This 2000s Bathroom Now Has a “Sultry Ralph Lauren Aesthetic”

Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
published Jul 3, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
About this before & after
Home Type
Project Type
Skill Level
Rental Friendly

When Eric Drozd moved into his 2000s condo, it had two nearly identical tan bathrooms. Picture “builder-grade beige,” as Eric describes. “The same 12×12” ceramic tile on the floor and the walls. The vanity was a basic maple vanity with a faux stone top. The walls were painted beige.”

Eric renovated the entire apartment (a four-month endeavor), and his primary bathroom took about $20,000 of the budget. His goal, he says, was to make the condo feel like a bespoke loft, and “not a new-build condo.” Post-renovation, the bathroom became a sophisticated, warm, textured oasis.

Credit: Eric Drozd

The bathroom design started with the floor tile. 

“Nothing about builder-grade finishes excited me, so I wanted to make sure I injected my own character into the space,” Eric told Apartment Therapy in his house tour. “I replaced all the floors.” In the bathroom, he chose a marble basketweave tile from Bedrosians for the floors and the shower, which was the jumping-off point for the entire space. 

“I paired the black marble floor with a lighter ceramic wall tile, which ties into the floor ‘dot’ color,” Eric adds. (The 4×4-inch ceramic wall tile is also from Bedrosians.)

The vanity adds lots of storage. 

“I designed the custom Alder wood vanity to look like a dresser, with three long inset drawers with double knobs on each,” Eric says. (The brass knobs are from Rejuvenation.) Above the vanity is a 37-inch mirror with decorative straps and studs from Arteriors, which elongates the room. There’s an emphasis on vertical lines in the space, with long fluted glass wall sconces and tongue-and-groove wall paneling. 

Eric says he likes that the mirror, lighting, and plumbing bring in black and bronze tones. 

Wall paneling adds warmth.

Eric also says that the tongue-and-groove detail on the bathroom walls helps tie the bathroom into the rest of the rooms in the condo. The paneling and trim in the bathroom are painted Sherwin-Williams’ Grecian Ivory

Overall, Eric says he has a “sultry Ralph Lauren aesthetic,” and this bathroom definitely fits the bill. To see the rest of his space, check out the full home tour.