Recoleta
I walked into this apartment and I knew right away that it had huge potential. Not only was it located in a very nice area, but the apartment was located on the 2nd highest floor of the building. The building has 18 floors and the apartment is on the 17th floor. The apartment wasn’t too big but the space was distributed perfectly with not an inch of wasted space.
The apartment got an abundance of natural sunlight as there were windows in the kitchen, living room and the bedrooms. The apartment was a disaster from a design standpoint. I knew I would have to totally gut the apartment as if it were a new construction. In fact, I ended up spending OVER 60% of the purchase price in high end renovations not to mention a tremendous amount of money on high end furnishing and decorating.
I love architecture and designing renovations. I don’t have a degree in architecture but I’ve probably designed more renovations than any architect in town and in fact many have consulted me for my ideas in the past.
The bathrooms were small but they had good use of space as there were two full bathrooms. The master bathroom was a good size. The bathrooms were both horrible and as I walked through the apartment I was already envisioning the changes I would make.
Here is the list of changes below:
· The master bathroom was gutted and I changed out all the plumbing and I used a high end marble throughout the bathroom. I decided to go extra high end on the fixtures. I used Italian Decca faucets and shower head. I designed a rainfall from the ceiling shower that is gorgeous. I placed designer toilette and bidet as well. There was no closet space inside either bathroom but there was a hallway closet. I designed to close that closet and make two closets in both bathrooms.
· The 2nd bathroom was small so I knew I’d do something extra special. I designed a renovation to also use expensive Decca Italian fixtures. I put floor to ceiling Italian Carrera marble throughout the bathroom and closet. I also made a rainfall from the ceiling shower. It turned out to be a gorgeous bathroom.
· Both bedrooms had ugly carpeting. I removed the carpeting and I installed very expensive hardwood flooring in the bedrooms. The living room flooring wasn’t too bad but I got a bit carried away during the renovation and since everything else was new, I pulled up the hardwood flooring as I noticed some slight defects and I installed hardwood flooring throughout the apartment.
· The kitchen was very small and enclosed. I didn’t like it. I knew that I could knock down the wall between the kitchen and the living room to make a bar area and it would also open the space up and let in more natural lighting. I installed marble countertops and I made custom cabinets throughout so every single inch of space is utilized. It turned out great.
· Although the apartment is on the 17th floor there was a bit of noise. I wanted to make the “perfect” apartment and totally silent so I ended up removing all the windows and I installed very expensive German triple-pane sound-proof windows so the apartment is totally silent. The windows are beautiful.
· In both bedrooms I removed the ugly closets and I had a carpenter make custom closets that turned out gorgeous. I designed plenty of space for clothes as well as drawers and designed wood doors that slide to open/close.
· Both bedrooms I wanted to add a very upscale experience so I added a wooden wall so I could add an LCD TV. Both bedrooms had that installed.
· In the living room I also added a custom wood wall with a LCD TV and I designed decorative lights behind the wood panel so at night it’s amazing! I also added a custom work desk.
· I added black out Persian blinds throughout the apartment so you can completely block out the sunlight in the entire apartment if you want to sleep in and relax.
· I added designer LG Cool Art Air conditioners in each bedroom as well as the living room.
I spent a fortune on this apartment but it turned out beautiful and a renovation that I’m very proud of.
Michael Koh
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PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THE RENOVATION
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