The decision to gut renovate your only bathroom in a NYC Coop is a major one. The time involved, cost, Coop Board approval, city permits, displacement...it is stressful. I was forced to do this after a massive flood from above. But, frankly, my 80s bathroom was very dated and it was time to get rid of this almond and pink atrocity.

{{attachment:1219550}}

I did all the research, design and planning myself. Visited 20 showrooms. Scoured the internet. I found that designing a compact 5" x 7" space is a lot harder than a large bathroom, particularly with an oversized window in the shower. I kept my budget at about $20K. Wanted to create the feeling of a hotel bath in Miami with art moderne elements.

In my case, the most challenging purchase was the vanity. It had to be narrow. The 21" Empire Industries Daytona with Tribeca sink fit the bill. The tile, paint and accessories were selected to match the vanity.

To be honest, the entire process of picking out a vanity, tub, toilet, medicine cabinet, light fixtures, accessories, paint and tile was overwhelming. Too many options. If you don't have the time, or intestinal fortitude, stop now and hire a designer. I stuck it out because I really enjoy being creative.

My contractor warned me, "Prepare for dust". Ripping down the walls of a 1938 Coop creates a huge dust cloud. My advice: WRAP EVERYTHING. Your couch, paintings, piano, television...seal it all with plastic. Room seals don't protect everything. Get a shop vac, masks and an air purifier for nightly cleaning. I cannot stress this enough.

{{attachment:1219551}}

Once the old bath was demolished, we were left with a bad subfloor and 1938 plumbing. Replacing a subfloor requires many layers - wood, wire lath, thin-set or cement board, topped with your floor tile. I recommend that you pay close attention to how high your new floor will be after all those layers. Discuss that with your contractor, so you don't wind up with a very high transition between rooms. In fact, pay attention to the height of everything. Your shower head, mirror height, lighting, electrical sockets, towel bar...etc. If you are petite, your 6'3" contractor may not consider your 5"2" frame. Make sure the electrician provides slack in the wiring so that fixtures can be adjusted to your height preferences. If you don't stay on top of these options, your contractor will install to industry standards. It is really in your best interest to be home during construction.

{{attachment:1219552}}

You will have to live with your tile installation for years. Pay close attention. Is your contractor providing any additional waterproofing? Is it necessary? (What about Redgard?) How thick is that adhesive going on? Are you seeing lippage? (When tile edges protrude.) Some installers work with spacers, others don't. If you don't like what you are seeing, make him remove any poorly installed or chipped tiles. Grout will not hide all woes.

{{attachment:1219553}}

Paint is tricky. I started with Benjamin Moore Silver Fox satin paint which looked fabulous during the day. But, at night, this grey/beige tone turned green. Didn't matter if I changed lightbulbs in my fixture, the undertones of green remained. So, we repainted with Nimbus. Lesson learned.

To complete the look, I opted for B&W images of South Beach hotels to add a touch of art deco to the long subway tile design (3" x 12"). My striped wash cloths pick up on the art moderne lines of the hotel architecture. I opted against shelving to make the room look bigger and reduce dust collection.

So, here it is! After months of planning, took just eight days to renovate. What a change! I am very happy with the results. Each time I step into the bathroom, I think I am checked into The Delano in Miami. If only there was a cabana and pool outside. :)

{{attachment:1219554}}

{{attachment:1219555}}

{{attachment:1219556}}

{{attachment:1219557}}

There is no more wood exposed around the window. We framed and tiled to the window edge. I did install a clear curtain in front of the window, because I prefer the tracks of the window to not get drenched. It works well and the room is very bright and cheerful.

{{attachment:1219558}}

{{attachment:1219559}}

basement

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US