Written in partnership with homeowner Leigh. “After” photos by Jill Weller.

I moved into my home several years ago, after inheriting it from my dad. The house was originally purchased by my grandmother, who raised her two boys here. Later, I grew up in it. We celebrated the house’s centennial last year. It’s been in my family for three generations.

Located in Mid City, Los Angeles, the house is 3,200 square feet. It has a Tudor-inspired design and it sits on a wide, quiet tree-lined street. I wanted to honor the traditional elements and the memories there while bringing in my style to make it my own.

My name is Leigh Lehman and I work as a communications director. In the years prior to listing my project on Sweeten, I’d met with a number of other contractors. It was important to me to work with a contracting team that had experience with older homes and appreciated the history here. After our conversations, every contractor made promises to deliver on varying tasks or iterations of the project. But then they just never returned. I had become increasingly frustrated but didn’t want to give up.

Sweeten gave me the peace of mind I was missing in dealing with contractors. The fact that the platform had vetted the GCs I interviewed, and that there was accountability through the dashboard, helped alleviate the angst I’d been holding for a while.

You’re in good company if you’re looking to elevate your kitchen. Remodeling a kitchen in Chicago is one of the most highly requested projects because it can add significant value to your home. However, kitchen spaces involve complex systems that require strict adherence to building codes. The right contractor will guide you through the most challenging parts of the process, but here we break down kitchen remodeling, so you can feel prepared for the journey.

Most real estate professionals will tell you the kitchen is the single most important room in any home, at least in terms of home value. The kitchen can represent up to 20% of the cost to build a home, but according to the National Association of Realtors, a kitchen upgrade has a 67% ROI. While other factors are involved (overall condition of the home, market conditions, buyer preferences), a well-designed and updated kitchen is a top priority with potential buyers. Your first step in starting your remodel is to establish what your new kitchen will achieve and in what style.

Before starting your kitchen remodel, establish a budget that covers the entire process. To do this, create two lists: one outlining your “must-haves” and the other detailing your “nice-to-haves.” These lists will help you organize and determine what are the essential requirements versus your preferences. By highlighting your preferences, you can remove them from the scope, if needed to prevent exceeding your budget.

Next, have a contingency plan ready. Your initial budget will go to materials, labor, and permits. However, you’ll need a budget contingency set aside in case unexpected issues or challenges arise during the renovation. Some examples include unforeseen structural repairs or additional work required to fix hidden issues. We suggest a fund of 10-15% of the original budget so that the project can continue moving forward.

How do you want the space to function and which materials are most important to you? There are plenty of visual inspirations on Pinterest, Instagram, and from our Sweeten homeowners. Keep in mind the kitchen experiences daily traffic and is a high-touch space. Therefore, visiting kitchen showrooms or tile shops in person will give you ideas that jive with your lifestyle.

A growing number of Chicago homeowners are improving the way they use their bathrooms as well as their experience. A renovation makes an impact whether refreshing the surface elements or creating an entirely new layout.  During the process, a bathroom’s major systems—electrical and plumbing—can be involved, including flooring and fixtures. As a result, there are specific rules in the Windy City you must follow to ensure you build with safety in mind. We will discuss how to remodel a bathroom in Chicago and offer a few pro tips for getting started.

Revamping your bathroom is not only a rewarding project but it also adds value to your home. As the second most used room in the home (after the kitchen), an updated bathroom eliminates the need for immediate renovations for potential buyers. The first step to starting your remodel is to understand your priorities and how you want it to look.

Before diving into your bathroom remodel, you should set a budget that will take you through the entire process. To do this, create two lists detailing your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” This will organize and identify what are the essential requirements and which are preferences. Your preferences will be the ones you can eliminate to prevent from going overbudget. 

Furthermore, the budget will need to cover materials, labor, permits, and a contingency plan for any unexpected issues that may arise. We suggest a contingency fund 10-15% of your original budget.

As you plan out your bathroom, think of how you’ll use the space and the overall aesthetic that you want. For example, finding inspiration on Pinterest, Instagram, and our blog will go a long way. Also, bathrooms are a daily high-touch space. Visit bathroom design stores and tile shops to touch and feel the materials up close. Look for the tactile experience that feels right for your lifestyle. 

Written in partnership with homeowners Annick and Samir. “After” photos by Andreaa Phillips.

We wanted to transform our basement space in our townhouse into an area where we could hang out and enjoy a drink after work, or host friends for a seated dinner or spirits tasting. And since we often choose our vacation destinations based on our interest in wine, we dreamed of creating a room around storage for our growing collection of bottles.

We are Annick and Samir, and our dog is Ellie. Annick works on labor issues and worked in the wine industry. Samir works for a federal agency in international development. Our 1,750-square-foot co-op in southwest Washington DC is in a 1962 townhouse built by Charles Goodman, a post-WWII American architect whose modern structures dot the District of Columbia’s suburban landscape.

A Sonoma vineyard Annick worked at during one fall harvest was an inspiration. We thought we could seal off the area under our house’s basement stairs, plug in a condenser unit, and store wine there.

The project, of course, turned out to be a bit more complicated than that.

Written in partnership with homeowner Gabby. “After” photos by Kate Glicksberg.

My biggest question was, “How do I make it feel like a million bucks—without spending a million bucks?” My mom bought this house when I was in high school and I inherited it when she passed away. As an ode to her, we wanted to invest in the property and renovate; something mom had dreamt of doing but never had the funds to do it. So we began planning—kitchen and bathroom first.

My name is Gabby. I am a realtor and designer, and Perrin, my husband, is a security officer. Our five-year-old daughter is Rinelle. I’ve always wanted to build my dream house, and I was able to refinance at a good time. Although I do real estate full-time, I also take on freelance design projects. One example: Christina and Aaron’s kitchen, remodeled by a Sweeten contractor.

The house, a single-family Cape-style that is common to our area of North Rosedale, Queens, was built in 1950. We needed to overhaul a kitchen which had so much wasted space. Storage was severely lacking based on the existing layout and was not serving my family’s needs. In addition, the materials were outdated, required a lot of maintenance, and no longer standing the test of time.

We envisioned a partial open concept between the kitchen and dining room, which felt cut off. Our bathroom was also old and had ventilation issues which lead to a lot of rust. It was due for a total gut.

Written in partnership with homeowners Liz and Michael. “After” photos by Jill Weller.

We made this 1,684-square-foot single-level home in Culver City, California, our own with a mix of styles: bohemian-eclectic (lots of plants and textures), California modern (including a light and airy color palette), and even touches of the 1970s (our “conversation pit” in front of the fireplace). The result is a fierce representation of “us.”

We are Liz Anderson, a marketing director, Michael Anderson, a head of production, Callie Anderson, our dog, and Buddy the Cat. After we purchased our home, the plan was to renovate right away. We paused the project for a couple of years—a great decision because we were able to learn more about what we needed.

We wanted to recreate the home, originally built in 1952, and use every square foot with purpose. Homes from the 1950s tend to be sectioned off, with tiny kitchens, dining areas, and living spaces. We wanted to move the kitchen and integrate these three areas in our home to create a more open and welcoming space.

The home also had an addition added by the previous owner—a hair salon including counters and a salon sink—which is home to the new kitchen. We wanted to use all of the space. We planned to update a bathroom, too.

Chicagoans from Rogers Park to Woodlawn are actively updating and remodeling their apartments. As the third largest city in the US, Chicago issues about 3,000 permits every month. Here‘s our primer on how to remodel an apartment in Chicago with advice for a successful project.

Chicago is famous for its two-flat and three-flat apartments, which include separate units on separate floors. Investing in a Chicago multi-flat can be a financial advantage thanks to its practicality. You can reside in one apartment while renting out the others to generate supplementary income.

Remodeling multi-unit structures can be a bit more involved than standalone houses since you have close neighbors to consider. A note about electrical and plumbing in two-flat and three-flats: plumbing pipes are often shared in a Chicago flat, so contact the Department of Buildings Water Plan Desk before starting any non-emergency repairs. 

Your apartment may also share main electrical service with a neighbor, so contact the Electrical Bureau of Chicago to schedule an inspection before removing any wiring.

For the average first-time home buyer, purchasing a condo is often a more affordable choice than a single-family home. In Chicago, potential homeowners can consider condos as a way to enter the market without overspending.

If you’re planning a full bathroom gut renovation or a simple refresh in NYC, your renovation team will guide you through the process. It’s important, however, to have a general understanding of what you can expect, especially if you’re not familiar with the city’s unique challenges. We’ll outline how to remodel a bathroom in NYC and how to attain your vision that fits your budget.

If you understand what makes NYC such an attractive city to live in, you won’t be surprised why it also has some of the most restrictive building and health codes in the US. A high population density, aging infrastructure, and historical preservation mean most remodeling work needs to be permitted. The approval process includes an unbiased third party (in this case a building inspector) to inspect and approve the work. Additionally, all permitted work must be handled by either a New York State Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or an architect registered with the State of New York. 

While time-consuming and complex, it’s an effort to maintain buildings’ structural integrity. For example, many NYC bathrooms have been remodeled countless times, so requiring a standard level of quality is important for future residents of the building.

However, there are projects that don’t require prior approval and which won’t affect any MEP (mechanical/electrical/plumbing) or change support structures. This includes projects that only change the appearance of the space. Some minor alterations such as resurfacing existing floors do not need a permit. However, the contractor must be licensed with NYC. 

Condo and co-op boards can impose restrictions on your remodeling plan depending on where you live in the city. Before finalizing your budget planning, identify any potential approvals you may need to avoid surprises.