Sunlit Sanctuary: A Scandi-70s Kitchen’s Radiant Reveal
From a shadowed corner to a beacon of light, Melissa’s Brooklyn kitchen is a masterclass in transformative design. Walls fell, and with them, the constraints of convention. What emerged was a space where matte concrete and gleaming steel harmonize, where Ikea ingenuity meets bespoke craftsmanship, and where the spirit of mid-century modern is reimagined for contemporary living. This is a story of patience, vision, and the undeniable power of a well-executed renovation.
A homeowner brings sunlight—and love of traditional and 70’s design—into her Scandi-style kitchen
- Homeowner: Melissa posted her kitchen renovation project on Sweeten
- Where: Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York
- Primary renovation: Opening up and brightening a corner unit apartment’s kitchen, and infusing it with European design influences, from Scandi to mid-century modern, to ’70s Italian design
- With: Sweeten general contractor
- Homeowner’s quote: “[Our Sweeten contractor] provided a detailed breakdown of the job, budget, and timeline, and ‘stuck to it.'”
Written in partnership with homeowner Melissa. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg.
Post your project on Sweeten for free and make your dream renovation a reality. Sweeten simplifies home renovation by connecting homeowners with top-rated general contractors, handling the vetting process and project management. To learn more about how we can help, check out our home renovation services.
A closed-off Brooklyn kitchen with potential
A beautiful neighborhood, an optimal layout, and a lot of natural light led Melissa to purchase her corner apartment in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill Co-ops. The literary agent planned to renovate the kitchen and remove walls to take advantage of the light from the living area. Melissa also wanted to reflect the building’s mid-century style in her own space. “I wanted mid-century-Scandi-style-kitchen-meets-’70s-Italian-modern with warmer accents in the textiles and color,” she shared. Nearly 14 years after she bought her apartment, Melissa posted her renovation project on Sweeten. She was matched with a contractor who helped her bring her kitchen dreams to life. The wait was worth it. (Even Apartment Therapy thought so, as they covered the transformation as well!)
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 to live, Sweeten to thrive!
Removing walls to create space in the kitchen
Melissa worked with her interior designer, Danielle Herman of Persephone’s Spring, and a Sweeten general contractor to establish a kitchen plan and open up the space. The walls blocking the kitchen off from the living area were the first to go. Fortunately, the impact was instant: the room immediately brightened up. To take advantage of the newfound light, she chose a mix of materials, including matte concrete floor and counters, to balance out the stainless steel appliances. “The goal was to reflect and refract the natural light,” Melissa shared. White Ikea cabinets and floating shelves contribute to the airy and spacious look.
A new peninsula offers additional seating while a built-in nook holds mugs, trinkets, and books. The location of the appliances remained as-is, but without the walls, the cook space revealed a better flow.
Here’s how Sweeten works: We pre-screen them for our network, carefully select the best ones for your remodeling project, and work closely with hundreds of general contractors every day.
The team brings a Scandi-style kitchen to life
Melissa’s designer worked hand-in-hand with her Sweeten contractor executing the vision and selecting finishes, paint colors, and other details. Her contractor also had worked on many apartments in the Clinton Hill Co-ops, so he knew what to expect in terms of plumbing and support walls. “He knew ahead of time where the bodies were buried, so to speak,” Melissa said. He provided a detailed breakdown of the job, budget, and timeline, and “stuck to it.”
Her only regret of the project? Not doing it sooner. Melissa wakes up every day excited “and delighted to return to cook dinner.”
Melissa wakes up every day excited “and delighted to return to cook dinner.”
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your beautiful new mid-century modern kitchen with us!
Planning to renovate? Get free estimates for free!
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.
Renovation materials:
- Cabinets: Ikea
- Ash 24×24 floor tile: TileBar
- Custom open shelves: Ethan Abramson
- Matte concrete countertops: Caesarstone
- Bertazzoni range hood: Bertazzoni
- Lighting: Blu Dot
- Faucet: Delta Faucet
- Lucy stool: Bend Goods
