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This well-timed Bed-Stuy remodel preserves an inherited family home for years to come “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten Homeowners: A young couple posted their Bed-Stuy remodel  on Sweeten to revitalize their townhouse Where: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY Primary renovation: Outfit their 1,500-square-foot Bed-Stuy home with a new kitchen, bath, and open-concept living area Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Reimagining the Bed-Stuy home for family life This Bedford-Stuyvesant home once belonged to the homeowner’s grandmother. The home came with fond memories of her childhood, so she happily inherited it. However, as the townhouse had been built in the early 20 th century, it needed a lot of work. She would remodel it to accommodate the needs of her own family. They planned for...

7 renewed living room spaces offer ideas for relaxing and gathering Rivaled only by the kitchen and bedroom, the living room is where you spend most of your time. So, designing it to match your lifestyle and personal aesthetic is key. Here, see how seven homeowners with unique modern living room ideas reimagined their spaces. From large open-concept layouts to smaller spots with creative uses of space, aspiring renovators can find inspiration at every turn. Sweeten  matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Cottage-style living room inspires a calm aesthetic Part of a full-home remodel, this living room  turned from dated to dreamy. Homeowner Monique always loved the idea of a cottage-style home. So, when she bought her 1940s row house in Queens, she hired a Sweeten contractor to help realize her vision. They ripped up the carpet floors to expose beautif...

A personally-designed kitchen and refreshed laundry room revive a historic Los Angeles home “After” photos by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten Homeowners: Chrissy, a costume designer in the film industry, and Matt, a production company operations manager,  posted their project on Sweeten Where: The Historic Filipinotown neighborhood in Los Angeles, California Primary renovation: The couple embarked on a re-envisioning of the existing Art Deco kitchen in a minimalist light Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free Written in partnership with homeowner Chrissy A fashionable—but not functional—period kitchen The kitchen was original from the 1930s and very Hollywood Art Deco. It was just one aspect we loved when we purchased our 1,400-square-foot co-op, located in a 1932 Spanish Revival building in Historic Fil...

Yes, revised estimates are possible, but be ready to compromise and collaborate So you’ve received a remodeling estimate from your Sweeten general contractor. What if the total exceeds your budget—can you ask for a revised estimate? Short answer: Yes, with limitations. Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. When can I ask for a lower or revised renovation estimate? You can generally expect a single round of minor revisions for free. If you need major scope changes or multiple versions of the estimate, expect your contractor to ask for money up-front. This is because calculating estimates requires substantial work. If you hire the contractor, this fee will typically be treated as a deposit and will count toward the total renovation cost. You won’t be out-of-pocket unless you ask a contractor for extensive revisions and then decline to hire them. What r...

This Sweeten contractor in Miami loves to see customer satisfaction at the end of his projects! At  Sweeten , the experts in our network are experienced contractors and design pros we’d be thrilled to have working in our own homes. We check their licenses, insurance, quality of work, and customer service skills. Trust and open communication are the lifeblood of our free renovation service, and our personal connection to our experts enables us to match you to the best choices for your project. Here, get to know their personality and click to view their portfolio, including photos from past work and client reviews, so that you can hire the right team and renovate with confidence. Check out Cesar’s portfolio here Where are you from and how long have you been in construction? I am from the Dominican Republic and we have 33 years in the construction industry. How did you get into this industry...

In this West Village kitchen, a waterfall island adds storage and a work surface “After” photos by Pixy Interiors for Sweeten Homeowners:  Erin and Jonathan posted their West Village kitchen renovation project on Sweeten Where:  West Village, Manhattan, New York Primary renovation: Refresh and create a new kitchen layout in their 750-square-foot apartment Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role:  Sweeten matches residential renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering know-how, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Remodeling an outdated 80’s West Village kitchen Though Erin and Jonathan’s West Village kitchen in their 750-square-foot apartment was, for the most part, functional, it didn’t suit their style. Another downside: the kitchen did not make the best use of the available space. Open to the living area, there was plenty of room to add the built-in island on the couple’s wish list, plus reimagi...

Sweeten’s guide to 2021 home remodeling costs in Dallas: kitchen, bath, whole home; plus outdoor deck & permit costs Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States. It’s the headquarters for multiple Fortune 500 companies like American Airlines. There’s the Dallas Cowboys (as well as real cowboys!) And of course, there’s BBQ. Dallas is a thriving city and a great place to renovate your dream home. Sweeten ‘s guide to 2021 Dallas remodeling costs  provides a jumping-off point to get you on your way with estimates from Sweeten and the 2021 Cost vs Value Report .  Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Developing a budget is your first step to your dream Dallas home. Sweeten contractors will want to sit down with you and inspect your home to reach an accurate number.  Here’s a quick overview of budgets for some typical re...

In this Westchester County home remodel, an architect-led design adds an addition, new interiors, and an outdoor oasis “After” photos by Nicki Chavoya for Sweeten Architect: Shana Sandberg of Revel Craft and Design came to Sweeten and posted the Westchester County home remodel Where: Harrison, New York Primary renovation: A 750-foot home expansion, gut renovations of the kitchen and bathrooms, plus a complete upgrade of the property’s outdoor spaces Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches residential renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering know-how, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free. Written in partnership with Shana Sandberg, owner and principal designer of Revel Craft and Design A country vibe in the Westchester County suburbs “This unbelievable property felt like it was in the country, rather than the suburbs,” Shana Sandberg of Revel Craft and Design said. The 1953 estate, comp...