This week, readers visited Brick Underground to compare IKEA and Home Depot for a NYC kitchen renovation. Both offer budget-friendly options, and many designers use them in high-end renovations, along with some custom work and high-end touches. Our experts weighed in on the price, durability, style, service, and installation differences so you can decide which store is best for your kitchen renovation.

Also of interest: One New Yorker's story of trading the Upper West Side and its brownstones, tree-lined streets, and proximity to Central Park for a rental on the Upper East Side and its easy access to the Triboro Bridge and Grand Central Parkway. The move cut the commute to her Long Island job drastically. Her young family has made the neighborhood home, and made peace with being permanent renters.

Here, in full, are this week's top stories.

1) IKEA vs. Home Depot: Which should you choose for a NYC kitchen renovation?

2) From UWS to UES: Exchanging brownstones for high-rises, and embracing life as a family of renters

3) NYC Passive House guide: Where to find eco-friendly apartments and townhouses that are healthy and quiet too

4) From the UWS to Riverdale: Finding a patch of suburban life in the city

5) I lived above an 80 year old who had a barbershop in his apartment. His death felt like the end of old Astoria

And from this week's sponsors:

Our co-op can't get access to the building next door to finish our facade repair. How do we move forward? [sponsored]

A first-timer buyer on finding and renovating a Chelsea studio on a budget: Part [sponsored]