Upper West Side Co-op Renovation
A Full Gut Renovation That Reworked the Entire Floor Plan
Transforming the Layout for Better Everyday Living
This family of four on West End Avenue wanted their co-op to function differently.
Modo Renovations opened the main living space, relocated the kitchen, converted the former kitchen into a third bedroom, and expanded both bathrooms. The result is a more open, functional apartment built around the family's needs.
Project Details
Project: Full Gut Co-op Renovation
Location: 104th Street & West End Avenue, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Investment: $260,000
Timeline: March 15–July 1, 2026
Completed two weeks ahead of schedule
Renovating an Upper West Side Co-op Apartment
A co-op gut renovation in NYC involves more than construction inside the apartment. Plans must also account for the building’s alteration requirements, approvals, access rules, work hours, and other logistics. That becomes especially important when the project includes substantial layout changes, relocated plumbing, and multiple rooms being rebuilt.
Modo’s renovation process is designed around those requirements so the apartment design and the realities of working in a Manhattan co-op are considered together from the beginning.
Reworking the West End Avenue Co-op From the Floor Plan Up
The biggest challenge was creating an open living area while also adding a third bedroom.
To make both possible, we had to move the existing kitchen. Modo opened walls between the main living spaces and built a new custom kitchen within the expanded living area. The former kitchen then became the apartment’s third bedroom.
Both bathrooms were also gutted and expanded, making this a true full-gut renovation rather than a cosmetic update.
The scope included:
- Relocating and rebuilding the kitchen
- Creating a new third bedroom
- Opening walls for a larger living and kitchen area
- Gutting and expanding two bathrooms
- Custom cabinetry, open shelving, and kitchen island
- Custom closet interiors
- New doors and moldings throughout
- Porcelain bathroom tile and large-format porcelain slab
- Frameless glass shower doors and stone tub surround
- Custom bar with accent lighting
- Custom ceiling and architectural lighting
- Refinishing the existing wood floors
A More Functional Home for a Family of Four
The new floor plan uses the available square footage in a very different way now.
Instead of a separate kitchen and more compartmentalized living area, the family now has a large open kitchen and living space designed for everyday life and entertaining. Moving the kitchen also made room for the third bedroom they needed, while the expanded bathrooms, custom storage, refinished floors, and modern detailing give the apartment a consistent feel throughout.
FAQs About Upper West Side Co-op Renovations
- Can you change the floor plan of an Upper West Side co-op?expand_more
- Yes, many Upper West Side co-op renovations can include floor-plan changes, but what’s possible depends on the apartment, building rules, structure, plumbing locations, and required approvals. Evaluate major changes early so the design reflects what the building will realistically allow.
- Can I relocate a kitchen in a Manhattan co-op?expand_more
- In some apartments, yes. Moving a kitchen can involve plumbing, electrical, ventilation, waterproofing, and co-op approval, so feasibility depends heavily on the existing conditions and building requirements. In this West End Avenue renovation, relocating the kitchen was what allowed the homeowners to create both an open living area and a third bedroom.
- What should I know before renovating an Upper West Side co-op?expand_more
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Every co-op has its own alteration agreement and approval requirements, but you won’t have to navigate the process alone. Modo Renovations helps coordinate the construction-related requirements, including insurance, work hours, deliveries, elevator access, debris removal, plumbing work, waterproofing, and other building rules that can affect the project.
- How long does an Upper West Side co-op gut renovation take?expand_more
- The timeline depends on the scope, building approval, permits, material lead times, and level of custom work. This full gut renovation began on March 15 and was completed on July 1, 2026, taking about three and a half months of construction and two weeks ahead of its original target.
- Is a gut renovation worth it if I’ve just bought an Upper West Side apartment?expand_more
- It can be when the existing apartment doesn’t fit your needs. A gut renovation gives you the opportunity to address the floor plan, kitchen, bathrooms, storage, lighting, finishes, and building systems as one coordinated project instead of making disconnected updates over time.
Planning an Upper West Side Co-op Renovation?
If you’re buying an apartment that needs updating, Modo can help you plan the layout, budget, building requirements, and construction as one cohesive plan. From moving walls and kitchens to rebuilding bathrooms and custom interiors, we manage full gut renovations around how you want to live now and the apartment's long-term value.
Contact Modo Renovations to talk about your project.
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