A stylish, period-conscious update in LA brings grandma’s house into the 21st century

• Homeowner: Leigh posted her home remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Mid City neighborhood in Los Angeles
• Primary renovation: The kitchen and surrounding rooms got a redo—with a preservationist-inspired touch
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “It was important to me to work with a contracting team that had experience with older homes and appreciated the history here.”

Written in partnership with homeowner Leigh. “After” photos by Jill Weller.

A house full of family memories

I moved into my home several years ago, after inheriting it from my dad. The house was originally purchased by my grandmother, who raised her two boys here. Later, I grew up in it. We celebrated the house’s centennial last year. It’s been in my family for three generations.

Previous slide

Next slide

Located in Mid City, Los Angeles, the house is 3,200 square feet. It has a Tudor-inspired design and it sits on a wide, quiet tree-lined street. I wanted to honor the traditional elements and the memories there while bringing in my style to make it my own.

Contractor disappearances—and a solution

My name is Leigh Lehman and I work as a communications director. In the years prior to listing my project on Sweeten, I’d met with a number of other contractors. It was important to me to work with a contracting team that had experience with older homes and appreciated the history here. After our conversations, every contractor made promises to deliver on varying tasks or iterations of the project. But then they just never returned. I had become increasingly frustrated but didn’t want to give up.

Sweeten gave me the peace of mind I was missing in dealing with contractors. The fact that the platform had vetted the GCs I interviewed, and that there was accountability through the dashboard, helped alleviate the angst I’d been holding for a while.

Nostalgia and personal style meet

Approaching the project, I knew I wanted to remain true to the house’s bones, which were structurally sound. I wanted the home to improve functionally and to align with how I lived. But I didn’t want to lose the home’s character.

Specifically, I knew I needed to gut renovate the kitchen and laundry room. The dining area and other interior spaces just needed a cosmetic refresh. Other parts of the scope included refinishing floors, repainting the walls, replacing windows, and updating the electrical work.

Before starting on the kitchen, I did a lot of research on what kitchens in the 1920s in Los Angeles looked like. I wanted the space to feel updated and fresh but in line with the style of that time when the house was built. For example, the tile floor is beautifully colored. Design-forward floors were common in kitchens during that time. The dark counters and beadboard-style cabinets were also design elements from ‘20s kitchens.

I worked with my Sweeten contractor and her team to design the nostalgic details I wanted. The selection and use of tile in the renovation was our idea for a fresh take on period tile patterns. We also collaborated on the custom cabinets, from the layout to the clean look of the beadboard.

A modern convenience for the kitchen

One aspect I knew I wanted to update: the dishwasher. Spending so much time at my home during the pandemic, I had washed a lot of dishes. I love to cook and I looked forward to hosting dinners. So aside from the aesthetics of a refreshed kitchen, the idea of installing a dishwasher for the first time to help with clean-up was a driver for the renovation. I was looking forward to spending more time doing things I enjoyed. 

The layers were tedious, I’ll admit! As anyone can imagine, a 100-year-old home has had a few touch-ups over time. So whether paint or wallpaper, the work to get under those layers and back to the base definitely took some extra elbow grease.

Nostalgia and a very big sink

In the laundry room, the big sink was original to the house. I wanted to keep it, but it needed attention. An average sink faucet spread is 13 inches—but this one is 18” wide. My Sweeten contractor recommended parts vendors who allowed me to restore the beauty of the sink on my timeline and within my budget. I love how it turned out.

"Sweeten gave me the peace of mind I was missing in dealing with contractors."

All eyes on the details—and budget

The greatest worry I had was about exactly that—creating my budget and sticking to it. I didn’t want to end up with unexpected costs. My Sweeten contractor and her team were great professionals to work with; they laid everything out upfront and we aligned before work started. Once we began, any additional costs we incurred were outlined in a change order, which I approved before moving forward. Throughout the process, I always knew what my numbers were.

My advice as a now experienced renovator: Ask the minor questions, or the ones you may think are silly. Never assume that the team working on your job will do something without it being discussed. Walk-through every last corner of the space and look at all the details before the project wraps up to ensure any issues that concern you are addressed.

Small details make the difference

The thing I learned after posting this renovation is that you’ll make a lot of little decisions that only matter to you, but when your vision comes together well, it’s magical. We changed the swing of the kitchen door so that it now opens into the family room. It was a minor change that no one will ever notice—but it made a big difference in opening up the space. 

The kitchen and the breakfast room, with that gorgeous old stained-glass window, are closely tied for my favorite rooms in the house. The laundry room no longer feels dark and cramped—the natural light is incredible. What do I feel about the result? Happiness!

Thank you, Leigh and mom, for sharing your home with us!

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• Paint in Kitten Whiskers, #1003, and Simply White, #OC-117 (trim): Benjamin Moore
• Moda Del Mar “Fiorella” Matte Ceramic 8”x8” Tile in Blue: Floor & Decor
• Custom kitchen cabinets: Sourced through contractor
• Countertops in Vanilla Noir, #5100: Caesarstone
• Elkay Quartz Luxe farmhouse sink in Ricotta: Build with Ferguson
• Filtered and traditional faucet in chrome: Water Inc.
• Glossy ceramic backsplash tile, Cloe 5”x5” in white: Bedrosians
• Heritage wall-mount faucet: Kingston Brass
• 24.8 cu. ft. french door refrigerator: Whirlpool
• 800 Series SHV878ZD3N dishwasher: Bosch
• Hiemey glass crystal, brushed-nickel octagon knobs: Amazon
• Oil-rubbed bronze knobs: Amerock
• Massey oil-rubbed bronze bin pull: Semihandmade
• Greenwich single sconce light: Rejuvenation
• Dempsey 52-inch LED indoor ceiling fan in Fresh White: Hunter

DINING AREA RESOURCES:

• Paint in Kitten Whiskers, #1003, and Simply White, #OC-117 (trim): Benjamin Moore
• Dempsey 52-inch LED indoor ceiling fan in Fresh White: Hunter

LAUNDRY RESOURCES:

• Paint in Kitten Whiskers, #1003, and Simply White, #OC-117 (trim): Benjamin Moore
• 4.8 cu ft stackable smart front load washer and 7.8 cu ft 10-cycle gas dryer: GE Appliances
• Faucet, 445 Series Chrome #445-GN8AE3RABCP and Spout #GN8BE4JKABCP: Chicago Faucet

—

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

The post A 1920s Childhood Home Remodel in Mid City, Los Angeles appeared first on Sweeten.

This family’s 2-unit renovation was worth the wait

• Homeowners: Isis and Stephano moved into their pre-war home and posted their Brooklyn brownstone bathroom remodel with laundry on Sweeten
• Where: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: Expansion, reconfiguration, and renovation of the Brooklyn brownstone’s fourth-floor bathroom, which does double-duty as a laundry room
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowners’ quote: “[Sweeten] helped us gut-check our initial budget based on the market for our area.”

Written in partnership with homeowners Isis and Stephano. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.

Purchasing the right Brooklyn brownstone

Isis, a brand and experiential marketing specialist, and Stephano, a nurse anesthetist, closed on their brownstone home at the end of 2018. It was a fixer-upper, with four floors comprising of a 3-story apartment for the family and a garden-level rental unit. Renovating the bathroom topped their priority list at first, but had to be postponed. “We’d gutted it but weren’t able to immediately redo it,” Isis said, “because we had to prioritize repairs to the roof and work on the downstairs unit.” With two kids and a third on the way, they were not excited about putting off the bathroom—a job that included expanding it to accommodate their growing family and a new laundry space.

How much, and how long?

During the nearly two years that followed, the family muddled through. “We had everyone sharing one bathroom,” Stephano said—including, at times, Isis’s dad. When they finally had the time and resources to undertake the bathroom remodel, they posted it on Sweeten, and were quickly introduced to several qualified Brooklyn contractors.

“The biggest questions we had were how much and how long,” Isis recalled, explaining that they’d heard horror stories of inflamed budgets and endless timeline extensions. They also tried to ascertain how well each of the candidates could communicate. “We hoped to work with a team that could convey all key info that might affect the timeline,” Isis said, “so that we could collaborate on workarounds.”

Isis was relieved that Sweeten could smooth the process. “The company helped us gut-check our initial budget based on the market for our area,” she said. “They presented solid contractors for us to meet, and then checked in to make sure we felt pleased with our selection. I felt good about the consultant who supported us and the insights she shared.”

Measure twice, cut once

Once they had made their contractor choice, the process for the bathroom began—haltingly. Isis and Stephano had hired an independent designer, and brought the resulting plans to the table when discussing the project with their contractor. “The designer had measured, provided renderings, and even put us in touch with vendors,” Stephano said. They ordered many of the materials for the bathroom, included a barn door for the washer/dryer, a vanity, and stone for the two-sink top. Then—a hard stop. “Our contractor realized that many of the measurements didn’t jibe,” Stephano said.

 

Finding a creative way to fit them in, Stephano said, “took amazing Tetris skills” on the part of their contractor.

The original washer and dryer, left behind by the previous owners, wouldn’t fit in the space the designer had planned for it. The vanity size was also off, and the door from the recommended vendor was too heavy to be installed as intended. “It wasn’t the best experience,” Isis said. But the couple persisted, fueled by their vision: a  functional space for laundry, and a shower lit by the morning sun through a skylight. And their Sweeten contractor found solutions to each of the problems created by the ill-chosen designer. Stephano offered his own solution to the barn door problem: he’d use his skills to build his own custom design, and worked with the contractor to incorporate it.

Borrowing space to get a bigger bathroom

To accommodate the whole family, and the laundry area, they knocked down an adjacent wall and annexed a pair of closets. One closet was rebuilt to house the washer and dryer—a pair of 24-inch stacking units to replace the original ones that didn’t match the designer’s drawings. Finding a creative way to incorporate the units into the bathroom, Stephano said, “took amazing Tetris skills” on the part of their contractor. The enlarged space helped with other layout and storage challenges. “The shower is spacious! We added a custom cabinet that can hold all of our toiletry needs and were able to obtain a larger, double-sink vanity,” Isis said.

For finishes they chose a combination of black, white, and natural wood, with contrasting hex tiles and subway tiles. “Subway tile felt very NYC to us, so we led with that, but also liked hexagon tile for the floor,” Isis said. “In the shower, we opted for all black, which we totally love, and we’re happy with the custom walnut shelving, too.”

Their general contractor was a great fit

Both partners feel proud of starting their bathroom project and the final outcome. “We took what we’d learned from other projects,” Isis said, “and used that knowledge to work really well with our Sweeten contractor and his team.” Stephano appreciated that their contractor was always available, “and was invested in both getting the work done and making sure we were satisfied.”

“I love the design, and how functional it is for all of our needs, including storage,” Isis said. “Thanks to the skylight, the bathroom has great natural light. She added, “I love the custom door Stephano made for us!” Perfectly weighted, and smooth-rolling.

Thanks for sharing your Brooklyn brownstone bathroom story with us, Isis and Stephano!

Renovation Materials:

BATHROOM RESOURCES:

• Geometrics 2” hex matte white wall tile; Silhouette black polished 2”x10” shower wall tile; Geometrics 2” hex glazed black shower floor tile; Geometrics two-inch hex glazed black floor tile; and Quartz Jet Black saddles: Brooklyn Tile & Design
• Awaken and Purist X Handles shower fixtures and hardware, Adair toilet: Kohler
• Matte black rolling shower door: VIGO
• Custom-built double vanity cabinet with Urbania door panels in Mariposa: Tafisa
• Nicoli matte black faucet: Delta
• Carbon Loft Cornwall Metal Beveled Venetian wall mirror: Overstock
• Keenan two-light wall sconce: ALLMODERN
• Barn door: Custom hand-made by contractor
• SmartStandard Barn door hardware: Amazon
• 24” washer and dryer: Samsung  

Originally published on August 12, 2021

Updated on June 27, 2023

—

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

The post New Bathroom and Laundry for a Brooklyn Brownstone appeared first on Sweeten.

Popular questions asked

The post Planning a Basement Renovation? Here’s Where To Start appeared first on Sweeten.

The post 8 Ideas for Small Laundry Rooms in Apartments, Condos, and Co-ops appeared first on Sweeten.

In 2015, Cristiana and her husband fell in love with a beautiful old house in New Jersey’s Bergen County. Original details from 1918 had been preserved, and the space was just right for the family of four. While the above-grade spaces were solid and charming, the basement needed some serious TLC. It featured outdated finishes from the 1970s, low ceilings (a big problem for Cristiana’s tall husband!), and a damp, musty feel.

Cristiana knew that the valuable square footage could be turned into a family room, with space left over for wine and pantry storage as well as an updated laundry room. They posted their project and turned to Sweeten, a free service matching renovators with vetted general contractors, and found this contractor to convert an uninviting cave into a comfortable spot for the whole family.

Guest post by Bergen County, New Jersey, homeowner Cristiana

Two years ago, we were moving from a 750-square-foot apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey, which felt like it was bursting at the seams. When we purchased our early Craftsman Colonial home, we knew there would be lots of work to do. But it felt solid, had the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms and great, livable space. Plus, the original unpainted chestnut moldings and leaded glass built-ins throughout the new house made any renovations that we needed to do seem bearable.

Before we were able to move in, we needed to completely rewire the entire house because it still had knob-and-tube wiring. This meant demolishing the ’70s-style finished basement. We weren’t that upset about losing the brown paneling, damp rug, and linoleum-tiled laundry room, and we were saving a lot of money by allowing the electrician free access to the walls and ceiling of the basement. The space had to be refurbished before it could be used for anything besides storage.

After a couple of months of rewiring, patching, and painting, we temporarily relocated the toy storage and our TV to the enclosed front porch and began working with an architect to rethink the space. We came to Sweeten to find a contractor to execute our architect’s vision.

Our plans included moving the laundry room to free up the main living area for toys, creating a craft area, and carving out a wine room. An old phone booth left behind by the previous owners was relocated. We hoped to move as many pipes in the labyrinth hanging from the ceiling to provide more headroom for my 6’ 4” husband and our two future six-footers—our sons, currently ages six and eight. New windows were installed and additional waterproofing was added throughout the space.

When we got started working with our Sweeten contractor, we tried to determine where waterproofing was necessary and figured out what pipes could be moved and what had to stay. We ran PEX pipes for water in the walls and were able to run all electricity through the ceiling. We had to leave our steam pipes for our original but completely functional heating system because it was cost-prohibitive to move them.

Our contractor also created easy access points for a (hopefully not so distant) kitchen renovation. In the end, the ceiling in the basement was raised from under six-and-a-half feet to over eight feet tall—a huge improvement and a crucial part of the renovation.

Once the not-so-glamorous phases of waterproofing, plumbing, and electric were completed, we began to see the new rooms take shape. We were surprised by the space that needed to be left between the block walls and the drywall for fireproofing but decided to incorporate built-ins for board games as well as arts-and-crafts supplies. Our contractor also built a custom shelving unit under our TV to help prevent kids from walking into the corner of the TV when it was pulled out from the wall. The area under the stairs turned into a fort for the boys.

For the walls, we chose a warm gray paired with a soft white trim. The floors are COREtec, which looks like walnut but is actually an engineered plank that’s perfect for below-grade spaces. This was one of our contractor’s best recommendations—a floating floor that is easily replaced if it gets wet, feels great underfoot, and looks amazing. We love it, and have gotten a ton of compliments on it!

We installed IKEA kitchen cabinets and laminate countertops in our laundry room, which were big cost-savers and resulted in a sleek and lovely place to do laundry. A wall-mounted drying rack is one of my favorite features. My kids and husband have turned the storage room into a music room, but as long as they don’t mind playing next to our second freezer and extra Cheerios, it works for me!

That’s about it for the first phase of our basement renovation. Of course, there are still items on the to-do list. We are planning to turn the wooden phone booth at the bottom of the stairs into a fun space for the boys—it has working electricity, so we are hoping to wire it with wifi or as a charging station. We will also either paint it red (Londonesque) or blue (Doctor Who!), and add a plaque on the top with our last name. Next to the phone booth is a door that leads to our unfinished wine room, another project for the future.

For now, though, we love spending time in our new basement—and getting dedicated storage for the toys, drums, and storage off the main floor! It’s become a great family room for us to hang out in, and for the boys to play with their friends. Working with our Sweeten contractor was an amazing experience. He was cooperative, made great suggestions, and brought the project in on budget.

Thank you, Cristiana, for showing us the fabulous transformation of an often-overlooked space! Love this “bonus space” renovation? Check out a guide to remodeling another one: the attic. 

BASEMENT RESOURCES: Blackstone Oak COREtec flooring: COREtec. Laundry room cabinets and countertops: IKEA. Dolphin Fin wall paint: Behr. White Dove trim/ceiling paint: Benjamin Moore.

Watch video:

—

Here’s what you need to know when turning your basement into a living space.

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 Basement Remodel Turns into a Happy Family Room appeared first on Sweeten.

The post How to Add a Washer and Dryer to Your Home appeared first on Sweeten.

Who wants to schlep laundry up and down five flights of stairs? That’s what motivated Lynn, Craig, and their pooch Pistol to renovate their first home, a 1,200-square-foot Prospect Heights co-op. But not so fast. First, they couldn’t find a contractor willing to take on the job of remodeling two tiny bathrooms. Then they couldn’t get one on board for a washer-and-dryer install. They eventually turned to Sweeten, where they posted their project and were matched with a vetted general contractor not only willing, but excited, to take on the job. All this while the clock was ticking on their move-in date.

Guest post by Sweeten homeowners Lynn and Craig

After living in rentals forever—from 300-square-foot studios to windowless apartments— we were ready to buy something of our own. When Lynn co-founded her business—Dome, a multidisciplinary design studio—in 2014, we casually began to look for a place where she could work from home.

For two years, we visited open houses to learn about the Brooklyn housing market. Many of the homes felt oddly chopped up, hastily constructed, overpriced, or were projects too intimidating for us to tackle for our first home purchase. We wanted a space that felt open and bright, where we wouldn’t hit the walls within a year, and that was in a welcoming neighborhood.

When we found this two-bedroom, 1.5 bath co-op in a circa 1930s Prospect Heights building close to express subways, our friends, Prospect Park’s off-leash area, and saw it had lots of space and light, we immediately put in a bid. We thought we had a chance, given it was a steep fifth-floor walk-up—a deterrent for many buyers in a competitive market. We ended up losing the bid, only to have the owner come back to us weeks later offering us the home after the first deal fell through. Our move-in date was two months later, in mid-September.

We started out just wanting a laundry hook-up in the half-bath. We’d spent years hauling bags to coin laundromats and felt a washer-and-dryer were non-negotiable. But once we started thinking things through, our small project ballooned. We soon realized that both bathrooms needed to be gutted. The full bath had no storage and was on a 10-inch platform to accommodate mid-century plumbing. The half-bath was previously used as a cat’s bathroom, accompanied by a pet door—and a significant odor.

Our Sweeten project post, titled “Make These Bathrooms My Favorite Rooms” captured our optimism to transform these small, dismal rooms into a smarter space for our lifestyle and aesthetic taste. So, we chose our Sweeten contractor. We didn’t expand either footprint, but were strategic about how each element would really be used, cleaned, and look next to each other.

Overall, we replaced four bathroom and closet doors made of tired, hollow-core faux wood with solid-slab, single-panel Shaker doors. The dark wood floors in the rest of the apartment ground the space and the white walls reflect light. The high-contrast gave us a great foundation for our furniture, textiles, and plants.

We also saw a great opportunity to demo the dining room and envisioned a “great room” with flow between the kitchen, dining, and living rooms where we could host gatherings. After living in claustrophobic rentals, we wanted the first impression to be of openness and light.

Lynn’s background in exhibit design allowed us to renovate without an architect. We measured each wall’s dimension and built a model of the home in SketchUp. We could quickly see how to scale any fixtures or make changes. And, the model helped us discuss in more detail with contractors, such as rear-outlet toilets, fixture finishes, grout types, and bath fan sone ratings (for loudness).

The dining room walls were not load-bearing, and there are always surprises when you start opening up floors and walls. When our Sweeten contractor demo’d the dining room walls, he found charred beams in the ceiling from a long-ago fire. We had no idea there had been damage. He reinforced the ceiling with new wood to ensure structural stability.

In the full bathroom, which is 35 square feet, we weren’t sure if we’d be able to drop it down 10 inches. Before we had even hired our contractor, he took out his chisel and broke a peephole into the floor to see what was possible. He gave us confidence that we could make it work, ultimately dropping the entire bathroom, keeping the bathtub at the elevated height, and building out a wall for our new sink and cabinet fixtures.

We included so many details in this bathroom that make all the difference on a day-to-day basis, including a lighted medicine cabinet with outlets inside to allow us to charge our toothbrushes out-of-sight, thereby removing clutter; the near-silent bathroom fan serves as the main light and is hidden without a vent cover; and a wall-hung sink and cabinet allows for more storage and easier cleaning underneath.

As for the half-bath—only 24 square feet—several contractors, who initially inspected the job advised us to forego the washer-and-dryer altogether, saying it was impossible, or that we had to tap into our toilet line and disrupt the apartment below. Our Sweeten contractor’s plumbing team found a simpler solution by tapping into the small sink’s line. We got a compact, ventless Bosch washer-and-dryer to accommodate the water line, electrical load, and tight space in the bath. Remodeling this room has been a life-changer.

The other issue in this space was the overwhelming odor of cat urine. We tried every odor-reducing spray and paint on the market, and used black lights to expose urination spots, but in the end, we had our contractor gut the walls and floor down to the slab to remove the contaminated wood. Every visit during the renovation had our contractor sniffing in corners, trying to find new origins of contamination. Thankfully, it does not smell like cat pee anymore. We also replaced the dated fixtures in that bath with the smallest toilet and sink we could find.

Overall, everything went pretty smoothly. Our biggest challenge, really, had been finding a contractor. But Sweeten gave us three leads, and our contractor came to the first meeting as if he already had the job, giving realistic explanations for what it would take to accomplish the work. During the renovation, he rarely said no or told us a change wasn’t possible. As we added to our original scope, he was incredibly flexible and adjusted his timeline and the work to hit our mid-September move-in date. He gave us recommendations when we didn’t know what to buy, explained to us what was needed, and helped us quickly to complete the work.

Sweeten helped us, too, by getting us to clarify our scope and put a realistic budget into our initial post. We learned that even though our timeline was compressed, renovating a home is practically a second job if you undertake it on your own with just a contractor. We now understand why people hire architects. For those with less design experience or who are strapped for time, it would be helpful to work with a professional who can do the groundwork for you.

Another piece of advice is if you can do a major renovation before moving in, bite the bullet and get it done. Don’t put off with cleaning the dust later on. We plan to continue renovating in phases, but wanted to get the most disruptive work completed before moving in.

Having gone through four rentals in six years, we always struggled to feel at home. Our new space is beautiful and feels like something we can make our own. We enjoy inviting others into it as often as possible.

Thank you, Lynn and Craig, we hope you love your new home!

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Nero 8″ hex floor tile: Marca Corona. Rittenhouse Square wall tile: Daltile. Hex towel bar and toilet paper holder: CB2. H2Okinetic In2ition shower faucet: Delta. Tub and shower drain cover: Moen. Godmorgon/Odensvik sink and cabinet: IKEA. Trinsic faucet: Delta. Barrington rear-outlet toilet: Kohler. Recessed fan with light, 744 Series: Broan. Verdera vanity mirror: Kohler. Paint color in Coventry Gray: Benjamin Moore. Contemporary II shelf: Alno Inc.

HALF BATH RESOURCES: Marca Corona Terro Nero 8″ hex floor tiles: Tiles Direct. Naiture mini porcelain wall-mount bathroom sink: Amazon. Dalskär faucet: IKEA. Sublime toilet: Swiss Madison. Washer-and-dryer, 300 Series: Bosch. Mirror: Honey Can Do. Paint color in Excalibur Gray: Benjamin Moore.

—

Architects Terri and Brett used a Sweeten contractor to help them create a colorful co-op in Prospect Heights.

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 Desperately Seeking a Laundry Room appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Add a shower and update a half-bath/laundry room in Manhattan’s Financial District

Before: Back in 1996, Elizabeth purchased a loft in a circa 1908 building in the Financial District. She gutted and renovated the 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom apartment except for the half-bath, which included a full-size washer and dryer. The layout worked well enough, but eventually, Elizabeth wanted the half-bath upgraded and updated to a full bath/utility room that included shelving and cabinetry—and the décor needed to flow seamlessly with that of the nearby kitchen. The trickiest part was figuring out how to fit everything she wanted into this room. She did the demo herself, and partway through, with design ideas in mind, Elizabeth posted her project on Sweeten, a free service that connects renovators with vetted general contractors.

After: Elizabeth’s Sweeten contractor discovered a space behind a wall—about a linear foot and a half—making it possible to have a larger shower base and sink. Yay! They also found space by stacking the washer and dryer. And while she was worried that all the bits and pieces would fit in the room, her contractor was able to build lots of custom details like slide-out shelves and cabinetry for storage so the room would be functional yet not overcrowded. She was especially pleased with the “beautiful job he did on the floor and with the matching Cambria surfaces.”

Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your half bath remodel success story with us!

Bonus: Despite a slightly irregularly-shaped footprint, the homeowner and her contractor maximized the space without compromising the narrow walk-through in the form of freestanding and built-in cabinets.

Style finds: Countertops: Cambria. Floor tile: Floor & Décor. Shower Door: GlassCrafters Inc.

—

To create room for a washer and dryer in the bathroom, Lindsay and Nicholas tore out their single shower stall, relocated the shower fixtures to the bathtub, and built a laundry closet in its place.

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 Half Bath Remodel in FiDi Fixes a Puzzling Layout appeared first on Sweeten.

(Above) A washing machine tucked under the counter in Davison and Bernice’s kitchen.

Doing laundry is unavoidable, but happily, washing machines are doing more of the heavy lifting for you. Digital controls, cycles tailored for everything from delicates to lycra to bath towels, vibration reduction, and childproof locks make wash day safer and less of a chore. While innovation breakthroughs have not gone so far as to make washing machines touchless, like some other appliances, there are more than a few new features that further reduce the time spent while increasing efficiency. Here’s a rundown:

The pros of front-loading

The washing machine with the door that opens from the front, as opposed to the top, is not brand new; Europeans have enjoyed this feature for decades. However, it is becoming more widely available from manufacturers. The advantages: Front-loading machines require less water, can take more clothes, and tend to clean more gently and thoroughly than their top-loading counterparts. Top-loaders wash with the help of an agitator. Versions without the agitator are high-efficiency (HE) washers. Like front-loaders, they use less water, have larger capacities, require more time to wash, and spin faster, too, wringing out more water to save drying time later. They also cost more than the agitator version.

Automatic dispensers

This receptacle releases detergent, bleach, and fabric softener, each at the appropriate time, so you don’t have to hang around waiting for just the right moment. Every minute saved is a minute you get back to do something else.

Self-cleaning and low maintenance

Water will collect in the machine, particularly front-loading models, without evaporating if you wash frequently, creating a risk of mildew and bacteria. New technology now keeps washers fresh, without introducing chemicals, through a combination of soaking, pulsating, and high-speed spinning. And you thought self-clean was just for ovens!

(Above) Tim and Lindsay’s two-in-one washer and dryer.

Load capacity

Capacities for front- and top-loading machines can range from about 3.8 cubic feet up to 6 cubic feet. Your habits for doing laundry—weekly loads of towels or sports clothes versus say, small loads separated by color—will guide your decision. Larger capacity machines help cut down the number of washes you run. Expect to pay more for these models.

Steam wash

Released from inside the washer, steam helps remove stains without pretreatment.

Secondary access door

If you have a top loader and you stumble upon that missing dirty sock, no problem. But what if your machine is a front loader? Now you’re in luck: Last year saw the introduction of a front-loading model with a secondary access door that lets you add small items mid-wash from Samsung.

(Above) A front-loading washer and dryer in Cristiana’s laundry room located in the basement of her home.

Integrated sink

If you’ve ever soaked clothing with a pesky stain, you’ve probably had the experience of rushing with the drippy item from the sink to the washing machine, then going back to wipe up soapy water on the floor. No more. Samsung makes a top-loading machine with a hinged sink on top of the wash drum. A water jet aids the soaking or scrubbing; when the item is ready for the wash, lift the sink to drop the clothing through a slot at the back and into the machine, then begin the cycle.

Two-in-one machine

If you like to wash small loads of a particular color, or can’t wait to launder those sweaty gym clothes; the two-in-one machine is for you. In addition to a central or primary drum, there’s another smaller drum at the base or top of the machine. You can run both washers simultaneously or independently, as needed. LG also offers a compact washer that can be retro-fitted to an existing machine.

Black stainless steel finish

Less industrial looking than its silvery-colored older sibling, black stainless steel makes a stylish statement in the laundry room, joining the ranks of ever-classic white, and some colors, too, which you may find on the market for a few seasons.

—

Thinking about getting a washing machine for your home but not sure where to put it? These ideas for adding a washer and dryer will help you find the best spot.

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, 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 Washing Machine is More Than Spin appeared first on Sweeten.

Editor’s Note: This post, originally published March 2015, is one of our favorites, demonstrating different ways to incorporate the coveted washing machine into a floorpan—even a small one. City living means prioritizing your square footage similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; wish lists often include a dishwasher, a patch of landscape, and of course, the washer/dryer unit. If you do have space to spare, consider options from scaled-down stackable units, full-size side-by-sides, or a single machine. Before you make your product choice, read on for a few approvals and permits you’ll need to secure first, as well as insight from Sweeten homeowners who went through the process.

Felix created a laundry nook in her foyer

Building management approvals and permits

Space aside, the biggest roadblocks to in-unit laundry are typically the co-op and condo board regulations that ban washers and dryers in many apartment buildings. In some, the electrical grid is not up to meeting the demand that dryers (specifically) place on the system, and in other cases, the existing pipe stacks are not large enough to handle the increase in water and suds flow. Still in many other cases, fears that a washing machine will overflow and dryers will lead to flames have traditionally been enough to block tenant plans for laundry upgrades.

If your building’s management is onboard with your request to install laundry appliances, you may still need to meet certain safety requirements. Many buildings will require that you install a fixture that monitors water flow and shuts off water if any overflow is detected, and some buildings have electrical grid limitations that only allow low-voltage dryers. So, if you’re considering adding laundry appliances to your home, start first with your building’s management and confirm that your planned purchase is allowed.

In addition, NYC requires permits for work that involves “alteration, re-arrangement, relocation, or permanent removal” of any piping, so if your laundry plan requires anything other than a direct swap of an appliance, you need to work with your contractor to arrange for the right plumbing expertise and paperwork. Check your local Department of Buildings for specific local requirements.

Here are three roads to clean-clothes heaven, plus some budget notes.

(Top) Davison and Bernice, (middle) Janna and Jeremy, and (bottom) Lindsay and Tim opted to install a washing machine only or a two-in-one unit

1. Create a laundry cabinet in your kitchen

Ubiquitous in Europe, a combo washer-dryer under your kitchen counter is a super space-efficient way to make room for laundry. A few pros and cons here: the biggest complaint about space and energy-efficient washer-dryers is that they can only manage small loads. Duvets, etc, are a no-go here, making this a tough choice for families or households with multiple residents. The next most common complaint is that these combination machines do a half-hearted job of drying fabric. True, the high-heat steam does leave clothing a little damp when it comes out, but this drying method also tends to be kinder to clothing.

From a budget perspective, if you are already doing a full kitchen renovation, creating a cabinet for laundry appliances is a relatively seamless addition to your project’s total scope. Adding a washing machine and dryer to your kitchen requires access to the water supply, waste outlet, and electricity. Talk to your contractor about whether to build cabinetry around the unit, or enclose it with a custom door, and where to position the appliances for best access. You can expect the cost to account for the price of adding an additional cabinet and the cost for installation will likely be comparable to your contractor’s quote for hooking up your other kitchen appliances.

Blaise and Kristin built out a wall and added doors in their laundry renovation

2. Build walls and a door 

If space is not the primary limitation in your home, you may want to repurpose square footage in a room or hallway to create a separate laundry room. Your contractor’s estimate will probably account for the cost of putting up or extending walls, installing doors, adding or relocating lighting, and cosmetic paint and trim steps. More work may be required here to run hot and cold water from the building’s stack and to connect waste lines, if these valves are not located within a few inches of your new appliances. Note that most urban buildings have strict requirements about keeping “wet” areas aligned throughout each floor, so you may not have free reign to run water lines down halls if your home is above other homes.

Brad’s laundry room renovation

3. Move walls to carve out a laundry room

Prospect Heights homeowner Brad walked us through the full process of creating a laundry room for his family’s three-bedroom, three-bath condo. After Brad posted his project on Sweeten, we introduced him to this Sweeten contractor to remove an un-used shower from one of the apartment’s baths and rework wall placement, creating a full-sized laundry room. Brad set an overall budget of about $20,000 for labor, materials and appliances—a helpful guide for other homeowners preparing for a laundry room renovation—and was able to keep the project on time and within budget.

Materials and placement

Brad and his wife wanted front-loading appliances that were both generously-sized and durable. Kenmore Elite appliances with 5.2 cubic foot capacity fit the bill. In discussing ways to deal with water flow, the contractor steered him away from installing a floor pan that would catch overflow water and instead selected a preventative automatic sensor that scans for the presence of water on the floor and immediately shuts off the water if it detects any. Brad also hired an electrician to assess the building’s electrical capacity and clear the appliances they planned to purchase.

Initially planning to stack the washing machine and dryer, he was encouraged to install them side-by-side because of two factors behind the walls: the location of the water pipes in the wall as well as the wall’s support structure grid of metal beams made it easier to hook up appliances if they were positioned side-by-side. Once demolition of the original wall occurred, it became clear that stacked appliances would be more difficult, so Brad embraced the plan to place both units on the floor and go with Elfa shelving from the Container Store. Brad also contemplated building in enclosed cabinetry, but input from his contractor suggested he consider the simpler open shelving approach. To finish off the room, a ceramic floor tile from Home Depot was installed which coordinated with other bath finishes in the condo. A folding table and ironing board are possible features to add to the space.

Demolition and build

The project took a total of 2-3 weeks. Brad reported that the demolition of the original drywall was fairly simple: the wall was not load-bearing and didn’t contain any critical support beams. The contractor’s team was careful to protect the family’s hallways and living areas and contain the dust that resulted from the demolition. Brad suggested the pocket door replace the original hinged door to minimize the door’s footprint and keep access to the room as open as possible. Pocket doors can be prohibitively expensive if you are tunneling into a brick or concrete wall, but in this case, the wall structure easily allowed for the alteration.

We are so grateful to—and very inspired by—each of these families for sharing how to make room for laundry in NYC homes. For more ideas, these fellow apartment dwellers also incorporated units into their floorplan. And the washing machine comes with more options than you may realize, which you can read here.

Sweeten, a free renovation service, 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 3 Ways to Create a Laundry Room in Your Home appeared first on Sweeten.

“Sweeten made it easy to communicate our vision to contractors before they even set foot in our home.”

– Blaise C., Prospect Lefferts Gardens homeowner

When we moved into our new home six months ago, we almost didn’t notice how limited the kitchen was. Living out of boxes and welcoming a newborn, it took us a few weeks to realize that we were having trouble finding space for groceries and that we had accidentally made a habit of storing kitchen basics in the basement. The move just about doubled the total space of our home, and yet we were struggling to find a place for everyday kitchen stuff.

Our punch list was pretty classic: kitchen storage was sorely lacking and countertop space was a joke. We are working parents who don’t cook that often, but we were ready to move our pots and pans out of the oven. We also realized that the bar-height counter was inaccessible for our kids and wanted to create a central gathering spot with a more standard counter height.

The kitchen had been recently renovated and we liked the look, so we initially entertained the possibility of a quick fix like purchasing a kitchen island, but ended up deciding to use what we had and expand on it. At first, I tried to juggle contractor bids on my own, but with kids and jobs, that turned out to be decidedly easier said than done. I posted the project on Sweeten and added to the plans to create a laundry room in the basement by enclosing our washer/dryer with built-out walls and solid doors.

Sweeten introduced us to this Sweeten contractor (of recent Sweeten blog fame!) and we awarded our project to him after seeing his straightforward and realistic style. My biggest fear was that a contractor would say yes to anything to seal the deal, but he gave us a realistic completion date and it was nice to know from the start that his team had already been screened by Sweeten.

Our contractor guided the work through multiple stages and helped us seamlessly extend our existing kitchen cabinetry with custom drawers, stained and finished to match the look we already had. When we had trouble coming up with matching backsplash tile, he managed to track it down with a local builder. We were also grateful for his willingness to work around our family’s schedule – naturally, we picked New York’s most brutal winter to live through a kitchen renovation and relied on Paul to gracefully adjust on snow days when the kids were home.

After watching our contractor put the new cabinetry pieces in place and create a dedicated laundry room, we found a few other spots for his team to add finishing touches and details including cosmetic wall patching and custom doors to replace a tired set that concealed the fuse boxes for the property.

We are thrilled with the results and psyched that we were able to work with so much of what we already had. Instead of cutting into our living space, the new drawers and extended counters have preserved our open kitchen and put everything within reach. The new laundry room helps us stay organized and minimizes the sound of the machines so that we can enjoy the play space with our kids. Even my mother-in-law was impressed, an unforeseen but welcome benefit of the hard work!

Bravo to Blaise and his gang for a great team effort! A smart kitchen extension and a real laundry room are a huge win for any NYC family. We’re always glad when we can impress extended family members; we just hope the pans and the oven are adjusting to their newly-longer-distance relationship!

The post Blaise’s Sweetened Kitchen & Laundry – Homeowner Guest Post appeared first on Sweeten.