I would appreciate opinions about whether i need interior-designer-quality drawings (elevations, finishes, cabinetry detail-drawings, floor plans) to guide the GC for work I'm going to be doing in a co-op I'm in the process of purchasing. I am working with a GC who comes highly recommended from a number of sources and with a lot of experience in pre-war co-ops like mine. The bulk of the renovation... [more]
I would appreciate opinions about whether i need interior-designer-quality drawings (elevations, finishes, cabinetry detail-drawings, floor plans) to guide the GC for work I'm going to be doing in a co-op I'm in the process of purchasing.
I am working with a GC who comes highly recommended from a number of sources and with a lot of experience in pre-war co-ops like mine. The bulk of the renovation work is either rebuilding walls that will replaced according to the apartment's original floor plan--which was altered by current owners who have no children and wanted to create a loft-like vibe--and some fairly straight-forward (i think) custom millwork:
1. Rebuild the long (18') non-load-bearing wall between the living room and the master bedroom that the prior owners removed (though ideally the rebuild would include transoms along the top of the wall).
2. Rebuild two short (9') non-load-bearing walls -- one with french doors or a large glass sliding door -- to recreate a dining room/office the prior owners removed.
3. Build an approx 4' wide knee-wall (not part of the original apt plan) between foyer and living room, that will be a bookcase on the foyer side and the back of the short side of an L-shaped banquet (with storage beneath) on the other. Come to think of it, maybe I should be thinking of this low wall/separator as a millwork project rather than a wall-building one?
4. Design/build a banquet approx. 4x6 with under-storage (can I work w GC and his millwork sub to design this?)
5. Design/build a desk and upper cabinets for home office/guest room (can I work with GC and his millwork sub to design this?)
6. Move the kitchen doorway three feet to the left of its current location.
So no kitchen (i have a kitchen designer for this) or bath design work other than moving the door.
And do you think I need architect drawings/stamp in order to rebuild those walls that previously existed? The prior owners did file for the removal of the big wall (though one GC told me they didn't need to have done so), but turns out they did not file for the removal of the two that created the dining room...
A million thanks!
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