A personally-designed kitchen and refreshed laundry room revive a historic Los Angeles home

“After” photos by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten

• Homeowners: Chrissy, a costume designer in the film industry, and Matt, a production company operations manager, posted their project on Sweeten
• Where: The Historic Filipinotown neighborhood in Los Angeles, California
• Primary renovation: The couple embarked on a re-envisioning of the existing Art Deco kitchen in a minimalist light
• Sweeten general contractor
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free

Written in partnership with homeowner Chrissy

A fashionable—but not functional—period kitchen

The kitchen was original from the 1930s and very Hollywood Art Deco. It was just one aspect we loved when we purchased our 1,400-square-foot co-op, located in a 1932 Spanish Revival building in Historic Filipinotown, a neighborhood near Los Angeles’ Echo Park.

Matt and I previously lived in a 600-square-foot apartment and never spent days hanging at home—it just didn’t have enough light and space. Looking for our next place, we realized that everything in our price range needed a large overhaul, or had been cheaply flipped and had an ugly poorly-designed kitchen.

Seeking a fixer-upper kitchen

I love to cook, and during our search, we’d decided that the sweet spot would be a place that was in good shape and had character but needed a new kitchen.

As first-time renovators, we figured the hardest parts would be finding a contractor, negotiating bids, and avoiding surprise hidden costs. When we found the one on Sweeten, it turned out our biggest challenge was actually not hiring an architect or designer as well. I sketched the kitchen out on my word processor!

Thinking we would re-do the kitchen right away, we purchased an induction hotplate and set it on the beautiful black-and-teal tile countertop. We found a basic fridge on Craigslist. We would also need to upgrade the unit’s electrical panel; we didn’t have the amps to run the hotplate and toaster simultaneously. When we first moved in, a kitchen wall had to be ripped out due to a leaky roof. It stayed that way until the renovation; it was rough in there!

Flooring material for wet spaces

We thought about trying to save the Art Deco details, especially the original tile countertops and the matching backsplash. But preserving the original aesthetic wasn’t an option. The counters weren’t the modern standard depth, so new appliances would not fit. We struggled with whether to go with deco tiles and white cabinets or scrap all that and let it be something modern. We went with the latter.

Going from the ground up, we discussed adding hardwood or cork flooring for a soft surface underfoot but decided against it. We wanted to make the kitchen contiguous with the laundry room, and we chose cement tile flooring to avoid worries about moisture. Another draw had to do with dirt. In our old apartment, we’d had terracotta tiled floors, which we loved, but the wide grout collected grime. The cement tile made for narrow grout and seemed practical. It also brought a bold texture to our floors.

Plywood cabinets and cement floor tile ground the kitchen

Having ruled out natural wood for the floors, we were excited to use it for the cabinets. We feel intuitively drawn to wood and have chosen it for surfaces throughout our home, so we let that lead us. We went with plywood kitchen cabinets—it’s a cost-effective material, and we liked its functional aesthetic. Designing the layout for the custom base plywood cabinets was gratifying. Since we could dictate all dimensions, we spent time going over all of our kitchen wares and deciding how we wanted to store things. We’d measured the height of the coffee grinder and Chemex pitcher and knew which drawer they would live in long before the kitchen was built.

We thought a lot about the upper cabinetry, too. We initially felt nervous about open shelving, thinking everything would get dusty. But in the end, we did it, mainly to save money, and it turned out to be a great choice to keep the visuals simple and open. It makes putting away dishes a breeze!

Personalized features make it home

The backsplash was also cost-contingent. We kept saying we’d do subway tile to save money—but decided on handmade, natural clay tiles that look so right with the plaster walls. Plastering the hood was another important detail for us; it became a way to draw the co-op’s original character into our modern design.

We didn’t agree on everything. My uphill battle was to convince Matt to spend the extra money to put in taps for filtered and boiling water. As the cook of the house and the one who drinks the most water, I felt strongly that this would pay off in convenience. Matt finally agreed, and it really has.

Finishing touches for the laundry

The laundry room was another area where plumbing was key, and our Sweeten contractor got involved there, too. We’d installed cabinets ourselves above the washer and dryer before starting the kitchen renovation. However, the washer and dryer, which were included in the house purchase, had exposed hookups. We upgraded by having the contractor recess them into the wall. The dryer had been vented through a hole in the floor that looked like it was cut with a Sawzall, so we finished that, too. We invested in an on-demand hot-water heater and installed an $85 utility sink. Someday we’d like to get front-loading machines and put in a countertop to really pull that room together.

Good communication with their general contractor

Throughout the process, our Sweeten contractor was very communicative, which was lucky. When little things went wrong, he was determined to fix them and make us happy. We are grateful to the Sweeten team for helping us find him! We spent just under $56,000 on the whole project. I’m not sure we could have pulled it off had we not both been creative managers, but it was worth it to have a kitchen we designed exactly for ourselves.

The renovation has made our home livable in a way we could have never foreseen. After being over budget and tired of eating out, it kind of worked for us that eating out had become less appealing, due to COVID. We got to stay home and cook.

Thanks for sharing your renovation story with us, Chrissy and Matt!

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Paint in un-tinted base white with an eggshell finish: Dunn Edwards. Bahja cement floor tile in red/brown/green: Moroccan Mosaic & Tile House. Custom birch plywood kitchen cabinets: Supplied through contractor. Europa tab pull cabinet hardware in matte black: Top Knobs. Revival Malibu 4×4 backsplash tiles: Mission Tile West. Undermount sink: Franke. Newport Brass dispenser tap faucet: Signature Hardware. Fisher & Paykel refrigerator: Appliances Connection. KitchenAid dishwasher and oven: Appliances Connection. Frigidaire induction cooktop: Appliances Connection. Custom birch ply pantry shelving: Knottynuff Wood.

LAUNDRY RESOURCES: Sektion base cabinets with Grimslov doors: IKEA. Mustee Utilatub utility sink: Home Depot.

A note on fixture and appliance deliveries: If you’re on a tight timeline, Appliances Connection has over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship nationally. If you’re in the NY/NJ metro area, in-stock items typically deliver within 2-3 days.

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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.

A stylish homeowner achieved a modern palette for a dual-toned kitchen galley in white and wood

• Homeowner: Anita posted her remodeling project on Sweeten
• Where: Jackson Heights, New York
• Primary renovation: Turn an outdated one-wall layout into a functional white and wood kitchen in a galley plan
• Sweeten general contractor in Queens
• Homeowner’s quote: “[My contractor] also respected my budget but knew when to push me toward better quality items or when simpler materials would suffice.”
• Sweeten’s role: We match home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure deposits—at no cost to the homeowner.

Written in partnership with homeowner Anita. “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin.

From Manhattan to a tighter-knit neighborhood

A series of events, including a new job, took Anita from Manhattan’s Chelsea to a co-op in Jackson Heights. “I wanted to live somewhere where I felt part of a community and that my connections could really make a difference. I also left the private sector for the nonprofit world,” she shared. 

Her new 850-square-foot apartment in a 1950s building was the right fit for her reimagined life—minus the kitchen. “I knew I’d gut renovate the kitchen the second I saw it,” Anita said. She’d been living simply (with just a bed and kitchen table) in the apartment for three months when she embarked on her first renovation. The project was posted to Sweeten and was matched with a selection of vetted general contractors in Queens.

A white and wood kitchen for gathering

Anita’s mission for the bland and dated space? To create a warm and modern room with plenty of storage and room to host friends. There were no outlets along the entire counter wall either, so updating the electrical panel was essential.

Anita used Ikea’s kitchen planning tool, working with an Ikea designer to measure the kitchen and select all of the materials she needed to order. Pairing a simple contrast of colors, this combination offered an interesting spin on traditional design for added visual appeal. The dual finishes even carried over into the drawer-within-drawer system for a coordinated look.

Her years spent living in Germany (where she says everyone renovates kitchens, even in rentals) inspired the appliance choices, as did prior work experience. “I had also worked in refrigeration for vaccines in developing countries and know way too much about refrigerators,” Anita said.

Picking out kitchen floor tile proved to be a more difficult decision. Her contractor recommended a supplier in Queens where, after several trips, she found a cement-look tile made in Italy.

The right contractor is in sync with their client

As a first-time renovator, Anita worried most about timing, budget, and working with a professional she could trust. Her Sweeten contractor delivered on all three, offering a reasonable estimate based on kitchen remodeling costs, a clear timeline from the get-go, and following through during the project. 

“My contractor sent me to reputable places priced within my budget that had items in stock. So, I didn’t have to rely on catalog pictures or internet images. He also respected my budget but knew when to push me toward better quality items or when simpler materials would suffice,” she said. “One of his best traits was being really good at reading people. He knew when my freaking out was legitimate and when I was falling into a trap of keeping up with the next big trend.” 

The contractor’s team was also respectful of the building, taking the right precautions and cleaning up every day. Anita said her building super still compliments them on their professionalism.

Now, she has a brand new kitchen, where she can throw “kitchen parties,” sip wine, and just enjoy the space.

Thank you, Anita, for sharing your remodel with us!

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

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.

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Rawtech porcelain floor tiles in Dust and Gabriella Casa Vogue white backsplash tiles: Sourced by contractor
• Voxtorp high gloss white and wood kitchen cabinets with walnut-effect: Ikea
• Countertops: Caesarstone
• Undermount stainless steel sink: Kraus
• Essa kitchen faucet: Delta
• Liebherr refrigerator: Appliances Connection
• Bertazzoni stove: Appliances Connection

Marie Kondo inspires Japanese-style storage in one of Sweeten’s smallest kitchen renovations

• Homeowners: Architect Brett Masterson posted Sunghee and Joseph’s project on Sweeten 
• Where: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: Integrating a kitchen and entryway for more storage with a modern Japanese aesthetic
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in financial protection—for free

Guest blog post by architect Brett Masterson

Storage space with a Japanese vibe

Joseph, an immigration lawyer and painter, and Sunghee, a curator and former director of Art Space Pool, a non-profit art space in South Korea, rented their mid-century Clinton Hill co-op in Brooklyn for several years before purchasing it from the owner. They were lucky the 606-square-foot apartment had been modernized before they moved in with new white oak floors, kitchen upgrades, and bath updates with Ikea products. When it became their own, they wanted the home to reflect their modern Japanese aesthetic and to have additional storage space.

They turned to architect Brett Masterson of Masterson Architecture & Design Co., who had renovated his own one-bedroom in their building. They were impressed by how he had maximized his even smaller space and created custom storage solutions that disappeared when not in use.

Integrating lifestyle and function

The couple’s main objective for the 44-square-foot area was to open up the closed-off kitchen to the rest of the apartment and, ideally, double their storage space. The marriage of the Japanese aesthetic—minimal hardware, natural and warm materials—with clever organizational solutions drove their vision. “The project was like a renovation version of author Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method for tidying up,” the architect said.

Brett spent a lot of time understanding how the couple used the space: their lifestyle patterns, what they had for breakfast, and how they spent their evenings. He wanted the renovation to adapt to Sunghee and Joseph’s routines, while also streamlining their day-to-day through purposeful design and space planning.

Built-ins and organizational systems

They faced challenges right away: First, it took a long time for the co-op board to approve the project. Then, the co-op board wouldn’t allow the wall where the electrical panel and intercom were located to be removed. That limited how open they could make the kitchen on one side. They still were able to open the wall that faced the large living room windows, which meant they could have a direct sightline to the outdoors and add to the open feel. They also flipped the electrical panel to the inside of the kitchen so it wasn’t as visible. A base cabinet at the wall’s cut-out that Brett calls “the landing strip” is a place to kick off shoes, store keys, wallets, etc.

The small kitchen didn’t have enough working space for two people to comfortably prepare a meal together. The compact fridge took up a quarter of the kitchen, so they relocated it to a new adjacent storage wall across the entry hallway. That was a game-changer since it increased the amount of prep space by 200 percent.

The existing storage situation also made the room feel cluttered as well. The couple was storing things in the space between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling and were keeping things out on the counter.

Utilitarian needs and modern looks

The architect placed a pegboard panel on the outside face of a six-inch deep cabinet (used as a pantry to hold mason jars and cooking ingredients). The board, which holds regularly used items such as a knife block, cooking utensils, a basket of onions, cast iron pans, is only visible when someone is standing by the stove. After things are washed, items can be hung to dry, which skips a stop at the drying rack and helps eliminate clutter. They also separated the cooktop and oven so cooking and baking could be done at the same time—a benefit they were not expecting.

The most important part of the storage solution design was the wall of book-matched white oak cabinets in the entryway. The cabinets look the same from the outside, but each was designed for a specific need: Cabinet one is an entry storage wall with space for shoes, vacuum, dustbin, and microwave; Cabinet two is a panel-ready refrigerator; Cabinets three and four are a double-door unit that houses a modular ELFA shelving system that Joseph and Sunghee already owned.

Brett also discovered an unused pocket behind the cabinet wall where they were able to hide a cabinet that is flush with (and blends into) the sheetrock wall. The cabinet opens on the living room side and houses the couple’s luggage for easy access since Sunghee travels to Korea regularly.

A limited and complementary palette

A limited materials palette helped unify the renovated kitchen with the rest of the apartment and complemented the couple’s furniture and art collection. They primarily used rift-cut white oak for the cabinets and shelving because the flooring, dining table, and bench were white oak. They also chose to paint all the upper cabinets white to lighten the mass of storage cabinets above the sink and blend into the wall.

(Above) Sweeten homeowner, Joseph

Brett, Sunghee, and Joseph are all pleased with the way things turned out. The architect had shown the couple plans in 3D to help them visualize how their kitchen would meet their needs and look the way they wanted it to. Ultimately they created “a spot for everything they needed and nothing they didn’t,” he said.

They enjoyed selecting lighting and tiles, and Sunghee, in particular, loved seeing the contractor work. (She felt like she was apprenticing at times because she spent so much time watching the construction team.) The architect says that he was excited to try some new, well-made high-end materials, such as Heath ceramic handmade floor tiles (set in a herringbone pattern) and custom lighting.

Architectural experience

While this project was a first for Sunghee and Joseph, Brett has renovated more than 20 homes (three of them his own). He offers this advice: “Be prepared to spend 20 percent more and for projects to take 20 percent longer, and don’t live in the space while work is being done.” But it’s not all cautionary. “You can splurge on nice things in small spaces without too much of a financial impact on the project.”

Thank you, Sunghee, Joseph, and Brett for sharing this beautiful—and smart—space!

Renovation materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: 2″ x 4″ floor tile in Fog: Heath Ceramics. Custom rift-cut white oak cabinets: Custom by general contractor. Hardware: Top Knob. 3/4″ countertops and backsplash in Fresh Concrete: Caesarstone. Pax Series sink: Kraus. Faucet: Brizo. Smeg refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Bosch stove, gas range, and hood: Appliances Connection. Lighting: Allied Maker.

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Need to make the most of a small kitchen? Check out these space-savvy ideas.

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.

This Brooklyn kitchen remodel incorporates a chef’s love for Japanese aesthetics

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten

• Homeowners: Tracey and Stephen posted their Brooklyn kitchen remodel on Sweeten
• Where: East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: Remodeling a neglected rowhouse kitchen
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “You never felt like you were just being fit into their day. We felt like priority clients,” said Tracey. And Sweeten “was great. They checked in regularly to see how things were going and made sure we knew they were available for any and all help.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches residential renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering know-how, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowners Tracey and Stephen 

The existing kitchen made it impossible to entertain

For years, Tracey Dixon and Stephen Neverson and their three young children were always renters in New York City. But in a confluence of difficult and emotional events—the deaths of Tracey’s parents (just three weeks apart after 42 years of marriage), which led to some inheritance money, followed closely by the sale of their apartment by their landlord—pushed them to decide to purchase a place of their own.

While the ‘40s attached rowhouse in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush had enough space (1,930 square feet), it also had a kitchen with a drop ceiling, wood paneling, an unsightly ceramic floor, and a sink that was falling apart. “We entertain a lot, and the kitchen blocked us from that. The stove was crooked because of the floor, and there was a thick layer of grease on everything that would not come off. The pipes were old as I don’t know what,” says Tracey, a freelance violist who runs the private Dixon String Studio and avid cook with a culinary degree. “I wanted a modern, bright, clean design.”

Tracey and Stephen, a high school guidance counselor, posted their project to Sweeten, and planned a renovation with their chosen contractor.

A chef-ready kitchen with everything a family needs

While Tracey wanted her chef’s kitchen, she didn’t want it to feel sterile. “This is a home, not a restaurant,” she said. “And the kitchen is the center of our home.” The design combines her love for both modern and Japanese aesthetics.

The dishwasher and stove were the two things Tracey was looking forward to the most. “We are a family of five and a dishwasher is crucial,” she said. The stove is “beloved. It allows me to create. I needed more power out of my stove. In our last apartment, it took me 100 years just to boil water for pasta,” she said.

During the renovation, Tracey said she became a “microwave cooking queen.” It was difficult to navigate the renovation with three small children and all their appliances sitting in the living room. But they couldn’t eat out all the time. “I discovered I could make lovely broccoli and fabulous rice in the microwave!” Tracey said.

Once they put everything back into the new kitchen, they were glad they had pull-out drawers for the recycling, spices, and oils. “There is so much storage. We also have two open-shelving spaces, which I just love,” she said.

Learning lessons during the Brooklyn remodel

If they ever renovate again, she’d know to “save for the renovation and the padding around it. The incidental costs caught us off guard. We factored in some, but not all. We were still able to get everything done, but we definitely could have benefitted from more financial padding.”

We were still able to get everything done, but we definitely could have benefitted from more financial padding.

Planning the next remodel

The couple loved working with their Sweeten contractor and designer on the remodel of their Brooklyn kitchen. “They were the absolute greatest,” Tracey said. “The level of professionalism was top notch. They did everything they could on this project. The kitchen was completely gutted and done in five weeks. They worked hard and were consistent. You never felt like you were just being fit into their day. We felt like priority clients.” And Sweeten “was great. They checked in regularly to see how things were going and made sure we knew they were available for any and all help.”

Now that it’s all over, Tracey is looking toward their next possible project. “The outdoor deck is definitely in our future renovation plans for our lifestyle.” She is daydreaming about a deck with Portuguese tiles, maybe a partial patio, and a grassy area. “Nature is important, necessary, and dear to me,” she said. “My family and guests need to have an option of green in our urban landscape.”

Bonus: Tracey expresses her love and nurturing through food. “Just a few weeks ago, the added counter space allowed me to show my brother some cooking tips because he has a new love for cooking. Food binds our cultures and our lives together,” she explained.

Renovation Materials

Floor tile and backsplash tile: Artistic Tile. Bamboo cabinets, hardware, and Caesarstone countertops: Decori Kitchens. Sink: Appliances Connection. Faucet: Appliances Connection. Refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Stove: Appliances Connection. Ivy Bronx pendant lighting: All Modern. Envi bar stools: Lumisource.

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Thinking of redesigning your storage? Take a look at these kitchen cabinets in motion.

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.  

An outdated, clunky space gets ready for guests in this Clinton Hill kitchen renovation

Originally posted 2/24/16

Project: Renovation of a Clinton Hill kitchen for entertaining and storage

Before: A kitchen renovation was some time in the making for Sarah, who works in finance, and Becky, who works for a media company. Sarah had been living in the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in the Clinton Hill Co-ops since 2010 (with Becky joining her in 2013) and had her sights set on overhauling the kitchen from the get-go. A previous renovation had tiled-off the kitchen, chopping up the open living space and giving guests a clunky raised border to trip over. White appliances and heavy cabinetry were outdated, and the kitchen’s generous square footage wasn’t all that functional for hosting or entertaining. After seeing successful Sweeten rehabs featured on Apartment Therapy, Sarah posted her renovation project to Sweeten. “It seemed like an easy solution for such a risky kind of decision,” she said. The couple was matched with a Sweeten general contractor.

After: At the start of the project, Sarah envisioned limiting cabinet installation to one wall and contemplated adding an island, but after a design consultation, she decided to rework the game plan. Thankfully, their contractor was up for anything. “He’s really a nice guy, super trustworthy and very patient,” Sarah said. “He was willing to wait throughout that time while I was redesigning things.” The new plan was worth the hold-up: they would tear out the L-line of cabinetry and use multiple variations on open and closed storage on each of the walls and in a central island. Plus, they geared up to create a new entry connecting the kitchen to the hallway, improving the flow around the apartment.

Becky and Sarah found inspiration from a previous project for the striking white-on-wood contrast that now unites the new space. “I had redone my radiator covers and my windowsills with white slabs and I thought it would look nice to match that,” Sarah said. Her original vision paired the white stone composite with gray cabinets, but after looking through Ikea photo pairings, a warmer, walnut-inspired wood started to feel like a better match.

To give the Ikea base cabinetry some added oomph, Sarah chose custom doors from Semihandmade. Semihandmade also provided coordinating custom paneling for the new island—a gorgeous detail with the stark white waterfall countertop. The island’s added storage freed Becky and Sarah to be more adventurous with other cabinetry choices. They skipped an upper line of cabinets on the most visible wall and went with slim open shelving made from recycled wood. White globe pendants and sconces are anchored on an intricate porcelain backsplash tile; the tile’s folded paper-style pattern adds another level of visual detail in barely-there-beige.

The finished product looks amazing, and Sarah now has some hard-earned wisdom to share. “I probably could have timed the delivery of everything better,” she admits. The summer-long process paused when the cabinets beat the doors’ arrival by a few weeks, and delivery of a few additional custom pieces dragged until January. Her advice to future renovators: temper your eagerness to get started, knowing that your patience will pay off with a more reasonable timeline (and with all of your packages in place).

While Sarah and Becky didn’t love hiding out in their bedroom for a good part of the summer, the new cohesive kitchen was worth it. The couple didn’t just survive they process—they thrived: Sarah and Becky recently got engaged! “It could have torn us apart but in the end it bonded us together,” said Sarah with a laugh.

Thanks, Sarah and Becky, for sharing your Clinton Hill kitchen renovation with us!

Bonus: The kitchen floor now matches the rest of the apartment’s original tongue and groove parquet—thanks to the contractor’s painstaking work to cut and stain new flooring to match the original (and no longer available) planks.

Style finds: Cabinets: Ikea. Cabinet doors: Semihandmade. Open shelving: Barnwood Design. Caesarstone Blizzard White countertops: Galactic Tiles. Cabinet hardware and lighting: Schoolhouse. Barstool: homenature. Dishwasher and refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Oven and hood: Appliances Connection. Faucet: Grohe. Mutina Folded backsplash tile: Stone Source.

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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.