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A Second Homecoming—from City to Suburb

A Connecticut couple refreshes their first townhouse

In 2016, Brooklyn homeowner Lauren embarked on her first Sweeten renovation. The result: a beautiful alcove studio that was featured in a New York Times story on organizing small spaces. In 2017, she moved to Connecticut to join her fiancé and upgraded to a 3,000-square-foot condo in Stamford.

Space was no longer an issue, but the home appeared to be stuck in the early ‘80s. There was also a suspiciously damp smell from the accumulation of several leaks during the previous owners’ time there. Given her positive past experience with Sweeten, Lauren returned to post her latest project to find the best contracting team. (Luckily, Sweeten had recently expanded its free service, matching homeowners with vetted general contractors, to Fairfield County.) Read on for her take on renovating with Sweeten outside of New York City!

Guest post by Stamford homeowner Lauren

This is now my second Sweeten renovation and my first time renovating with my fiancé, Austin. After remodeling my Brooklyn Heights co-op, I ended up moving to Stamford, Connecticut, the following year and started looking for a condo to buy with Austin. The search didn’t take long and we found a 3-bed, 2.5-bath townhouse that was in need of some updating before we moved in. The unit had lots of potential, but it was dated and hadn’t really been touched since it was first built over 30 years ago: orange oak kitchen cabinets, vinyl flooring, wall-to-wall carpeting, mirrored walls—you get the idea.

Once we had a vision for the space, and given how smoothly my first renovation experience had gone, it was only natural that we turned to Sweeten again to help us find our contractor. The Sweeten contractor we chose was incredibly organized, professional, and had a very detailed quote, which we appreciated. Some contractors struck us as too hopeful with regard to project scope, while others were “doom-and-gloom” purveyors, finding calamity behind every piece of drywall. Our contractor tempered our enthusiasm by identifying challenges we didn’t see coming but never told us something couldn’t be done. He was attentive and imaginative.

Since I was leaving my recently renovated apartment to start our life together in Stamford, we needed to bring some of the modern city elements to the suburbs. One of the challenges was the large amount of space to be updated without having a huge budget. Since we had plans to grow into the space over time, we decided to focus on the areas we’d use the most—the first two floors and the master bathroom. We wanted the unit to feel current with our own choices but without ripping everything out.

Austin and I worked really well together and collaborated on elements that were important to us. He pushed for the recessed lighting in the kitchen and dining room, whereas I was excited about the engineered floor and spent weeks reviewing my selection. Believe it or not, I found the flooring company on a deep-dive on Instagram. There were no local distributors or showrooms, but I was able to track down a salesperson in Texas who helped me select the material remotely. When it arrived, I knew it was the best decision; it really transformed the space.

From the start, we knew the wall-to-wall carpet on the first two floors would be replaced with engineered hardwood. The kitchen cabinets would be repainted and new appliances added. We increased the kitchen storage and functionality by adding the Simple Human under-sink trash and recycling bins. Roll-out chrome baskets held strainers and cleaning supplies and pot lids sat on racks.

Adding a bill-paying station/drop zone just outside the kitchen made a big difference. It used to be an extra kitchen cabinet. But in order to make the space work for us, I knew we needed a work area that wasn’t the dining room table.

In the master bedroom, we added California Closets to maximize the space. The closets had an odd layout, so a custom system enabled us to design it to fit our needs. The master bath was refreshed with new tile and fixtures.

An entryway on the lower level from the garage leads you to our gym. Our Sweeten contractor worked incredibly hard on these stairs after the carpeting was removed. He showed his skills laying down the plank, nosing, and risers, especially with the corners and angles.

A home gym/multipurpose room was created on the lower level. Our contractor covered the concrete floor with a specific floor paint as a moisture barrier and then laid down interlocking foam floor tiles. They were more cost-effective and functional than continuing the engineered wood into this space.

Every renovation has its ups and downs. In this one, we kept discovering water damage! When we bought the condo, it had a musty smell, so we knew we were going to find some sort of water issue, but I don’t think we realized how much. The previous owners just covered up rotten subfloor with new carpeting in multiple places. And when they decided the lower level needed a closet, they just framed it out right on top of the shag! So it proved comical when we tried to remove the old carpet and found ourselves using pliers to get every last bit of remnant out.

Our Sweeten contractor and his team worked late into the evenings and on many weekends to keep up with our scheduled move-in date. Unfortunately, our flooring got delayed, and that held him up, but he was proactive and able to work on other projects in the apartment.

Now that the renovation is complete, we learned it will always take longer than you had hoped, but in the end, it’s all worth it. Make all of your design selections in advance of starting construction. You can cut down on costs by taking on some of the work yourself, but there’s a reason why professional contractors stay in business. They quickly finished what would have been gargantuan tasks to amateurs like us.

Austin and I love our new space. Friends and family come over and are so impressed with the transformation. My second Sweeten renovation went as well as my first, and I think it speaks to the company and the quality contractors that are in the Sweeten network.

Lauren and Austin, thanks for showing us your updated townhouse—and for being repeat customers! We love “serial renovators”!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Newport Collection Monterrey oak floor: Garrison Collection. Kitchen cabinets: Original. Smoke Embers paint color: Benjamin Moore. Martha Stewart Collection cabinet hardware: Home Depot. Kraus sink/faucet: Home Depot. Samsung range, Samsung microwave, and Bosch dishwasher: Lowe’s.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Festival Metro White Matte Hexagon Porcelain Mosaic floor tile: Floor & Decor. Bright Tender Gray Subway Ceramic Tile wall tile: Floor & Decor. Purist towel bar, shower fixtures, and toilet paper holder: Kohler. Sink/vanity: Lowe’s. Kohler toilet: Home Depot. Lighting: Destination Lighting. Sink mirror: Lowe’s. Vanity mirror: Pottery Barn.

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When it came time to move into a larger space, Chong and Adam upgraded from a small apartment in Jersey City to a condo in Fort Lee and renovated the kitchen, dining area, and bathrooms.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

A Return for a Royal Blue Bath

After a Sweeten kitchen reno, Kate and Daniel take on the bath

Project: Update an inefficient bathroom in Queens

Before: Kate and her husband, Daniel, had lived in their two-bedroom co-op in Jackson Heights, Queens, for four years. Redoing the bathroom and kitchen were always on the table, but since Daniel is a food writer who needed to experiment with recipes, he went to Sweeten for the kitchen renovation first. “We didn’t have the funds to do them both at the same time,” explained Daniel. Fast forward a few years and a baby on the way “really forced our hand with the bathroom renovation,” he said. “We are either doing it now or never.”

Adding a bathtub was just the immediate necessity. There was also an issue with the water temperature; the shower would either freeze or scald you. The radiator was installed on a wall above head height, which Daniel thought was odd. (“Doesn’t hot air rise?”  he asked.) The bathroom looked like it had been revamped in the ’70s with plenty of drab beige tiles decorated with floral prints. The couple wanted to bring the lagging aesthetic in-line with the prewar design of the building.

After: One of the most important aspects of the renovation was the timeline. They came back to Sweeten, a free service that connects homeowners with vetted contractors, and found their general contractor. “We have this baby coming. Please, please don’t let there be construction going on when we have a baby,” Daniel recalled saying. Their Sweeten contractor understood the tight timeframe and kept the project moving, finishing a month before baby Adrian arrived.

The radiator dilemma was a key feature that Kate and Daniel’s Sweeten team helped to resolve. At one point, there was a complicated plan to rerun the steam pipe so the radiator could be installed on the floor. However, the plumber on their Sweeten team guided them toward removing the radiator altogether. The risky decision was a winner, with the rest of the apartment generating enough heat to keep the bathroom warm.

Fixing the water temperature issue was another unknown. The problem could have been in the wall of the bathroom or elsewhere in the building. Thankfully, it turned out to be inside the wall. “Our water temperature control is so beautiful, I feel like I am in a hotel,” said Daniel.

As for the aesthetic, the couple spent a lot of time on Pinterest. They went with classic subway tile for the walls and hexagonal tile in a royal blue colorway for the floor. Salvaged redwood planks along the bathtub added some warmth. The gold fixtures were an effort to mimic the brass found throughout the rest of the apartment.

Bonus: While on a trip to Puebla, Mexico, a few years ago, the couple bought a box of hand-painted tiles with no real purpose in mind. When Kate and Daniel’s Sweeten contractor proposed a nook in the shower for soap, they were able to incorporate some of the tiles into the design.

Style finds: Floor tile: American Restoration Tile. Wall tile: Daltile. Shower fixtures and toilet: Kohler. Charlottesville 42″ vanity in light gray: Fairmont Designs. Salvaged wood planks: Sawkill Lumber. Mirror: Restoration Hardware. Brass towel bars and train rack: Rejuvenation. Lighting and coat hooks: Schoolhouse Electric.

Check out Kate and Daniel’s Sweeten kitchen renovation here!

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A bright blue waterfall of penny tile sets the tone in Rachel and Michael’s prewar, Jackson Heights bath.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

Best of Manhattan: The Upper West Side

Our favorite projects nestled between the Hudson River and Central Park West

Once home to Nora Ephron, John Lennon, and countless other writers, artists, and musicians, the Upper West Side boasts a lively history that’s been captured in a myriad of films and immortalized in books. Broadway runs through it, and landmarks like the Apthorp, the Dakota, and Lincoln Center lend their impressive architecture to the texture of the neighborhood. The brownstone-lined blocks are quiet in the early mornings and evenings, making it an ideal spot for city dwellers seeking solitude. Join us as we take a look at some of the Sweeten renovations in the neighborhood.

As an Upper West Sider, Christine guided her apartment search by one very important piece of criteria: the new place could be no more than 10 blocks from Zabar’s! Unfortunately, the right location came with outdated finishes and peeling paint. Sweeten entered the picture, helping Christine renovate the kitchen and outfit the rest of the apartment with built-ins in every room to store her massive collection of books and artwork, adding character to the space.

A bigger home was just what Sophia and Leon needed when they decided to grow their family. The apartment they found on the Upper West Side had been laid out like a rabbit warren, and although the latest arrival to their family was tiny, the space would have to fit the three of them comfortably for years to come. Taking down the walls and connecting the kitchen to both the living and dining rooms gave the family plenty of room to spread out. The decision to go open-plan also came with the added bonus of improving the flow of natural light throughout the space.

Lindsay and Tim landed on Central Park West when it came time to purchase their first home together. The apartment had plenty of square footage, but the rooms felt dark and cramped. Restructuring the layout to join the kitchen with the dining room created the perfect spot to host dinner parties, while classic finishes and a muted palette throughout paid homage to the apartment’s prewar roots.

Preparing for a baby meant shuffling the floor plan of Karen and Kevin’s Upper West Side apartment to fit a nursery and a kid-friendly bathroom. The small dining area at the end of the kitchen was sealed off and transformed into the baby’s room. In the bathroom, the grimy tiling was replaced with crisp white subway tile and the bulky bath was swapped out for a new, standard-sized tub, making room for an open console vanity and a basket of bathtime essentials.

Heather loved everything about her Upper West Side apartment except the galley kitchen, which was functional but felt like cooking inside of a shoebox. Her Sweeten renovation opened up the kitchen to the dining room, converting the half wall into a peninsula with deep storage drawers on one side and bar seating on the other. The transformation was just what she needed to take the space from just another place in the world to her home sweet home.

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Take a tour of the best Sweeten renovations in Queens and Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

A Stamp of Approval for a Westchester Home

A major kitchen and bath renovation finally shines

More than a decade ago, Tracey and Brian McFarland bought a home in Pelham Manor, New York. From the start, Tracey wanted to redo the kitchen, and Brian—an architect—had gone through 11 floor plan options for this remodel. Perhaps an occupational hazard when you’re a professional in the field, but, as they tell us, “We needed to strengthen the marriage through a series of smaller tests. First, we did the hall bath, which no guests ever see. Then we did a trial kitchen project at [Tracey’s] family’s country house in the Berkshires. Then we did a bathroom in that house. We’re still married, so we decided it was time to try a more visible project that every guest in our home would see.”

Read on for Brian’s take on how they worked together to renovate their kitchen and powder room for their family. The results are well worth the wait!

Guest post by Westchester homeowner Brian McFarland

We spent nearly 14 years in our house before taking on this renovation. We had talked about it for years, and finally just grew too tired of trying to hold the existing kitchen and powder room together as parts kept failing or wearing out. Really, the kitchen was on Tracey’s list from the time we first made an offer on the house. The property is a 2,300-square-foot home constructed in 1920. It’s not very typical of any identifiable style, but if a realtor were listing it, they’d probably misidentify it as a Colonial.

The flow of the ground floor of our house was a mix of the original ‘20s layout and alterations made in the last 20 to 30 years. Circulation was difficult and space-consuming. Also, the prior kitchen alterations were done with materials that had now outlived their reasonable life cycle. It had always wanted to be re-done and now it finally would be.

When we posted our project to Sweeten, we didn’t have a clear vision of a specific look or style—at least not a consensus. The focus was to simplify and yield more functional space. It was also important to create a working side of the eat-in area of the kitchen with storage and a pantry. We planned to keep the appliances but wanted new countertops, cabinets, floors, and backsplash. In an effort to improve flow, we also knocked down walls in a coat closet area and moved the powder room. Lastly, we planned to close up an exterior door that was never used. We chose this Sweeten contractor for the job with me doing the planning and sourcing of most of the materials, while Tracey handled most of the day-to-day communications with the contractor.

We were most excited about getting rid of the ceramic tile floor. It really was evil. Every time we cleaned it, it got dirtier.

The demolition was scheduled to begin on the first day of our summer vacation. We thought that the Village was going to permit that based on materials that had already been provided to them. We heard from our contractor that he needed signed-and-sealed drawings even to begin demolition. I served as the architect on our project and happened to be in Virginia Beach at the time. I really should have known better. Luckily, being the son of a fireman and a one-time Boy Scout, I’m always prepared for an architectural emergency. What architect worth his eyeglasses goes on vacation without his seal (and, yes, stamp pad) and an external drive with his current projects? After all, nowadays, you can architect from anywhere with an iPhone, Google Maps, and Kinko’s/FedEx.

Blue is Tracey’s favorite color. We went through the Benjamin Moore fan deck looking for blues and expected to do a custom color. It turned out that Omega’s blue stock color for the cabinets was very close to a paint color swatch that we had chosen. We were very pleased to be able to save the extra time and money. Originally, Tracey said she was thinking white upper cabinets and blue lower cabinets with wood floors, but I wanted something more uniform. In the end, we chose blue cabinets for both the upper and lower cabinets, but with a white interior and glass fronts, so we each got a little of what we wanted.

We were most excited about getting rid of the ceramic tile floor. It really was evil. Every time we cleaned it, it got dirtier. We tried an exorcist but, apparently, they don’t do floors. It certainly didn’t help that it was more of a painted clay tile than a glazed ceramic tile. Underneath the thin beige-y surface coat was a red clay body, and the finished surface didn’t have anywhere near the tensile strength to overcome the flex in the floor that had been caused by some crude cuts made in the joists below in a prior alteration. Not only was the surface always dirty, but there were always red clay particles roaming around the floor.

I had fallen in love with a Porcelanosa tile pattern in blue shades. Tracey said she was surprised as it was completely outside the box of what she expected me to pick. She loved it—and now loves it even more because it doesn’t show any dirt, she says. We both love the new sink base with deep drawers, in lieu of cabinet doors. No more bending and fishing through the growing variety of cleaning supplies hiding deep in the back of the cabinet.

The pantry is Tracey’s favorite part of the renovation. Hands down. She’s so proud of it, she keeps the door open all the time. And I close it every time I go by.

In the powder room, we went with a pocket door as a space-saving solution. We chose simple grey flooring, a compact modern sink, and a single hanging pendant. My favorite part of the renovation is the simplicity of the powder room with the glazed door, and the large window in it. Its remote location provides all the privacy it needs.

Importantly, Sweeten helped us find the right contractor, especially by knowing when to suggest, “Maybe if you increase your budget a bit….” The recurring calls by account managers to monitor progress were welcome evidence that Sweeten maintained an interest in the project being delivered successfully. Our Sweeten contractor did just what he needed to do and treated the project as a business venture, whereas we behaved as if it was our home and we wanted it to be just right. He always knew when to suggest a solution to coax a decision, and retained a remarkably even temper throughout, even when we probably didn’t deserve it.

In terms of advice to future renovators: decide EVERYTHING before you start. Trust me, there are going to be things you never even dreamed of, so the last thing you need is an outstanding to-do list when tradesmen are in your house, swinging tools, asking you new questions every day.

We feel our renovation was an even more dramatic change than we had expected. The whole flow of the house is better. Believe it or not, we see our teenagers more because the kitchen is now a pleasant, comfortable place where they sometimes linger for a few minutes before retreating back to their rooms. The only way I could be happier with it was if it was free!

Thank you, Tracey and Brian, for sharing your long-awaited renovation with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Roche Acero floor tile; Antique Acero stenciled floor tile: Porcelanosa. Williamsburg kitchen cabinets in Blue Lagoon: Omega Cabinetry. Unique Venatino quartz countertops and backsplash: Compac. Pescara sink: Franke. Trinsic faucet: Delta. Range, refrigerator, and vented convection microwave, Café Collection: GE. Dishwasher: Miele. Everly lighting: Kichler. Pantry barn door: Simpson. Pantry door hardware: White Shanty.

POWDER ROOM RESOURCES: Porcelanosa Ferroker floor and wall tile: Tiles & Bathrooms. Ara bath accessories: Delta. Sink and toilet: DXV. Sonneman Mercury Orb lighting: Lamps.com.

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Shaker-style simplicity transformed this Westchester kitchen from its dark ’70s-era vibe to a bright space with clean lines.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

A Grimy Bathroom Cleans Up Nicely

A soothing white palette leads the way in this refresh

Project: A rip-and-replace bathroom in Yorkville, Manhattan

Before: Deborah purchased this 1-bed, 1-bath co-op apartment and within a year, she could no longer live with the old, grimy tiles and outdated look, so she turned to Sweeten. Her Sweeten design-build firm went to work freshening up the space (she redid her kitchen as well; see results here). The goal was to modernize the small space with new fixtures and finishes while retaining the original footprint. “I wasn’t allowed to expand the existing footprint,” says Deborah, “because my co-op wouldn’t allow a ‘wet space-over-dry-space’ rule.”

When they went to demo the bathroom, the contractor discovered that the waste lines were all sunk into the floor, rather than the walls, where they are usually found. They had to redo them all, which added an additional week to the project for inspections and approvals and an extra cost.

After: A calm color palette provides a serene spot to get ready for the day. White subway tile and a subtle gray paint on the walls are paired with a modern white floating vanity with custom pull-out drawers, which provides more accessible and usable space than traditional doors. The vanity, with ample storage, was a suggestion by her contractor and “meant I didn’t need a bulky medicine cabinet,” said Deborah.

A metal grille cover was created for the radiator. A combination of white-plank open shelving and a glass shelf above the toilet provide plenty of display space for small toiletries. The Sweeten contractor also came up with the idea to add the paneling on the side of the bathtub for a classic look, as well as framing the window in white Thassos marble molding. Topped off with a frameless shower enclosure, the space is functional and beautiful, a major improvement from its predecessor. “My contractor was excellent with design,” she said. “I am thrilled with my new bathroom.”

Bonus: Everyone loves a window in the bathroom, and the Sweeten contractor was sure to frame this one with a waterproof application that would keep the space watertight for years to come.

Style finds: White Thassos Mosaic floor tile and Abecks ceramic wall tile: Complete Tile. Brushed nickel shower fixtures and sink: Hansgrohe. White floating vanity: Plain and Fancy. Toilet: Toto.

See Deborah’s full kitchen transformation here!

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Mary Ann and Frank designed a calmer, less cluttered space for their master bath.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

Urban Decay Beached Collection is Giving Me Mermaid Vibes

It’s been a while since I’ve been obsessed with a summer beauty collection. Then, the Urban Decay Beached Collection showed up on my doorstep. The mix of matte and shimmery nudes, bronzes, and turquoise shades has me swooning. Inspired by Southern California, even the packaging is on point and is giving me major mermaid vibes.

The palette launched exclusively at Ulta.com last Friday. Urban Decay also released two 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, three sheer lipsticks, and two silky, matte bronzers that I’ll also review in this post.

First, let’s talk about this eyeshadow palette. I have several palettes in my makeup arsenal, but most of them are neutral matte shadows. This one is like no other palette I’ve owned before. Double Dip and Plunge look insanely gorgeous swatched and I’m just hoping—no praying—that I can pull off an eye look with these shades. Although it might not look like I swatched every shade on my arm, Salt, basically melted onto my skin. That just goes to show how pale I really am.

I haven’t been wearing eyeliner late but Urban Decay also released two 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil shades: Lucky, a metallic burnt orange (almost copper) shade and Goldmine, a sparkly yellow gold. Together, they look like a stunning sunset on the eyes but personally, I would only opt for Lucky (if I wore any eyeliner).

Now, on to the Beached Vice Lipsticks. Tower 1 is a glittery metallic peach (but it’s so sheer, you almost can’t see it). Heatwave is a light metallic rust and 100 Degrees is a coral pink with red undertones. I never wear lipstick in the summer but these sheer formulas have me changing my tune.

Finding a bronzer for my pale skin isn’t easy. Usually they look muddy or orange on my skin tone. Urban Decay has two matte bronzing powders in this collection: one shade is a light-medium (Sun-Kissed) and the other is a medium-dark (Bronzed). The lighter of the two was still a little too dark for my complexion but I’m hoping with a little faux tanner, this will look more natural on me come June or July.

Bottom line—I highly recommend the palette, especially if you’re in need of one for summer. 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Lucky is worth the $20 and if you are in the mood to splurge, Heatwave or 100 Degrees are my recommendations.

Will you be adding anything from the Urban Decay Beached Collection to your next Ulta haul?

Source Politics of Pretty

[rachelmorris305]

Studio Apartments: The Secret to Storage

When one spot isn’t enough, here’s how to stash your stuff

In a studio apartment, closet and storage space is scarce. Your only options for keeping everything in your home are being surrounded by your stuff 24/7 or adopting a minimalist lifestyle and ditching most of your belongings. Neither are perfect solutions. Instead, reimagine the closet, not as a single space where you keep everything, but as multiple spaces throughout your home. Take inspiration from five resourceful renovators who came to Sweeten—a free service matching homeowners with vetted general contractors—and see where things can go in a small space.

A low wall of cabinets in Matthew’s bedroom is the perfect storage alternative to the missing closet, providing ample clothing and shoe storage. Aligning the top of the built-in with the lower half of the window not only keeps it from making the room feel smaller but—voilà!—he now has a window seat.

Square footage was limited in Lauren’s tiny kitchen, so she took a blank wall and loaded it up with storage for a hidden pantry and fridge—plus, a coat closet! Tucking everything out of sight provides an uncluttered and sophisticated look.

The lack of closets in Kim and Ian’s studio meant that they had to get creative when it came to clothing storage. A custom walnut cabinet in the bedroom area with a mahogany finish takes advantage of empty wall space and adds some visual interest.

In Ying’s studio, she took the average closet build and turned it inside out, adding cabinet storage, shelving, and drawers along the perimeter of the main living area.

Miguel’s bedroom had a new entryway, but no closet space whatsoever, so he designed a custom sliding door that doubled as wardrobe storage.

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Can you make studio living more comfortable? We think so! Carve out spots in your home for working and dining.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

Here’s What I Bought in My Sephora Haul

I thought I was going to deplete my bank account when I initially put together my wish list for the Sephora sale, but between shopping the new Gal Meets Glam collection and Marc Fisher blush espadrilles, I decided to scale back. Here’s what I got from my mini Sephora haul…

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Au Naturel: I mentioned this in my pre-sale wish list post. I love the matte finish and the nude-ish color. It’s slight darker than what I was expecting, but that’s even better because it gives me some nice definition to my eyes. These caviar sticks are so easy to blend and go.

Milk Makeup Cooling Water: I’ve always been curious to try this brand. The cooling stick really feels like an actual cooling stick. Not freezing like an ice cube, but enough to help de-puff in the morning and overall refresh my face.

Milk Makeup Blur Stick: This product surprised me the most. It’s a colorless universal primer but at first glance, it looks like a bronzer. This primer reduced any redness I had and made my pore sizes at least 2x smaller in about 45 seconds after applying. I was impressed!

St. Tropez Tan Applicator Mitt: I think I mentioned this in my pre-sale wish list. I lost my original mitt sometime last year and desperately needed it for summer. Will do a post as it gets closer to summer on my favorite faux tanning products, because a tan applicator mitt is a must-have.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector Skin Tint SPF 25: I bought this on a whim, after reading a review on The Beauty Look Book (although, she said she “liked it but didn’t love it.” I love anything with a dewy finish and this does not disappoint. This definitely has more coverage than the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, plus it has SPF. I was originally going to buy a popular matte foundation but I realized I’m not a foundation girl. I’m going to opt for sheer coverage until I can’t wear it anymore.

No regrets here! Let me know what you purchased in your Sephora haul.

Source Politics of Pretty

[rachelmorris305]

A Duplex Renovated for a New Role

A Manhattan couple chooses to reinvent vs. relocate

With a little one in the plans, Rachel and Marco needed to renovate or move out from the Greenwich Village apartment they loved. Turning a two-bedroom into a three-bedroom took careful planning, but after years in their home, they knew just what they needed to do to create a flexible yet sophisticated home that would accommodate everyone. The couple came to Sweeten, a free service matching homeowners with vetted general contractors, to modify their duplex for a growing family.

Guest post by Greenwich Village homeowner Rachel

This is our first home, which we bought about six years ago just after we got married. When we were planning to expand our family, we knew we had to renovate or move. There was enough square footage, but we needed more distinct rooms or spaces. The apartment is a duplex co-op in Greenwich Village, built in 1910. There are only 40-something units and six floors in the building and everyone sort of knows and looks out for each other. We love Greenwich Village so much and I really wanted to have the experience of raising a baby here. So, we renovated!

Living here for so long before the renovation was really helpful since it gave us plenty of time to think about the best possible use of the space. We had a two-bedroom, two-bath, but wanted another bedroom for a baby. The old layout didn’t really work for entertaining, either—the kitchen and dining room were upstairs while the living room was downstairs. Marco and I also wanted our own personal spaces within our home for his hobbies and for my closet/office. Overall, we were looking to create a comfortable family home that met everyone’s needs.

Our apartment is set back from the other units in our building and I always think of it as a hidden gem—a colorful, fun place where you could see a little girl growing up, sophisticated yet flexible enough to accommodate events like playdates and parties. We posted our project on Sweeten, which connected us with our general contractors, who were really amazing. On top of being creative problem solvers, they were incredibly nice guys.

The top floor would be a combined kitchen/dining/living area, so the kitchen needed to be functional but also beautiful enough for a dinner party. We hid most of the appliances behind paneled cabinets; an “appliance garage” and snack storage were organized inside hallway cabinets outfitted with marble countertops. When we have family-style dinners, we set up the self-serve dishes and bar in those spaces. So, yes, you’re in a kitchen, but it’s also an elegant dining room.

I cook a lot and was so excited for the stove. I wanted one of those fancy French stoves that come in custom colors, but they are so expensive! I found this one from Big Chill, which is a U.S. manufacturer, for maybe one-third the price. (They also do custom colors.) The cabinet color was chosen to match the stove, so this appliance is “hidden,” too. We wanted something different from the typical all-white kitchen that would also complement the light wood floors. This almost-black shade is just a little more interesting than plain black. It took lots of trips to Benjamin Moore for swatches!

We put a lot of thought into maximizing space and brainstorming with our Sweeten contractors. We really pushed them to be creative. I just kept saying, “We need to hide the trash and we need a spice cabinet. Where can we do it?” I wouldn’t let up! The answer was wrapping the cabinets around the pillar and also where the lower cabinets end, which created a finished look. There were other details: I don’t think you can go wrong with big molding. I chose the largest size I could find for the ceilings, doors, and floors! It makes a big difference for not a huge cost.

There were a few challenges such as the flooring, which was supposed to be a light wood with a matte finish. I had an image in my mind of exactly what it should look like. Unfortunately for everyone, it took a couple of tries to get it just right, including completely refinishing the downstairs floors more than once. I blame the baby hormones!

Then there was the fireplace, which was very old and nonfunctioning. Our contractors figured out that it wasn’t even capable of working; it was a faux fireplace that took up space for no reason. They removed it, and we gained floor space.

We also needed to make brand new brick match with brick from 1910. Our contractors came up with a solution that was even better than what we had imagined. We repaired some portions, which was very expensive, and painted the wall solid white, stripping that paint off layer by layer to create the current washed effect. That helped to blend the new and (very) old brick.

The bathroom needed updating, too. It was really old with a weirdly-shaped, very deep, mini tub. I still don’t know why it was like that. We installed a beautiful regular-sized tub and shower tile I had seen in another project our contractors had done, which I loved. I pushed hard to put in a double-wide mirror, even though there were a lot of issues with making a recessed cabinet fit the space. I’m glad I persevered because it makes the room so much bigger.

Marco and I have always believed in having our own spaces. We divided what used to be a huge bedroom into two separate spaces to create his office and my closet. Marco needed his own space where he could work on his hobbies without driving me crazy! He likes to do things that create dust and noise and play his music really loud. He works hard during the week, so he should have a place to do that! The office is actually soundproofed so he won’t wake the baby.

Throughout the process, Sweeten was great; they continually checked in with us. I knew I could go to them if there was ever an issue with our contractor. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you need to pick finishes in person whenever possible. It’s really difficult to imagine what crown molding, counters, or other elements look like on a computer screen.

Thank you, Rachel and Marco, for sharing your renovation journey with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Kitchen cabinets: Showplace Cabinetry. Black of Night cabinet paint color: Benjamin Moore. Cabinet hardware: Lewis Dolin. Sink and faucet: Newport Brass. Refrigerator: Sub-Zero. Stove: Big Chill. Dining table: ModShop. Dining stools: CB2.

LIVING ROOM RESOURCES: Crown molding: ArchitecturalDepot.com. Sofas: Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams. Rug: AllModern. Bookshelves: CB2.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Hardware, shower fixtures, and toilet: Kohler. Sink and vanity: Restoration Hardware. White Wisp paint color: Benjamin Moore.

MASTER BEDROOM RESOURCES: River Blue paint color: Benjamin Moore. Arc Floor Lamp: Sit Down New York. Console: West Elm. Stool: Wayfair.

NURSERY RESOURCES: Sun Kissed Peach paint color: Benjamin Moore. Wall art: Johanna Goodman. Crib and upholstered chair: Babyletto.

OFFICE RESOURCES: Baby Seal Black paint color: Benjamin Moore. Closet system: California Closets.

WALK-IN CLOSET RESOURCES: Closet system: The Container Store.

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A Greenwich Village loft gets a bright and airy makeover.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

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BFB Two Piece : Short Hair Fill Ins

Awesome post by Barefoot Blonde

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Modern Kitchens Bring the Warmth

Simple ideas for the cook space deliver a big impact

If you value a calm, clutter-free space to do your cooking, consider the sleek and minimalist approach of the modern kitchen. The formula is simple: flat-front cabinets, integrated appliances, and little visual interruption. If that sounds like a recipe for a room that feels cold and empty, think again. Here are six kitchens by Sweeten homeowners that combine personal touches with clean lines and carefully edited design.

In Marissa and Cody’s kitchen, an all-white backdrop of IKEA cabinets and a matte hexagon tile backsplash create a neutral base while the wood-paneled island and oak flooring add a touch of warmth.

To create a seamless look, Lauren swapped her range for a cooktop, nestled within the quartzite countertop, and oven, disguised with paneling to match the surrounding blue cabinets. White floor tile in the kitchen visually separates the space from the dining and living room.

Opening up the ceiling and exposing beams allowed Lia and Chris to bring an unexpected industrial element into their kitchen. Another refreshing detail: horizontal cabinets that echo the bold lines of the ceiling. To tie the look together, the existing hardwood floors were sanded down and brushed with a soft matte gray finish.

Kate and Arthur took the opposite approach to the standard white kitchen and opted for black cabinets, matte black backsplash tile, and soapstone countertops. A black sink basin completes the monochrome look.

To amp up the brightness in their windowless kitchen, Tara and Ryan chose glossy white cabinets and matched their backsplash to their countertops. The original Corinthian column lends character to the space.

Alicia and Ed streamlined their kitchen design with gray, flat-front cabinets and a seamless white countertop that continues in a waterfall edge. A few, thoughtfully placed items along the counter keep the space from feeling sterile.

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Want to learn how to create a seamless kitchen? Read our blog post on integrated design.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

Current Spring Makeup Favorites

While I love sharing my thoughts on new products, I also love rediscovering old favorites. While there’s no particular theme for this makeup roundup (I guess you could say all of these products are great for warmer weather), I thought I would share a handful of current spring makeup favorites.

Benefit Hoola Lite: There’s nothing better than finding old product favorites while cleaning. This is a natural light bronzer with a matte finish—a nice alternative when I don’t want shimmer. Most bronzers look muddy or orange on my skin but this one is the exception. The brush is useless though. I use my own contour brush from EcoTools to apply and blend.

Honest Beauty Concealer Duo*: I’m somewhat tired of my Glossier Stretch Concealer, mainly because it doesn’t give me enough coverage (although, I do like the dewy finish). When I tried this concealer duo, I felt like it instantly corrected and concealed my dark under eye circles without feeling heavy on my skin. I wear the lightest shade, Vanishing Vanilla.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+: I’ve always been able to get by using skin tints or tinted moisturizers but lately it’s been breakout central and this CC cream is a life saver for my complexion. I use a foundation brush (also from IT) to blend and buff on my face and it has SPF—a win for spring and summer.

Anastasia Brow Wiz: My friend and fellow blogger, Victoria, raved about this brow pencil. It’s a double-ended tool with the brow pencil on one end and a spoolie brush on the other. For reference, I wear the shade Medium Brown. It’s great for filling in sparse areas in the most natural way possible. Between this and Glossier Boy Brow, my collection is complete.

Urban Decay Petite Heat Palette*: I’m such a sucker for Urban Decay palettes—especially their matte shades. The original Naked Heat Palette inspired this mini, and I say inspired because it featured four matte shades and one semi-matte highlight, none of which are in the original. The size is perfect for travel and I’m obsessed with the color payoff.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso*: This is one of the few peach blush compacts that look good on my fair complexion. I can wear this to work for a full 8-hour day and it still looks great. The color is fresh and uplifting, yet not too overwhelming.

Stila Smudge Stick in Moray: I rarely wear black eyeliner thanks to this gorgeous golden olive green smudge stick. I like to use this to outline the outer corners of my eyes in conjunction with Glossier Lidstar in Herb. It really brings out the green in my eyes.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder: I mentioned this in my favorite setting powders post and the more I use it, the more I love it. This powder has a silky finish that feels so light on my fair skin. The application with the mini puff is key though. First, you need to prep the puff. Then you have to gently press and roll onto the skin to work the powder in. Needless to say, it’s a little time consuming and I only recommend buying this if you’re a perfectionist.

* The asterisk means product was gifted to me. As always, opinions are my own.

What’s currently on your list of spring makeup favorites?

P.S. Don’t forget, the Sephora Spring Bonus Event ends today! It’s your last chance to stock up on your own spring makeup favorites.

Rouge Members: receive 15% off, use code YAYROUGE VIB Members: receive 15% off, use code YAYVIB BI Members: receive 10% off, use code YAYINSIDER

Source Politics of Pretty

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Do I miss my Bangs?

Awesome post by Barefoot Blonde

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When Pros Design Their Family Home

Two architects draft a colorful co-op in Brooklyn

With a baby on the way and an energetic dog named Alfie, Terri Lee and Brett Appel needed a larger apartment. The couple had a design advantage from the start: Brett runs his own custom residential architecture practice and Terri works for one of the largest architecture firms in New York. They wanted to find something that they could gut renovate and design to their own specifications. Being in the business was a plus as they turned this rundown co-op into something they could call their own.

(Befores) Living room (left), bedroom (right)

The 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath apartment was in an 82-unit co-op in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. It was in terrible condition, which made it easier to rip everything out and redesign the apartment exactly the way they wanted. They found their contractor after talking with friends (one of whom is also an architect) who had used Sweeten and ended up using the same contractor.

When Terri and Brett posted their project on Sweeten, they were upfront about the existing conditions and scope of work. They wanted a contractor who would tell them whether the work could be done within their budget, or if they needed to scale back. “Fortunately, we found the right contractor who was very happy to work with us so we could get everything we wanted,” Brett said.

The couple’s design vision was to combine shades of gray with natural wood to make the home seem as bright and large as possible without being too monotone. “We also didn’t want the renovated space to compete with our brightly colored furniture,” Brett said. Their primary objective in terms of gaining space was to add a second bathroom, which they achieved by rearranging the bedroom doors and reducing the size of the hallway closets.

The entry foyer was a bit of a challenge. It’s two steps above the living room and contains the dining space, which was small. They relocated the steps down to the living room from the center to the side and replaced the guardrails with a continuous double-sided built-in bookcase custom-designed by the contractor’s millworker. The raised platform was extended to create a larger dining space, while the closet expanded for more stroller storage. New wide-plank European oak engineered flooring was installed throughout.

When they found the apartment, the existing walls were plaster—probably at least 60 years old and poorly done. “One of the walls in the living room was so uneven and bumpy, it looked like it was made out of pillowcases,” Brett recalled. They ultimately decided to fur out the walls–a process to construct a new wall in front of the old one. “We attached 1x3s to the existing wall and then put new sheetrock on those. We lost a little space (about 1 1/2″ per wall), but this saved us about $6,000,” Brett said. The other option to straighten crooked walls would have been “demolishing the plaster and lathe, placing new studs, and then new sheetrock,” which would have been more expensive and time-consuming.

The master bedroom closet was reframed to function as a walk-in. Other details included the custom radiator covers in the bedroom and living room, crafted by the millworker; leftover stone from the kitchen counters was used for the radiator sills.

Terry and Brett designed these covers together. The existing radiators had an old painted steel cover that had not weathered very well. The millworker made the slatted fronts on removable clips so the radiator could be accessed for maintenance. The new millwork needed a top/windowsill but the couple decided that painted MDF would not last very long. Brett had to purchase two slabs of stone for the kitchen to cover the countertops and backsplash. There was a lot of leftover stone that easily fit the sills.

“We didn’t have a lot of flexibility designing the kitchen and bathroom layouts. It had to be ADA-compliant since we rearranged everything,” Brett explained. They focused on finishes. In the kitchen, they imagined the countertops and backsplash as the “feature” elements with everything else as the background, “which is why the floors and cabinets are all different shades of gray,” he said. The couple loves unique, natural stones and found that quartzites have the most movement and veining, which worked well with their gray cabinets.

(Above) Master bath

Both bathrooms were made to seem bigger and brighter by making the walls white and using marble tile in the master and subway tile in the guest. In the master bath, Brett said, he “had some fun connecting the shower niche with the existing windowsill.” Terri scoured the Internet to find an aquatic-themed wallpaper for the guest bathroom. Wood shelves were incorporated in each to provide a little warmth.

Brett was most excited about the new rain shower in the added bathroom. “All of my previous apartments—for basically my entire life—only had a bathtub, so it feels very luxurious to shower in a large glass box,” he said.

Before the renovation, Brett had wanted to test out Sweeten’s service to see if he would recommend it to his own clients. After this experience, he said he would. “We didn’t need much assistance from Sweeten because I have experience managing projects like these professionally, but I felt reassured knowing that Sweeten would be able to assist if any serious problems came up. Luckily, our contractor was great and we didn’t have any issues,” Brett said.

After their daughter, Dylan, was born in 2018, “Terri and I are perpetually impressed that we were able to design the apartment exactly to our needs,” says Brett. “Our families come over frequently now and we love that we were able to add a second bathroom. It really helps make ‘our’ space feel more private.” As an architect couple, they worked well together. “It helps to come up with a central concept or theme at the beginning,” Brett said. “There will always be disagreements but we could then ask ourselves ‘does this fit our initial vision’ and make a decision together.”

Thank you, Terri and Brett, for sharing your renovation journey with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: Porcelain floor tiles: Price Stone. Custom cabinets: Interiors Palace. Base cabinets in Cement Gray: Benjamin Moore. Upper cabinets in American White: Benjamin Moore. Cabinet hardware: Atlas Homewares. Quartzite countertops and backsplash: SMC Stone. Sink: Franke. Faucet: Grohe. Fisher & Paykel refrigerator: Designer Appliances, Dishwasher: Bosch. Range: Samsung. Dioscuri ceiling light: Artemide.

MASTER BATHROOM RESOURCES: Porcelain floor tile, marble wall tile: Price Stone. Shower fixtures and faucet: Grohe. Vanity: Miseno. Toilet: Toto. Theo 6″ wall sconce lighting: Cedar and Moss. Medicine cabinet: Kohler.

SECOND BATHROOM RESOURCES: Porcelain floor tile, matte subway wall tile: Price Stone. Shower fixtures and faucet: Grohe. Vanity: Miseno. Toilet: Duravit. Theo 6″ wall sconce lighting: Cedar and Moss. Medicine cabinet: Kohler Experience Center. Wallpaper, People’s Underwater World in Graphite pattern: Hygge & West.

LIVING ROOM RESOURCES: Flooring: PID Floors. IC/Air 3 ceiling fan: The Modern Fan Co.

MASTER BEDROOM RESOURCES: Classic Gray paint color: Benjamin Moore.

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These architects designed and renovated their own homes with the help of Sweeten.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

A Team Effort on a Bathroom

Jen and Luke reinvent a Harlem bath with (many) helping hands

Project: Turning a leaky bathroom into a modern space in Harlem

Before: The condo Jen and Luke purchased two years ago was in move-in condition. It had everything they needed, including the extras—central air, washer and dryer, dishwasher, ice maker, and garbage disposal. But, as it turned out, it also had a poorly laid-out bathroom that caused them nightmares. They had an interior architect friend who helped with the design, but they posted their project on Sweeten to find their contractor.

For a decade, Jen, a senior managing director of a residential real estate firm in Manhattan, and Luke, who works in IT for a women’s fashion and accessory house, had been subletting an apartment. When the owner decided to sell, they searched close to their neighborhood and found a 948-square-foot apartment in an 1892 factory building that had been converted to condos.

The master bathroom was the one dark spot on their otherwise sunny horizon. Apparently, there was a leak in the shower pan, which was causing the light gray marble floor to turn brown, yellow, and pink. “When we purchased the apartment, we didn’t realize that the shower was previously repaired for a leak,” Luke said. “But the repair hadn’t addressed the cause of the leak, which was the shower pan itself. We took this as a sign to renovate our bathroom.”

After: They contacted their friend and interior architect Irene Kang. “We could not have done this without her help,” Luke said. Kang suggested a minimalist design “with cool colors that maximized the space and had a lot of storage.” As a real estate professional, Jen used her expertise as well. “Bathrooms are personal,” she said. “Sometimes apartments don’t sell due to bathrooms since they are one of the most expensive rooms to renovate.”

They decided to go with neutral colors and plan to hang art to make the space personal. Aside from the shower pan issue, they needed more storage space. Irene suggested large cabinets inset into a wall shared with the master bedroom closet. “I knew that there were approximately four to five inches of space on the interior of the drywall,” Luke said. “Knowing this and the depth of the cabinets, I was able to figure out that they would stick out only four to five inches into the bathroom itself, which would not get in the way.”

At first, they weren’t sure where they could find something that would meet their needs. They found themselves at the Kohler Experience Center in Manhattan. “We described our idea, and Caroline [Hughes, their sales rep] suggested looking at the Robern line of cabinets,” Luke said. “We did, and that was it.” Now two cabinets measuring 70” tall x 15” wide and 8” deep sit side by side. “They were expensive, but worth it,” he said. In the end, their Sweeten contractor just had to frame it out and cut out a wall stud. “It was simple,” Luke said. To add to the storage, the contractor created a shower niche, while the size of the vanity increased from 36” to 60” wide.

Between Irene, the Sweeten contractor, and Caroline, “we had lots of help with design decisions,” Luke said. “We made all of our selections, including tiles and fixtures, in one afternoon.” Jen adds, “The prices were reasonable and they can help you get non-Kohler items too. They made it super easy.” Their favorite finds are the medicine cabinet above the sink and the LED mirrors.

The biggest challenge was living in their apartment during the renovation. “We have a one-bedroom, two-bath space and the master bath was undergoing the renovation,” Luke said. “We were subject to mold, mildew, and construction dust, despite the best efforts of the contractor to keep everything clean. He did a superb job of keeping our space livable, but some things you cannot escape unless you have a ventilation system.”

Their contractor focused on small details too, such as selecting the threshold saddle for the shower and hiding the tile edges with aluminum molding. “He helped with the design and function every step of the way,” said Luke. “Sweeten was in constant contact in case we needed help,” said Jen. “Since Luke has project management experience and has worked in furniture factories, we didn’t require the attention that others might. But it was comforting to know they were there when needed.”

All the support is what gave them the bathroom that they envisioned. “You’ve really got to listen to your designers, the store people, and your contractor,” Jen said. “Don’t be afraid to tell people what you want, but if they offer an opinion, listen. The client is always right and they will do what you want, but they know what will look good in years to come.”

Style finds: Floor and wall tile: Sourced by general contractor. Hardware, all shower fixtures, sink/vanity, vanity mirror, Robern storage cabinets: Kohler Experience Center. Shower fixture: Hansgrohe. Super White paint: Benjamin Moore.

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Built-in cabinets add a wall of storage in this Morningside Heights bathroom.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten

[rachelmorris305]

Spring Beauty Guide + Nordstrom Trend Show

Every New York Fashion Week, Nordstrom goes backstage to assess the biggest beauty trends and then brings this intel back for customers at the retailer’s Spring Beauty Trend Event. I’ve been to several over the years and they’re so much fun—what’s not to love about getting to see all of the season’s freshest trends up-close along with insider tips, runway shows, free samples, mini makeovers and demos, and GWPs?! You know you need to stock up on bronzer and sunblock anyway! And it’s FREE! To find and RSVP to a Nordstrom Beauty Trend Event near you, click here. For a sneak-peek of all the trends, click here (hint: It’s all about luminous skin and hi-definition lips).

To whet your whistle, I’ve rounded up some of my own picks for spring below, all available at Nordstrom! 

Clockwise:  R+Co Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder ($36) – when the weather heats up, you need to up your dry shampoo game. Powder formulas like R+Co’s work overtime, especially when shaken in at the roots before bed! // Shiffa Jade Roller ($63) – Old as time yet suddenly all the rage, jade rollers stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and impart a natural glow. Jade is a healing stone and a symbol of purity and tranquility. I like to use them to apply my serum or a mask, to really help it absorb. // Kypris Antioxidant Dew ($72) – My new favorite treatment product for A.M. this refreshing serum hydrates, protects, and perfects with 26 natural active ingredients. Layer it under your favorite moisturizer for all-day dewiness. // Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow ($40) – The self-tanner you’ve been waiting for! One part hydrating mask, one part facial faux glow, this genius lotion works wonders while you sleep.  // RMS Beauty Lip Shine ($25) – An oldie but goodie lipgloss pot that I rediscover every spring. Moisturizing, sheer yet stay-put, all-natural and in the most soft, beautiful hues. // Arcona The Solution Pads ($50) – Here come the sun spots . . . and there they go if you use these exfoliating pads a few times a week. They also give skin that smooth, taut texture that only a peel can do! // Trish McEvoy High Volume Mascara ($31.50) – Now that I’m off eyelash extensions (sniff), I’ve been experimenting with every kind of mascara I can get my hands on. Including what’s in my sister-in-law’s makeup bag. She swears by Trish and it’s definitely one is the most lengthening, glossiest, smudge-proof formula I’ve tried—and never heard of. // NARS Sunwash Diffusing Bronzer ($40) – Across between a finishing powder and a bronzer, this newish invention from NARS is so light and lovely it’s made for bronzing beginners as well as this time of year when you don’t want to overdo it, snooki-style. // Clinique 7-Day Scrub Cream ($22) – Sometimes, I just want to scrub my face. Like, really get in there. My roommate in college used this classic 20 years ago and a friend recently brought it along on a ski trip. Maybe it’s time I buy my own tube. // SuperGoop CC Cream ($32) – Trends come and go but CC cream is here to stay. This one’s my favorite of the bunch. Think of it as a tinted moisturizer with benefits—like SPF, a built-in primer, and pore smoothing skin diffusers.

  First seen on Beauty Bets

[rachelmorris305]

First-Time Renovators Share Their Stories

Get your hammers ready

For the uninitiated, renovating seems like a big deal; the many steps involved in a kitchen or bathroom remodel can make even the most excited homeowner hesitate. But a well-executed project can make both a positive impact on your day-to-day life and your home’s resale value. Plus, you don’t have to face it alone! Below, these first-time renovators took the plunge with Sweeten by their side.

The kitchen in Sophia and Leon’s newly purchased 3-bedroom unit needed to be gutted, but the couple had concerns about staying on budget…a gut reno sounded expensive! Their Sweeten general contractor guided the newbie renovators in making budget-friendly decisions, advising on what to keep (appliances that were in working condition) and what to replace (farewell, dated cabinets). Although the prospect of a gut renovation was daunting, Sophia was delighted with the results AND the money they were able to save, and said: “This was a great first-time renovating experience and we’re so happy in our new home!”

The idea of buying her first home and remodeling the bathroom felt overwhelming to Christine. But a long search for the right space changed her mind. “No place is going to be everything you want it to be, so why not budget some remodeling in and make it what you want?” Christine said. She posted her project on Sweeten and was matched with a general contractor whose past work had a similar aesthetic to the look she hoped to achieve: minimalism with a warm and cozy vibe. “My Sweeten contractor was so easy to work with and made things stress-free.” Her advice to first-time renovators? “Be ready to laugh when things go wrong. And go wrong again. It’ll be worth it when you are enjoying your renovated space, I promise.”

When it came time to choose a general contractor for her kitchen renovation, Amanda wasn’t sure how to decide between bids. A phone call with her Sweeten client services contact helped her compare bids, considering the pros and cons of each contractor and how they stacked up as a potential fit for her project. The guidance gave Amanda the confidence she needed to make the right decision, getting her renovation off to a great start. Her contractor’s close attention to detail allowed him to quickly resolve issues, enabling them to finish the job within the one-month timeframe. Amanda’s advice to other first-time renovators is simple. “Trust the contractor! He knows what he’s doing and how long it’ll take to do it.”

When Felix decided to add a powder room to her apartment and renovate the existing bathroom, a Google search led her to Sweeten. New to the idea of renovating, Felix kept changing and updating her project for about a year before she was ready to start her renovation. Her Sweeten general contractor was patient and willing to jump in whenever she needed him. “That was really why I went with him,” Felix said. “He stuck with me through the procrastination!” From that point onward, everything was smooth sailing. In the end, Felix described the overall renovation process as “surprisingly easy.”

After being stuck in a “contractor no-man’s-land,” receiving bids from handymen whose skills didn’t meet the requirements of the job and contractors who were only interested in larger projects, Anne and Michael came to Sweeten. “We posted the project and the budget and got serious responses from contractors specifically interested in a project of our size,” Anne said. “Our contractor helped us source appliances, counters, and backsplash tile, which we found really helpful as first-timers.” Their advice: “It’s such a cliche, but it’s going to take longer than you think.”

Matt purchased his first home, a 360-square-foot apartment in Park Slope, in July 2013. Over the next few years, he saved up to renovate the bathroom. “I wanted a complete bathroom renovation not only to feel better about the space, but also as an investment,” he said. Matt found Sweeten and posted his project, working with the client services team to guide his decision-making. He remodeled his bath, creating a clean and refreshed space with plenty of storage. “Because this was my first renovation,” he said, “I was a complete novice to the process. I’m grateful to Sweeten because they gave me the confidence I needed to get started.”

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Read about five couples who moved in with their partners and renovated for the first time.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you’ll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

A post from originally from Sweeten