Cost for similar renovation

Ro17

I would say 30k as a ballpark figure, that does not include lighting on the ceiling. We are finishing up a project in the building now and were not able to do too much with the lighting. Great building as far as getting approvals to do work as well. The super and all the guys are very accommodating as well.

Are you an interior decorator / designer? How difficult is it to put the lights on the ceiling in this building?

For skim coating and painting to get a high end result budget $20,000 and be happy if it comes in for less. If you don't skim coat, you'll pay much less--say $10,000 to paint the entire apartment. Others will tell you how skim coating/painting should only cost you $2000 or some nonsense. Forget it. Cheap is cheap and for a proper skim coating job in a large apartment you have to pay.

For crowns, about $10,000 for the entire apartment. But realize that your base mouldings will like pretty crappy after that--you should consider replacing all mouldings and installing base, crown and door casings that work together. Budget $15,000. Consider MDF (medium density fiberboard) as the material for the crowns as this will minimize or even eliminate cracking at the seems as time goes on. MDF is softer than wood, though, and for base mouldings I prefer wood which stands up to abuse better. For door casings, it is your call--can go either way.

One set of french doors installed--you can do it on the cheap if you get pre-made doors--maybe $2500? But if you use a quality custom door like Trustile I would say more like $6000 or so not including hardware.

Electrical: A quick look at other units for sale in the building show no recessed lighting which suggests to me that there is not space in the ceilings to accomodate recessed lights. Electrical work will be the most costly of anything you do because the labor is about equivalent to what a cardiac surgeon charges. Adding outlets and running wires for new ceiling mounted fixtures or wall sconces will add up quickly. Without knowing more about how much work you want to do, I can't guestimate a $ figure.

Suggestion: if you are spending all this money, seriously consider changing the hideous staircase that looks like someone got it from a college dorm. It is a clunky, chunky aesthetic mess and will dumb down any nice renovation around it.

Perhaps Primer will chime in on the thread. His price estimates are dead-on for mid-to-high end jobs.

I'm looking at the floorplan again. This is a lot of space. I think my estimates are too low. Say $30,000 for skim coating/painting and at least $20,000 for all mouldings throughout.

looks like there are in-ceiling speakers which, if so, would indicate room for small recessed light fixtures.

My estimates around 36000 without lighting. For lighting I should see what you exactly need.