The Ugly Renovation Challenge: Post Your Candidate for Ugliest Renovation Here

Ugh. Hands down THIS one: http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/391648-coop-410-west-24th-street-chelsea-new-york

London Terrace is one of the most classic of prewar buildings, with generously-proportioned rooms and amazingly efficient layouts.

So what did these clowns do? Knock down a wall and create one of those God-awful OPEN KITCHENS!

BLASPHEMY!

I think that this is a nice reno, NYCMatt. If you noticed the crib in the 2nd br, I think it's very efficient for a family. BTW, I saw an open kitchen with cleverly incorporated pocket doors that could be closed to conceal the kitchen.

It's HIDEOUS, I tell you!

Open kitchens in a prewar building. BAH!!!!

It's the devil's work!

Also, if you look closely, you'll notice there are virtually NO CABINETS in that kitchen! Where's the food kept? Where are the pots and pans? Dishes? Cooking utensils?

Or is this one of those kitchens that's really just a glorified wet bar, best used for unwrapping takout?

I keep all of my dishes, most of my "pantry food", cooking utensils, pots and pans in drawers. I hate overhead cabs, as they are impractical for someone short like me.

Hmm. I'm seeing only one narrow set of drawers. Perhaps there's another set in the island (next to the wine cooler, of course). VERY little storage space, regardless. For a million and a half, I'd expect at least a full-sized, functional kitchen.

Looks like they're all in the island, which is pretty deep. I keep a large set of pots & pans in one section of drawers. Another section is good for all plastic containers, colanders, dishes, utensils. Food is kept under my cooktop. Cups/glasses/infrequently used things overhead. I have other storage, but it's not really necessary.

Also, they have a built-in nook that has their microwave, and I assume storage underneath.

I bet the apartment that Matt posted is his own.

Whoops! Wait a minute! A closer look at the floorplan reveals NO storage in that whole console against the wall! The space between the sink and the stove is a dishwasher! And it looks like most, if not all the storage in the island is for "wine".

Yeah, Alan. I'd post my own apartment and rip it to shreds with criticisms.

There's also some built-ins on the other side of the kitchen, which is not in the picture. Hey, I don't go to Chelsea O/Hs, but why don't you take a look this Sunday if they're having one.

how about this one...

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/418662-coop-50-riverside-drive-upper-west-side-new-york

that bathroom is horrible.

I think I just might, for giggles.

Muay ... I agree with you on the bathroom.

Who decided that marble was a good idea for bathrooms, anyway??

It's just dated. Plenty of apts like that around. I think the original poster was after recent horrible renos. BTW, I would take out that 3rd bath, make a large storage closet with laundry.

"BTW, I would take out that 3rd bath, make a large storage closet with laundry."

Assuming the building would allow a laundry room.

They would.

You're sure about that! I'd do that in a heartbeat! I've fantasized about my own washer and dryer my entire New York life!

Please don't start telling us about your fantasies, Matt. I want to keep my breakfast down.

I'm sure it's not just your breakfast you're trying to keep down, Alan -- despite your best efforts.

nyc10023 -- do you have a link to the kitchen with pocket doors?? I've long thought that would be a great compromise between open and closed kitchens and would love to see it in practice.

NYCMatt -- i have to agree with the w/d. nirvana.

tandare -- http://www.physorg.com/news136555635.html

Tandare: No, it was in a friend's apt. Prewar, classic 6. The kitchen was/is adjacent to the kitchen. They opened up the wall bet. kitchen and the DR. That open wall has only lower kitchen cabinets, with the depth maybe a smidge wider than usual. and right up against that counter, there are sliding pocket doors that can be used to close off DR and kitchen.

NYCMatt: I know 50RSD well. You have some serious W/D envy going on. Did I ever tell you about an old apt I had with two sets of W/Ds (completely legal)?

Typo, kitchen was/is adjacent to DR.

"I think the original poster was after recent horrible renos."

Yes, thank you 10023. I was hoping to begin a discussion of recently renovated apartments that have been poorly done, or simply misconceived. I was hoping to generate a discussion about what makes a renovation work, and what does or does not work about a particular renovation. In this market, I think these are the kinds of apartments that will sit and sit, taking price chops in small pieces because of the money put into renovating an outgrown or poorly thought-out space.

However, the thread seems to have gone another direction entirely. Unintended consequences.

This one (much talked about on SE) is a prime example. http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/300728-coop-270-west-end-avenue-upper-west-side-new-york. Expensively renovated, and I would even say tastefully renovated. The problem was layout. They duplexed two 5-room apts in a way that used up one whole room on each floor for the stairwell. Too many deep built-ins in the LR/DR obscured the views and made the living space feel small. Strangely large laundry room/office. IMO, they could have built the stairwell in a more efficient location, and had a much larger LR/DR, as well as an extra bedroom on the bedroom floor.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/389536-coop-157-duane-street-tribeca-new-york

This is another great example: the tiny bedroom immediately off the kitchen, single bathroom, and enormous open space are just a strange configuration. "No detail was overlooked" except for the detail that most people looking for this much space aren't looking to have cocktail parties every single night, which is what this space seems to be set up for. It's a good size, but anyone wanting to actually live there is going to have rip everything out, add a bedroom or two, and add a bathroom - not an inexpensive proposition on an already expensive one-bedroom. When it comes back on the market I'd bet it will come with a nice big price chop.

alanhart - i had heard about those washers. laundryporn.

nyc10023 -- sounds like a great kitchen/dr set up. too bad no pictures.

evnyc - i would agree that the br is too small. however it looks like you could have a great time rollerblading in there....

EV: Looks like they worked around one plumbing stack. Too bad, because if they had a plumbing stack in the middle of the apt, they could have had a large 2-br apt instead, with the kitchen & baths in the middle.

EV: look at this apt, diff. floor, same building, same footprint (I think).

http://img.streeteasy.com/nyc/image/80/4719480.gif

So there is a plumbing stack in the middle ...

The chandelier over the hot tub looks absolutely scary.

http://www.prudentialelliman.com/listings.ASpx?listingid=850069&utm_source=Streeteasy&utm_campaign=corporate&utm_medium=listings

10023, yep. I actually like the 2-bedroom apartment. It's a tremendous contrast between what is and what could have been. I wrote up a review a little while ago on the 2nd floor apartment. Apt #4's owners made a deliberate decision to waste all that space, and I think it's gonna hurt them in the long run.
http://downtowny.blogspot.com/search/label/157%20Duane

HDLC, yes, that place looks like a museum. But I could see it being someone's style. The floorplan's showing up a bit screwy on my screen, though.

whats compelling is that, with so many renovations of older apts, after spending much to renovate, the result is a less-liveable less-valuable apt

original archictecture is often pretty optimal

I haven't seen this in person, but it makes me wonder who lives in such a place? It almost makes me dizzy to look at it!

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/351844-coop-115-east-36th-street-murray-hill-new-york