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A 53-Sq-Ft Bathroom Undergoes a Glam Transformation

A New York designer works with landmark preservation restrictions to create a luxe bath

Morgan Province
Morgan Province21 October 2021
Houzz Contributor. Enjoying a life of travel around the world and writing fun stories along the way. In my spare time, I plan my dream home on Houzz, read all kinds of books, and cuddle with my two Westies.
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Remodelling a 4-foot-7-inch-wide bathroom would be enough of a challenge. But for this remodel, interior designer Joe Human also had to work around building and structural restrictions. The bath was a part of a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights, a historic neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York. Even with those obstacles, Human and the apartment dweller were up for the challenge of creating a modern, glam space that felt authentic to the building.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Colby Edwards

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A marketing professional and her dog
Location: Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood of New York City
Size: 5.3 square metres (53 square feet)
Designer: Joe Human, owner of designs by human.

Before
The room needed an update, and Human’s client wanted to get more function out of the narrow space.

Challenges
Human had two big challenges for this renovation. First, the space could not be expanded because there is another apartment to the left, and the back and right sides are against exterior walls. Second, New York City restricts how residents of this landmarked building move the plumbing and structures within the apartments. Before any design changes could be made, Human had to submit a set of detailed drawings to the building’s co-op board and architect for approval.
designs by human.
After
Once Human received approval for the project, he had the space taken down to the masonry walls and concrete floors. Then, he dropped the ceiling down 2½ inches, and had recessed lighting and a recessed shower curtain track installed.

At first, the owner was not convinced that dropping the ceiling farther was a good idea in this small area. However, Human explained that adding more light and levelling the ceiling would actually make the small room feel bigger. When the client saw the results, she understood what Human meant.

Shapes
You may notice that this room is full of right angles, from the floor tile to the bathtub to the vanity. This was intentional. “Our hashtag/motto in our office is #detailsmatter, and this is one of those background details that really pushes the space from an everyday bathroom to a designer bathroom,” Human says.

He used square-edged marble on the vanity countertop and bathtub surround, and outlined the floor tiles in black marble. These details, Human says, while simple, help make the overall design elegant.

Splurge
Because the room was small, Human could splurge on more expensive floor tile. He searched for the right statement piece and finally found this design. The tile is made from two types of marble strips that create a tight basket-weave pattern. “Something unique was a must,” he says.

Take a look at these tiles that will dazzle your bathroom
designs by human.
Shower
When the room was gutted, Human got the go-ahead to improve the plumbing. Originally, the faucets were off-centred on the wall along the long side of the tub and at an awkward height, both functionally and aesthetically.

Now, the plumbing runs up the back wall and the shower has all-new fixtures. This look required many permits, fees and approvals from the city and the building’s board.

Find a designer to design your bathroom
designs by human.
Fixture style
While brass is trendy right now, Human chose it in its natural finish, without lacquer, to fulfil the room’s sophisticated 1920s theme. “In this case, we chose it not to be trendy but to make a simple statement,” he says, “and also put back what might have been in the apartment originally.”

Subway tile
Human chose white subway tile with white grout for the shower walls. The clean white walls work best here, he says, because they add sophistication without detracting from the bold floor tile. He considered dark grout but decided it was too trendy and too rustic for this New York apartment.

Here are 6 ways to design with subway tiles
designs by human.
Marble countertop
Because the position of the toilet, bathtub and sink could not change, Human had to consider how those elements – and the materials they were made from – would interact. For example, Human was worried that water from the shower would get on the vanity, shown here at the end of the tub.

He decided to install custom wood vanity cabinets that were sprayed with a matte lacquer finish. To further protect the vanity, Human topped the cabinets with a marble slab and added a waterfall edge. He then finished off the look by installing marble on the bathtub surround.
Before Photo
Bathroom entry (before)
Human looked for ways to maximise space. Although he could not push out the bathroom walls, he did find a small under-utilised closet outside the bathroom door. But the wall between the closet and bathroom had to stay in place. It houses electrical and plumbing risers for apartments above and below his client’s space.

Check out 7 space enhancing tricks for a small bathrooms
designs by human.
Bathroom entry (after)
The closet area is now part of the bathroom, serving as its entry point. The closet itself is now a makeup vanity where Human’s client can sit and get ready for the day. He put in custom cabinets and a marble-topped vanity.

Stool
The stool at the make-up vanity is a nice touch of glam and luxury. It also sparked a joke between the homeowner and her friends: They say it resembles the client’s 7-year-old Bichon Frise, Lili.
designs by human.
Glam details
Human accomplished an elegant look in the bathroom by incorporating small elements such as the brass hardware seen here. Human found these vintage semicircle drawer pulls and put them together in a circle on the vanities’ drawers for added drama.

Small-space advice
When renovating a small apartment, especially in a city like New York, Human recommends you start the design process by considering the building codes and regulations. Then, you’ll know from the beginning what you can and cannot change.

For example, the toilet in this bathroom could not be moved. Typically, Human would avoid a layout where you see the toilet when you first walk in, but in this case, he couldn’t avoid it. So instead of trying to force a toilet move, he worked to tone down the fixture and amp up the room’s beauty in other areas. “Now when you walk in, you really don’t notice the toilet as a focal point,” he says. “You notice all the subtle details and the beautiful tile work.”

Read more:
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work Hard

Tell us:
Have you recently renovated your tiny bathroom? What ticks did you use to make it seem bigger? Tell us in the Comments below.
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