A Sage Green Kitchen Has a Country Vibe
Keeping the same layout, a fresh slate of materials adds a personal touch
- Homeowners: First-time homeowner Abby posted her project on Sweeten
- Where: Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York
- Primary renovation: A newly-built condo gets a fresh sage green kitchen re-do
- Sweeten general contractor
- Homeowner’s quote: “I had also heard a lot of renovation horror stories about delays, misinformation, and cost overruns. Sweeten was a great resource in making me feel comfortable to undertake the project.”
- Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—at no cost to the homeowner.
Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Abby. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.
Good timing for a renovation
I made my first home purchase during COVID in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. My condo is located in a building built in 2020 and is steps away from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. I was renting in the Flatbush area and my lease wasn’t ending immediately. So, it allowed me to do the renovation before I moved in.
Inspired by a country feel and green kitchens
Although it was new construction, the kitchen felt very dark to me and had a kind of ‘80s vibe. The backsplash had square tiles and dark grout; it reminded me of graph paper.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the cabinets. Although I like color, I preferred a more airy green kitchen color instead of the existing darker cabinets. The kitchen design I wanted was a farmhouse feel, and choosing Shaker-style cabinets would get me there. The open layout of the existing kitchen worked well functionally, so the renovation would be surface only.
As a first-time renovator, I posted my project on Sweeten. They were a great resource for researching contractors, renovation cost guides, and budgets. Starting a conversation with contractors can definitely be intimidating if you haven’t done it before. I would have been pretty lost in terms of finding a reputable professional who I felt was trustworthy. 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!
"We would schedule check-ins every few weeks where I could see the progress on-site, check out samples, and get any questions answered."
Spotlight on sage green kitchen cabinets
Our general contractor custom-made the cabinets. At first we were thinking of just ordering cabinets and painting them, but I think the end result came out really well. I had been thinking about green kitchen cabinets for a long time. Sage green kitchen cabinets have color but is a tone that isn’t overwhelming.
The fixtures would be black to complement the sink which I was planning to keep. I chose a clean white subway tile for the backsplash to maintain a calm and bright look. I think it came out beautifully.
We replaced the old floating shelves with walnut. These would be wall-hung and flushed to the wall, which were more streamlined than the previous ones. Luckily, the existing wood floor was a neutral tone, so no changes were needed for the flooring.
I wasn’t living in the space yet but the renovation went smoothly. I lucked out! The only hiccup was when the entire range hood had to be moved to replace the backsplash which was time-consuming.
The right contractor delivers a dream kitchen
Before the project started, I was mostly concerned with making sure the condo would be done before my lease was up. I had also heard a lot of horror stories about delays, misinformation, and cost overruns. Sweeten was a great renovation resource in making me feel comfortable undertaking the project.
My Sweeten contractor was great to work with. He was very communicative and patient with me as a first-time homeowner and renovator! We would schedule check-ins every few weeks where I could see the progress on-site, check out samples, and get any questions answered.
I love how bright, airy, and clean the new kitchen feels. I also really like the floating shelves. It’s a nice way to display my pottery and glassware that would usually be hidden in a cabinet somewhere.
Renovation Materials
KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen cabinets: Custom millwork by general contractor. Black hardware: Wayfair. Cabinet paint in Saybrook Sage: Benjamin Moore. Flooring, countertops, sink/faucet, appliances, and lighting: Existing.
A note on fixtures and appliance deliveries: If you’re on a tight timeline, Appliances Connection has over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship nationally. If you’re in the NY/NJ metro area, in-stock items typically deliver within 2-3 days.
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