Unearthing the Beauty of a Prewar Bathroom in NYC
In the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, one homeowner dared to reclaim the elegance of her building’s past. Leah’s bathroom, once a beige and cramped afterthought, underwent a stunning transformation, revealing hidden architectural treasures and a touch of golden warmth. We take you inside this meticulous remodel, where subway tile meets custom craftsmanship, and a dropped ceiling gives way to soaring potential.
From frumpy ’70s relic to prewar gem
- Homeowner: Leah posted a project on Sweeten
- Where: Upper West Side in New York City
- Primary renovation: A rip-and-replace bathroom
Written in partnership with homeowner Leah. “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin.
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Starting a renovation
Leah, a lawyer in the finance industry, bought her prewar one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. She spent several years living in the apartment before embarking on a kitchen renovation. She also redid the floors. “The decisions I made after really living in the space were just better—how I moved in and out of the kitchen, how the rooms communicated with each other,” she said.
Reaching out for help
The renovation projects became exhausting, so she took a break—even though the bathroom was disjointed from the rest of the apartment, with its beige tones and frumpy ’70s aesthetic. It also had a dropped ceiling for seemingly no reason, which cramped the small space. “I backed away because it seemed like too much to take on,” she said, but she finally took the plunge and posted her NYC prewar bathroom remodel on Sweeten to find a general contractor. 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 to live, Sweeten to thrive!
Raising up a dropped ceiling
Leah envisioned something that was reflective of her co-op building’s beautiful foyer with its marble and clean look. “I think my design was to let the space speak for itself,” she said. The Sweeten contractors she hired set out to raise the ceiling. “We didn’t know what we were going to find,” Leah said. Because they could not find any pipes or any other obvious reason for the dropped ceiling, they were able to raise it again.
She selected classic subway tiles for the walls and a marble top for the vanity. With the floors, the Sweeten contractors made a reassuring discovery—the original tiles were still underneath, and matched the new creamy hexagon tiles Leah had chosen. It was a confirmation that her design choices were in line with how the bathroom was originally meant to be.
Adding warmth
While Leah had planned for white and silver tones, she made a last-minute decision to bring in gold fixtures. “I wanted to add warmth,” she said of the 11th-hour choice. Luckily, she found the renovation process to be far less taxing than she had anticipated. She was in daily communication with her Sweeten contractors, who helped solve problems and helped her make those nuts-and-bolts decisions, like how far up the wall the tiles should go. “It was a very collaborative process,” she said.
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Saving for a renovation
Leah decided early on where she would save money (like tile choices) with her remodeling budget and where she would spend more lavishly. Because of the small space, she decided on a custom bathtub, which took six weeks to make in South Carolina. “Every bathtub that was standard was made for bigger spaces,” she said. “I needed something that fit my dimensions.” The shower enclosure and tub combination became a show stopping centerpiece of the bathroom and were well worth the wait.
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Resource materials
Casa Vogue porcelain wall tile in glossy Snow White, hexagon floor tile, and white chair rail: Kohler. Bathtub: MTI Baths. Shower and sink fixtures in French Gold: Kohler. Empire Windsor vanity: Kitchensource.com. AiO Cabinet and mirror: Robern. Vanity light fixture: Restoration Hardware. UltraMax toilet: Toto. Glass surround: Alpha Glass.
FAQs
Yes, prewar buildings in the Upper West Side often have specific regulations related to plumbing, electrical work, and structural changes. You’ll likely need permits from the NYC Department of Buildings and possibly approvals from your building’s co-op or condo board. It’s crucial to work with a licensed contractor familiar with these requirements to avoid delays and fines.
Maximize vertical space with built-in shelving or medicine cabinets. Opt for wall-mounted fixtures like toilets and vanities to free up floor space. Use light colors and reflective surfaces like mirrors and glossy tiles to create a sense of openness. Consider a pocket door or a glass shower enclosure to minimize visual barriers. Finally, careful planning of your plumbing layout can save precious inches.
