A New Bath Takes Its Cue From Contrasts

Simple bathroom renovation ideas perk up an outdated space, including items to splurge on and what to stop cleaning!

Project: Bringing a dilapidated bath into the 21st century in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Before: Last week, we saw how Natalie and Cartier transformed the kitchen and living room of their one-bedroom apartment in the Clinton Hill Co-ops. Their bathroom was in a similar state of disrepair from a rust-stained bathtub and matching sink to the peeling, flowery wallpaper and lavender tiles that were not to the couple’s taste at all. With the help of their Sweeten contractor, they implemented a set of bathroom renovation ideas that contrasted white tiles with dark grout for a look that’s thoroughly modern.

After: As in the rest of the apartment, Natalie and Cartier created a clean, streamlined look by combining white tile, flat-front cabinetry in a dark wood finish, and chrome Grohe fixtures. The choice of a 4” x 12” subway tile for the walls gave the bath a more contemporary look than the traditional 3” x 6” subway tile. The couple chose a dark grout for contrast and paired it with charcoal flooring in porcelain tile. Sleek bar lighting and recessed lights maintained the unfussy look. The space was a typical NYC bathroom, which meant that they had to maximize storage space without it feeling too cramped. Another one of their bathroom renovation ideas involved two niches built into the wall of the shower to provide a convenient area for storing bath products. An IKEA sink and vanity helped to keep the cost down while the pair splurged on a thermostatic shower system that includes a rain shower, a handheld showerhead, as well as a faucet. They decided on the thermostatic shower valves because of bad experiences in past apartments with drastic changes in shower temperature, and this technology addressed that problem.

Bonus: Cartier hated the way that shower curtains got dingy over time (no matter how diligent you were about airing them out!). As a result, he was particularly excited about the glass partition between the tub and the sink which simplifies the task of cleaning.

Style finds: Porcelain floor tile, PT 12″ x 24″ Basaltina Linosa (cut into squares): Arizona Tile. White 4” x 12” Glossy Subway wall tile: South Cypress. Starlight Chrome fixtures, Essentials Collection; Thermostatic Europlus Starlight Chrome shower fixtures, Cosmopolitan Collection: Grohe. Godmorgon sink and vanity: IKEA. Modern Ceramic Dual Flush toilet: Eago. Saber LED Bath Bar lighting, #WS-3127-CH: Modern Forms.

Thanks to Natalie and Cartier for sharing their sleek new bath! If you missed it, don’t forget to check out their kitchen and living room!

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Contrasting light tile with dark grout, as seen in Lia and Chris’ bath, is a simple way to make a bold style statement.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.