Before & After: With an $850K Reno, a Couple Ditched the Suburbs for a Home in the Sky

"The playdates are always at our place," says Brianna Tsarevsky about the penthouse she and her husband, Daniel, recently renovated on New York City’s Upper East Side.

The couple previously lived in a 5,000-square-foot house with a yard in the suburbs—and their eagerness to host in a much smaller space shows just how well the renovation by Opa Architecture suits their family of five while marrying livability and personality with everything the big city has to offer.

With few exceptions, "Everything is as good as it can be," Daniel says.

Before: Entry

After: Entry

The story of a home with so few compromises began when a job opportunity brought the young couple—who both have a background in law—from Montreal to the NYC metro area.

Although they fell for the city’s walkability and vast food options, their growing family prompted a move to a five-bedroom house in New Jersey. That was in 2020, so keeping some distance from Manhattan offered valuable breathing room through the worst of the pandemic. But it wasn’t long before restlessness settled in and they began to dream of a home that offered more.

"I wouldn’t say cookie-cutter…but yeah, maybe cookie-cutter is the right word," Daniel says about their suburban dwelling, admitting that the house’s lack of character led to their search for a permanent home back in Manhattan.

Before: Living/Dining Area