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By the midpoint of the project, often marked by frustrated conversations with contractors and ever-mounting costs, you’ll likely be second guessing that vision. So…is it worth it? And why—as I decided to do—would you ever renovate a place you don’t own? On the heels of my recent apartment coverage in AD’s Clever, I’ve received a number of questions about why I decided to renovate a rental. An unconventional decision, it boils down to the fact that creating a home that brings me joy—quite literally the most important thing to me right now—trumps the usual decisions bound by finances and budgets. Not to say this is a decision that everyone should make—and certainly not to the extent to which I pushed this project. But in my case, buying a place in New York City that I was excited about—that also included office space for my talent agency Untitled Secret—was totally out of my league. I could, however, stretch my budget to afford a rental that would check all my personal and professional boxes—as long as I could make some significant aesthetic improvements. So when I began my search in the winter of 2021, I knew I was hunting for an airy loft that came with a relaxed landlord who might be cool with some updates. This is how it went: each time I toured a potential apartment, I would ask the broker who the owner was. I knew that an individual would be much more likely to agree to changes than an impersonal management company. The fact that I moved in the peak of the pandemic, when there was a glut of housing and landlords were desperate to get tenants into their buildings, brought the rent within my budget and made my landlord amenable to the changes I was hoping to make. The place I found had potential, but I knew it would require some changes—and a little dip into my savings—to make it a place I loved. I would encourage anyone to think about easy fixes, at least: a new coat of paint, switching hardware on cabinets, hanging a new light fixture. In my case, refinishing the floors, tearing down some flimsy partition walls, and repainting were all surprisingly affordable. After some debate, I decided to take the plunge and also address the bigger projects: adding closets, a bathroom renovation, a kitchen overhaul, and a glass-and-steel casement wall for the office. I also had a couple distinct advantages that made these more extreme changes possible: thanks to my social media career, I was able to find partners to work with on the more costly parts of the renovation, like the kitchen and bathroom appliances, and my dad and brother made a visit to help with some initial construction. I still had to pay for the labor and make some tough choices (for example, custom built-ins turned out to be out of my price range, so I went for the Lulu and Georgia shelving units instead), but I was lucky enough to flex my work relationships to achieve the home of my dreams. Regardless of budget, I am a firm believer in doing what you can to make your house a home as soon as you move in. Waste no time in making changes that will bring delight, whether that’s a full revamp or just hanging a piece of artwork. Below and in future newsletters, I’ll be sharing more about the incredible artisans and brands I collaborated with to transform my apartment. I wouldn’t have this place without them. And if you ever see my landlord, put in a good word: I will eventually have to renegotiate my lease, and only time will tell how that goes. But at least I know my home will bring me maximum joy as long as I have it.
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