My Woodworking Hobby Saved Me $8K on My Lower East Side Reno

This article, part of the 'Renovator's Notebook' series, details chef Flynn McGarry's experience renovating a 380-square-foot former vegetable storage unit into Gem Wine, a relaxed sister wine bar to his restaurant Gem, located in Manhattan's Lower East Side. McGarry aimed to create an intimate atmosphere resembling a friend's apartment rather than a traditional restaurant. He undertook much of the interior work himself, leveraging his woodworking hobby to save money and personalize the space, despite admitting to making numerous mistakes along the way. His approach to the renovation combined strategic splurges with cost-saving DIY efforts. The renovation began in March 2021, with McGarry hiring Essential Contracting for major tasks like gutting the space and installing HVAC. However, he and his friends handled significant portions of the interior design and construction. McGarry found woodworking to be therapeutic, comparing it to an intense version of cooking, meticulously perfecting cuts over hours. This hands-on approach allowed him to avoid expensive custom-designed elements, saving approximately $8,000 on labor for various installations. He learned the importance of understanding all aspects of a space from his four years of running a restaurant. To achieve the desired 'apartment-like' ambiance, McGarry incorporated personal touches, including figurines, paintings, books, and vases from his own home, purchased during an antiquing spree. He discusses several key design decisions, categorizing them as either splurges or saves. A major splurge was the kitchen's solid cherry wood countertops, which cost $5,000 for the wood alone, not including tables from Grain Wood Studio. Despite the cost, he considered it essential for the aesthetic and ensured precision installation by a woodworker. For flooring, McGarry opted for terracotta tiles, a save that also provided a unique touch, evoking the South of France in Chinatown. He faced a challenge when half of his initial tile order arrived broken and replacements were unavailable. He creatively solved this by gluing broken pieces and mixing hexagon and square tiles, resulting in a natural-looking transition between the kitchen and bathroom. Another splurge was the selection of Farrow & Ball paints for the walls (Middleton Pink) and ceiling (India Yellow), chosen to create warmth. To provide contrast, the kitchen's back wall was lined with aluminum sheets by Cadco, complemented by antique cobalt blue lights. McGarry invested in replacing the storefront windows for $3,000, allowing them to open and connect the interior with the street, enhancing the welcoming feel. A clever save involved painting the ceiling color down a “divider” wall to conceal a soffit and drilling holes into a piece of wood to hide a vent. He emphasizes the importance of quality tools in woodworking, noting that investing in a good saw significantly improved the accuracy of his cuts. Finally, lighting was a significant splurge, with two vintage canvas pendant lamps by Jan Wickelgren costing $600 each. These unique finds, along with custom lamps by ceramist Ana Corrigan, contributed to the cozy, library-like atmosphere McGarry envisioned for Gem Wine. #WoodworkingHobby #LowerEastSideRenovation #WineBarDesign #DIYRenovation #SmallSpaceDesign #RestaurantInterior #BudgetRenovation #TerracottaFlooring #CustomWoodwork #WoodworkingHobby #LowerEastSideRenovation #WineBarDesign #DIYRenovation #SmallSpaceDesign #RestaurantInterior #BudgetRenovation #TerracottaFlooring #CustomWoodwork