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.

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Project: Revamp an outdated kitchen in Kensington, Brooklyn

Before: Racquel scored a deal when she found her 800-square-foot co-op in an estate sale, though she knew the kitchen (that hadn’t been updated since the ‘60s) would need work. “The first thing I did when I put my offer in was ask people how to get the kitchen done. It looked like it belonged in a museum. I kept staring at the stove—I could not believe it,” she said. Her renovation journey, however, got off to a rocky start. After a year of work with a kitchen designer she found through an ad on Facebook, walkthroughs without results, a quick purchase of a too-big fridge, and poor communication overall, Racquel had enough and took a year off from the process.

Once she felt ready to take it on again, a friend, who was renovating her house with Sweeten and had joined their referral program, suggested Racquel give them a try. “My friend said, ‘I’ve already started with Sweeten and they’re great.’ I was done trying to find people on my own that I couldn’t properly vet. I needed people who knew the business,” Racquel explained. She posted her project with the goal of bringing the old-fashioned space to the 21st century while maintaining a feeling of playfulness and joy.

After: Once she was matched with this general contractor, work began. Some debate about the stove ensued, but ultimately she decided to replace it. After living with it for over two years, “I had a Stockholm Syndrome relationship with my stove,” she said. While her initial thought was to incorporate quirky touches in the main elements of the kitchen, like using butcher block for the countertops, she decided to stick with modern, easy-to-clean materials, and incorporate more of her personality through accessories and paint. The white glossy cabinets with simple matte black hardware achieved that sleek look while offering a neutral backdrop for a creamy yellow wall and colorful knick-knacks.

The elevator broke down, which caused some minor hiccups. The stove, which was set to be delivered, had to be delayed and was then lost. Despite the holdup, Racquel’s renovation was completed within the three-week time period the general contractor had quoted from the beginning. “He worked around the issues without batting an eyelash,” she said. He even joined her on a trip to IKEA, waited for the cabinets, and brought them to her home the next morning. “He told me every day what was going to happen that day, and that’s exactly what happened,” she continued.

As a first-time renovator, Racquel shared this advice: “Resist the urge to rip things out before you have a chance to live with it. If I hadn’t, I don’t think I would’ve made the best decisions,” she said. Her patience certainly paid off. “Sometimes I walk into the kitchen with the sun coming in and it feels like a postcard. It looks like a magazine,” she said.

Bonus: The cabinets were still a little difficult for Racquel to reach, so the contractor also left a space for her ladder between the fridge and the wall, so she’d have easy access to it when she needed to reach higher shelves.

Style finds: Metro Gris 12 in. x 24 in. porcelain floor tiles and Greecian white herringbone backsplash: Home Depot. Ringhult cabinets and Norssjön sink: IKEA. Nouveau III Collection cabinet knobs and pulls, and Progress overhead lighting: Amazon. Summit 28” refrigerator, Bosch 18” dishwasher, Frigidaire 30” microwave, and Frigidaire 30” gas range: Appliances Connection.

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Kasey bought his Murray Hill studio through an estate sale and completely overhauled the kitchen.

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.

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Its familiar broken zigzag is something you’ve probably seen before in a tweed suit or jacket, calling to mind the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Chanel. From fashion to home design, this elegant pattern—expressed in a range of materials—makes a big impact. Below, eight homeowners make herringbone their own.

A peek of oak herringbone underneath old carpeting inspired Kasey to restore the original floors in his prewar apartment. During his renovation, he discovered that the floors were in near perfect condition. A light touch-up was all that was needed to return them to their former glory.

Nazli and Larry splurged on herringbone walnut floors in the kitchen and downstairs parlor, which quickly became one of their favorite features in the townhouse. The pattern, combined with the warmth of the stain, adds plenty of interest and texture.

Looking for something more durable than wood, Allison and Jovito chose a porcelain tile with imitation grain to give the appearance of polished white oak. Their contractor laid the tile in a herringbone pattern to punch up the muted tones of the kitchen.

Wanting some “wow” in the kitchen, Alicia and Ed decided that subway tile was firmly off limits. Instead, the couple chose cream-colored marble laid in a herringbone pattern for a touch of warmth.

To inject some color into his all-white kitchen, Gall chose a gold-toned herringbone backsplash comprised of glass and marble tile. The combination of different materials and colors provides a refreshing update on a classic design.

Inspired by the clean, elegant look of hotel bathrooms, Lauren and Ross covered every inch of their master bath in marble. For the floor, they chose a white herringbone tile and paired it with fine lines of gray grout for some subtle contrast.

Ana and Leo amped up the drama in their modern guest bathroom with herringbone mosaic tile in shades of gray. The addition is the perfect complement to the minimal design.

With an all-white theme in mind, Cecilia and Jonathan wanted to keep things bright and shiny in their full bath. A slight deviation from the plan inspired an accent wall of veined marble subway tile laid in a herringbone pattern.

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Step out of the ordinary and add some color to your kitchen.

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, 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 At Home with Herringbone Patterns appeared first on Sweeten.

A year-long search—involving a specially-written code!—led Jonathan, a consultant, and Cecilia, a social media strategist and beauty blogger, to a mid-century co-op apartment in Queens. The unit was in a serious state of disrepair, with cracked doors and windows and a dangerously unstable kitchen countertop. Read about how the couple changed the floor plan, turned a powder room into a full spa bath, and created a space to suit their lifestyle.

Prior to moving in together, Jonathan and his girlfriend, Cecilia, were each living in Manhattan on the Lower East Side. The criteria for their search? He wanted a large space and a fixer upper with a good school district; she wanted the convenience of a supermarket, shops, and a subway stop close by. Their budget had them looking in Windsor Terrace, Forest Hills, Sunnyside, and Hamilton Heights, in addition to Elmhurst. For their search, Jonathan used his background in quantitative finance to adapt code that he had written to find his first apartment in 2008, which scoured the major real estate websites for properties that fit their fairly strict criteria and price range. The code took into account various factors, such as home value increase over time, new developments, transit efficiency, growth in commercial investments, and the neighborhood’s increasing value over five-plus years. When this apartment came up—roughly a year after they started searching—it was way under budget, and the couple pounced on the opportunity.

The space was located in a very convenient neighborhood in Elmhurst, with shops and necessities nearby and just a 25-minute subway ride from midtown. They purchased the 1960s-era apartment with the intention to renovate. The reasonable price meant there was enough left over to splurge on the renovations, so they planned to add their own personal touch with high-end finishes. At roughly 1,300 square feet, the 3-bed, 1.5-bath co-op was more space than they expected to find, and the layout allowed them to implement some drastic changes to make the space more usable.

Jonathan and Cecilia could see that the apartment had good bones. Despite the positives, it was extremely outdated and many things—such as the cabinets, heaters, windows, and doors—were falling apart. The kitchen counter would teeter if you placed any weight on it, and would even come off its foundation if you pressed down. The previous owners had done unpermitted renovations in the past, and the apartment had not been well taken care of. The original layout had long narrow halls, closets in weird places, a closed kitchen, and cramped rooms.

Initially, Jonathan looked for contractors on his own, until an architect friend told him about Sweeten. He posted his project and wrote up his description. He said, “I received a lot of quick responses—more than me going out on my own, and the bids were much more competitive than any from my own research. The Sweeten contractor that I went with was a one-stop shop for everything. He had an architect, a designer, and a project manager—they pretty much did all the heavy lifting. They were super responsive and took care of a lot of the issues that arose throughout the process. Knowing that they have been vetted through Sweeten definitely gave me peace of mind.”

Jonathan and his Sweeten contractor set out to solve problems related to space usability and efficiency, and to make the apartment feel more open and modern. They decided that if a wall could be knocked down, they would do it. They turned hallways into closets and closets into open spaces. They also wanted to convert the half bath into a second full bath—Cecilia already claimed the first one, so Jonathan needed one of his own!

Given their preference for clean lines with modern touches, they did not want too much in terms of the built-ins and crown molding. “The kitchen was the part of the renovation we were most excited about. Because Cecilia loves to cook and I like to entertain, we wanted people to naturally gather around the kitchen for good food, good drinks, and good times,” says Jonathan. With dark furniture in the rest of the apartment, they went for white shaker cabinets, gray-white texture on the backsplash and white counters with a bit of speckling for an overall contrasting look. Appliances were stainless steel and marble was installed wherever possible. An incredible amount of storage and counter space was added, with every inch of space maximized.

A pull-out spice rack and deep drawers were among the storage solutions they chose. “Having those large drawers for pots and pans with the ability to customize the holders was a must. A floor-to-ceiling pantry with pull-out drawers made our snacking life that much easier. We decided on open shelving in select areas to make the kitchen feel more open. A pass-through was also created, so a spot on the living room side was used for counter seating. We wanted large appliances to really be the wow factor in our kitchen. I love our five-burner stove—especially the griddle!—and our massive fridge and great dishwasher. Having this generously proportioned kitchen and large-scale appliances has been amazing, especially compared to our previous apartments,” explains Jonathan.

In the original full bath—Cecilia’s bathroom—they went with a white theme. She wanted it to be bright and classy, so they chose glossy white marble tile for the floors and large-format porcelain tile for the walls, with an accent wall of marble 2-inch subway tile laid in a herringbone pattern. This gave the space more texture and made it feel more custom. They also added a niche for toiletries and bath products.

In the second bath, Jonathan added a large shower by taking some space from the master bedroom closet. “Since it was my bathroom, I had full reign and wanted it to resemble a spa.” The Sweeten contractor added slate tiles throughout, as well as a pebbled shower floor and a large shower panel with rainfall and waterfall features. In both baths, they installed tankless toilets per co-op requirements.

Throughout the apartment, they had originally planned on going with light bamboo flooring. When their Sweeten design/build firm sent over samples of both light and dark wood, however, they fell in love with a dark walnut flooring from Triangulo. For the office space, they decided on French doors to allow some openness between the living room and office, while providing privacy if needed when Jonathan worked from home in the evenings.

The biggest challenges of the project related to changes to their original design: “A lot of it was due to unforeseen circumstances,” Jonathan explains. “The original broker stretched the truth about where pipes were, what construction was done legally, what was underneath the floors, as well as what we would be permitted to do. We originally had a plan that was going to be signed off, but once we contacted the live-in super, problems started to arise. We had to do two to three different drafts, which caused scheduling delays as well as caused friction with the co-op board and staff. The entire process took about two months just to get approval because of these issues. Eventually, we got everything set up, and once construction started, there were only a few slight hiccups. Everything went fairly smoothly.”

After finishing the renovation, Jonathan’s recommendation to future renovators is to be open and flexible with the initial vision. “Most people have an idea of how exactly they want things, and are unwilling to do something different or new. That’s good but rarely does your budget or space allow you to have everything that you want. I originally wanted to remove some of our closets because I thought we had too many, but my girlfriend and designer suggested that we keep them for both value and utility. Having lived here for six months, I can safely say that I’m glad we kept the closets.”

Jonathan feared that the end product wouldn’t match up to his vision. He and Cecilia have very different design aesthetics, and he wasn’t sure if they would mesh well together. “In the end, I think the apartment has a good flow and calming color tones, which is something nice to come home to after a hectic day. Another big question I had was whether we could actually do everything in the timeframe the contractors set out—about four to five months. It was an ambitious schedule, and while there were small items that needed to be addressed after we moved in, they were minor. In the end, we completed the project on deadline, and are very happy with how it turned out.”

Many thanks to Jonathan and Cecilia for sharing your great renovation story with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES. Wood textured porcelain floor tile: Classic Tile. Custom hardwood cabinets: Waypoint. Quartz countertops: MS International. Carrara marble subway tile backsplash: Builder Depot. Kohler Simplice faucet: Build.com. Kohler Ticor sink: Appliances Connection. LG French Door refrigerator, #1000633969: Home Depot. Samsung 5-Burner Slide-in Stove with Griddle, #1000054140; GE Top Control dishwasher,#1001835490; Samsung microwave, #1000045147; Home Depot.

MASTER BATH RESOURCES: White marble floor tile: BuildDirect. White porcelain large wall tile: EFloors. Carrara marble herringbone accent wall tile: Mosaic Tile Direct. Delta Arzo rainfall shower: Home Depot. Architec 60″ soaking tub: Appliances Connection. Kohler Levity sliding shower door: Home Depot. Tankless toilet: American Standard. Fresca Torino vanity: Appliances Connection. Faucet: Dowell. Hardware: Dyconn.

SECOND BATH RESOURCES. Slate rock floor tile: AllModern. Astro Silver Ledgestone (hydrophobic) wall tile: Tile + Stone Source International. Pebble tile shower floor: Pebble Tile Shop. Golden Vantage Pressure Balance Tower shower panel: Amazon. No-tank toilet: American Standard. Kohler Levity sliding shower door: Home Depot. Fresca Senza Vanity: Appliances Connection. Hardware: Dyconn.

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No matter the size of your apartment–even if it’s a good size with room to spare–an efficient layout makes all the difference. In Tim and Lindsay’s 1,500-square-foot apartment renovation, reconfiguring the layout was crucial to maximizing the usability of their space.

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 How Computer Code Turned Up a Diamond in the Rough appeared first on Sweeten.

Geometric tile backsplash in Jerry and Janet’s Crown Heights kitchen .

Chances are, your home has tiles somewhere—the bathroom and kitchen, or maybe a foyer or mudroom. While they serve a practical purpose—waterproof, easy to clean, protects surfaces—tiles have now emerged as a pivotal element in taking a space from flat to fabulous! Look to tile as a style and even a fashion choice, as manufacturing advances such as high-definition (HD) printing and slip-resistant finishes help to create a personal statement on floors, as well as walls. Consider these five trends:

Faux effects

Improvements in HD printing have translated to tile with highly realistic interpretations of natural materials like wood and stone, as well as concrete, plaster, and metal. And the options don’t stop there. In addition to the oak or walnut look, these woods are coupled with different finishes and treatments—pickled, distressed, reclaimed (with the faux paint still intact), sustainable alternatives to exotic hardwoods like a mirror-polished cherry or mahogany that you might previously have found only in a palace or a yacht. This tile also lets you take “wood” where you previously might not have…inside a shower, for instance.

As for stone, you can install a luxurious-looking faux marble for your entire bath at a tenth the cost of the real thing, and without the habitual upkeep, such as sealing. No need to worry about scratches or water or wine stains with glazed porcelain. Why not combine a faux-wood and a faux-stone look in a bath? Most tile comes 3/8-inch thick, so it’s easier to combine these looks in tile than to align the differing heights of real wood planks with marble slabs on a floor.

If you want a more industrial look for, say, a loft or home office, check out faux concrete in a super-size, like 24” x 24”—again, without the need to seal and with no risk of cracking, like poured concrete. If you crave color but don’t want those glossy 4” x 4” squares you remember from the school washroom, look for porcelain tiles that mimic encaustic cement tiles, with their luscious hues and patterns.

Add various textures

As described above, faux effects are achieved from highly realistic HD printing. Textures are also now being incorporated during the manufacturing process. Some faux weathered wood porcelain tile includes the dings and saw marks you’d expect to find in reclaimed planks, minus the splinters!

Brick is making a comeback too, and with the introduction of faux brick tile comes a realistic pebbled surface. Consider paving your entryway with this tactile material—a perfect crossover from the outside in. Colored glazes in myriad choices give this brick fresh, contemporary appeal, and can provide a touch of texture to a space where a neutral color dominates like a shower or backsplash.

Also expect to find tile with finishes that resemble fabric, from nubby linen to lace to fine twill. These styles look especially warm underfoot, and bring sophisticated depth when used on walls.

Consider three-dimensional

Once upon a time, 3D tile was very popular in those cool mid-century houses that were never renovated. If it was ever on your wishlist, you likely had to pay a lot for something that was hand cast or, alternatively, rough around the edges (literally). However, the demand for 3D has risen among designers for hotels and restaurants, and homeowners are now reaping the results. Manufacturers offer lots of interesting sculptural surfaces, from shallow recesses that resemble waves or indentations worn into stone by water to alternating raised and recessed hexagons to abstract and organic shapes that seem to spring from their surfaces. These tiles are good for feature walls and vertical areas, such as hallways that transition from one room to another.

Beyond basic shapes and patterns

The hexagon is one of the more popular shapes to appear in kitchens and baths; it combines graphic interest with a classic outline, providing a strong motif around which you can play with size and color. One manufacturer created a wall tile with alternating rising and recessed discs. The 3” x 6” subway tile is seeing a renaissance, and reinterpreted in a thinner and longer dimension like 2” x 10” or even 2” x 20”. The rectilinear shapes lend themselves to a lot of different patterns when installed, like herringbone, chevron, and the running bond as an alternative to the traditional stacked. If you’re in the market for something more sensual, consider an arabesque-shape tile. Smaller versions will work on the floor, where the grout lines prevent slipping; it also makes a pretty backsplash or wall behind a vanity in a master bath.

Choose your size

If you’ve visited a tile store lately, you’ve probably noticed tiles are getting, well, bigger. Rectangular shapes can be found twice as wide as you may be accustomed to, such as 12” x 24”. Squares, too, have doubled in size, from 12” x 12” to 24” x 24”. Besides their fashion-forward appearance, there are several additional benefits: these larger sizes or formats actually make a small space, such as a bath, appear larger. There’s also fewer grout lines, which means faster installation and easier upkeep. However, the size trend doesn’t stop there. Designers are mixing sizes to create interesting effects, and you can, too. Combine wide and narrow wood planks, for instance, to achieve a custom effect, or alternate four small squares with one large square in the same size.

A word about grout

A decade or so ago, most tile installations used a white or off-white grout. It was adequate to blend into the tile’s appearance and still show the pattern. Now you can choose from dozens of colors to match your selection. Contrasting grout, however, has caught on, particularly with subway and other rectangular formats, to get a more graphic effect or to emphasize the shape of the tile.

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Your choice in tile can influence the entire space it occupies. Here is how Arthur and Kate used stacked patterns in minimalist fashion, while Kelly went bold with cement tile on the floor but subtly glamorous on the wall. Jerry and Janet’s geometric backsplash become the kitchen’s centerpiece, while Erica and Joshua’s subtle 3D tile struck a perfect balance.

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 5 Tile Trends for Every Surface appeared first on Sweeten.

Editor’s Note: This post, originally published May 2014, is one of our favorites for still having a classic and modern look years later. Allison and Jovito purchased their first home together—a single-family brick row house, c. 1910, in the Ocean Parkway neighborhood of Brooklyn. Though they knew the place needed some serious renovations, Allison, a content manager, and Jovito, an electronic prepress director, both in textbook publishing, promptly packed up and, along with their adorable cat, Momo, moved in and geared up for some major home improvements. Allison shares their renovation story and walks us through the stylish choices she and Jovito made in the process of creating their new home.

Guest post by Allison in Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn

Ten months of intense searching, eight lost bids and a couple hundred viewed properties later, Jovito and I finally found an adorable 1910 brick row house in the Ocean Parkway neighborhood of Brooklyn to call our own. We loved the bones and original details of the house, but the over 100-year-old home was also in need of some serious updating. Knowing that we’d have some large-scale renovations ahead of us, we went into the purchase two parts excited and one part slightly terrified.  There was a long list of items on our “fix” list when we moved in, but we also had a limited budget. So our energy and efforts were focused on tackling the kitchen and upstairs bathroom renovation first.

Having never renovated a property before, we didn’t know where to start. How would we find a reputable contractor that would understand our vision, work within our budget, and do a stellar job? Perusing Apartment Therapy on a day when I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by all our options, I read about Sweeten and decided to post our project to the site. We really liked the idea that they would act as matchmakers and pair us with contractors based on our project’s scope of work and budget. Knowing that they had pre-screened their network of contractors also made choosing feel a lot less scary.

After meeting with two contractor matches from Sweeten, and two contractors that were friend referrals, we decided to award our renovation job to Sweeten. We appreciated his pragmatism, patience in answering our many questions, and his thoroughness during the onsite visit. We also appreciated that he seemed completely un-phased by the scary (to us), timeworn, “before” conditions of the kitchen and bathroom. He’d seen and worked on old houses like this many times, so that also helped us feel like we were in good hands. His familiarity with constructing IKEA kitchens and reasonable estimate sealed the deal.

We started our renovation of the kitchen and bathroom in mid-November. Living in the house during construction wasn’t fun, but our contractor and his team were careful to keep the work area as clean and contained as possible. On the plus side, it was exciting for us to see the team’s daily progress and some of the relics they unearthed during demolition. (Like pieces of newspaper from 1943 mentioning President Roosevelt stuck inside the bathroom walls!) The team spent a lot of time and effort making sure the new walls and floors were level, plumb, and true, which was no small feat in an old house where nothing is straight!

The kitchen needed a gut renovation. The walls were covered with dark wood paneling and cabinets, there was a dropped ceiling with fluorescent lighting, cracked floor tile and beat up Formica countertops and backsplash. The existing soffit ran in front of the kitchen window, cutting a good eight inches off the top, and a lot of daylight along with it. It was a less-than-optimal layout and had definitely seen better days.

Because of our limited budget, we decided to go with IKEA kitchen cabinetry and Caesarstone quartz countertops, both of which we purchased during one of IKEA’s kitchen sales. Not wanting the new kitchen to clash with the age of the house but also wanting it to feel current and new, we went with a more traditional cabinet door style in a medium gray color. To keep the space open and airy feeling, we decided to forego wall cabinets. We made sure we had plenty of base cabinet storage to hold all our pots and pans. Because we removed the dropped ceiling, we gained back some ceiling height, so we stacked glass-front cabinets to the ceiling and created a hutch to display our collection of vintage glassware and serveware. We chose durable white quartz countertops to keep the room bright and to add contrast to the gray cabinets.

We’re tough on our floors, so we chose extra durable wood-look porcelain tile that we found online at a closeout price. Our contractor laid the tile in a herringbone pattern. We really love the way it turned out! For the backsplash tile, we went with a large format porcelain tile with a raised geometric pattern and tiled all the way up the wall for visual impact. (It’s also incredibly easy to clean!) The wall tile is from Mondial in Bensonhurst.

We both love to cook so it was important for us to have a range that could accommodate many pots and pans and put out some serious BTUs. We were incredibly lucky to find our range second-hand in excellent condition at a local salvage shop. The exhaust hood was found in the clearance section of Home Depot and our brand new dishwasher came from the As-Is section of IKEA. Our counter-depth fridge was on sale at the local P.C. Richard & Son.

Our ceiling light fixtures are porcelain lamp holders made by Leviton running about $2/piece online. The pendant over the sink is from Restoration Hardware and is based off an Italian factory light from the 1950s. We like that the lights can extend out about four feet on each side, giving us the option of creating more overhead lighting for prep if we need it.

We decided to go with brass cabinet pulls, knobs, and faucet to warm up all the cool gray and stainless steel. It took a lot of searching to find a brushed brass faucet, but we finally found one through Newport Brass. The solid brass pulls and knobs are made by Laurey and were also found online.

Our bathroom was very…blue. Blue tub, blue toilet, blue tile. It had last been majorly renovated in the 50s and everything was really showing its age. The floor of the bathroom was about a 4” step up from the hallway—the ghosts of past flooring renovations buried beneath. To top it all off, the bathroom space itself was tiny—about 36 square feet. Our budget wouldn’t allow us to enlarge the space or reroute plumbing, so our goal was to increase the feeling of space while making it as pretty and useable as possible. Style-wise, we wanted the bathroom to look like it could have been original to the house so we were careful to choose pieces that had an old-fashioned feel to them.

To maximize space, we swapped the existing door for a pocket door and chose a dual-flush toilet with a narrow tank and small footprint. A console sink and clawfoot tub kept things airy and off the floor. Finding reasonably-priced marble floor and subway wall tile at Lowe’s kept us on budget, as well as sourcing salvage and secondhand materials which helped to cut costs. Finally, we added an exhaust fan/light combo to help cut humidity.

Despite holidays, lots of snow days and a few surprises along the way, the renovation process was mostly stress-free. Our contractor did a good job keeping us informed throughout construction, and he always made himself available to answer questions. And because we lived in our house during construction, we were also able to address and correct any miscommunications right away, which helped the project run more smoothly.

We’re thankful to the Sweeten team for pairing us up with the contractor and his team for an excellent first renovation experience! I’ve already recommended Sweeten to several friends! Sweeten’s matching service removes a lot of the scariness and uncertainty associated with finding a qualified contractor. And when we’re finally ready to begin the next project, you can be sure we’ll be contacting them for another great match!

Many thanks to Allison, Jovito & Momo for sharing your beautiful home!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Quartz countertops: Caesarstone. Laurey pulls and knobs; Appliances Connection exhaust hood: Home Depot. DCS range: Build it Green. Kitchen cabinetry; dishwasher: IKEA. Counter-depth fridge: P.C. Richard & Son. Wall tile: Mondial. Herringbone floor tile: BuildDirect. Kraus sink: HomeClick. Brushed brass faucet: Appliances Connection. Sink pendant: Restoration Hardware. Porcelain lamp holders; ceiling light fixtures: Leviton.

BATH RESOURCES: Marble floor and subway wall tile: Lowe’s. Clawfoot tub and fixtures: Vintage Tub & Bath. Appliances Connection toilet: Appliances Connection. Arcade console sink; vintage medicine cabinet: Build it Green. Ginger towel bar; gallery shelf: HomePerfect.

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Love the look of Allison’s statement-making exhaust hood? Find out what kind of ventilation is right for your kitchen in our post Ventilate Your Kitchen Like a Chef.

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