Prewar apartments in NYC make themselves known through their historic elegance and architectural uniqueness. These pre-World War II residences bear testimony to the city’s rich past and show their strength amid the rapidly changing urban tastes and lifestyles. Do you wish to accentuate such aesthetics in your unit? Let’s replicate the charm through hardwood floors, ornate moldings, intricate details, and high ceilings. Talk to our Zicklin Contracting team for guidance. We can renovate your space per your design goals.
Table of content
- Prewar apartment renovation
- What differentiates a prewar and postwar building?
- Why do you want to restore your prewar apartment in NYC?
- Why should you renovate your prewar apartment instead of rebuilding it?
- How do you decorate or revamp a prewar apartment?
- How much do you spend on renovating an NYC apartment?
Prewar apartment renovation
A prewar apartment’s quintessential characteristics include archways, hardwood floors, crown molding, high ceilings, fireplaces, window and door designs. All these remind you of the past era, so you may decide to preserve them. As your trusted apartment renovation contractor in New York, we suggest replacing old hardwood flooring with mahogany. Mahogany flooring with herringbone or parquet patterns can easily carry the historical legacy of your apartment with increased endurance. You can effortlessly incorporate this even in an open-plan layout. It will give the traditional design a personality and a sense of warmth. Likewise, the beauty of the living room with high ceilings can be amplified by strategically adding oversized mirrors and chandeliers.
The office room can be endowed with a formal look by adding book-end built-ins that offer excellent storage and the desired tone to the setting. The fireplace deserves upscaling while retaining the older architectural brilliance. It always works, even if this is a decorative feature. If the wood casings and old window moldings have become outdated, we can restore them. We can also repurpose the existing built-in arches to increase their functionality as an additional storage space. You can also seek help with merging the modern with the old. For example, consider hiding HVAC systems in antique cabinets or rewiring ancient-style light fixtures for more energy efficiency. It’s the best way to enhance your prewar apartment’s livability.
What differentiates a prewar and postwar building?
Prewar buildings are from the 1880s to 1940s, while postwar buildings emerged from 1947 to 1990. Most prewar buildings are largely coops and are more affordable than modern condos. Their decorative details are also uniquely charming.
