Fireplace renovations add comfort to a room and character to an empty wall

Whether living in a modern apartment or a mid-century-style house, a fireplace is a welcome feature to elevate any home. Fireplaces make a room feel cozy and warm, while visually drawing you in. Below, Sweeten highlights a few fireplace renovations that are high-impact and transform the room.

Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and financial protection, all at no cost to homeowners.

Fireplace as a focal point

A Sweeten homeowner in Southampton converted her 800-square-foot garage into a 1,350-square-foot living space. Shiplap runs up to the vaulted ceiling with a slate mantle to create a true statement piece. “The way it was executed was beyond my expectations,” the homeowner noted.

No chimney needed

If you’re looking for a quick fireplace installation, consider a ventless fireplace. In most cases, it can be installed in one day. With no chimney, heat circulates throughout the house instead of escaping through the top. By going ventless, this Sweeten homeowner avoided the time and work it takes to tend a real wood fire and keep it clean. 

A fireplace brings new ambiance

A Westchester County home remodel reconfigured 5,900 square feet of interior space. Newly carved-out rooms serve as family gathering areas. Here, the existing fireplace turned the den into a relaxing lounge. 

A fireplace softens the edges

Kirsty and David added a gas fireplace after demolishing the original one. Natural light and windows flank the new fireplace and invite the outside in. The result: minimalist design incorporates a touch of warmth.

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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.

Black window frames create subtle visual drama for every space

Seemingly minor design changes can shift a room’s entire aesthetic. Case in point: black window frames. They not only act as a frame to a picture-perfect outdoor view but dress up a plain wall. Take a look at these six Sweeten projects to see how the homeowners incorporated black-framed windows into a variety of homes.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

A new view in Brooklyn

Sweeten homeowners Bellamy and Zak replaced all the windows in their house, creating an entirely new view. Painted black window frames invite the outside in. With this integral detail, these homeowners were able to create a timeless look that appeals to the eye.

Small-space solution

Black-framed window trim made this studio apartment look bigger and brighter. During her Sweeten renovation, Taylor decided to paint the window frames in the dark hue. This design idea brought a modern and elegant look to her 320-square-foot home.

Upgrading a townhouse

Sweeten homeowners Steve and Lewis created several windows with black frames. From the inside and the exterior, the unique configuration would add character to their renovated townhouse. The framed windows visually connect the urban activity outside.

Adding charm to a Tudor

Classic black-painted window frames fit all styles from apartments to older houses. Sweeten homeowner and interior designer Meredith knew black trim would make the mark. She noted how “they fit the Tudor style of the house perfectly.” The finished window acts as a visual anchor for the bathroom.

Complementing intricate detail

Nazli and Larry went with deep bluish-black molding for their dining room area. The contrast emphasized the intricate stained glass.  “We love this room,” Nazli said, explaining how it was the main reason they bought the house.

Bringing the outside in

Black-framed windows highlight expansive light in a 1932 Dutch Colonial. These Sweeten homeowners added a 280-square-foot sunroom off their kitchen. A wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor set of glass doors set the stage for a grand picture window to the outdoors.

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

An all-white kitchen can become a calming backdrop, or a stunning showstopper

The dependable all-white kitchen color palette remains popular for the wide-ranging looks it brings to the kitchen. The clean slate of a single white hue brings visual calm when on its own. Add to that tile shape, pattern, and texture and you’ll start to see a personality emerge. It works as a supportive background when paired with gold hardware or dark wood for contrast. This classic neutral compliments modern, industrial, and every style in-between. Here, seven Sweeten kitchens show why white is the perennial choice.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

A fresh start in an all-white kitchen

As new parents-to-be, homeowners Tara and Brian were looking for something more modern. They wanted to ditch their dated kitchen with a faulty layout. After finalizing the floor plan, the homeowners chose a simple white subway tile backsplash to ground the room. The clean tile became a cohesive backdrop for an exotic live edge walnut island countertop—a must-have for Tara. The dark shelves stand out and provide a pleasant contrast.

A traditional kitchen goes modern

After seven months of living in their first home, Marc and Steve decided it was time to renovate their crowded, outdated kitchen, which was once dark and claustrophobic. The homeowners wanted their kitchen to feel open and bright. To achieve this, the duo installed sleek white cabinets and countertops. The window above the sink was swapped out for a larger window letting in more natural light. A black-and-white patterned floor added a graphic urban look.

A warm, minimalist all-white kitchen

Manhattan homeowners Elie and Matt wanted to remodel their washed-out gallery kitchen. Custom-made white cabinets, along with a white quartz countertop and backsplash moved them in a direction that was more in line with their taste. The pop of gold hardware and large-format gray tile flooring made the kitchen feel luxurious, yet crisp and simple. Their new all-white kitchen makes Elie and Matt feel at home in the open, welcoming space.

A simple and current all-white kitchen

With a kitchen that had gone through “a hodgepodge” of renovations, Sarah and Eddy decided they needed a complete change and a unifying design. Their kitchen was dark and dated. The goal was to achieve the opposite. The subway tile backsplash, grouted with dark gray, contrasted well with the open wood shelves. Keeping within the clean white look, an arabesque-patterned tile behind the stove was a nice design surprise. A neutral-toned banquette also stands out against a newly-discovered brick wall.

Let there be light

Two newlyweds in Manhattan knew their kitchen was in need of an update before moving in. The kitchen had been worn, with dark clunky cabinets, while the dining room table made the kitchen feel cramped. After adding white cabinets with black knobs and a white quartz countertop, the space was revived. Extending the countertop underneath a window expanded the kitchen’s reach. The natural light shines through the new counter-to-ceiling windows, making the all-white kitchen gleam.

Using architecture to add texture

Tara and Ryan found their kitchen to be functional, yet dark and musty. There was definitely room for improvement! Working around a column in the middle of the room, the couple was able to find a layout they liked. They achieved this by moving the kitchen island slightly to create more room. The show-stopping feature of the room is its now dazzling white appearance. A once dated and crowded kitchen was now open and bright.

All-white, with floor-to-ceiling storage

Nadia and Stephen planned to be avid home chefs in their multigenerational townhome. But with their L-shaped kitchen, counter-space and storage were lacking, they needed some updates. The kitchen was moved to one side which made space to include an island, wraparound pantry, and dining room table. The all-white cabinets with no hardware added to the modern and streamlined look of the new bright and spacious family kitchen.

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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.

Black window frames create subtle visual drama for every space

Seemingly minor design changes can shift a room’s entire aesthetic. Case in point: black window frames. They not only act as a frame to a picture-perfect outdoor view but also dress up a plain wall. Take a look at these six Sweeten projects to see how the homeowners incorporated black window frames into a variety of homes.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

Small-space solution: Black-framed windows

Black-framed window trim made this studio apartment look bigger and brighter. During her Sweeten renovation, Taylor decided on painting the window frames black for a striking effect. This design idea brought a modern and elegant look to her 320-square-foot home.

Interior window frames upgrade a townhouse

Sweeten homeowners Steve and Lewis created several windows with black frames. From the inside and the exterior, the unique configuration would add character to their renovated townhouse. The framed windows visually connect the urban activity outside.

Painting window frames black adds charm to a Tudor

Classic black-painted window frames fit all styles from apartments to older houses. Sweeten homeowner and interior designer Meredith knew black trim would make the mark. She noted how “they fit the Tudor style of the house perfectly.” The finished window acts as a visual anchor for the bathroom.

Dark window framing complements intricate detail

Nazli and Larry went with deep bluish-black molding for their dining room area. The contrast emphasized the intricate stained glass.  “We love this room,” Nazli said, explaining how it was the main reason they bought the house.

A Brooklyn home with black window frames

Sweeten homeowners Bellamy and Zak replaced all the windows in their house, creating an entirely new view. Painted black-framed windows invite the outside in. With this integral detail, these homeowners were able to create a timeless look that appeals to the eye.

Bringing the outside in

Black-framed windows highlight expansive light in a 1932 Dutch Colonial. These Sweeten homeowners added a 280-square-foot sunroom off their kitchen. A wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor set of glass doors set the stage for a grand picture window to the outdoors.

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

Want to cut down on prep steps? Need more space for guests? These Thanksgiving-ready kitchens by Sweeten do it all.

Thanksgiving is a time people look forward to seeing friends and family and being thankful. But those things aside, big gatherings can be stressful on homeowners. The biggest challenge is kitchen organization; cooking and prepping food, along with needing space to serve. The right kitchen features can help ease the frustrations caused by clutter. Sweeten has helped homeowners design Thanksgiving-ready kitchens to ease the holiday strain. We selected these specific kitchens for their unique characteristics that will make any get-together easier and more enjoyable.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

Roomy kitchen countertops produce Thanksgiving meals with ease

With friends and family gathering, Thanksgiving calls for generous kitchen counters. Yet, many kitchens lack the counter space it takes to host. Adding more work surface area creates more room and less clutter. As a chef, Arnish decided that a huge kitchen peninsula would solve many of his troubles. “Sometimes we have up to 80 people in the space.” Their renovation also included a wine fridge, which makes for less traffic in the kitchen when cooking and preparing. With large food prep, cooking, or spreading out platters, a considerable surface space is a must.

A small kitchen island comes with big advantages

Small spaces can hold untapped potential. When Ursula remodeled her kitchen with Sweeten, she added a small kitchen island. The “dresser-style” island is a storage workhorse, providing three drawers for silverware, cutlery, dishes, and pots and pans. It’s ideal for food-forward holidays and dinner parties since it doubles as a serving station.

A deep and wide sink helps with dreaded dinner cleanup

For dishes that can’t fit in the dishwasher and squeeze into a regular basin, deep and wide sinks don’t disappoint. Brooklyn brownstone owners Christina and Aaron, who renovated their kitchen with Sweeten, chose a large volume farmhouse sink. The uniquely deep design is great for soaking extra-sticky dishes and accommodating baking trays or sauté pans.

Pass-throughs become conversation stations

Adding barstools to the kitchen island makes conversation during Thanksgiving more enjoyable. Guests eager to lend a helping hand can prepare food and chat with the host without being in the way. In this Sweeten kitchen renovation, homeowner Dan found having barstools at the pass-through offered seating and a more open feel to the space.

Built-in pot fillers let you work smarter, not harder during Thanksgiving

Installing a pot-filler above the stove eliminates a step from cooking. Romauld, an avid cook, included one in his Elmhurst, Queens kitchen renovation. No longer carrying a heavy pot from the sink to the stove allows him to save time and steps. This handy feature will make mashed potato duty at Thanksgiving (or corn on the cob, or pasta-making) much simpler.

The right kitchen appliances are a must for any Thanksgiving feast

When planning a kitchen remodel, updating old appliances bring energy efficiency, increase functionalities, and a modern clean look. Homeowner Katy, who renovated her Hamptons kitchen with Sweeten, called in help to pick new appliances. “I let my mother-in-law—a holiday-entertaining superwoman choose.” Among her selections was a single oven “with the largest cubic heating space she could find.” 

A walk-in pantry makes storage more accessible

Walk-in pantries keep the main kitchen area uncluttered (a difficult task during the holidays!) The extra storage allows food staples, beverages, and canned goods to stay organized. Whether the pantry has a door or an open entry, it adds to the character of the kitchen. Nazli painted her new kitchen pantry a darker shade than the kitchen so the contents blended into the surrounding, seeming to disappear. If you’re an amateur home chef, consider adding a walk-in pantry for your larger kitchen appliances, pans, and bulk ingredients or spices.

Multifaceted kitchen island

Sweeten homeowners Dawn and David added a huge island kitchen in their Park Slope kitchen renovation with Sweeten. “People like to congregate in the kitchen when they arrive. I wanted to have a space that didn’t interfere with the process of making dinner.”  There is room to prepare food and lay it out beautifully at the same time. (We’re also huge fans of the yellow Moroccan tile, sure to be a conversation piece with dinner guests!)

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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.