Internet Amazed as Woman Renovates Childhood NYC Apartment: 'Dream Home'

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A social media post that recalls how a woman renovated her childhood apartment, beyond recognition, has impressed audiences online.

The viral video which had been shared to TikTok documented how New Yorker Hattie Kolp completely transformed the old New York brownstone that she had grown up in with her family shortly after her parents had moved out and left the property in her hands five years ago.

The end result, which saw the interior space be remodeled into a sleek and airy penthouse that could rival the luxury homes shown in magazines, has stunned TikTok-ers.

Kolp shared in the social media post that she was heavily involved in the design project and that she was cautious to respect and restore the property's period and character features.

"The social media video shows off the process of my renovating my childhood apartment in New York City, which I took over after my parents retired and left the city," Kolp told Newsweek.

"I've been working on restoring the property's historical original details for the last 5 years and continue to do so, I'm sharing the process on social media!"

Kolp went on to tell Newsweek that the rent-controlled property had been built in the 1890s, which forced her to be all the more careful when embarking on such a drastic renovation.

Kolp is pleased with the finished product, and has captioned her viral post "my dream home".

Renovation
Hattie Kolp has renovated the period property that her parents left her five years ago when they retired. She's been documenting the New York brownstone renovation on social media. HattieKolp

What Do The Comments Say?

Since it was shared on the social media platform on July 3 by @HattieKolp, the TikTok post has been viewed over 1.7 million times. More than 242,000 users have liked the post while over 1,300 have gushed over Kolp's enviable new living space in the comments section below it.

"I'm so curious to know how much this place has grown in value since you were a kid," one user wrote.

"This is so satisfying to see such a gorgeous apartment be restored instead of being gutted! Amazing job," another user added.

A different TikTok-er commented: "This is my ultimate inspiration".

"Your parents have to be freaking out of how incredibly gorgeous the house is now," shared another user.

The TikTok post can be seen here.

Life hacks, restorations, and impressive ingenuity often take off on social media.

Another couple went viral for creating their dream kitchen on a budget, a life hack to get rid of popcorn ceilings left the internet impressed, and one New Yorker transformed an unused closet into an office for only $700.

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About the writer

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global's LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women's health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy's 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded 'Best Topical News Show' and the runner up award for 'Best New Radio Show' on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing m.afshar@newsweek.com.

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.


Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and ... Read more