The post A 90-Square-Foot Kitchen is Revived in Color appeared first on Sweeten.

• Homeowner: Leah posted a project on Sweeten
• Where: Upper West Side in New York City
• Primary renovation: A rip-and-replace bathroom
• Sweeten general contractor in Manhattan
• 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 homeowner Leah. “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin.

Starting a renovation

Leah, a lawyer in the finance industry, bought her prewar one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. She spent several years living in the apartment before embarking on a kitchen renovation. She also redid the floors. “The decisions I made after really living in the space were just better—how I moved in and out of the kitchen, how the rooms communicated with each other,” she said.

Reaching out for help

The renovation projects became exhausting, so she took a break—even though the bathroom was disjointed from the rest of the apartment, with its beige tones and frumpy ’70s aesthetic. It also had a dropped ceiling for seemingly no reason, which cramped the small space. “I backed away because it seemed like too much to take on,” she said, but she finally took the plunge and posted her NYC prewar bathroom remodel on Sweeten to find a general contractor.

Raising up a dropped ceiling

Leah envisioned something that was reflective of her co-op building’s beautiful foyer with its marble and clean look. “I think my design was to let the space speak for itself,” she said. The Sweeten contractors she hired set out to raise the ceiling. “We didn’t know what we were going to find,” Leah said. Because they could not find any pipes or any other obvious reason for the dropped ceiling, they were able to raise it again.

She selected classic subway tiles for the walls and a marble top for the vanity. With the floors, the Sweeten contractors made a reassuring discovery—the original tiles were still underneath, and matched the new creamy hexagon tiles Leah had chosen. It was a confirmation that her design choices were in line with how the bathroom was originally meant to be.

Adding warmth

While Leah had planned for white and silver tones, she made a last-minute decision to bring in gold fixtures. “I wanted to add warmth,” she said of the 11th-hour choice. Luckily, she found the renovation process to be far less taxing than she had anticipated. She was in daily communication with her Sweeten contractors, who helped solve problems and helped her make those nuts-and-bolts decisions, like how far up the wall the tiles should go. “It was a very collaborative process,” she said.

Saving for a renovation

Leah decided early on where she would save money (like tile choices) with her remodeling budget and where she would spend more lavishly. Because of the small space, she decided on a custom bathtub, which took six weeks to make in South Carolina. “Every bathtub that was standard was made for bigger spaces,” she said. “I needed something that fit my dimensions.” The shower enclosure and tub combination became a show stopping centerpiece of the bathroom and were well worth the wait.

Resource materials

Casa Vogue porcelain wall tile in glossy Snow White, hexagon floor tile, and white chair rail: Appliances Connection. Bathtub: MTI Baths. Shower and sink fixtures in French Gold: Appliances Connection. Empire Windsor vanity: Appliances Connection. AiO Cabinet and mirror: Robern. Vanity light fixture: Restoration Hardware. UltraMax toilet: Appliances Connection. Glass surround: Alpha Glass.

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Even small changes to a floor plan may free up enough square footage for an extra bathroom. Here’s how five Sweeten homeowners who added one.

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 A NYC Bathroom Remodel Restores Prewar Beauty appeared first on Sweeten.

• Homeowners: Beth and Bob Judge posted their Manhattan home remodel project on Sweeten
• Where: New York, New York
• Primary renovation: A gut remodel of a 1,450-square-foot apartment—with a work-from-home niche—in a 1917 Beaux-Arts building
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “While we had renovation knowledge, every experience has its unexpected nuances. We were very relieved to have Sweeten as the backstop when needed.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure deposits—at no cost to the homeowner.

Guest post by Sweeten homeowner Beth Judge. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.

Moving back to the city

We relocated back to Manhattan several years ago after residing in the Midwest and South for work. It was simply time to return home to our families in the Tri-State area. Bob and I met in NYC while studying for our MBAs, and Bob grew up here. While away, we owned several single-family homes—a few we had renovated—so we weren’t strangers to the process. There was a high likelihood of renovating to make a space our own as we started the buying phase.

We rented for a few years until we located an apartment that would satisfy our love of prewar architectural details while accommodating modern living. Our home was purchased through an estate sale and we immediately started renovating. It had been updated in the early ‘90s, when the owners created an open floor plan of living room, dining room, and foyer which was a big draw for us. And there are two windows in every room except the bath, so the light was a huge selling point.

Mapping the “musts” for an empty nest renovation

While Bob rents office space, I required a fully functional home office in a dedicated space. Also, a washer/dryer. We lived without them for a few years in Manhattan after having a laundry room in suburban homes, and we didn’t want to do that ever again. Both the kitchen and the bath needed better functionality and major cosmetic updates. Storage was essential throughout the apartment, as well as better lighting.

Our vision for the apartment was classic and period-appropriate but updated for today. We felt it was important to keep within the prewar aesthetic, including subway tiles, wood flooring, wide baseboard and door frame moldings, classic single-panel doors, radiator covers, and shaker-style cabinets.

More storage and a tip for staying cool

The master bedroom initially had a large double-door closet. We flipped it to be used in the second bedroom next door as a home office. We created built-in drawers and cabinets, as well as added new closets to account for the one given to the home office. 

I loved ditching the tub for a large shower stall and completely rearranging the master bath. We went for a custom industrial-style shower screen, mosaic floor tiles, and classic subway tiles with a twist: a crackle pattern. Plus a black metal grate for heat. The design worked.

I sourced what I needed at the onset so we weren’t crunched for time in selecting and getting product delivered in time.

Electrical rewiring was not expected, but it had to be done. Then we replaced all the lighting and added ceiling fans in the bedrooms and kitchen. It’s a trick from the south because you can cut down on A/C bills. And it’s a plus in a prewar building where you can’t regulate the heat in winter.  We went for sleek, custom radiator covers that are great for display on top, too.

In the foyer, we extended the closet out by six inches and added shelving on top. So what was non-functional became completely utilized, with tons of space. We added bookshelves in the living room—we love books and are avid readers.

Enlisting Sweeten during a hurdle

Bob would say the stainless steel countertops surrounding the range are a throwback to a ’50s kitchen we had. Those tops are indestructible! It was the only design element he wished to have a “say” in. Bob is the master of paint colors. I can give him a palette of 10 colors and he can narrow them down so that they flow together from room to room.

While we had renovation knowledge, every experience has its unexpected nuances. We were very relieved to have Sweeten as the backstop when needed. It was great to have someone who could assist in holding the contractors accountable. We had problems with the contractor with a leak after moving in. So parts of the kitchen had to be dismantled, the leak fixed, and put back together again. Sweeten stood by us and made sure the job was completed correctly. 

When planning for the unexpected pays off

I wish I had engaged Sweeten to talk through the contract, which might have avoided several issues. Having a second set of eyes is never a bad idea! For example, while I was very specific on the type of cabinetry I wanted, we found the budget in the contract did not align with reality. 

To help alleviate the overage, I hit the sales.  Also, I sourced what I needed at the onset so we weren’t crunched for time in selecting and getting product delivered in time. Additionally, we had allocated extra funds for overages and the unexpected.

Our new home makes us feel joyful. Our daughter commented that the space is aesthetically a culmination of all of our past homes, with a bit of industrial thrown in. It’s truly who we are at this stage of life, a mix of the past and present: kids grown, empty nesters with a puppy in the house!

Thank you, Beth and Bob, for sharing your empty nest renovation with us!

Shopping Guide

KITCHEN: Countertops, subway tile backsplash: Caesarstone. Kohler stainless under-mount sink and pull-down commercial faucet: Appliances Connection. Miele refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Bosch dishwasher: Appliances Connection. OX range: Appliances Connection.  GE microwave: Appliances Connection. Paint in Pale Oak: Benjamin Moore. Washer and dryer: Appliances Connection. Fanimation custom drum ceiling fan in black and brass: Pottery Barn. Custom pine shelving: Delirious by Design. Shelving hardware: Rejuvenation.

BATHROOM: Merola mosaic floor tile: Home Depot. Crackle subway shower wall tile in Tierra Ceramic Filed: Complete Tile. Watermark shower fixtures, sink faucet, and train rack: Pottery Barn. Shower screen: Custom. Vanity: Custom. Lucite drawer pulls: LuxHoldUps. Toilet: American Standard. Lighting: Shades of Light. Kohler vanity mirror/medicine cabinet and sink: Appliances Connection.  Towel ring, toilet paper holder: Rejuvenation. Wall paint in Calm, custom vanity paint in San Antonio Gray: Benjamin Moore.

HOME OFFICE: Wallpaper in Dog’s Life: Anthropologie. Maple shelving and tabletop: Custom. Shelving brackets: Rejuvenation. Chair: West Elm. File cabinets: Pottery Barn.

MASTER BEDROOM: Drawer pulls and cabinet knobs: Restoration Hardware. Paint in Knitted Cap: Benjamin Moore.

LIVING AREA: Baldwin door hardware: Appliances Connection.  Bedroom ceiling fans: Hunter. Dining room chandelier, foyer ceiling light: Ballard Designs. Hall crystal flush mount: Shades of Light. Paint for all trim, kitchen cabinets, master builtins and radiator covers in Dove White; bedroom wall paint in Constellation: Benjamin Moore. Radiator covers: Custom. Existing hardwood floor and new hardwoods in kitchen: Custom gray wash.

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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 A Check-All-The-Boxes Apartment for Empty Nesters appeared first on Sweeten.

“After” photos by Pixy Interiors for Sweeten

• Homeowners: A Sweeten homeowner posted their 1,800-square-foot home remodel on Sweeten,
• Where: Manhattan’s Upper West Side, New York
• Primary renovation: Renovating the master bedroom and bathroom, while giving the living room an open concept
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering valuable advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Guest blog post by Sweeten homeowner

A full gut renovation

When we purchased our apartment, we knew that we were going to renovate it.  As someone who loves design, I saw the potential and welcomed the opportunity to take a space and figure out how to best make it work for our family of five including three boys (and two dogs). I did not, however, anticipate we would be undertaking a full gut renovation—and while we had renovated before, those projects were a much smaller scope.

Working with an architect

Before we closed on our apartment, we began working with our architect Jessica Wetters on how to change the layout of the apartment. The plan was to open it up and improve the light and flow. The living spaces would be connected as well as add a bedroom and a half-bathroom. It was clear to our architect that the apartment required a full-gut renovation and that little could be saved. After a few rounds of revising the plans, we arrived at a layout that achieved our objectives.  

Finding the right contractor

Before we found Sweeten, we began working with a contractor on the budget for the project and costs kept going up. We were at the point where we were cutting parts of the project that were important to us (like millwork) and making compromises we weren’t comfortable with in order to stay within budget. I decided to post our project on Sweeten. It would allow me to add more cost estimates into the mix with their network of general contractors and see if I had unrealistic expectations. 

Sweeten matched us with three contractors, but after interviewing this general contractor, I knew he was the one for our project. Not only did he assure us that he could get us everything we wanted within our budget, but he promised that he would minimize the disruption to our lives and work with our aggressive timeline.   

As soon as we hired him, things moved quickly and once we had all of the necessary approvals, we moved into a rental apartment. Demolition began in February and work was completed over the summer. 

Functional and modern

The first decision we made was the kitchen. I knew I wanted a Henrybuilt kitchen. I love the functionality and feel of our kitchen. We also planned for a black wall in the living room using huge porcelain tile slabs to camouflage our TV and it turned out even better than I expected. I researched industrial factory doors to connect the living room and bedrooms, but it was over-budget (even the reclaimed factory doors I saw were $7,000+) so I had a door made with a similar look for a small fraction of the cost.

(Above) Newly-built powder room

Replacing the floors

In addition to opening up the kitchen, foyer, and living room, we enlarged the size of our master bathroom and added closets in unused space in the master bedroom. Throughout the apartment, we replaced the hardwood floors, skim coated the walls, replaced the trim, replaced all of the lighting, and added millwork.

Even though we lived there without a kitchen which wasn’t optimal, there was no question that it would be worth it in the end. 

When I told our Sweeten contractor that our rental ended in June and that we wanted to move back in before the apartment was completed, he worked with us to allow us to do that—despite his strong recommendation that we hold off moving in. Even though we lived there without a kitchen which wasn’t optimal—his crew set up a refrigerator in the middle of the apartment—there was no question that it would be worth it in the end. 

The perfect finished product

When a couple of unexpected structural issues were discovered during demo that required changes to the layout, our contractor immediately contacted our architect and me and proposed solutions that ended up improving the project. Issues that could have induced panic and delays were addressed efficiently and proactively. Our contractor, our architect, and I met at the apartment nearly every week to discuss progress and make decisions to ensure that the project kept moving forward on schedule.  

We are thrilled with the results. We achieved exactly the look and feel we were going for and I firmly believe that the process went as smoothly and efficiently as it did, thanks to our contractor, his crew, and our architect.  

Thank you for sharing your design vision and renovation with us!

Renovation materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Cabinets and materials/stain: Henrybuilt. Sink: Signature Hardware. Faucet: KWC. Sub-Zero refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Miele dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Wolf stove, range hood: Appliances Connection. Lighting: Lambert & Fils. Bar stools: Hay.

POWDER ROOM RESOURCES: Floor tile: Artistic Tile. Wall tile: Global Stone Marble. Kohler Purist Collection hardware: Appliances Connection. Sink/vanity: Nameeks. Mirror: Rejuvenation. Toto toilet: Appliances Connection. Lighting: Flos.

BATHROOM RESOURCES (vertical tile): Toto toilet: Appliances Connection. Floor tile: The Builder Depot. Bathroom wall tile: Floor & Decor. Shower fixtures & hardware: Trinsic Collection by Delta. Kohler tub: Appliances Connection. Sink & vanity: Wayfair. Shower doors: Alpha Glass. Light fixture: Matteo Lighting. Vanity mirror medicine cabinet: Restoration Hardware.

BATHROOM RESOURCES (walk-in shower): Toto toilet: Appliances Connection.  Floor & wall tiles: Carraratiles.com. Kohler Stillness Collection shower fixtures and hardware: Appliances Connection. Shower doors: Alpha Glass. Sink: Nameeks. Light fixture: Sonneman.

LIVING ROOM RESOURCES: Black wall tile: Porcelanosa.

LIVING AREAS RESOURCES: Wooden flooring: Madera. Glass door leading to bedrooms: Upstate Door. Electrolux washer/dryer: Appliances Connection.

BEDROOM RESOURCES: Pendant lighting: Moooi. Sconces: Flos.

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To stay or to go during a remodel? Six Sweeten homeowners recount the pros and cons of each.

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 When a Family Transforms with Design-Forward Plans appeared first on Sweeten.

Nothing good could come of a crew of firefighters crashing down your door and barreling in to extinguish a roof fire. Could it? Dianna and Todd had been planning to renovate their fifth-floor apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side since the day they’d closed on it. But it was after FDNY firefighters paid them a visit and squelched a soon-to-surge blaze on their 1910 co-op building’s rooftop that they decided to move on their ideas. Their unit sustained no major damage from flames, smoke or water, but the fast-moving defenders destroyed their door and its frame and left behind a trail of broken plaster and blemished floors.

(Above) The floor plan did not change

“We were so appreciative of how quickly and thoroughly the FDNY responded,” Dianna recalled. “We counted eight fire trucks and 35 firemen.” The close call affirmed their love for the high-floor dream duplex, which they had lived in for three years. And now Dianna, an advertising agency director, and Todd, a college professor, had the incentive they needed to turn the 440-square-foot, studio alcove apartment around.

The damaged walls and floors were the most obvious problems, but they weren’t the only ones. The kitchen needed new appliances, and the cabinets and bare sheetrock walls were begging for a facelift. The cramped bathroom had little storage and an old tub with pitted enamel. The wood floors and the treads of the suspended staircase looked scuffed and worn. It had been close to 20 years since the apartment had undergone a renovation. Dianna and Todd wanted to give their place a 21st-century sprucing.

The homeowners had ideas but wanted professional input and an experienced contractor to do the work. Their big questions? What order to tackle the parts of the project, and of course, what the cost would be. Before bringing interior designer Julia Oddo of TC Interiors onboard, Dianna and Todd had posted their project to Sweeten, a free service that connects home renovators with vetted general contractors. Sweeten’s Client Services provided a vetted list of contractors and helped the homeowners compare competing quotes. Soon, they had their chosen Sweeten contractor signed on and a start-to-finish renovation plan on paper.

The contractors felt the couple could hold spending down by keeping the existing layout, putting the bulk of the work into the kitchen and bathroom, and updating the other areas with color and practical design.

Dianna and Todd’s contractors advised them that they could and should scratch below the surfaces in the areas where they really wanted to see change—not only on the ruined walls and floors, but in the kitchen and bath, too. Elsewhere, they could focus on simpler upgrades and still feel wowed by the results. Their plan for the kitchen was to spring for shiny new appliances, refresh the cabinetry, and add a luxe-looking backsplash. The bathroom would receive a complete overhaul, including a glass-walled shower. The floors and floating staircase would get a stain-and-paint makeover. In the living and sleeping spaces, the walls would be fixed while other improvements would come from color upgrades and new furnishings. The end goal: Modernize the apartment while increasing the functionality of every space.

The “magic of paint,” transformation, as Dianna calls it, began with the floors. The contractors sanded the honey-toned wood throughout, then restained the surfaces in a striking near-black; a gray overwash muted the inky result, making the floors look lived-on and lessening the need for constant cleaning.

To counter the dark floors, the couple opted for bright-white walls in the living room, lightening it up and giving it a fresh, clean look. One of the ah-hah! moments of the renovation, however, surprised everyone. When the contractor took down some marred plaster in the living room, workers revealed a stretch of red brick underneath. “It had so much character,”  Dianna said. They left it exposed.

The kitchen was an oft-used room and a priority, but the couple decided against a gut job. They felt it had keepable components, and decided to preserve the black-granite countertop and cabinetry, which would be easy to update with paint. Once again, the clients wanted to do away with honey-brown wood, so the Sweeten contractor sanded and repainted the cabinets and doors in an almost-white greige and added new black-iron hardware. The savings allowed the homeowners to splurge on fun tile instead. Dianna chose handmade Moroccan terra cotta tile to create a stunning textured backsplash. They chose high-end appliances in a classic stainless finish.

The bedroom, flanking the kitchen and living-room space, came together around the “something-old” rug the couple had wanted to keep. It served as a perfect centerpiece for a room with a more romantic feel and connected with the other rooms as well. The couple chose a neutral upholstered headboard to blend with the greige-painted walls. The cheery coral color comes in pops and the navy in unexpectedly blue bedside tables and wall art. A small corner became a classic-meets-modern vanity nook.

The couple’s bathroom, the biggest job of all, began with their general contractor’s gutting of the space. With the old tub, shower curtain, and clunky wall-mounted medicine cabinet gone, the room felt much bigger. They decided to go with shiny white subway tile on the walls and a simple and contemporary stand-up shower with a glass half-wall.

When workers were unable to install recessed cabinetry over the console sink (more brick behind the sheetrock, this time a negative!), they suggested tucking recessed floor-to-ceiling cabinets behind the door. “It seemed small at the time, but those cabinets provide valuable storage space,” Dianna said. The homeowners splurged on special handmade encaustic tiles in a splashy black-and-white pattern bringing a shot of graphic boldness to the room and connecting it to the whole apartment.

The rarely used loft space at the top of the stairs to the roof deck found new life as a library and office space. The staircase’s free-floating wooden steps going from brown to a modern matte black. The banisters got a coat of black as well.

Once the renovation was completed, they brought in interior designer Julia Oddo. The homeowners, both fans of a rustic-modern aesthetic, decided on a simple-but-striking color palette, compliments of a Kazakhstan-style rug they had purchased and wanted to keep. The soft, tufted carpet had a bold black, white, and coral pattern. They decided that the made-over apartment would have a dominant scheme of bold blacks and whites, soothed by a livable, muted gray-beige on the walls of the smaller areas. Coral would serve as an accent color, along with a classic navy blue.

A key pivot was the changing-up of the light fixtures; the homeowners chose hanging wall sconces for the living room and bedroom, where floor and table lamps had formerly demanded too much space. For furnishings, the couple chose a neutral three-seater sofa and swapped a large shelving unit for floating bookshelves and a console TV stand. Dual-purpose ottomans double as extra seating and storage. Julia had other ideas for making the most of every inch, by using flexible furniture in transition spaces. In the pass-through between kitchen and living room, they found space for a drop-leaf table to accommodate dinner-party guests and used floating shelving to create a reach-up “bar cart” on the wall.

It was a big job that came with its share of challenges, and they could not have done it, Dianna said, without such a top-notch design-build team. “Our contractor appointed a foreman to our project,” Dianna says. “Other specialists came and went, but our contractor was there every day without fail for six weeks, keeping the project moving.” Sweeten’s Client Services stayed in the loop, calling to check in with their clients along the way. “If I had it to do again,” Dianna said, “I would reconsider our choice of a labor-only contract.”  The couple had opted to source their own renovation materials, thinking they would save money and have greater flexibility. But rounding up measurements, researching products, placing orders and chasing deliveries, Dianna explained, required time and proved stressful.

Now, though, living with the rewards of their hard work, they feel nothing but happy. “The end result is amazing!” Dianna said. “Sometimes we just sit here, and stare in awe.”

Thank you, Dianna and Todd, for sharing your home with us!

DESIGN NOTES FROM TC INTERIORS’ JULIA ODDO:

The inspiration for this project was the rug that Dianna and Todd once had in their living room. The rug, now in their bedroom, has a soft coral design mixed with a black-and-white pattern. The couple also mentioned that they loved navy, which I thought would pair perfectly with the colors of the rug.

With their style being rustic modern, I combined smooth and polished elements (a modern wall-hung vanity, side table, poufs) with textured ones (bedroom sconces, a console table, chaise longue, and other accents). Choosing the rug for the main area was tricky because of the layout and functionality of the space. We went with a custom carpet that pulled the whole space together. We had a lot of fun bringing color in with artwork, pillows, and small accessories. I wanted the space to not only look aesthetically pleasing but to give it personal touches so it feels like home.

LIVING ROOM AND LOFT RESOURCES: Regal Select wall paint in Super White, #OC-152; stair treads in Black, #HC-190; entry door in Balboa Mist, #OC-26: Benjamin Moore. Rust-oleum’s Varathane wood floor stain in Kona and Weathered Gray; LG washer-dryer combination: Home Depot. Ceiling fan and sconce light fixtures: Existing.

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Paint in Super White, #OC-152; cabinets in Balboa Mist, #OC-26: Benjamin Moore. Countertop: Existing black granite. Weathered White Zellige backsplash tile: Clé.  Tolson cabinet hardware: Rejuvenation. Stove: Thor. Refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Microwave and sink: Existing. Vigo Edison faucet: Amazon. Craftmade Lighting matte black and gilded pendant light fixture: Destination Lighting. GetInLight under-cabinet lights in bronze: Amazon.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Aura Bath & Spa paint: Benjamin Moore. Glass Warehouse frameless fixed glass shower panel: Wayfair. Rounded rectangle metal framed mirror; Tolson hook: Rejuvenation. Delta Cassidy shower system: Appliances Connection.  American Standard Retrospect pedestal console sink top; Nuvo faucet in chrome: Amazon. American Standard Cadet 3 toilet; Jeffrey Court subway wall tile in Fresh White: Home Depot. Quoizel Lighting Prismatic Glass light fixture in Palladian Bronze: Destination Lighting.  Bordeaux cement floor tile in the Pacific Classic Collection: Cement Tile Shop.

BEDROOM: Regal Select wall paint in Collingwood, #OC-27: Benjamin Moore. Axiom Pendant light fixture in brass: Crate & Barrel. Flynn single wall sconce in wicker: Serena & Lily. Slice wall-mount storage shelf as vanity: CB2.

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The Best of Manhattan Renovations: The Upper West Side.

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 Duplex Fast-Tracks a Top-Floor Remodel appeared first on Sweeten.

This Central Park West renovation story started out as an emergency: A Manhattan couple, who owned their home since the 1970s, received a call from their resident building manager while they were on vacation during the summer of 2016. Their white-glove apartment was submerged under several inches of water—the result of a leak in an apartment several floors above.

At first, it didn’t look alarming: the homeowners thought that it would only entail a simple clean-up and repair. However, the problem worsened during the initial remediation period. Dehumidifiers were brought in to dry out the water damage, but the walls, ceilings, and floors harbored such high levels of moisture that black mold developed in the summer heat. After three long rounds of mold remediation, the apartment was finally cleared for renovation at the end of 2016.

To add to the complications, the homeowners had to endure negotiations with insurance companies, as well as lengthy permit applications and a challenging approval process with their board, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Department of Buildings.  In September 2017, they began the actual renovation in their Classic 7 home (a 7-room floor plan popular before the ’40s).

When the time finally came for the renovation work to begin, the couple posted their project and worked closely with their Sweeten contractor, who was recommended by Jean Brownhill, the founder and CEO of Sweeten, who happened to be a friend of a friend. Jean visited and saw the damage, plus what remained of an impressive art collection—amassed over a lifetime of travels, including Picassos and ancient sculptures. The scope of work was to include not only the kitchen, where the leak began, but also other parts of the apartment, including the adjacent hallway pantry, laundry room, guest room and bath, and the formal dining room. Eventually, the homeowners decided to convert their now-grown son’s bedroom into a study, and their daughter’s former room into a lounge/exercise space.

They sent us three contractors to interview, which was a huge relief. I’m doing this for the first time, and I was totally out of my comfort zone.

Their Sweeten contractor gutted all of the floors, walls, and ceilings and then began the work of restoration. The couple was interested in restoring what was previously there while bringing a freshness and openness to space by choosing new materials and finishes. The kitchen, which had sported a stainless steel backsplash, outdated cabinets, and inadequate lighting, was given a makeover that included custom gray cabinets paired with white quartz countertops and a unique amazonite backsplash. The homeowner explained, “We visited the stone yard with the contractor and marked the piece out. We wanted it bookended and to come together in an inverted V over the sink.” This was done over both the sink in the walk-through pantry as well as the main kitchen space.

New pendants were added to light up the breakfast table, where the duo generally eats all their meals unless they are entertaining a larger group. “If we want to have more people over, we use the dining room, but otherwise we eat in the kitchen,” the homeowner said. Both the oval-shaped table and radiator cover were designed by the homeowners which their contractors commissioned to have made. Useful storage solutions were added including a dedicated spice drawer and a movable cart outfitted with a cutting board that can be moved wherever needed.

Additionally, the refrigerator was relocated from the hallway pantry area to the main kitchen space, which made it much easier to access, and a smaller, secondary refrigerator was added instead. “I’m a big condiments person, so we made sure to add room for them,” the homeowner said.

In the formal dining room, the space was restored to its original condition to serve as a backdrop for the homeowners’ artwork, records, organ, and harpsichord. The couple’s art collection is diverse and eclectic, gathered from all over the world and dating from early BC through the 21st century. It includes works on paper and canvas; bronze and wood sculpture, ceramics and ceremonial objects. The hope was that the renovation would open up sufficient space and light to showcase these many objects of beauty and turned out to be one of the most gratifying aspects of the renovation.

The guest room—originally designed as servant’s quarters—was completely transformed with new hardwood floors, a wall-mounted sink, built-in closets, and an adjacent bathroom.

The guest bath, which had housed an oddly-positioned and unusable bathtub, is now a small but luxurious space, with slate-colored Porcelanosa tile on the floor and a marble-like Porcelanosa on the shower walls.

On the other side of the guest bath is a multi-purpose room that houses the washer/dryer closet as well as the homeowners’ books.

In the portion of the renovation not spurred by necessity, a bedroom was converted into a study for relaxing and watching TV with a leather sofa that opens to accommodate visiting family. The homeowner designed a custom built-in wall unit that mixed open shelving and cabinets and worked with their Sweeten contractor to bring it to life.

In what had been their now-grown daughter’s bedroom, the homeowners envisioned a serene and comforting space for lounging as well as exercise. The walls were painted lavender, inspired by an acrylic and paper painting that had been done by a friend. This was a theme throughout their home: “We wanted to give the artwork room to breathe, and to be the inspiration for the color palette in each room.” 

Concurrently, they also decided to replace all of their landmarked windows. This alone took 3-4 weeks, and the Sweeten contractor had to make sure to protect the built-ins and previous renovation work. He also topped all of the windowsills with Caesarstone.

The homeowners are so happy to be back in their apartment, after pushing through over two years of negotiations, paperwork, and red tape—not to mention mold, dust, and debris in every corner of their home. ”You come to realize, what one person thinks is a good job is not what another person might consider a good job,” the homeowner said. “Sweeten was so supportive. They called periodically when we were getting very disheartened. They sent us three contractors to interview, which was a huge relief. I’m doing this for the first time, and I was totally out of my comfort zone. We had no idea how to pick people—so Sweeten was incredibly helpful.”

They report that even though they felt like giving up on many occasions, they persevered. What seems like courage is really having “no choice”. This was their home. We were happy to hear that the best part of the whole situation was their Sweeten contractor, who delivered what he promised and more.

Thank you for sharing the reveal of your Central Park West renovation! 

KITCHEN/PANTRY RESOURCES: Calacata Silver floor and wall tile: Porcelanosa. Kitchen cabinets: custom. Cabinet paint in Colonial Revival Gray, #SW 2832: Sherwin Williams. Countertops in Misty Carrera, #4141: Caesarstone. Quartzite Corteccia Azerobact Leather quartz backsplash: EGM Corp. Sink: Appliances Connection. Bridge faucet: Appliances Connection. Radiator covers: custom. Stove: Appliances Connection. Dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Wine fridge, #SWC530LBIST: Appliances Connection. Hardware: Simon’s Hardware.

GUEST ROOM RESOURCES. Sink: MTI. Paint in Glacier Lake, #867: Benjamin Moore.

GUEST BATH RESOURCES. Deep Grey Nature floor tile, Calacata Silver wall tile: Porcelanosa. Fixtures from Spa Shower and Country Bath collections: Appliances Connection. Toilet: Appliances Connection.

LAUNDRY ROOM RESOURCES: Paint in Hawthorne Yellow, #HC-4: Benjamin Moore. Washer, #WAT28402UC, dryer, #WTG86402UC: Appliances Connection.

DINING ROOM RESOURCES. Paint in Hancock Green, #HC-117: Benjamin Moore. Chandelier: Olde Good Things.

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A leak led to a luxe remodel of a West Village bathroom.

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 Central Park West Co-op Starts Anew appeared first on Sweeten.

Once home to Nora Ephron, John Lennon, and countless other writers, artists, and musicians, the Upper West Side boasts a lively history that’s been captured in a myriad of films and immortalized in books. Broadway runs through it, and landmarks like the Apthorp, the Dakota, and Lincoln Center lend their impressive architecture to the texture of the neighborhood. The brownstone-lined blocks are quiet in the early mornings and evenings, making it an ideal spot for city dwellers seeking solitude. Join us as we take a look at some of the Sweeten renovations in the neighborhood.

As an Upper West Sider, Christine guided her apartment search by one very important piece of criteria: the new place could be no more than 10 blocks from Zabar’s! Unfortunately, the right location came with outdated finishes and peeling paint. Sweeten entered the picture, helping Christine renovate the kitchen and outfit the rest of the apartment with built-ins in every room to store her massive collection of books and artwork, adding character to the space.

A bigger home was just what Sophia and Leon needed when they decided to grow their family. The apartment they found on the Upper West Side had been laid out like a rabbit warren, and although the latest arrival to their family was tiny, the space would have to fit the three of them comfortably for years to come. Taking down the walls and connecting the kitchen to both the living and dining rooms gave the family plenty of room to spread out. The decision to go open-plan also came with the added bonus of improving the flow of natural light throughout the space.

Lindsay and Tim landed on Central Park West when it came time to purchase their first home together. The apartment had plenty of square footage, but the rooms felt dark and cramped. Restructuring the layout to join the kitchen with the dining room created the perfect spot to host dinner parties, while classic finishes and a muted palette throughout paid homage to the apartment’s prewar roots.

Preparing for a baby meant shuffling the floor plan of Karen and Kevin’s Upper West Side apartment to fit a nursery and a kid-friendly bathroom. The small dining area at the end of the kitchen was sealed off and transformed into the baby’s room. In the bathroom, the grimy tiling was replaced with crisp white subway tile and the bulky bath was swapped out for a new, standard-sized tub, making room for an open console vanity and a basket of bathtime essentials.

Heather loved everything about her Upper West Side apartment except the galley kitchen, which was functional but felt like cooking inside of a shoebox. Her Sweeten renovation opened up the kitchen to the dining room, converting the half wall into a peninsula with deep storage drawers on one side and bar seating on the other. The transformation was just what she needed to take the space from just another place in the world to her home sweet home.

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Take a tour of the best Sweeten renovations in Queens and Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

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 Best of Manhattan: The Upper West Side appeared first on Sweeten.

Olivia and Greg were expecting their first child when they began the remodel on their 1,300-square-foot co-op in a classic Upper West Side prewar building. Olivia, a journalist, and Greg, a lawyer, thought the neighborhood would be perfect for kids with its beautiful parks, play areas, and museums. The apartment had great details—large windows, plenty of light, built-in bookshelves, and nice moldings—but needed a serious refresh.

They posted their project on Sweeten, a free service matching homeowners with vetted contractors, and found the right contractor to create the contemporary look they were after. They wanted to update the kitchen and a bathroom—which later became both bathrooms—with new tiles and fixtures, plus enlarge the master bathroom. In the master bedroom, they needed a brand new built-in closet. But the pressure to finish before their baby’s birth added an extra layer of stress and it all came down to the wire.

Their previous kitchen in the West Village was small and they were excited to trade up to the larger space in their new home. Pipes in the walls made it difficult to move anything, so to keep costs down, they kept the same footprint. The existing kitchen cabinets were a mismatched black-and-white assortment, and Olivia imagined her dream space as a modern, all-white kitchen. They decided to reface most of the cabinets, painting them white with new hardware. The cabinets above the sink didn’t correctly fit the space, so custom cabinetry was crafted for the uppers as well as the lower cabinetry in the midsection of the kitchen, where pots and pans used to hang. There, another piece was designed to fit the space better with more storage built above, featuring glass doors to display their wedding china and glassware.

The shower was so tiny, Olivia said, By the middle of my pregnancy, I could barely fit in it!

Since the couple loves to cook and are big cookbook collectors, they created a nook to display some of their favorites. They kept the appliances, which were brand new. For the floors, porcelain tile resembling dark wood that was more durable and stain-resistant replaced the old red tile. “Definitely a plus with a new baby,” Olivia said. Now, the wood look matched the rest of the apartment.

(Above) Before of the master bathroom

Both bathrooms were outdated. In the master bath, the shower was so tiny, Olivia said, “By the middle of my pregnancy, I could barely fit in it!” The fixtures were old and the shower floor was plastic rather than tile. They really wanted a larger, more luxurious master bath and their dream was to have double vanities. To achieve this, they took space from an existing hallway and a closet in the master bedroom.

Their Sweeten contractor was able to design a seat in the shower to look like it was floating, sizing it just right so it wouldn’t take up too much space. “We wanted something that looked good but was also functional so that I could shave my legs and relax during a hot shower,” Olivia said.

(Above) Guest bathroom

They ended up adding the guest bathroom about two months into the project—it was not in the original budget. “I ended up convincing Greg that if we didn’t update it now, it would never get done, especially with the baby coming when we would be very preoccupied,” Olivia said. “Our contractor was able to work with us to get it done in a cost-effective and timely manner.”

The walls were painted dark gray in stark contrast to the bright white vanity and shower subway tiles. Olivia was inspired by the restaurant Union Fare in Union Square and wanted to replicate the style. “The contractor initially thought we were crazy,” she said, “but he ended up liking it.”

(Above, inset) Before of the master bedroom closet wall

To replace the lost closet in the master bedroom, their contractor created an envy-inducing new unit from California Closets. He was meticulous in his measuring to make sure that they could still have a king-sized bed, two nightstands, and closet doors that wouldn’t open up into the bed.

Designwise, they wanted adequate space for the two of them to hang clothes and for well-spaced shelving to fit items like sweaters. “I’m also pretty short,” Olivia said, “so we had to make sure that the hanging bar was low enough that I could still access my dresses and sweaters. The closets are amazing and really feel like a huge luxury.”

As if remodeling isn’t stressful enough, the pressure to stay on schedule was ever present. They moved out during the renovation. “We had tools and dust littering the baby’s nursery just two weeks before Olivia’s due date, which definitely made us all nervous,” Greg said. Luckily, their Sweeten contractor was extremely responsive to them any time of day. “As first-time homeowners, we had a million questions, and he couldn’t have been nicer and more professional to deal with,” Olivia said. “He also has an incredible eye for design, so we didn’t need to hire an outside designer to help us make decisions for items like the backsplash or tiles.” They shared their Pinterest boards and their contractor pulled materials matching their inspiration.

Even as newbies, though, the couple had faith in the process. They learned to be patient and to check up on the work as often as they could to get in front of any problems. They discovered that “renovating can be addicting! Once you start, you’ll begin to realize all the imperfections in your home which could add on tens of thousands of dollars to your project,” said Olivia. “But don’t get distracted. Stick with the original plan; you can always renovate again at another point.” In the end, it all worked out. The renovations were done in early December and Max was born the day after Christmas.

Thank you, Olivia and Greg, for sharing your home with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen: Cabinet hardware: Richelieu. Sink/Faucet: Appliances Connection. Stove: Appliances Connection. Fisher & Paykel dishwasher and refrigerator: Appliances Connection.

MASTER BATHROOM RESOURCES: Shower temperature knob: Grohe. Showerhead: Delta. Toilet: Appliances Connection. Sconce lighting: Pottery Barn. White Dove paint color: Benjamin Moore.

GUEST BATHROOM: Toilet: Appliances Connection. 251 First lighting above medicine cabinet: Bellacor. Coachman’s Cape (walls) and Simply White (trim and ceiling) paint: Benjamin Moore.

MASTER BEDROOM: Cabinet closets: California Closets.

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This couple in Morningside Heights added side-by-side built-in wardrobes to their master bedroom.

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 An Upper West Side Co-op Reno Designed to Fit appeared first on Sweeten.

Kim and Ian were both far from home when a chance encounter in Spain brought them together. When the couple decided to close the distance between them—10,000 miles!—they found a studio apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The previous tenant had lived in the home for nearly half a century, and during a walk-through, Kim and Ian discovered that the original plumbing and wiring were in need of an overhaul. Challenges aside, the space was just the right size for the two of them and full of good vibes—not to mention a fortuitous discovery in one of the walls. Ready to make it their home, the couple embraced a gut renovation of the entire apartment. Read on for Ian’s take on their remodeling journey.

Guest blog post by Upper West Side homeowner Ian

The story begins in northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago, where an aging Aussie trial lawyer met and fell in love with a not-so-aging American nurse who just happened to be working in Manhattan and living in Bayonne, New Jersey. Many cross-Pacific flights later, plans were made for a wedding in Hawaii and the purchase of an apartment somewhere on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where we could live together when I was able to escape court commitments in Sydney. With both of us having been married before with adult children, there was no need for a large apartment, but there was a definite need for the best use of a small space.

Sweeten homeowners Kim and Ian

The search for an affordable apartment was challenging to say the least. But thanks to the StreetEasy website and FaceTime (for my wife in Bayonne and myself in Sydney), a studio apartment in a 1915 co-op was located and purchased. The 450-square-foot space was previously owned by a retired nun who had lived in it for some 45 years (long enough ago to remember John and Yoko walking down the street from the Dakota apartments). The old girl (the apartment!) required a total renovation but had a good vibe about it.

(During) Laying down pipe for the island

Given that I am from Sydney and my wife is from Bayonne, locating a suitable contractor was also challenging. After much Googling, I located the Sweeten website and was immediately fascinated by the Sweeten concept. So much so, that more out of interest than any real expectation, I posted a quick job description on the website and a hopeful (very hopeful!) budget.

With hindsight, I understated the renovation work required to a significant extent. While awaiting responses from Sweeten, I also contacted contractors I had identified from various magazines and other websites. Immediate ballpark quotes of $150k upwards from these folks sent shivers through my bones. Then interviews with potential contractors were arranged by Sweeten with the search ending in a coin toss between the two final contractors. After deciding on the Sweeten contractor, who won out largely because he was both a qualified architect and builder, the renovating process began. The detailed quoted price was more than reasonable and way under $150k quoted by others.

(Right) Hidden window discovered

I suppose it’s axiomatic that the design stage of any renovation is not ideal when one of the players lives mainly overseas. But as luck would have it, a trial in Sydney collapsed and I was able to fly to New York for a thorough “walk through” with my wife Kim and our contractor after the building contract was signed. I had two absolute requirements—a new soaking tub and new solid oak flooring throughout. Kim also had absolute requirements: a nice cooking area and island, and new everything else! After weeks of to-and-froing, preparing and amending the plans, work was ready to commence!

It’s no exaggeration to say that what was required was, in effect, a gut renovation of the whole apartment. Laying new oak flooring was going to require the removal of two layers of old parquetry flooring. Hidden in the wall adjacent to the neighboring building (a contemporary high-rise) were two old large windows from a time when the building next door was an old brownstone. Our contractor’s eyes lit up at the sight, explaining how he could remove the windows and use the cavity space for storage cabinets and counter space, both considered premiums in NYC studio apartments. I am a lover of wood, and the contractor proposed the cabinets and doors be made of American walnut and mahogany veneer. The final look and function of both pieces of furniture—a matching clothes cabinet hangs at the foot of the bed—are terrific and make excellent use of an otherwise wasted wall.

Plans for the main space involved splitting the studio into a cooking/dining/working area and a living/sleeping area. With the kitchen island as the primary divider, the plans were fine-tuned, including a design for a reconfigured bathroom. To be effective, a complete rewiring and re-plumbing of the whole apartment was required. This also involved breaking into the ceiling of the apartment below ours to put in new pipes and ball joints as required by the co-op management. Our Sweeten contractor did all the arranging with the downstairs apartment owner and diplomatically handled inevitable noise complaints. The guts were ripped out of the apartment and walls replaced.

The price quoted by the contractor to do the building work did not include the appliances, bath fixtures and other items such as tile, lighting, and flooring. We made use of various websites and sourced mainly high-end products, all of which when installed look fabulous and add value to the overall project. The sourcing and purchasing of items over the Internet was a real boon, seamlessly saving both shoe leather and thousands of dollars in cost.

Timing became an issue. Our contractor’s hope at the outset was for the project to be completed within three to four months. But with the unforeseen need for the gut renovation, including rewiring and re-plumbing, the project did blow out substantially in timing. Waiting for the soaking tub (Kaldewei) to come from Germany, the kitchen feature light (Vistosi) to come from Italy, and the kitchen faucet (Franke) to come from Switzerland also prolonged the completion date by months. Luckily, we both had other homes in which to live while the work took place. Now that the work’s done, the angst with the delay seems trivial.

We finally moved into the apartment in early December 2017 when I arrived from Sydney for an extended stay with Kim in New York. Living here has been terrific. And I’ve put the tub to good use throughout the very cold winter! The layout, feel, and livability of the apartment has exceeded my expectations. We’ve had some teething issues with bits and pieces (cracked tile, cabinetry needing adjusting, painting touch-ups) but our contractor has been most attentive to fixing any problem that has arisen. I must say though, as a Sydney-sider, the street noise in NYC coming into the apartment is a bit louder than I had expected. But as one of Kim’s friends said to me, “Soak it up mate, it’s all part of the New York experience.” Let the good times continue!

Thank you, Kim and Ian, for sharing your renovation journey with us.

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Cabinets: Custom. Hardware: Lowe’s. Steel Gray granite countertops: Quartz Master. Navy Blue Towne backsplash tile: Nemo Tile. 20” stainless steel sink: Appliances Connection. Faucet: Appliances Connection. Refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Cooktop: Appliances Connection. Stove: Appliances Connection. Range hood: Proline Range Hoods. Overhead lighting: Vistosi. Norman Counter Stools: Inmod.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: White Pulse Pop wall tile and Volcano Nero Natural floor tile: Nemo Tile. Sink vanity: Luxier. Faucet: Isenberg. Fixtures: Hansgrohe. Soaker tub (55″ x 29″ x 19″): Kaldewei. Toilet: Appliances Connection. Lighting: Lowe’s. 42” Medicine cabinet: Appliances Connection.

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Frans and Dalal transformed their Gramercy studio into a flexible living space with movable walls and custom storage.

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 A Studio Co-op Renovated for Two appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Intelligent use of space in a Manhattan kitchen

Before: When Rashmi purchased a one-bedroom co-op on the Upper West Side, she wanted to renovate the kitchen immediately. It was clearly run down, as the original kitchen in a prewar building, but had plenty of unused space and potential. “Once I moved in, I realized I needed to live with the space to understand what I really wanted,” said Rashmi. She gave herself six months—it took four years. At one stage, she even stored her bike in some dead space next to the fridge. She didn’t like the idea of an open kitchen, so knocking down a wall wasn’t an option. The main goal was to simply use the space effectively while flipping a hodgepodge of different whites into something bright.

After: Rashmi had owned a home before, but buying into a co-op was a new experience. She posted her project and found a contractor through Sweeten, a free service that connects homeowners with vetted general contractors. She was having problems getting her package submitted to her co-op board for approval until she found her Sweeten contractor. “My contractor was an invaluable partner, especially during the planning and approval phase with my co-op and the building engineers,” she said. Once work got underway, Rashmi decided to give the kitchen a roomier feel by opting for 18-inch cabinets on one side rather than the standard 24 inch. Adding a washer and dryer was also “life-changing.” A layout geared toward casual entertaining was also important, so she extended the counter right along the wall to include an eat-in perch and two chairs. Rather than go with backsplash tiles, Rashmi chose a semi-gloss paint for ease of cleaning. She picked a bright yet deep blue for the walls that contrasted with gold-toned cabinet hardware.

Bonus: Rashmi worked from home, so her Sweeten contractor and his team were conscious that they were sharing the same workspace. “They worked clean and were as quiet as possible,” she said.

Style finds: Kitchen cabinets: American Woodmark. Omnia cabinet hardware: Simon’s Hardware. Silver Waves Granite countertops: MSI. Faucet: Delta. Liebherr refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Bosch dishwasher: Appliances Connection. Samsung stove: Appliances Connection. LG washer and dryer: Appliances Connection. Samsung microwave: Appliances Connection. Lighting: MODCREATIONStudio. Surf Blue paint in semi-gloss: Benjamin Moore. Wicker-style brass wall air duct register: Signature Hardware.

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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A coral accent wall adds a splash of personality to this modern 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 A Kitchen Turns True Blue appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Upper West Side homeowner Tim Laurie

After purchasing our first apartment together in June of 2016, my wife, Lindsay, and I decided to take on a co-op renovation in order to make it our perfect living space. We were attracted to the location and design of the 1929 Art Deco building on Central Park West, but the interior of the apartment left a lot to be desired. The 1,500-square-foot home offered a very spacious feel, with nine-foot ceilings and light coming through windows on three sides of the apartment. The layout, however, was dated and not very efficient. The “before” layout consisted of a cramped corner kitchen, large but divided living and dining spaces both of which had duplicate doorways on both sides, old en-suite bathrooms, and a dark walk-in closet converted to a cavernous office space.

When planning the new layout, first and foremost, our renovation needed to address the practical features that were lacking. Specifically, we wanted: 1) a toilet that didn’t require guests to venture on an embarrassing trek through a bedroom in order to get to an en-suite bathroom; 2) more usable space, such as a den or optional third bedroom; 3) a washer and dryer in the apartment; and 4) a larger, but not galley-like, kitchen. With the help of Sweeten, we posted our project and went with the contractor that stood out as most reliable, reassuring, and within our cost estimate. We initially interviewed five contractors for our project, and received three quotes. Our contractor was not the least nor the most expensive, but he offered to include the finishing touches on our apartment to ensure we got the most out of our renovation.

The biggest change in the kitchen was changing the entrance from a narrow doorway to a wide foyer and pass-through, allowing us to add a bar area, more counter space, and plenty of light. Our contractor helped us with the kitchen layout and where to place the washer/dryer so it connected to our water lines. We went with stainless steel Frigidaire appliances, adding a separate bar fridge under the counter to make up for a shallower built-in refrigerator that we chose. A stainless backsplash tile with white grout and slate gray floor tiles contrasts well with the white custom cabinets and brushed nickel handles throughout. We love the custom wine rack, glass cupboard, and bar shelf on one side of what used to be a duplicate doorway. A powder room—formerly small storage space—was also installed off the kitchen with double half doors, to take up less clearance space.

In terms of design, we wished to open up the main space by removing the mirrored french doors and a wall blocking the light between the living and dining rooms. For a modernized look, our plan included staining the hardwood floors, painting and papering the walls, and adding crown and floor molding. In the living room, we removed the non-functional decorative plaster fireplace and the walls between the living and dining rooms to open up the main living space. A large dining room table from Pottery Barn (which nearly didn’t fit up the elevator) and chandelier sit between the bar and new office door. In this same area, we were able to build a third bedroom/den with french glass doors for light to shine through.

Our en-suite bathrooms turned out beautifully, with our master bath getting floor-to-ceiling tile in the shower and on the feature wall, as well as a custom-built vanity and top-mounted sink. The white, tan, and natural sand colors flow nicely into the main bedroom, which also got repainted. The guest en-suite bathroom is filled with clean white subway tiles and Carrara marble flooring, as well as an ebony vanity with matching Carrara countertop. Although the renovation progressed well from our standpoint, the contractors had their work cut out for them! They had to cut back old bathroom tiling and build new walls. We also had to replace old bathroom plumbing within the concrete deck floors, which was unexpected, but handled well by the subcontractors that our Sweeten contractor hired.

The slightly expanded but cozy and carpeted office is a bonus room for studying and work, accessible through the new matching french doors off the dining room, rather than from the bedroom hallway. The office neatly fits our double desk and two chairs, as well as a bookshelf. A new transom window in the hallway allows more light to shine through. We were especially excited about a tweed Edinburgh gray wallpaper that we chose for the entrance foyer, which makes a big statement right when you enter the apartment. Last but not least is the updated “garage” where we leave the bikes, storage, and our cat’s litter box. This storage room was coated with a fresh coat of white paint and new gray tile as well, giving it a clean look despite its utilitarian purpose.

Overall, we are very pleased with the renovation of our Central Park West co-op apartment. At the end, we decided to add extras along the way, which extended the project time frame by several weeks and stretched our budget slightly; however, our contractor did his best to complete these while not adding labor to the total bill. He was detail-oriented and very patient, despite a lengthy co-op approval process. The team kept the work to a reasonable time frame of just over three months and were very understanding as we lived through the process.

Thanks to Tim and Lindsay for sharing their gorgeous new home with us! 

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Shaker cabinets: custom. Stainless steel tile backsplash: Subway Tile Outlet.  Built-in fridge: Appliances Connection. Washer/dryer: Appliances Connection. Beverage cooler; gas stove and oven; dishwasher: Appliances Connection. K-560 kitchen faucet: Appliances Connection. Blanco 518171 kitchen sink: Build.com.

BATH RESOURCES: Carrara tiles: Pastorelli. Sheffield 30″ Espresso vanity: Wyndham Collection. Kohler K-1118-RAW expanse 60″ bathtub;  Mirabelle St. Augustine Tub & Shower Trim package: Faucet Direct. One-piece toilet: Appliances Connection.

POWDER ROOM RESOURCES.: Gray porcelain tiles: Urbiko. Whitehaus WH1-114RTB wall-mounted sink: Home Depot. One-piece toilet: Appliances Connection.

OFFICE RESOURCES: TrafficMaster Loop & Berber 21-Dewdrop carpet: Home Depot. Frosted Wood Silver Trees wallpaper: Lancashire Wallpaper.

FOYER RESOURCES: Edinburgh Grey Tweed wallpaper: Philip Jeffries.

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Lindsay and Tim’s gorgeous dining room got us thinking about our favorite dining room renovations, including designer Meredith‘s cobalt blue walls and Blane‘s reclaimed wood table paired with tree-lined wallpaper.

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 Overhauling an Upper West Side Co-op to Make It Home appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Compact kitchen overhaul in an Upper West Side high-rise studio

Before: Despite its condition, the owner, who works in real estate, actually remembers his old 85-square-foot kitchen with surprising fondness. Beneath a harsh fluorescent fixture, low-end plastic laminate cabinets and counters were worn and stained. Above the 1980’s white stove, the hood’s exposed exhaust hose was sloppily sealed using pieces of tape. The floor was a dated black-and-white resilient tile checkerboard.

After: The delighted owner notes that this “reno way exceeded my expectations.” As his Sweeten profile requested, his contractor handled the co-op’s intimidating application process. None of the appliances or worn-out finishes were worth saving—only the new refrigerator was relocated. Glossy modern white cabinets make the space feel less narrow than brown wood upper cabinets could have. Undercabinet LED lights shine onto the engineered quartz countertop. The undulating wall tiles were found on a showroom shopping trip with his contractor, and the owner first saw large-format slate-look floor tiles on design blogs.

Bonus: The contractor’s cabinetmaker matched the budget-friendly veneer so that the grain continues from one section of lower cabinets to the next without interruption.

Style finds: 30-inch gas Appliances Connection slide-in stainless range; Appliances Connection refrigerator; Appliances Connection microwave; Krauss under-mount stainless sink; backsplash tile by WOW Design EU; American Standard one-hole deck-mount chrome faucet from American Standard; engineered countertop in Pearl White from Pental; Appliances Connection Breeze recirculating hood.

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Read our post on kitchen renovation costs, and when you’re ready, use our kitchen budget calculator to align your scope and budget.

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 An Upper West Side Kitchen Gets a Bright Boost appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Upper West Side homeowner Kate Meagher 

Arthur and I had been living in an apartment for around seven years, which belonged to his family. That apartment—much loved—was a constant work in progress. We improved the kitchen and bathroom, installed new lighting, and suffered through two floods (thanks, upstairs neighbors!) which required new ceilings and flooring yet again. As architects, we loved it—it was great to have a rental which we could experiment on. At a certain point, however, it seemed that we should be directing our energy toward a place that was truly ours.

During our search, Arthur and I had gotten into a rhythm. After each Sunday’s open house tour, we’d stop in whichever neighborhood we ended up in, get a drink, and sketch floor plans over the broker’s listing sheets. Could we fit a dishwasher? How did the closet compare with our old one? How much would it cost if the plumbing needed to be reconfigured? (Sweeten’s construction and renovation guides were extremely helpful setting initial budget targets.)

We were obviously looking for a fixer-upper, and when we saw this apartment, we fell in love despite its tiny size. It’s right next to Riverside Park, on the top floor of a beautiful brownstone. The ceilings are high and the bay windows still have the original curved glass. In the winter, when the leaves are off the trees, we can see the Hudson. Best yet, outside of some electrical updates, the apartment hadn’t been touched since the 1960s. The main priorities for this apartment were to update and expand the kitchen, renovate the bathroom, and to squeeze as much storage space in without impacting the small footprint.

I had come across Sweeten at some point in our apartment search, and it was the first place we looked for a general contractor after we closed. Arthur and I both work on very large ground-up projects and don’t regularly work with contractors on the scale of a New York apartment renovation—we needed help finding someone! Sweeten definitely filled a niche for us, and we posted our project. We interviewed several and chose our Sweeten contractor. I was struck by the notes he took throughout our initial walk-through, and that he asked for time to review further on his own. We felt he really listened and understood what we wanted and could accomplish it within our timeframe and budget.

We love the classic detailing in the apartment and wanted to preserve everything we could that was more or less original. However, both our sensibilities skew contemporary/minimalist when designing, and we were looking to strike a balance. We decided to make only a few key alterations to the floorplan. First, the wall separating the kitchen/bath zone and the living room was moved, gaining us a little more than a foot-and-a-half extra. The bathroom feels more generous now, and most importantly, it allowed us to configure a narrow L-shape for the kitchen. We chose tall doors for them to align with the height of the bay windows, and drew a custom profile for the door frames—beautifully executed by our contractor’s team.

The extra L-shaped length was critical to add a full-height refrigerator, full-height pantry cabinet, and an 18” dishwasher. We installed shallow 15-inch-deep cabinets in the new leg, and kept all appliances to the adjacent wall. This preserved as much floor space as possible, and had the added benefit of retaining the original locations for the plumbing, gas lines, and ducted extractor—no permits to file or added expense of rerouting. We wanted a minimal aesthetic—black and white. Ultimately, we took our cues from a soapstone countertop we saw on a Sweeten blog post. After visiting M. Teixeira’s amazing warehouse, we chose a stone that had a lot of green undertones in the black base. For the cabinet paints, we decided on an extremely dark black-green shade, and a cool white to complement.

This space ended up being a special project in the apartment. While our contractor’s team completed the major work—prepping the walls, installing wood flooring, adding lighting, installing the appliances and sink, and tiling the backsplash—Arthur and I ended up building the rest of the kitchen ourselves (!) using Ikea base cabinets that we modified and custom fronts. We also decided to just paint the fronts ourselves. (*Note: after doing it and coming out the other side, this is NOT recommended. However, if you have the time, patience and space, you will save a lot.) For those of you interested in the details: We needed to paint 26 panels—some over ten ft tall—inside the apartment because, well, that’s the only space we had. Working in stages, we brushed two coats per side, sanded, vacuumed and wiped down with a tack cloth between each coat. And our two cats meant even more obsessive vacuuming and confining them to the bedroom for most of the full month it took to paint—the threat of fur was everywhere.

In the bedroom, our excellent foreman, Al, demolished a loft bed, and combined the small bedroom closet with an adjacent coat closet. We’ve hung a full-height curtain, so we can use every last inch of the ceiling height for storage. The entry door from the living room into the bedroom was moved toward the kitchen. Previously, it was right in the middle of a living room wall, making that room very difficult to furnish. The team expertly restored the plaster walls, and matched new wood flooring inside the closet area and kitchen with the original (our contractor really pulled through with that find!). New moldings were also seamlessly integrated in areas that had been exposed.

The bathroom skews warmer in tone than the kitchen, and was designed as a spare and sleek space. We replaced the tub with a wet room—an open shower without curtains or doors—and rain shower head to keep the lines clean and open up the room. (This required an LAA permit, which called for a master plumber.) A wing wall keeps all the water from splashing out, and conceals a recessed shelf for products. The contractor’s team—Al specifically—were truly master tilers. We chose a tiny copper ceramic mosaic for the floor, shower curb and base, and creamy white, elongated tile for the walls. The grout is a warm brown that picks up on the terracotta edges of the white tile and the copper tones of the floor tile. We, of course wanted every joint to match and it does. We opted for a large recessed mirrored medicine cabinet to contain clutter and a wall-mounted sink with no cabinet. Everything fits except the hairdryer, which lives in the credenza directly outside of the bathroom.

We are so happy with how the project turned out. Maybe it’s the sweat equity, but it is always very satisfying to see your design realized. We couldn’t have done it without our Sweeten contractor, Al and the team. They were a pleasure to work with throughout and we’d love to collaborate again.

Thank you so much, Arthur and Kate, for sharing your story. It’s always intriguing to hear about a home renovation from the point of view of architects! We hope you enjoy your new home.

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen base cabinets: Ikea. Cabinet hardware: Blum. Soapstone countertops: M. Teixeira Soapstone. Precision Black Granite Sink: Appliances Connection. Faucet, FF2900: Appliances Connection. Backsplash, 3/8”x 2” matte black: Nemo Tile. Fully integrated 24” fridge: Appliances Connection.  Fully integrated 18” dishwasher: Appliances Connection. 4-burner stove: 24” cooktop: Appliances Connection. Wall oven, 24” electric: Appliances Connection. Retractable 24” hood: Appliances Connection. Lighting: Allied Maker, Michael Anastassiades for Flos. Paint, Chantilly Lace (apartment,) Gray Sky and Midnight (kitchen millwork): Benjamin Moore.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Bathroom floor tile, .5 x .5 copper: Appiani. Bathroom wall tile, 3/8″ x 2” in high-gloss Dandelion: Nemo Tile. Vintage hardware: eBay. Raindance showerhead: Hansgrohe. Bouroullec Thermostatic with Volume Control and Diverter: Axor. Starck handshower: Axor. Sink / Vanity: Appliances Connection. Toilet, Happy D.2: Appliances Connection. Lighting, Twiggy T1: Edge Lighting.

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Check out these other small but mighty kitchens.

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 An Architect Couple Turns a Small Fixer-Upper into a Gem appeared first on Sweeten.

A six month-long search resulted in the purchase of a 435-square-foot studio apartment in an understated 1940s building on the Upper West Side. It was a prewar apartment but also a condo, a rare combination that suited Emily’s criteria. Although it was a studio, it had distinctly separate spaces: an entryway, dressing area, kitchen, bath, and main living space, which Emily liked. Unfortunately, having been used as a longtime rental property, the apartment had been stripped of most of its original ornamentation. Instead, there was paint a dozen layers thick and worn flooring throughout the studio. In the narrow galley kitchen, there were sticky off-white cabinets, peeling vinyl floors, and almost no counter space at all. The very peachy-yellow bathroom sported tiles that didn’t match in spots where they had once been replaced, and a tank-less, industrial toilet gave the small space an unpleasantly institutional vibe. To the left of the front door, two shallow closets took up valuable floor space, which Emily felt would be better utilized as an office nook.

Emily envisioned a restoration of sorts: she wanted to add paneling and crown molding to the walls of the main living space, and to create a simple bath with a vintage black-and-white theme. The kitchen would be modern but befitting the age of the building. And although the discrete spaces of the apartment were a major selling point, Emily felt that the narrow kitchen would be much improved if it could be opened up to the main living area. Pinterest provided ample inspiration, and she set out to source the materials herself, relying heavily on Wayfair and other online stores.

Having developed a concrete plan for the renovation, Emily and her dad, John, posted the project to Sweeten. John had had substantial experience with construction and renovation in the past, and with his input, Emily settled on a Sweeten contractor. The crew quickly went to work realizing Emily’s vision, and also provided helpful suggestions and additions along the way. For example, unprompted, the contractor stripped a half-century of paint from the front door, revealing the beautiful metal patina underneath.

Based on Emily’s direction, he created a pass-through from the galley kitchen to the living area, extending the counter through the opening to create a breakfast perch with stools. Open shelving made of marble and brass took the place of upper cabinets, creating more room to breathe in the narrow space. The appliances and sink were lined up on the left, given that the counters and base cabinets on the right were a mere nine inches deep. (The entire kitchen was just about six feet wide!) An under-counter refrigerator, paneled to blend in with the cabinets, preserved the new airiness of the space. Sadly, there was no room for a dishwasher, but a 24-inch gas range fit perfectly at the end of the counter. Finishes were consistent with those found in older buildings, featuring white subway tile, marble counters, brass detailing, charcoal gray lower cabinets, and blackened metal light fixtures with a retro feel. For the floor, Emily chose a fun Spanish tile in black and white.

In the original dressing area, the floor space was expanded once the closets were removed. Custom shelving and a desk were cut to fit inside the nook perfectly, creating a cozy home office away from the main sleeping area. In the main room of the studio, her Sweeten contractor added small details that restored elegance to the apartment. Marble ledges on the windows, as well as wall paneling, crown molding, and new baseboards transformed the space in subtle but distinct ways. The bathroom received a similarly unpretentious and classic treatment: white subway tile with a beveled edge and black trim, matched to a matte black towel rack. To prevent an accidental burn and to disguise an unsightly floor-to-ceiling radiator pipe, he suggested that they wrap it with rope.

Interestingly, unlike many of Sweeten’s renovating homeowners, Emily and John managed the project from afar—they were in California while her contractor and his team worked on her apartment. They arranged for check-ins via FaceTime or Skype, and he provided photos and updates on the work on a regular basis. Despite the 2,500 miles between them, there were remarkably few hiccups on this Sweeten project. Emily and John attributed this to good communication with the contractor and his team, but also to the fact that they went into the process with a firm plan, and sourced the materials for arrival prior to the start of the job. Emily’s advice to future renovators: “There is a lot that can go wrong when you’re renovating, but it helps to start with a good idea of what you want. And if you source the materials yourself, you can cut down on some of the variables that might delay the project.”

Thanks so much, Emily, and we hope you’re enjoying your lovely new-old studio!

Resource Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Floors: Express Brooklyn Tile. Charcoal Gray Somerset cabinets: Hanssem. Cabinet pulls: Cynthia Rowley. Cabinet knobs: Anthropologie. U-Line 24″ undercounter refrigerator: Appliances Connection. Bertazzoni 24″ gas range: Appliances Connection. Ventana 15″ stone bar prep sink by Native Trails sink: Wayfair. Countertops: white Carrara marble countertop and backsplash tile: Express Brooklyn Tile.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Floor tile: Express Brooklyn Tile. Toto Drake toilet: Appliances Connection. Delta Arzo faucet and showerhead: Wayfair. Wall tile: Express Brooklyn Tile.

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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 A Longtime Rental Studio Gets A Prewar Restoration appeared first on Sweeten.

The kitchen’s laminate counters and veneered cabinets were high on the list of issues, and the couple decided to tackle major bathroom grime as part of the overhaul. Karen and Kevin worked with their contractor to design a pocket door for the nursery, prepared to rehab an old windowsill, and planned to freshen up with new paint in a few spots.

The contractor’s team re-oriented the kitchen and removed a service door leftover from an earlier era. The new layout brought the opportunity to eke out more storage in every possible place—which meant custom cutting larger IKEA cabinets to fit the space. “We really wanted to max every inch we possibly could,” Karen said. But those extra inches came at a cost: time. “Custom cutting all of the cabinets was something we didn’t factor into the timeline.” Since the couple was commuting to see progress from where they were living in Red Hook, things often seemed slow, but the expanded storage turned out to be worth the wait.

To keep the sleek white lacquered cabinets from feeling too space age, Karen and Kevin picked a warm mosaic stone backsplash and a granite countertop from Brooklyn Granite. To keep costs down, Karen tried to snag as many of her Bosch appliances from out-of-state as possible to minimize sales tax. They installed undermount lighting and Karen’s favorite feature: a built-in filtering faucet that makes loading up a fridge filter a thing of the past.

The bathroom came with an extra long tub that was extra bulky and extra annoying. By removing the enormous 66-inch tub and replacing it with a standard-sized soaker, they made space for a larger, airy vanity with a drawer and storage underneath. “We picked the wood vanity to give it some warmth and more of a masculine feel,” Karen said. Karen was adamant about a recessed medicine cabinet with interior outlets, so gangly appliances like electric toothbrushes stayed out of site. The white subway tile also features it’s own storage niches in sleek black.

To continue the rustic-meets-minimalist vibe, the couple preserved the unfinished wood door, an original feature. After removing about “twenty layers of paint,” the door now opens and closes easily and the original crystal knob pops against the austere backdrop.

Karen’s advice to fellow renovators stems from the botched delivery of three different toilets. Since the couple wasn’t living in the apartment during the renovation, there was a lapse before each mistake was discovered. “Our contractor warned me about this, make sure you order all the supplies and the contractor has them there right away so no one is waiting for things to arrive.” Karen and Kevin learned to allow and check for items to be on back-order or get delayed and to check deliveries as quickly as possible for accuracy and completeness.

Although navigating the renovation process combined with caring for a new baby was stressful, the family is thrilled with the results. “Little things popped up, but we dealt with them. There was nothing too crazy or too expensive, and that’s because of our contractor. We had a good working relationship,” Karen said.

Kitchen Selects >> floor tile: 12” by 24” ceramic crossover Nemo / backsplash: Haisa Buneo Mosaic in terrace color / fridge, dishwasher, oven, and microwave: Bosch / cabinets: IKEA, custom cut to fit / countertop: Brooklyn Granite / faucet: houzz.com / wall color: Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore

Bathroom Selects >> floor tile: 12” by 24” black matte / wall tiles: 4.25” by 12.75” subway tiles in white gloss from Metropolitan / black tile: 1” by 1” seta carbone matte / showerhead: Appliances Connection / vanity: Signature Hardware / faucet: National Builder Supply / sink, toilet, toilet holder, and towel bar: Amazon / wall color: Super White and Onyx by Benjamin Moore

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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 Karen and Kevin’s Apartment Renovation – Sweeten on the Upper West Side! appeared first on Sweeten.

“Our Sweeten Expert was a true professional from the initial meeting until the final payment.”

– Hafeeza M., Upper West Side homeowner

Usually, when I talk to homeowners about their renovations, I get a dose of renovation envy: I want THAT sparkling new kitchen, too! But after talking with Hafeeza, I ended up with something extra and unexpected: a renewed appreciation for New York City living and the William Morris mantra we recently explored on the Sweeten blog. One look at Hafeeza’s Sweeten project post and you can see why. Hafeeza started with a call for a no-frills kitchen upgrade to minimize clutter and simplify the space. Her ideas for big and small upgrades were straightforward and to-the-point, with a few unusual details to tailor the kitchen to her lifestyle and her new city.

The kitchen is enclosed and compact, so Hafeeza planned to add new cabinets, countertops, and appliances, and initially explored removing part of the wall to create a more open feel. The couple also wanted to relocate a closet, coat the entire apartment in fresh paint, and rig the kitchen for a fridge with an ice machine. If I had to name the worldly desires of most New Yorkers, more kitchen space, new paint, and an ice machine might well top the list. However, one request stopped me in my tracks. Hafeeza and her husband wanted to remove the dishwasher. Exclamation points!!! Hafeeza laughed when I helpfully explained to her that a dishwasher is kind of an integral part of a kitchen renovation, if not the holy grail for many new homeowners. She and her husband were certain that they valued more drawer space over the gadget and were happy to pitch in on the dishwashing together. Well. That is a new and interesting dishwashing philosophy!

We matched Hafeeza with Sweeten Expert Pedro who delivered big time with a flawless and angst-free kitchen renovation, first creating clean lines and a unified feel for the cabinets with a plywood base for the upper set, finished in acrylic laminate. The lower set of cabinets and drawers feature acrylic laminate over engineered wood. The glossy finish makes these cabinets easy to keep clean and will guard against dings and wear over time. To create more counter space without changing the room’s dimensions, Hafeeza relocated the sink from the middle of the counter to the home of the former dishwasher, leveraging plumbing already in place, opening up a more continuous counter prep area, and installing an extra-deep sink basin. Hafeeza chose a stainless steel Blomberg fridge and her husband selected a compact Bertazzoni range. They finished the look with Silestone quartz counters, a neutral and luminous glass tile backsplash, and porcelain floor tiles with a faux wood finish.

In the end, Hafeeza and her husband decided to leave the existing kitchen wall in place. Trying to open it would have added only 18 inches to the galley kitchen. Altering the plumbing to get a fridge with an ice machine also turned out to be overly expensive and unnecessary, so they skipped that detail as well. As they adjusted their plans to get the most out of the work, Hafeeza’s husband mentioned to Pedro that they had some minor upgrades in mind down the road for the bathroom. With a few quick calculations on the back of a napkin, Pedro and the couple realized they could make room in the budget for re-tiling and new fixtures. Hafeeza found the bulk of the new fixtures at Decor Planet in Manhattan and outfitted the bathroom with an energy efficient dual-flush toilet from Appliances Connection, a full-wall medicine cabinet with mirrors inside and out, and a new vanity with storage drawers topped by a vessel sink. With extra storage, new lighting, and an upgraded shower head, Hafeeza and her husband were thrilled to find that they could re-vamp the bathroom within their budget.

After less than a month of work, Hafeeza and her husband moved into their new home to enjoy more than they had bargained for: the new kitchen, fresh paint throughout the apartment, gleaming bathroom finishes, and a space that let them stay focused on family, friends, and their vibrant new neighborhood. I tried (like three times!) to get Hafeeza to pick her favorite part of the new space but she wouldn’t budge. “The whole apartment! We’re just thrilled! We have New York City at our doorstep. What more do you need?!” Truly, I have been repeating that mantra to myself for the last week. Thank you, Hafeeza, for sharing your space and your unflappable urban dweller attitude with me!

Inspired by Hafeeza’s down-to-essentials renovation? Post your project on Sweeten and let us connect you with contractors to help you simplify your space.

The post Hafeeza’s Sweetened Upper West Side Kitchen and Bath appeared first on Sweeten.

This week, we’re thrilled to be back on a renovation site under construction where we met up with new tS members, interior design firm, Mendelson Group. The team at Mendelson is a small, closely-knit group of young designers and project managers, lead by firm Principal, Gideon Mendelson. The team’s portfolio is so rich with interiors that are highly personalized and utterly distinct, we could hardly wait to get behind the scenes to learn more about their process! We caught up with the designers during a check-in meeting with their Upper West Side clients. Qian & Mike, a pair of young professionals, hired Mendelson Group after purchasing their 2000 sqft, 3-bedroom condo, looking to renovate the new home for themselves and their expected newborn.

Upon purchase, the condo had modest details and finishes — it was the type of space you’d expect to find in a contemporary residential development in Manhattan. For Gideon’s team and the new homeowners, the goal was to create a stylish, yet functional space with updated finishes & details, focusing much of their attention on gut renovating the kitchen & master bathroom, and creating a fully-custom home office for the working couple.

When we stopped by, the demolition work was complete, and construction was in the first couple weeks of a 4 month timeline. Here is a look into the main living space from just outside the new office — straight ahead will be living & dining areas, and back at the right is the kitchen, in its fully gutted form.

The layout of the new kitchen will remain close to the original, while the functionality and materials of the space will become much improved. The designers will increase functionality with taller upper cabinets and an added pantry, just outside the kitchen’s threshold. They’ll also replace a set of upper cabinets that had previously blocked Hudson River views with floating shelves where the family can store everyday glassware. High-end materials for the new kitchen include custom lacquered cabinetry, and polished statuary marble counters & backsplash, for a blend of modern and traditional aesthetics.

Architectural detailing throughout the new space will also mix modern and traditional style elements. When we visited, the designers had prepared this mockup of a traditional over-door and crown molding detail for the foyer space to show the homeowners. After comparing a few options, Qian & Mike were pleased to approve the designers’ proposal.

Here, Sara, from the Mendelson team, shows us some of the other material samples they brought to review with the homeowners. The direction of the decor combines neutral textures & graphic patterns in a way that is fresh and unexpected.

The samples in hand are the floor and wall coverings that will be used in the new library. The floor covering is a Stark carpet called “Tandy” in Marble, and the wall covering is a Phillip Jeffries paper called “Gilded Age” in Breakers Blue.

This room will house the library/home office — one of the spaces we are most excited to see completed. Here, the walls are being prepped for the Phillip Jeffries wall covering (previous photo). The library will also be outfitted with custom millwork in a bleached & stained white oak; custom pieces include desks, shelving and paneling. Double-wide pocket doors along one wall will allow the space to be either closed off for quiet work time or opened up into the adjacent living room.

We stumbled upon this wood stain sample palette inside a large closet near the master bedroom. When staining existing wood floors, Gideon’s team makes samples on site before making final decisions, to ensure that their clients get exactly what they want. After decisions are made, the samples are re-sanded and final staining takes place.

Qian told us that she really appreciated that the designers are perfectionists; when it came to staining her floors, she said, “Gideon asked the contractor to try three different stains for us to look at. We all really liked the darkest stain, but Gideon thought some of the reddish undertones were still coming out and he wanted them to try another coat even if it would mean adding on an extra day to stain the floors.” In the end, that extra coat (the swatch on the bottom left) is the stain they chose.

We ended our visit in the master bathroom which, like the kitchen, is getting a full material upgrade. The finished bath will be adorned in marble — herringbone floor in honed Paper White and polished Statuary marbles, polished Dolomiti marble tiles on the walls, and  polished Bardiglio surfaces for the vanity top and tub deck.

We cannot wait to see this renovation finish up — many thanks to Gideon, Sara & the Mendelson Group team for sharing!

Start your renovation today, post your project on Sweeten!

The post Upper West Side Interior in Construction w/ Mendelson Group appeared first on Sweeten.

This week we stopped in to see a finished project that was awarded to this Sweeten general contractor. The homeowners converted their under-stair closet space into a personal wine bar in an apartment on the Upper West Side. The new bar-topped niche is the perfect place to store and display the couples’ wine collection, and it also doubles as a breakfast bar, making it an expansion of their small galley kitchen. Happy with their new space, the homeowners told us:

Our contractor was very professional, contactable (important!), and has great suggestions. [We] would definitely recommend his team.

Here’s a look at the project from start to finish.

Here is the photo the homeowners included when they posted their project to Sweeten showing their double-door, under-stair closet space. The closet would be just the right fit for a wine cooler, cabinet, and wall-mounted shelving.

The couple already had some ideas in mind for wood shelving. Here are some of their inspiration images which they also posted to their project on Sweeten.

The work began last month when their contractor cleared out the space, giving it smooth walls, fresh paint, and wired new lighting for the bar.

The next step was to assemble and install the small cabinet and wine-cooler. The homeowners chose this cabinet from the Martha Stewart collection available at Home Depot; the style is Weston in Persian Grey.

Here is the finished view –we love the clever use of space! As well as the pop of color added by the red Tabouret stools, available on Overstock.

The homeowners chose an elegant bartop in Carrara marble, also available through Home Depot. Above, wine bottles are displayed on reclaimed wood shelving from West Elm. The homeowners told us that they opted against custom shelving when they found these attractive shelves for such a great price. However, their contractor pointed out that the iron shelf brackets are a perfect match to the apartment’s stair railing—so, in the end, these off-the-shelf shelves actually appear customized.

New lamps with dimmers were also added. We love the hand-blown look of the pendants, similar to this glass pendant available at Pottery Barn.

Sometimes we forget how essential our storage is –they’ve got just enough cabinet space to keep the niche looking clean and stylish, with all the extras stowed away.

Many thanks to the homeowners for sharing their awesome new wine bar!

The post A Wine Bar Emerges from Under the Stairs appeared first on Sweeten.

The Nick Knacks team did a complete gut of the bathroom space to discover rotted flooring along with old plumbing lines and pipes that would have to be re-routed in order to realize its new design. After re-routing the plumbing where necessary, they upgraded all of the wiring to code, also adding recessed ceiling lights, 2 vanity light fixtures, a silent vent fan, and designated dimmer switches… Then onto the details below! Nick always stresses the importance of proper site prep — for this project, his team spent an entire day protecting surfaces, setting up equipment &  preliminary building materials to create a proper construction zone (which was also 99% dust free!). Here’s a first view into the renovated master bath. Nick’s design featured classic white beveled-edge subway tiles and Benjamin Moore’s Aura Sweet Honeydew Melon on the walls, as well as framed inset medicine cabinets from Restoration Hardware, and a new granite top for the vanity. When it came to the bathroom cabinets, Nick worked closely with these homeowners to come up with a custom solution that was “exactly it.” Nick did the design, fabrication, installation and wood staining of the double sink base cabinet (above) as well as a floating sink base and vertical storage cabinets in the half bath. Nick’s eye for details is also found in the finish of the window sill and tub ledge where he matched the granite used on the vanity. He also chose lighting and bath fixtures in polished chrome, including faucet and shower fittings from the Kohler Purist Collection. The floors and tub side were tiled with these unglazed porcelain in Linosa by Basaltina.

Nick says that the homeowners were so pleased with the bathrooms that they added a custom bedroom closet to the scope of the original project. Great work and many thanks to Nick & Dawn!

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