Design by Maria Britto: Chelsea Condo Renovation

Quick answer

This Chelsea condo renovation was executed from interior designer Maria Britto’s drawings and material selections, with WhiteStar General Contractors managing structural coordination, custom kitchen millwork, gallery-style lighting, and finish carpentry throughout. For a comparable designer-led Chelsea condo renovation today, homeowners should generally plan for about $120,000–$220,000+ and 4–6 months of construction, depending on scope, material lead times, and building requirements.

The Project

Bringing a Designer’s Vision to Life in Chelsea

Interior designer Maria Britto developed the layout, material palette, and lighting plan for this Chelsea condo, and WhiteStar General Contractors was brought in to translate those drawings into a fully built, gallery-quality living space. Close coordination between the design team and our project managers kept custom millwork, stone selections, and lighting specifications aligned from rough-in through final walkthrough.

The completed renovation combines a custom oak kitchen with integrated lighting and clean architectural lines, a gallery-inspired living room designed to showcase art and natural light, and finish carpentry that carries the design language through every room.

Completed Work

Kitchen, Living Space & Finish Details

Illustrative completed-work views based on archived project media, showing the designer-led kitchen, living space, and finish carpentry.

Design-forward Chelsea condo renovation with gallery lighting, custom oak kitchen, natural stone, and clean architectural lines

Renovated Chelsea residence with restored brick, integrated millwork, controlled art lighting, and gallery-like proportions

Converted Chelsea industrial loft with exposed brick, steel structure, factory windows, and an open kitchen

Chelsea streetscape with a converted brick industrial loft, contemporary condo, and understated art gallery frontage

What Was Involved

Executing a Designer-Led Scope

Design-to-build coordinationMaria Britto’s drawings, finish schedules, and material selections were reviewed and sequenced into a buildable construction plan before demolition began.
Custom kitchen millworkOak cabinetry, integrated lighting, and stone surfaces were built and installed to the designer’s exact specifications and tolerances.
Gallery-style lightingRecessed and accent lighting were positioned to highlight artwork and architectural lines called for in the design plan.
Structural and system coordinationElectrical and mechanical work was planned around the finished ceiling and wall details specified in the drawings.
Finish carpentry throughoutTrim, built-ins, and door and window details were carried consistently through every room to match the designer’s material palette.

Cost & Timeline

Current Planning Ranges for Similar Designer-Led Renovations

Comparable scope	Current planning range	Construction time
Designer-led kitchen and living space renovation	$90,000–$150,000	About 3–4 months
Full condo renovation with custom millwork throughout	$150,000–$220,000+	About 4–6 months

These are current NYC planning ranges, not the private invoice for this earlier project. Custom millwork tolerances, material lead times, building requirements, and the level of design detail can change both cost and schedule.

Five Steps

How a Designer-Led Renovation Moves Forward

Review the design packageStudy the designer’s drawings, finish schedule, and material selections to confirm buildability and sequencing.
Coordinate trades and lead timesOrder custom millwork, stone, and lighting early, and align trade scheduling with material delivery.
Secure permitsFile for any Department of Buildings permits required for electrical, plumbing, or layout changes.
Build to the designer’s tolerancesMove through demolition, rough-ins, and finishes with regular design-team walkthroughs to confirm alignment with the plan.
Final walkthrough and punch listComplete a joint walkthrough with the designer and homeowner, then close out the punch list to the specified finish standard.

For Homeowners

What to Confirm Before You Start

Working with an interior designer and a general contractor together means confirming early who owns which decisions. Before construction begins, establish a clear approval process for material substitutions, a shared schedule for design-team walkthroughs, and written tolerances for custom millwork and finish carpentry.

Explore our apartment renovation process, browse more NYC renovation case studies, see where we work, or request an on-site estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chelsea Designer Renovation FAQs

How does a designer-led renovation with WhiteStar work?

We review the interior designer's drawings, finish schedule, and material selections, then translate them into a buildable construction plan. Regular walkthroughs with the design team keep custom millwork, lighting, and finishes aligned with the original vision.

How much does a designer-led Chelsea condo renovation cost?

Comparable designer-led Chelsea condo renovations currently plan around $120,000–$220,000+, depending on the level of custom millwork, material selections, and finish detail specified by the design.

How long does a designer-led renovation typically take?

Construction commonly takes about 4–6 months, though custom millwork and material lead times specified in a design package can extend the schedule beyond a standard renovation timeline.

Who manages material substitutions during a designer-led build?

We recommend establishing a clear approval process before construction begins, so the contractor, designer, and homeowner agree in writing on how substitutions are proposed and approved if a specified material becomes unavailable.