renovations on the Upper East Side, we make change orders and mid-project budget adjustments much less likely by our in-depth planning process.
One of the most complicated parts of renovating in UES is inevitably running through all the hoops associated with permits, approvals, and filings. Every building has a different board and often, your unique building type (IE: pre-war brownstone, co-op) warrants approval from additional NYC commissions. Not only does a design-build firm like Gallery remove the insecurity of navigating those waters solo, we have existing relationships across the borough that help us secure approvals faster.
Strong communication is essential to any successful NYC renovation, which is why each project at Gallery is assigned a dedicated team with one central point of contact. Our all-inclusive project management software allows our clients to see the current status of their project, kick up their feet, and dig into the JobTracker app anytime they choose. Or, if there’s a specific question, your dedicated designer is always one phone call away and happy to help.
In a traditional renovation, architects and construction teams work separately. Once an architect completes the plans, they typically hand them off and move on—leaving execution and problem-solving to the construction team. But if key details are overlooked, costly revisions and delays follow. A design-build firm eliminates this disconnect by keeping everything under one roof, streamlining communication, minimizing change orders, delivering a smoother, more cohesive renovation experience.
While we have many pre-war renovations in our Upper East Side portfolio, the following are a few of our favorites.
Our clients occupied the first two floors of this Manhattan townhouse, converted to condos with coveted access to the outdoors via a patio. The overall space had been well-maintained, but was dated and didn't necessarily reflect the aesthetic of our clients. With renovations throughout the entire home and a focus on the kitchen, our goal was to brighten the home with character alongside modern elements. View the full Upper East Side townhouse renovation before and after.
Our recent renovation at 1035 5th Avenue found us in the middle of quintessential Manhattan. Overlooking Central Park, this beautiful Italian Renaissance Palazzo co-op is located on Fifth and 85th street, just down the street from The Met. When our client purchased this 4,000 square foot pre-war property, the space hadn’t been updated in more than 50 years. The vision for this renovation called for a complete design overhaul of the extensive space, while incorporating many of the prior architectural elements and elegant marble accents, while also creating an additional bathroom and powder room. While the results speak for themselves, the client’s glowing praise for our full-service approach went a long way. See Jennifer's testimonial below or view the full Upper East Side renovation before and after.
Looking for more information on pre-war renovations on the Upper West Side? Make time for these priority articles from our Design & Reno blog, which lend further pre-war expertise for your upcoming NYC renovation.
If you work with Gallery, you can rest easy knowing we plan, design, and execute all of our pre-war renovations with client care front and center. To see why design-build is the best method for your NYC apartment renovation, explore more of our work, or contact us to see why our New York City apartment renovation and remodeling services are the most mindful choice when considering a residential renovation in Manhattan.