It wasn’t the brand new, more accessible staircase that excited Maria and Raquel Howard most about renovating.

From the front stoop of Maria and Raquel Howard’s Harlem brownstone, nothing seems unusual.  It’s a classic triplex on a classic tree-lined New York City street.

Maria and Raquel Howard partnered with Bolster to transform their brownstone’s upper triplex into a home in which they could grow old together

Maria and Raquel Howard partnered with Bolster to transform their brownstone’s upper triplex into a home in which they could grow old together

New York City is constantly reinventing itself.  Sometimes it can feel like there are more cranes than cabs.

You don’t need to be much of a history buff to appreciate that living in New York City is akin to living inside a great big, bustling museum.

Start with research. Now’s not the time to settle for your sister’s friend’s cousin.

Notes on capital improvements, taxes, and more.

A major renovation is always a good opportunity for New York City homeowners to replace or upgrade their windows.

“Lighting is everything,” somebody smart once said. (Storage is also everything.)

Just because plumbing is “below the surface” doesn’t mean that the budget required to upgrade plumbing infrastructure must be hidden as well.

Pre-war co-ops, condos, and brownstones, oh my.

How to stay up to code and on budget.

When Tom and Megan purchased their two-bedroom Gramercy condo, they knew it would need a substantial facelift.

Notes on the “skinny shaker,” building timelines, and more!

We spoke to the pros at German Kitchen Center for the lowdown on cabinetry’s form and function.

It’s getting warmer out, and your window unit might not be cutting it.

In renovations, there's more than what's in a name!

Often, these materials remain buried inside walls or beneath flooring until it comes time to renovate.

As humans, we like to think that we invented the home, but on close inspection, might it be that the home in fact invented us?

Notes on common types of NYC buildings, what makes each building unique, and a few pros and challenges of renovating each type of space.

While alteration agreements do impose restrictions on renovators, they’re there to protect the building, not to make your life difficult.

Take a financial dive into a Bolster homeowner's journey from drab space to dreamy home.

Spoiler: it's all about doing your homework and setting your expectations.

There’s something extremely relaxing about a good tile pattern.

Somebody once said that you can find all the cool people at the party by going into the kitchen.

Let’s talk about a few of the lesser-known roles and responsibilities.

If you can afford and find a classic six, is that these apartments often need significant renovations to accommodate a contemporary lifestyle.

Not all build estimates are created equal.

How to spend intelligently from the beginning, to help you invest more strategically in your future.