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Prime Renovations was founded in 2004 because of a chance encounter between owner Jeff Streich and a perfect stranger. Jeff was working in exterior contracting at the time, and found a cellphone. He returned the phone to its owner, a man who also happened to own 200 buildings in New York City. Because of Jeff’s contracting experience, the man asked Jeff if he wanted to do some interior work. Prime Renovations was born. They are licensed with the Dept of Consumer Affairs and have an A plus from Better Business Bureau, and Jeff is a Certified Lead Renovator from the EPA.

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Portrait of Jeff Streich by Photographer Donna Dotan

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1. How and when did you first realize you wanted to work in your current industry?

I was 14 years old and my father wanted to build a deck for our backyard. It was a lot of hard [work] but I found that I had a knack for design and an interest in how things were built.

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2. What is your biggest career highlight to date?

I have had so many highlights in my career but I think the biggest is that I have done work with clients who have now become lifelong friends, two who I pretty much speak with just about every day.

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Laight Street – Prime Renovations

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3. Any celebrity clients or memorable stories related to your business that you want to share?

I have a million stories, some great and some not so great. I have had the opportunity to work with Joy Behar on the View, (she was as funny and charming in real life) renovating her apartment, and we are currently working with celebrity Chef Marc Murphy which is very exciting.

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4. How would you describe your personal style?

I am all about clean lines. I like a modern look.

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5. What is a typical day in your life like?

Pretty hectic, I wake up at 5:30-6:00 and start my morning by going over the day’s schedule. I then take my son to school.  After drop off, I visit all my sites, and meet or talk to architects and designers for each project daily. I then stop by my office office to go over current projects with my employees, ending the day with meeting with prospective clients.  No day is ever the same when renovating someone’s home so I am sure to make sure I am always available.  If I am lucky, I go watch my son play basketball or baseball.

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Chelsea Apartment – Prime Renovations

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6. What are three never-miss events on your calendar?

Mets opening day (family tradition) Thanksgiving (one of our favorite holidays), my son’s birthday.

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7. What are your three favorite locations in the city you reside in?

The light house under the George Washington Bridge–there is a great bike path leading up to it and is a great ride, Lincoln Center, and Citi Field.

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8. What are your three favorite restaurants?

Bond Street, Elea, and Quality Eats.

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Upper Eastside Duplex – by Prime Renovations

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9. What about your three favorite bars?

The Polo Bar, the Aviary, the bar at Atlantic Grill.

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10. What has been your best New York moment? What about the worst?

Best: Going to a celebrity wedding that seemed to have every famous New Yorker there from Donald Trump to Samuel Jackson to Hillary Clinton, to name a few. Worst: 9-11.

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11. Name your go-to:

a. Outfit: I have two. One is my Tom Ford Blazer or John Varvatos jacket and Rhône tee shirt with jeans;

b. Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life;

c. Book: Think and Grow Rich; and

d. TV show: Billions.

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Main Street – Prime Renovations

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12. Name your favorite vacation spot, and the hotel you stay at while there. What makes these spots special?

My favorite vacation spot is the Four Seasons in Costa Rica. It is just so beautiful. The rooms are more like your own little cottage with monkeys outside your window. The service is excellent. The food is incredible. And plenty of activities for the family.  I also love Le Sirenuse in Positano and Hotel de Russie in Rome.

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13. What are your three most played songs? “Promises” – Calvin Harris and Sam Smith; “when the party’s over” – Billie Eilish; and “Rescue” – Lauren Daigle.

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14. What are three items you couldn’t live without?

iPhone, computer, and car.

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Sutton Place – Prime Renovations

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15. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Bill Gates. Besides being one of the most successful people in the world he, along with his wife Melinda, are the most generous philanthropists in the world.

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16. What is something people might not know about you?

I love to bake and cook and am pretty good at it, too.

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17. When did you feel like you had “made it” professionally?

I received a handwritten note from a client along with a very large check. The note said, “I have never written a check for anything close to six figures before and I couldn’t be happier to do so. You and your team have been extraordinary.” Still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.

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Port Washington – Prime Renovations

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18. Do you have any advice for those aspiring to work in your industry?

Take it slow. There is so much to learn in this business, it has so many moving parts. I learn something every day. Treat each project as if it is your own, if you are renovating a home, it’s your home, a restaurant, it’s your restaurant, etc. Take great pride in your work. Communication is a key to success whether it be with clients, architects, designers, or the different trades.

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19. What changes do you think your industry will undergo in the next 5-10 years?

Technology is ever changing when renovating. There will be more home automation that I think will not need any wires at all. I think we will see many more man-made products for tiles and countertops, better quality finishes…more functionality.

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Warren Street – Prime Renovations

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For more information, visit primerenovationsnyc.com.

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IMAGE CREDITS

• All images courtesy ofJeff Streich and Prime Renovations.
• Portrait of Jeff Streich by Photographer Donna Dotan.