News — Renovation

s In Renovator’s Notebook, homeowners open up about the nitty-gritty of their remodels: How long it really took; how much it actually cost; what went horribly wrong; and what went wonderfully, serendipitously, it’s-all-worth-it-in-the-end right. For more tips to nail your next project, follow @reno_notebook. Size: 600 square feet Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn Year built: 2007 Top priority: An apartment with lots of light—and outdoor space. New York City native Tara Gonzalez first fell in love with Greenpoint when she was working in the art department of a film production company just after college—the area is not only home to many studios,...

Photography by Mallory Fletchall of Reserve Home Reserve Home founder Mallory Fletchall’s Brooklyn apartment is the epitome of modern. Her once laminate-clad kitchen boasts breezy blue-green cabinetry and hand-painted floor tiles, while in the living room plush velvet furniture and a chandelier with smart bulbs fill every corner with color. But for the longest time, the bathroom was from a much different era. “It was very ’90s,” recalls Fletchall. The sliding-glass shower door had floral etchings, and the bulky medicine cabinet and vanity light made the small room feel claustrophobic. “It was far from the sanctuary where I could enjoy...

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten Homeowners: Bellamy, an executive at The GAP, and Zak, a senior environmental scientist, posted their project on Sweeten Where: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York Primary renovation: Three stories of a 2,400-square-foot Brooklyn brownstone Notable: Swapping the positions of their renovated garden rental and owners’ duplex Result: Better functionality for the two-family building Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and financial protection—at no cost to the homeowner. Guest post by Sweeten homeowner Bellamy Finding their circa 1900 Brooklyn brownstone home After a grueling year-long...