Tiffany and Chad's two-tone blue and white kitchen cabinets are home—thanks to their contractor

• Homeowners: Tiffany and Chad, both in pharmaceutical advertising, posted their kitchen remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Park Slope, in Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: A new layout for a kitchen stretches along a single wall in an 895-square-foot condo
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner quote: “We were able to bid [our project] out and compare estimates across multiple options. [Sweeten] made a tedious process seamless and easy.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—at no cost to the homeowner.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Tiffany. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.

From a rental to home, sweet, home

Chad and I love Brooklyn, particularly Park Slope. When our relationship became serious and each of us knew we’d be together for the long haul, we purchased our one-bedroom condo. Interest rates were super low due to the pandemic, so it was a good time to buy. (We just got married in this apartment earlier this year!) We share our home with our two pups, Freddie and Georgie Weasley. 

Prior to moving in, the space had been rented to many tenants since 2006. As a result, the kitchen and bathroom felt grimy. I am a super clean freak and just wanted to design something we loved for our first home together.

The original kitchen was tucked in the corner. We would open it up to the living space but also elongate it across one wall. Chad and I like different styles so we chose to mix them—traditional/country with a Brooklyn/industrial accent. It has a ton of personality.

Two-tone blue and white kitchen cabinets glow in Brooklyn

In an effort to save money, we decided to be the project managers for our own renovation. We found our designer, cabinet supplier, and general contractor each separately—and we were the go-betweens for each one. 

"Our contractor helped us source new cabinets and the results were amazing."

Our renovation would be a simple rip-and-replace. Only a small portion of the wall was removed. We broke up the monotone with dual-color cabinets to give the space some character. They really pop, especially against the herringbone backsplash. The floating shelves are reclaimed for that country and industrial touch. The wood pieces are unfinished so it has that raw look we were looking for.  

A hurdle with a happy solution

Hands down, our biggest challenge involved the purchase of our kitchen cabinets. We spent $10,000 on cabinets based on the beautiful showroom pieces we saw in person. After four months, the delivery arrived with the cabinets in terrible shape that were unrepairable. Paint and pieces of wood were breaking off. The materials felt much lighter than what we saw in the showroom.

Our Sweeten contractor advised us not to move forward with installing them. He predicted the cabinets would need to be replaced between six months to a year. His team helped us source new cabinets and the results were amazing.

Our renovation team—supportive all the way

As first-time renovators, we didn’t know what the first steps were or what was required for a kitchen renovation. Our contractor and his wife were the absolute best. They proved to be professional and trustworthy. Furthermore, they were super committed to doing the best work and making their clients happy. They left the space very clean; the post-construction cleanup wasn’t as intense as I had expected it to be. 

We found our contractor through Sweeten. We were able to bid this out and compare estimates across multiple options. They made a tedious process seamless and easy. Another integral part of the team was our designer, Keith Spears, who guided us step by step. He helped to create drawings, choose materials, and identify where to purchase the product.

We love absolutely everything about our new kitchen. It lights up the entire apartment. The quartz countertop and black and gold accents are my favorites but the farmhouse sink is a showstopper. We also feel lucky to have ample countertop space; a luxury living in NYC. The decision to revamp our space was the right one. Our first apartment feels so much more like home.

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen cabinets: Sourced through contractor. Kitchen designer: Keith Spears. Fonce Collection cabinet hardware in matte black and satin brass: Schaub. Ceramic white subway backsplash tile: Floor & Décor. Lordear white farmhouse sink, 30″x20″x10″: Wayfair. Delta Trinsic faucet in matte black: Amazon. Undercabinet lighting: Flexfire LEDs.

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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.

The post My Sweeten Story: A Blue and White Kitchen with a Modern Farmhouse Look appeared first on Sweeten.

A light-filled kitchen and laundry room revive a historic Tudor-style home

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten

• Homeowners: Hannah, a special education teacher, and Henry, a finance professional, posted their project on Sweeten 
• Where: Fieldston neighborhood in the Bronx, New York
• Primary renovation: More storage and better layout for the kitchen and laundry room in their 1,313-square-foot house
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner quote: “There are a million contractors to choose from in the New York area, so we felt very overwhelmed.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering valuable advice, support, and secure payments—for free.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Hannah

More square footage in a house

In September of 2020, we bought our home at the height of the Covid pandemic. While it wasn’t the best time to invest in a home for most people, it was the ideal time for us. We were expecting our daughter, Franny, and needed more space than our one-bedroom Manhattan apartment could provide. It took us nine months to find the right house for us—a 1930s Tudor-style home—but once we saw it, we would update the kitchen and laundry into the present while keeping the original charm.

We loved the sunny windows in our home’s kitchen, but the layout wasn’t practical. The refrigerator blocked a corner closet, wasting storage space we desperately needed. We needed to maximize storage and efficiency with additions like upper cabinets. We wanted to keep the large windows and would design around them for a light, airy space. 

The laundry room was also an issue. It needed some stylistic changes. The old vinyl flooring looked a bit like a giraffe hide! We posted our project and hired our Sweeten contractor.

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A green kitchen finds its charm on a budget

Since the home’s overall style is traditional, some original features would stay, like a gorgeous, built-in hutch.

With buying a new house and a baby on the way, we were very cost-conscious but still wanted to achieve this look. To save money, we kept some existing elements, like the floors and the light fixture.

We were very excited about the green cabinets! The color turned out just as we had imagined it. We kept the upper cabinets white to avoid closing the space in visually. We chose gold pulls and knobs that look beautiful against the soft green. White added a touch of shine, including the granite countertops. The refrigerator was relocated to reclaim the storage, adding shelving and space for appliances like the microwave.

Our contractor worked with us to maximize the storage every step of the way. Thoughtful touches like a pull-out spice rack and a small shelf above the backsplash gave us attractive storage options and added character to the space.

Modern flair in the laundry room

We went modern in the laundry room with oversized, hexagonal floor tile and light wood cabinets with matte black pulls. A floating vanity was wall-mounted to visually enlarge the floor space. The laundry room functioned better by relocating the toilet and sink and switching to a stacked washer/dryer combination. Our contractor suggested a larger, shallow sink ideal for baby baths, which we love.

"[W]e were very cost-conscious but still wanted to achieve this look. To save money, we kept some existing elements, like the floors and the light fixture."

Renovating through the pandemic

Our Sweeten contractor helped us think through the design and get the most use out of the space. They were very responsive to our needs throughout. I was pregnant during the renovation, and we requested that they leave our sink and stove in until the last moment so that we could continue to cook and maintain some of our routines. 

Attempting a renovation during the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging. We faced delivery delays, and the work took a little longer because the crew adhered to strict safety protocols which we were grateful for. They were professional and courteous throughout the process of renovating during an incredibly stressful time.

When a house becomes a home

This was our first time renovating a house. We had an idea of what we wanted, but we didn’t know where to start or how much a project like ours would cost. There are a million contractors to choose from in the New York area, so we felt very overwhelmed. Sweeten narrowed it down for us and made it so much easier to get the project started. We trusted the contractors that Sweeten recommended and that if anything were to go wrong, we could count on Sweeten to help sort it out.

The renovation completely changed the feel and function of our house. It is much more than our house; it feels like ‘home’ now. The kitchen turned out exactly how we pictured it.

I love that our new kitchen compliments our backyard. The huge windows allow us to enjoy our garden all the time and make it such a peaceful, happy space. 

Thank you, Hannah and Henry, for sharing your light-filled kitchen!

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Cabinets with custom fronts: Ikea. Peale Green cabinet paint: Benjamin Moore. Pantry cabinets: Ikea. Satin brass cabinet hardware: Sumner Street Hardware. Granite countertops: Altium Cabinets. Cabinets: Ikea. Natural stain white oak Baltic plywood cabinet doors: Custom by contractor. GE refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Bosch dishwasher: Appliances Connection. LG stove: Appliances Connection. Winflo 30-inch hood range: Wislyn. White Dove wall paint: Sherwin Williams.

LAUNDRY RESOURCES: Langston floor tile: Ivy Hill Tile. Bosch washer and dryer: Appliances Connection. Modern matte black hardware: Goldenwarm. White vessel sink: Dyconn.

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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, work with Sweeten to renovate with the best contractors.

The post A 1930s Green Kitchen Brightens Up in the Bronx appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Create a cohesive and minimalist kitchen

Before: After moving from an apartment in Kensington, Brooklyn, to a brownstone in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, Christina and Aaron were ready to renovate their “new” kitchen. Located in a 2,600-square-foot brownstone originally built in 1901, the cook space was definitely showing its age. The multi-color cabinets and floors were falling apart and the appliances were also outdated. Aaron, a director of child programming, and Christina, a registered nurse, wanted a clean and contemporary kitchen better suited for their family of three (including their son Maverick). The couple posted their project to Sweeten and were matched with a general contractor.

After: Before getting started on the demolition and build, they worked with a close friend and interior architect, Gabrielle Gilbert, who was involved in the early planning and design stages of the process and brought their vision to paper. “When it came time to explain our vision to the contractor, we were able to show those plans, which made everything extremely clear,” Aaron said.

The couple chose ceiling-high custom cabinets, with the bottom units painted in a rich navy and the uppers in white. Aside from the refrigerator and cabinets above, they left one wall open to include a small table and two chairs next to a big window. Just outside the kitchen and right off their separate dining room, they converted part of the hallway into an extra pantry area. The floating shelves match the ones used in the far end of the kitchen built from reclaimed wood from Big Reuse.

Throughout the project, their Sweeten contractor ensured they had frequent meetings and progress updates. From the beginning, he provided a detailed plan outlining the timeline, a list of needed materials, and recommended businesses and suppliers. Sweeten Client Services also checked in on the project status and contractor performance to ensure the couple was happy with the progress.

“The biggest challenges we faced with this project were the unexpected discoveries that would often add on to the workload and adjust the timeline of the project, such as the discovery that the floor needed to be re-leveled before tiling,” Aaron said. The electrical also needed to be updated to power the new appliances and the ceiling height had to be adjusted due to pre-existing damage. If you’re renovating an older home, Aaron strongly advises leaving plenty of room wiggle room in your budget because during demolition, issues that weren’t noticeable before can come to the surface.

Through it all, the trio couldn’t be happier with their kitchen. “The new space feels amazing, the whole vibe of the house has changed and we love to spend time in the kitchen together as a family,” Aaron said.

Bonus: Cooking has become so much easier and enjoyable thanks to their new counter space and the bigger stove.

Style finds: Cabinets: Custom. Bottom cabinet paint in Old Navy; upper cabinet paint in Misty Gray; walls in Simply White: Benjamin Moore. Cabinet hardware in Champagne: Amerock. Quartz countertops in White Attica: Caesarstone. Farmhouse sink: LaToscana. Faucet in black with matte finish: Appliances Connection. Refrigerator and dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Stove and microwave: Appliances Connection. Circular pendant light: Vonn. Floating shelves made from reclaimed wood: Big Reuse. Patika 2 ivory natural stone floor tile and white subway tile: Galactic Tile.

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Bellamy and Zak renovated their brownstone in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

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

The post A Bright Brownstone Kitchen appeared first on Sweeten.

After living in the gritty and creative city of Berlin for several years, Miguel, a native New Yorker who works in the music industry, decided to move home. He searched for about nine months for an apartment with character, but in the end, settled for a one-bedroom in a 1950s co-op that he described as bland, cookie cutter, and a white box. At least the location was good—by the water in Cobble Hill. He posted his profile and turned to a Sweeten contractor banking on transforming the 700-square-foot apartment—this is his third renovation—into a unique home with custom closets. What he didn’t bet on was uncovering beautiful details the apartment had all along.

Sweeten: Did you renovate your apartment soon after the purchase or were you living in the space for a while?

Miguel: I had it for about nine months. I lived on a mattress on the floor because I just moved back from ten years in Berlin, so I was really starting from scratch. Part of living in the apartment beforehand was to figure out what to do with it. You need to live in the space so you can see how it is going to function in different seasons.

Sweeten: Where is the apartment and when was it built?

Miguel: It is by the water in Cobble Hill. The neighborhood is tree-lined and historically protected. The apartment is about 700 square feet and in a 1950s co-op. It looked like a cardboard box. It had absolutely no character, so one of the hardest things was to incorporate character. It was boxy with a kitchen, living room, and bedroom with no flow between the rooms. I opened up another part of the wall between the living room and bedroom, like a doorway, and now light from the bedroom window can spill out.

Sweeten: Did you know about the ceiling beams and exposed brick wall before you started the renovation?

Miguel: They were not planned at all. My contractor was fixing some electrical stuff and we found this beautiful brick wall behind there and then we found the beams. The beams and the brick walls were a game-changer.

Sweeten: How did you incorporate them into the renovation?

Miguel: The brick wall in the living room was not so pretty so I painted it all white, but left the bedroom original. In this way, the texture continues from the living room to the bedroom in two different colors. The ceilings were not very high so I wanted to paint the beams. There was a lot of discussion with my Sweeten contractor about that. He didn’t want me to paint the beams, but we did in the end. It comes down to a personal taste thing.

Sweeten: What did you do with the floors?

Miguel: The floors were the original thin pine floorboards, but there was almost nothing underneath so they creaked. We put in a layer of soundproofing with an engineered wood floor on top. The heat gets pretty hot here in NYC and wood expands and contracts which engineered wood handles better than solid wood.

Sweeten: Was there anything else you did to add character?

Miguel: We added crown molding. The walls were literally just sheet rock and the window. Adding crown molding made the windows look bigger and gave them texture. Now, it is almost like a picture frame.

Sweeten: What did you do about storage?

Miguel: I got rid of a wall of storage closets as you walk in. I made up for it by building two small, custom closets on either side of the entrance. This also created a small “entryway” which was missing, but I still needed more storage.

Around the same time, I had also wanted a door for the new opening between the bedroom and living room. I thought about a glass door, but that didn’t feel right. I contacted a local millworker in Brooklyn and asked if a wardrobe could be put on rollers. They said the railings that it would roll on needed to be tight against the wall to stop it from toppling. It is kinda amazing. You never know if it is going to work out right, but it worked out perfectly. So now I have a way to close off the room AND a place to store my clothes and shoes.

Sweeten: The kitchen counter has a nice mix of materials. How did that come about?

Miguel: Another challenge was trying to find a dining table. I didn’t have room for one, but I had room for a kitchen counter. I decided to make a table out of a slab of walnut with hairpin steel legs as an extension of the counter. When guests come over, I can move it anywhere in the apartment as a standalone table. It also adds a nice segue to the living room. Above the other counter and range, I decided to keep open shelving. It makes the kitchen feel big as opposed to having a wall of cabinets.

Sweeten: How did your Sweeten help you?

Miguel: My contractor was really smooth. I loved that he was fair. There are always going to be mistakes on the contractor’s end and on mine. I changed my mind a bunch of times—sometimes things in my head didn’t translate into reality. He was really patient with me and open to my crazy ideas.

RESOURCES: Wood floor: Madera Trade. Paint: Benjamin Moore in Gray Cloud and Super White. Kitchen cabinets: StarMark Cabinetry. Cabinet hardware: Restoration Hardware. Countertops: Pental Quartz. Backsplash: Nemo Tiles. Dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Stove: Appliances Connection. Fridge: Fisher & Paykel. Custom sliding closet: Wishbone Woodworking. Custom dining table: Reco Brooklyn.

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A large kitchen island with an extended countertop provides the perfect combo of prep space and dining table in Katharine and John’s renovation.

 Sweeten 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 A Bland Apartment Reveals Surprise Gems appeared first on Sweeten.

Romuald had a dream: he wanted to live in a loft apartment. His current home, a 1,800-square-foot house in Elmhurst, was definitely not a loft, but it was ideal for him and his wife in many other ways. It was close to both of their jobs, as well as to both sets of parents, and they loved having a backyard right off the kitchen. So they decided to do the next best thing: make their home as “loft-like” as a house could be, most notably opening up walls so the space would have an airy feel. Finally, it came time to tackle the tight, closed-off kitchen. Here are the details on a long-awaited kitchen renovation (and a few extras!) befitting two avid cooks.

After living in his home for close to ten years, Romuald knew that a new kitchen could dramatically change how his family used the space. He and his wife love cooking together, so they wanted to create a new kitchen in which two (or more!) people could comfortably work. Upon his wife’s recommendation, he turned to Sweeten for help and found his contractor for the project. The original kitchen featured dark wood cabinets and felt cave-like because of a wall separating it from the main living space. Wanting to demolish the wall, it was necessary to regain the storage space by adding an island. It also afforded an extra work surface and an unobstructed sightline across the whole first floor of the house for a loft apartment feel.

Working with their contractor, the couple came up with a plan for their new kitchen. The original flooring was a tile that contrasted with the hardwood running through the rest of the first floor. They wanted to continue the wood look but opted for a gray “wood” porcelain that would be much easier to maintain (important for a kitchen that sees a lot of action!). Semi-custom cabinets made it possible for creative storage solutions like an “appliance garage” (details below) to be incorporated into the kitchen plan. The warm gray cabinets they chose from Waypoint coordinated with the new flooring. A white quartz countertop and classic marble subway tile for the backsplash brought a clean yet contrasting look. Above the stove, they installed a pot-filler to save the job of hauling a heavy pot of water from the sink on the island to the stovetop.

Romuald and his wife started shopping around to replace all of their appliances with the exception of their investment appliance—a Appliances Connection range with blue knobs. After visiting appliance stores and making product choices,  he came across one of his favorite finds—the microwave drawer! A built-in microwave was placed high on their wish list so that it wouldn’t take up valuable counter space like their previous one did. When he came across the drawer, he knew that it was the way to go. 

Next, their Sweeten contractor suggested the genius solution of an “appliance garage”—a much-loved-but-seldom-seen feature in city apartments. This storage unit would house their toaster, coffeemaker, as well as a few odds and ends, with outlets built into the back keeping a tangle of cords contained. With the “garage door” lowered, the counters would look instantly cleaner.

In the spot where a dividing wall originally stood, they installed an island. While they had intended to build one about six feet long, it ultimately expanded to a 10-foot-long island—a decision that Romuald doesn’t regret one bit. “We can fit four stools along one side, while the other side has enough space for our farmhouse sink, microwave drawer, and dishwasher—and with storage room, too!” Given the space now has the open feel of a loft apartment, they can now watch the TV in their living room from the kitchen. Romuald explains, “We have it on a swivel, so we just swing it around and can cook and watch TV at the same time. This is great for unwinding after a long day’s work.” They also love the way that the breeze flows through the entire space when they open the door to the backyard—something that wasn’t possible with walls in the way.

While the project took a bit longer than anticipated due to delays in delivery of materials, Romuald reports that they are very happy with the way it all turned out. And although they had intended on just renovating the kitchen, the project expanded in the end to include new floors throughout the entire living space, as well as a new railing for the stairs leading to the second floor of their house. All of these changes have made their house a dream home for the couple!

Thank you, Romuald for sharing your new, loft-like space with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Semi-custom cabinets in gray: Waypoint. Marble subway tile backsplash: Builder Depot. Florida Tile 8” x 36” porcelain floor tile in magnolia ash: Classic Tile. White quartz countertops: MSI International. Optimum 27” stainless steel curved apron farmhouse sink: Signature Hardware. Sink faucet: Luxier.  Chival 11” light pendant in polished nickel, #7-730-1-109: Savoy House. Refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Range: Appliances Connection. Hood, #DIAM36SS: Appliances Connection. Microwave drawer: Appliances Connection. Double-jointed 15-inch pot-filler: Appliances Connection. Chandelier (eating area): Pottery Barn. Pixel White paint: Behr. Ryan counter stools: Amisco.

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A statement range, like the Thermador, can serve as the anchor of a sleek kitchen design. In Lia and Chris’ apartment, a Wolf range with signature red knobs is a smart addition to a white and marble accented kitchen renovation.

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 Imagining a Loft Apartment…in a House appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Make a Brooklyn kitchen feel inviting

Snug like a ship, a galley kitchen will maximize function in the smallest of spaces. Renovating an efficient galley layout can be as simple as upgrading appliances, lighting, and architectural details.

Before: The room was earth-toned and hardly the apartment owner’s style. Its dated ceramic floor tile was a drab-looking tan and had been laid with wide grout joints that collected dirt. An uninspired backsplash with ugly, inexpensive accent tiles came down onto a counter that looked like mud-speckled granite.

After: The owners love cooking and entertaining, so they worked with a Sweeten contractor to remodel not just for function but also to make the kitchen more welcoming. Walls have been brightened with white paint, as has the old radiator cover beneath the window. New white cabinets are taller than the former ones, and a small soffit conceals the leftover space above, simplifying the lines.

Crisp white subway tile updates the backsplash, and floor tiles were replaced with resilient material. Under-cabinet lighting supplements new halogen track lighting in the center of the ceiling. The stainless steel stove has a stainless combination hood-and-microwave above, and the new dishwasher is a pleasant addition. Cabinets now surround an efficient stainless french-door fridge; its freezer drawer conserves the cool air that otherwise would be lost when you open the door of a side-by-side model.

As a bonus, creative space planning allowed the owners to repurpose an adjacent windowed alcove as a second bedroom.

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Gleaming white paint and subway tile combined with space-savvy custom cabinets transform this galley kitchen into a bright and welcoming space. For more ideas on designing a galley kitchen, check out our post on why galley kitchens rule in small spaces.

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 A Galley Kitchen Reaches New Heights appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Carnegie Hill homeowner Melina

With the lease of our functional but tiny, 550 square-foot, one-bedroom rental on the Upper East Side about to end and a baby boy on the way, the time came to try and buy a place. We set our hopes on a two-bedroom apartment in our neighborhood, ideally with great light and storage space.

Fast forward three months into our search and there were still no prospects. We were starting to lose hope! We went to every open house around us and looked at all options. Many of the apartments we visited were too expensive, too small, too dark, or way too far from any subway or daycare, which was our desired childcare plan. That is, until we visited a listing two blocks south of our rental and a block from the entrance of the new Second Avenue subway–whose opening, at the time, still sounded like a dream far in the future. The apartment itself was falling apart and looked straight out of “That ‘70s Show.” Only one family had occupied the home since the building was built 40 years ago, and no renovations had ever been done. Most of its walls were painted green, the living room had an entire wall covered in mirrors, and a popcorn ceiling ran throughout. However, the space was promising. A true two-bedroom on a high floor, with a large balcony off the living room, light (windows in every room!), and closet space. It came with basement storage, a bike room, a children’s playroom in-the-making, and a roof deck. Our only reservation was the need for a full renovation before moving in. Despite that, we made an offer, thinking we wouldn’t win the bidding war anyway. To our surprise, our best and almost unreasonable offer did.

We found Sweeten on an online search and posted our project to be matched with builders. We were nervous about finding a contractor who could understand our expectations and timing constraints. The lease on our rental was ending before the summer, and so our move-in date was not flexible. We had less than four months to complete our entire renovation project. We chose our Sweeten contractor because we immediately felt we could trust him in getting the job done in time.

The focus for our renovation was the kitchen and bathroom. Fabio and I both love to cook and wanted a space where we could work together at the same time. The small bathroom needed to feel less cluttered and gain storage space. Our contractor provided decisive support, validated our suggestions, and helped to define the details before starting the work. We wanted to make this apartment our own, and he was happy to accommodate our choices, but he also made sure they were practical. As soon as we closed on the apartment, the team went in and started the demolition.

Before construction, we spent a lot of time pulling together the look and materials from home and design websites, so we had a strong point of view on the style we were trying to achieve. Our material choices included Carrara marble, cement and ceramic tile, classic New York hex tile in the bath, Edison bulbs, and black and white cabinets.

We opened up the kitchen entryway slightly to let additional light come through to the dining area. We opted for countertops on opposite sides to maximize prep space and to accommodate a full semi-professional espresso setup—Fabio is a coffee geek. Our Sweeten contractor helped us finalize our design with IKEA cabinets.

We spend a great deal of time in the kitchen and didn’t want strong colors we may grow tired of quickly, and settled on black cabinets with patterned ceramic floor tiles to add interest. While we tried to stay within our budget as much as possible, we splurged on professional heavy-duty appliances. We went with a modern version of a rustic farmhouse sink and purchased copper cabinet pulls online. The new kitchen is fantastic—the storage space feels especially luxurious compared to our previous kitchens.

We kept the bathroom’s tub and had it re-enameled but replaced the sink, cabinetry, hardware, and had the floor and walls retiled. We used a gold, black and white color theme that coordinated with the light fixtures and cement floor tiles. To create storage space, we built a new partially recessed medicine cabinet hidden behind the door. There was no heat in the bathroom, and with long New York winters in mind, we added a small towel heater.

The flooring throughout the apartment needed to be replaced, and our contractor took us to his supplier for a selection of inexpensive but great-looking wood flooring. We went with a light-colored wood with dark veins to generate an interesting contrast. The shelves in the rooms’ closets were falling apart. Initially, we planned on using IKEA shelving to replace them but because they weren’t standard size, we had them custom-designed by California Closets to optimize our storage space.

Our son was born one month into the renovation, and we were able to trust our contractor and his colleagues to handle the work with limited supervision. As with most renovation projects, some of our plans fell through unexpectedly, but our contractor and his team made sure we stayed on track and resolved every issue quickly and efficiently. The renovation has been complete for almost a year, and we could not be happier with our new apartment. Thanks to our contractor and Sweeten, we got our dream home and moved in on schedule.

Thank you Melina and Fabio for sharing how a renovation can be completed with grace under time constraint. We hope you continue to enjoy your home!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: EliteTile Artea Porcelain Tile floor tile: Wayfair. Cabinets, sink, faucet: IKEA. London Gray counters: Caesarstone. Arabescato Carrara Hexagon Marble Tile backsplash tile: Wayfair. Appliances: Appliances Connection. Lighting: CB2.

BATH RESOURCES: Black and White Handmade Cement and Granite Moroccan Tile floor tile: Overstock. LessCare Dual Flush toilet: Wayfair. Sink, cabinets: IKEA. Hex Porcelain Mosaic Tile in Matte White wall tile: Wayfair. Delta in Champagne Bronze hardware: Wayfair. Lighting: CB2. Brass and marble shelves: CB2.

BEDROOM RESOURCES: Bed: IKEA. Desk: CB2. Chair: Overstock. Curtains: Anthropologie.

LIVING ROOM RESOURCES: Sofa, armchair: IKEA. Rocking chair: Wayfair. Persian rug: ecarpetgallery.

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Renovating with a baby in the picture takes extra planning. Karen and Kevin found a contractor who carried out their vision.

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 That ‘70s Apartment Gets A Dose of Luxury appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Nikki, Astoria homeowner

When we first entered the New York City real estate market, my husband and I had three goals in mind. The first was to stay in our beloved neighborhood, Astoria, the second was to have more space than our rental, and the third was to have an open kitchen. Of course, all of this coupled with the most important goal–to stay under budget.

A wise friend told us to be prepared to have our hearts broken. After months of searching and touring the limited number of apartments available in Astoria, we came across The One. It was beautifully modern, with all of the bells and whistles that I yearned for as an avid baker and home entertainer. A few weeks into negotiations, the deal fell apart. I was heartbroken, and we were back on the market. Two days later, we put an offer in on our current home.

I knew when we first saw the apartment that it would need a makeover. While the kitchen and bathroom were perfectly adequate (as it had only been constructed four years ago), it just wasn’t our style, and there were minor details that indicated sloppy work and cut-corners. We had a limited budget and wanted to renovate both the kitchen and the bathroom — two expensive spaces. We wanted to convert the tub to a walk-in shower to maximize space in the bathroom and we also wanted to improve functionality in the kitchen to optimize space and utilize every square inch.

I spent hours and hours on Pinterest, secretly plotting the perfect kitchen and bathroom. My colleague told me about Sweeten one day when I mentioned I was looking for a general contractor. (She’s now going through her own Sweeten renovation in Brooklyn!) I was instantly hooked on the Sweeten blog, and posted my project the day our closing date was announced. When we were introduced to our Sweeten contractor, I didn’t know what to expect, but meeting her was not what I had in mind for meeting a general contractor. It was more like meeting an old friend. She was warm, open-minded, knowledgeable, and she instantly put me at ease. We discussed my very detailed vision (from weeks of Pinning!) and she seemed to “get” me immediately.

The style I envisioned was a mix between classic glam, modern, and vintage touches that were a nod to pre-war NYC apartments of the 1920s and 30s. In the kitchen, we initially discussed ways in which we could preserve the cabinets to save on budget; however, we soon realized that this was a kitchen that would be called to greatness. my contractor brought in a millworker who built beautiful custom cabinetry, and we walked through every corner of that kitchen, discussing every cabinet, every door, every square inch of space.

We decided on a configuration that would truly maximize the kitchen for a cook – moving the island a few inches to accommodate both a pull-out spice rack and utensil rack on either side of the stove, adding a pull-out trash and recycle bin underneath a 30” apron front sink, removing the overhead microwave for a full size hood, relocating the microwave to the island while adding six drawers: four tiny ones for utensils and two large ones for pots and pans, a kick toe drawer for the little things like kitchen towels, large pull-out drawers that opened from the front of the island for my collection of baking tools and sprinkles, and dividers for all of my baking sheets in the cabinet above the refrigerator. The meeting was energizing and Charles’ passion really came through–waving his arms in the most animated fashion, talking about wood types and inlay cabinet doors.

To finish the kitchen, we chose a beautiful, slate-like porcelain tile flooring, dramatic brushed brass hardware from Martell Hardware, a show-stopping champagne gold faucet from Delta, a two-toned paint treatment with warm white for the upper cabinets and an unexpected jewel blue for the lowers, a traditional subway tile backsplash with dark grout, and finally, a gorgeous white quartz countertop that mimicked the veining of Carrara marble without the porousness. (Thanks to the contractor and my husband, Chris, for talking me out of sparkly, recycled glass quartz with specks of glitter.)

In the bathroom, Chris took the initiative to find vintage inspired hardware to match our vision of a modernized, New York City pre-war bathroom. We took inspiration from all of our favorite restaurant bathrooms in Astoria and Manhattan. For the flooring, we chose lovely matte black hexagon tile which the crew installed beautifully despite it being a difficult tile to lay perfectly. To maximize visibility, we chose to install a panel of glass instead of a shower with a door. We selected a traditional style rain showerhead and a handshower with a porcelain handle. For the vanity, we went with a modern, gray floating vanity with a Carrera marble top and faucet hardware with white porcelain handles. The walls received a gorgeous treatment of white subway tile with gray grout and an unexpected yet bold touch – black wallpaper featuring golden pineapples from Rifle Paper Co.

Home renovations can be extremely stressful, especially when you choose to live through the renovation. Through this experience, we have showered at our friends’ homes, brushed our teeth at local coffee shops, and ordered from Seamless four times a week. The amount of dust and debris seemed inexhaustible. Yet to see the daily progress, to see our vision come to life, made it all worthwhile. The contractor’s team made us feel comfortable and we saw them so often they became almost like family. In fact, our pug started to wait at the door every morning for the team to arrive.

Our renovation taught us many things. We learned about trusting others to work in our home and take care of it. We learned about our own preferences, managing budget and timeline, and how to compromise. We learned about community, our wonderful neighborhood that opened its arms to us when we didn’t have basics like running water for a few days. We learned the names of baristas and bartenders, the cost of raw materials and the process of how a house becomes a home. Our condo is a perfect square; it’s our little 580 square foot shoebox. For my husband and I and our 9-year-old pug, it’s cozy, functional, luxurious, and most importantly, home.

Kitchen selects >> floors: MS Kitchen & Bath: Black Slate Porcelain Tile / cabinets: custom / hardware: Martell Hardware: Lewis Dolin Brass Square Bar Series / counters: white quartz / sink: Wayfair: Farmhouse 30″ Kitchen Sink / faucet: Delta / backsplash: MS Kitchen & Bath: White Subway Tile / stove: Samsung: Chef Collection 30” Slide In Range / fridge: Frigidaire / dishwasher: Whirlpool / lighting: Lighting Direct: Progress Lighting Brass Pendant with Edison Bulbs

Bathroom selects >> floors: MS Kitchen & Bath: Black Matte Hexagon Tile / vanity sink: Bellacor: Avanity Tribeca Chilled Gray Wall Mount Vanity with White Carrera Marble Top / shower hardware: eFaucets: Graff Polished Chrome Victorian Style Shower hardware / lighting: Wayfair: Downtown Edison 3 Light Bath Vanity by Minka Lavery / toilet: Kohler / wallpaper: Rifle Paper Co.  

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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.

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Guest post by Sophia, Manhattan homeowner

We posted our project on Sweeten after hearing from friends who had also found a general contractor on the website. We liked the ability to review candidates’ work online and we were extremely drawn to design-build companies for holistic decisions that would be more likely to contain costs. Sweeten introduced us to Sweeten Experts Paulina and Albert and I was hooked on their work. I loved the design of their projects and after speaking with their references, we hired them immediately. We were able to get a running start designing the kitchen with Paulina while we were still in the process of closing. As soon as we closed, Paulina’s group was able to go in and start demolition.

We went to see the apartment on the first day of demolition at the end of the day. As we stood there in the quiet dusk with the post-demolition dust slowly settling all around us, we both looked at each other with our mouths open…and in a moment of panic, I wondered if they could just put it all back the way it had been and pretend like nothing ever happened.

Once the debris cleared and the actual construction began, things were looking up. Bringing the dividing wall down between the kitchen and living room made a tremendous difference. Light poured in through the kitchen and into the hallways.

Paulina and Albert custom-built the entire kitchen and it looks absolutely fantastic. We opted for classic white custom cabinets and we absolutely love the open shelving that Paulina incorporated per our request. The bookcase that transitions between the living room and kitchen was designed by her, and we love that it is a more natural ending point to the backsplash. Paulina persuaded us that wood countertops would require significant upkeep, so we opted instead for a simple quartz counter that has been great.

We tried to stay within our budget as much as possible and in doing so, decided to keep the perfectly fine (if dated) stove to hopefully be swapped out at a later date. Leon shopped with Paulina to find a narrower and more modern fridge and a new microwave that would match the width of the stove. Leon did the backlighting himself using an electronic LED strip that he controls through his phone. It can wirelessly connect and change colors to reflect the weather or the changes in the stock market. (Editor’s note — ahem, what?? The stock market!?)

We also went with a slightly more modern version of a rustic farmhouse sink and purchased our simple matte black pulls and handles from Ikea.

Our expert team was always professional during all of our interactions, even the ones when we were definitely playing the demanding and nervous first-time renovator role. I’m not sure we will ever do anything with the word “gut” in it again, but this was a great first-time renovating experience and we are so happy in our new home!

More from Sophia, Leon, and Apollo next week!

Kitchen Selects >> cabinets: custom / countertops: quartz / backsplash tile: Allegro from Home Depot / sink and faucet: Appliances Connection / hardware: IKEA / refrigerator: 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 Sophia and Leon’s Upper West Side Kitchen Renovation – Homeowner Guest Post appeared first on Sweeten.

While the layout of the kitchen admittedly worked pretty well, John, a senior digital media producer, and Kaija, who works in production for an art book publisher, surveyed the existing storage, counter prep, and gathering space and realized that a real island would have a major impact on all three of those needs. Many of their kitchen appliances were stuck in Minnesota, stowed in Kaija’s parents’ basement after their wedding yielded more treasures than their previous NYC apartment could hold. A stand mixer, food processor and collection of All-Clad pots and pans sat in boxes, waiting to make it big in New York. John and Kaija posted their project on Sweeten and we introduced them to a Sweeten contractor for a full kitchen renovation.

Armed with a list of web sites and local suppliers provided by their contractor, Kaija and John went about crafting an entirely new kitchen around a significantly expanded island. The contractor custom-built a hefty island with rows of deep drawers, using durable plywood interiors and doors finished in matte white. He also created several lines of custom open shelving to flank the window (and that mixer in Minnesota bought a first class ticket to New York!).

The old white floor tiles were ripped out and replaced with Alta ceramic tiles in slate gray from Nemo Tile, chosen for their durability. Classic white subway tile, also from Nemo, was added to the kitchen’s main wall and extended up and around, all the way through to the windowed wall, demarcating the kitchen in a new way and giving it a distinct feel in the open plan room. John and Kaija chose gray grout for a touch of contrast and to complement the neutral gray flooring.

John and Kaija originally thought about going with a honed marble countertop but were warned left and right that if anything acidic spilled, it would eat right into the luxe surface. They shifted the plan toward soapstone, a Sweeten fave, but it was pricey and didn’t feel like quite the right choice. Originally inspired by the look and feel of cement, they went back to the drawing board and decided to go with poured concrete counters; equal parts industrial and softening. The creation process was local but a bit lengthy: their supplier sent a team for precise on-site measurements after the cabinets went in. Those measurements led to a full-size frame assembled off-site and the mold was poured at the supplier’s workshop. Several rounds of curing, slurrying, smoothing, grinding, and finishing took a few weeks before final installation in the new kitchen.

John and Kaija chose heavy duty appliances and fixtures alongside their new custom cabinets and counters, including a Appliances Connection porcelain farmhouse sink, Appliances Connection stove, Appliances Connection fridge, 18” Appliances Connection dishwasher, and sleek Appliances Connection hood. Pendant light fixtures from Barn Light Electric really stand out against the monochromatic layers of white cabinetry and tile, and Kaija found a delightful set of three-legged iron and raw wood bar stools on Etsy to complete the space.

Kitchen Selects >> floor tile: 12” by 24” ceramic Alta Nemo Tile / wall tile: white subway Metro Nemo Tile / dishwasher: 18″ Appliances Connection / stove: Appliances Connection / fridge: Leibherr / sink: farmhouse Kohler / cabinets: custom / poured concrete countertop: custom / hood: Faber / pendant light fixtures: Barn Light Electric

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Sweeten handpicks 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 project on Sweeten.

The post Before & After: Kaija and John’s Prospect Heights Kitchen Renovation – Sweetened! appeared first on Sweeten.

Farmhouse and Apron-Front Sinks

A classic with exposed front panels is making a comeback in kitchens both traditional and modern – and it’s no wonder with its combination of beauty and function. Clean and smooth lines provide a versatile look in kitchens of all hues, and the extra-deep basin accommodates workspace for cleaning and food preparation. Farmhouse sinks are increasingly becoming an urban feature and feel like a luxury precisely because they look delightfully out of place.

Sarah and Michael on the Upper East Side had their sights set on a farmhouse sink and worked relentlessly with Sweeten Expert Gennadiy to find a fireclay version that would fit into a standard-sized NYC kitchen. The couple went with an up-mount installation (the sink lip sits above counter height) that makes the feature even more pronounced.

Zero-Radius Sinks

A zero-radius sink is a fancy term for a rectangular sink with sharp, right-angle interior corners and straight edges rather than a basin with conventional rounded corners. This approach creates a teeny bit more space to stack dishes (but you shouldn’t be stacking piles of dishes when you have a gleaming, modern, stainless-steel sink to show off anyway!). Lee in Midtown East showed us the way with an under-mounted, zero-radius Blanco Quatrus sink that offers plenty of room in all directions for food prep and clean up.

Rounded Basin Sinks

Single bowl sinks are most commonly seen with rounded corners for seamless cleaning and upkeep. A Clinton Hill couple outfitted their earthy butcher block counters with a Kohler Bakersfield sink made from enameled cast-iron that resists scratches and cracks.

Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks come in all shapes and sizes and confer an industrial look on their surroundings. Sanaya and Chris in Clinton Hill went with an easy-to-clean and durable stainless steel sink that offsets the gray caesarstone counters and luminous blue-gray penny tile backsplash in their kitchen.

Porcelain Sinks

In contrast to fireclay sinks that are heated at higher temperatures, porcelain sinks are melted at lower temperatures and come in a range of colors with a glossy and luminous finish. Elizabeth in the West Village went with an under-mount porcelain sink with traditional rounded edges.

Integrated Sinks

Integrated sinks are created by countertop surfaces that seamlessly flow into the sink basin, creating a sleek and contemporary design. To prominently feature the stunning charcoal soapstone he found from a local supplier’s stoneyard, Corey in Williamsburg went with an integrated countertop and sink configuration that we keep coming back to admire.

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Sweeten handpicks 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 project on Sweeten.

The post Farmhouse, Stainless Steel, or Integrated? 6 Kitchen Sinks from NYC Renovations! appeared first on Sweeten.

The original kitchen felt almost like a kitchenette: the most functional fixtures and appliances were jammed up against the back wall with just a foot or so of counter space to spare on one side, and the kitchen was hemmed in by an old fridge and a partial wall. Even in a space twice its size, the conditions of the cabinets, flooring, and countertops were total deal breakers. Clearly, all of it had to go. Robyn brought a strong guiding sense of function to the project and decided early on that the new kitchen would be oriented around a few major appliances: a Appliances Connection and a farmhouse sink topped the list of dream pieces. Robyn and Alejandro hit their stride with Paulina as they thought through ways to bring in more light and make the most of the kitchen’s layout, and they drew up plans to focus workspace around the range, split food prep and clean up tasks on opposite sides, and replace peeling laminate counters and cabinets with quality finishes that reflected the family’s focus on cooking and eating together.

Paulina and Albert’s team got down to business, ripping out everything in sight and removing the kitchen’s entry wall dividers. From top to bottom, here is Robyn’s rundown of the fixtures and finishes that now fill this family’s beautiful kitchen!

Floors – Robyn opted to forego tiling and extend the living room’s re-surfaced and re-stained oak floors into the kitchen. Paulina and Albert were able to match a new section of wood seamlessly using a light stain with a hint of gray to neutralize the space and complement the cool color palette that Robyn was assembling.

Cabinets – Paulina helped Robyn stay away from a white kitchen with painted gray, Shaker-style cabinets. Paulina’s design added paneling along the outer edges to elegantly frame the room, and Albert created slim toe-kick drawers for an additional layer of storage. Paulina stowed a generous row of outlets along the cabinets’ underside with a strip of LED lighting.

Countertop – The couple selected a granite stone cut with gray undertones and luminous purple specks that brings the durability of granite with a look that more closely approximates marble veining.

Backsplash – Robyn found a stainless steel tile that nods to the neighborhood’s industrial shipping past and present. Paulina extended the tiles beyond the point of a traditional backsplash, lining the kitchen’s central wall and framing the kid-friendly (and spouse-friendly!) chalkboard wall.

The kitchen’s starring features, that sparkling Viking range and Kohler apron front sink, take center stage on each side of the kitchen, with ample work and storage space flanking both. The family added a Fisher & Paykel fridge and a narrow width Bosch dishwasher – two high-impact but trim footprint pieces used every day.

Robyn and Alejandro’s kitchen was just the start of this condo’s full renovation. We’ll check back with this sweet family for a full tour of the rest of their home before the summer is up!

Sweeten handpicks 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 project on Sweeten.

The post Before & After: Robyn and Alejandro’s Columbia Waterfront Industrial Kitchen — Sweetened! appeared first on Sweeten.