A Studio Apartment Remodel in Gramercy Park as a Pied-à-Terre
A homeowner returns to Sweeten for another renovation
- Homeowners: Charon and Lex posted their studio apartment remodel on Sweeten
- Where: Gramercy Park in Manhattan, NYC
- Primary renovation: Remodel an entire co-op studio for visiting family members
- With: Sweeten general contractor
- Homeowner’s quote: “Having used Sweeten three times now, I can confidently offer some advice to future renovators: Use Sweeten. There are no downsides.”
Written in partnership with homeowner Charon
My name is Charon, and I’m a graphic designer. Together with my husband Lex, we decided to purchase a co-op apartment and embark on a renovation journey.
We needed to update our apartment desperately—a Murphy bed was attached to the wall and we needed to revive the bathroom that was the original. Located in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, the apartment was situated in a building that was built back in 1929. A face-lift for the entire space was a good spot to start.
A pied-à-terre comes into focus
We have three adult children who occasionally visit us. Our vision was to begin the planning of a guest studio where they could stay comfortably. Having their own space was important to us, rather than having them sleep on the couch in our one-bedroom apartment. Additionally, we were quite fond of utilizing the studio’s terrace, which we planned to enjoy ourselves. 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!
Design tricks for a small space
One aspect that excited us the most was improving the kitchen. We had a unique design in mind—enclosing the kitchen with mirrored doors, creating a surprise element. Moreover, when the doors were closed, the mirrors would reflect and open up the small studio, enhancing its visual appeal. We were also thrilled about the prospect of having a quiet and effective air conditioner that didn’t rely on a window installation.
Choosing the right materials was crucial, and we opted for vibrant and saturated tones throughout the apartment. We loved a glossy hunter green tile that we had used in a previous bathroom renovation. It would be featured again in this new bathroom. As for modernizing the kitchen, we wanted something eye-catching, so we selected bright blue cabinets and a colorful terrazzo counter, providing a fun, unexpected twist.
"I had used Sweeten in the past and it was a good fit."
The right contractor for the project
Although the kitchen turned out great, it did come with its fair share of complications. In an old building like ours, none of the walls were straight. So the kitchen is actually a box that was slid into the space. All of the measurements were very tricky.
Sweeten was our first thought when we realized we were going to need a contractor in Manhattan. I had used Sweeten in the past and it was a good fit. I knew that if I were to run into any problems during the project, Sweeten would help me. Having used Sweeten three times now, I can confidently offer some advice to future renovators: Use Sweeten. There are no downsides. You’re working with contractors who are vetted, and Sweeten is always there to step in if needed.
The kitchen truly became the highlight from the start of our entire renovation. In fact, I love every aspect of our transformed apartment. We are able to enjoy it as an entertaining area and our grown children can enjoy it as a place to stay when visiting the city.
Thank you, Charon and Lex, for sharing your pied-à-terre with us!
Renovation Materials
KITCHEN RESOURCES:
- Kitchen cabinets: Custom by contractor
- Countertops and backsplash: Walker Zanger
- Sink and faucet: Kohler
BATHROOM RESOURCES:
- Bathroom and shower floor tile: Cancos
- Hardware and shower fixtures: Simon’s Hardware & Bath
- Bathroom and shower wall tile: Heath Ceramics
- Sink, vanity, and mirror: Kohler
- Toilet: Toto
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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.
