New renovation series on the WSJ

The Wall Street Journal has a new renovation chronicle series about a family re-doing their 1,300 square foot co-op in Queens.

But why did I — and it was my fault — ignore all common sense and personal experience and buy a place needing a total overhaul? Right now, it’s 1,300 square feet of soiled floors, peeling paint and ancient plumbing and electric. The kitchen must be entirely replaced. When the co-op board interviewed us, the first thing they asked was whether we were going to renovate.

Throughout the apartment are bizarre sayings — “Freedom of Love” is one; some sort of ode to beer is another — that were scrawled across the windows and walls when we arrived. Yeah, not our decorating style.

My wife won’t step into the place until it’s renovated.

But the apartment is in a leafy neighborhood with good schools (we know Forest Hills well, having been renting there for three years). For the city, it’s got a large living room and two nice-sized bedrooms. The many windows let in lots of light. And the old, brick building is handsome, with an Art Deco style, wood-lined lobby and lots of period details. Also crucial: a price, reflecting the need for a gut renovation, that we could afford.

As we ready for the work, I find my emotions alternating between anticipation and dread. There’s a stain in the second bedroom’s closet; but the super says it was from a leak fixed long, long ago. Our architects have some great ideas for modernizing the space; but will we able to afford these grand plans? Potential contractors have done impressive jobs elsewhere; but how do we guard against seeming inevitabilities like cost over-runs and delays?

Urgency is starting to set in. It’s not, er, ideal to pay both a mortgage and rent. I’m looking forward to taking the first step: demolition. And soon.

There have been two installments so far:

Renovation Chronicle: Remaking Our Queens Co-op
Renovation Chronicle: Ugh, Why Am I Doing This?