TESTIMONIALS
I hired Ed to help me with a gut renovation of my 3 BR apt in a landmarked Co-op building in Brooklyn Heights.The Co-op Board had recently had litigation over another renovation and was skittish about the scope of my reno. Ed was amazing. He came in and did a presentation to the Board and put them at ease. They subsequently approved the entire plan which involved a complete re-leveling of sagging floor joists. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Ed. He provided invaluable guidance during the design and planning stages. He was very careful to be respectful of my perspective and design aesthetic. He had this amazing ability to reflect back your ideas in a workable and practical way that brought clarity and direction to the end goal. To look at the finished project it felt like my ideas came to life. Ed made that happen. Ed was also extremely helpful in sourcing the G.C. He managed the whole project and I really felt he was protecting my interests by making sure the contractors did what they said they were going to do, and held them to a high standard of work. I wholeheartedly recommend Ed without hesitation.
Craig A.
I hired Ed to combine two apartments at the Majestic on 72nd Street and Central Park West. Ed was the only architect that gave me an honest estimate as to the time and cost of the job. He was also extremely diligent in dealing with project management and the delicate issues surrounding the interior decorator and contractor. This was extremely important as I was living in London while the renovation was happening. Ed was a complete professional that handled everything from soup to nuts and I would highly recommend him for any job big or small.
Craig S.
When we bought our third home, we knew it was going to be a gut renovation and we needed an architect that was going to meet our needs. We did extensive research and interviewed around seven architects. Ed had great reviews, experience, and best of all he listened and seemed to understand what we wanted.
When the project began, Ed proved us right. He came out to the site multiple times, listened to us, shared his perspectives, and his final drawings reflected our vision. When we had questions, he answered them precisely and logically. I loved his ability to not waste time. He knew what to do, how to do, and the most efficient way to execute our plan. When there were bumps along the way he addressed them, gave us options and possible solutions.
One example is his design for splitting a large room into two rooms for our two girls. At first we thought the entrances should be diagonal, but after hours of trying out different design ideas, Ed’s original design worked the best and presented the cleanest lines.
Everyday I live in my house, I notice the clean lines and the beauty in its simplicity. I’m so thankful we had a good architect. We have friends that made the mistake of not choosing the right architect and they regret it all the time.
Thank you so much, Ed!
Andy and Jin
Ed helped us design and build-out a gut renovation in Manhattan. He is a very thoughtful architect with good design and spatial concepts. He was also very adept at helping us get exactly what we wanted and, at the same time, keeping us from making mistakes. Ed is also adept at working with all the trades and understanding their issues whilst ensuring that they are producing a quality product. I highly recommend Ed.
Fred N.
We have worked with Ed on two large gut renovation projects. Each was an architectural challenge, requiring Ed to create flowing, modern spaces out of a previous clutter of unnecessary corners and walls. Ed was masterful in solving all of the spatial problems of the original floor plan, reimagining what the space could become and then executing beautifully on the architectural details. Ed obviously sees the big picture, but he also had dozens of really cool ideas on how to turn a corner, or add a bit more light or highlight a particular line. We could not be more pleased with the results!
Working with Ed on our home in Dumbo was great. He is excellent at designing what WE wanted, where so many other architects come with their own agenda. Yet he also brought to the project an extraordinarily deep architectural tool box. He showed great attention to detail, while being very open to sharing information and coordinating with us. He managed the contractors very well and was super knowledgeable about all their tricks! He was very conscious of budget and how to control the cost of the project, and he made sure we received full value from all of the quality materials we purchased.
Ed made the construction process both fun and easy. We had site meetings periodically and they always had an agenda and went smoothly. He kept us is the loop without overloading us with details.
The project was very challenging because it required the creation of a single flowing loft space out three smaller apartments, with necessary vertical risers and supporting walls. Ed’s solution is beautiful and exceeded our hopes for the space when we purchased it.
My wife has very clear ideas on interior design; I do not and was all over the map, not really knowing what I wanted. Ed navigated our different preferences gracefully and the result is prefect.
We have been in our renovated apartment for about eight years now. We still love it. Building a space with Ed meant getting something that is special and unique for us - open floor plan, generous kitchen at center of home, lots of light, bigger room sizing and closets, flowing lines, beautiful but neutral materials, and lots of space for art. We are very happy and would hire him again for any project we have.
Andy D.
When retaining Ed for our renovation, we of course could never have imagined how much time we would spend inside our apartment during covid. Our first-floor apartment was dark and gloomy. Ed helped redesign our kitchen and living room in a way that maximized our minimal natural light, adding additional features such as reflective tile and plentiful LED lighting to create a bright open space. Design is always an iterative process—Ed understands this. Ed made his vision clear to us. Yet at the same time, Ed always wanted our input to ensure the final product truly reflected our vision. Ed is not only an architect. His abilities as an interior designer help the helpless, like us. Ed took time to venture from store to store with us to explore different design options so that we would be confident in our choices. Renovating in New York always poses unforeseen challenges and Ed pivoted quickly when we uncovered hidden steam, gas and electric pipes in our pre-war apartment. In fact, after we discovered numerous gas lines in a wall slated for demolition, Ed encased them within a chase, tiled to match other elements of the room. This design works so well that we now believe it improves upon the original design. And guests certainly have no idea this was not part of the original plan. We are so lucky to have worked with Ed when we did and are so grateful for his design and insight.
Ben C.
We worked with Ed Kopel on a project to combine two units in our Park Avenue building. He was endlessly patient with our revisions, creative in visualizing the final product, and added numerous design features we could never have imagined. He also suggested materials suitable to our taste and budget. The contractor he recommended was onsite every day and met our building's time requirement in spite of supply chain issues related to Covid shut downs. Ed carefully supervised every inch of the work. The project came in on time and within budget.
We now enjoy a brand new space full of light, ample storage space, and lovely details. Congratulations, Ed, and THANK YOU!
Marcia and Myron
We love our deck which is behind our living room in the back of the house—on an upper floor. The job included opening a window up to install a door and installing a cast iron deck which was supported from below and from the back wall of the building. We were very lucky to have Ed as our architect — the deck came out just as planned and we use it all the time to go outside, whether it’s to have breakfast, lunch or coffee, surf the web, hang out with each other (or friends) to simply enjoy the weather. I’m enjoying the weather and the coffee as I write this. During Covid, it was and is especially great because we can sit outside and not have to worry about contagion. Ed definitely understood our needs and made them happen. Whenever there was a glitch with the Buildings Department, Landmarks, or contractors, he solved it, so it was a low stress project on our part. And Ed was always there when needed, so we did not have to wait to get his attention. I would definitely call him for future projects!
Judy and Peter
Ed was great to work with. On the fun stuff, Ed's design was creative and reflective of our needs and design sensibility. He presented us with excellent options as well as responding to our feedback. On the less fun but very important stuff, from the start Ed was clear about the realistic timeframe and cost of the renovation we were considering. Throughout the process he was diligent in reviewing the contractors' work to be sure all specs of our structural renovation were met.
Rebecca L.
I was very pleased with Ed Kopel's work. He took my ideas and concerns into account when he created a vision for my home. He also had a real feel for the aesthetic as well the design. I would use Ed again and recommend him without reservation.
Jon S.
Ed is the talented Yale and Columbia trained architect who runs Ed Kopel Architects, P.C., a full-service firm specializing in design-intensive projects that demand imaginative solutions. He does a fantastic job.
He does architecture work for high-end residential projects in Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights and all over Brooklyn and Manhattan. He also is an architect for Great Neck and typically does fine architecture & interiors and boutique hotel work. Highly recommended.
Jonathan W.
Many thanks to Ed for his care and expert service. When we were acquiring a new property and needed a complete survey and floorplan he provided everything needed so there would be no delay in the closing. Time was tight but there was no sacrifice of accuracy and communication.
