NAME: Russ & Robin
LOCATION: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
SIZE/TYPE: 750 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 1940 condo

When we closed on this apartment we knew we wanted to do a modern, yet warm renovation. It had the generic feel of so many New York apartments with its high-gloss wood floor, 50 layers of paint (cream being the top) and the single $5.99 standard overhead light fixture. Fine for some people, not quite enough for us. Robin and I had a small collection of warm, organic-shaped furniture pieces which would serve as a contrast to our planned dark floors and white walls. More after the jump. (more…)

NAME: Travis & Sara
LOCATION: Westchester, NY
SIZE/TYPE: 2000 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 1913 house

Travis and I decided to buy a major “fixer-upper” in Westchester County, New York, when we decided our 850 square feet in Brooklyn could not accommodate a third child. The house we bought was appealing for several reasons: 1. It needed a complete overhaul, and the low price ensured we could renovate to our picky specifications. 2. We liked the open floor plan; the stair case at the back is unusual for colonial homes and was a good use of the space. 3. All homes with children should have a place that can be used as a “race track”… where the kids can run around and around in circles, thoroughly annoying anyone in the kitchen or living room. (more…)

NAME: Tom & Alysha
LOCATION: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
SIZE/TYPE: 550 sq. ft. 1-bedroom, 1910 co-op

The renovating of this apartment is the least interesting/entertaining part of the story of this apartment of ours. The getting in was the heartbreaker. But to sum up, I was way too pregnant, we had been homeless (living out of our suitcases on various friend’s couches) for the previous 10 months and this place was a dump. Years-worth of grime from chain smoking that was evidently never, ever cleaned. I understand that the dirt floors in Guatemala are kept cleaner than this place. (more…)

NAME: Rusty & Sara
LOCATION: Park Slope, Brooklyn
SIZE/TYPE: 650 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 1920 co-op

This is our current apartment in Brooklyn. We bought it so we could have more space (and yes, 650 square feet is more space). It’s probably not fair that the only ‘before’ pictures I have are ones when the previous owner still lived there. That’s why there’s so much stuff all over the place. It’s also unfair that the ‘befores’ are taken at night (with no sunlight coming in) and the ‘afters’ were taken during the day. I also regret not taking ‘during’ pictures because for a month the place was a wreck. Next time I guess. (more…)