NYC Remodel Take a Fresh Take on Classic Bathroom Design

Saira and her husband craved a timeless elegance for their East Village duplex bathrooms. The existing spaces, however, were anything but – dated and lacking functionality. With two young children in tow, the need for a modern update with ample storage was paramount. Enter a classic black-and-white color palette paired with clean lines and purposeful design elements.

Keeping it simple with a black-and-white color palette

Project: Upgrade a full bath and powder room

Before: Saira and her husband purchased their East Village duplex with the intention to renovate before moving in. “The two most urgent spaces were the bathrooms,” she said. “They were just very old.” Their style is very clean, minimal, and modern—everything the existing spaces were not. With two young kids, the couple was also worried about having only one full bathroom, which made it even more important to have the spaces updated with new fixtures and better storage options. Equipped with Saira’s Pinterest board for inspiration, they posted their project to Sweeten and were matched with a general contractor.

(Above) The powder room

(Above) The full bathroom

After: With a clear vision in mind, Saira worked with her Sweeten general contractor to bring it to life. The bathrooms share a black-and-white palette and many of the same materials, like the floating wood shelves and industrial light fixtures (which match others throughout the apartment). “I love the contrast of the white tiles with the matte black hardware,” Saira said. They opted for a pedestal sink in the powder room to save on space.

At Sweeten, we’re experts at all things general contractors — we pre-screen them for our network, carefully select the best ones for your remodeling project, and work closely with hundreds of general contractors every day.

Keeping the design really simple visually and functionally was very important—especially for their children’s safety and their own sanity. The floating vanity in the full bathroom is easier to clean and has just enough room under it for the kids’ step stools, too. “We were very mindful of certain things, like making sure the tile was easy to clean and not too slippery,” Saira said. Their contractor helped pull materials using Saira’s Pinterest board and the couple’s budget as guidelines.

For the most part, Saira communicated with the contracting team via email, receiving pictures of the progress throughout the process. “Our general contractor was always willing to meet at times that were convenient to us,” she said. Fortunately, the project stayed on schedule so the family didn’t have to renew their lease and stay in their rental.

Saira’s parents actually own a real estate business in Toronto, so while she does have remodeling experience, this was her first time doing so in New York City. “Everyone always says renovating is a nightmare, but if you find the right general contractor and you have a good relationship, it can be pretty fun,” she shared.

Bonus: The family also had the entire apartment repainted, the floors refinished, and a new closet built by their Sweeten general contractor.

Style finds:

FULL BATHROOM: Floating wood shelves: Etsy. Varaluz Socket-to-Me lighting: Home Depot. Faucet #559LF-BLLOU,  hand shower set #58472-BL, towel bar #75925-BL, robe hook #756350-BL: Delta Faucet. Toilet #7299840/7299836, and bathtub #7234470: Kohler. Valencia Vanity/sink FCB8324Wh: Fresca Bath.

HALF BATHROOM: Floating wood shelves: Etsy. Varaluz Socket-to-Me lighting: Varaluz.com. Towel rod #75912.B, Delta Faucet. Vanity/sink #3170312/3170007: Kohler.

Ready to start your own renovation journey?

Post your project on Sweeten for free and make your dream bathroom a reality. Sweeten puts you in control of your renovation, from finding the perfect contractor and gathering design inspiration, to using cost guides  to plan your budget wisely.