A big plumbing surprise didn’t stop these homeowners thanks to their contractor and helpful neighbors

• Homeowners: They sketched their plan for the co-op before putting in the offer. A year later, they posted their kitchen remodel on Sweeten.
• Where: Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
• Primary renovation: Smooth out a poorly-combined two-unit apartment with an open-concept kitchen as the feature
• With: Sweeten Brooklyn general contractor
• Homeowner quote: “Sweeten was patient and attentive walking us through our scope and listening to our concerns. Ultimately, we were able to make a great contractor choice because of their guidance.”

Written in partnership with homeowner Sammi and Matt. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg.

Big move, big plans

This was our first home purchase. Matt and I moved from San Francisco to Brooklyn and when we put in the offer we’d already sketched out what we wanted the floorplan to look like on paper. We still have the original drawing!

Matt and I had been living in San Francisco for only a few years when we realized it was time to move closer to family. Since a lot of our family was in New York, it was an easy decision to make Brooklyn our next home. Post-pandemic interest rates made buying a realistic option.

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Our home is an 800-square-foot co-op in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It’s in a 1901 classic brownstone building with 10 units, located in a landmarked historic area. We lived in our place for about a year before starting construction.

Getting over contractor fears

Finding a contractor can be daunting. We were new to the area and didn’t know any local firms or have connections. It was hard to place our trust in someone for such a significant project. 

Since this was our first home renovation project, we wanted to understand what we were getting into and set expectations for each step of the way. Sweeten was patient and attentive walking us through our scope and listening to our concerns. They offered sound advice from their past experience with different firms. Ultimately, we were able to make a great contractor choice because of their guidance.

Fixing past mistakes

Going back to that early sketch, we knew how we wanted to proceed. The space was technically two units—a one-bedroom and a studio that had been partially (and poorly) combined. The floors were creaky, worn and bowed in many places. The kitchen was small and had too many walls, making the space feel maze-like. Our goal was to properly merge the co-op and transform it into a functional, modern, open-concept living space with the new kitchen as its center.

Kitchen vision: clean and contemporary

With a clear vision of our desired modern look, we went with a dual-tone cabinet color scheme: white on top and gray on the bottom. All doors and cabinets are shaker style with bar-style door handles and pulls. We complimented the color scheme with white marble quartz countertops and matching backsplash, along with stainless-steel appliances.

We’d known from the day we moved in that we needed to replace the floors in the unit. We wanted a bright, natural wood feel. We went with four-inch white oak flooring, unstained, throughout the co-op.

Surprises behind the walls

Our job’s biggest challenge came after the demolition phase. When the Sweeten contractors removed the wall between an existing half-bathroom and the kitchen, we found vertical water pipes running floor to ceiling in the middle of what would be our new open kitchen, rather than next to the waste stack or along the back wall, as the contractor expected. To make matters worse, the pipes were not copper but brass; that meant they couldn’t be cut and re-piped without additional stabilization for risk of cracking a pipe.

We relocated during the renovation but kept in constant communication during the work via text and email, as well as with in-person check-ins.

Solving the issue

Our neighbors in the units above and below us were helpful, allowing the plumbers to stabilize the pipes so that we could safely relocate them, and to replace the old brass with softer, more resilient copper. Fortunately, we had planned to have a column in the kitchen to hide some other plumbing, so now they all run together inside the column.

The process included change orders and extra costs, but luckily our contractor, plumber, and the building board acted fast, helping us to keep on schedule. 

Towards the end, everything came together quickly and the day-to-day changes were noticeable. We left for a trip and when we returned, the kitchen was done. It was incredible to see our vision and the plans finally realized.

Strong partnership with our general contractor

Sweeten was extremely helpful throughout the process, providing an intuitive web platform where we could compare different contractors based on past projects, customer reviews, and reputation.

Our Sweeten contractor and his team performed multiple walkthroughs in the early stages of the project to make sure we were all on the same page about the work. The contractor also organized the plumbing and electrical subcontractors and found an architect to formalize our plans for approvals by the board, the building’s architect, and New York City’s Department of Building.

Once the work began, the on-site team was punctual, courteous, and attentive to detail. We relocated during the renovation but kept in constant communication during the work via text and email, as well as with in-person check-ins. We were never left wondering when the workers would be back to finish the next steps like so many horror stories I’ve heard from other renovation projects.

Start your renovation with Sweeten

Tip: Prepare for the unexpected

Our best advice as new renovation veterans is to add in padding for your timeline and budget. We went in thinking that we’d never need a change order, but unforeseen circumstances require on-the-spot changes. You don’t want to be stuck with a half-finished project because you’ve run out of money.

How do we feel? At home! We have great natural light throughout the day, which is a huge bonus when working from home. Our vision came to life exactly as expected.

Thank you, Sammi and Matt, for sharing your new home with us!

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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.

Renovation Materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES:

• White and gray Shaker kitchen cabinets: 360 Kitchens
• Sink and faucet: Moen
• Refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove: GE Appliances
• Chandelier: West Elm

The post An Open-Plan for a Kitchen Remodel in Cobble Hill appeared first on Sweeten.

The muted palette and hand-finished surfaces make this space look like it had been here a while

• Homeowners: A couple, after settling into their 1990s country house, worked with their interior designer, who posted their kitchen remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Fairfield County, CT
• Primary renovation: To transform a 200-square-foot kitchen-family room into the ultimate living spot
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Designer’s quote: “[Our general contractor] took the time to make sure we understood the pros and cons of every decision. He let me drive the design, but didn’t do so blindly.”

Written in partnership with designer Hilary Tate (on the right in photo above) and homeowner June R. “After” photos by Videler Photography.

A kitchen levels up

“Our dream had always been to have a kitchen that met all of our needs,” said June R., a retired retail store owner, preschool teacher, and volunteer. The functional everything room that interior designer Hilary Tate built was the dream come to life.

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June, her husband, and their dog adored their early-’90s home in the Connecticut countryside. When they purchased it, she recalls, it was “with the intention of renovating the kitchen space so that it opened up into a large family room.” The pair wanted to create a bright space for doing just about anything, with a sightline that stretched from kitchen island to couch-and-TV area.   

That was where Hilary came in, a friend of the family’s for a decade. The designer and founder of Brooklyn’s Brick + Palm Interiors Studio had a vision. “For me, integrating a beautiful new kitchen into a several-decades-old home without it looking out of place was the biggest challenge,” said the interiors expert.

A designer in search of a contractor in CT

The Fairfield County home had been built about 30 years ago. It had the style, as June likes to say, “of a rather modern, atypical farmhouse.” The single-family structure had a large screened-in porch just off the kitchen and family room. That meant the exterior walls were visible through the windows. The kitchen, Hilary said, “needed to play off the exterior architecture as well as integrate with the interior.”

Wheels turning, she came to us to find a contractor. “My biggest question was how to find a contractor out-of-state, since I am New York-based. Sweeten was a lifesaver. I posted my project, sharing that I needed a contractor who would be patient and detail-oriented. They also needed access to an engineer capable of removing a support post in the middle of the kitchen. It was so easy. I had several replies within a few hours.”

During planning, Hilary recalls, the Sweeten general contractor “took the time to make sure we understood the pros and cons of every decision. He let me drive the design, but didn’t do so blindly.”  As the project progressed, Hilary ensured that needed supplies were ordered and delivered, while the GC communicated with and managed the subcontractors. He was on top of the process, June said, “100 percent of the time.”

Fixing structural, plumbing, and electrical issues

After the kitchen was gutted down to the studs and the ceiling was opened, infrastructure changes began. These, the homeowner said, were “more than we’d imagined,” and significant, since the couple lived in the house through the entire renovation. They updated electrical systems, revamped plumbing, and also installed a sound system while the walls and ceiling were open.

Next, the team removed a vertical support beam from the kitchen’s center, a change that necessitated the installation of an I-beam in the ceiling. (The contractors also installed concrete supporting posts in the basement, for supplemental load support.) 

"Throughout the project, Sweeten checked in regularly to make sure everything was going well."

Choosing unique finishes

Refinishing floors was the next step. “We replaced boards only in areas that had previously been covered by the original kitchen fixtures,” June said. When that process was complete, the kitchen floor got a sanding, a restaining, and a seal.  

“We definitely did not want a ‘white kitchen,’” June explained, adding that they were looking not for stark newness but for relaxed colors that had a little age to it. Custom cabinetry, once assembled, received two sprayed coats of primer, followed by two coats of hand-brushed, oil-based paint. “The light color,” the homeowner said, “is not a pure white, but a white with a grayish overtone that softens it considerably.”

The large island’s base is painted a muted blue that has depth without feeling overbearing. “It was important that the paints be oil-based and hand-brushed,” June said. “The subtle brush strokes bring dimension—rather than the ‘no depth,’ bright, lacquered quality of sprayed-on paint.”

A hardy kitchen countertop

When it came to the counters and island surfaces, June said they needed to be durable, washable, and resistant to wine and water stains. “We chose quartzite,” she said. “The surfaces are beautiful and provide a continuous flow throughout the kitchen.” Adds Hilary, “The veining in the quartzite has both silver and gold, and brings other elements together nicely. We brought in warm golden tones in the faucet and cabinet hardware to balance out the coolness of the stainless-steel appliances and the blue island.”

Contractor know-how for the win

For Hilary, “my contractor really walked me through every step of the process and patiently answered every question. Throughout the project, Sweeten checked in regularly to make sure everything was going well.”

June said that, starting out, her biggest questions were about costs and timeframes. Due to changes in costs for raw materials, the project went over its initial budget. “This is important to keep in mind, as there is no control over that. An estimate is just that, an estimate,” she explained.  

However, the surprise was the ultimate result. The room, she said, “is completely integrated into the aesthetic and sensibility of the house—there is no appearance of a ‘new kitchen’ that doesn’t fit in impeccably. We love it. It is truly the beating heart and hearth of our home.”

Thank you, June and Hilary, for sharing your new kitchen with us!

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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.

Renovation Materials

• Perimeter cabinets in Silver Satin #OC-26 paint; island cabinets in Van Deusen Blue #HC-156: Benjamin Moore
• Custom kitchen cabinets: Sourced through contractor
• Knurled cabinet hardware: Schoolhouse
• Ocean Blue quartzite countertops: BAS Stone NYC
• Vertical stack 2×6 backsplash tile: Heath Ceramics 
• Sink: Franke
• Descanso faucet in brushed brass: California Faucets
• Thermador refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove: Thermador
• Grain light pendants: Ravenhill Studio

The post A Connecticut Kitchen Remodel Has Modern Farmhouse Looks appeared first on Sweeten.

A bright open kitchen remodel and more natural light gave this family good reason to stay in their 16-year home

“After” photos by Joe Hernandez for Sweeten

• Homeowners: Griselle Salgado and family found their general contractor by posting their whole-home renovation on Sweeten
  
• Where: South Arlington, Texas
  
• Primary renovation: A grand opening of the main floor, including a kitchen remodel, surface upgrades, and lots of new windows, along with a master bath redo
  
• Sweeten general contractor
  
• Homeowner’s quote: “During the project, Sweeten kept in contact with us via email, offering personal assistance if we needed it. Thankfully, we managed all the project challenges, but it gave me peace of mind.”
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering input, support, and secure payments—for free.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Griselle

A forever home’s top priority: space and light

We called this renovation ‘from darkness to brightness,’ because that was the most striking change resulting from the project. The light that now comes into our home is incredible.

I bought this house with my daughter, Jaysa, in 2005. It was a new two-story, single-family home of 3,000 square feet, including a two-car garage. 

Our family of six has changed since then. All of the three children are now in their teens. I am retired; Jaysa works as an elementary school teacher and her husband, Carlos, is an electrician. We have two dogs, a Maltipoo and a Pug.

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We’ve long considered this house our forever home, but it was disappointingly dark. The design included no side windows; it had only two single living room windows and a double window in the kitchen. We changed a backyard door to a glass-panel model, but the home still lacked natural light. When guests came, everybody crowded into the kitchen’s breakfast area. A half-wall separated it from the living room. 

To renovate or move?

After so many years, we thought the time had come to move. But after looking around for new houses, we decided it would be money-wise to renovate. Our home had five bedrooms; we didn’t lack space. We needed a remodel that updated our living and working spaces, improved flow, and brought in more light.

After posting on Sweeten and looking at bids, we chose a contractor who submitted a detailed estimate. We reviewed it with him item by item to ensure we’d get what we wanted within our budget.

A house hunt turned up design ideas

What bothered us most was the kitchen, which was big with a lot of wasted space. There was a ten-foot stretch between the stove and sink! There was a peninsula, but it offered no seating. When you opened the refrigerator, the door hit a chair in the cramped breakfast area. 

Taking ideas from the new model homes we had visited, we envisioned an improved kitchen layout. The plan was to join the kitchen, dining area, and living room to create one great room. We wanted a big island and glass doors to bring in light.

Going all out on the kitchen island

In the kitchen, we spent a big portion of our budget on a 5 x 7-foot custom island big enough to seat all six of us. It includes a stainless-steel, 33-inch single sink with brushed-nickel hardware for a sleek look. The island is painted in a warm cream color that harmonizes perfectly with the quartz countertop.

To build it, our Sweeten contractor removed the original peninsula and an adjacent wall, installing a 24-foot steel beam, since the wall was weight-bearing. He surrounded the steel with planks to simulate a wood beam.

"But after looking around for new houses, we decided it would be money-wise to renovate. Our home had five bedrooms; we didn’t lack space."

Adding brightness in the details

The kitchen backsplash tiles weren’t particularly expensive, but we love the way they look. We installed a barn door to access the pantry and chose floor tiles that look like aged wood planks. 

We added a trio of pendant lights over the kitchen island and lots of dimmable recessed lights throughout the space. I had never realized how lighting sets the mood.

Choosing glass doors for the great room wasn’t easy. The four-panel doors we considered were too expensive, so we installed two sets of glass sliders instead, which saved several thousand dollars and still achieved the look we wanted. Now, when you enter the house, you can see directly into the backyard to the pool, and lots of light enters the main floor.

A spacious walk-in shower

The master bathroom needed remodeling and a contemporary, 2020s look for the space. The tiny shower and large, unused garden tub were removed. The shower stall was converted into linen storage, and the bathtub became a glass-enclosed shower.

In the master bath, we installed a 6-foot-wide glass shower door—another costly item that was worth the expense. It looks amazing. The bathroom tiles also contribute to the updated look. We installed a barn door at the master bathroom entry.

A reliable general contractor

Our contractor understood our vision from the beginning and brought material samples throughout the job for easy selection. He didn’t miss a cue concerning what we liked. The challenge with this project was the time it took—much longer than we expected. We were all living in the house, constrained on the second floor, without a kitchen and with one bathroom. We took a week’s vacation in the middle to release tensions and recharge.

During the project, Sweeten kept in contact with us via email, offering personal assistance if we needed it. Thankfully, we managed all the project challenges, but it gave me peace of mind.

This is not our first renovation, but it was at times stressful. Maintaining communication with the contractor was paramount. Future renovators: Never hesitate to ask questions or give suggestions to your contractor. Anything and everything is important to get the job done well.

Forever home on a reasonable budget

We were conscious of staying on budget, but ended up spending an extra couple thousand dollars more because we added work. We decided to remove the original popcorn ceiling and convert a closet into a wine closet. This renovation cost around $45,000. My son-in-law did the electrical work, saving us $5,000 in labor costs.

My favorite aspect of the renovation is that it made the kitchen the heart of our home. We’ve already had gatherings with family and friends, and people gravitated to both the kitchen island and the living room, while remaining a cohesive group. And of course, the light fills the ground floor all day long, making us feel so happy that we stayed here.

Thanks for sharing your renovation story with us, Griselle!

Renovation Material

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Valley Ridge porcelain wood-look floor tile and porcelain, marble-look backsplash tile: Floor and Decor. Kitchen island: Custom by contractor. Brushed-nickel cabinet hardware: Lowes. Quartz countertops: Floor and Decor. Kohler single-basin undermount sink and brushed-nickel faucet: Kohler. Pantry barn door: Seconds and Surplus. Samsung refrigerator: Samsung. GE dishwasher, stove, and microwave: GE. Pendant lights: Amazon. Sliding glass doors: Lowes.

LIVING ROOM RESOURCES: Peaceful Blue and Solemn Silence paint: Behr.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Festival white herringbone porcelain mosaic shower floor tile; Pianetto Tauleto Bianco polished porcelain shower wall tile; Montage Misty Fjord linear glass mosaic shower niche tile; and Valley Ridge porcelain wood-look floor tile: Floor and Decor. Barn door: Seconds and Surplus. Brushed-nickel shower fixtures: Lowes. Porcelain/wood sink and vanity: Seconds and Surplus. Mirror and brushed-nickel bar pulls: Lowes. Lighting: Home Depot.

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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.

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The post This House Remodel in Westchester Los Angeles is Work-From-Home Perfection appeared first on Sweeten.

“After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten

• Who: Samantha and Jameson, seeking a kid-friendly apartment renovation, posted their project on Sweeten
• Where: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York
• Primary renovation: A kid-friendly, gut apartment renovation of the 1,000-square-foot layout to become ideal for entertaining guests of all ages
• Sweeten general contractor
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner, Samantha

We bought what was essentially a flip and closed on it the month before our oldest daughter, now almost seven, arrived. We finished the buildout that became her bedroom the night before her birth. The apartment’s finishes weren’t our favorite, but we had our own place, and were a family. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom (with a creative-industry résumé); Jameson is a partner and the digital director at Athletics, a Brooklyn-based creative studio.

Outgrowing a home they love

After having our second daughter nearly four years ago, we knew the apartment needed to change. We loved its location in the Clinton Hill Co-Ops and our hope was to extend our time in this place and the neighborhood. Our growing daughters needed room more than ever, and we wanted to overhaul our kitchen and bathroom. It was time to make this home more liveable for our family.

We posted our project on Sweeten and began our search for a design-build firm. We wanted someone who could help make our space bright and modern, nodding to both Midcentury and California design. Time was tight—we were looking to renovate during our kids’ summer break and move back in before school resumed—and when we weren’t excited about any of the contractors we were initially matched with, Sweeten quickly presented more options, including some who’d worked in our co-ops. That sold us. 

The kitchen kicks off the apartment renovation

I’m a big cook, and it was top-of-the-list for me that our kitchen renovation was as functional as possible. Secondary, but non-negotiable: We wanted the whole apartment to be social, conducive to entertaining, and hanging out. We realized that opening the kitchen to the living room could help us achieve both goals, letting me see my family in the living room while I’m in the kitchen cooking.

The dining area, previously over by the window, flip-flopped with the living room sofa, to make the table easily reachable. We also added a breakfast counter within the cutout, letting me interact with the girls while they eat breakfast or do homework and unload about the day. 

The new kitchen is a pleasure to work in. We chose top-of-the-line appliances and built in the refrigerator, creating a giant cabinet above it. There was other storage, too, to house the accessories I’d collected. Wide, shallow drawers installed by our contractor in the cabinet kickplates give me an awesome place to store my serving pieces and cast-iron pans. Our color palette was basic with matte white and rift-oak cabinetry and black accents. 

This choice, and the whole process, taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid to ask for what I wanted.

Kid-friendly soundproofing for bedroom doors

Previously, our daughters’ shared bedroom had French doors opening to the living and dining room; they weren’t soundproof, so when the kids went to bed at 8pm, Jameson and I felt like we had to retire to our bedroom. With the new layout and the kitchen opening to the bedrooms, we installed a sound-blocking pocket door for the girls’ room. Now we can have company over or stay up late watching television or listening to music, never worrying we’ll wake them. 

Flooring idea: Terrazzo

Another high-quality splurge was on the eco-friendly terrazzo flooring for the kitchen. I’ve always loved the style as a component of Midcentury modernism. This choice, and the whole process, taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid to ask for what I wanted. We still came in under budget for both renovation and furniture.

A bath refresh in navy and brass

While we decided against a full reno of our bathroom, some improvements were made, adding style and storage without gutting it. The room was done in basic black and white, so when I found the navy blue and brass vanity cabinet, I thought it would add visual interest. The old, space-wasting pedestal sink was replaced with a smaller basin and the drawered unit. The black light fixture and shower-curtain rod match hardware in other rooms—we updated the doorknobs and fixtures throughout the place, and it made a huge visual impact.

Sweeten contractor completes punch list

My favorite part of the project was moving back in. Our new home is a joy! We had all of the art we’ve collected over the years professionally framed and hung. We achieved our objective of making our home feel worldly, warm, and timeless. After the project wrapped, our contractor even came back a few times to complete punch-list items and handle touch-ups. I love all of the finished elements. It makes me happy to come home, and we all love spending time here, comfortable, at ease, just hanging out in a place we truly love. 

Thank you for sharing your amazing (and kid-friendly) apartment renovation story, Samantha and Jameson!

Renovation materials

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Terrazzo Renata floor tiles in Brulle; Context 2×6 Matte White backsplash: Ann Sacks. Kitchen cabinets: Custom by contractor.  Countertops in Fresh Concrete: Caesarstone. Sink, #KHU101-21: Kraus. Align one-handle 7555BL faucet: Moen. Refrigerator, stove, and microwave/convection oven: Viking. Panel-front dishwasher:Bosch. Traditional Schoolhouse Shade in Black Stripe with Norfolk Base in Black light fixture: Schoolhouse. Perimeter pendants in Ochre: Blu Dot. Cabinet hardware: Top Knobs. Bar stools: Crate and Barrel. Counter-height stool in black: Delta. 

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Fowlkes 24” sink/vanity set by Modern Rustic Interiors: Wayfair. Dia single-handle bathroom faucet in Brushed Bronze: Symmons. Nel brass medicine cabinet/mirror: CB2. Lighting: Illuminate vintage handmade Midcentury cone-cover sconce: Amazon. 

LIVING AREA RESOURCES: Reserve Collection doorknobs in satin black/modern square trim: Baldwin. Otis light fixture: One Forty Three. Young House Love Bubble hallway sconce: Shades of Light. Shelving: Vitsoe.

KIDS’ BEDROOM RESOURCES: Co-Dempsey fan light fixtures in Fresh White: Hunter Fan. Square Passage pocket-door hardware in matte black: Kwikset. 

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Changing the layout of your New York co-op or condo? Here’s what you’ll need to know first.

ADUs or accessory dwelling units can transform into home offices, living space for family or as a rental, or a retreat.

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 Soundproofing & An Open Kitchen Complete a Kid-Friendly Apartment Renovation appeared first on Sweeten.

“After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten

• Homeowners: A couple posted their suburban kitchen renovation on Sweeten
• Where: Montclair, New Jersey
• Primary renovation: Kitchen update
• Notable: Gaining square footage with a better layout
• Result: Room for an island and connection to the dining room
• Sweeten general contractor
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

Guest blog post by Sweeten homeowner

Leaving urban life in Brooklyn for New Jersey

My wife and I both grew up in apartments in New York City. When we were planning to start a family, we divided our living room inside a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. We created another bedroom believing it would give us enough space. It was tight but manageable. However, when our daughter turned four years old, we were less than thrilled with our school district and we knew it was time to move.

My buddy, who lives in Montclair, New Jersey, suggested that we visit his town, and we fell in love with the area and the houses. We found the school we wanted our child to attend and searched for a home nearby. The market was crazy competitive. We lost six bids before we finally found a home in the neighborhood we wanted.

Reviewing inefficiencies at home

We bought the house, a two-level residence on a wide quiet street, knowing it needed work. We closed in June and didn’t plan on moving in till late August, so we had a little over two months to renovate. The kitchen was in bad shape. It was small and felt claustrophobic with cabinets looming over on all sides.

There was only about eight feet of usable counter space and about 20 square feet of space to move around. The stove looked like it came out of a movie from the 1940s. The floor tiles, which were cracked and loose, were what my neighbor called, “McDonalds” tiles—the ugly red terracotta tiles that are in some older McDonalds restaurants.

The house is almost a hundred years old. I’m guessing that most of the fixtures were original and that nothing was maintained. The plumbing was a mess—all the valves were corroded. At some point, the electrical box was changed, but no permit was pulled and the box was not up to code. We wanted to start renovations with the kitchen.

Trouble with contractors

We had the names of a few contractors who were recommended by our realtor. Some never called me back and three actually came by to see the house. One of the three never made a single measurement but quoted us $28,000 with no details. When I asked, he said it includes everything except counters, cabinets, and fixtures. I kept having to ask questions to try to nail down what exactly he was going to do.

Yet another contractor made measurements and told me he couldn’t start until November or sometime before Christmas. He still wouldn’t provide me with an estimate but kept asking when I was available to go shopping for cabinets with him. Speaking with my new neighbors, they told me it’s difficult to book any contractor in Montclair you don’t already have a relationship with.

One wall had an old butler’s pantry, and by removing it, we gained a whopping 18 square feet.

By August, we were pretty desperate. We spoke with an architect friend, and she recommended using Sweeten. She drew us a rough drawing of what we wanted, and we posted the job. Fortunately, we immediately received serious responses from contractors from outside of Montclair. After receiving several estimates, we found the Sweeten contractor we wanted to hire.

Finding hidden spaces at home

Work started in September. We were able to expand the kitchen by tearing down two walls. One wall had an old butler’s pantry, and by removing it, we gained a whopping 18 square feet. It was enough space to add an island counter, which gave us an abundance of counter space to do our cooking. There was an unused cellar entryway that we removed and made into a walk-in pantry. The wall between the dining room and kitchen was removed to create a bigger space and an open kitchen design.

Our Sweeten contractor was terrific throughout the whole process, acting as both contractor and design consultant. Being a really old house, there were some unanticipated structural issues during demolition, but he was able to deal with it all. He added a header beam and support columns to support the ceiling. Our contractor also helped us move some pipes and changed all the old corroded water valves. All of the existing DIY electrical wirings were all cleaned up.

We love our new kitchen. Opening up the space between the kitchen and the dining room, made the tiny space feel really big and flowing. In fact, I was able to take advantage of all that counter space to do a ton of baking with my daughter over the holidays. We couldn’t be happier with the result, and can’t wait for our next project.

Thank you for sharing your new New Jersey home with us! We love how your suburban kitchen renovation turned out. 

SHOPPING GUIDE

Carrara Morro quartz countertop, redwood porcelain floor tile in natural glaze: MSI. Cabinets: Forevermark. Ducted under cabinet range hood: Hauslane. Five-burner gas cooktop: Cosmo Appliances. Artec Pro pull-down kitchen faucet, Kore Workstation: Kraus. Profile combination microwave wall oven: GE. Refrigerator: Samsung. Dishwasher: Whirlpool.

The post A Suburban Kitchen Renovation in NJ Puts Pockets of Space to Use appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: A 1960s East Hampton kitchen renovation

Before: Ann was looking for a contractor for over two years to renovate the kitchen in her East Hampton, New York, home. She just couldn’t find the right fit—price-or-quality-wise. Her dark and dated kitchen, in a one-story house built in 1964, had a faux brick backsplash and the original cabinetry. It just wasn’t cutting it for Ann, a big entertainer, with lots of family members who love to come over and cook. However, after finding Sweeten and reading other renovation stories on the blog, she made a move and posted her kitchen renovation project. She matched with an East Hampton contractor who’d help turn the old-fashioned kitchen into host-worthy space.

After: Ann worked with her Sweeten general contractor and architect Daniel Gomes to reimagine the room. Daniel drew up the plans for an open kitchen, including removing the wall between the dining area and cook space and lifting the ceiling to a cathedral style (which was the contractor’s suggestion). Fortunately, those changes had a dramatic effect on the brightness and size of the room. 

The homeowner wanted a very timeless aesthetic. Flat-paneled white cabinets set the foundation for the classic look, complemented by white, taupe, and black granite countertops and gold cabinet hardware. Lighting above the island and the black-and-gold sink faucet echo the metallic hardware, tying it all together.

As a first-time renovator, Ann was happy to have Sweeten Client Services available throughout the project. “It was great to know somebody was there for you,” she shared. She also had a great time working with her contractor, who encouraged her to take time picking out the materials. Above all, he told her to not rush it—a renovation is not something that’s done every day. 

Patience was Ann’s main focus from the very start, since she waited to find a contractor she felt confident in. The homeowner suggests that future renovators do the same: shop around, speak with as many people as you can, and do research. This isn’t a process worth speeding through!

Ultimately, her fortitude paid off: “I just love having the open space, where everyone can sit and hang out together,” Ann said.

Bonus: The kitchen island is packed with storage, including a beverage cooler for wine, soda, and water.  [Find out more about other perks of kitchen islands from this Real Simple article.]

Thank you, Ann, for sharing your East Hampton kitchen renovation story with us! 

Style finds: Kitchen island pendants: Build.com. Kitchen cabinets: Forever Kitchen and Bath. Gold-tone cabinet hardware and mosaic backsplash: Art3d. Granite countertops: MSI.

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This is how much it costs per square foot to renovate in the Hamptons.

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.

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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.

• Homeowners: Aftering buying a apartment Roxana and Gabriel posted their kitchen renovation on Sweeten.
• Where: Long Island, Queens, New York
• Primary renovation: Updating and expanding the kitchen to fit a most minimalist aesthetic
• Sweeten general contractor
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

A style fix

Roxana and Gabriel’s Long Island City, Queens, loft boasts 15-foot ceilings and loads of natural light. The apartment’s kitchen, however, didn’t suit the couple’s Scandinavian, minimalist style. It lacked counter space, the sink was smaller than standard, and the to-be renovators just weren’t vibing with the finishes. They wanted integrated appliances with all clean lines and everything stowed away in cabinets or drawers. The rest of their home has walnut and matte finishes throughout, so they knew they wanted a similar aesthetic in the cooking space, too. The couple, a creative director and software engineer, who also has a three-year-old son, posted their project to Sweeten and were matched with a general contractor.

New cabinetry

Armed with a clear perspective, the couple got to work with their contractor to reimagine their kitchen. Gabriel used the Ikea kitchen planner tool to lay out the space, exploring its customization offerings to suit their needs. The cabinetry is all Ikea but modified to cover the appliances.

The wall cabinet containing the range hood is shorter and wider than the surrounding units but is still covered by the same door size. The refrigerator, which moved from the main kitchen area into what was formerly a coat closet proved to be one of the biggest challenges. They had to find the right size to not only fit into the existing space, but also align with Ikea panels. “The fridge hunt was probably the single largest use of our time. Ask my wife about chasing our son through AJ Madison,” Gabriel said. Their contractor ended up cutting a 36 inch Ikea panel into three pieces to integrate the refrigerator with the walnut cabinets. They also fit in a cabinet right next to it. All of the drawers and wall cabinets are equipped with LED lighting, adding to the custom feel.

Patience from their general contractor

The sleek aesthetic carried throughout their material choices, from the matte black faucet, lack of cabinet hardware, and a single slab counter and backsplash without any seams. “Our contractor was very patient with all my crazy ideas and helped me make them actually work,” Roxana said. “He helped brainstorm a lot of the Ikea ‘hacking’ and was very patient with us,” she continued.

A modern finish

Sweeten Client Services helped from the get-go to find a general contractor who would be on board for such a custom project, setting the stage for a successful renovation.

As for their new kitchen? “It feels modern, calm, and welcoming. It fits our needs and it feels like home,” the couple shared.

Bonus: Gabriel used an app called Sketch Up to mock up the kitchen and ensure everything would fit with the existing plumbing fixtures.

Renovation materials

Sektion kitchen cabinets; Voxtorp walnut effect pieces; Omlopp LED light strip in drawers; Irsta LED countertop light: Ikea. London Gray, #5000 backsplash and countertops: Caesarstone. Houzz Miseno sink, #MGR2217: Houzz. Delta Faucet Trinsic single-handle faucet in matte black: Amazon.com. Reno Appliance Sub Zero refrigerator, #IT-36CI-RH: Reno Appliance. Miele Dishwasher, #G 6885 SCVi K2O AM: Appliance Connection.

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This kitchen is a mix of Ikea base cabinets and custom cabinet fronts.

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

The post Ikea Brings It Home for a Long Island City Loft appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Nikki, Astoria homeowner

When we first entered the New York City real estate market, my husband and I had three goals in mind. The first was to stay in our beloved neighborhood, Astoria, the second was to have more space than our rental, and the third was to have an open kitchen. Of course, all of this coupled with the most important goal–to stay under budget.

A wise friend told us to be prepared to have our hearts broken. After months of searching and touring the limited number of apartments available in Astoria, we came across The One. It was beautifully modern, with all of the bells and whistles that I yearned for as an avid baker and home entertainer. A few weeks into negotiations, the deal fell apart. I was heartbroken, and we were back on the market. Two days later, we put an offer in on our current home.

I knew when we first saw the apartment that it would need a makeover. While the kitchen and bathroom were perfectly adequate (as it had only been constructed four years ago), it just wasn’t our style, and there were minor details that indicated sloppy work and cut-corners. We had a limited budget and wanted to renovate both the kitchen and the bathroom — two expensive spaces. We wanted to convert the tub to a walk-in shower to maximize space in the bathroom and we also wanted to improve functionality in the kitchen to optimize space and utilize every square inch.

I spent hours and hours on Pinterest, secretly plotting the perfect kitchen and bathroom. My colleague told me about Sweeten one day when I mentioned I was looking for a general contractor. (She’s now going through her own Sweeten renovation in Brooklyn!) I was instantly hooked on the Sweeten blog, and posted my project the day our closing date was announced. When we were introduced to our Sweeten contractor, I didn’t know what to expect, but meeting her was not what I had in mind for meeting a general contractor. It was more like meeting an old friend. She was warm, open-minded, knowledgeable, and she instantly put me at ease. We discussed my very detailed vision (from weeks of Pinning!) and she seemed to “get” me immediately.

The style I envisioned was a mix between classic glam, modern, and vintage touches that were a nod to pre-war NYC apartments of the 1920s and 30s. In the kitchen, we initially discussed ways in which we could preserve the cabinets to save on budget; however, we soon realized that this was a kitchen that would be called to greatness. my contractor brought in a millworker who built beautiful custom cabinetry, and we walked through every corner of that kitchen, discussing every cabinet, every door, every square inch of space.

We decided on a configuration that would truly maximize the kitchen for a cook – moving the island a few inches to accommodate both a pull-out spice rack and utensil rack on either side of the stove, adding a pull-out trash and recycle bin underneath a 30” apron front sink, removing the overhead microwave for a full size hood, relocating the microwave to the island while adding six drawers: four tiny ones for utensils and two large ones for pots and pans, a kick toe drawer for the little things like kitchen towels, large pull-out drawers that opened from the front of the island for my collection of baking tools and sprinkles, and dividers for all of my baking sheets in the cabinet above the refrigerator. The meeting was energizing and Charles’ passion really came through–waving his arms in the most animated fashion, talking about wood types and inlay cabinet doors.

To finish the kitchen, we chose a beautiful, slate-like porcelain tile flooring, dramatic brushed brass hardware from Martell Hardware, a show-stopping champagne gold faucet from Delta, a two-toned paint treatment with warm white for the upper cabinets and an unexpected jewel blue for the lowers, a traditional subway tile backsplash with dark grout, and finally, a gorgeous white quartz countertop that mimicked the veining of Carrara marble without the porousness. (Thanks to the contractor and my husband, Chris, for talking me out of sparkly, recycled glass quartz with specks of glitter.)

In the bathroom, Chris took the initiative to find vintage inspired hardware to match our vision of a modernized, New York City pre-war bathroom. We took inspiration from all of our favorite restaurant bathrooms in Astoria and Manhattan. For the flooring, we chose lovely matte black hexagon tile which the crew installed beautifully despite it being a difficult tile to lay perfectly. To maximize visibility, we chose to install a panel of glass instead of a shower with a door. We selected a traditional style rain showerhead and a handshower with a porcelain handle. For the vanity, we went with a modern, gray floating vanity with a Carrera marble top and faucet hardware with white porcelain handles. The walls received a gorgeous treatment of white subway tile with gray grout and an unexpected yet bold touch – black wallpaper featuring golden pineapples from Rifle Paper Co.

Home renovations can be extremely stressful, especially when you choose to live through the renovation. Through this experience, we have showered at our friends’ homes, brushed our teeth at local coffee shops, and ordered from Seamless four times a week. The amount of dust and debris seemed inexhaustible. Yet to see the daily progress, to see our vision come to life, made it all worthwhile. The contractor’s team made us feel comfortable and we saw them so often they became almost like family. In fact, our pug started to wait at the door every morning for the team to arrive.

Our renovation taught us many things. We learned about trusting others to work in our home and take care of it. We learned about our own preferences, managing budget and timeline, and how to compromise. We learned about community, our wonderful neighborhood that opened its arms to us when we didn’t have basics like running water for a few days. We learned the names of baristas and bartenders, the cost of raw materials and the process of how a house becomes a home. Our condo is a perfect square; it’s our little 580 square foot shoebox. For my husband and I and our 9-year-old pug, it’s cozy, functional, luxurious, and most importantly, home.

Kitchen selects >> floors: MS Kitchen & Bath: Black Slate Porcelain Tile / cabinets: custom / hardware: Martell Hardware: Lewis Dolin Brass Square Bar Series / counters: white quartz / sink: Wayfair: Farmhouse 30″ Kitchen Sink / faucet: Delta / backsplash: MS Kitchen & Bath: White Subway Tile / stove: Samsung: Chef Collection 30” Slide In Range / fridge: Frigidaire / dishwasher: Whirlpool / lighting: Lighting Direct: Progress Lighting Brass Pendant with Edison Bulbs

Bathroom selects >> floors: MS Kitchen & Bath: Black Matte Hexagon Tile / vanity sink: Bellacor: Avanity Tribeca Chilled Gray Wall Mount Vanity with White Carrera Marble Top / shower hardware: eFaucets: Graff Polished Chrome Victorian Style Shower hardware / lighting: Wayfair: Downtown Edison 3 Light Bath Vanity by Minka Lavery / toilet: Kohler / wallpaper: Rifle Paper Co.  

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

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