A Bright Brooklyn Kitchen Finds Balance With Walnut And Brass
When Amanda and her husband started looking beyond their two-bedroom rental in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, they had a clear wish list: more light, more warmth, and more room to live and work. As two writers working from home, they loved the neighborhood and the natural light in their apartment, but they were ready for a more spacious kitchen, with Sweeten helping connect them to an experienced general contractor.
They had also just gotten married, and anyone who’s had a registry knows how quickly kitchen things add up. Here’s how a visit with friends led them to a new home in Clinton Hill, and how patterned tile, brass details, and a walnut countertop helped shape the kitchen renovation.
- Homeowners: Amanda and her husband, both work-from-home writers, posted their kitchen renovation on Sweeten
- Where: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York
- Primary renovation: Patterned floor tile became the design focus of the kitchen, setting the tone for the white cabinetry, wood countertops, white backsplash, brass hardware, and vintage-inspired lighting. The walls around the kitchen and pass-through pantry were removed to open the space to the living and dining areas, with built-in display shelving added near the refrigerator and more.
- Homeowner’s quote: “Our contractor was very understanding and worked quickly, but didn’t cut corners and finished on schedule.”
A promising Clinton Hill co-op with one kitchen concern
Amanda and her husband first hoped to stay in Windsor Terrace, but their search took a turn after they visited friends at the Clinton Hill Co-ops. They liked the feel of the complex, loved the apartment layout, and started to picture themselves living there.
After a few months of watching listings, they found a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the building. By coincidence, it was the mirror image of their friends’ apartment.
Since both Amanda and her husband work from home as writers, the two evenly sized bedrooms were a major plus. One could become a comfortable home office that also worked as a guest room for out-of-town visitors.
The apartment, at about 1,000 square feet, also had the warm southern light they had been looking for. The one drawback was the kitchen. It felt dark and closed off, with an awkward pass-through pantry that included a bar counter.
The kitchen had been renovated before, but the work had not held up well. Amanda noticed cracks and scratches in the cabinetry and flooring, and at first, the kitchen felt like a deal-breaker. She wanted an easy move and was not eager to take on a renovation.
Over time, though, she and her husband came around to the idea. The apartment had everything else they wanted, and the kitchen could be changed.
A brighter kitchen built around patterned floor tile
So as they began the process of closing on the apartment, Amanda posted their kitchen renovation to Sweeten. As a first-time renovator, comparing bids gave Amanda a clearer sense of kitchen renovation costs before work began.
Our in-house team came to the rescue: a call with one of Sweeten’s project advisors proved to be useful. The chat gave Amanda the chance to think out loud and consider the pros and cons of each bid, and she selected her general contractor.
Amanda wanted the kitchen to feel like the rest of the apartment: clean, bright, and welcoming, but not so polished that it felt cold. “We both love to cook and wanted to feel comfortable there, like we could make a mess,” she explained.
The renovation started by removing the walls that separated the kitchen and pantry from the living room and dining nook. They also closed one doorway between the kitchen and hallway, which allowed the kitchen to stretch across the full wall. 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
Near the refrigerator, their contractor found a smart use for an awkward unused spot by adding diagonal built-in shelving. It became a natural place for Amanda and her husband to display photos and keepsakes from their travels.
Once the layout felt more open, the couple focused on the design details. Amanda fell for a Mediterranean-inspired patterned tile in black, gray, and white early in the process, then used it as the starting point for the rest of the kitchen.
Adding a warm walnut countertop and brass details in the kitchen
Amanda first pictured the patterned tile as a backsplash, but her mom suggested using it on the floor instead. It turned out to be the right call, giving the kitchen a bold starting point without overwhelming the walls.
For the millwork, the contractor Sweeten connected them with sourced custom white Shaker-style cabinetry with clean, simple lines. A single set of glass-front doors broke up the run of upper cabinets, adding just enough visual interest.
The couple also chose a rich walnut countertop for depth and contrast. They had considered a lighter wood at first, but the darker finish worked better with the patterned floors, a choice their contractor supported. The surface does require some upkeep, but Amanda says she “adores them!”
The kitchen cabinet hardware came next, with brass knobs and pulls adding warmth to the white cabinetry. They kept the apartment’s fairly new appliances, then added a wine fridge next to the dishwasher to create a small beverage station.
A first renovation that stayed on track and on schedule
Throughout the apartment renovation process, Amanda stayed in close contact with her contractor as questions and small surprises came up. In one instance, the cabinetmaker realized a measurement issue would have made one cabinet nearly unusable because of an obstruction that could not be moved.
He worked with the contractor to revise the layout overnight, then moved into production with very little delay. Aside from that hiccup, the project went mostly as planned. Board approval also came through unusually fast, in about two weeks. Could it be because Sweeten had already been part of so many renovations in the building?
Looking back, Amanda’s advice for first-time renovators is simple: “Don’t rush the process.” She and her husband moved their belongings in right after demolition, which meant everything had to be stacked in one bedroom and wrapped in plastic while they stayed with family during the renovation.
Their contractor understood the situation and worked quickly, but Amanda appreciated that he still took the time to do the job carefully. The project finished on schedule in about a month. As she put it, “Trust the contractor! He knows what he’s doing and how long it’ll take to do it.”
Her experience also shows why having questions to ask your contractor early can make a first renovation feel more manageable. Amanda’s only regret, as a book lover, was not carving out space for built-in bookshelves along the wall between the kitchen and hallway. Still, for a first-time renovator, she created a bright, personal kitchen that fit the apartment beautifully.
As a book lover, Amanda’s one regret is that they didn’t think to carve out space in the wall shared between the kitchen and the hallway for built-in bookshelves.
Still, as a first-time renovator, we think she did an amazing job, and like other Sweeten clients, she can always return for another renovation someday!
Thank you, Amanda, for sharing this lovely space. We hope that you and your husband enjoy cooking up your next literary masterpieces.
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Renovation materials
KITCHEN RESOURCES:
- EliteTile Artea Porcelain Tile floor tile: Wayfair.
- White shaker cabinets: custom.
- Mushroom knobs and Arendal pull cabinet hardware: Top Knobs.
- Faucet: Wayfair (similar).
- Walnut wood counters: custom.
- Arabesque white backsplash tile: Tiles by Kia, Astoria, NY.
- FlexCount wine fridge: Allavino.
- Capiz Scalloped chandelier: Serena & Lily.
Frequently asked questions
What should I consider before choosing a walnut countertop?
One thing to consider before choosing a walnut wood countertop is that it may need more upkeep than some other countertop materials. In Amanda’s kitchen, the darker wood added warmth and worked well with the patterned floors, but she also knew the surface would require some care over time.
What is a wine fridge?
A wine fridge is a small appliance designed to keep wine at a steady, controlled temperature. In this renovation, adding one next to the dishwasher created a small beverage station without changing the rest of the kitchen layout.
