A Co-op Bathroom Renovation Shines with Sleek Tile & Storage
Chic subway tiles and storage space fixes made this co-op bathroom renovation a success
“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten
- Homeowners: Homeowner Angela posted her co-op bathroom renovation on Sweeten
- Where: Manhattan, New York City
- Primary renovation: Updating a dated co-op bathroom in a landmark building
- Sweeten general contractor
- Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and secure payments —for free.
Starting a renovation
Angela, an epidemiologist, moved to Manhattan from New Jersey and started renting. She loved the city so much, she decided to make it her home. She chose to live at The Manor, a 1928 landmark building in the East 40s, for its grand lobby and beautiful casement windows that overlook a neighborhood park and provide natural light. The only thing due for an update? The co-op’s outdated, flawed bathroom.
A designer brings ideas for an old bathroom
She lived in her apartment for several years, doing research and planning before embarking on a renovation. She discovered Sweeten around the same time she found an image of a similar bathroom done by interior designer Andrea Brodfuehrer. “Everything just came together,” Angela said, and she posted her project on Sweeten.
The bathroom wasn’t in great shape. It had broken tiles, visible pipes, and water shut-off valves near the sink, plus poorly placed ceramic fixtures; like a toilet paper holder installed on the tile wall that was uncomfortably close to the toilet. The outdated bathroom needed storage solutions that worked better than the existing storage areas (the floor, ledges, or open shelving behind the bathroom door.)
Though she knew what she wanted, Angela said, “I barely knew where to start. Seeing blog posts like the ones on Sweeten gave me some insight into the process and helped motivate me to take the plunge with the renovation.”
A glamorous, organized white bathroom
Once she was ready to get estimates and interview contractors, Angela said, “Sweeten client services were there for me, ensuring I found [the contractor] who was the right fit for my project. It helped make the process feel a bit less daunting.” Her Sweeten general contractor was in regular communication with Angela and her designer throughout the process and was responsive to questions, comments, and tweaks along the way.
Stylewise, Angela wanted to keep things simple and classic yet unique. She fell in love with a Kelly Wearstler floor tile that Andrea had shown her and admitted it was her favorite part of the bathroom. By contrast, since the floor tile was bold, she chose a white subway tile for the walls with light gray grout for balance. 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!
Angela also included marble niches and shelves, including one next to the sink that mimicked one she had seen in one of Andrea’s previous designs. In the shower, she opted for a rain showerhead and a handheld; Andrea also suggested including a hook above the shower niche for yet another shower option.
Adding bathroom storage solutions
For more storage, a space between the shower and the wall that housed some pipes became tucked-away shelves, perfect for towels and toiletries and a hidden toilet paper holder.
At first, Angela thought that a designer wasn’t necessary for such a small bathroom with no layout change. But now, she would highly recommend it. Once she met Andrea, they clicked right away. “She had amazing ideas and helped pull things together in a way I couldn’t have myself,” Angela said.
Overall, the project went smoothly, but Angela was surprised at how difficult it was to see the bathroom reduced to rubble. “Once the general contractor put everything back together, though, that phase of the work seemed like a distant memory,” she recalled.
Finding the right general contractor
After initially meeting with a few contractors, Angela realized how important it was to nail down what she really wanted in order to ensure she got comparable estimates. It was essential to get a sense of a contractor’s personality and how well they would work together. “Our contractor made a great first impression when he braved an unusually busy day due to the Women’s March to come to see the bathroom and provide an estimate,” she said. “Renovating can be a relatively short but very intense process, so it’s important to find someone you can trust.”
Renovation materials
Liaison by Kelly Wearstler Mosaics floor tile: Ann Sacks. Arctic White subway wall tile: Daltile. Hardware, towel bar, and hooks: Pottery Barn. Kohler Artifacts shower fixtures, rain shower head; and Bancroft sink/vanity and toilet: Kohler. Sconce lighting: Bellacor. Mirror: Restoration Hardware.
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Considering your own co-op bathroom renovation? See What to Know Before you Change the Layout in your NYC Co-op or Condo.
Read Sweeten’s guide, The Renovating Do’s and Don’ts About DIY, if you’re thinking of trying DIY at home.
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.
