58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JULY 2018
INSIDE JOB
BATHROOMS BACK ON TOP LEADING
By RUTH BASHINSKY
Bathrooms reign over kitchens as
the most popular renovation taking
place, according to a new survey by
the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB).
Michelle and Nate Able had a few
projects on their to-do list for their
Riverhead home. For one, they wanted
to add a bathroom in a space that
was initially an oddly shaped alcove
that the former owners had used
as a hallway/storage closet. They
also wanted to update an existing
bathroom to match the modern farmhouse
vibe in the rest of their home.
To help eliminate some of the
uncertainty and stress that goes
along with a home renovation
project, the couple didn’t waste any
time and contacted Sweeten, a free
service that matches homeowners
with vetted general contractors
and provides support until project
completion.
“We like that an actual person is
reviewing your job and matching
you with contractors, not just an
algorithm matching keywords,” says
Nate. “It’s also nice to see the contractor’s
previous jobs right on the site.”
The Ables, who were out of town
a good part of the time during the
work, appreciated the fact that they
were still able to keep in touch with
their contractor and see the photos
that were sent showing the progress
taking place.
“The pictures helped make sure
things came together the way we
imagined them,” says Nate.
Sweeten Founder and CEO Jean N.
Brownhill, a trained architect who
started the company in 2011 after a bad
experience with her own renovation,
has expanded the service across Long
Island. Since launching, the company
has grown to nearly $1 billion in construction
projects in the pipeline, with
the support of venture capital.
Brownhill adds, “One of the
things that helped this North Fork
renovation go so smoothly was
that the homeowners made sure
to have all the materials delivered
before starting, and set up a regular
communication check-in with their
general contractor, since they were
living in Brooklyn.”
MOODY-BLUE BATHROOM (EXISTING BATHROOM REMODEL--DOWNSTAIRS BATH)
“During the renovation, one bathroom was being built above the other, and the rooms were not perfectly aligned,” says Brownhill. “Their Sweeten
contractor had to figure out the best way to run pipes from the downstairs space to the new bathroom upstairs. The solution was to create a tray ceiling to
conceal the pipes in the downstairs bathroom...it solved a problem while also adding an architectural element.”
THE RESULT: “The deep blue hue continued the classic look and added a pop of contrast with the warm brass hardware and white subway tile.”
It’s OK to add trendy
finishes like brass. They
can easily be swapped out
if you decide it’s time for a
change later on.
We’re seeing
blue as the new
neutral, from cornflower
to midnight blue. Nate and
Michelle used Gentleman’s
Gray paint from Benjamin
Moore.
The most cost-efficient
way to do a refresh is
to do a “rip and replace,”
keeping plumbing and
fixtures in the same
position.
Necessary pipes were
concealed in a ceiling
tray above the shower.
Functional and stylish at
the same time!
Save money on tile
and make a design
statement by using floorto
ceiling tile in the shower
and painting the rest of
the bathroom.
You can’t go wrong with
bright white subway tile;
it makes a space feel fresh
and modern
BEFORE