Smart Apartment Renovation

I haven’t been contributing as much to Gadget Wisdom in recent weeks because of several new developments in my life. But, I decided it was time to write about one of them that is simultaneously exciting and overwhelming. I’m moving.

This was somewhat unexpected, as the space just became available. I’m relocating from my long-term, one-bedroom first-floor apartment to the third floor of the same building—a larger space with more potential and, unfortunately, a lot more problems.

A Time Capsule

The building was constructed in the 70s and has three apartments, one per floor. The third floor recently vacated after decades of occupancy and since the building is owned by relatives, I was offered the chance to take it over before they listed it publicly.

It’s a bigger apartment, which is great. But it’s also a total wreck with poorly maintained original fixtures. The kitchen and bathroom had deteriorating, non-functional drop ceilings. Industrial piping used as safety railings ran along the walls and even cut into door moldings. The kitchen cabinet doors were falling off, the flooring was peeling up, and the balcony wood was rotting. Every window in the unit needed replacing.

And that’s just scratching the surface.

Professional Renovation and Smart Tech Planning

Luckily, much of the renovation is being handled by professionals. While they work, I’m able to plan and integrate smart home upgrades and modern tech enhancements before I move in, and have them add in features in support of that before I implement my work.

The large amount of pre-planning is a huge shift from my current apartment, where I added upgrades piecemeal over time. Not only can I do things right the first time, but I can learn from my previous experience and try to share that experience with others.

Some ground rules apply: Since I’m related to the owners, I have more freedom than a typical tenant—but any upgrades must either be easily removable or acceptable to future occupants.

Extending Home Assistant to Multiple Apartments

I’ve already set up Home Assistant to unify the various devices and control all aspects of my home. It already controls every smart switch, light, and sensor in the rest of the building. So, from its perspective, I have just added a third floor to the building when it thought there were only two.

What would you do with a Blank Slate?

If you had the chance to outfit an empty space into your home with contractors already on-site how would you enhance it? What tech would you install? What infrastructure would you build into the walls, the wiring, the layout?

That’s the question I’m facing now. And over the coming weeks, I’ll be documenting what I ended up with and why: from smart lighting to whole-apartment networking, energy efficiency, security, and more. It isn’t just a smart apartment in the automation sense, it is about making ‘smart’ decisions in outfitting a space.

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Subscribe via email or follow us on social media to get updates as this project unfolds. Whether you’re rehabbing your own place or just dreaming of the ultimate smart home setup, I hope this series inspires your next tech upgrade.

When it comes to smart home upgrades, wiring is the unsung hero. Without a solid electrical foundation, your smart tech is only as reliable as the weak link in your power or network infrastructure.

Many older structures have poor or insufficient wiring for your modern needs. In my renovation, it was essential I modernized the electrical system and laying the groundwork for smart lighting, fans, Ethernet, and security—all while respecting building codes and future-proofing for the long haul. Bringing an apartment up to modern code starts with safety.

I will be covering each of these in more detail in future posts, and will provide recommendations and thoughts on specific items.

Why Wiring Matters in Old Buildings

The building I live in was constructed in the 1970s, and my new apartment—unlike others in the building—hadn’t been touched since then. That meant it required a ground up redo of the electrical wiring, beginning with GFCI.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are required in areas with water exposure, like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. But they weren’t mandatory when the building went up, and even if a few had been added later, chances are they’re outdated. Today’s Smart Lock GFCIs, required since 2003, provide added safety by locking if the mechanism fails.

Full Outlet Replacement and Smarter Circuit Planning

Every receptacle in the apartment had to be replaced. Over time, as outlets age, plugs will not hold within them. Outlet placement was uneven and sparse, so I had additional outlets added to ensure consistent spacing across rooms.

More importantly, the electrician found that multiple rooms shared a single breaker—an overload risk waiting to happen. He split the circuits, rewired the panel, and even repositioned the breaker box to make space for slightly larger kitchen cabinets.

Let There Be Light—And Ceiling Fans

Like many older apartments, none of the main rooms had ceiling lights—just switched outlets. That changed. In 2025, LED disc lights have become a preferred option over traditional recessed cans (high hats). Why? They’re easier to install, offer better light distribution, and sit flush with the ceiling. Perfect for smart lighting systems.

We also installed junction boxes in the bedrooms, dining room, and entryway to allow for ceiling fans. In an apartment with baseboard heating and room air conditioners, fans play a key role: improving airflow, enhancing comfort, and even supporting better air quality.

Safety First: Wired Smoke and CO Detectors

Since ceilings were being opened up anyway, I had the electrician wire smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Hardwired systems are more reliable than battery-powered ones, and ensure that you don’t have to worry about battery failure. In New York, where I live, as of 2019, new and replacement smoke detectors must be either hardwired or powered by a battery with a ten year life. Replacing batteries is no longer an option if you are complying.

Building a Wired Backbone: Ethernet and Network Planning

When the walls are open, there is an opportunity to add not just new outlets, but the electrician also knew how to run ethernet cable. I didn’t go overboard with Ethernet jacks—each room has one drop, which limits placement flexibility, but this setup ensures stable wired connectivity and reduces Wi-Fi dependency. I had him run:

Dual Cat 6 cable drops in each bedroom and living room
Runs to both entrances for PoE security cameras
A ceiling drop in the dining room for a PoE wireless access point
A centralized network hub in the old linen closet, with added power and conduit to the provider junction outside

Everything terminates in that closet, giving me a homegrown mini-server closet if needed. I briefly considered a full rack setup… but let’s not get carried away (yet), although if you have the opportunity, get wires placed where you want them and future proof your home.

Modular Design for Marketability

Remember: Everything in this renovation must be removable or acceptable to future tenants.

Ethernet jacks are unobtrusive if unused
Cameras and access points can be disconnected or left unpowered and the access covered with a plate.
Fans can be skipped in favor of pendant lights or left off entirely
Network gear can be removed.

What’s Next?

This phase took the electrician about a week, and he returned after painting was finished to install the final fixtures. But with wiring and foundational infrastructure out of the way, the work for me is just beginning.

Subscribe for updates as this smart apartment transformation continues.

Gadget Wisdom

Series: Smart Apartment Renovation

Smart Apartment Renovation: Upgrading a Wreck to a Connected Home