Marble Bathroom Reveal: From Gutted to Gorgeous

It's incredibly rewarding to renovate an old home, especially a mid-century gem like this one, which had seen better days. Weeks of excavating layer upon layer of poorly executed past remodels has brought out the beauty that was always hovering beneath the surface.

Do you recall my inspiration board and final design plans?

As bad as the bathroom looked when we purchased this home, you could see it had a few things going for it. First, a separate shower stall allowed me to delete the redundant shower head over the bathtub. Ditto the curved shower rod and plastic curtain. 

A new free-standing soaking tub became the focal point, and we wrapped it in marble. 

The art deco chrome-and-glass shower door is the original, manufactured in 1946 by G.M. Ketcham MFG Corp., Brooklyn. Luckily, it was in salvageable condition. I cleaned it and polished the chrome with Bar Keepers Friend, then had it reglazed with clear glass.

I'm so happy that we were able to save it—it's the old things like this that give a home character. 

Finally, we were lucky enough to encounter surprisingly good conditions beneath the walls. 

The plumbing was in great shape.

The beams were solid.

No leaks and no mold. 

It's rare to open walls of a bathroom and find zero issues—and testament to the soundness of this 1946 building.

Ready for some After vs. Before photos? (Let's have "dessert" first!)


AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

 PRODUCT DETAILS:

This bathroom is all I hoped it could be. I was going for modern yet classic; I wanted it to feel right in step today but not out of step with its mid-century roots. I hope that it looks as timeless to you as it does to me—like it always belonged—now and ten years from now.

DETAILS:

Contractor, Henry Almeida, Almeida Renovations, Brooklyn
Marble surround and deck: Empire Cabinetry and Marble, Brooklyn

Floor tile: Heath Ceramics, USA

Beveled Subway: Luxtile

Bathtub: Kohler Tea for Two

Sink: Signature Hardware

Fixtures: Kohler Purist

Medicine cabinets: Restoration Hardware
Sconces: Restoration Hardware
Shower door: vintage, original to the apartment, circa 1946
Linens, Nicole Miller
Art, Isabelle Haran-Leonardi, Nova Constellatio Gallery, Greenport, NY