A Black-and-White Bath and Kitchen with a Beautiful Contrast
This apartment renovation in New York City made a two-bedroom co-op more functional with a gut-renovated bathroom and partially remodeled kitchen, both finished in black and white tile, plus a new washer/dryer and custom closets. Fresh paint, updated molding and doors, and a bold Art Deco wallpaper moment gave the home a more polished look while building on its original character.
- Homeowners: Lindsay and Nicholas posted their apartment remodel on Sweeten.
- Where: Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York
- Primary renovation: The bathroom was gut renovated with the original tub re-enameled, a shower added to the tub, and a washer/dryer installed in place of the old shower area. The kitchen was partially updated with refinished cabinets, a full-size dishwasher, more counter space, custom closets, and more.
- Homeowner’s quote: “Throughout the issue, Sweeten’s customer service stayed in communication until it was resolved and helped coordinate a new realistic timeline agreeable to all parties.”
A new home in Upper Manhattan in need of work
Lindsay, Nicholas, and their cat, Sibyl, returned to New York City after two years in Baltimore and landed on a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom co-op in upper Manhattan. “Nicholas fell in love with the art deco lobby, and we both loved that it was right across the street from Inwood Hill Park and has a killer view of the Cloisters,” said Lindsay.
The apartment itself was so-so. It had some classic art deco features, like a sunken living room with herringbone wood floors, which Lindsay and Nicholas wanted to mix with their mid-century tastes. A bland kitchen and bathroom needed some help. The molding, doors, and paint were also due for a refresh. And then there were those two things many New Yorkers consider an ultimate luxury—installing a washing machine and dryer.
The couple turned to Sweeten, a free service that pairs renovators with vetted general contractors. They posted their apartment remodel and chose a design-build firm to execute the construction and the design.
Lindsay and Nicholas were given a six- to eight-week timeline from start to finish and camped out in a sublet during the renovation. A few hiccups along the way stretched that timeline (more on that later).
The plan was to gut renovate the bathroom and make minor changes in the kitchen while doing mostly cosmetic updates to the rest of the apartment. A standout feature in the living area is the sliver of wallpaper that peaks out from the small hallway off the living room.
“Since it’s such a small space, we figured we could go a little crazy,” said Lindsay. That “little crazy” translated to an art deco-style wallpaper with teal, purple, and gold accents.
“Even our friends who hate patterns and bright colors love it,” she said.
Small kitchen changes with a bigger takeaway
In the kitchen, the current layout had a nook where the previous owners had placed a small breakfast table. Lindsay saw this as an ideal way to add more counter space.
There was a miniature dishwasher “which made no sense since there was plenty of room for a full one,” said Lindsay. Rather than gut renovate the kitchen (a decision the couple later regretted), they refinished the existing “country-style” cabinets in a gray modern tone.
The dark grout in the white backsplash subway tiles upped the modern feel. It also contrasted beautifully with the black tile floor. The only appliance they replaced was that tiny dishwasher. Sweeten brings homeowners an exceptional renovation experience by personally matching trusted general contractors to your project, while offering expert guidance and support—at no cost to you. Renovate expertly with Sweeten
“We are happy with how it came out,” said Lindsay, “but salvaging some of the kitchen turned out to be more work than a full gut. It would have been better to just pay extra and get what we really wanted,” she said.
A black-and-white tile update that gave the bathroom contrast
In the bathroom, the only original feature that remains is the cast-iron tub with its detailed edges. Lindsay and Nicholas had it re-enameled so it matched the new bathroom.
A new washer/dryer would replace an existing shower area, and a shower would be added to the bathtub. For maximal storage, shelving lined the laundry wall in hard-to-reach places, and double doors were installed to hide the clutter.
When the decision came to choose either a console sink or a vanity, they decided on a console. (The under-the-sink space became the new location for Sibyl’s litter box.) For storage, a large medicine cabinet and niche shelves along the bathroom and shower walls did the trick.
White subway tile lined the walls with a clean, bright finish that balanced the room’s darker touches. Meanwhile, they chose a matte black hexagonal floor tile, which became the new backdrop of their bathroom. It’s the kind of black and white tile combination that feels crisp, classic, and easy to live with.
A feature the couple recommends to other renovators is custom storage. To remedy some oddly-placed shelves and a rod, their general contractor ripped everything out of the bedroom closet and installed a new system that can easily be changed later on as storage needs shift.
“Custom designing the closets made a huge difference in how useful the spaces were,” said Lindsay.
A renovation delay led to hard-won lessons
The project hit a major snag when it came to the electrical work, which pushed the end date back. Wiring dedicated to powering the washer/dryer had to be installed and ripped out twice from the ceiling.
Despite this, it still shorted out the power after only a few uses. In the end, it was discovered there was a faulty part in the basement, and the situation was fixed. Throughout the issue, Sweeten’s customer service, which checks in on renovations until projects are completed, stayed in communication until it was resolved and helped coordinate a new realistic timeline agreeable to all parties.
Even with the delays, the design choices helped tie the apartment together, especially through the use of black-and-white tile in both the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, the backsplash gained definition from its darker grout, while in the bathroom, white subway tile and matte black floor tile created a sharper contrast that felt crisp, classic, and cohesive.
After their experience, Lindsay and Nicholas came out with a home they loved, but also some things they would do differently next time. “Always gut renovate,” said Lindsay. “We were trying to be thrifty by keeping the kitchen cabinets.”
The other tip: plan for the renovation to take twice as long. But ultimately, the Sweeten contractor did a fantastic job,” said Lindsay, and enhanced the features of the apartment to turn it into a unique home for their family.
Thank you, Lindsay and Nicholas, for sharing your lovely Upper Manhattan apartment home with us.
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Renovation materials
KITCHEN RESOURCES:
- Forged Brass Dome Knob cabinet hardware: House of Antique Hardware.
- Bistro hardware pulls: Restoration Hardware.
- Dishwasher, 800 Series: Bosch.
- Eastmoreland lighting: Rejuvenation.
- Paint, Decorator White for walls and Puritan Gray for cabinets: Benjamin Moore.
BATHROOM RESOURCES:
- Toilet: Perrin & Rowe.
- Washer and dryer: Miele.
- BEDROOM RESOURCES: Paint in Slate Teal and Amherst Gray paint: Benjamin Moore.
- Elfa custom closets: The Container Store.
LIVING ROOM RESOURCES:
- Wallpaper: A Shade Wilder.
Frequently asked questions
Is black and white tile still in style?
Yes, black-and-white tile is still in style because it reads as both classic and contemporary in bathrooms and kitchens. In Lindsay and Nicholas’s renovation, white subway tile kept the bathroom bright while a matte black hexagonal floor tile added crisp contrast, and the kitchen’s dark-grouted backsplash carried that graphic effect into another room.
What is Art Deco?
Art Deco is a design movement that shaped architecture, interiors, furniture, fashion, and decorative arts in the early 20th century. It emerged in France in the 1910s, gained wider attention in the 1920s and 1930s, and later spread internationally.
Is gut renovating better than a partial remodel?
A gut renovation is usually easier and more efficient than a partial remodel because it lets you address everything at once instead of working around old conditions piece by piece. It can also create a smoother construction process since the contractor has clearer access to plumbing, wiring, insulation, and layout changes from the start.
