Not for Purists - Opinion Wanted
We are renovating our 3rd floor apartment for rental purposes. There is little detail left besides 2 fireplaces. We exposed one entire wall of brick, and removed much of one room’s drop ceiling. We are thinking of exposing beams in all rooms to achieve a “loft-like” look. Question: do you think that the loft look…
We are renovating our 3rd floor apartment for rental purposes. There is little detail left besides 2 fireplaces. We exposed one entire wall of brick, and removed much of one room’s drop ceiling. We are thinking of exposing beams in all rooms to achieve a “loft-like” look. Question: do you think that the loft look has more rental appeal than a regular brownstone apartment? This is a floor through apartment with the kitchen and living space combined. Thanks for your comments.
Any code issues on opening the beams? I think I heard somewhere that ceiling rafters need to be enclosed. I vote against it as an aesthetic issue.
New dishwashers use less water than washing dishes by hand. And they often have boosters to increase the heat of the water without you having to adjust the water heater.
I don’t know as much about the electrical use, but I don’t think it’s more than an old/inefficient fridge. . .
Hey Anon 1:06 – exposing brick can be a hell more work than slapping on a coat of paint. After taking down the plaster, one must repoint the brick where necessary. Painstaking work, but I guess you don’t know that.
Dishwashers???? Do you know what kind of stress they put on the hot water and electrical systems in an old building???
All that exposed brick and wood always looks like a lazy renovation to me. Ok we did the demo lets just leave it looking raw. That look always depends on the contrast between truthier, simple materials and high end fixtures and cabinets. Want to get more rent? > give them things like dishwashers and counterspace/closet space. My experience with renters has been this. I have gotten top rent from the most responsible tenants who work very hard at their careers and don’t really care what the place looks like as long as everything works, is clean and my repairs are made quickly. My best tenant still lived out of cardboard boxes after 5 years, but her rent was always a week early.
Still don’t get the appeal of Kitchen/Living Room being in one space. Who the heck wants grease and stuff from cooking wafting into their soft furnishings?
This is the top floor. Our biggest concern is insulation, but we were thinking of concurrently redoing our roof and adding insulation under the roof at that time. The bedroom would be separated from the kitchen/living spa by wall(s).
I agree with the comments re the heat and noise issues. I also agree regarding what the beams will look like. I will take some work to make them look nice, plus there is the electrical wiring and plumbing you’d have to cover.
I also agree that people looking for a brownstone floor through are usually happy if it looks like a brownstone. If they wanted a loft, they’d look for one. So many floor throughs are marketed as open and airy. When I used to rent, I found the open plan/no doors thing a real hassle because you could never be comfortable if company stayed over or if your roomate wanted to stay up and watch tv etc.
Taste and style are very objective. I love what people despairingly refer to as “granny style” . Lots of dark wood details, cozy rooms with doors. I curse the people with the “bright ideas” that have ripped doors from their hinges and done other things to “open” up the spaces in the last two places I have rented. Loft style, phooey. If I wanted a loft, I would rent in a loft building.
The more open you have every thing, the more minimalist and neat freak you have to be. Life is too short to spend so much time cleaning. I much prefer rooms with a door you can close if the room is not photo shoot perfect.