And I thought that renovating a Harlem brownstone was a challenge! But renovating a NYC co-op lobby means dealing with the Board!
Don't get me wrong. I'm absolutely delighted to have landed this project - renovating the lobbies of two sister buildings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. And believe me, they desperately need it. The experience of working in a semi-public space and the challenges of marrying post war white brick architecture with a 21st century aesthetic is a designer's dream. But managing and actually pleasing a 10 member board is an entirely different matter - requiring that I eat my Wheaties and develop nerves of steel.
So many decisions to make:
Do we keep or remove the travertine floors ?(I vote keep but they must be restored).
Do we use porcelain, marble or granite on the walls of the entry space ? (well of course stone trumps tile but do I want to blow my budget).
What height should the new doors be? ( they are currently 7 foot tall but I think that 8 feet tall is much more practical and beautiful).
What kind of railing should we put on the stairs and what should the design be ?(I am loving a deco look which could be interpreted as modern).
What do we do with those planters from the 1960's that may in fact hide essential water and heat pipes? (I am hoping to lower them and reface them with stone so that they can be used as a bench).
Should the lighting be a focal point and should it be stainless or oil rubbed bronze ? (definitely a focal point and definitely LED but either way, it needs to work with the railing and the stone).
Can we recess the mailboxes? What size and color should they be? (THIS, is mostly determined by new rules from the US Postal Service and everything else needs to comply with their specifications).
Should we use molding and wallpaper to inform the design and give the lobbies a bit more elegance? (THIS is enormous since there are so many choices).
Where are the doormen going to sit? (hopefully not on the tushes)!
Tuesday is my Board presentation where many of these questions will be addressed and hopefully most of them will be answered. I am working hard to stay within my budget and this wonderful project is great for my portfolio. I just hope that the Board is on board with me and that I won't need more than one adult beverage after this meeting.
Comments(35)