A Co-op Renovation in Sunnyside Retains Its 1930s Charm
Tina and Andrew were living in a one-bedroom apartment in Sunnyside, Queens, when an unexpected opportunity came up in their own building. A two-bedroom, ground-floor co-op was becoming available, but its closed-off layout, dark colors, and outdated finishes made it difficult to see how bright the apartment could become.
The Sunnyside, Queens co-op was a little over 900 square feet, with original hardwood floors and features worth preserving. Tina, a fashion designer, envisioned a coastal-inspired home with more natural light, better storage, and a kitchen where the couple could cook and entertain. With help from a Sweeten general contractor, they opened up parts of the layout, restored the floors, and brought new life to the apartment.
- Homeowners: Tina, a fashion designer, and Andrew, a cybersecurity consultant, posted their apartment renovation on Sweeten.
- Where: Sunnyside, Queens, New York City
- Primary renovation: The ground-floor apartment in a 1930s co-op building received a partially opened kitchen with updated cabinetry and finishes, restored parquet floors, exposed brick, custom window frames, and French bedroom doors to improve natural light. The renovation also combined two bedroom closets into a walk-in closet and updated the bathroom with new fixtures and storage.
- Homeowner’s quote: “After interviewing nearly ten lackluster contractors, we discovered Sweeten and signed up immediately. Their contractors were a godsend, very professional, and responsive. We got an estimate the same day when others would take days or just ghost us completely.”
Guest post by Sunnyside homeowners Tina and Andrew
Finding an unexpected home in Sunnyside
We had been living in a one-bedroom apartment on the third floor of our building for almost a year when Tina’s father heard about another apartment downstairs. He used to be the building’s superintendent and learned that a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with an eat-in kitchen might be available.
The apartment hadn’t been listed yet, and the previous owner had lived there for decades, so we weren’t sure what to expect. Once we walked inside, we could see it needed a lot of work.
At a little over 900 square feet, the apartment had plenty of potential, but the layout felt divided and closed off. The dated 1970s finishes and dark, saturated colors made the rooms feel even smaller and darker.
Still, we could picture what the apartment might become. It was a fixer-upper, but we agreed it was worth taking on and decided to move forward.
Finding a contractor and planning the renovation
Living in the same building made the early planning easier. We could visit the apartment to take measurements, consider different layouts, and eventually check on construction without traveling across the city.
Finding the right contractor was more difficult. After interviewing nearly ten lackluster contractors, we discovered Sweeten and signed up immediately. Their contractors were a godsend, very professional, and responsive. We got an estimate the same day when others would take days or just ghost us completely.
The contractors also took the time to answer our questions and discuss pricing before we hired anyone. That meant a lot after our earlier experiences. Choosing a contractor was probably one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of the renovation.
Once we had a contractor, we could concentrate on how we wanted the apartment to look and feel. Tina used her design background to sketch layouts, put together mood boards, and research materials.
We drew inspiration from French bistros, Vermont farmhouses, and Hampton Beach bungalows. The idea was to create something bright, airy, and modern that would still complement the building’s prewar style.
We chose light neutrals, navy blue, and oak wood accents for a coastal look. Shiplap, board and batten paneling, and exposed brick added texture, while brass details and Carrara marble helped bring warmth to the rooms.
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Planning our Sunnyside co-op renovation around natural light
Natural light was one of our biggest concerns. Being on the ground floor, the apartment already received limited sunlight, and the original layout made some rooms feel even darker.
We removed some walls to let light travel more freely through the apartment. White paint helped brighten the surfaces, and French doors in both bedrooms allowed more light to pass between the rooms.
Removing the carpeting also revealed the original 1930s hardwood floors. We were relieved to find that the parquet was still in good condition. Instead of replacing it, we restored the floors and chose a clear matte finish that brought out the wood’s natural appearance.
The living room and spare bedroom had another unusual feature. Their windows were recessed nearly a foot into the walls, which blocked a considerable amount of natural light.
We decided to expose the brick on those walls to open up the window areas. Our contractor built beautiful custom window frames to finish the openings, and we used a natural limestone-based paint to whitewash the brick for an aged look.
Together, the lighter walls, exposed brick, restored floors, and new window details helped give the apartment the brighter, more open feeling we wanted.
Partially opening the kitchen for cooking and entertaining
We love cooking together and having people over, so the kitchen was an important part of our Sunnyside co-op remodel. We wanted more storage and a layout that felt connected to the living room.
The original kitchen was separated by an awkward curved wall that took up valuable space. We opened up half of the kitchen into what would become the living room, the brightest area of the apartment. We also removed a small linen closet to make room for a large countertop between the two spaces.
Kitchens can take up a considerable part of a renovation budget, so we looked for places where we could save without giving up the finishes we liked. 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
Instead of purchasing custom cabinets, we chose IKEA cabinetry and ordered the doors separately from Semihandmade, which specializes in doors for IKEA kitchen systems. The super matte Shaker-style doors in white and light gray gave us the clean, modern look we wanted.
We also loved marble, but decided to use Carrara marble tile on the backsplash rather than buying a marble countertop slab. The tiles were a more affordable way to bring marble into the kitchen and required less maintenance than a marble countertop.
For appliances, we visited an outlet on Long Island that sold like-new floor models. Finding our refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher there helped us manage the kitchen budget.
We did spend more on the smaller finishing details, particularly the faucet and cabinet hardware. We thought of these pieces as the kitchen’s jewelry, and they helped bring the whole design together.
Making the bedrooms brighter and improving storage
The bedroom with two large closets became our primary bedroom. We combined those closets into one walk-in closet, giving us a larger storage area without changing the room’s footprint.
We painted the bedroom white and added board and batten paneling to one wall for a little more dimension. The simple finish worked with the light palette we had chosen for the rest of the apartment.
Our favorite addition was the double French doors our contractor installed. We used them in both the primary bedroom and spare room, and they became one of the most distinctive features of the renovation.
The doors gave the bedrooms a grander look while allowing natural light to reach farther into the apartment. They were exactly the kind of detail we had hoped to include when we first started planning the space.
Updating a small bathroom with practical storage
The bathroom was on the smaller side, but we didn’t feel the need to take space from another room to expand it. We wanted to make better use of what was already there.
Storage was a priority, so we added an extra-wide medicine cabinet and a custom-built vanity. These gave us more room for everyday essentials without changing the bathroom’s layout.
We also included a few details that gave the space some personality. A brass light fixture with a dimmer switch and a vintage-style exposed shower fixture brought in the look we wanted.
Carrara hexagon marble floor tile, subway tile walls, and a vanity painted in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy completed the bathroom remodel. The mix of white marble, navy blue, and brass connected the room to the finishes used throughout the apartment.
Learning from the renovation process
Our contractor and his team deserve a lot of credit for their hard work and patience with us. We learned that apartment renovations involve plenty of moving parts, and scheduling can get tricky.
Communication was especially important because we were both detail-oriented. Our Sweeten contractor had no problem emailing back and forth about even the smallest detail, which made it easier to work through questions as they came up.
We also appreciated being able to discuss our ideas with the professionals doing the work. Some of our favorite features, including the custom window frames and French doors, were details we had thought carefully about during planning.
One thing we learned was how much work even the finishing stages could involve. To keep our budget under control, we decided to handle painting and some other finishes ourselves.
We saved thousands of dollars, but doing that work while both holding full-time jobs was exhausting. Looking back, we would encourage other homeowners to think carefully about how much time and energy they can commit before taking on additional renovation tasks.
Despite the challenges, watching the apartment come together was exciting. We loved stopping by after work and seeing what had changed that day.
A brighter apartment that finally feels like home
When we first saw the apartment, its dark colors and divided layout made it hard to imagine how different it could feel. Now, the rooms are brighter, the kitchen connects with the living area, and the bedrooms have more natural light and storage.
We’re especially happy that we could preserve the original parquet floors and bring out the exposed brick. Those features give the apartment character while fitting naturally with the lighter finishes we chose.
Our new home really feels like a dream come true, and we feel fortunate to call it our own. The renovation was no cakewalk, but seeing our ideas take shape made the experience worthwhile.
For us, the most rewarding part was creating a home that feels personal. We hope other homeowners find the process as exciting and fulfilling as we did.
Thank you, Tina and Andrew, for sharing your Sunnyside renovation story!
Ready to renovate your home?
Post your project on Sweeten today and get matched with our vetted general contractors for free! Find endless home renovation inspiration, detailed guides, and practical cost breakdowns from our blogs.
Renovation materials
KITCHEN RESOURCES:
- Kitchen cabinet doors, super matte Shaker style in white and light gray: Semihandmade.
- Massey cabinet pulls: Rejuvenation.
- Classic 1¼-inch pulls: House of Antique Hardware.
- Honed quartz in Smithtown: CitiQuartz.
- Carrara Venato marbled honed subway tiles, 4 × 8 inches: The Builder Depot.
- Rohl C-sput bridge faucet with sidespray in Polished Nickel: Rohl.
- Fireclay sink: Alfi.
- Refrigerator and stove: KitchenAid.
- Dishwasher: Bosch.
- Thomas O’Brien Eugene pendant lighting: Circa Lighting.
- Bar stools: Vintage.
BATHROOM RESOURCES:
- 3-inch Carrara hexagon marble floor tile and 3 × 6-inch subway wall tile: Home Depot.
- Vanity hardware: Rejuvenation.
- Oxford thermostatic shower fixtures: Signature Hardware.
- Vanity and sink: Custom.
- Vanity paint in Hale Navy, HC-154: Benjamin Moore.
- Faucet: Barber Wilsons.
- Corbelle toilet: Kohler.
- Thomas O’Brien Vendome triple light fixture in Antique Brass and Sienna small-flush mount overhead light in Chrome: Circa Lighting.
- Cerridale medicine cabinet: Wayfair.
LIVING AND DINING ROOM RESOURCES:
- Leighton pendant light fixture: Room & Board.
- Wall paint in Chantilly Lace, OC-65: Benjamin Moore.
- Brick limewash interior/exterior paint in Avorio White: Romabio.
- Olde Bricke Lighting glass dome sconces in Matte Brass: Etsy.
PRIMARY BEDROOM RESOURCES:
- Mia faceted crystal pendant overhead light: Pottery Barn.
- Cylinder accent table lamp and Imbrie articulating sconce: Rejuvenation.
- Wall paint in Chantilly Lace, OC-65: Benjamin Moore.
- Window shade: The Shade Store.
- Hallway ceiling pendant: West Elm.
SPARE ROOM RESOURCES:
- Luna pendant rod overhead light in Natural Brass: Schoolhouse.
- Desk lighting: West Elm.
- Wall paint in Chantilly Lace, OC-65: Benjamin Moore.
- Brick limewash interior/exterior paint in Avorio White: Romabio.
