Estate Condition Apartment Renovation with Central AC on the Upper West Side

219 W 81st St, NYC

A Design & Build, Prewar Transformation into a Contemporary Gem

By: Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors

The goal for the gut renovation of this Upper West Side estate condition apartment was to add a bathroom, move wet over dry, washer/dryer, upgrading electric, added Central AC and major transformation of the kitchen combining rooms, add a vented hood, and adding a gas dryer and new gas meter. The renovation required a Landmark Approvals DOB permit. In the end, despite extremely difficult approvals by management, and our client living mostly out of the country, we were able to transform this apartment into an amazing, contemporary Prewar oasis!

Estate Condition Renovation UWS Overview (219 W 81st)

Type: Estate Condition Gut Renovation of 3 Bedroom Apartment & Addition of Central AC

Duration: 5-6 months – (Building Riser Changes)
Rooms: 3 BR, 2.5 Baths
Location:  Upper West Side (219 W 81st)

More Project Details…

The Story Behind This Stunning Upper West Side Design Build Prewar Transformation

The goal was an open plan, starting with the major transformation of the kitchen. This required a DOB permit, Landmark Approvals, a vented hood, and moving the gas range which slowed the process down, along with a strict timeline for moving back Gut Renovation 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Baths and Central AC: Board Approval of Alteration including engineered Central AC, Electric Upgrade 100 AMPs, filing DOB Permits, Con Ed Gas Authorization

This estate condition apartment required ripping all walls to change kitchen, moving bathrooms over dry areas, bedrooms and closets, through the wall AC Condensers, Central Air Handler and duct locations, a full sized Washer/Gas Dryer closet, leveling subfloors, replacing all heating systems and wall to wall covers, entrance doors and more. Complete rewiring, dropped ceilings, soundproofing, plumbing, wall changes, closet changes, new door openings, and all new door/door hardware.

Beautiful new European white oak floors with a Custom Stained oil finish throughout, an elegant feature wall with Glam grass Wallpaper and Custom wainscoting, a Limestone Fireplace Mantel, along with Custom builtins and fabulous light fixtures set the stage for the contemporary interiors to complete this stunning Design & Build, PreWar transformation!

Coupled with extremely difficult approvals by management, and our client living mostly out of the country, we were able to transform this apartment into an amazing, contemporary Prewar oasis!

If you love this Upper West Side Complete Gut Renovation with Central AC  as much as we do, you can book a renovation consultation or design consult to see what Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors can do for you!

Design Build & Renovation Highlights 

Approvals & Permits:

Board Approval of Alteration including engineered Central AC, Electric Upgrade to 100 AMPs and Con Ed Gas Authorization.

• DOB permit
• Landmark Approvals

Kitchen Renovations:

• Venting hood
• Opening walls
• Adding Condenser under the window

Renovation Features | Whole Apartment: 

• Ripping out all walls to change kitchen
• Moving bathrooms over dry areas
• Changing bedroom layouts and closets
• Adding through-the-wall AC condensers
• Installing two Central Air Handlers and duct locations
• Addition of full-sized washer/gas dryer closet
• Ripped out floors to install new subfloors
• Replacing all Steampipe Radiator systems
• Designed and installed new Radiator Covers and storage builtins
• New entrance doors
• Complete rewiring with Cat 6 network
• Installed new wainscoting in formal Dining Room and Living Room
• Dropped ceilings
• Soundproofing
• New plumbing installation
• Wall changes
• Closet changes
• New door openings
• Installation of new interior doors and door hardware

Interior Design Features:

• European white oak floors with a Custom, Stained oil finish
• Feature wall with Glam Phillip Jeffries Handmade Wallpaper and Custom wainscoting
• Limestone Chesney’s Fireplace Mantel
• Custom built-ins
• Light fixtures
• Window Treatments
• Electrostatic painting of window frames to white