How Custom Built-Ins Helped Display a Lifetime of Collections
After 40 years in the same Upper East Side apartment, Ron’s renovation turned a traditional post-war home into a brighter setting for his art, books, china, music, and travel finds. The project grew from a simple refresh into a larger renovation with wide-plank engineered wood floors, living room custom built-ins, an updated enclosed kitchen, and refreshed bathrooms.
- Homeowner: Ron, who worked with interior designer Samantha Stein, posted his Upper East Side apartment remodel on Sweeten
- Where: Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York
- Primary renovation: The renovation updated the enclosed kitchen, replaced the apartment’s flooring, and added custom built-in storage for art, books, china, music, and travel finds. The project also included refreshed radiator covers, improved closet storage, a deep-soaking tub, and updated bathroom hardware.
- Homeowner’s quote: “We’re grateful to the team at Sweeten for matching us with George and his crew, who were dependable and creative.”
Guest post by Samantha Stein, Interior Designer
A long-loved apartment gets ready for change
A good friend first put me in touch with Ron, a potential client I had known for years. He had lived in the same Upper East Side post-war apartment for 40 years and was ready to freshen up the space in a way that still felt true to him. After talking through his priorities and the overall design vision, we turned to Sweeten for help finding the right contractor.
Sweeten’s network helped us narrow the search to one experienced firm that was a great fit for the project. Their pricing worked well for our original wish list, and as we got more comfortable working together, the scope grew into a more custom, apartment-wide renovation.
At first, the renovation was meant to be more of a light refresh. The plan included new paint, refinished floors, updated details like the living room’s custom crown molding, custom millwork covers for the aging radiator units, and a much-needed kitchen renovation.
Ron considered opening up the traditional apartment with a more modern living and kitchen layout. In the end, his classic taste and daily routine pointed us in a different direction: keeping the kitchen enclosed, but updating the finishes and making thoughtful changes so the main living area felt larger and more connected.
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Choosing new floors for a more cohesive apartment
We removed both kitchen doors to create open entryways and took out the two china cabinets that were pushing into the dining area. The original idea was to carry the existing parquet into the kitchen, but as we looked more closely at the apartment’s mix of parquet, old carpeting, and damaged linoleum, it became clear that matching everything would make the space feel less seamless.
After reviewing costs and options with George’s team, we chose wide-plank engineered wood flooring for the entire apartment. Running the planks toward the living room windows helped create a more cohesive view, and removing the old parquet also gave us the chance to level and soundproof the subfloor while waterproofing the kitchen area.
Everyone breathed a little easier once the 40-year-old parquet and carpeting were finally removed. In their place, the new textured wood floors brought the apartment a cleaner, more cohesive look.
Living room custom built-ins for a lifetime of collections
Ron had a wonderful lifelong collection of china, music, and books on art, music, and travel, but much of it was tucked away throughout the apartment. That made storage one of the main priorities for the apartment renovation. To me, the right approach was to create a thoughtful display that celebrated his travels and life experiences without feeling cluttered or overly staged.
I had first proposed a large built-in wall with custom shelving and cabinetry, but higher bids from other contractors made us pause. Once we started working with George’s team, we felt confident revisiting the idea as a way to replace the storage lost from the kitchen and dining area. Sweeten brings homeowners an exceptional renovation experience by personally matching trusted general contractors to your project, while offering expert guidance and support—at no cost to you. Renovate expertly with Sweeten
We looked at several interiors where shelving wrapped around a small sofa nook, which felt like the right direction for the space. Michael and Dennis helped bring that idea to life with a custom piece that felt polished, practical, and true to the apartment.
The real wood doors, soft-close hinges, adjustable shelves, and carefully chosen hardware made the piece feel like it had always belonged there. We also added two brass sconces to give the sofa area a softer glow in the evening.
Keeping the kitchen enclosed, but making it feel new
Most of the heavy lifting happened in the kitchen. The team was able to handle each detail, from re-centering the sink on the windows to removing the dropped ceiling section just above them. We also gained upper cabinet space by replacing the double wall ovens with a more conventional range.
Good timing with a Thermador sale helped us save on appliances. We chose a refrigerator, gas range, recirculating hood, and dishwasher from their Professional Series line.
The real wood custom cabinets fit the kitchen beautifully and gave the space a high-quality, tailored feel. We ordered the sink from Wayfair and the faucet through Nassau Suffolk Hardware, while the team helped us choose Caesarstone quartz countertops instead of a more expensive granite or marble option.
The lighting also made a big difference. Under-cabinet lights, a few LEDs above the sink, and the overhead fixture gave the kitchen several ways to feel bright and functional at different times of day. With its updated finishes and traditional details, including crown molding and a custom countertop bevel, the kitchen felt fresh while still fitting the style of the rest of the apartment.
Finishing details that bring the apartment together
In the bedroom and living room, we chose vintage rugs to soften the look of the new wood floors. Under the windows, custom millwork radiator covers with picture-frame molding and Caesarstone tops replaced the old metal enclosures for the A/C and heating units.
Each cover has a powder-coated metal grill set into the top, so the units feel finished without losing their function. They also created a natural place to display a few more collected pieces, which made the apartment feel more polished right away.
Michael and Dennis also added custom shelving to each of the apartment’s seven closets, which made it easier to reorganize Ron’s belongings around the way he used the space every day.
We were so happy with the team’s work that, near the end of the project, we decided to tackle one more item from Ron’s wish list: a deep-soaking tub in the master bath and new shower and sink hardware in both bathrooms.
A renovation that finally brought the vision together
In the end, the renovation took a lot of hard work, energy, and time, but the result felt deeply personal to Ron. He loves sharing the finished apartment with friends, and everyone involved was thrilled to see the space finally reflect his art, travels, and the life he had built there.
We’re grateful to Sweeten for connecting us with George and his crew, who were dependable, creative, and open to the changes that came up along the way. Their flexibility helped turn our original vision into a home that feels polished, welcoming, and unmistakably Ron’s.
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Renovation materials
Living room:
- Wide-plank engineered wood floors: Glen Floors
- Adjustable shelving and hardware: Nassau Suffolk Hardware
- Brass sconces: Ralph Lauren Home
- Built-ins: custom
Kitchen:
- Cabinets: custom
- Fridge, gas range, hood, and dishwasher: Thermador Professional Series
- Sink: Kohler
- Faucet: Rohl
- Countertop: Caesarstone quartz
Bathroom:
- Bathtub, shower fixtures, and sink hardware: Rohl
Frequently asked questions
What is a custom built-in?
A custom built-in is a storage or display feature designed to fit a specific space in a home. It can include shelving, cabinets, benches, or other fixed pieces that feel like part of the room instead of separate furniture.
What’s a good material for custom built-ins?
A good material for custom built-ins is real wood. It offers strength, durability, and a finished look that can be tailored to the style of the space.
What is engineered wood?
Engineered wood is a flooring material made from layers of wood or wood-based materials bonded together. It gives the look of wood while offering added stability, which can make it a practical choice for apartment renovations.
