general contractors in nyc | Sweeten

Meet Sweeten NYC General Contractors Paulina and Albert

Sweeten — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:55:58 +0000

Their passion for construction goes way back

At Sweeten, the experts in our network are experienced contractors and design pros we’d be thrilled to have working in our own homes. We check their licenses, insurance, quality of work, and customer service skills. Trust and open communication are the lifeblood of our free renovation service, and our personal connection to our experts enables us to match you to the best choices for your project. Here, get to know their personality and click to view their portfolio, including photos from past work and client reviews, so that you can hire the right team and renovate with confidence.

Check out Paulina and Albert’s portfolio

Where are you from and how long have you been in construction?

We’re both from Poland and have been in construction for about 10 years.

How did you get into construction?

Paulina: I had to be like 11 years old when my dad hired an architect to design a little fireplace outside of our house. I thought she was so cool because she came out with a lot of drawings and blueprints. I thought, “Wow, this is really, really amazing.” Ever since I met that architect, I was inspired to design. Later, when I worked for a construction company, I decided I actually wanted to design and build.

Albert: Construction has always been my passion. I did a lot of woodworking when I was very young and worked as a carpenter when I was 16. I loved it from the beginning. What used to be a hobby became something I did professionally. I love my job.

What do you love most about construction?

Different projects and the clients—you pick a project, go from start to finish, and then start again with a different project. There’s a uniqueness to the changing environment.

What is your ideal client?

Someone who has a general sense of what they’re looking for, but maybe didn’t have a chance to get the advice they needed. I like when we find somebody that we can actually help. They’ll say, “Okay! Nobody actually explained it to me like that!”

What is the biggest challenge you see for renovating in New York?

The cost of running our workshop, for sure. We have a huge facility where we run a custom cabinetry and millwork shop which we also use for our renovations.

Yankees or Mets?

We don’t understand baseball, we’re Polish—soccer!

Favorite New York City building or structure?

Albert: The Empire State building.

Paulina: I don’t know, I don’t have a favorite one. I love New York City!

Take a look at some of Paulina and Albert’s renovations below and check out their portfolio for more photos of past work.

(1) Matthew’s apartment in Hell’s Kitchen (2) Erica and Joshua’s Clinton Hill kitchen (3) Sarah and Craig’s apartment in Long Island City

Paulina and Albert have been Sweeten contractors since 2014.

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

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A Tiny Kitchen Gets a Big Makeover – Sweeten on the Upper East Side!

Robyn Roberts — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:51:35 +0000

We have a new contender in the tiny urban kitchen competition! A half galley in Brooklyn Heights has held the honor up to this point, but a 25-square-foot Upper East Side kitchen looks like it might edge out all competitors. With an eye on re-sale value, the owner of this Manhattan studio came to Sweeten to make the most of a small space with new finishes and a delightfully scrappy use of modern materials.

“My contractor made my kitchen renovation a painless experience. He has an excellent eye for design and materials and is willing to work with your budget. His brother and the rest of the renovation team are incredibly hard-working and left the work site immaculate at the end of every day.”

– Upper East Side homeowner

After settling into her studio apartment in the Yorkville section of New York’s posh Upper East Side, this new homeowner saw opportunity in what felt like a “disaster”. The kitchen floor and subfloor were cracked, appliances were dated, the small sink and stove had no backsplash protection, and the nook was starting to look as if it hadn’t been cleaned in years. The tiny L-shaped kitchen soon became the main focal point for a makeover. Set on keeping the project within a specific budget, the studio’s owner posted her project to Sweeten and we matched her with a Sweeten general contractor, a contractor with two decades of experience helping homeowners achieve quality renovations at every budget.

The project post called for some specifics and laid out a few materials to avoid: yes to new white cabinets, Caesarstone counters, and subway tile, and no to floor grout that would attract grime. Her contractor got to work right away, removing all of the existing kitchen finishes to make way for more modern selects–without having to change the footprint. Charcoal-hued porcelain floor tiles replaced every bit of the dingy, broken originals, setting the tone for chic black and white all around. The original cabinets were torn out to make way for more modern Shaker-style white cabinets, maximizing additional storage space and finished with brushed silver metal pulls. The laminate countertops were swapped for a more luxe black Caesarstone with a stainless undermount sink and coordinating faucet that mimics the modernity of the cabinet hardware. The Sweeten contractor installed a gleaming subway tile backsplash in black glass, and crisp white paint brightens up the new space.

The studio’s owner went for stainless appliances in lieu of the older white originals, and she particularly wanted a vented hood for the oven range. The contractor saw to it that these accessories were incorporated in the design. A sleek new fridge took the place of the former, plus a gas range, coordinating hood, and a compact microwave right above it—a much better location than before when the microwave was oddly stuck between the fridge and sink. With contrasting black and white throughout the new space, and alternating matte and glossy surfaces, the new lighting pendant casts a gorgeous glow.

Kitchen selects >> floors: Urbatek / counter: Caesarstone / sink: Dowell / backsplash tile: Daltile / stove and hood: Appliances Connection / fridge: Appliances Connection / pendant: West Elm

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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 Tiny Kitchen Gets a Big Makeover – Sweeten on the Upper East Side! appeared first on Sweeten.

Meet Sweeten NY General Contractor Evros

Sweeten — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 16:25:48 +0000

He’s been in construction for nearly 30 years

Check out Evros’ portfolio here

Where are you from and how long have you been in construction?

Originally, I’m from Cyprus and I’ve been in construction for about 30 years now.

How did you get into this industry?

I studied civil engineering at the University of New Haven. Then I got my master’s degree in engineering management, got a job at a construction site, and the rest is history!

What do you love most about what you do?

I love having dinner with a client and then lunch with the guys the next day. Both of them are awesome.

What is the biggest challenge renovating in New York?

New York is a very unique place to work. You’ve got the traffic, the regulations, the buildings, and the management companies that have all these kinds of special rules.

What do you think is the biggest misconception that homeowners have when starting a renovation project?

Renovating can be very costly, and a lot of homeowners don’t realize they don’t have the budget for what they want.

Favorite New York City building or structure?

Rockefeller Center.

Favorite New York City neighborhood?

East Village.

Take a look at some of Evros’ renovations below and check out his portfolio for more photos of past work.

(1) A homeowner’s kitchen on the Upper West Side (2) Meredith’s bathroom in Brooklyn (3) Cara and Jared’s kitchen in Chelsea

Evros has been a Sweeten general contractors since 2014.

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