I pay $1,550 in rent and spent nearly $14,000 renovating my NYC apartment. Before and after photos show why it was worth it.

• Joe Yatco is an architect in New York City who pays $1,550 per month for his Brooklyn apartment.
• Yatco spent nearly $14,000 renovating the apartment, including building a bar, bookshelf, and new sink.
• He said it was well worth it to build a space he loves for him and his friends.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joe Yatco, a New York City-based architect whose apartment renovation recently went viral. Insider has verified his rent and renovation expenses. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always been building things since I was a kid or just taking things apart and figuring out how they work.