Custom Built-Ins in a Manhattan Apartment

The challenge

The living room needed storage that looked original to a pre-war apartment — raised panels, a TV niche, and lighting in the crown — without moving the parquet. The galley kitchen had to take a built-in refrigerator and keep a usable aisle. Gold knobs and cove lighting are the details that make millwork read as furniture, not boxes.

Scope of work

• Custom raised-panel built-ins and TV niche
• Cove lighting and gold hardware
• White galley kitchen cabinets and peninsula
• Built-in refrigeration and appliance fit-out
• On-site scribing to existing floors and walls
• Finish carpentry and paint coordination

Timeline

Shop-built millwork, then on-site install

• Field measure and shop drawingsBefore build
• Shop fabricationLead time
• On-site install, lighting, and kitchen cabinetsInstall

The outcome

A full wall of white built-ins with gold hardware and cove lighting now runs the living room. The galley kitchen is white paneled cabinets, a peninsula, and built-in refrigeration. Dark parquet was kept. Empty millwork photos are the job at turnover; kitchen photos are the same apartment in use.