Jan Eliasberg discovered she enjoyed the hands-on, creative experience of her gut renovation

• Homeowners: Screenwriter/director and novelist, Jan Eliasberg posted her apartment remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Upper West Side in Manhattan’s NYC
• Primary renovation: Opening up a 1,750-square-foot penthouse co-op without an open concept while upgrading the entire home
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “My Sweeten contractor brought an imperturbable calm that I knew would stand us in good stead when things went pear-shaped (as they inevitably would).”

Written by homeowner Jan Eliasberg. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg.

Architecture is the “complex or carefully designed structure of something.” By that definition, I’ve been practicing architecture for most of my life. As a film and television director, I envision the ideal structure for telling a story and then, in collaboration with other creative artists, bring that vision into reality.

There’s nothing I love more than seeing possibility, an instinct that served me well when I was on the hunt for my NYC apartment. If a listing said, “Bring your toothbrush,” I’d pass, if it said, “Bring your contractor,” I’d rush to make an appointment.

I decided to buy a penthouse apartment before I’d even seen it. It was month three of COVID when the NY Times was announcing that “New York is Dead.” Every article in the home section was about New Yorkers moving permanently to the Hudson Valley, or the Hamptons – anywhere but New York. There were no Open Houses. No one wanted to take on the double whammy of buying an apartment and gut renovating it during a global pandemic, except for someone slightly crazy…like myself.

Previous slide

Next slide

Tackling her gut renovation

The broker’s listing featured a ground plan: a 1,750-square-foot penthouse; spacious rooms; Central Park views; a wrap-around terrace and light from the South, East, and West. What could possibly be bad?

Well…roof leaks and water stains on the ceiling; mold in the closets; linoleum pasted to the floor with asbestos-laced glue; mud brown paint; green shag carpet; and a labyrinthian flow that made me feel like a psychotic rat in an impossibly twisted maze. I held tight to my vision, combed Pinterest for inspirational images, and posted the project on Sweeten.

Spreading light throughout

The rooms were already spacious, so I opted against an open concept plan. We created an enormous archway from the dark and confusing entryway into the living room. Suddenly the light from the wall of south facing windows flooded the entryway and illuminated a clear path. We borrowed a design gesture from pre-war New York apartments, connecting the living room and dining room with French doors. The dining room became my dedicated office and screening room (where, as a writer and director, I spend most of my time). It also serves as a third bedroom.

Composing my renovation team

My Sweeten contractor brought an imperturbable calm that I knew would stand us in good stead when things went pear-shaped (as they inevitably would). He introduced me to Danielle Albert, a terrific architect with whom he’d worked on several previous projects.

Together we orchestrated the flow of the apartment with strategic structural alterations. We opened the rooms up to the light, accentuating the streamline moderne elegance of the tall ceilings and original casement windows. And, of course, fixing a multitude of code violations, asbestos hazards, and water-damaged ceilings along the way.

Danielle and I replaced the low, wooden doors with floor-to-ceiling doors featuring enormous panels of fluted glass that echo the pattern of the casement windows. The ribbed glass gives privacy while allowing natural light to stream into every room from two if not three directions.

Overcoming kitchen cabinet challenges

The most challenging aspects of the renovation were the kitchen and the HVAC system. To save money, I did a modified IKEA kitchen. Wanting to maintain as much openness as possible, I opted not to use upper cabinets. Fortunately, Danielle had carved a large pantry out of previously wasted space, so I was able to maximize every inch of storage. I used custom-paneled cabinet doors and drawer fronts from a Canadian company called NIEU. I’m eternally grateful to Julia at NIEU who corrected all my mistakes before I made them. 

Coordinating with IKEA, however, dealing with their supply chain issues, returning over-ordered parts became so frustrating that I regretted not doing a custom kitchen. That aside, I’m thrilled with the way the kitchen came out. I particular love the sleek lines of the leathered white Macaubus countertops and backsplash, offering the elegance of marble with the easy maintenance and durability of quartzite.

Nature inspires the color palette

To provide a focal point for the 22-foot-long living room, I added a floor-to-ceiling tiled fireplace. I wanted a tile more delicate and playful than Heath with its earth-tone glazes. I’d been a collector of Rookwood pottery when I lived in California. In a stroke of remarkable synchronicity, I discovered that Rookwood had recently re-opened, once again making their fantastically etched and glazed tiles. I chose a pattern called Jazz in a watery blue-green glaze called Wasser.

Intentionally choosing a color palette is something I’ve always done in my film work; it unites disparate elements. In design, it allows rooms to echo and harmonize within an overarching theme. Streamline Moderne design reached its peak in America on the sunny beaches of South Beach, Florida. So I instinctively gravitated towards a summer palette: the greens and blues of the ocean; the spun gold of the sun at Magic Hour; a hillside covered with lavender. And anchoring it all, wide natural hardwood planks and 24 x 24 terrazzo tiles in “Ivory” and “Latte.”

"Fortunately, our contractor was nimbly able to juggle and move forward with other parts of the project."

Architectural inspiration

My building was designed by an architect known for his remarkable art deco buildings on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Because of WWII, however, materials weren’t available to build until the mid-forties. This placed my building in the period when art deco was becoming streamlined, influenced by the form follows functional efficiency of the Bauhaus. Streamline moderne favors simpler, aerodynamic elegance; sleekly curved corners, with an emphasis on streamlined horizontal lines.

A new opportunity with the co-op board

The HVAC system added many months, many delays, and many unnecessary dollars to the budget. The co-op board had never allowed central air in the building, so I was the proverbial guinea pig. We often had to wait weeks and even months to get sign-offs from the building architect and the board. Fortunately, our contractor was nimbly able to juggle and move forward with other parts of the project. When August came and the penthouse could have been baking in the heat of the summer sun, I was grateful that I’d had the patience and tenacity to stick to my guns.

My interactions with the co-op board during the renovation process incentivized me to run for the board myself to help streamline the renovation process for future shareholders. I’m now the head of the co-op board’s Design Committee, overseeing upgrades to the lobby, corridors, and elevator.

7 tips from a hands-on homeowner

1. If you can, do it yourself.

I sourced every finish, every tile, fabric, every can of paint. As a result, I never paid fees for purchasing materials. I was also in control of the budget on a visceral level; I was personally responsible for every penny that was spent. It was a lot of responsibility and time, but those hours represent enormous savings and kept me on budget.

2. Google is your friend.

When I went to NYC showrooms, I was shocked by the limited color options and the incredibly high prices for terrazzo tiles, which had suddenly become a trendy new material. I found a company in Wausau, Wisconsin that makes nothing but terrazzo – in every color imaginable, with eight blends of crushed stone chips from macro to micro. I chose the Reflections Series and specified that small pieces of mirror be crushed into the mix so that, when the sun hits the tile in exactly the right way, it creates a reflected burst of light.

3. Never buy from big box design stores if you can find vintage.

My go-to resources were Chairish; Pamono; Etsy; and Live Auctioneers.com. Vintage pieces bring stories and histories, adding layers of authenticity and beauty to your design.

4. Lighting makes or breaks a space.

Natural light is key; that was a priority on my “must have” list. Then I searched the world to find focal point light fixtures that command attention: a BTC Original Rise ‘N Fall Pendant light over the kitchen counter; the Louis Poulsen “Patera” Fibonacci hanging pendant over the dining room table; matching Gerard Thurston for Lightolier perforated pendants bookending the bathroom mirror.

5. Save money by using inexpensive tile in fresh ways.

I went with an inexpensive classic 2″ x 10″ white subway tile in my New York-sized bathrooms. The tile is set in patterns – stacked horizontal up to chair rail height, stacked vertical above and, in the guest bathroom, a herringbone patterned niche contrasting with stacked vertical everywhere else. The patterns catch the eye and lend texture to what would otherwise read as standard issue tile.

Connect with Sweeten contractors

6. Whenever possible, re-use, recycle.

By re-upholstering, repainting, or changing hardware, I was able to reuse every piece of furniture and art I’d collected over the years. Two beloved Bertoia chairs, two absurdly comfortable Milo Baughman tilt and swivel club chairs; and two prized Arne Jacobsen St. Catherine’s chairs were recovered by the extraordinary folks at Prestige Furniture and Design. My Mads Caprani standing lamps, Peter Lovig Neilsen writing desk (where I wrote my most recent novel, HANNAH’S WAR), and two cherished Henning Norgaard rosewood and glass side tables all found pride of place in my new home.

7. If you don’t fall in love, wait.

Don’t buy an apartment you don’t love; I looked at more than 100 apartments before I found the one that made my heart sing. It’s better to have no chairs at the dining room table if you haven’t found the right fabric. Haven’t fallen in love with wallpaper for the powder room? Keep scrolling through Pinterest until you see a pattern and colors you can’t live without (for me, it was C.F.A. Voysey’s Passion Flower in cornflower blue and yellow). Far better to stare at an empty wall over the sink than hang a boring mirror or medicine cabinet just to fill the space.

With everything finished except for landscaping on the terrace (soon…) I have an immense sense of satisfaction and gratitude. I wake up to the sun rising over Central Park in the morning and watch the sunset over the Hudson at night. Honestly, I can’t think of a thing I would do differently.

The only problem is that my renovating hobby has now become an obsession and I’m itching to find another project. So, if you encounter a listing that says, “Bring your contractor…” please send up a flare.

Thank you, Jan, for sharing your new home with us!

—

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.

RENOVATION MATERIALS

LIVING ROOM/FOYER RESOURCES:

• Jazz tile in Wasser glaze on fireplace: Rookwood Pottery
• Reflections Series 24” x 24” terrazzo foyer floor tile in Ivory and Latte: Wausau Tile
• French door hardware: Vintage
• Mouille Six-arm ceiling lamp: France and Son
• Ammonite paint on walls: Farrow and Ball

OFFICE RESOURCES:

• Peignoir paint on walls: Farrow and Ball
• Fog & Mørup Trio of Copper and Black Pendant Lights for Louis Poulsen: Vintage

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Kitchen cabinets: IKEA
• Cabinet doors/drawer fronts: NIEU.
• Mizzle paint on cabinets: Farrow & Ball
• Macaubus countertop and backsplash: BAS Stone
• Cobb Rise ‘N Fall Pendant light: Original BTC
• Lucia wall sconces (above sink): Hector Finch
• Franke CUBE stainless steel sink: Franke   
• Faucet in unlacquered brass: PHYLRICH
• Café stove: Café

KITCHEN PANTRY RESOURCES:

• Mizzle paint on cabinets: Farrow and Ball
• Wood countertop: IKEA

DINING ROOM RESOURCES:

• “Patera” Fibonacci hanging pendant: Louis Poulsen

POWDER ROOM RESOURCES (with wallpaper):

• Scarabeo wall-mounted ceramic sink: Nameek’s

• Faucet with cross handles in unlacquered brass: PHYLRICH

• C.F..A. Voysey “Passion Flower” in cornflower blue and slate: Lord Twig Wallpapers
• Reflections Series terrazzo floor tile in Latte: Wausau Tile

GUEST BATHROOM RESOURCES (with soaking tub):

• Zellige 4″ hex floor tile in Tea Ceremony: Clé Tile
• 48″ x 32″ Drop-in soaking bathtub: Fine Fixtures

PRIMARY BATHROOM RESOURCES

• Zellige 4″ hex floor tile in Tea Ceremony: Clé Tile
• Shower fixtures in unlacquered brass: PHYLRICH
• Godmorgen vanity: IKEA
• Brushed white oak slab cabinet panels: The Cabinet Face
• Light fixture: Vintage

The post A Film Director and Novelist’s Apartment Remodel on the Upper West Side appeared first on Sweeten.

A well-deserved upgrade with black quartz countertops reveals a compact cookspace remodel under $35,000

• Homeowners: These co-op owners posted their project on Sweeten
• Where: Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: Rip-and-replace a black-and-white small kitchen in a 750-square-foot prewar apartment
• Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “We had a truly positive experience working with our contractor.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—for free.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.

A well-timed purchase with room to improve

I purchased the co-op in September 2020 when property prices were down. Nobody was talking about inflation just yet. So, it seemed like a good time to invest in New York.

We had been renting prior to buying the place. Eventually, I sold some stocks and used the money for the down payment. The prewar apartment is in a co-op building, built in 1938. It has six floors with many combined units. Ours measures 750 square feet. We wanted to update the apartment, modernizing it a bit and making it feel like our own.

The dealbreaker: no dishwasher!

Our renovation’s focus was on the apartment’s kitchen. It hadn’t been updated since 2003 and lacked a dishwasher—we needed one, and wanted to give the otherwise workable kitchen, which had been done in black and white, a facelift. So, I posted my project on Sweeten, asking for bids from local general contractors we met for a “simple update.”

As a first-time renovator, I had questions. “How long does a kitchen remodel take?” “How much would it cost?” Will my contractor rip me off?” “How do I deal with the co-op during the process?” But Sweeten helped answer them, and got me on the way to hiring a vetted renovation team.

A bigger fridge changes the scope

From the beginning, we’d thought we would install a dishwasher and a new countertop and that would be it. We liked the existing black-and-white kitchen as it was. But the scope of the job changed quickly when we decided to upgrade from the skinny, column-style refrigerator that was there.

With help from our contractor, we did a redesign to make room for a fridge that was closer to standard size. Other than that, we left the kitchen layout pretty much as it had been.

Black-and-white kitchen cabinets simply elevate

I’d visited Ikea and made a cabinet selection, but a friend of ours who was working for Semihandmade, a company that makes high-quality doors to fit Ikea base cabinets, suggested we speak to them about our project. The company’s products were a worthy improvement and they had the colors we wanted. We went with a black-on-black vibe for the lower-cabinet surfaces, and white for the uppers.

We spent an evening evaluating handles and pulls up close with the cabinets to see what we liked best and bought $400 worth. However, we saved a bit on the hardware by asking our contractor to rebuild the existing white open shelving units.

"We saved a bit on the hardware by asking our contractor to rebuild the existing white open shelving units."

Black quartz countertops set the tone

When it came time to choose the countertops, we looked at Corian, quartz, polished granite, and Dekton. The offerings include so many types and textures. We ultimately went with Jet Black quartz countertops, which coordinated the best with our matte-black doors.

The new, larger refrigerator was the right call, no question. The kitchen had come with a gas range that we liked, but we opted for a sleeker, black style at the last minute and we’re thankful that we did. We decided to buy a small microwave, too, and hide it behind a cupboard door. It’s only used to heat up coffee. Similarly, the new dishwasher adds cleanliness and convenience, while keeping the countertops less cluttered.

A solid renovation partner

We had a truly positive experience working with our Sweeten contractor. One of the last days of the project, I put together a PowerPoint presentation highlighting all of the things that needed to be completed. Our contractor and his crew were very receptive to this. Tell us you work in sales without telling us you work in sales!

Our black-and-white small kitchen came in on budget

I know that these kitchen projects can be really expensive, so I’m happy we were able to get the result we wanted, and a great-looking kitchen, at a cost that was reasonable and reachable. We made one mistake that cost us about a thousand dollars, but otherwise the project was without any major bumps, and we kept our total costs under $35K. 

The new-and-improved black-and-white kitchen is our own now. It gave us the opportunity to collaborate and improve our living space—and allowed me to tour all of the tri-state Ikea locations in search of the missing cabinet parts. Truth is, there’s nothing “simple,” about a kitchen renovation. But no regrets here.

Thank you for sharing your new kitchen with us!

Renovation materials

• Supermatte Shaker black cabinets and Supermatte Shaker uppers in white: Semihandmade
• Black and white kitchen cabinets, sink, faucet, and lighting: IKEA
• Quartz countertops in Jet Black: Caesarstone
• Bertazzoni black gas range: Bertazzoni
• Blomberg refrigerator: Blomberg
• Bosch dishwasher: Bosch
• Hardware: Rejuvenation

—

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, work with Sweeten to renovate with the best contractors.

The post Black-and-White Kitchen Cabinets Have a Timeless Appeal in Brooklyn appeared first on Sweeten.

“After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten

Before: Renovate an outdated Brooklyn kitchen

Longtime renters Marc and Steve dreamed of having a place of their own. Their search for a one-bedroom in Brooklyn eventually led them to an unexpected choice: a co-op or house? The townhouse, they discovered, was a short commute (only two express train stops) from Manhattan. It would provide more space than a one-bedroom apartment and not have the maintenance fees that go with living in a co-op. After purchasing their new home, they lived in it for seven months before turning their attention to the kitchen.

“It was perhaps the most outdated room and we knew it needed a major renovation,” Marc said. The existing cabinets were grimy and had broken doors. Some were so high up that they were almost unusable. The countertops had seen better days. The too-big appliances—combined with a low drop ceiling—made it feel like the walls were closing in on the already small space.

Slideshow:

After: Creating the “must-haves” list and choosing the contractor

With a list of must-haves that included a full-size dishwasher and additional storage space, Marc and Steve set out to plan a renovation. “Before Sweeten, we weren’t sure how to find a contractor we could trust,” Marc said. Posting his project on Sweeten led him to his general contractor. Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

After reading through great reviews and discussing the contractor’s past work with Sweeten, he felt confident he was making the right choice and accepted his contractor’s bid.

Fans of the classic, black-and-white New York kitchen, the couple aimed to create a bright space with a clean look, layering plenty of white to make the space feel bigger. “The kitchen needed to be truly functional and not just pretty,” Marc said. As for the design, “we landed on something like ‘a traditional white kitchen goes modern.’” With a contractor on board, they were finally on their way to the modern black and white kitchen renovation of their dreams.

Planning and ordering kitchen cabinets

The need to demo the entire space meant that measuring would have to wait and the new cabinets—which usually require some lead time—couldn’t be ordered before work began. The couple decided on IKEA cabinets and Semihandmade doors because they would arrive sooner than a fully customized set (although Marc noted that the cabinet door delivery took longer than planned). He also mentioned taking advantage of running the cabinets from top to bottom on two walls to get as much storage as possible.

With cabinets of varying sizes, they chose flat-panel doors to streamline the look rather than the Shaker-style that was initially under consideration. The couple opted for full-size appliances (they got their dishwasher!) since they cook and bake on a daily basis, while a counter-depth fridge was installed to save some space and make room for a pantry cabinet. For unity between the backsplash and countertop, marble-looking quartz was selected for both surfaces. To let in more light, their contractor also widened the window over the sink to give a clear view of the garden.

Slideshow:

Marc + Steve’s renovation tips

Overall, the renovation took closer to three months—“a month or so longer than we hoped,” Marc shared. “But it was worth it!” While waiting on cabinet doors, his contractor tackled smaller projects, adding new baseboards and trim to the main living area, hanging pendants over the dining table, and removing the drop ceiling that continued throughout the rest of the ground floor. Marc tells us that working with his contractor was a great experience. “We are perfectionists, so we’d come home to see the work done each day and have a bunch of questions. He always answered patiently and quickly, or fixed things as soon as he could.”

The couple’s advice to future renovators: “Check return policies on everything. We ordered a range hood online that wasn’t what we thought it was. They wouldn’t let us return it because you have to reject it immediately at delivery.” Another tip: Dust is going to get everywhere, even with a contractor who’s careful, so be prepared for some clean-up after the work is done.

Why they love their new Sweeten kitchen

The new space feels light and airy—and much bigger than before. “We can both stand in the kitchen at the same time and it’s not overly crowded,” Marc said. “Design-wise, it’s the kitchen we always wanted and I don’t think we have any regrets about the choices we made (and there were so many choices!).”

Bonus: Marc and Steve were most excited for the new kitchen floor and the “wow” moment they achieved with patterned black-and-white tile.

Thank you, Marc and Steve, for sharing your modern black and white kitchen renovation with us! 

Ready to start planning your own dream kitchen renovation?

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Coptic black-and-white porcelain and marble floor tiles: Tilebar. Sektion kitchen cabinets: Ikea. Supermatte kitchen cabinet doors: Semihandmade. Vauxhall hardware: Restoration Hardware. Countertops and backsplash in Bianco Cristal, #CQ853: Colorquartz. Delta Trinsic faucet, #9159-AR-DST: Home Depot. Kohler Strive sink, #K-5286-NA: Home Depot. 24″ refrigerator, #CS1321: Liebherr. Whirlpool 30″ range, #WEG515S0FS: Home Depot. Bosch 24″ dishwasher: P.C. Richard & Son. Whirlpool 30″ hood: Best Buy. Princeton Short sconce and Fuller dining room pendant light: Schoolhouse. Paint in kitchen, Pure White, #SW7005; in dining room, Icicle, #SW6238: Sherwin Williams. Baseboards, casings, and plinth: New Mouldings.

—

A rip-and-replace turned Deborah’s Upper East Side galley kitchen into another classic yet modern black-and-white New York 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 Modern Black and White Kitchen, Sized Just Right appeared first on Sweeten.

Aside from closets, kitchen cabinets represent one of the larger concentrations of millwork and storage designed to keep spaces organized and clutter out of sight. Whether modern or traditional or navy blue or natural wood, the cabinets you choose will have an impact on the look and feel you want your kitchen to portray. 

Some homeowners choose to go fully custom, some opt for stock cabinets, and sometimes it’s a mix. To assist in your research, Sweeten, a free renovation platform that matches homeowners with licensed general contractors and tracks their projects, has rounded up a few of our renovators’ kitchens. Here, the thinking behind their decision to incorporate Ikea cabinets into their cook spaces with the help of their Sweeten contractors.

For High Gloss Glamour

Lavanya and Regis’s gallery-style kitchen got a major style overhaul during their railroad-style apartment renovation. To make the main rooms bright and airy, they chose glossy white Ikea kitchen cabinets to complement their high-gloss, white-painted wood floors.

Go Low on Cost, High on Style

Full disclosure: Sally’s kitchen is a mix of Ikea Sektion bases and custom door fronts from Scherr’s. It’s a great example of how to get a bespoke look for less—and saved the renovator (she has four under her belt!) $25,000.

For Euro-Industrial

Uldis and Serge, Europeans-turned-New Yorkers, mixed contrasting colors and finishes with their styled Ikea kitchen cabinets to create a Euro-Industrial feel. Their upper kitchen upper cabinets, which were a high gloss white, integrated smoothly with the stainless steel cabinets on the bottom. The end result? A sleek kitchen that doesn’t sacrifice fashion for function.

To Go Scandinavian Sleek

Jen loves the Scandi-look, so when it came to renovating her kitchen, Ikea kitchen cabinets were a must. She chose the Veddinge cabinet front doors and minimalistic tab pulls to create an unfussy and practical cook space with major hygge vibes. 

For Expanded Pantry Space

We never thought pantry storage would become the crown jewel of a kitchen…but then we saw this Brooklyn kitchen. With wraparound, floor-to-ceiling shelving, including full-height 15″ upper Ikea kitchen cabinets, their multi-generational home has enough kitchen storage for all the family members.

To Complement Hero Pieces

In a Manhattan loft this awe-inspiring with high ceilings and windows, it’s best to pick one or two show-stopping features. For this renovator, that meant the home’s original bones and a standout Carrara marble countertop and backsplash. So, when it came to styling his kitchen cabinets, he chose gray-blue Ikea to complement the rest of the apartment.

To Be Sustainable

Sandra and Michael chose their Bodbyn style Ikea kitchen cabinets for a few reasons. They had originally planned to use reclaimed cabinetry, but given the kitchen’s tight layout, they needed a narrower option. “We decided to go with Ikea because we felt they offered the best sustainable options and price,” Sandra shared. 

Ready to start your own Ikea kitchen renovation? Share your project with Sweeten today!

P.S. Do you have an Ikea kitchen? We’d love to get your thoughts for an upcoming article. Leave a comment below addressing the following questions, and you could be featured! 1. How long have you had the cabinets? How have they held up? 2. Why did you choose Ikea kitchen cabinets? 3. Share any other comments/feedback you have.

—

Want more inspiration? Check out these kitchens before and afters.

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 on Sweeten.

The post 7 Ways Renovators Style Ikea Kitchen Cabinets to Work for Them appeared first on Sweeten.

The post A White and Wood Kitchen Has Understated Elegance in Queens appeared first on Sweeten.

The homeowners bought their 1940s, two-bedroom co-op—their first as a couple—in Brooklyn a year before they set off on their renovation journey. It had lovely natural light from generous windows and the elevation made for spectacular views of the city, but with a dark, dreary decor and inefficient layout, it wasn’t putting its best foot forward. Although 1,100 square feet is a decent amount of space by NYC standards, the apartment didn’t feel very open, in part due to a cabinet area and wall separating the kitchen from the living room. The small bathroom, with dull tiles that clashed with baby blue walls, also needed a makeover.

Throughout that year of feeling out the space, the couple began to dream of the possibilities. They paid special attention to how others in their building had renovated their apartments. Pinterest, Instagram, and the Sweeten blog also provided endless inspiration. When they were ready to jump into the project, they posted on Sweeten, a free service connecting homeowners with vetted general contractors, and landed on a contractor who was able to counsel them through their many options, eventually identifying what mattered most to them in a home. Ultimately, they wanted an open space conducive to both cooking and hanging out in, with extra storage for books.

Both of them grew up with a kitchen island and saw it as a design element that people always gravitate toward. “The island makes cooking together more fun. There’s more space for meal prep and now we can admire the city skyline view while we pull dinner together,” she says. Not to be bound by convention, the homeowners decided to separate the range and the oven. The range—replaced by a cooktop—remained in the same place, but an electric oven moved to the island. The new layout created a work triangle of range, sink, and island for a better workflow. The toe kick space-saver idea was inspired by Martha Stewart. “As with most things, it turns out Martha was right!” said the homeowner.

The couple, who both work in the art world, harnessed their creativity for the project. When they spotted the deep green shade of color on a tile website, they were hooked. Once the backsplash tile was paired with Ikea’s butcher block and simple white cabinets, the whole look came together. “The watercolor tile catches the light beautifully and actually feels like it changes color depending on the time of day,” says the homeowner. The open shelves played a big role: they held cooking essentials, making cooking easier; unloading the dishwasher was more convenient; bowls in bright colors and plants were displayed adding to the pop of hue; and what better way to show off the green tile?

Another bonus was creating drawers under the cooktop to conveniently store pots and pans. Their previous cabinets were shallow at 11.5″, causing the chipping of many plates when shutting the doors. Deep cabinets were a must.

The bathroom was a typical size: small but functional, with a shower/bath combo. There was a debate over whether the tub should stay. Thinking back to previous apartments and realizing neither had ever used the bath was the deciding factor—the tub was out. They used subway tile in a pattern to give the walls some texture. Dramatic gold hardware quickly became a favorite design choice. Their former bathrooms had always had chrome or silver features, but their bold choice of gold paid off.

To keep up with an ever-growing collection of books, the couple lined their hallway with built-in bookshelves based on an idea they saw on the Sweeten blog that their own contractor had done. This triggered sacrifices elsewhere; specifically, it meant widening the hallway by about ten inches, which had to come off of the kitchen square footage. The advantage was the hallway also extended past the fridge, giving back a bit more shelf and counter space. With open shelving for the books, the couple installed lights on the top shelf, which more than compensate for the lost light in the hallway from extending the kitchen wall.

The couple was in constant contact with their Sweeten contractor throughout the project, talking several times a week and stopping by often to see the progress. It was a little nerve-racking to be spending so much money on something that wasn’t always 100 percent guaranteed to work, like the green backsplash tiles or the gold features in the bathroom. Other final touches, such as “getting the vent hood in exactly the right spot” and positioning the towel hangers correctly, were stressful. Their patient contractor, however, coached them through the process and deadlines and if something went awry, helped to get the project back on track. They were very happy with how the renovation turned out.

One last piece of advice from the homeowners: “Measure all your cookware, and then use those measurements to design your kitchen cabinets. It made us feel a little OCD to do this, but it really paid off.”

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen cabinets: Custom-made by their contractor. Cabinet hardware: Schoolhouse. Countertops: Ikea. Backsplash: Artistic Tile. Domsjo sink: Ikea. Faucet: Rubinet. Summit refrigerator: Home Depot. Bosch 500 dishwasher. Bosch 500 electric wall oven: AJ Madison. Verona 24″ gas cooktop: Amazon. Broan vent hood: Home Depot. Lighting over island: Wayfair. Lighting under cabinet: Home Depot. Caden lighting overhead: Restoration Hardware.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Floor tiles: Artistic Tile. Wall tile: Home Depot. Purist hardware and shower fixtures: Kohler. Vanity mirror: Wayfair. Kraus vessel sink: Build.com. Vanity: Ikea. Vanity door fronts: Semihandmade. Toto toilet: Wayfair. Lighting: Cedar & Moss. Shelves and towel hooks: Schoolhouse. Mirror: CB2.

—

A work triangle improves the flow in any size space, including this food editor’s smart galley 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 Work Triangle Sets off a Renovation appeared first on Sweeten.

• Homeowners: Lee, an entrepreneur and startup founder, wanted an updated bathroom and white IKEA kitchen. He posted his renovation on Sweeten
• Where: Midtown East, New York
• Primary renovation: A full-scale remodel of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in a 1920s co-op building, including gut remodels of both kitchen and bath
• With: Sweeten general contractor

Editor’s Note: This feature, originally published in the summer of 2015, is one of Sweeten’s favorite dramatic makeovers. An overpowering closet flanking the existing galley kitchen seemed to squeeze the entry even tighter. The changes, though, were striking: the walls came down, and newly-placed high gloss cabinets took the spotlight, amplified in natural light. The affordability of this full IKEA kitchen renovation is an extra bonus. The takeaway: a bit of shiny goes a long way.

Lee Hoffman bought a 1+ bedroom, 1 bathroom co-op in Midtown East. The original kitchen and bathroom were beyond forlorn; the kitchen was hidden behind a walled entryway and was more of a hallway than a room. This might have been initially helpful during its heyday in 1978, but not ideal in an apartment that depended on the kitchen window for extra light in the living room. Lee did months and months of research on ways to update the space. He came to Sweeten to find a contractor who could change up a cramped kitchen and update a plain bathroom.

After reviewing a selection of Sweeten general contractors in Manhattan, he chose one to re-envision the space with some nice cabinets and tile. However, the renovation turned into much more than that.

Tackling a cramped kitchen layout

Lee found himself up against one major, invisible force when he started the kitchen project: the co-op’s previous tenant had been a smoker and the original stock finishes were covered in smoky residue. The layout for the already-small kitchen didn’t work well. The space was virtually sealed off from the living room, and its big window was partially blocked by cabinetry and a fridge that had been wedged into the galley. Lee knew he could swap in new cabinets and appliances. However, when discussing options with his contractor, he learned that the dividing wall was non-load-bearing. Removing the wall would let light into the living room from two directions. He put together a lengthy list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” (from wall demolition all the way down to soft-close cabinets). The same approach was used to bring light and modern appeal to the crumbling bathroom.

An IKEA kitchen fit the budget

Lee took on the gut remodel of the kitchen with the determination of a tech entrepreneur. He spent a month talking to every cabinet maker in NYC before accepting that even the lowest price for a high-end, custom-built set was way beyond his budget. Even the next tier down felt costly, and the slightly more budget-friendly options at big-box retailers didn’t seem like an obvious slam dunk. After reading positive reviews about IKEA cabinets, and realizing that a whole new IKEA line was about to hit the market, he found himself psyched by the look of the white, high-gloss lacquer Sektion option.

The cost-benefit of installing IKEA kitchen cabinets for a completely new look was immediately evident: for well under $10K, Lee got a full set of high gloss kitchen cabinets and was really happy with the quality. The downside? Getting delivery right took weeks of follow-up and re-shipments to get all of the pieces on site. It was a great deal overall, but most definitely not without headaches and hand-holding.

Lee’s research paid off in other parts of the kitchen. He loved the look of white marble and spent six months on the hunt for a quartz countertop with a similar feel, ultimately landing on a porcelain slab by Euro West with an almost-identical yet indestructible effect. (Don’t miss our guide to comparing countertop materials for your own kitchen!)

“Sweeten made the process super easy to get bids and ultimately find a great contractor. I’m really glad I found you guys.”

To stay on budget, Lee decided to skip a typical tiled backsplash. With the newly-opened room, and with an upper row of cabinets only on one side, it ended up being a smart choice. Lee thought carefully about cabinet placement—drawers only along the left (16″ depth to maximize open space) and a slim row of upper cabinets centered on the right. The team installed the counter-depth Liebherr fridge against the back wall and lined up all other appliances: a Samsung stove, a stainless steel Blomberg dishwasher, and a Blanco Quatrus sink on the opposite side. Their placement left plenty of room in all directions for food prep and hosting.

Starting from scratch for the bathroom refresh

As soon as Lee started this project, he knew he had little sentimental feelings about the bathroom. The plan for the bathroom was straightforward: Everything had to go. In its place, the room would receive a lot of clean, bright whites and crisp glass. He selected a touchless San Souci Kohler toilet, “designed for OCD people,” in his words, and a Kohler recessed medicine cabinet above the Fresca sink vanity. The bathroom hardware is all Hansgrohe; a full shower suite with all of its bells and whistles. Lee’s heavy research brought in one more big catch: he found a specialty frameless glass shower door from Mirage Shower Doors that eliminates the slight green aura that lots of shower doors end up with. Glassos white wall tiles were the final reflective touch.

Thank you, Lee, for sharing your new kitchen with us!

Material Resources

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Porcelain slab countertop: Euro West
• Quatrus sink: Blanco
• Stove: Samsung
• Dishwasher: Blomberg
• Fridge: Leibherr
• Sektion white, high-gloss cabinets: IKEA

BATHROOM RESOURCES:

• Toilet: Kohler
• Sink vanity: Fresca
• Shower panel: Mirage
• Hardware: Hansgrohe

Updated June 30, 2023

—

Renovations can be disruptive for any homeowner. Here’s how to decide whether to stay at home—or go.

Want to recreate Lee’s high gloss kitchen cabinets look for your own kitchen? Check out our comparison guide that weighs the pros and cons of IKEA vs. custom cabinets.

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 White IKEA Kitchen Renovation Gets a Glossy Shine appeared first on Sweeten.

A search for a home to suit their growing family led Marissa and Cody from the West Village to a beautiful spot in northern Manhattan. The apartment, a two-bed, one-bath corner unit, was located on a steep hill in the neighborhood of Hudson Heights. (Fun fact: the building’s foundation sits on a lattice of 40-foot steel stilts!) It came with soaring views of the city, gorgeous light from its north- and east-facing windows, and felt “more like San Francisco than New York City.” The unit’s interior needed some updating, and Cody, an architect, was up to the task. Paired up with a contractor from Sweeten, a free service matching renovating homeowners with vetted general contractors, they knocked down a wall closing in the galley kitchen to connect it to the living room—creating an open kitchen design—removed a nib wall, and made changes to the bath as well as the floors and closets throughout. Read on for how the couple created a warm but modern home for themselves, their daughter Lucia, and a new baby on the way.

Guest post by Hudson Heights homeowners Marissa and Cody

Cody says: We had been renting a one-bedroom apartment in the West Village for seven years. We started looking to buy an apartment when Marissa became pregnant, and homed in on northern Manhattan to give her a reasonable commute to Columbia University (we had ruled out several neighborhoods in Brooklyn for this reason). Our first impression of Hudson Heights was that it felt like a small village tucked away in the city, surrounded by amazing views and parks. We visited on a snowy winter day, and saw a cross-country skier in the middle of the street!

We continued to look more seriously after our daughter, Lucia, was born, and finally closed on an apartment in March 2016: a two-bed, one-bath, 1,000-square-foot apartment in a 1960s co-op building. Though the postwar construction did not have some of the Art Deco, prewar detailing that is typical of the neighborhood, it did lend itself to a simple and logical floor plan and had thru-wall air conditioning units—allowing in even more light than apartments we saw with window units.

Marissa says: Cody is an architect, and we wanted something we could renovate and make our own. While continuing to live in our West Village apartment, we posted our project to Sweeten and went with a Sweeten contractor who was professional, communicative, and direct. The renovation took eight weeks (two weeks under the projected schedule the contractor proposed!), and we moved in just after he finished.

In terms of our overall vision, first and foremost we wanted to join the kitchen to the living space. We hoped to make the apartment feel open, light, and modern, but warm and homey at the same time. We were drawn to a clean and minimal palette, especially in the kitchen. Cody is an avid home cook, and we knew the kitchen would be the heart of the home. We maximized where we could—for example, with the 36-inch wide refrigerator, five-burner range, 23-inch stainless steel undermount sink. The six-foot island is our home base, the place where we naturally gravitate throughout the day or when we have friends over.

On a related note, the IKEA kitchen cabinet system is amazing for the price point. There are an infinite number of modular configurations and we achieved a result that is nearly indistinguishable from a custom kitchen. The upper cabinets are 40 inches tall and extend to the ceiling, allowing for tons of storage (we never thought we would have empty shelves while living in NYC!). It was important for us to use “real” materials like stone and wood to accent specific moments. For example, we selected the white Carrara marble knowing full well it would take a beating. We loved the idea that every scratch, etch, and stain will continue to give it character over time.

Given that an open kitchen design and living area was our primary goal, the first question we asked ourselves when viewing a potential apartment was: “Can we connect the kitchen to the living space?” The existing kitchen in our apartment was a long and narrow galley. Knocking down the wall allowed us to redesign the entire room, maximizing storage and functionality while linking the main living spaces. It also made the room much brighter—the window in the kitchen brings in tons more light to the living and dining room.

In the bedrooms, we refinished the floors with a lighter and more natural oak. We love how they seem to brighten up both spaces now. We also redid the closets in both rooms; in the master bedroom we were able to do the floor-to-ceiling pivot hinges, just like in the living space, but in Lucia’s room a beam prevented us from doing the same. We were still able to reframe her closet and maximize storage with a new shelving system. We also bought very minimal ceiling light fixtures for each room, which blend in while providing extra ambient light. All of that, plus the square-stock baseboards and door casings, really spruced up both rooms.

We also eliminated a small nib wall in the living room that separated the front living space from the bedrooms in the back of the apartment. With the nib wall gone, there is a direct line of sight to the windows in Lucia’s bedroom, which brightens the entire apartment and creates a feeling of spaciousness.

Outside of the kitchen and living room project, we also saw the opportunity to reframe the closets throughout the apartment, remove the existing sliding bypass closet doors, and replace them with floor-to-ceiling pivot hinged doors. This created ample storage, and the verticality of the doors and their accompanying hardware became a design feature consistent in every room. The reconfiguration that resulted in an open kitchen design also allowed us to create a new hallway linen closet.

We made a few changes to the bathroom which made a big difference in the final look. We replaced the pedestal sink for a wall mounted vanity which created a lot more storage, replaced the old shower bypass glass doors with a fixed glass panel, and gave it a fresh coat of gray paint. We kept the tiles, lighting fixtures, and towel racks from the previous design.

The most surprising moment of the whole process was when our contractor sent us some photos after the first day of demolition. There was a huge pile of debris in the middle of the apartment, and a raw opening between the kitchen and living room and around each closet. Beams, columns, electrical conduit, and wiring were totally exposed. It was a shock to realize how much work we were really putting into the renovation. There was no turning back, and we could only hope that all the planning and design preparation going into the project would work out. Eight weeks later, it was a finished project and we could not have been happier.

We can’t recommend our Sweeten contractor enough. Although his bid was slightly higher than the others we received, we immediately got the sense that he would deliver a high-quality product, not exceed his budget, and stick to his schedule. All of this turned out to be accurate. We felt most comfortable with him from day one. He and Cody collaborated extensively throughout the renovation, and had a clear line of communication. He did not disappoint us in any respect.

It’s important to remember that there are many unknowns in the renovation process, and many pieces that are out of your control. Until we knocked down the wall between the living room and kitchen, we did not know for certain what would be behind it. (We had done a small probe to look for pipes, and based on the short span, we assumed that there were not any structural elements.) We couldn’t know for sure the location of the plumbing and gas risers until demolition was complete, which would ultimately dictate where we placed the kitchen sink and oven. It turned out that the gas riser was floating off the perimeter wall by almost 24 inches, and we had initially assumed it would be right along the perimeter wall. As a result, the opening to the kitchen had to be cut short. Although it was initially a disappointment, we used the 24-inch wall as an opportunity to put in a small cabinet and countertop, with wooden shelves above. It ended up being a great addition to the open kitchen design, even though we hadn’t anticipated it!

Our advice to future renovators: make your design choices ahead of time and stick to them. You don’t want to be redesigning in the middle of construction. If there are any surprises during construction (like the location of a gas riser—see above), it is critical to make a thoughtful yet quick decision and keep moving forward.

We are so happy with the apartment. It turned out just as we had envisioned it, and it’s been great to have so much space! We had been living in a 600-square-foot one-bedroom for Lucia’s first year, and by the time we moved out, we were feeling very cramped. Now, we’re expecting our second baby, and it feels like there is plenty of room to grow. But if the day comes when we do need more space and we start looking for our next renovation project, we’ll certainly use Sweeten again!

What a thoughtful and beautiful redesign, Cody! Thanks to you, Marissa, and Lucia for a glimpse into your home.

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Weathered Oak wood floor finish: Minwax. Cabinets: IKEA. Open shelving and brackets: Rejuvenation. Hopewell T-handle 2” (upper cabinets); Hopewell Bar Pull 5” (lower cabinets) cabinet hardware: Top Knobs. 1-1/4” White Carrara marble countertops with eased edge and waterfall sides: NSI Granite (supplier) A&A Marble (fabricator/installer). Matte white 2” hexagon tile backsplash: Complete Tile. Silver Shadow grout: Laticrete. Strive undermount stainless steel sink: Kohler. Matte black faucet: Brizo Solna. Side-by-Side 36” Wide Fridge: KitchenAid. Dishwasher with custom panel: KitchenAid. 5-Burner Gas Convection Slide-In Range, 30” wide: KitchenAid. Microwave drawer: Sharp. Hood: IKEA.

LIVING/DINING ROOM RESOURCES: Credenza: IKEA. Kitchen cabinet with custom white oak slab top. Living room pendants: Cedar and Moss. DIY kit dining room pendant: Lindsey Adelman.

BATH RESOURCES: Jute vanity: Kohler. White Impressions sink: Kohler. July faucet: Kohler. Clear tempered shower glass and hardware: CR Laurence. Round modern door knob with disk rosette: Emtek. Weathered Oak wood floor finish: Minwax. Decorator’s White paint: Benjamin Moore.

—

Taking down walls to create an open kitchen design allowed Natalie and Cartier to connect their living room, dining room, and kitchen for a spacious and light-filled home.

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 Architect’s Blueprint for His Hillside Home appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Redesign a kitchen with a bright sheen in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

Before: There was much to love about the two-bedroom condo in Bed-Stuy that Ursula, a math teacher, recently purchased. The developer, who had just converted a brownstone into four apartments, did a good job. However, the brand new kitchen just wasn’t her style. The dark mahogany cabinets and kitchen island weighed it down as did the floorboards of a similar color. The cabinets above the range also gave the space a claustrophobic feel. “The developer seemed to have an imagination when it came to painting. The walls were blue and yellow and very specific to his taste,” said Ursula.

After: Since her new apartment only has windows on the front and back, Ursula used Sweeten, a free service matching homeowners with general contractors to tap her Sweeten contractor and harness that light. So out went the dark cabinets. The wood floors were stripped and restained. To open up the kitchen, the cabinets and microwave above the range were out, too (“it just isn’t a pretty appliance,” said Ursula, speaking of microwaves). In their place is now a sleek hood. With the space more open, the hexagonal tiles chosen for the backsplash became a focal point. “I think it must be the math teacher in me, but there is just something about them that I love,” she said. A “dresser”-style island features three drawers for silverware, cutlery, dishes, and some pots and pans. “My beech cutting board is always on top of the kitchen island for food prep,” says Ursula. “It is conveniently in front of the oven, so I just have to turn around to cook.” The storage unit’s glossy gray tone offers contrast to the mostly white space. Her Sweeten contractor also utilized every inch of cabinet space including a stubborn area next to the oven. There, a drawer installed on its side—a cabinet wouldn’t fit—became a convenient pull-out spice rack. As for the microwave, a much smaller one is hidden in the upper cabinets.

Bonus: Ursula’s Sweeten contractor used the same kitchen cabinet system from Ikea to create a bench seat near the window. Now, there’s more storage space and extra seating for when guests come over. “That’s one of my favorite areas in the apartment because it is a little unexpected,” she says.

Style finds: Backsplash tiles: Nemo Tile.  Cabinetry and island from Ringhult line; hood: Ikea. Cabinet hardware: Hardware Hut. Countertops and sink: Galactic Tile. Paint in Decorator’s White: Benjamin Moore. Lighting: Schoolhouse Electric. Microwave: GE. The fridge, dishwasher, stove, and faucets are unchanged.

—

Cabinets are responsible for so much more than storage—they provide the look and feel of the kitchen, and bring the space together to create a cohesive design. When considering whether to go with pre-fab or custom, check out our tips on choosing the right cabinets for your home.

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 Teacher Writes a New Lesson Plan for Her Kitchen appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Williamsburg homeowner Lia Wollen

After three years of renting in Williamsburg, the time came to try and buy a place. My husband, Chris, and I hoped to find a spacious townhouse or something bigger than our current place. Planning for a family and wanting outdoor space, we felt that broadening our search to less trendy neighborhoods was our only option. After exploring most of Brooklyn, however, we found that we kept coming back to Williamsburg.

Six months into our search, standing just four blocks south of our rental and looking out at the East River from the roof deck of a two-bedroom on the market, Chris said, “Well, if we can do this, then I want this.” It was a top floor unit with a small terrace off the living room, high ceilings, tons of light, and views of the Domino Sugar Factory, the river, and Manhattan. It came with basement storage, a parking space, and a piece of the private roof deck. Square footage was a concern, and we agreed that we would have to do a renovation before moving in to accommodate long-term needs, but first, the offer. Ours was accepted.

I found Sweeten in a general contractor search online and filled out the project post form to be matched with general contractors. Not too long after that initial search, I saw a blog post like this one, of another gorgeous Sweeten renovation. One of the photos looked right out at the Domino Sugar Factory—a replica of our new view! I realized pretty quickly it was a condo from our building and emailed Sweeten to ask them for the contractor. They connected us with this Sweeten general contractor. We met with him to kick things off and were thrilled with the fit and his vision.

The focus of our renovation was the kitchen and bath. I love to cook and wanted a hard-working, welcoming space to gather in. The bathroom needed a feeling of calm, an escape from the city. Our contractor was strategic with us in his approach. He started big so that we could see the possibilities, and then collectively, we pulled each other back to set reasonable expectations. This process was critical when it came to prioritizing our wants and needs and managing the dollars.

We underestimated the significance of overall design in renovating, but it was the beautiful and technical unifier underneath everything we were trying to accomplish. The contractor addressed the kitchen simply: hide the fridge, fill in the odd angles and edges of the ceiling, and provide more counter/storage space. This blew our minds. It cleaned up the whole space and looked like a kitchen that meant to be there, rather than an afterthought.

The most exciting proposal from our contractor was to open up the ceiling and expose building beams that were encased in the walls of the kitchen and living room. This eliminated awkward lines and revealed some industrial elements, playing off of the raw materials mirrored across the street at Domino. We achieved separation of living room and kitchen while retaining warmth in the space, by limiting how far we (and our budget) extended the look.

Another small but important detail was the flooring. The contractor and his team buffed out the overly lacquered yellow floors to get back down to raw wood, and we chose a sky gray matte stain.

There were other more indulgent decisions made during the planning process, like a wine fridge. This felt like a low-cost, high-impact amenity you don’t typically get in the city and we were very excited about it. Chris insisted from day one that we have a garbage disposal, so that was non-negotiable. We also debated and ultimately agreed to a waterfall edge for the kitchen countertops. Our contractor had strongly recommended this as a focal point when entering the home, and he was absolutely right.

For the bath, we kept the tub, sink, and hardware, but had everything retiled. We used leftover marble from the kitchen for the tub and installed a glass shower partition to open up the small space. We also built a new medicine cabinet and drawer for the sink to accommodate storage, and I found some new light fixtures to modern it up a bit.

Chris and I have a very similar aesthetic, so choosing materials, appliances, and fixtures was pretty straightforward. Before construction, I spent a lot of time pulling looks and materials from home and design websites, so we had a strong point of view right away. My must-have was a Wolf Range with the iconic red knobs. Snobby, kinda, but an important design element in an otherwise minimalist kitchen. The thing is also a weapon! (Chris started a grease fire the first time we used it.) Keeping in line with the stainless steel, we also bought a new Bosch dishwasher.

Material choices included Carrara marble, beveled and plain white subway tile with dark grout, classic New York hex tile in the bath, Edison bulbs, and glossy white cabinets. We chose IKEA cabinets because of another Sweeten renovation I caught on Instagram. It was very important to me that the cabinets went as high as they could go. I wanted an excess of clean-looking storage space and was not interested in dusting open shelving.

We were easy-going clients who trusted our contractor and his vision. We made things easier by not changing our minds and being open to his direction when we were undecided on something. The biggest decision, which we labored over the longest, was whether or not the kitchen should remain galley-style. The choice is obvious now, but there was something tempting at the time about toeing that suburban-house line with a big island to gather around. After the renovation, any concerns with square footage more or less went away. More, because we made so much out of what existed, and less because in March we found out we are expecting a baby boy this month!

Kitchen selects >> floors: Rubio Monocoat finish in hard oil, sky gray / cabinets: IKEA / counters: Carrara marble / backsplash tile: white beveled subway tile / dishwasher: Bosch / refrigerator: Summit Professional / range: Wolf / sink and faucet: Franke / lighting: Restoration Hardware

Bathroom selects >> floor tile: hexagonal Carrera marble / toilet: Toto: Aquia One-Piece / sink and faucet: FineFixtures / wall tile: white subway tile with dark gray grout / lighting: Restoration Hardware

—

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 Exposed Beams and Marble Frame a Luxe Renovation appeared first on Sweeten.

The post 8 Kitchen Features to Help Make Thanksgiving Stress-free appeared first on Sweeten.

• Homeowners: Homeowners Maria and Eric posted their Queens co-op renovation on Sweeten
  
• Where: Woodside, Queens, New York City
  
• Primary renovation: Opening up the kitchen, updating kitchen and bathroom, and refinishing the floors
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering input, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Brightening up the space

Racing to line up an ambitious renovation before closing on a dated co-op in Woodside, Queens, Maria, a financial reporting director at a major media company, and Eric, the owner and Creative Director at broadcast design studio General Idea, expected “pain and horror” as first-time renovators. They’d linked up with an architectural designer and came to Sweeten to find a general contractor to overhaul all 850 square feet of their new two-bedroom apartment.

Some of the finishes were just plain uninspired, while other layout and fixture details limited a more holistic use of the space. Laminate counters and discolored floor tiles anchored the kitchen, warped cupboards demanded a good nudge to shut completely, and the small bathroom’s ornate pedestal sink went way overboard on frilly decorative details while way under-delivering on countertop real estate.

Creating a team

The main goals were pretty straightforward: open up the enclosed kitchen to the living room, update the kitchen and bathroom, and refinish the floors. Still, their designer, Vida, brought three critical points of view to the project. One was technical and practical: to limit work to the existing structural and plumbing layout so that the crew could focus on visible details that mattered most. The second was connectedness: Vida posted the project on Sweeten to find local contractors matched to the project’s budget and scope, freeing her up to focus on design solutions. And the third was creative: clean design details and a minimalist style found in matte finishes, simple profiles, and rich walnut wood warmth. They were matched with their Sweeten contractor for demolition, rebuilding, and craftsmanship detail down to the new doorknobs.

A gallery kitchen

Maria and Eric wanted an open, bright space with clean lines. They had drawn up a 3D model on their own to convey big ideas, and worked closely with Vida to fine-tune, leaning toward Scandinavian sensibilities with some mid-century modern touches.

Their contractor’s team took on the kitchen wall, which sectioned the galley kitchen off in its own corner. To give Eric and Maria the open feeling they wanted, the designs called for approaching the two galley walls strategically. On one side, countertop prep space takes the lead, wrapping around the kitchen wall and extending into the living room with low walnut cabinet storage. Skipping the usual line of upper cabinets in this spot helps keep the living room open through to the kitchen’s window. On the opposite wall, full-height cabinets concentrate storage but still keep a low profile with matte white finishes and concealed hardware. The stainless Bosch appliances and a striking black sink and faucet combo star in this otherwise simple space.

Making a space space feel bigger

The bathroom’s small footprint led the team to focus on storage solutions and a simple palette. High contrast black and white materials, a frameless mirror, matte black plumbing fixtures (even under the wall mount sink!), and recessed wall storage gave Eric and Maria a bright and uncluttered retreat. The floor tile was admittedly a splurge, but with just a few square feet of coverage needed, it made sense to focus a high-end finish in that small spot.

Updated floors

In the living room and bedrooms, the team stripped walls and focused on restoring the existing wood flooring. Getting the floors right was a challenge. Aiming for a serene, matte oiled finish required the team to strip the previous stain and try out a few approaches with a new topcoat. The new finish, a layer of natural sheen, is an updated take on the original material.

Bumps in the road

Maria and Eric planned to use the second bedroom as a home office and needed to reframe the entry to open it up to the living room. The custom pocket door is their favorite design detail, a necessary addition after finding an unexpected structural beam which could have prevented the plans for a floor-to-ceiling entry. Vida suggested encasing the beam in walnut, with an asymmetrical line. It’s a beautiful and unique solution that helps tie in design touches from each room.

Behind the scenes

With their expert team in place, Maria and Eric found that communication was key. They had detailed conversations about measurements, finishes, and placement prior to work starting, saving time and headaches. Their contractor’s team helped keep the project on track and were key partners in addressing issues that came up as work progressed. Vida kept balance and prioritization top of mind to negotiate cost, quality, and lead times.

And behind the scenes at Sweeten, we saw in-progress photos of those show-stopping black fixtures when the Sweeten contractor checked in with updates throughout the project (with Queens cheesecake hand-delivered on a visit to our offices!). What a complete treat for us to be able to show off all of this beautiful finished work!

Renovation materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Cabinets: IKEA. Cabinet doors: custom walnut. Countertop, backsplash, and open shelf: Caesarstone. Blanco sink: Blanco. Kohler faucet: Kohler. Bosch fridge, dishwasher, stove: Bosch

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Floor tile: Mutina Mews. Chevron wall tile, matte white subway tile, door hardware: Omnia. Stainless steel levers, faucet, and shower fixtures: California Faucets. WS bath white ceramic sink: WS bath: Toto toilet: Toto.

OTHER RESOURCES: Office door: custom pocket door. Flooring: White oak. Flooring finish: Rubio Monocoat

—

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 Modern Gut Renovation Goes Scandinavian Chic appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Deniz, Clinton Hill homeowner

Our Clinton Hill apartment is part of a large co-op building right between Myrtle and Willoughby on Clinton Avenue. We purchased our one-bedroom in 2000 — it’s on the 12th floor and has wonderful views of Brooklyn, including all three bridges. It had been updated in the standard format of all the apartments remodeled by the co-op and had a closed-in kitchen with a sliding door, plus a pantry directly across from the kitchen.

My husband, Ramon, had long had the idea of opening up the kitchen but we didn’t really update anything as 15 years went by. Fast-forward to 2015 and we now had a teenage son. We were basically “living” in the living room, allowing him the privacy of the bedroom. While it could have been the other way around, we enjoyed having access to the kitchen and living area once he was asleep, and we liked that when his friends came over, they had their own room for play.

When we had the opportunity to fully renovate the apartment, we stumbled across Sweeten, posted our project, and met this Sweeten architect and designer. Our architect really listened to my husband’s years of thinking of the best ways to open up and restructure the apartment. He was able to help us accomplish what we ultimately wanted, which was to create a large and open kitchen that highlighted our views, and brought light from all the windows into the space. The architect skillfully designed the space and helped us work with our limitations. After all, no matter how many walls we tore down, it’s still less than 1,000 square feet, and space is always an issue. The architect designed the living room to be completely convertible so that we could use it as a bedroom and/or open living space for guests or dancing (our favorite way to spend time together).

We decided to invest in new floors as our existing floors were quite pockmarked and difficult to find replacement tiles for quick fixes. I am a former modern dancer and soft, even floors that I can feel my bare feet on and dance and move on are something that I have always dreamed of having in my home. I really wanted the kitchen floors to match the rest of the apartment and knew it was possible to do that with the right kind of wood floor.

I fell in love with the Madera Trade floor samples and we chose a light color/tone to brighten the apartment and make it look large. We also invested in the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen, choosing granite in Brown Antique. These materials, along with a Viking stove and Fisher & Paykel double-drawer dishwasher and wine cooler, were the high dollar investments. We went with IKEA cabinets as custom design was too expensive for our budget. We also soundproofed with sub-flooring, added soundproofing in two of our walls, and brought in a number of lighting fixtures (including some old Tiffany stained-glass shades that Ramon restored).

I love the easy maintenance of the floors. They are amazingly strong, and because of the way they are made (see Madera Trade details), they don’t scratch or stain. The stone countertop is also an object of daily appreciation, with easy maintenance that will last and last. After a year in the apartment, it still looks brand new.

Sweeten was easy to use and helped us find our fit easily. The architect and his team worked quickly to get the design completed and he helped us navigate finding the right crew for the job. Our contractors were highly professional and were here every day, essentially keeping to the time allotted. We did have some budgetary limits, and since we invested in some expensive materials, we have yet to complete the interior paneling which will ultimately create a convertible living room space. We are taking our time with the interior aspects and consider that a “phase two” of the project.

In the meantime, we love the open space, the light, and the energetic flow of the apartment. We still have some decisions to make about the space, and since we are here long term, we are in no rush.

Kitchen selects >> floors: Madera Trade / cabinets: IKEA / countertop and backsplash: Antique Brown Stone from Stone Source / faucet: Hansgrohe / stove: Viking / dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel / wine fridge: Fisher & Paykel / refrigerator: GE

—

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 Deniz and Ramon’s Sweetened Kitchen and Flooring Renovation – Homeowner Guest Post appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Evelyn, Manhattan homeowner

After living in NYC for nearly 10 years, I realized it might be time to put on my grown-up girl shoes, build some solid roots, and pay a mortgage rather than just renting. I remember asking my real estate agent how people usually knew which place to buy. He simply said you just know. He was right. It took a few months of looking and just as I was feeling my most disheartened, I stepped into what would be my converted studio and I KNEW this was going to be my home. And we lived happily ever after.

Except, while I did love my new home on sight, it was not without its imperfections. For a co-op building that has been around for over 90 years, it was in wonderful shape, well-maintained and in a fantastic Upper West Side neighborhood. I can’t say I had much to complain about… and yet, when I first searched for an apartment, I had two basic requirements. I wanted a workable kitchen that was hopefully separated from the rest of the living space, and I wanted a decent bathroom. Luckily, both requirements were fulfilled, but there was room for improvement.

The kitchen, while adorable and full of storage, wasn’t conducive to major cooking spurts. The dishwasher had leaking issues—temperamental is a good way to describe it. The floor had cracks. The counter space was limited and only one person could move at a time in there. There were these wonderful glass cabinets that were attached to each end of the galley kitchen. While I appreciated the storage and display possibilities, the awkward height and width just ended up making my kitchen seem smaller. As for my bathroom, it just needed some updating.

I loathe cleaning and wanted a home that was easy to care for but tailored to my particular needs. I wanted to bring my kitchen up to the modern age but maintain a bit of that retro vibe. For me, after months of aspirational pinning on Pinterest, that meant a black and white kitchen (stark black and stark white) with pops of color.

I had a false start with my renovation a few years ago. I talked with some contractors referred to me by friends, but I wasn’t in the right space financially or mentally to deal with a renovation. Fast forward two to three years later, and it was now or never. Once again, I had no idea how to begin. But hurrah for the internet! I googled various NY contractor sites and found Sweeten.

What appealed to me most about Sweeten was the matching system. I posted what I wanted and contractors found me. I could read up on them and see their previous work. It made a daunting task less so. In my case, Sweeten Expert Jon wasn’t one that was matched with me. I was browsing the site, noticed his work, and emailed Sweeten to see if they could match us. When I first met Jon, I felt at ease. He was smart, had great ideas, and understood the type of vibe I was going for.

My budget was decent but nothing too crazy. I spent a weekend at IKEA figuring out my game plan. One of the biggest decisions for any kitchen are the cabinets. I chose the whitest, glossiest cabinets at IKEA. Even on the sunniest of days, my apartment doesn’t have a lot of natural light. I figured making my kitchen as white as possible would help to make at least part of my home bright—I was right. The glossy finish was practical; it’s easier to clean. When it comes to the interiors, I was quite captivated by drawers. In all the places I’ve lived, drawers had never been much of an option, other than the utensil drawer. Seeing the various ways in which I could get my mixing bowls out by pulling out a drawer instead of digging into the back of a cabinet was revolutionary! I wanted as many drawers as possible, and definitely a pull-out trash bin.

While I had many ideas, the actual execution (measurements, what would actually work versus what I wanted) was a bit out of my realm. Luckily Jon was great with all of that. He would shoot me ideas or measurements of what I needed to look for. I would send him the appliances, etc., and he would assess if it was the correct size or not (yay for teamwork!). Because I do have a NYC kitchen, full-size appliances were not in the cards. I opted for a taller refrigerator (European-sized if you will, with freezer drawers on the bottom), compact dishwasher, and a much deeper sink (got that from Amazon, 10” deep). With the measurements in mind, I was also able to find a really good-sized but still compact-ish oven. 

I tried to stay sensible with my appliances. I went for solid brands but didn’t go big on the pricing. My splurges were contained to unexpected accessories. The favorite splurge is my Kartell light blue lamp (which was actually recommended by Jon—excellent taste). I also went a little lavish for my floor. I knew I wanted larger-scale black and white tiles set in a diamond pattern, but nearly every tile store insisted the white tile could never be the pure white I wanted. I was considering options I could settle for when I luckily stumbled upon a really knowledgeable salesperson. He explained that pure white tile would be an issue if I went with porcelain or ceramic—but he did have one other option: glass. To achieve my desired look, he recommended glass for the white and granite for the black. My previous floor was prone to damage if anything fell; this dream floor would not have that issue, plus the tile is super glossy to boot. Perfect. 

To complete the stark black and white effect, I decided on white subway tiles and a black countertop. With my aversion to cleaning, a black quartz countertop would hide messes a bit easier. Initially I thought I would do granite, as everyone is wont to do, but I like that quartz is more low maintenance and also more uniform in color and tone (since it’s not a natural stone). 

One of the biggest transformations was the addition of my window seat, one of Jon’s ideas from our initial meeting. Previously, there was a radiator in that space, but, in all the years in my apartment, I never used it. With the window seat complete with open shelving below, wasted space became not only a place to sit but I could have more storage. While Jon suggested paneling to disguise the shelving, I opted to keep it open. I prefer the open shelving as a great way to display some of my colorful kitchen accessories, cookbooks, and other knickknacks. I was excited by the idea of a window seat, but I did not expect the vibrancy, coziness, and warmth it brings to my new kitchen. I absolutely adore it!

My bathroom was less of a dramatic change but the tweaks made were very much needed. Initially, I had wanted a super blue floor. After discovering that was an impossible ask, I left it to Jon’s discretion. He sent me some options and I went for a less crazy but still lovely blue-gray slate. The tiles were huge (love that) and it’s easy to clean.

Besides the tile, I knew I needed to upgrade the shelving above my toilet. When I first moved in, I installed a cheap cabinet from Bed Bath and Beyond. Very functional, as I had very little space, but it was just…there. After exploring some ideas, I went for open shelving. I found this great wooden shelf from West Elm that we cut in half. The brackets holding up the shelving were not exactly my favorite. I wanted something unobtrusive more in-line with my aesthetic. I had shown Jon a picture of an idea but didn’t really think much about getting that exact look. But to my surprise, he found a perfect facsimile, if not something better. Basically, they were just old pipes that were upcycled as shelving brackets. And they look fantastic.

Overall, I am wildly happy with the results. The renovation itself was LOTS of work but suffice to say, what I learned was immense. Having had no idea where to even begin, Sweeten really made a very scary, life-changing task seem less daunting. With so much information and helpful service, I was to find the perfect contractor for me to execute my dream. And were I ever to embark on such a venture again, Sweeten is definitely where I would go to first.

Kitchen Selects >> Cabinets and hardware: IKEA / microwave: 2.1 cu cu. ft. Over-the-Range in Stainless Steel from Samsung / refrigerator and range: Summit 9.85 cu bottom freezer refrigerator and 30 in. 5.8 cu. ft. Gas Range with Self-Cleaning Oven and 5 Burner Cooktop with Griddle in Stainless Steel from Home Depot / faucet: Kohler from Home Depot / sink: Kraus KHU101-23 23 inch Undermount Single Bowl 16 gauge Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink from Amazon / pendant light: FL/Y Suspension in light blue from Kartell / yellow stools: Tabouret 24-inch Lemon Metal Counter Stools from Overstock.com / dishwasher: 18” dishwasher from Bosch / dining table: custom Portica from Room & Board / bench seat: custom / paint: Behr

Bathroom Selects >> Wall shelving: West Elm

—

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 Evelyn’s Sweetened Manhattan Co-op — Homeowner Guest Post 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: Quality Bath / vanity: Signature Hardware / faucet: National Builder Supply / sink, toilet, toilet holder, and towel bar: Amazon / wall color: Super White and Onyx by Benjamin Moore

—

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.

1. Visit the showrooms, but buy online.

The insider tip from this renovation is that you have to combine high-tech and low-tech research methods to make decisions and purchases. Products are endlessly available from a huge variety of sources and it’s worth visiting showrooms and stone yards to see and touch the materials that will be in your home for years, but the best prices for most materials can be found online. Even with architect and designer discounts, this design pro found that most purchases were cheaper online.

One potential downside of skipping the brick and mortar ordering experience is that you are dealing with a wide variety of sources across many appliances and fixtures. The word from our insider is to apply some good old-fashioned patience and diligence in dealing with different customer service contacts, but also take very clear pictures of labels and serial numbers and specs in case you need to correct an order or source any additional tiny parts. Keep your cool as materials arrive by cataloguing electronic records and photos of all of the pieces, with serial numbers visible in your photos, so that you can instantly source what you need as deliveries fall into place. These records will also help you document any problems you do run into with vendors and will give you a much clearer path to resolving issues big and small.

2. Learn your way around IKEA’s cabinet system.

Our industry source looked at lots of kitchen cabinetry options and found that the high-end route was astronomically expense. Frustratingly, the next tier down was slightly more budget-friendly, but not enough to mask the difference in construction quality. IKEA’s cabinet system required admittedly time-consuming weeknight trips and weekend excursions, but investing time and learning her way around their design software yielded a great set of cabinets and a modern look at a much lower price point. “Brace yourself and crack IKEA” in her words!

As with any order, you should have your contractor confirm measurements and weigh in on the pieces you pick before you order. Your contractor is your full partner in the renovation – even if you have the patience to teach yourself to use IKEA’s design system, your contractor will figure out ways to make things work and help you pass obstacles you wouldn’t otherwise see coming.

3. Stay close by and check in often.

If you’re going with a major renovation and need to stay elsewhere while the work is underway, it’s really important to be close by and check in often. Even with all of the advance planning and ordering and designing that goes in to the process, there are decisions being made on the ground at every stage and you want to be a part of it. It’s not that you’re supervising the work or preventing mistakes, it’s that there are small decisions and many paths that the team will go down, and you can have an impact as design translates into build.

Talk to your contractor about when visits make sense and be a regular thought partner in the progress. Our insider also encouraged renovators to be kind to themselves and to their contractors: be prepared for mistakes – the wrong color, the wrong size, and unforeseen adjustments are an inevitable part of a complex and custom process. Forgive yourself and build in the emotional and scheduling contingencies to address mistakes and keep moving forward.

In this renovation, our expert insider was aiming for contemporary, sleek, and decidedly unfussy. She credited Sweeten Expert Aleks and his team in bringing calm to the storm, suggesting realistic upgrades and solutions for custom adjustments and tight corners, and for being a welcome partner in day to day problem-solving.

Kitchen Selects >>  floor tile: Tiles by Tina / countertop: custom Carrara marble / backsplash tile: Tiles by Tina / cabinets: white lacquer IKEA / sink: Blanco via theperfecthome.com / dishwasher: Miele / stove: Bertazzoni / fridge: Fisher & Paykel

Bathroom Selects >> floor tile: Ciot Carrara marble / sink: Duravit Vero / sink faucet: Kohler / towel bars: Kohler / toilet: Toto

The post 3 Renovation Lessons Learned from a Greenwich Village Designer appeared first on Sweeten.

Mario, who works in media, and Joe, who works in healthcare, bought their one-bedroom co-op in 2013 and spent a year learning their way around its many nooks and crannies. The original space had lots of doors and walls that kept the kitchen and pantry closed off from the living and dining rooms, blocking windows and hiding just how much square footage was actually in play. Mario geared up for a full renovation that would bring walls down and open the space up, and Joe plotted the demise of the apartment’s dark parquet floors. They posted their project on Sweeten and chose a Sweeten general contractor to execute on their vision.

Starting in the kitchen, their contractor demo’ed walls to let light in from this apartment’s signature corner windows. They couldn’t move a structural column so it became the visual marker for the new kitchen’s expanded lines. Maybe surprisingly, they brought down the kitchen ceiling a few inches to make room for recessed lighting and to demarcate the newly open spaces – raising the ceiling seems to be the goal in many renovations, but you can see where a few inches of lost height made complete sense here. Mario and Joe chose IKEA’s now-classic white lacquer cabinetry and sourced contemporary cabinet pulls from cabinetparts.com.

Their contractor helped design the new kitchen island to allow access from both sides. The island is unusually large and far from the kitchen wall, but with drawers on both sides (plus a Summit wine fridge), it manages to be kitchen-focused on one end with a great work-space option on the other. Mario and Joe decided to keep all of the appliances in a row along the kitchen’s back wall with an all-star line-up that includes a Bertazzoni range, a stainless steel Bosch dishwasher, and a slim Fisher & Paykel fridge with bottom freezer. The backsplash was an admitted splurge – Mario and Joe fell for an Ann Sacks tile with an architectural feel and a subtle matte finish. From the living room it disappears, but in the kitchen, the raised detail is super gorgeous.

Throughout the apartment, Mario and Joe replaced dark parquet tiles with wide-plank, 7 1/2“ matte-finished oak floors. They chose the starkest white wall color they could find to keep the main space modern (they actually chose Benjamin Moore’s Linen White, which has a very white feel in their place despite a name that suggests creamy undertones). The contractor updated baseboard molding with square trim, added low-rise built-in IKEA cabinets as a media center in the living room, stacked floating shelves in the master bedroom, and brought in extra help to overhaul the apartment’s big closets.

Mario and Joe’s style sensibility works so well in the new layout. Somehow, they appear to have already owned most of the art and furniture pieces that look tailor-made in here. Mario explained that the trick was in figuring out where to place furniture and art after walls came down and left fewer surfaces for hanging pieces.

A decor round-up is in order: the kitchen counter stools, couch, and coffee table are all from West Elm, the dining table is from CB2, and the geometric red rug is a Crate & Barrel pick. Sadly, the cowhide rug was a wanderlust find in Chile and the retro print hanging above the bed is from a DC market, so you can’t have either, but there is a lot here that anyone could work with.

And in case you missed it, the couple also gutted their bathroom. More on that shimmery tile right here!

—

Selects >> cabinets: white lacquer IKEA / pulls: cabinetparts.com / wine fridge: Summit / oven: Bertazzoni / dishwasher: Bosch / fridge: Fisher & Paykel / backsplash tile: Ann Sacks / wall paint: “Linen White” Benjamin Moore / built-in cabinets: IKEA / kitchen counter stools, couch, and coffee table: West Elm / dining table: CB2 / rug: Crate & Barrel

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 Mario and Joe’s Clinton Hill Co-op Renovation appeared first on Sweeten.

“Sweeten made the process super easy to get bids and ultimately find a great contractor. I’m really glad I found you guys.” 

– Lee Hoffman, Manhattan homeowner

While there is more than enough to see in these “before” photos, Lee found himself up against one major, invisible force: the co-op’s previous tenant had been a smoker and the original stock finishes were covered in smoky residue. The kitchen was virtually sealed off from the living room, and its big window was partially blocked by cabinetry and a fridge that had been wedged into the galley. Lee knew he could swap in new cabinets and appliances, but when he learned that the dividing wall was non-load-bearing, he began to picture taking down the wall to let light into the living room from two directions. He put together a lengthy list of big and small updates (wall demolition all the way down to soft-close cabinets) and took the same approach to bring light and modern appeal to the crumbling bathroom.

Lee took on the kitchen with all of the resolve of a tech entrepreneur. He spent a month talking to every cabinet maker in NYC before accepting that even the lowest price for a high-end, custom built set was way beyond what he was willing to put in for the entire project. Even the next tier down felt costly, and the slightly more budget-friendly options at big box retailers didn’t seem like an obvious slam dunk. After reading positive reviews about IKEA cabinets, and realizing that a whole new IKEA line was about to hit the market, he found himself psyched by the look of the white, high-gloss lacquer Sektion option. The cost-benefit of going with IKEA was immediately evident: for well under $10k, Lee got a full set of kitchen cabinets and was really happy with the quality. The downside? Getting delivery right took weeks of follow-up and re-shipments to get all of the pieces on site. A great deal overall, but most definitely not without headaches and hand-holding. But details, details…take a look at what happened when the wall came down and the cabinets went in!

Lee’s research paid off in other parts of the kitchen. He loved the look of white marble and spent six months on the hunt for a quartz countertop with a similar feel, ultimately landing on a porcelain slab by Euro West with an almost-identical yet indestructible effect. Lee compared the slab side by side with marble at Mark and Benneton in Brooklyn and never looked back. To keep his budget focused, Lee decided to skip a typical tiled backsplash. With the newly opened room, and with an upper row of cabinets only on one side, it ended up being a smart choice. Lee thought carefully about cabinet placement – drawers only along the left (16″ depth to maximize open space) and a slim row of upper cabinets centered on the right. The team installed the counter-depth Liebherr fridge against the back wall and lined up all other appliances – a Samsung stove with sleek visual controls, a stainless steel Blomberg dishwasher, and a Blanco Quatrus sink on the opposite side – leaving plenty of room in all directions for food prep and hosting.

Lee was entirely unsentimental about the bathroom. Everything had to go and in its place, lots of clean, bright whites and crisp glass. Lee found happiness in a touchless San Souci Kohler toilet, “designed for OCD people” (yup…we know and love a few of those folks), and also went with a Kohler recessed medicine cabinet above the Fresca sink vanity. The bathroom hardware is all Hansgrohe – we love that full shower suite with all of its bells and whistles. Lee’s heavy research brought in one more big catch: he found a specialty frameless shower glass from Mirage Shower Doors that eliminates the slight green aura that lots of shower doors end up with and lets the Glassos white wall tiles do their thing.

Big thanks to Lee and the Sweeten team for a stunning redo, and for all of this insider research!

Kitchen Selects >> countertop: porcelain slab Euro West / sink: Blanco Quatrus / stove: Samsung / dishwasher: steel Blomberg / fridge: Leibherr / cabinets: white, high-gloss lacquer IKEA Sektion

Bathroom Selects >> toilet: Kohler / sink vanity: Fresca / shower glass: Mirage Shower Doors / hardware: Hansgrohe

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

The post Before & After: Lee’s Midtown East Kitchen and Bath Renovation — Sweetened! appeared first on Sweeten.

Editor’s Note: This post, which originally ran July 2015, shows that smart storage never gets old. Here’s a look into what happens when Manhattanites make bold changes in a small kitchen—like taking down kitchen walls! This Hell’s Kitchen renovation would have been stylish even if it had stayed within its original dimensions, but taking a wall down was the first step in making the space virtually unrecognizable. Scroll on down for the play by play on this ambitious Manhattan kitchen renovation.

Dan and Mike moved into this one bedroom, one bathroom co-op in Manhattan’s storied Piano Factory building in 2013. The building, converted from a 19th century warehouse that once served as the manufacturing site for the inner workings of pianos, is an industrial brick building in Hell’s Kitchen with a beautiful Romanesque entry and a graceful courtyard. Dan and Mike loved the building’s history and architecture, but found themselves in an apartment constructed in the grand tradition of many 1980s co-op conversions: boxy rooms, segmented living spaces, a dated pass-through in the wall that sectioned off the small kitchen from the living area, and kitchen finishes that were unchanged from the apartment’s first owner. Worse still, the kitchen’s sizable window was hidden in the back of the room, blocking light and limiting the impact that a windowed kitchen should have.

Dan, a technology scout for a chemical company, and Mike, who works in finance for a construction company, liked the layout and the slightly retro feel of the original kitchen but envisioned opening up the room, making it part of the larger living area, and finding creative storage ideas to make the space work harder and smarter for them. Armed with an architect’s drawing, Dan and Mike posted their project on Sweeten, a free service matching renovators with vetted general contractors, to take down the wall, gut the kitchen, and extend the counters and cabinetry. They were introduced to their Sweeten contractor to handle the demolition and full re-build.

Though they loved the industrial past of the building, Dan and Mike didn’t want to go too far with an industrial modern aesthetic. They set out to create an updated look balanced by raw and unfinished accents to fill the open plan room, and played with different natural and synthetic wood finishes to maintain a measure of warmth and masculinity amid the clean lines.

Demolishing the wall had an enormous impact on the space, and Dan and Mike took the newfound breathing room even further by removing the upper line of cabinets altogether and replacing the original base laminates with a full set of IKEA cabinets and drawers, which their Sweeten contractor installed with custom doors and hardware from Semihandmade. The new, more functional base cabinets gave the couple enough storage capacity to go minimal on top—Dan found salvaged Douglas Fir pieces and created open floating shelves in a shop in Greenpoint. This move allows the open kitchen to flow more seamlessly into the living room, and significantly reduced visual heft through to the kitchen’s window.

In their search for a tougher and more durable alternative to concrete countertops that wouldn’t stain easily, Dan and Mike found Dekton, an ultra-compacted blend of raw materials that Dan reports is virtually impenetrable. Dan couldn’t help but reveal his expertise as a tech scout for a chemical company when he explained that the material was also attractive because its raw materials are free of synthetic resins that are often used in construction. Dan and Mike loved the look of a waterfall counter and worked with their Sweeten contractor to create the effect so that the kitchen entry was marked and separated visually by the countertop extension of the cabinet peninsula.

To contrast with the striated cabinetry and porcelain floor tiles finished with an end-cut wood grain look, the couple selected a classic white subway tile and neutral gray grout to line the walls from floor to ceiling, and added a gray and black mosaic tile accent to meet the height of the kitchen’s window.

Their Sweeten contractor helped to complete the transformation by stealing twelve inches of brand new pull-out pantry space from a walk-in closet adjacent to the kitchen, and adding an ultra-minimal storage rack for pots and pans. Dan and Mike chose stainless steel appliances throughout and especially love the 30 inch Wolf range with its signature red knobs, as well as the unconventionally tall Summit fridge—a great find for tight kitchens.

“In some ways, we bit off more than we could chew. Sweeten introduced us to a contractor who was really easy to work with, flexible about our plans, and helpful with things that were uncertain or unexpectedly discovered behind walls,” says Dan.

So many thanks to Dan and Mike for this eye-opening tour of their spacious little-kitchen-that-could!

—

Custom cabinet doors add a unique touch and are a great way to personalize pre-fabricated cabinets. Becky and Sarah chose a similar style for their cabinets, creating a striking white-on-wood contrast in their kitchen renovation.

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 Small Kitchen Converts to an Industrial Warehouse Vibe appeared first on Sweeten.

Cabinet construction may well end up being the single biggest expense of your entire renovation, and the results are the most obvious visual proof of your investment, so this can feel like a heavy decision. The challenge (and opportunity) is that your choices are endless, but if you focus on a few key factors, you can find the right cabinets for your kitchen renovation.

IKEA cabinets in Laura and Matthew’s kitchen renovation.

While it’s tempting to assume that your budget is the only consideration and while it’s true that custom cabinets can be (much, much) more expensive than stock cabinets, they don’t have to be. Even the cheapest kitchen is an enormous investment, so if budget isn’t necessarily the deciding factor, how should you decide and how can you keep your budget from dictating your choices? First, a few definitions.

Should you go with custom or pre-fabricated cabinets?

Stock cabinets

IKEA is widely considered the go-to for stock cabinets. Unlike almost anyone else, they mass-produce a system of set sizes, colors, finishes, and features that you pick and choose. The pieces of your order are pulled from stock supplies and shipped to your home, where you need to handle both the assembly and installation. IKEA keeps its costs low because they are sending your order to you in pieces and because the materials they use are very inexpensive.

Pre-fabricated cabinets

Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other big-box national retailers are distributors of independent lines of cabinets. They offer a semi-custom option: like IKEA, you pick and choose from set sizes, colors, finishes, and features (though national retailers tend to have more options overall). Unlike IKEA, your order is then manufactured and assembled for you so that your cabinets arrive ready for installation. Because you have more choice in materials and construction, the range of prices varies more here. You will probably pay more upfront for higher-quality materials, but you may spend less on labor because the cabinets are assembled before they get to you for installation.

Custom cabinets

Custom cabinets are designed and constructed by hand based on your individual design. You define the sizes, materials, finishes, and features and your order is hand-crafted and delivered for installation. Because your choices for materials and construction are endless, the range of material and labor costs is very wide. The costs here are generally distributed between your choice of material and style, labor, and a more personalized design and customer service approach.

High-end, built-to-order cabinet systems

A small group of cabinet companies also offer cabinetry systems that are extremely high-end (Bulthaup and Henrybuilt are examples). These companies are known for beautiful and durable cabinet construction and best-in-industry warranties, but the bare minimum for even a small kitchen can easily exceed $20,000, so unlike other categories of cabinet construction, this option is only available if the starting point for your budget allows you to consider it.

Custom cabinets by Henrybuilt in Kavi and David’s kitchen.

Custom cabinets might be less expensive than you think if your kitchen has limited space, lots of space, or an unusual layout.

In a tight kitchen, stock and pre-fabricated cabinets in standard sizes might not be worth the initial material savings because you will need more inventive labor to fit everything in.

In a large kitchen, extra depth or high ceilings give you an opportunity for additional storage and functionality. Non-standard cabinet heights and depths can bring value to your renovation and re-sale value. Multiple corners, awkward niches, and unusual footprints can be tough to outfit. Stock and pre-fab cabinets in standard sizes may force you to spend money on filler materials, wasted space, and labor for semi-custom adjustments.

“If you have a kitchen with corners or small spaces or an awkward layout, you may not actually save money on the total because you end up paying for filler materials and extra work to pull everything together.” – Sweeten contractors

Custom cabinets in Eric’s kitchen designed and built by his Sweeten contractor.

Custom cabinets might be worth extra money if you plan to stay for years, have kids or a high-traffic kitchen, or want personalized support.

Semi-custom and custom cabinets offer higher quality materials in sturdier thicknesses that last longer. Particle board and MDF, two common materials for stock cabinets, are susceptible to water and have a shorter life span than plywood and wood. 1/2” particle board will not last as long as 3/4” or 1” furniture-grade plywood cabinet bases, and solid wood doors and drawers will endure tougher handling over the years.

Custom cabinets also typically use sturdier construction and joinery methods. Custom cabinetmakers will often use dovetail joints that interlock pieces of wood to distribute weight and stress more evenly, whereas stock nut, bolt, and nail methods isolate wear on a few points. They also offer options for tougher hardware elements like hinges and drawer sliders. In addition, custom cabinet makers generally provide a higher level of design support and customer assistance. They will do site visits, re-designs, and get a real person on the phone with you when you need it.

You might be absolutely fine to handle the ordering and delivery of a stock system, but if you hit a roadblock, custom cabinet companies expect to support you and respond personally.

“Once you order the IKEA materials and you pay for assembly and installation, you’re not far off from a custom option that would last longer and provide more options – for a few extra thousand dollars, you may actually get a much better deal. Each time you take one of these steps up in material quality and thickness, you have a corresponding price and life span increase.” – Sweeten Expert Alan

IKEA cabinets with custom doors by Semihandmade in Becky and Sarah’s kitchen.

Cost aside, pre-fabricated cabinets might work best for you if your renovation timeline is speedy or you feel overwhelmed by choice.

Custom cabinets have lengthier lead times. If you’re gearing up for a renovation in the next two months, you can get your hands on pre-fab cabinets in-store on a same-day basis, or delivered within two or three weeks. And, a perceived weakness of pre-fabricated cabinets is actually a real strength: for many homeowners, unlimited choice is not necessarily desirable. Many homeowners go with custom cabinets because they think they want options and then end up feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed. Pre-fabricated cabinets offer a pick-and-choose experience that requires less homework and decision fatigue.

“Many clients ask us what styles we offer and it can be hard to explain that it can be anything they imagine. Shops like ours provide personalized design as part of the overall service to build features for individual clients.” – Sweeten Experts Paulina and Albert

Still having trouble deciding? Go for a hybrid!

Combining a pre-fab kitchen with custom pieces can lower your cost without compromising on quality.

“Combining a pre-fab kitchen with custom pieces allows for lower cost and uniqueness. Companies like Semihandmade and Kokeena make door and drawer faces for stock cabinets so you’re not limited to IKEA’s palette. In addition, there are endless options for shelving, countertops, and cabinet pulls allowing for individuality while using inexpensive pre-fab cabinets.” – Sweeten Experts Lauren and Adam

—

Learn about the costs involved in your kitchen remodel and try the budget estimator tool in our post Budget Basics: Kitchen Renovation Costs.

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 The Surprising Truth About IKEA vs. Custom Cabinets appeared first on Sweeten.