Two Baths from Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse Get Color Happy

With help from Sweeten, a historic home gets the star treatment for the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse

The Brooklyn Heights Association kicked off its second showhouse located in the historic neighborhood. Continuing its mission to preserve old homes for 21st-century living, they invited 15 designers to lay their magic among the rooms in the wood-framed house. Tapped to help with two bathroom renovations—the powder room and kids’ bathroom—designer Kim Tomasino was matched with a general contractor from Sweeten, a free service connecting renovators and designers with vetted contractors. Scroll down to see the design candy she created or visit the showhouse in person through November 3rd. 

PROJECT: Remodel two outdated bathrooms in the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse

LOCATION: 13 Pineapple Street, Brooklyn, New York 

RENOVATION TEAM: Sweeten general contractor and interior designer Kim Tomasino

INTERVIEW WITH: Interior designer Kim Tomasino

(Above) Before pictures of the powder room (left), and kids’ bathroom (right)

 (Above) Kids’ bathroom

Sweeten: Can you tell us about this year’s Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse?

Kim: This year’s showhouse is an early 19th-century Federal wood-frame home in Brooklyn Heights.

Sweeten: What were the spaces you renovated?

Kim: I worked on the ground-level powder room and top floor kids’ bathroom. They were rip-and-replace projects with new sinks, toilets, shower accessories, and tile, including floor tiles. They were both remodeled on a very short deadline.

Sweeten: What was your vision for the spaces?

Kim: I always want to achieve a clean look, with up-to-date designs that are stylish and have a bit of a wow factor. A thinly planked ceiling was something I kept seeing. I thought a fish and bamboo were an amusing combo for the kids’ bath! I also wanted to accentuate the scalloped ceiling fixture and by painting it white (high-gloss lacquer) and not leaving it natural, it stood out more. 

The existing powder room had built-in shelves that held towels but it was awkward fitting them in there. I wanted to keep towels behind the toilet, so I found chrome racks that lined up about six towels in a row. It was cute and effective.

Sweeten: Can you describe some of the materials you used?

Kim: Both bathrooms were small and making the baths feel larger is subconscious, in the colors I elect. All of the natural materials help to give it that breathability. In the powder room, minimal water is splashed, so one big sisal bath mat with a fun pattern wrapped around the toilet and sink worked great!

I had been using brass a lot recently and it was refreshing to use chrome in the bathrooms. The tiles were also a perfect option for keeping the kids’ bathroom looking clean. The biggest challenge was the bamboo ceiling. When it was finally installed it was very rewarding and a relief!

(Above & Below) Powder room

Sweeten: How did your contractor help you get the project done?

Kim: My contractor’s tile work really revamped the entire space. He was great!

Sweeten: Do you have any renovation or design tips for future renovators?

Kim: Make sure to use recommended sources from your professional. It saves you a lot of grief.

This work was featured in the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse during November 2019.

KID’S BATHROOM RESOURCES: Floor tiles, shower wall tiles: Walker Zanger. Fish School wallpaper, window treatment fabric: Schumacher. Shower fixtures: Ferguson. Ceiling covering: Forever Bamboo. Sink console, toilet: Signature Hardware. Ceiling light fixture: Soane Britain.  Art Deco shell sconces: 1stdibs.com. Vanity mirror/medicine cabinet: Serena & Lily. White lacquer gloss paint: Ressource.

POWDER ROOM RESOURCES: Bathroom sisal floor rug: Curran. Brighton Your Pavilion wallpaper, window treatment fabric: Meg Braff Designs. Ceiling wallpaper: Ionian Sea Linen by Ralph Lauren. Key West pedestal sink: Mirabelle. Mirror: Chairish. Toilet: Signature Hardware. Sconces: Soane Britain. Towel bar: Mirabelle. Paint in Terregone: Ressource.

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