Prewar Apartment Transformation

A gracious prewar apartment thoughtfully updated throughout to reflect the owner’s lifestyle, taste, and modern-day needs—while honoring the home's original charm.

This Manhattan prewar apartment renovation by Tonos Design Studio honors the rich architectural heritage of New York City’s classic residential buildings while seamlessly integrating contemporary comforts and a refined modern aesthetic. Original moldings, hardwood floors, and period details were carefully preserved and enhanced, while the floor plan was reimagined to suit the rhythms of present-day living.

The updated kitchen and bathrooms bring fresh, well-considered design to spaces that needed to earn their keep in daily life, while the living areas were softened with custom built-ins, layered textiles, and a curated mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings. The result is an apartment that feels both timeless and entirely personal.

Tonos Design Studio specializes in prewar apartment renovations throughout Manhattan, bringing deep knowledge of New York City’s historic building stock to every project. If you’re looking to restore and elevate a classic pre-war home on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, or anywhere across the city, we’d love to hear about your vision.

Empty room with yellow walls, white trim, large windows, hardwood floor, and wall-mounted lights.
Interior of a room with white built-in cabinets, yellow walls, wood parquet floors, and a doorway on the right side.
A paper model of a cabinet with storage compartments, hand-drawn outlines, and yellow-shaded sections, placed on a textured surface.
An interior room featuring wood-paneled walls, parquet wood flooring, and a built-in display cabinet with cabinets and glass panels, illuminated by a greenish-blue glass chandelier.
Empty dining room with wood paneling, a window, and a chandelier with green shades.
Modern kitchen with white subway tile walls, white cabinetry, stainless steel range and hood, black countertop, and black tufted bar stools at a white marble-topped island with a red pillar.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, a large white farmhouse sink, white subway tile backsplash, and a red accent wall. There is a seating area with a black cushion and marble countertops.
Kitchen with white cabinets, beige countertop, and a red backsplash or panel in the center.
Minimalist bathroom with a toilet, small sink, and glass-enclosed shower, white tile walls, patterned tile floor, window with open small mirror inside, and modern ceiling light.
Kitchen corner with white cabinets, marble countertop, blue brick walls, and a window
Small bathroom with blue tile walls, a round white sink, a modern chrome faucet, a large illuminated mirror, an electrical outlet, and a window with black framing.