Inside a Warm, Open Kitchen Renovation in Clinton Hill
When Ketrina bought her one-bedroom Clinton Hill co-op, the kitchen already had black granite counters, black tile flooring, stainless steel appliances, and relatively new cabinets. Over time, though, problems with the cabinetry and layout became harder to ignore, and Ketrina began thinking seriously about creating the open kitchen she had passed on when she first bought the apartment.
For her Clinton Hill kitchen remodel, Ketrina turned to Sweeten and connected with Paulina and Albert, a design-build team who helped her open the kitchen to the living room. The finished space combines custom cabinetry, walnut details, quartzite counters, a recycled glass penny tile backsplash, and a dining peninsula while keeping the existing kitchen floor.
- Homeowner: Ketrina, an art director at The Wall Street Journal, posted her kitchen renovation on Sweeten
- Where: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York
- Primary renovation: The dividing wall between the kitchen and living room came down, opening the compact kitchen to the main living area. The project added custom solid wood cabinetry, walnut accents, a dining peninsula, quartzite countertops, a recycled glass penny tile backsplash, new lighting, and additional storage.
- Homeowner’s quote: “I would say I’m most appreciative toward Sweeten, Paulina, and Albert for making this process, for the most part, worry-free.”
Guest post by Clinton Hill homeowner Ketrina
Planning an open layout Clinton Hill kitchen remodel
I bought my one-bedroom co-op in Clinton Hill after renting in Bed-Stuy for more than two years. The apartment was a sponsor unit on a high floor with expansive east-facing views, and at first, the kitchen seemed to have received some decent updates.
I had the opportunity to remove the zig-zagging partition between the kitchen and living room during the purchase process. I was already stressed and indecisive about buying the apartment, though, so I decided against making another major change at the time.
Once I settled in, I started noticing problems I had missed earlier. The cabinets weren’t level, some hinges had paper stuffed into them so the doors would close properly, and the refrigerator was wedged between the counter and wall so tightly that its doors hit the doorway.
A recurring water leak from the apartment above later affected some of the cabinetry and walls. By then, I already knew the kitchen wasn’t something I wanted to keep long term, but concerns about the cost and the possibility of another leak made me hesitant to start renovating.
Planning to renovate? Get free cost estimates from our partner GCs!
Get matched with our vetted general contractors and receive at least 3 quotations for free! You can also find endless home renovation inspiration, detailed guides, and practical cost breakdowns from our blogs.
Finding a design-build team through Sweeten
Some of my neighbors had used Sweeten to find contractors for their renovations, and seeing the different layouts they created gave me a better sense of what could be done with my compact kitchen. I eventually posted my project on Sweeten, envisioning a more grown-up kitchen with an island or peninsula that would be fully open to the living room.
I didn’t have every finish figured out. I knew I liked warm colors, particularly oranges and browns, and wanted the kitchen to feel connected to the living room. I also wanted an experienced team in NYC who could handle both the design and construction.
Sweeten introduced me to Paulina and Albert, and I liked them immediately. Paulina is a trained architect, and during our first design meeting, we went through the color scheme and finishes. By the following night, she had sent me sketches that were remarkably close to what the kitchen eventually became.
I had read references from other Sweeten clients describing Paulina as reliable and someone who would take care of everything. As someone who had never taken on a major home project, I was overwhelmed by the process at first, but visiting Paulina and Albert’s shop in Queens left me feeling much more comfortable about working with their team. 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
Narrowing down the kitchen materials and finishes
Paulina helped make the selection process more manageable. At one meeting, we chose the cabinetry style, and she gave me two countertop samples and two cabinet lacquer color options instead of overwhelming me with choices.
She also advised me not to replace the existing black kitchen floor. Keeping it became one of the renovation’s biggest cost- and time-saving decisions.
Once construction started, the kitchen changed quickly. The custom solid wood cabinets were painted to match Benjamin Moore’s Early Morning Mist, giving the room a light backdrop for the warmer wood and metallic finishes.
Albert added a walnut veneer open corner cabinet above the sink and continued the walnut on the soffit, floor-to-ceiling pipe cover, and dining peninsula. These details brought the warmer oranges and browns I liked into the kitchen without relying on a single dominant color.
Quartzite and recycled glass add character
I found the recycled glass penny tile backsplash at Complete Tile in Manhattan and chose Madreperola, also known as Mother of Pearl, quartzite for the countertops. The stone became my favorite part of the new kitchen because its pattern reminded me of fine art.
For the cabinetry, I selected simple metallic bronze knobs and added handles to the storage beneath the dining peninsula. Paulina also recommended pendant lights from Restoration Hardware, but I found a more budget-friendly alternative from Brooklyn Bulb Co.
The dividing wall between the kitchen and living room came down during construction, finally creating the open layout I had considered when I first bought the apartment. The peninsula now sits between the two spaces while adding both dining space and storage.
A smaller dishwasher creates more cabinet space
Finding enough storage mattered in such a compact kitchen. I replaced the original dishwasher with an 18-inch Bosch model, which gave my Brooklyn contractors enough room to create two full rows of base cabinets along the kitchen’s back wall.
Additional upper and lower cabinets beside the stove provide even more storage while cleverly concealing pipes. There’s also a narrow pull-out spice cabinet, and LED lights underneath the cabinetry add another thoughtful detail.
The existing black tile floor was carefully patched where construction changed the layout. Paulina and Albert also kept the project within my budget and on schedule despite complications from crooked kitchen walls.
A more open kitchen and a smoother renovation experience
The finished Clinton Hill kitchen renovation gave me a space that felt completely different from the cramped kitchen I started with. The wall was gone, the kitchen was open to the living room, and details like the quartzite, walnut, custom cabinetry, backsplash, and peninsula reflected the warmer look I had wanted.
Just as important was how manageable the renovation felt once I had the right group of contractors in place. Looking back on the experience, I would say I’m most appreciative toward Sweeten, Paulina, and Albert for making this process, for the most part, worry-free.
The craftsmanship also showed up in smaller details, from the patched flooring and finished cabinet undersides with LED lights to the extra cabinetry beside the stove and the pull-out spice cabinet. I never expected to end up with such a distinctive kitchen, and the final result felt like a major change from where the project began.
Ready to renovate your kitchen?
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:
- Custom solid wood cabinetry painted to match Benjamin Moore Early Morning Mist
- Walnut veneer open corner cabinet
- Walnut soffit, pipe cover, and dining peninsula
- Madreperola/Mother of Pearl quartzite countertops
- Recycled glass penny tile backsplash from Complete Tile
- Metallic bronze cabinet knobs from MyKnobs
- Handles for the peninsula storage from Overstock
- 18-inch Bosch dishwasher
- Pendant lighting from Brooklyn Bulb Co.
- Existing black tile kitchen floor, retained and patched during construction
- Under-cabinet LED lighting
Frequently asked questions
What is a penny tile backsplash?
A penny tile backsplash is a wall covering made from small, round tiles arranged closely together, often in sheets for easier installation. The tiles can add texture and visual interest while protecting the wall behind counters and sinks.
What is a pull-out spice cabinet?
A pull-out spice cabinet is a narrow cabinet with shelves that slide outward so spices and small kitchen items are easy to reach. It can make use of tight spaces that might otherwise be difficult to use for storage.
Are quartzite countertops durable?
Yes, quartzite countertops are durable and well suited to everyday kitchen use. The natural
