A renovation in Westchester County, NY reenergizes with black cabinet paint and a new mudroom

• Homeowners: A family, after closing on their 1930 Colonial-style home, posted their project on Sweeten
• Where: Westchester County, New York
• Primary renovation: In addition to gut remodeling the kitchen, the owners wanted to transform a breakfast area into a mud- and laundry room
• Sweeten Westchester general contractor
• Homeowner quote: “We’d heard so many horror stories of half-finished projects and contractors who dropped off the face of the earth, but ours was responsive and took our concerns seriously.”
• Our role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free. 

Written in partnership with homeowners Jennifer and Nick. “After” photos by Michael Hnatov Photography.

Surveying a new home purchase

Years of working in small apartment kitchens taught us that if you know what you’re doing, you can cook in any space. So we knew that our new kitchen’s 10’x12’ footprint was sufficient. 

The kitchen wasn’t decrepit, but it had been built for another time. It was closed off from the dining room by a narrow swinging door. Its cabinets were cramped. And the stove was crammed into a corner—you could not fit four pots on it, despite its having that many burners.

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The awkward layout also led to limited counter space. But we wanted to be able to roll out pie dough or chop vegetables without clearing things out of the way. It was the kind of situation we’d worked around in various apartments, but with 2,700 square feet, there was no reason to sacrifice in a house with plenty of space. 

We are Jennifer and Nick, and we have two children under the age of 6. Our jobs are Manhattan-based and we’d lived in New York City apartments for 15 years, but as our kids grew, we needed space. Reluctantly, we decided to leave the city in pursuit of square footage.

A project plan materializes

Our budget allowed us to make a one-time large expenditure on renovations, so we looked for a fixer-upper that would have an affordable mortgage payment. We found it, eventually, in Westchester, and of course, it came with that closed-off, dated kitchen.

Even if the 12’x10’ size was workable, there was a flow problem. The home’s back door was in the center of the kitchen’s rear wall, so kids with dirty feet would tromp right through the main workspace. We envisioned not only reworking the kitchen, but moving the exterior egress to an adjacent eating area. It would make a great mud- and laundry room.

The contractor search begins

We posted our project on Sweeten, including the current floorplan and our proposed one. The plan was to gut-renovate the kitchen and replace cabinets and appliances. The gas range would be swapped out for an induction model and relocate across the room.

We explained in our request for bids that we wanted to wall-off the back door and install windows. Our scope would include new plumbing and electrical lines and a new wood floor in the kitchen. With Sweeten, we had the ability to access multiple general contractors in Westchester County, NY with one query, and that was invaluable.

Identifying a look we loved

When our GC was chosen, we got serious about an aesthetic. We loved the English country kitchen trend. We were aiming for a warm, sophisticated space with a focus on subtly feminine details that would look great in 20 years. The walls would be a soft neutral to keep the kitchen grounded in that old-fashioned country feeling.

"It was the kind of situation we’d worked around in various apartments, but with 2,700 square feet, there was no reason to sacrifice in a house with plenty of space."

Black cabinet paint inspired by art

Jen was inspired by a photo of the supermodel Carmen Dell’Orefice—her bone structure while dressed in black and a pair of statement earrings. We researched black pre-fab cabinets but also realized that dark uppers would take away from the airy feeling we wanted. Open shelving on top was a better decision, but that meant we needed to wring every last inch out of the lower storage. Custom cabinets would maximize all usable space where pre-fabs would not. Our Sweeten contractor’s cabinetmaker mocked up several plans to consider. At the end, we applied a black cabinet paint called Black Beauty.

The maple butcher block countertops were customized with an ogee edge for softness. We used an elongated hexagon tile for the backsplash that could be found at any tile shop but it was the dark grout that made it a feature that we loved. 

Removing the back door freed up the wall, and we put a long stretch of counter space there. For the lower storage, we chose drawers over cabinets—we wanted to see our things, not have to stoop or reach for them. We inventoried and measured every kitchen item we had so everything had a place.

A tip in expanding a space

We didn’t want to fully demolish the wall between the kitchen and dining room because that would have gone against the style of the house. However, we did remove the tiny doorway and widened the pass-through so the two rooms can share light. People keep asking if we enlarged the room. The simple answer: it’s just the broadened sightline through the new doorway that makes it look huge.

With every change, we considered function. In the new utility room, we originally intended to have our laundry space out in the open, but our GC suggested hiding it behind doors. We designed the laundry closet with an area for storage and folding. The area looks so sleek now.

Living with a renovation

Living with kids and without a kitchen during the renovation was a feat. We sprang for an induction cook plate and a convection toaster oven and were able to maintain a fairly normal dinner routine. But, hauling dishes up and down stairs and washing them in the bathroom was miserable. Our kids got used to seeing workers around. Post-job, our two-year-old came downstairs one morning, threw her hands in the air and said, “Where’s the man?”

An English country kitchen comes alive

The most magical moment of the renovation was after the black cabinet paint was applied and the walls were painted beige with golden undertones. That was when the electrician put in the sconce light fixtures. Until that moment, none of us were sure how it would turn out. With the crew and the GC standing there with us, all at once, it became a room. The group got quiet. Then Jen said, “It looks mad good.” Everyone agreed!

Sincere contractor gratitude

Our Sweeten contractor told us from the beginning that he was available 24/7, and he meant it. We’d heard so many horror stories of half-finished projects and contractors who dropped off the face of the earth, but ours was responsive and took our concerns seriously. We received well-timed emails and phone check-ins from Sweeten, and felt supported in our project.

Intensive planning helped us avoid major snafus. We had collected inspiration photos and sample materials, and priced out and selected appliances. Many of our early decisions changed in small ways from the beginning to the end of the project. But when we had to pivot, we were never starting from scratch. 

In the end, the cost of our renovation surprised us. It was not a budget project. But we invested in architectural changes that improved the functionality of the home, and we are so proud of our result.

Thank you, Jennifer and Nick, for sharing your home with us!

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When you’re ready to get started on your kitchen or home remodel, work with Sweeten to renovate with the best contractors in Westchester County.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Lady Finger paint on walls; White Dove paint on trim; Black Beauty paint on cabinets: Benjamin Moore 
• Custom kitchen cabinets; custom white maple countertops; and white oak flooring: Sourced through contractor.
• Backsplash tile: Floor & Decor 
• Sink and faucet: Kraus 
• Refrigerator: Appliances Connection 
• Dishwasher: Appliances Connection 
• Stove: Appliances Connection 
• Sconce lighting, cabinet hardware: Rejuvenation 

The post A Country-style Kitchen With Rustic Modern Looks appeared first on Sweeten.

The post How to Add a Washer and Dryer to Your Home appeared first on Sweeten.

(Above) A washing machine tucked under the counter in Davison and Bernice’s kitchen.

Doing laundry is unavoidable, but happily, washing machines are doing more of the heavy lifting for you. Digital controls, cycles tailored for everything from delicates to lycra to bath towels, vibration reduction, and childproof locks make wash day safer and less of a chore. While innovation breakthroughs have not gone so far as to make washing machines touchless, like some other appliances, there are more than a few new features that further reduce the time spent while increasing efficiency. Here’s a rundown:

The pros of front-loading

The washing machine with the door that opens from the front, as opposed to the top, is not brand new; Europeans have enjoyed this feature for decades. However, it is becoming more widely available from manufacturers. The advantages: Front-loading machines require less water, can take more clothes, and tend to clean more gently and thoroughly than their top-loading counterparts. Top-loaders wash with the help of an agitator. Versions without the agitator are high-efficiency (HE) washers. Like front-loaders, they use less water, have larger capacities, require more time to wash, and spin faster, too, wringing out more water to save drying time later. They also cost more than the agitator version.

Automatic dispensers

This receptacle releases detergent, bleach, and fabric softener, each at the appropriate time, so you don’t have to hang around waiting for just the right moment. Every minute saved is a minute you get back to do something else.

Self-cleaning and low maintenance

Water will collect in the machine, particularly front-loading models, without evaporating if you wash frequently, creating a risk of mildew and bacteria. New technology now keeps washers fresh, without introducing chemicals, through a combination of soaking, pulsating, and high-speed spinning. And you thought self-clean was just for ovens!

(Above) Tim and Lindsay’s two-in-one washer and dryer.

Load capacity

Capacities for front- and top-loading machines can range from about 3.8 cubic feet up to 6 cubic feet. Your habits for doing laundry—weekly loads of towels or sports clothes versus say, small loads separated by color—will guide your decision. Larger capacity machines help cut down the number of washes you run. Expect to pay more for these models.

Steam wash

Released from inside the washer, steam helps remove stains without pretreatment.

Secondary access door

If you have a top loader and you stumble upon that missing dirty sock, no problem. But what if your machine is a front loader? Now you’re in luck: Last year saw the introduction of a front-loading model with a secondary access door that lets you add small items mid-wash from Samsung.

(Above) A front-loading washer and dryer in Cristiana’s laundry room located in the basement of her home.

Integrated sink

If you’ve ever soaked clothing with a pesky stain, you’ve probably had the experience of rushing with the drippy item from the sink to the washing machine, then going back to wipe up soapy water on the floor. No more. Samsung makes a top-loading machine with a hinged sink on top of the wash drum. A water jet aids the soaking or scrubbing; when the item is ready for the wash, lift the sink to drop the clothing through a slot at the back and into the machine, then begin the cycle.

Two-in-one machine

If you like to wash small loads of a particular color, or can’t wait to launder those sweaty gym clothes; the two-in-one machine is for you. In addition to a central or primary drum, there’s another smaller drum at the base or top of the machine. You can run both washers simultaneously or independently, as needed. LG also offers a compact washer that can be retro-fitted to an existing machine.

Black stainless steel finish

Less industrial looking than its silvery-colored older sibling, black stainless steel makes a stylish statement in the laundry room, joining the ranks of ever-classic white, and some colors, too, which you may find on the market for a few seasons.

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Thinking about getting a washing machine for your home but not sure where to put it? These ideas for adding a washer and dryer will help you find the best spot.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post The Washing Machine is More Than Spin appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Carroll Gardens homeowner Kim Solop 

After ten years of living in our Carroll Gardens condo, we really needed a change. We contemplated a move to the suburbs or upgrading to a bigger place in a less popular Brooklyn neighborhood. After almost a year of looking and being priced out in our current neighborhood, we decided to renovate our current place, a two-bed, two-bath, 1,200 square-foot condo that we bought in 2006. We loved our current neighborhood with its proximity to our workplaces, lots of cute restaurants, shops, and our two sons’ schools. The problems were in the apartment itself: I was unhappy with the dark kitchen—I always had been. I love taking baths but hated the jet tub that was installed over a decade ago. Lastly, our laundry closet had a lot of wasted space and I wanted to add a walk-in pantry!

As a big fan of home decor blogs, I had been stalking the Sweeten site for a while, and really loved seeing the transformations that the contractors could do with space. I was excited for the chance to post our renovation. I met with a couple of them, and decided on this Sweeten contractor. I really clicked with the project managers and could see that we would have a good partnership.

My main objective for the kitchen was to brighten it up and eliminate the space between the cabinets and the ceiling. I hated how this wasted space looked and the amount of dust it collected. After a few weeks of sourcing materials, we were ready to go! I knew from the get-go that I wanted a white kitchen, as well as shaker-style cabinets with quartz countertops that were marble look-alikes. Other than that, I was pretty open to ideas. Our contractor came over with a wealth of ideas for how we could open the kitchen up to maximize light. (Unfortunately, there are no windows in the kitchen, so there was only so much we could do.) I debated another set of cabinets on top of the current ones, but eventually decided against it. I switched gears a bit on the white color palette, choosing instead a dual-tone kitchen with white uppers and gray lower cabinets. After living with long pulls, I decided to go with smaller handles on all the cabinetry. Quartz countertops were also a must, for the durability factor! With two kids and a husband who are not always the neatest, I knew that we needed a tough work surface. I was adamant about getting a wine fridge. As members of a few wine clubs, we struggled to find space to keep our wine at the right temperatures.

Our microwave above the range was replaced with a microwave drawer, and a hood was installed above the stovetop instead. With the new wine fridge taking up precious cabinet space, I did lose a place for pots and pans. Our contractor was able to give me deep drawers in the pantry to make up for this lost storage. My other kitchen must-haves were a deep, white porcelain sink, and an under-counter pull-out garbage can.

Across the kitchen was a room that held just the washer and dryer with inaccessible space that was wasted. When we extended the wall, there was room for a customized pantry with countertops, shelving, and cabinetry that matched the kitchen. After not having a pantry for so long, it’s amazing to have one, and the additional space has really been a lifesaver. I had envisioned barn doors, but there was not enough wall space for it. The double doors we ended up hanging looked so plain and boring. I had some wallpaper left over from the hallway–so I went for it and covered the doors too. I think it turned out nicely.

For the bathroom, I wanted a totally new look that was modern and clean. We went with dark floors, a deep soaking tub, and a floating vanity. Our contractor showed me a picture of another bathroom he did, and I loved it so much, we copied it almost exactly. It came out perfectly and I am fighting my older son almost daily for baths! The tub is divine.

We actually lived in the space during the whole renovation, which lasted about seven weeks. It was definitely challenging and required a lot of patience. The contractor and his crew were great about cleaning up, however, and we made the best of it with lots of takeout dinners.

After reading the Sweeten blog for so many years, it was exciting to embark on my own renovation. I realized that renovating is messy and dirty, and almost always takes longer than you had originally anticipated. You learn to roll with the punches, and realize that things happen. We had a few hiccups along the way, such as wanting the barn door on the pantry that wasn’t going to work, so I learned to compromise.

I enjoyed working with our Sweeten contractor,  who made himself available at all hours. He was in constant communication and has remained a friend to this day. We love our new kitchen and other improvements, and are planning on staying to enjoy them for many years to come!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Grey and white shaker cabinets: Waypoint. Knobs and pulls hardware: Appliances Connection  and Berenson Pulls. Quartz countertops: Silestone. White subway tile backsplash: Wayfair. White porcelain deep farm sink: Appliances Connection. Faucet: Grohe. Refrigerator: GE Monogram. Microwave: Appliances Connection. Wine fridge: Appliances Connection. Range: Appliances Connection (original). Range hood: Appliances Connection.

BATHROOM RESOURCES. Black hex floor tile: Wayfair. White subway wall tile: Wayfair. Herringbone marble mosaic wall tile: Builder Depot. Sink fixture: Grohe. Rain shower fixture: Hansgrohe. Sink/vanity: Fresca. Toilet: Appliances Connection. White Underscore tub: Appliances Connection. Medicine cabinet: Fresca. Lighting: Rejuvenation.

LAUNDRY RESOURCES. Washer/dryer: Appliances Connection. Cabinets: Waypoint. Petal Pusher wallpaper: Hygge & West.

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If you want to add pantry space to your kitchen but don’t have a closet that can be repurposed, go for a custom built-in that frames your fridge like this one in Fabio and Melina’s kitchen.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post Renovating to Stay in a Well-loved Neighborhood appeared first on Sweeten.

Laura and Peter bought their one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 2013. During the apartment hunt, this arts professional and consultant pair decided they really wanted a home with an in-unit washer and dryer. Some buildings allowed washers and dryers and some did not. Still others had flip-flopped on the­­­ matter altogether: buildings that once allowed in-unit washers and dryers later changed their minds—grandfathering in appliances installed before the change while banning newcomers from adding them. When Laura and Peter sealed the deal on their new place in a building that allowed laundry appliances, the hustle was on to install a set pronto, before any potential shift down the road.

“Our expert team was so helpful — Ed and Valeria did a lot of really beautiful work and were easy to get in touch with while we weren’t living there. Ed was excellent about working with our building and super and they both helped with photos and phone calls whenever we had delivery issues, which was often.”

— Laura, Upper East Side homeowner

Laura and Peter eyed a hallway closet as the future home of their laundry nook, but the plan took on a choose your own adventure angle as the couple needed help to determine whether the work might necessitate opening the walls in the kitchen or bath, both adjacent to the laundry spot. Laura was also plagued by the daily reminder that the bathroom had no nearby heat source. With floor-to-ceiling travertine tiles, it felt like a Tuscan-inspired igloo on chilly mornings. Plus, the extra-wide pedestal sink put the shower tap just out of her reach – an unfortunate design flaw in an otherwise compact room. Laura posted the project on Sweeten and we introduced Sweeten Experts Valeria and Eduard, owners of a Brooklyn design-build firm, to make this all work. Valeria and Eduard cut through the walls to make the call that the new laundry closet would share water access with the bathroom, meaning game on for a full bathroom renovation!

Laura drew inspiration from the iconic black and white tile in so many bathrooms she toured while apartment-hunting. In went white marble floor tiles accented with miniature black diamond tiles, all from Home Depot. This ageless flooring masks a big-time modern improvement: radiant floor heating lies just underneath and is connected to a timer that gets the heat going every morning. Laura and Peter continued a luxe look up the walls with 12” marble square tiles, a subtle rounded tile border, and custom marble shower shelves, all with materials found at Home Depot.

The bathroom gained a sleek pocket door (with beautifully crafted custom molding created by Eduard) and Laura found a console sink that combined the look of an old-fashioned marble sink with more modern chrome lines. The couple found multiple ways to echo these clean lines with a simple squared  Kohler tub and sliding glass doors, European-inspired American Standard shower fixtures, a dual-flush toilet from Appliances Connection, and a deco lighting fixture sourced from Lighting District. Valeria and Eduard also made room for a Panasonic ceiling fan and side-by-side Robern medicine cabinets, both mirrored inside and out.

All together, the new space is brighter and warmer than ever before. And the washer and dryer that started it all? The contractors transformed the interior of the hallway closet with blue-gray paint and stacked a white Bosch washer and dryer next to revamped hallway linen storage.

Thank you, Laura and Peter (and stately dog, Wellington!), for this tour of your beautiful new closet and bathroom!

Bathroom Selects >> floor tile: white marble, black diamond accent Home Depot / wall tile: 12” white marble square Home Depot / toilet and tub: Appliances Connection / shower fixtures: American Standard / medicine cabinet: Robern / ceiling fan: Panasonic

Closet Selects >> washer and dryer: Appliances Connection

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post Before & After: Laura and Peter’s Uptown Bathroom Renovation – Sweetened! appeared first on Sweeten.

Editor’s Note: This post, originally published March 2015, is one of our favorites, demonstrating different ways to incorporate the coveted washing machine into a floorpan—even a small one. City living means prioritizing your square footage similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; wish lists often include a dishwasher, a patch of landscape, and of course, the washer/dryer unit. If you do have space to spare, consider options from scaled-down stackable units, full-size side-by-sides, or a single machine. Before you make your product choice, read on for a few approvals and permits you’ll need to secure first, as well as insight from Sweeten homeowners who went through the process.

Felix created a laundry nook in her foyer

Building management approvals and permits

Space aside, the biggest roadblocks to in-unit laundry are typically the co-op and condo board regulations that ban washers and dryers in many apartment buildings. In some, the electrical grid is not up to meeting the demand that dryers (specifically) place on the system, and in other cases, the existing pipe stacks are not large enough to handle the increase in water and suds flow. Still in many other cases, fears that a washing machine will overflow and dryers will lead to flames have traditionally been enough to block tenant plans for laundry upgrades.

If your building’s management is onboard with your request to install laundry appliances, you may still need to meet certain safety requirements. Many buildings will require that you install a fixture that monitors water flow and shuts off water if any overflow is detected, and some buildings have electrical grid limitations that only allow low-voltage dryers. So, if you’re considering adding laundry appliances to your home, start first with your building’s management and confirm that your planned purchase is allowed.

In addition, NYC requires permits for work that involves “alteration, re-arrangement, relocation, or permanent removal” of any piping, so if your laundry plan requires anything other than a direct swap of an appliance, you need to work with your contractor to arrange for the right plumbing expertise and paperwork. Check your local Department of Buildings for specific local requirements.

Here are three roads to clean-clothes heaven, plus some budget notes.

(Top) Davison and Bernice, (middle) Janna and Jeremy, and (bottom) Lindsay and Tim opted to install a washing machine only or a two-in-one unit

1. Create a laundry cabinet in your kitchen

Ubiquitous in Europe, a combo washer-dryer under your kitchen counter is a super space-efficient way to make room for laundry. A few pros and cons here: the biggest complaint about space and energy-efficient washer-dryers is that they can only manage small loads. Duvets, etc, are a no-go here, making this a tough choice for families or households with multiple residents. The next most common complaint is that these combination machines do a half-hearted job of drying fabric. True, the high-heat steam does leave clothing a little damp when it comes out, but this drying method also tends to be kinder to clothing.

From a budget perspective, if you are already doing a full kitchen renovation, creating a cabinet for laundry appliances is a relatively seamless addition to your project’s total scope. Adding a washing machine and dryer to your kitchen requires access to the water supply, waste outlet, and electricity. Talk to your contractor about whether to build cabinetry around the unit, or enclose it with a custom door, and where to position the appliances for best access. You can expect the cost to account for the price of adding an additional cabinet and the cost for installation will likely be comparable to your contractor’s quote for hooking up your other kitchen appliances.

Blaise and Kristin built out a wall and added doors in their laundry renovation

2. Build walls and a door 

If space is not the primary limitation in your home, you may want to repurpose square footage in a room or hallway to create a separate laundry room. Your contractor’s estimate will probably account for the cost of putting up or extending walls, installing doors, adding or relocating lighting, and cosmetic paint and trim steps. More work may be required here to run hot and cold water from the building’s stack and to connect waste lines, if these valves are not located within a few inches of your new appliances. Note that most urban buildings have strict requirements about keeping “wet” areas aligned throughout each floor, so you may not have free reign to run water lines down halls if your home is above other homes.

Brad’s laundry room renovation

3. Move walls to carve out a laundry room

Prospect Heights homeowner Brad walked us through the full process of creating a laundry room for his family’s three-bedroom, three-bath condo. After Brad posted his project on Sweeten, we introduced him to this Sweeten contractor to remove an un-used shower from one of the apartment’s baths and rework wall placement, creating a full-sized laundry room. Brad set an overall budget of about $20,000 for labor, materials and appliances—a helpful guide for other homeowners preparing for a laundry room renovation—and was able to keep the project on time and within budget.

Materials and placement

Brad and his wife wanted front-loading appliances that were both generously-sized and durable. Kenmore Elite appliances with 5.2 cubic foot capacity fit the bill. In discussing ways to deal with water flow, the contractor steered him away from installing a floor pan that would catch overflow water and instead selected a preventative automatic sensor that scans for the presence of water on the floor and immediately shuts off the water if it detects any. Brad also hired an electrician to assess the building’s electrical capacity and clear the appliances they planned to purchase.

Initially planning to stack the washing machine and dryer, he was encouraged to install them side-by-side because of two factors behind the walls: the location of the water pipes in the wall as well as the wall’s support structure grid of metal beams made it easier to hook up appliances if they were positioned side-by-side. Once demolition of the original wall occurred, it became clear that stacked appliances would be more difficult, so Brad embraced the plan to place both units on the floor and go with Elfa shelving from the Container Store. Brad also contemplated building in enclosed cabinetry, but input from his contractor suggested he consider the simpler open shelving approach. To finish off the room, a ceramic floor tile from Home Depot was installed which coordinated with other bath finishes in the condo. A folding table and ironing board are possible features to add to the space.

Demolition and build

The project took a total of 2-3 weeks. Brad reported that the demolition of the original drywall was fairly simple: the wall was not load-bearing and didn’t contain any critical support beams. The contractor’s team was careful to protect the family’s hallways and living areas and contain the dust that resulted from the demolition. Brad suggested the pocket door replace the original hinged door to minimize the door’s footprint and keep access to the room as open as possible. Pocket doors can be prohibitively expensive if you are tunneling into a brick or concrete wall, but in this case, the wall structure easily allowed for the alteration.

We are so grateful to—and very inspired by—each of these families for sharing how to make room for laundry in NYC homes. For more ideas, these fellow apartment dwellers also incorporated units into their floorplan. And the washing machine comes with more options than you may realize, which you can read here.

Sweeten, a free renovation service, handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post 3 Ways to Create a Laundry Room in Your Home appeared first on Sweeten.