A homeowner returns to Sweeten for another renovation

• Homeowners: Charon and Lex posted their studio apartment remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Gramercy Park in Manhattan, NYC
• Primary renovation: Remodel an entire co-op studio for visiting family members
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “Having used Sweeten three times now, I can confidently offer some advice to future renovators: Use Sweeten. There are no downsides.”

Written in partnership with homeowner Charon

My name is Charon, and I’m a graphic designer. Together with my husband Lex, we decided to purchase a co-op apartment and embark on a renovation journey.

We needed to update our apartment desperately—a Murphy bed was attached to the wall and we needed to revive the bathroom that was the original. Located in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, the apartment was situated in a building that was built back in 1929. A face-lift for the entire space was a good spot to start. 

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A pied-à-terre comes into focus

We have three adult children who occasionally visit us. Our vision was to begin the planning of a guest studio where they could stay comfortably. Having their own space was important to us, rather than having them sleep on the couch in our one-bedroom apartment. Additionally, we were quite fond of utilizing the studio’s terrace, which we planned to enjoy ourselves.

Design tricks for a small space

One aspect that excited us the most was improving the kitchen. We had a unique design in mind—enclosing the kitchen with mirrored doors, creating a surprise element. Moreover, when the doors were closed, the mirrors would reflect and open up the small studio, enhancing its visual appeal. We were also thrilled about the prospect of having a quiet and effective air conditioner that didn’t rely on a window installation.

Choosing the right materials was crucial, and we opted for vibrant and saturated tones throughout the apartment. We loved a glossy hunter green tile that we had used in a previous bathroom renovation. It would be featured again in this new bathroom. As for modernizing the kitchen, we wanted something eye-catching, so we selected bright blue cabinets and a colorful terrazzo counter, providing a fun, unexpected twist.

"I had used Sweeten in the past and it was a good fit."

The right contractor for the project

Although the kitchen turned out great, it did come with its fair share of complications. In an old building like ours, none of the walls were straight. So the kitchen is actually a box that was slid into the space. All of the measurements were very tricky. 

Sweeten was our first thought when we realized we were going to need a contractor in Manhattan. I had used Sweeten in the past and it was a good fit. I knew that if I were to run into any problems during the project, Sweeten would help me. Having used Sweeten three times now, I can confidently offer some advice to future renovators: Use Sweeten. There are no downsides. You’re working with contractors who are vetted, and Sweeten is always there to step in if needed. 

The kitchen truly became the highlight from the start of our entire renovation. In fact, I love every aspect of our transformed apartment. We are able to enjoy it as an entertaining area and our grown children can enjoy it as a place to stay when visiting the city. 

Thank you, Charon and Lex, for sharing your pied-à-terre with us!

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Kitchen cabinets: Custom by contractor
• Countertops and backsplash: Walker Zanger
• Sink and faucet: Kohler

BATHROOM RESOURCES:

• Bathroom and shower floor tile: Cancos
• Hardware and shower fixtures: Simon’s Hardware & Bath
• Bathroom and shower wall tile: Heath Ceramics
• Sink, vanity, and mirror: Kohler
• Toilet: Toto

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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 Studio Apartment Remodel in Gramercy Park as a Pied-à-Terre appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Refresh a 20-year-old studio kitchen with an updated feel

Before: In 1998, when Jill first purchased her co-op studio apartment in Yorkville on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, she made a few changes that she thought would improve the small kitchen design. In the 56-square-foot kitchen, she swapped a 20-inch stove (that had to be lit with a match!) for a 24-inch model and changed out the shelving for stock cabinets that boosted storage capacity. “I’m only 4’11” so I couldn’t reach most of the previous shelves,” Jill explained. It was perfectly adequate for nearly 20 years, but in 2016, she decided it was time for a refresh. The small kitchen had become outdated and Jill realized that she could customize it to better suit her lifestyle. She wanted to maintain some elements while changing others: the footprint would stay, as would the dimensions of the cabinetry. Almost everything else would receive a facelift—the floors, the countertops, the tile, all the appliances and fixtures, and the cabinetry itself.

After: Jill found Sweeten’s blog through Apartment Therapy’s Renovation Diary series. She decided to post her project after a few failed attempts at finding a contractor on her own and was matched with a Sweeten contractor. Looking through other kitchen reno projects sparked a desire to add a custom pull-out spice rack, but when her mother exclaimed: “How many spices do you even really have?” Jill reflected on this question (“…about 3 or 4?”) and concluded it would not be a good use of her limited space. Similarly, she had been advised by friends to choose a deep sink—something that seems to be universally desirable. But she realized, after using one in another apartment, that it wasn’t ideal for her shorter frame since she had to reach further in for the pots and dishes. Jill points out, “With renovations, you have to design for the reality of your life, rather than how you imagine it can be.” Jill took her own advice for the rest of the choices: clean, flat-front custom cabinetry in Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore, a classic subway tile in glass for a modern twist, and a dark quartz countertop that paired well with the gray, wood-grain porcelain floor tile. Pots and pans, as well as a knife rack, went on the wall opposite the cabinets. For appliances, she went with stainless steel models that were slightly smaller than her originals. With the stove, she went back to a 20-inch model. “You wouldn’t think that four inches of counter space would make such a big difference, but it does!” Jill also removed a shelf above the stove and added a circulating exhaust vent. Forgoing a dishwasher was a no-brainer since she was happy to hand-wash and preferred the storage space instead. Lastly, for her refrigerator, she chose a stainless steel counter-depth model so that it wouldn’t jut out into the entrance to her kitchen. All the elements came together for a classic but understated look that Jill will be happy with for years to come.

Bonus: Even though the footprint of the small kitchen design stayed the same, Jill gained a lot of extra storage with custom cabinets that made use of previously “dead” corners. She chose glass-front upper cabinets in the corner, which are fully accessible (with the help of a step stool), as well as bi-level Lazy Susan in the lower corner cabinet. Above her fridge, her Sweeten contractor added a custom shelf for her baking pans. And below the not-too-deep sink, the contractor installed a partition that is a perfect fit for her step stool.

Style finds: Gray wood-grain floor tile: Artistic Tile. Custom cabinets: Interiors Palace. Cabinet paint color: Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray. Quartz countertops: Stone Masters, LIC, NY. Glass subway tile backsplash: Artistic Tile. Stainless steel 20-inch gas range, #GR2013CSS: Avanti. Stainless steel counter-depth refrigerator, #BRFB1822SSLN: Blomberg.

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We love seeing our homeowners get creative with small kitchen design, like working with a galley layout for maximum efficiency and organization.

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

The post At 56 Square Feet, A Small NYC Kitchen Proves It’s More Than Enough appeared first on Sweeten.