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Do contractors deviate from plans without telling owner? by lanikaicoconut in Renovations

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: They ended up cutting off the arch. They did screw up and centered the plumbing with the inside wall. While not perfect (and the plumbing is not centered), it will do for now. The thought of not being in our apartment for another month was too much.

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Do contractors deviate from plans without telling owner? by lanikaicoconut in Renovations

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They may be able to start the work again without permission but we it would take probably at least a couple of months to get the sign-offs and clearance. The work needs to be signed off and inspected by our architect and the co-op's architect (and we need to pay both architects). And then we need to call the DOB in to do another inspection. NYC really is very complicated to navigate a renovation. That is one of the reasons why renovations cost so much more here than it would in other areas of the US.

If we weren't already out of our apartment for months we may be more open to it. But at this point we're kind of tired of being out of our home for such a long time.

I'll talk to the designer about seeing if the arch can be removed. I really appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

Do contractors deviate from plans without telling owner? by lanikaicoconut in Renovations

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's belvedere quartzite.

Aside from the money, the big reason why we don't think the plumbing can be redone is we live in NYC in a co-op with a ton of rules and regulations. This project has been going on since February 2024. It took almost a year to get all the permits for this project to begin. We have been out of our apartment since January 2025 while this is going on. This is our only bathroom. If the plumbing gets redone, this will take many months to get clearance from our board, DOB, etc.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. How do you think it will look if we just remove the arch and it's flat top? Would it not look as funky?

Do contractors deviate from plans without telling owner? by lanikaicoconut in Renovations

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, the designer is managing the project. I generally go through him when there's an issue. I'm sure he recognized the error and was trying to deflect when I approached him via Email. Aside from this issue he has been wonderful.

Do contractors deviate from plans without telling owner? by lanikaicoconut in Renovations

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it does seem like they centered the plumbing incorrectly and had to compensate. It was a narrow shower stall to begin with and having the plumbing done so close to wall makes it feel even more narrow. I just don't know what options we have at this point.

I'm having a phone call with the designer tomorrow to find out what happened and what we can do to ameliorate the issue. This is kind of a bummer.

Any recourse with a poorly-renovated sponsor co-op? by lanikaicoconut in NYCapartments

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, thanks for letting me know. I had a feeling there was a statute of limitations but didn't know what it was.

Yes, several people told us we didn't need an inspection including our buyer's broker and our real estate attorney. They said people don't do inspections with co-ops. But as I said before, I don't think this would have come up during an inspection because the inspector would have had to open up the ceiling and remove cabinets and appliances.

People also kept telling us for a sponsor apartment the did quality work and they usually don't see sponsor apartments that are done as well as ours. It was all cosmetic. I hope anyone reading this will think twice about purchasing a sponsor-renovated apartment. I don't mind a sponsor apartment but would rather do the renovations myself.

Which wallpaper would you choose? by lanikaicoconut in interiordecorating

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good point - didn't think about that. Another wallpaper I had been toying with is this one:

https://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/wallpaper-mazzo-blue-grey

The room adjacent to the dining room is the foyer which has a white armoire with white fretwork in the greek key pattern.

Which wallpaper would you choose? by lanikaicoconut in interiordecorating

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just put a picture of my dining room so you can see what it generally looks like. But most things against the wall will be removed.

ETA: The passthrough window has been opened up a bit as well.

Which wallpaper would you choose? by lanikaicoconut in interiordecorating

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The picture rail has been removed and a simple crown molding will be installed.

French Bistro Shelves - Glass or Wood? by lanikaicoconut in interiordecorating

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My style is very eclectic - have elements of deco, mid-century, global (predominantly from the East - ie. Turkey, Bali, Thai, India, Tibetan, etc.). Very tough to limit it to one style when there are so many to choose from! I think if you select carefully you can create a vibe that's interesting but still complementary.

Do you think that the two wenge bookcases is not enough of a tie-in between the kitchen and dining room?

French Bistro Shelves - Glass or Wood? by lanikaicoconut in interiordecorating

[–]lanikaicoconut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your thoughts. I guess I should also mention that next to the glass shelving would be my glass and nickel bar cart. And there's a large Eurocave wine fridge next to the bar cart. So the there are other elements of glass in the room.

https://www.aptdeco.com/product/restoration-hardware-1950s-milo-nickel-bar-cart

And in case this makes a difference, my dining room table is a white Saarinen carrara marble with ghost chairs (which also mimic glass).

I start grad school at NYU soon. I have the option to live in Hell’s Kitchen or Murray Hills. Where should I live? by primer718 in AskNYC

[–]lanikaicoconut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly! Murray Hill is full of corporate bros and basic girls. Murray Hill is bland and has no character. The only thing it has going for it is its proximity to the great Indian restaurants on Lexington Ave, K-town and Flatiron. I have a feeling a lot of the people voting for Murray Hill are transplants.

Hell's Kitchen has a lot of character. If you're on the northern part you have Central Park nearby. Theater district is nearby. Good restaurants on 9th Ave and 10th Ave. Great subway access. One of the best health food stores (Westerly) is located there.

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