78 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2019
INSIDE JOB
RENOVATING YOUR HOUSE
By ARLENE GROSS
Renovating your house doesn’t have
to mean taking it down to its studs.
It does, however, entail some big
decisions.
First establish why you want to
renovate, says Micah Finkel, owner
of the Brooklyn-based Sons & Co., a
custom millwork company. Are you
looking to create your dream house
or improve its value at resale, or,
perhaps, to accomplish both?
Also, consider whether you’re renovating
for aesthetic or functional
reasons and convey your intentions
to the designer and contractor, says
Christine Conte, of Christine Conte
Interiors of Huntington.
Before you begin, interview three
interior designers, three contractors,
and, if required, three architects,
advises Wendy Lepkoff, of Wendy
Interiors of Bethpage.
“That will educate you and help you
realize possibilities that you did not
think of,” Lepkoff explains. “Then
hire the ones that you connect with.”
Look for quality and experience by
avoiding new people in the field and
the lowest bidders, adds Lepkoff.
BUDGET
Think about how much money you’re
willing to put into the project, says
Finkel, adding that designers usually
will want to push the budget with
their somewhat lofty ideas.
“A lot of times what ends up happening,
clients will end up spending just
a little more because they end up
falling in love with what the house
can be,” says Finkel.
Jobs can frequently go over budget, as
contractors invariably end up doing
more extensive work than previously
planned, notes Finkel.
Start with a wish list and consider
your budget, advises Conte. Next,
plan out the space, which often involves
a designer’s computer-aided
drawings. Then select and order the
pieces to fit your style, from tile to
carpets, wallpaper to cabinetry, to
actual furnishings. The final phase
is installation.
“Form has to follow function,” says
Conte.“The layout has to be functional.
It has to serve the space and it
has to be in the style that the clients
want.”
DESIGNING A DREAM HOME
Decide how far you want to go with
the renovation. A good start, Finkel
advises, is the kitchen, where new
cabinets and counters add a lot of
value to the home and don’t require
any changes to the plumbing or electrical
work. Rehabbed closets and
bathrooms in master bedrooms also
get a lot of bang for your buck.
Built-ins in libraries, dens and mud
rooms are very versatile, adding both
utility and beauty to the home, notes
Finkel. New windows, doors and embellishments,
such as exposed wood
beams, wainscoting and trim, can add
a lot of character to a house.
Once you’ve started the renovation,
you’ll have to determine what’s salvageable
in the house, particularly in
older homes, which touches on everything
from mechanical to electrical to
plumbing systems, notes Finkel.
“Every single element of the house
Christine Conte Interiors. Photo by Nicole Larson
Engineered
oak wood gives a
warm, rich feel to
the room.
Well placed lighting
brightens and
adds ambiance.
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