Before After A Sleek 60s Bath Redux
See how a cramped NYC bathroom became a light and airy space inspired by the luxury of an outdoor shower.
This bathroom did its midtown Manhattan apartment no favors. For one, it was still clinging dearly to a dated 1960s style—much like the rest of the place—and the room seemed to highlight its small footprint. But interior designer Brian Leighton was able to completely redefine the bathroom through the surfaces, capturing the illusion of openness while greatly multiplying both function and storage.
Photo: Brian Leighton Art & Interiors
Before: Dark & Dated
Original fixtures and finishes kept this space in a time capsule and cast it with a dim filter. Old white tiles lined the room, extending out of the shower and only 2/3 of the way up the walls. On the floor, a patchwork of mosaic was composed of mostly white tile with a random scattering of saturated colors.
The frosted-glass window and shower enclosure closed off and darkened the space, making it appear even smaller. While the wall-mounted sink attempted to save valuable floor space, it felt clunky and impractical.
"There was no functional storage in the original '60s-condition bathroom," Leighton recalls. "The existing frosted window didn’t offer the opportunity to see the view of the East River and the landmark Pepsi sign unless it was open."
Design: Brian Leighton Art & Interiors
After: Fresh & Light
A pairing of crisp white and earthy tile brought a breath of fresh air into this bathroom—no layout change required. Wood-inspired tile not only blankets the floor, but also cleverly wraps the shower.
"Installing a walk-in shower with a single glass panel opened up the space," Leighton said. "The use of the wood-look porcelain floor tile allowed me to get creative and use it on the walls and ceiling to graphically set off the shower and create the illusion of higher ceilings."
The faux bois in the shower is countered with elongated white subway tile set with dark grout for a clean, modern finish. The once-frosted window was replaced with a clear, swing-out style to properly frame the Pepsi sign, which Leighton calls the "art of the bathroom."
"To resolve the storage issue, I added a vanity and a recessed oversized medicine cabinet," Leighton said. "The medicine cabinet had outlets inside allowing for the elimination of exposed outlets."
Design: Brian Leighton Art & Interiors
The high-gloss white vanity echoes the clean lines of the room and reflects light to keep things airy. The addition of new overhead lighting and a lower-wattage fixture above the sink provides dynamic illumination options for both day and night.
'The original inspiration was sexy outdoor shower," Leighton said. "I’ve always loved outdoor showers, and wanted to have the feeling of that experience in the middle of New York City."
