Luxury Home Renovation Contractors New York City

You recently purchased a gorgeous apartment in Manhattan, but the property’s full potential is untapped. Whether your new dream home is an industrial Soho loft or modern duplex with an eclectic Art Deco-inspired style, there’s always room to improve. See how Gallery KBNY can elevate your space’s potential with our full-service, design-build renovation process.

Brooklyn brownstone renovation

Award-Winning Design-Build Firm For Luxury Home Renovations In NYC

About Gallery KBNY

Gallery KBNY is an award-winning, full-service design-build firm specializing in the architecture, interior design, and renovation of apartments, co-ops, condominiums, townhomes, and lofts across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our integrated team of architects, designers, contractors, and project managers — with a founding partner involved in every project — manages every phase from board approvals and DOB permitting through design and construction. Because architecture, design, permitting, and construction are coordinated under one roof, the process remains streamlined, accountable, and transparent from start to finish. Our work has been recognized by Forbes, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and Inc., and we have received Houzz Best of Design & Service seven consecutive years, along with 100+ five-star client reviews.

Since striving to exceed the standards for New York City renovations is second nature, we’re quite proud to be a consistent recipient of the community awards in service and design. We are equally as proud of the reviews we've earned, thanks to our client-first approach, attention to detail and personal touch. You won’t find anyone better suited to handle your luxury renovation project in Manhattan or Brooklyn, whether your home is a co-op or condo, brownstone or townhome, or loft. Your vision is preserved and enhanced with our expertise to create a home that is as gorgeous as it is comfortable and functional.

Once we start working together, you can rest assured every aspect of your renovation is in careful, expert hands. Our benefits, beyond our technical expertise in renovation, center around the value we place on keeping our clients informed while handling every step of the process.

Full Service Design Build Contractors For Luxury Renovations In NYC

Full Interior Renovations

Our specialty is full renovations of condos, co-ops, brownstones, townhomes, lofts and pre-war apartments in Manhattan and Brooklyn. As part of our seamless approach to renovation, we don’t do partial jobs and focus on complete remodels in your home. A typical interior renovation can include a kitchen overhaul, multi-bathroom overhaul, room creation, new flooring, plus any other component of an interior renovation.

Gut Renovations

While gut renovations in NYC offer owners the utmost personalization and peak property value, they also require a significant amount of investment mentally and monetarily. That’s why working with a design-build firm that includes all moving parts makes such a complicated project much easier. Considering a gut renovation in NYC? Set full expectations with our article, Gut Renovations In New York City 101. 

Apartment Combinations

Many moving parts are involved in a New York City renovation, especially one involving combining two units into a single home. There’s planning and design, board approvals, Department of Buildings approvals, material selection and procurement, and finally the actual construction. Projects like these require a firm to supervise the many variables for a successful outcome. For more on our specialization in NYC apartment combinations, see our Westside Manhattan Apartment Combination Before + After and ‘Combining Two NYC Apartments Into One? Here’s What You Need To Know.’

Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations

At Gallery, one major consideration for both kitchen and bathroom renovations in New York City is the current layout: can we improve? If you want to maintain the classic New York galley but make some adjustments, easily done. If you need to work around columns in a loft, update traditional molding in a brownstone, or take down a wall to make the kitchen and dining room feel connected, our full-service home renovation contractors have the expertise to execute.

Expertise In Iconic NYC Properties

Gallery’s extensive experience in New York City means we’re extremely knowledgeable in renovating various property types. The detail required extends beyond architecture, interior design, and material selection to include understanding all the necessary legalities and logistics.

Condos & Co-Op Renovations

Since condo and co-op renovations are common in New York City, Gallery has a thorough understanding of co-op boards and their alteration agreements. Our experienced home renovation contractors will always adhere to alteration agreements, and if needed, be an advocate for change if there’s a case for appropriate exceptions. Plus, we always establish rapport with a building’s super in order to make the renovation process streamlined and stress-free for our clients, as well as their neighbors.

Brownstone & Townhouse Renovations

One of our most common requests is brownstone and townhouse renovations, which have unique challenges. Some are nearly 200 years old and have been renovated several times over since the original build, while others have barely been touched. In either case, a firm taking on the renovation will now either have to fix piecemeal work from previous owners or begin the process of modernizing from scratch. Our team is well-versed in handling any specific need that arises during a brownstone renovation, from the negatives (outdated electrical and plumbing) to the positives (original moulding restoration).

Loft Renovations

As experts in loft renovation in New York City, we make the most of high-end, engaging spaces with historic charm and untouchable ceilings. We are committed to craftsmanship and impart each loft renovation project with our expert blend of architectural and design know-how.

Pre-War Apartment Renovations

Renovating pre-war apartments in New York is one of our core specialties. When comparing a pre-war apartment or condo renovation to a modern renovation, the differences are essential to understanding the cost and timeline for the project.

  • Landmark Status: Many pre-war buildings are designated landmarks by the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC). If landmark, the LPC must also approve all exterior street facing materials and design aesthetics prior to implementation, otherwise an LPC certificate of no effect is obtained. If you’re considering renovating a landmarked property, working with a contractor who has experience with the LPC – like we do at Gallery – is critical to successfully completing the project.
  • Outdated Internals: Due to their age, electric and plumbing tend to be outdated in pre-war homes, alongside the greater likelihood of finding asbestos and insufficient electrical capacity - which not only adds cost but highlights the importance of working with experts in the field. Read more about ‘Common Surprises When Renovating A NYC Apartment.
  • Historic Highlights: The historic aesthetic factor can be key with pre-war home renovations. Some clients want to stay true to the historic aspect, in which case we dutifully maintain the classic, traditional, or Art Deco interiors. See how we enhanced historic highlights in this Brooklyn Brownstone kitchen renovation before + after.
The Buyer's First Fork Buy Turnkey Or Renovate A Fixer-Upper? Every luxury buyer in New York faces the same fork: pay a premium for someone else's finished renovation, or buy the estate-condition unit below market and build exactly the home you want. Neither answer is universal; this is how the two paths actually compare.
The Dimension
Buying Turnkey
Buying To Renovate
What You Pay For
TurnkeyFull retail for the previous owner's renovation, including their taste, their finish choices, and their margin on the work.
RenovateA discounted purchase plus a renovation priced at cost to you, with the all-in number known before closing when the assessment happens first.
What You Get
TurnkeySomeone else's layout and finishes, often renovated to sell rather than to live in, with compromises you inherit and pay to undo later.
RenovateA home designed around how you actually live, with layout, systems, and finishes decided once, by you, to your standard.
Timeline & Carrying Costs
TurnkeyMove in at closing, the option's genuine advantage, and the reason it wins when timing is non-negotiable.
RenovateMonths of design, approvals, and construction while carrying the home, a real cost the purchase discount has to absorb, and one Gallery's concurrent process is built to compress.
Inventory Reality
TurnkeyTruly turnkey units in prime buildings are scarce and contested, commanding premiums precisely because most buyers want to skip the work.
RenovateEstate and dated units open up the best lines in the best buildings, where the location and bones matter more than the current kitchen.
Risk Profile
TurnkeyLow process risk, with the quality of unseen work, systems, and waterproofing taken on faith from a seller you will never meet.
RenovateProcess risk managed through diagnostics and an all-inclusive proposal, in exchange for certainty about everything behind the walls, because your team put it there.
The right answer depends on timing, the specific listings in play, and your appetite for the process; renovation math works best when the purchase discount is real and the scope is priced before the offer. For the full cost comparison, see our guide to buying a turnkey apartment versus renovating a fixer-upper in Manhattan.
Bathroom renovation New York City
Bathroom renovation New York City
While The Walls Are Open Smart Home Systems Worth Building In The difference between a smart home and a home with gadgets is infrastructure, and infrastructure is cheap exactly once: during the renovation, while the walls are open. These are the systems worth wiring in now, even where the devices come later.
Lighting Control
What It DoesWhole-home dimming and scene control: one touch shifts the apartment from morning to entertaining to night, with keypads replacing banks of switches.
Why Renovation Is The MomentCentralized dimming and keypad wiring runs through open walls for a fraction of the retrofit cost, and the lighting design and control design get engineered as one system.
Motorized Shades
What It DoesSilent, scheduled window treatments that manage light, privacy, and heat gain, particularly valuable on park-facing and high-floor exposures.
Why Renovation Is The MomentHardwired shade power and concealed pockets get built into the window details and millwork now; afterward, the choice shrinks to visible wires or battery packs.
Climate Zoning
What It DoesRoom-by-room temperature control with smart thermostats and zoned distribution, so the primary suite and the home office stop arguing.
Why Renovation Is The MomentZoning is a ductwork and piping decision made when the HVAC is designed, which in most NYC renovations is the same project that replaces the system anyway.
Distributed Audio & AV
What It DoesArchitectural speakers and concealed AV throughout the home, with equipment consolidated in ventilated millwork instead of on display.
Why Renovation Is The MomentSpeaker and display wiring reaches every room invisibly only while ceilings and walls are open, and speaker placement gets coordinated with lighting and HVAC in the same ceiling plan.
Security & Access
What It DoesSmart locks, entry cameras, and leak and environmental sensors, with water detection at every wet zone protecting the apartment below as much as your own.
Why Renovation Is The MomentSensor wiring and monitored shutoff valves install cleanly during plumbing rough-in, and in a co-op or condo, leak protection is the smart feature with the clearest payback.
The Network Backbone
What It DoesHardwired ethernet runs, wireless access points positioned per room, and a dedicated equipment location, the invisible layer every other system depends on.
Why Renovation Is The MomentPre-war plaster and masonry walls devour wireless signal, so cabled backbone through open walls is what makes the whole system reliable rather than intermittent.
System selection is scoped during design so wiring, equipment locations, and millwork integration land in the plans rather than as afterthoughts, and everything is specified to match the hardware palette of the home. For the full list of ideas, see our guide to ten smart home remodeling ideas for NYC renovations.

Why Choose A Full-Service
Design Build General Contractor?

More Streamlined Than Traditional General Contractors

While searching ‘general contractors in Manhattan’ may be the first route that comes to mind when renovating in NYC, this age-old path to your dream home is not always the straightest. Hiring a traditional design-bid-build general contractor usually requires additional design support you must source and manage yourself, plus complicated permit and approval work most homeowners are unfamiliar with. For more information, read Design-Build Vs General Contractor: What’s The Difference?

More Control And Lower Cost Than Independent Architects

On the opposite end of the spectrum is an independent architect. Hiring an independent architect for a high end home renovation may result in less work for the client, but this route can also become a burdensome partnership. Since independent architects often act with their own interests in mind, clients get very little input in the design process and wind up paying exorbitant material costs for interior design that may not even suit their style. Plus, since independent architects outsource the construction, you’re often not seeing the full scope of costs until after designs are completed - which could take up to six months in some circumstances. For more information, read What Kind Of Architect Is Best For Your NYC Apartment Renovation?

Full Interior Design & Lifelike Renders

With a full-service design build general contractor like Gallery, interior design services are included in all renovations. This includes design planning, material selections, and sourcing. After materials are agreed upon, we create life-like digital renderings of the renovated apartment. This includes every aspect of the design, from flooring to fixtures, even showing how renovated rooms will look under different lighting settings. These high-end renderings provide a visual accompaniment to the blueprint that guides construction and helps clients tweak final design decisions like paint color or fixture height. The following image is a kitchen render from our Manhattan condo renovation at The Chelsea Mercantile on 252 Seventh Ave. See the completed kitchen directly afterwards.

Learn more about how our lifelike design renderings help clients visualize the proposed interior design plan and each specific detail for their NYC apartment renovation - before construction begins.

Bathroom renovation New York City
Bathroom renovation New York City
Designed, Not Installed The Four Layers Of Lighting Design Lighting is the least expensive element that most changes how a luxury renovation feels, and the reason our renderings show every room under different lighting settings. A properly designed home layers four kinds of light, each doing a different job.
Layer One Ambient
The Job The room's base level of light: enough to move through and live in comfortably, without glare or cave-dark corners.
How It Shows Up Recessed fixtures placed to the furniture plan rather than a grid, cove lighting that washes ceilings in pre-war rooms with height to spare, and every source dimmable.
Layer Two Task
The Job Focused light where work happens: prep counters, reading chairs, vanities, desks, delivered without shadows in the wrong places.
How It Shows Up Under-cabinet strips in the kitchen, vanity lighting at face height rather than overhead, and pendants positioned over islands during design, not after the stone is set.
Layer Three Accent
The Job Directed light that gives the room depth: art, architecture, and materials pulled forward out of the general wash.
How It Shows Up Adjustable heads on artwork, in-millwork lighting inside shelving and display cabinetry, and grazing light that brings stone veining and restored plasterwork to life.
Layer Four Decorative
The Job The fixtures that are jewelry: chandeliers, sconces, and statement pendants chosen as much for their presence as their output.
How It Shows Up A dining chandelier scaled to the table, sconces flanking a mantel, artisan fixtures sourced through our procurement partners, each with blocking and boxes placed for it in the walls.
What Ties Them Together: Scenes The four layers earn their keep when they move together. Scene control sets each layer's level in one touch: morning brings ambient up and accent off, dinner drops ambient low while the table and art carry the room, night leaves a path of light and nothing else. Consistent color temperature across every fixture keeps the home reading as one composition rather than a collection of bulbs.
The lighting plan is developed with the architecture and interior design so wiring, blocking, and controls land in the construction documents, then verified in the 3D renderings before a single box is set. For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide to layered lighting in a Manhattan apartment renovation.

Board Approval And Permit Pros

We take on the responsibility of handling all red tape involved in a NYC renovation, at no additional cost. This includes reviewing and satisfying a condo board’s alteration agreement, filing all relevant architectural plans with the Department Of Buildings, and procurement of all necessary permits. We also handle all LPC approvals and requirements, plus fully take on the approval process with the building management company and co-op board.

Streamlined Communication

With so many moving parts during a home renovation, effective communication is essential to a successful luxury look and feel. Since our design-build approach includes all parties involved under one roof, communication between design and construction is seamless and includes all project management.

Extensive Planning To Avoid Unexpected Costs/Delays

With a full-service team of design and construction professionals experienced in the complexities of luxury NYC home renovations, design-build firms make change orders and mid-project budget adjustments much less likely.

Examples Of Our Luxury Renovations In New York City

While we have many high-end renovations in our portfolio, the following are a few of our favorite luxury renovations in NYC. 

Brownstone renovation Brooklyn

Upper East Side Co-Op Renovation | 55 East End Ave

We’re getting rave reviews of this co-op renovation on the Upper East Side. Located at Riverview South, a few blocks from Gracie Mansion, this two bedroom, two bathroom was a dated post-war home that hadn't been renovated for years. That’s when the client, a facial surgeon living with his dog, brought Gallery into the equation. Our full-service approach allowed us to hone in on his design objectives, execute the architectural plans accordingly and then work together to materialize the construction of his dream home. View the full Manhattan renovation before and after. 

Brownstone renovation Brooklyn

Full Renovation Of Pre-War Co-Op In Manhattan | 1035 5th Avenue

Our recent renovation at 1035 5th Avenue placed us in the heart of Manhattan. This stunning Italian Renaissance Palazzo co-op, located on Fifth and 85th street near The Met, overlooks Central Park. When our client purchased this 4,000 square foot pre-war property, it hadn't been updated in over 50 years. The renovation involved a complete design overhaul, incorporating prior architectural elements and elegant marble accents, while also creating an additional bathroom and powder room. The results speak for themselves, and the client's glowing praise for our full-service approach was especially gratifying. View the full Upper East Side renovation before and after and view the testimonial from our client Jennifer, below. 

VIDEO REVEAL

Helpful Articles About
Luxury NYC Renovations

Looking for more information on design build renovations in New York City? Make time for these priority articles from our Design & Reno blog, which lend further expertise about our client-first, full-service approach to your upcoming high end home renovation in NYC.

Brownstone renovation Brooklyn

Why Choose Gallery For Your Luxury Renovation In New York City

If you work with Gallery, you can rest easy knowing we plan, design, and execute all of our NYC 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 or Brooklyn.

Manhattan Design-Build

Pre-Purchase Renovation Assessment

Evaluate Your Manhattan Apartment
Before You Buy

Gallery KBNY is an award-winning, full-service design-build firm specializing in the architecture, design, and renovation of apartments, co-ops, condos, townhomes, and lofts across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our in-house team — with a founding partner involved in every project — manages every phase from board approvals through construction. No outsourcing, no handoffs, no gaps in accountability.

As seen in

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★★★★★ 100+ Five-Star Reviews Best of Design & Service · 7 Years Running

Pre-Purchase Assessment

We conduct pre-purchase renovation assessments for buyers during the contract period. Walk the apartment with us before you commit — understand the full scope, cost, and timeline before closing.

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