The Market Report: July 2026

The Pucker | Heinlein Team
July 1, 2026

Space Tips

Selling a lot of real estate over the years in New York City has provided us the chance to see many admirably and thoughtfully-designed properties – both ground-up construction and new renovations. We’ve also seen a lot of poorly executed ones. And really, even many of the most thoughtful designs out there have a missed opportunity or two.

Many homeowners have an eye to the fall and winter months for home renovations. So, now’s the time for that design planning. We put together a few of our thoughts to consider in a renovation, regardless on a high-brow or slim budget.

First, you can have an eye to resale, but make sure your renovation is for you, not some phantom future owner who may want to rip everything out regardless. Consider good functional design elements which will outlast decorative trends. Simple functional design commitments can make a daily impact.

For the kitchen, like everything in New York City, space is sacred; but it’s often misused or underutilized. Leverage as much as possible. For small kitchens, take cabinets up to the ceiling, and reconsider the trending use of floating shelves instead of cabinets. Employ a storage company to come up with internal drawer and cabinet design solutions. You’ll be happy with one less moment digging around for a spatula or hunting the back of a cabinet for a can.

Kitchen appliances can be wild cards for kitchen renovation costs – they have a wide range of bells and whistles…and prices. Focus on your needs: A larger refrigerator for a larger family. The most affordable top-of-the-line stove for an owner who loves to cook, or a better oven for one who bakes. More compact cabinet-depth appliances for a smaller space. A compact dishwasher with drawers for someone who normally gets take-out or doesn’t eat much at home and only runs it once a week. Of note, clients always point out how happy they are with the quietest dishwasher they got that fit their budget, and others complain that they wish they would have gotten a better one that sounds less like a truck engine.

Bathrooms also benefit from good space-conscious decisions in New York City, particularly with older apartments with typically smaller bathrooms. Two good solutions for space and cleanliness are floating vanities and recessed floating toilets. Wall-mounted and off the floor feels more spacious, and easer for cleaning under and around.

Likewise, without space for both a shower and separate tub, many two-bed owners consider swapping the tub for a standing shower. Tubs are used less, and showers with glass panels make the space feel larger and more open. If you swap, splurge a bit to make sure the shower adds some luxury and not just utilitarianism. Quality fixtures, rain showers, dual showers, seats, handhelds, higher end wall tiles all step it up.

Lastly for kitchens and bathroom, too often faucets and handles are improperly positioned. Many owners complete their renovations, only to be frustrated daily with hardware that is placed too close to the back wall and difficult to clean and maintain.

A final thought for the overall renovation – Take the doors up as high as possible, if doing so doesn’t break the budget. Higher room doors give the illusion of higher ceilings, allow for more light and more visual openness and better light and air flow. The same higher doors on closets provide easier access with more potential storage solution options.

If you are considering renovations and have concerns, we are always happy to lend input from what we’ve seen others have done that worked well or were regrets.

We wish you and yours a very happy Independence Day and holiday weekend.

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