Since you inherited the house, I assume that you do not have a mortgage, which would mean that you can knock down the house and build another. I say this only because I understand that you are thinking of going for a total gut job. It will be cheaper per square foot that trying to renovate. BUT if you do that, you will have to meet current code about set backs, etc. Actually when you do a renovation, you will have to bring things up to code but only where you're doing the renovation. If one of your goals is to get the Jeep off the street, then something has to give on the house structure. I think you need at about 10 feet to park the car on the side of your house and I think you only have five. Have you heard about the Not So Big House? It is a great concept of how to maximize the functionality of space. These are a series of books that give you so much of an education of what makes a space work to really living in the space and enjoy it. I've read them and they are wonderful. I am sure the NYC library has copies of the books or you can buy them and you can check out the web: http://www.notsobighouse.com/ So far you have received such good advice. Yes, get an inspection to find out what the issues right now. Yes, use a good architect. Houzz has professionals who you can check out the style of their work and see if one in the tri-state area would be a good fit for you and your project. If you want to bounce things off us, I agree to break the questions down to smaller categories. Like the first floor would be good place to start. You can post a new dilemma and then add more pictures by commenting on it! Good luck!

Mmfunkyd, The estimate didn't cost any money, as the work was done by the contractor who was already building a two-car garage and gutting and remodeling my kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. I did get engineer's plans for the permit and they were reviewed by my municipality. I would NOT do this without an engineer, but I think that was about $1000. The engineer was a great guy - everyone really liked him, but he ended up having some issues with follow up. Things get very delayed because of his lack of responsiveness. As you can see - this is still a yucky old basement. It is just a little over two feet deeper. Now it works for my 6'4" 16 y.o., and his 6' + baby brother. Before even I couldn't stand up straight, and I am only 5'10"! The floor is poured now, and steel columns have replaced the wood supports. We did have some shifting in the house, which was worrisome, but nothing since the steel supports were installed, and I that was at that was at least 3 months ago. My advice to anyone interested in something similar, who is also having other work done, is this - look for a decent contractor for the other jobs and be upfront about what you want to achieve. Find someone flexible, and see If they are interested in doing this just b as an add-on. In the end, it was very labor intensive, but NOT rocket science. Any decent contractor would have been able to do it. I don't think my contractor works in NJ, but I really think any decent contractor can do this job. Photo is from before the floor was poured. I can't get a better photo now, because the RTA Barker kitchen cabinets, and everything that will eventually go on the garage is being stored there.

I would like to see the present kitchen if you are up for it:) Many, many years ago the cabinet doors in my "new to me" house started falling apart - the inner panel popped out on an upper cabinet and nearly broke my foot:) My husband and I went over to Menards and replaced the cabinets with Medallion brand cabinets. We did not have much money. The cabinets did have solid wood doors - don't know if they do that anymore, but we simply replaced the old cabinets with the new, new countertop (laminate) and cast iron sink. It was about $7000 including the labor - now that was 20 years ago, but the cabinets are holding up great, if not fashionable. A few years later we changed the floor. My appliances have always been the least expensive of a reasonably good name. My GE french door fridge was $1400 last year. If your appliances are working, they can be replaced as they die. My appliances are white. If you keep plumbing and electrical where they are it will save you a lot too. A bit of open shelving can replace an upper cabinet or two. A nice wide archway into the dining room might be better than taking down a wall. I also like the "unfitted" kitchen approach - furniture rather than walls of cabinets. I have a basic L shaped kitchen and it is not very big. As time went on I bought a nice Amish pie-safe, and a small Amish made island. Both greatly increased my storage and work space. They also both have more charm than a wall of cabinets.(my vintage kitchen is in my "my pics" idea book). Last year I did new counters, sink and backsplash for $5000. I did not remove my soffits. I hope sometime to widen the doorway to the dining room - not a big deal but we do run into each other, especially with the fridge there. I really like my simple little kitchen. I have found that sometimes being a little short on funds brings out the creativity. When that happens, you end up with a kitchen with charm that reflects you rather than the same kitchen everyone is doing. Last summer I put in a kitchenette in my basement for about $1000 - without appliances. (also in my idea book) I refinished some of my original base cabinets and made shelves for where I had no corner cabinet and shelves for the uppers. I used stock laminate counters and my old cast iron sink. It is easier to do something like that if you like a cottage style. You could even look for unfinished stock maple cabinets and paint them yourself - quite a chore though. You need more prep area and you say you have some dead space in the kitchen - show some pictures. Maybe we can help make a kitchen that functions better and looks sweet, even if not a glamorous magazine layout.

I can't get around not changing them. The windows are single-pane from 1969. Some of them look like they are about to fall out! A few of the frames are missing one of the windows too. The large picture windows have about an inch gap between the windows when closed, caused by bowing of the aluminum. There are no locks on the large picture windows, and I don't my kids falling out - it's a 20 ft drop.