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Project: Open up a poorly lit and tight kitchen

Before:  A year and a half into owning and living in their Riverdale, Bronx, home Elizabeth and Martin were ready to renovate their 124-square-foot galley kitchen. Inspired by other remodeled kitchens in their 1955 co-op building, they got an idea for how they could transform the layout to better suit their needs. Elizabeth, a research analyst for a public policy consulting firm, and Martin, a product designer for a video streaming company, posted their project on Sweeten and were matched with a design-build firm where they worked with both a designer and a contractor.

After: The biggest change? Knocking down walls between the kitchen and the entryway area to bring in more natural light. Their contractor also took down a partial wall between the kitchen and dining space to connect them. “We wanted to make the most of our floor space, have an open layout, and have comfortable dimensions for navigating the kitchen. We wouldn’t have felt as confident in our decision making in this area, but having the designer’s expertise and experience to make layout recommendations and to see her sketches (from every angle!) of the design made us comfortable with the plan, “ Elizabeth shared. 

The renovators wanted a clean and classic kitchen with plenty of prep space and minimal clutter. They worked with the designer to come up with practical storage solutions, including a set of glass-front cabinets, microwave cabinet, and built-in paper towel holder. The peninsula breakfast bar seats four to six and offers additional storage, too.

Elizabeth and Martin shopped with their designer to pick out materials, including the lava stone backsplash and quartz countertop. Copper cabinet hardware pops against the white custom cabinets and adds to the mix of metals (matte black for the sink faucet and stainless steel appliances).

The project’s biggest challenges included understanding what could be accomplished within the renovators’ budget, learning about material quality, and managing building, plus city, approvals. “This was our first renovation, and being the planning type, we really wanted to know what to expect and to be a step ahead,” Elizabeth shared. “Sweeten’s resources helped us know what to expect in terms of cost and timeline. Our contractor helped by providing a detailed scope of work and being communicative and responsive to emails throughout the project.” 

They relied on Sweeten from the get-go for reviewing and leveling quotes. But, most importantly, “knowing Sweeten was available and present to step in if needed, offered us a lot of peace of mind throughout the planning and execution of our renovation,” Elizabeth said.

Their new space reinvigorated Martin’s love for cooking and unlike pre-renovation, the couple actually enjoys spending time together in their kitchen now. 

Bonus: The couple adopted a cat, Norah J., as their renovation wrapped up. 

Style finds: Cabinets: Custom by general contractor. Bardiglio Imperial tile: Nemo Tile. Studio Collection 128 MM cabinet pulls in Polished Copper: Hickory Hardware. Quartz countertops: Viatera. Stardust Apollo backsplash in Moon Rock: Walker Zanger. Sink: Kraus. Faucet: Delta. Stove and refrigerator: Samsung. Dishwasher: Bosch. Trace 4 pendant light: Blu Dot. Gresley French bistro bar stool: Safavieh.

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Here’s how much you could spend on materials, labor, and permits for your kitchen renovation.

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 A Kitchen Renovation Reignites a Love for Cooking appeared first on Sweeten.

“After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten

Before: The co-op apartment’s two bathrooms were too small for a wheelchair or walker

Debbie’s father moved out of the two-story home he’d lived in for 25 years into a co-op apartment in the Bronx so he’d have greater mobility. While the rest of his new 900-square-foot apartment offered enough space for him to move around in his wheelchair or walker with ease, the bathrooms were a different story. Both the powder and the full-size bath layouts made it nearly impossible for anyone to assist him. There were no disability bars, and her father was unable to get in and out of the tub. Aesthetically, they were “dark, dingy, and unwelcoming,” Debbie said.

Feeling confident in the right general contractor

“The thought of having to get the space ready for my father was overwhelming before I found Sweeten,” Debbie said. She scoured the blog to research general costs, the pros and cons of materials, and design ideas to be as informed as possible. “By the time I learned enough about the potential hazards and hurdles of renovation, and of the joys and successes, I felt confident that I was making a solid decision,” she continued. And with that, Debbie posted her project on Sweeten and was matched with a Sweeten general contractor.

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

After: Renovating for a larger square footage with safety and functionality features

They combined the two small rooms into a single, efficient bathroom with adequate space for Debbie’s father. Sticking to a white-and-gray color scheme made it feel more light and joyful, too. The walk-in shower featured a disability bar and pull-down seat for safety. Shelves were installed in the location of one of the former sinks, optimizing what would have otherwise been a wasted area of the bathroom and providing additional storage.

Debbie’s vision of “a bright, safe space completed with good materials that would last and looked nice” came to fruition. And, most importantly, her father loves it. 

Bonus: Her takeaway? Research is key before starting a renovation project. “You have to really think about who will use the space, and what’s best for them so that you can design something to support their needs,” Debbie said.

Thank you for sharing your dream bathroom remodel in the Bronx with us!

Materials Guide 

Shower door: Delta. Vanity: Custom. Medicine cabinet, sink faucet, and shower faucet: Kohler. Light fixture:Wayfair.

Get even more advice on aging in place with Sweeten’s guides:

A Guide to Aging in Place

Aging in Place Design Costs & Tips to Improve Home Accessibility

Check out Marie and John’s age-in-place oasis in Kensington, Brooklyn.

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

The post A Senior-Friendly Bathroom That’s Safe & Stylish for Dad appeared first on Sweeten.

For a dozen years, Tara and Mike lived in a tiny studio apartment on the Upper West Side. A move uptown, to the Grand Concourse Historic District of the Bronx, landed them in a much larger home in a 1930s co-op building. In 2015, they moved in and up against no deadlines to renovate, carefully thought through the changes they wanted to make and assembled photos and information that a contractor could use to bring their visions to life. Read on for the full story of how they gutted two full baths, enlarged closets (one of which now fits three bikes!), and lived to tell the tale of not one, but two, plumbing disasters.

Guest post by Bronx homeowner Tara

We purchased this apartment a few years ago, after living in a 250-square-foot apartment on the West Side for about 12 years. Going from a studio apartment to a 3-bed, 2-bath was a big leap. The kitchen had already been renovated by the previous owners, so we only had to deal with the outdated bathrooms. Leaky toilets, hot water surges, and ugly yellow tile were just a few of the things we needed to remedy.

We took our time in the beginning, even before posting our project to Sweeten, to lay out exactly what we wanted room by room. We had a document with photos ready to hand to any contractor who we contacted. This made it easy for us and the contractor to make sure we were all on the same page from the start. We were also never in a rush to start the work. We started looking for a contractor at least four months before we were even ready to think about putting any money down. This gave us the luxury of taking our time to choose the firm that was right for us.

(Before) Master bath
(Above) Master bath

We ended up going with this Sweeten design-build firm. We wanted a design-build firm from the start so that someone would take charge of sourcing and delivery of all the various components of our job. Our budget included line items for everything we could possibly need, and we were free to select the fixtures that fit within the budget. When something we wanted was out of range, we either decided to find an alternative or paid the difference upfront. We also needed someone who could handle all of the Department of Buildings permits, as well as our co-op’s application process.

We had a specific vision for this renovation. We planned to gut the bathrooms and add ceiling fans in all of the bedrooms and living room, new radiator covers in the bedrooms, and lighting and doors throughout. The bathroom in the master was very narrow, and we wanted to move the tub out of the guest bath and into the master. Moving the location of the tub, and expanding the bathroom by about two feet, solved the narrowness issue.

(During) Master bath ceiling reveals a waste line wrapped in duct tapeWe really were excited to pick out all the new fixtures and tiles for the bathrooms. Our contractor offered several options within our budget. We wanted to see and touch the cabinets and faucets before committing to them. Our thinking was if we’re going to be living with these things for years to come, we needed to like how they felt, and more importantly, wanted to see the quality.

We visited several showrooms in the NYC area to see the Kohler line of cabinets and the Brizo faucets that we ultimately chose. We liked the Fantini sink faucet and shape of the handles for the guest bath; it also matched the black finish of the Brizo line used in the shower. To keep the ordering simple, we used the same family of fixtures and cabinets in both bathrooms, with different finishes for each.

We chose a fun feature as an accent in the shower: a round tile in shades of white, blue, and green from a company called Clayhaus in Oregon. Our biggest challenge was timing the special order and delivery around the completion of the first bathroom. The tiles took about six weeks to fabricate, and we ended up being about two weeks off. Luckily, the crew had other projects around our apartment to complete while waiting for the tile to arrive.

(Before) Guest bath
(After) Guest bath

When our master bath ceiling was opened up during demolition, the contractor found that the waste line from the toilet above had been wrapped in duct tape during a prior renovation. We immediately reported this to building management, who arranged to have the pipe replaced. Their plumber worked with our contractor to gain access, and within a day the situation was resolved.

Enlarging the master bath with extra square footage resulted in an added benefit, giving us space in our bedroom to accommodate a large dresser next to the newly combined closets.
In the guest room, we widened the closet to make it suitable for bike storage. We can now get three bikes in there with room for other gear along the sides and floor.

(Before) Master bedroom closets

During the renovation, we had no options for moving off-site, but having a contractor who understood our needs, and the fact that we would be living on site the entire time, made the process bearable. The first few weeks of disruption were the hardest, but we settled into a routine and focused on the outcome. And because we were dealing with two bathrooms, we could only start the second one when the first was completed.

While our own renovation went smoothly, with all pipes and fittings replaced and brought up to code, it was an external problem that delayed the final weeks of work. Nearing what would have been the end of the project, we came home to water pouring down from a bathtub located in the apartment two floors above us. An older pipe leading from the tub drain had eroded completely and detached from the waste line. Bath water had been spilling down for hours while we were at work. Our crew was not on site that day, and the unit above ours was vacant. With no one to report the leak, it was ours to deal with.

That was the most devastating moment because we were so close to completion but now had to deal with the clean-up and dry-out of brand new walls and flooring. We put in a claim with our insurance carrier to cover the cost of the repairs, and wanted our team to do the work, since they were still on site, knew our building and our home. We could trust them to work unsupervised. They were willing to stick around and do this repair, but it was at least three months and multiple visits by an insurance adjuster before we could agree on a scope of work and monetary settlement. Luckily, both bathrooms were still usable and we made sure there was no mold growing between the walls. When all was said and done, both spaces were finished about ten months after the start date.

Prior to the start of the renovation, our biggest question was whether we would be able to find a reliable contractor. We would be trusting them with our home, our valuables, and our dog, for several months, day in and day out, while we were at work. We wondered if they would do the best job they were capable of, or would they cut corners? Would they stand by their work?

I’m happy to say that they went above and beyond our expectations, standing by us when we had a major leak that damaged a significant portion of their work. They also took excellent care of our home. Sweeten was a great resource, and knowing that they were there to assist us was valuable when going into a major renovation. I don’t think we would have had as easy of a time finding a solid and reliable contractor if we had not used Sweeten from the start.

Thanks, Tara and Mike, for sharing your renovation story! 

MASTER BATH RESOURCES: Basketweave floor tile; gray subway wall tile: Classic Tile. Assorted Circle accent tiles: Clayhaus. Jason Wu shower/bath fixtures: Brizo. Jute sink/vanity: Kohler. Verdera medicine cabinet: Kohler. Toilet: Toto.

GUEST BATH RESOURCES: Basketweave floor tile; white subway wall tile: Classic Tile. Assorted Circle accent tiles: Clayhaus. Jason Wu shower/bath fixtures: Brizo.  Verdera medicine cabinet: Kohler. Sink/vanity: Fantini. Toilet: Toto.

OTHER RESOURCES: Interior Doors: Dykes Lumber. Haiku ceiling fans: Big Ass Fans.

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What’s the difference between design-build firms and build-only firms? Read all about design-build firms, which combine design and construction under one roof, in our guide.

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 Two New Baths Top Off a Remodel Odyssey appeared first on Sweeten.