A family whips up smart ideas worthy of a chef’s cook space Project: Transform a galley kitchen in a pre-war apartment into a functional space Before: Since galley kitchens are, by definition, usually small and narrow, renovators typically decide to open up the layout as much as possible when remodeling—whether it involves partially removing a wall […]
How to up the ante with a neutral like white? Go high-gloss! Editor’s Note: This feature, originally published summer 2015, is one of our favorite dramatic makeovers. An overpowering closet flanking the existing galley kitchen seemed to squeeze the entry even tighter. Then the walls came down, and the white cabinets got glossy with a finish that amplifies […]
A sunny guest bedroom & spare office space emerge with help from interior windows The alcove has long played a supporting role in many post-war city apartments — a flexible, windowed nook off the living room that can pass for an office or a nursery, or turn a studio into an almost-but-not-quite one-bedroom. Lots of […]
We’re thankful for the many families who have welcomed us into their homes throughout the year, sharing personal styles and lessons learned during major renovations. The kitchens we’ve toured have much in common—variations on tile, stone, cabinetry, and appliances all with a universal goal of creating a daily space for food and family and friends. […]
Racing to line up an ambitious renovation before closing on a dated co-op in Woodside, Queens, Maria, a financial reporting director at a major media company, and Eric, the owner and Creative Director at broadcast design studio General Idea, expected “pain and horror” as first-time renovators. They’d linked up with an architectural designer and came […]
One-bedroom-turn-flexible-space works for a family of four We’re back with an ambitious renovation in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill Co-ops! We first introduced this project on the Sweeten blog with a focus on the transformable bedroom designed to disappear into the living area. Now, we can have a look at the rest of this gorgeous home and other thoughtful ways […]
No New Yorker wants to leave a rent-stabilized apartment, so when a family of three came to us to help create beautiful space in a bigger place, we had to make sure they got an upgrade that made the move worthwhile. Read on for Sophia’s take on this family’s Upper West Side kitchen renovation, and […]
We love hearing from homeowners about their renovations, but this week’s dispatch comes instead from the interior designer of a New York City apartment re-do. Samantha was brought on to help modernize a client’s apartment, and while she was clearly up for leading the ambitious design needs, she needed help finding a general contractor who […]
We’re back on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to tour the rest of Sophia, Leon, and Apollo’s delightful home. Sophia gave us the inside intel on the family’s kitchen renovation and now we’re on to a double bathroom renovation plus a few smart closet additions. Read on for a study of unfussy materials, savvy IKEA picks, […]
This week’s guest author offers an architect’s eye on an ambitious Upper East Side kitchen renovation. Like fellow architects Brad in Fort Greene and Samina in Union Square, Steve’s industry connections just weren’t quite the right fit for his own smaller-scale residential project. Read on down to hear how this Manhattanite came to Sweeten to find a local […]
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