On a $50,000 budget, a bathroom becomes an en suite with a calming mix of materials

• Homeowners: Amanda and Bob posted their bathroom remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Hoboken, New Jersey
• Primary renovation: Kitchen and two bathrooms in a 1,090-square-foot condo
• With: Sweeten general contractor
• Homeowner’s quote: “Even though we already had some renovating experience, we reached out to Sweeten for help.”

Written in partnership with homeowner Amanda. “After” photos by Andrew Chui.

Prior to 2016, we’d already been renting in Hoboken, NJ to make sure it was really the place for us before buying. Our home is in uptown Hoboken. It’s in one of the earlier buildings in town–a condo building from around 1920. When we walked into it for the first time, it had an amazing footprint and feel for a condo. 

Over time, we were sure we could make the 1,450-square-foot space perfect for us. That was preferable to paying more for something in Hoboken that still wasn’t ideal, so we bought it. Now, our focus was on our final project: remodeling the bathroom.

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Planning for a lifestyle boost

We are Amanda, Head of Beauty Sales for the US for a french contract manufacturer, Bob, who works for ATP, and our children, Penny (8), Ruby (3). Our renovation project was the bathroom, an ‘80s throwback in desperate need of a decor update–and a working shower. Adding another sink was also on the list. But the biggest change was a walk-in closet build-out that allowed us to add a bathroom door from our bedroom. This upgrade to a jack-and-jill entry was a major improvement, since we now have a primary suite.

With better functionality taken care of, it was time to think about style. I was after something that felt spa-like—a place to escape and have time for myself. It should feel updated, yet traditional and smart in terms of maximizing storage.

A renovation plan moves forward

Even though we already had some renovating experience, we reached out to Sweeten for help. We needed help to determine the feasibility of having dual bathroom entryways, the timing, and the cost of what we wanted to do.

Sweeten matched us with a contractor that was amazing and honest. Our contractor sourced everything, kept us on track with the timeline, and truly made my ideas come to life.

A primary suite comes into view

The new entry from our bedroom was where it got complicated. Breaking through the wall was the only way to add the door that would make it a jack-and-jill. Then, ripping out our two separate bedroom closets gave us space to build one walk-in closet. This also made room to create a small hallway from our bedroom to the closet to the bathroom. It’s so nice to now have an entry to the bathroom straight from our bedroom, while still keeping hall access.

Ditching trendy for timeless

With a contractor chosen and a plan in the works, it was time to choose the actual materials. Given the ‘80s vibe we were getting rid of, I would avoid anything trendy. Each item needed to be elevated and modern to make sense for my lifestyle today—but also classic. I didn’t want to be sick of it in five years. 

My obsession was a countertop that would make a statement. We sourced the dramatic black-and-white stone from a separate fabricator, and our contractor attached it to the vanity we picked out. 

"Our contractor sourced everything, kept us on track with the timeline, and truly made my ideas come to life."

We were more cost-conscious when shopping for tile, so we didn’t completely go overbudget. A peaceful and neutral gray Fordham Grigio tile for the bathroom floor laid the foundation. For the shower walls, a refined 5” x 5” ceramic tile offered the perfect texture and shine without breaking the bank. Gold-tone fixtures with graceful lines add a touch of warmth and elegance.

Looks aside, ample storage space was also essential to make the space work. Built-in shelves were a definite must-have.

Spending more was worth it

The closet addition did increase the overall cost and put us overbudget. We also paid more than we had to for a full-price vanity and the custom countertop, but we’re happy with those choices. The approximately $50,000 we ended up spending was almost double what we had budgeted, but we love the results.

A successful renovation partnership

Sweeten helped pair us up with a few great candidates to meet. What we wanted was someone who was reliable, respectful, and didn’t give any BS. Our contractors were all of this. 

At the end, this was our best and most efficient renovation we’ve done. The serenity when you walk into the updated bathroom still takes my breath away. The countertop is stunning, and the heated floors make it so comfortable. But honestly, the shelves might be my favorite! In an apartment, smart storage is truly everything.

Thank you, Amanda and Bob, for sharing your new bathroom 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

• Cloe Collection 5” x 5” ceramic shower wall tile: Bedrosians Tile & Stone
• Moen hardware and shower fixtures: Moen
• Shower glass doors: Glass Warehouse
• Vanity countertop: Stone fabricator via contractor 
• Toto toilet: Toto
• Lighting: Artika
• Medicine cabinets and vanity: Pottery Barn

The post A Jack-and-Jill Bathroom Remodel in Hoboken appeared first on Sweeten.

The post Two Modern Bathroom Renovations in a Bucktown Condo appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Turn an old, run-down bathroom into something elegant and calming

Before: Mary Ann and Frank’s three-bedroom Upper West Side apartment had done its job since they had bought it in 1992.  But now, with their two kids grown and gone, the couple pulled the trigger on a long-planned master bathroom upgrade. “Our co-op building was built in 1929 and it was the bath from 1929—same tub, same tiles,” said Mary Ann, who works in publishing. Grime on the tiles wouldn’t budge and some tiles were no longer there at all. Paint peeled off the walls and with no vanity, shampoo bottles were always on prime display.

After: To keep the costs down, the couple kept the original layout. But that was all they kept. What they wanted was a stylish sanctuary beginning with a hex tile bathroom. Hexagons were laid on the floor and marble topped off the vanity for a refined look. The shower also has matching marble tiles. Their Sweeten contractor suggested painting, not tiling, the wall opposite the shower and vanity. Rather than feeling enclosed, the bathroom now feels “more like a room,” said Mary Ann, “and plus it would have been a lot of cleaning.” They did lose storage space in their master and hall bathroom, which they also renovated. However, a large vanity and two large mirrors with storage built into the wall that were added to the master bathroom made up for that. When you open each mirror, there is also another magnifying mirror. The vanity has six large drawers and two cabinets for storing toilet paper and cleaning supplies. “We were just going for a more calmer, less cluttered look,” said Mary Ann. “Now, everything is put away.”

Bonus: Mary Ann’s centerpiece is a walk-in shower so large “you can do yoga in it.” The old tub was decommissioned and replaced with a walk-in shower with glass walls. “It’s so much fun to take a shower now,” said Mary Ann.  

Style finds: Traditional Exposed Dual Control Thermostatic shower system: Hudson Reed. Devonshire standard bathroom faucet; K-3551-0 White Archer Toilet; Verdure Collection Medicine Cabinet: Kohler. Trinsic Collection (accessories): Delta. Align 18” grab bar: Moen. Hexagon 3” mosaic Carrara floor tile; Hexagon 1” mosaic Carrara tile on shower floor; white polished Carrara 4×10 tile on walls: Classic Tile. Tempered glass shower doors: custom. Audrey 60” double vanity with Carrara marble top: Ancerre Designs. Driscoll wall sconces: Sea Gull Lighting.

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Take a look at these clever bathroom storage ideas.

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

The post An 88-Year-Old Bath Gets Its First Facelift appeared first on Sweeten.

Project: Renovate a dark master bathroom in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Contractor: Sweeten Expert Nicky

Before: A master bath needed a new double vanity, medicine cabinets, lighting fixtures, and a ceiling repair.

After: The bulky vanity was replaced with a floating wood-finished double vanity, paneled medicine cabinets and new light fixtures were installed, and white shelving now rests in between the nook of the shower and vanity to store towels and bath necessities.

Style finds: wood-finished double vanity, dark gray pencil tile, wall-mounted toilet, rainwater showerhead, bright white paint

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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.

The post Quick Look: Wood-Finished Vanity and Gray Pencil Tile in a Master Bath appeared first on Sweeten.

This Clinton Hill home presented an open kitchen plan with a large center island that had been updated with telltale features in the last decade: subway tile and a mix of wood finishes had been fit into an archway in the kitchen and pre-war moldings with gothic-inspired edges framed the oversized windows and a fridge nook. Storage was limited to two strips of base cabinetry and the butcher block counters added a third wood finish to the original floors and architectural details. Updates in the bathroom were similarly out of sync with the home’s original design, and a mix of modern tile, faux wood finishes, and slim storage left this family without a lot of storage options.

The contractor set out to preserve the most striking original floor and molding details and also push elements of the home toward a highly inventive and contemporary aesthetic.

(credit for before photos: Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

Without destroying any of those gorgeous hardwood floors, he addressed the most pressing of the to-dos first. The base cabinets were completely removed and replaced with a full wall of semi-gloss, flat front, white cabinetry from HenryBuilt with hidden hardware, framing the striking new Wolf stove. While they did lose the original wall pocket trimmed in molding that housed the fridge, the new HenryBuilt cabinets are far better suited for pantry purposes, and the new fridge was re-located to the right of the stove, camouflaged seamlessly with paneling. White stone composite counters replaced the butcher’s block, and a larger island replaced the former, keeping a similar silhouette with a mahogany base and ample knee space for diners. The stainless undermount sink was also enlarged, with a dramatic multi-functional chrome faucet, a standard workhorse behind the scenes in most restaurants.

The backsplash is where the real drama resides. White subway tiles were replaced with a kaleidoscope of black, gray, and white triangular tiles creating quite the abstract pop of modernity to the new kitchen that’s now a contemporary haven trimmed in pre-war luxe.

In each of the two bathrooms, the crew took a related design approach to tie in inspiration across eras, addressing the finishes without changing the footprint entirely.

In one full bath, tile again takes center stage with cement Dandelion tile in Lawn/Milk on the floors. These hex tiles with watercolor edges and abstract white lines depicting sunbursts replaced the previous, more subdued flooring. Simple white hex tile grounds the walk-in shower, and classic white subway tile stacked in a herringbone pattern extends up and around the walls. Frameless glass shower doors, a glossy lacquered double vanity with deep drawer storage, and a heated towel rack perfect this stylish high-low mix of materials. And because no detail was overlooked by this stylish couple, they opted for polished brass light fixtures to offset the muted tones and white on white textures.

In the kids’ bath, a parallel mix of white and gray shapes work equally simply to create a clean and bright space. White hex floor tile and contrasting gray grout is echoed with industrial white subway wall tile and more contrasting grout. Their Sweeten contractor made room for a new tub and double vanity, and added extra towel bar storage.

We’re so glad to have played a small role in helping this Brooklyn family create a home that works so beautifully, and we’ll for sure be following along as their business grows!

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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.

The post A Fashionable Townhouse Blossoms in Brooklyn appeared first on Sweeten.

Guest post by Jamie, Queens homeowner  

My husband and I dreamt of buying a brownstone in Bed-Stuy. This dream was apparently shared by everyone else in New York, because trying to find a place—any place—was a humbling experience in getting outbid by foreign investors and other first-time buyers with resources greater than ours. After a year of frustration, we found a condo in a recently remodeled brick building in Ridgewood, Queens—a quirky little Polish-Ecuadorian neighborhood on the Brooklyn-Queens border that none of our friends had ever heard of. The good news was that the apartment was huge: the building’s original six units had been merged into three, giving us a yard and a finished basement to go with our ground-floor living space.

The bad news was that the renovations had been undertaken in an aesthetic that my husband and I described as “late-life Euro bachelor”: dark wood fixtures and liberal use of large brown Tuscan tiles that gave certain rooms the yellowish air of an Adirondack rental property you’d regret renting.

Our first year in Ridgewood was dominated by DIY projects—refacing cabinets, painting, gardening—that improved the overall look of our apartment. The projects that remained were too complicated to be mastered through YouTube videos and trial-and-error, which put us on the market for a contractor to do some larger projects. First in line: our trainwreck of a master bathroom, which when we bought the apartment had been renovated in a very dark (read: creepy) and not-so-functional (read: the showerhead didn’t line up with the tub) way.

Our search for a contractor stretched over a year. I interviewed people from all over—recommendations from coworkers and friends of friends, names from Brownstoner’s community forum, references in interior design books. There was also Angie’s List, which was effective in introducing me to a series of contractors from Long Island and Brooklyn who were well-versed in bathrooms that featured lots of fogged glass and Jacuzzis—not the bright, ELLE Décor-type vibe I was going for. These candidates would generally show up, late and complaining about parking in my neighborhood, then tell me how the fixtures I wanted were going to be too expensive for my budget, how they thought the current bathroom was fine as-is, how I should do a better job training my dogs not to bark.

It was like a series of first dates that I knew were going to be awful.

Somewhere in the process I had read about Sweeten, but let’s be clear: I was far too jaded to be anything but skeptical. I went to their site and decided to post our project out of sheer desperation. They first connected me with my Sweeten general contractor, and from day one, I was impressed. He showed up on time, listened carefully to what I was hoping to achieve, and demonstrated strong attention to detail, noticing things like the slope of the floors and the fact that the recessed lights were out of alignment. He was quick to turn around a quote (some contractors took weeks; others required me to follow up multiple times), and was very responsive to my many emails regarding questions and concerns. I took the leap and hired him.

From the start, working with Erion and his team was a delight. They showed up promptly at 9am each day, motivated and ready to begin work. And these guys worked hard! I swear, I barely saw them stop to eat! Construction debris and dust is part of the deal when you embark on a project like this, but Erion and his team were extremely tidy and took extra care to protect our house and hardwood floors. Even at the end of demo day, our house was surprisingly clean.

The best part of my experience with Erion was his openness to what I wanted and his tireless pursuit of making this a reality. I wanted a bright, clean, fresh, and timeless space—something that would age well with the house and provide a spa-like atmosphere. This bathroom has no natural light, so I made sure to choose materials that reflected light (beveled mirrors, polished nickel fixtures, high-gloss paint). Erion considered all my sourcing decisions, weighing in where I asked him to and letting me handle things everywhere else. I spent a lot of time researching the fixtures I wanted and although the approach was a bit piecemeal (and largely dictated by stores for which I had gift cards), it worked.

For the tile we wanted to keep it light and clean and I worked with the lovely people at Ann Sacks. Their showroom is beautiful, pricing competitive, and customer service exceptional. On the bathroom floor, we chose large marble squares (16 x 16) with a honed finish because it’s not as slippery as polished marble and tends to show fewer scratches. We also decided to install radiant heat to keep our toes warm in winter. For the shower walls, I knew I wanted a larger tile (less grout to clean!) but something with a bit more character than subway tile. At first, I was unsure about going with a handmade 6 x 18 tile because each cut was slightly different, but in the end it turned out beautifully and the hand-made nature of the tile gave it a textured appearance that we absolutely love. As for the shower floors, we did a micro-mosaic which makes me happy every time I look down at it.

As unexpected challenges or issues arose—as they always do in remodeling—Erion handled them with a calm demeanor, thoroughly explaining my options and letting me know how they would affect factors such as time and cost. He would talk through the pros and cons of various options and together we would make a decision on how to move forward. At no point did I ever feel steamrolled, or like he was cutting corners. Erion demonstrated an exceptional dedication to quality and was just as concerned as I was that everything be done right and look good. The end result is a beautifully serene space and the sort of justification for all my time and anguish that I’d hoped for.

Postscript: While writing this blog post, our apartment suffered severe water damage from a neighbor’s apartment. The silver lining in this situation is that we knew exactly who to call and who we could trust to do the work. Erion dropped everything to help us navigate this urgent situation, going above and beyond to help us triage damage and map a way forward. He has truly become our technical and professional liaison for maintaining and improving our largest investment, and the confidence I have in his practices, tastes, and commitment to quality cannot be overstated. Thank you, Sweeten, for connecting us.

Bathroom selects >> floors: Ann Sacks Thassos marble / shower floors: Micro Mosaic / shower walls: handmade Soleil Field / shower hardware: Amazon / double vanity sink: Wayfair / faucets: Restoration Hardware / mirrors and lighting: Pottery Barn 

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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.

The post A Classic Bathroom in Queens appeared first on Sweeten.

Editor’s Note: Blane’s apartment overhaul is truly unforgettable. The post, originally published in 2016, showcases a mix of high-end materials and appliances paired with budget-friendly cabinets. An accountant by trade, Blane knows when to splurge and when to save, blending stock items with custom pieces throughout his home. Read on for a smart reno and play a fun game of “spot the pup!” in the photos below.

After “countless hours of watching HGTV,” Blane started to have big thoughts about ways he might make the kitchen and bathroom in his Ditmas Park/North Midwood condo better. While neither space was in particularly bad shape, he knew when he moved in that he would be plagued by a lack of light in the kitchen, and the bathroom felt mismatched to modern updates elsewhere in the apartment. With visions of a TV-worthy renovation, he posted his project on Sweeten, a free service matching homeowners with vetted contractors, and was introduced to this Sweeten general contractor.

Blane works in accounting at a law firm and is no stranger to budgets, so he was fastidious with his planning, choosing materials and fleshing out a game plan before even meeting with a contractor. With an initial budget of $35K, he planned to brighten the kitchen with cabinets in a lighter hue, substantially increase the limited counter space with an island, add a sliding door to the bedroom to keep the entry transition as efficient as possible, and cultivate a luxurious vibe in the master bath with an oversized walk-in shower and a neutral color scheme in place of its existing minty and slightly medical vibe.

After extensive research and some early attempts at drawing out his own cabinet footprint, he got started with his contractor. First, the team decided to tackle the bathroom. Here, Blane got his inspiration from an unlikely place. “My first purchase was actually the toilet, and things kind of evolved around there,” Blane said. “I’ve never had any sort of fancy toilet like that before. The new toilet has a remote, which I had never heard of. The Japanese are at the forefront of luxury so we’ll trust them.” The Toto toilet was just the beginning of the luxe vibe.

Blane chose a combination of slate and hexagon mosaic tiles for the wall, with a neutral mix of stone and wood for the heated (yes, heated!) floors. Then he pulled out all the stops with a walk-in, double-wide shower with a custom sliding glass door and rain showerhead, plus a double sink vanity, in a bit of long-range planning to make the apartment cohabitation-friendly. The contractor’s team capped the detailed work with a slanted, but sturdy, bench design in the shower and herringbone tile design on the bathroom floor, all in a soothing gray palette.

In the kitchen, Blane chose white upper cabinets with gray base units, giving the space a brightened, more modern effect. After heavy research focused on IKEA, the contractor actually suggested Blane swap his blueprint for a similar cabinet option from Home Depot, which gave him the same lacquered and bright uppers, with a striated gray laminate bottom set. The team removed a wall and moved the oven to the other side of the cabinet line, opening up the kitchen and improving the flow for prep and serving. To give Blane even more space for culinary exploits (and entertaining), the team brought in an island with a durable, waterfall quartz countertop with room for bar seating. Bonus: The island features its own electrical outlets, thanks to the contractor who snuck in a power source under a few floorboards.

In the dining room, Blane purchased a stunning ghost wood table, handmade by Jim at Breukelen Tafel in Carroll Gardens. To highlight the space, he and the team created a wallpapered accent wall to bring together the table, the gray walls, and the white and gray in the kitchen. “I think the wall, even though it was a simple thing, is now one of the best features of the apartment,” Blane said.

Blane admits that the process was mostly painless—despite living in the condo with a dog throughout the renovation. Though he went over his budget by 40 percent, he admits it was because of his decisions to choose more premium materials rather than any runaway labor costs. Even with the bathroom and kitchen in process at the same time, Blane was impressed that living in the rubble could be possible thanks to the team’s efforts to seal up the work zones and keep dust to a minimum. Looking at the finished product, Blane is thrilled. “I’m really happy it worked out,” Blane said. “Especially since I didn’t have a designer and I was relying on my accountant abilities to make good decisions.” Even though the contractor didn’t come from a design and build firm, his decades of experience let Blane lean on him for opinions and advice.

But Blane’s best advice for anyone going into the process is to do as much research as possible and be prepared to adjust as challenges come up. Inconvenient issues can sometimes be opportunities: when a light problem with Blane’s closet or gaps between wall and ceiling tiles were discovered, the contractor came up with elegant solutions that often improved on the original plan. “They take great pride in their work, and even came back to do a touch-up here and there as things settled in the months after the project ended, at no additional cost,” Blane said. “If the final results don’t speak already for themselves, I highly recommend them.”

Now Blane has the space to sprawl in his upgraded condo with one of Brooklyn’s most adorable dogs, his new pup, Harvey. However, he sheepishly admits he’s not always using that kitchen for intense, five-star-worthy fare. “I’m cooking now more than I was, but you get in that sandwich kick and it’s hard to change from that.”

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Martha Stewart Living Lancombe Avenue High Gloss Picket Fence upper cabinets and Martha Stewart Living Weston in Persian Gray lower cabinets: Home Depot. Cabinet knobs: Belwith. Cabinet pulls: Hickory. Undercabinet lighting: Lightkiwi. Faucet and soap dispenser: Moen. Sink: Kraus. Pendants: ET2 Online. Bellavita Bamboo Planks backsplash: Discount Glass Tile Store. InSinkErator garbage disposal: Amazon. Panasonic microwave and trim kit: Amazon. Cavaliere range hood: Overstock.com. Halo LED ceiling lighting: Amazon. Quartzmasters 1 1/4″ White Arabascato countertops: ATP Services (2729b W 16th St, Brooklyn).

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Stone: ATP Services (2729b W 16th St, Brooklyn). Hansgrohe shower wall bar set, rain shower head, and trim: Decorprice. Wyndham Collection linen tower and vanity: Wayfair. Vanity faucets: ModernBathroom. Gatco towel bar and toilet paper holder: Amazon. Toto toilet: Amazon. Somertile Cliff Hexagon Black accent wall tiles: Amazon. Metro Gris 12 in. x 24 in. wall tiles and Montagna Dapple Gray 6 in. x 24 in. floor tiles: Home Depot. Wooden White and Granite Three Finish Hexagon Mosaic shower floor tiles: Discount Glass Tile Store. Custom glass doors and hardware: Silver Glass & Mirror Brooklyn. George Kovacs Saber Chrome 12-Inch 24 Light LED Bath Lamp sconces: Bellacor. Sliding system: C.R. Laurence Co., Inc. Heated floor system: SunTouch.

DINING ROOM RESOURCES: Nottingham wallpaper in white and gray: Graham & Brown. Sliding door hardware: Barn Door Hardware. Dining room table: Breukelen Tafel.

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The two-tone cabinet effect in Jane’s kitchen—white on top and gray along the bottom—makes the space feel bigger while adding some much-needed contrast.

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.

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