Before & After: A Fresh New Look for an Aging Bathroom

When Holly and Christian bought their two-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op in a 1920s building in New York’s Greenwich Village, they knew it would need a little work. The apartment’s kitchen wasn’t in great shape (you can read all about its transformation here), so, while renovating the kitchen, they decided to refresh one of the apartment’s aging bathrooms as well. The bathroom’s features had been replaced piecemeal throughout the years, resulting in a space that felt a little bit lost in time. Most importantly, the fixtures and storage just weren’t efficient enough for a modern couple.

The changes to the bathroom help the small room to feel more spacious — and also bring the bathroom closer to the building’s 1920s roots. The intricately patterned marble floor recalls the tiled floors found in many classic New York baths, and the new sink console provides a nice nod to history, with a modern twist. Its smaller profile is also less clunky than the old sink cabinet. The old toilet was replaced with a newer, more water efficient one.

A new mirrored medicine cabinet, chosen for its roominess, provides plenty of storage. Marble tile and shiny new chrome fixtures complete the tub/shower area.

Christian and Holly found their team of contractors, Valeria and Eduard, through Sweeten, an online resource that connects homeowners with local design and construction experts for home renovations. You can read more about the project, find sources, and see more photos on the Sweeten blog.