Cost Cutters
What’s the priority in any renovation? Saving money, no doubt. Sawyer’s interior design team creatively devised a host of cost-cutting techniques. The first one: See if any original features or finishes were salvageable. The team saved about $25,000 by keeping the lobby’s terrazzo floor, which sparkled like new after a good polishing.
And to get the biggest bang for the buck, Sawyer strategically used higher-end finishes for the concierge desk area–the first thing people see when they enter the building. What used to be a closed-in ’70s-era wood-paneled front desk now features an open design with multi-colored mosaic tiles.
While price-conscious, the renovation team was careful not to skimp on the material selection, as durability is essential for a high-traffic apartment community (especially one with 900-plus residents). Sawyer chose dark-colored commercial-grade furniture and flame-resistant fabrics. “Every [purchasing] decision that is made has to be based on durability,” adds Langmead. “It can’t look good on day one but not on day 10.” The newly renovated Skyline Towers debuted last year, and so far, there are no complaints.
1 Play the name game intelligently. Fairfield Residential had planned to change the name of Skyline Towers but decided not to when it realized the name was widely recognized and respected in the community.
2 Stay on top of the latest products. Unable to install in-unit washer and dryer sets due to high wiring/installation expenses, the developer selected a front-load washer and dryer combo, which fits in the kitchen and requires no special outfitting.
3 Don’t skimp on the finishing touches. A self-playing grand piano in the building’s lobby completes the boutique hotel feel.