High-End & Elegance Prevail in this Hoboken Brownstone Bathroom Remodel

Most families living in the Hoboken/Downtown Jersey City area have an appreciation for the character that comes with buying an older home. But along with the high ceilings, grandeur moulding, and parquet floors comes outdated plumbing, fixtures, electric and very little storage. Owning an old home is a labor of love.

Our client called us wanting to completely remodel their brownstone’s 3rd floor bathroom. The existing floor-plan included an over-sized whirlpool tub and double vanity with zero storage which made the bathroom feel small and dysfunctional for this family of four.

AFTER

We re-framed the space and replaced all the plumbing and electric. Due to a leak in the skylight, the ceiling joists were also re-framed, and a new Velux brand skylight was installed.

The client selected high end materials including a custom floating vanity that included a storage cabinet, towel bar, shelves for toiletries, a toilet paper niche and under-mount lighting that would highlight the Pompeii Grey mosaic tile floor from Artistic Tile. These smart organization solutions allow the sink and surfaces to remain uncluttered despite day-to-day use. The medicine cabinet is from Restoration Hardware and the light fixture and vanity hardware is from Cedar & Moss.

AFTER

AFTER

The floor to ceiling tile, also from Artistic Tile, is another high-end detail the client decided upon along with the help of our in-house designer. Capital Geo in White was selected for the bottom half while A Train Azul was selected for the top half. In order to achieve such a clean and linear look, wall installation, tile cuts and transitions had to be done with exact precision.

AFTER

Our designer and client selected the Kohler Purist collection to outfit her shower fixtures. The Pompeii Gray mosaic tile appears again in the custom tile niche for cohesiveness and visual appeal.

AFTER

AFTER

To see more photos of this project, check out our Projects page or our Houzz profile.

New Life for an Abandoned Bath and Sitting Room

Nothing worked in this single family brownstone’s bath and sitting room for more than 20 years. As you can imagine, this project was a total gut. Windows, plumbing, HVAC - you name it and we probably replaced it. And don’t let the size of this bathroom fool you. It’s chock-full of luxury and detail.

AFTER

BEFORE

As with most older homes, we needed to bring more light into this dark bathroom by opening up the exterior masonry wall for a larger window. After re-framing and leveling the floor, we added under-tile floor heat atop an eye-catching Moroccan tile. In order to not compete with the floor, a simple subway tile was chosen for the walls.

The open vanity feels vintage yet modern with the chrome base and Georges IV fixtures from Kohler. And the Robern medicine cabinet is a tech upgrade with an innovative door that lifts straight up and holds in position. The mirror has a built in light option that illuminates around the perimeter - perfect for makeup applications or close beard shaves!

Last, but definitely not least, the second star of this room is the free standing tub with heated aerated bubbles; perfect for a long soak after a stressful day of work!

AFTER

In the sitting room we restored the original plaster walls, crown moulding & medallion and installed new period correct base moulding. The original hardwood floors were patched, sanded and finished. The 50+ year old light fixture is original to the home. All furnishings are from the homeowner’s collection of vintage and modern furniture.

AFTER

AFTER

To see the entire project, check out the full set of photos on our Projects page as well as before/afters on Houzz.

BEFORE + AFTER: Downtown Modern Zen Kitchen

What was once a multi-unit brownstone, reestablishes its glory as a modern elegant single family home in this Jersey City downtown home near Van Vorst Park. Far from tranquil, the old apartment kitchen layout was completely dysfunctional and cramped. Water leaks, heating issues and improper wiring were just the start of a long checklist of improper installations from previous builders.

AFTER

AFTER

As you can see below, the pantry and appliances were all confined to one side of the kitchen while the other two thirds of the room were left open for a dining table. Since there was enough room for a proper dining area adjacent to the kitchen, we were able to re-configure the floor plan to spread across the entire room.

BEFORE

BEFORE

The new spacious floor plan maximized counter space and storage by framing the walls with cabinets and centering the the stove between new, historically correct Marvin windows. To keep counter clutter to a minimum, we custom built a floor-to-ceiling pantry wall fit for appliance storage, dinnerware, non-perishables and more. The island conceals a wine fridge and microwave while the lower cabinet toe kick heaters add comfort for cold mornings.

AFTER

AFTER

To achieve the balance of historic character + the clients appreciation for zen design, we installed custom built, traditional in-set shaker cabinets from Decora and white quartz counters & backslash with slight gray veining. To add warmth, we installed white oak floors and floating shelves. JennAir appliances and Kohler sink and faucet complete this sophisticated modern-zen kitchen.

AFTER

AFTER

To see the entire project, check out the full set of photos on our Projects page and Houzz.com.

BEFORE + AFTER: Updating a tight shaker kitchen and bath

We just wrapped up another kitchen and bath project — and this one’s all about letting the light in! The original kitchen was extremely closed off from the bright, open living room with a dated half-wall and bar-height countertop. Another unnecessary wall made the entry feel cramped, and tightened the space within the kitchen even further. Thanks to a washing machine leak that flooded the entire room, we were called on to reimagine the layout and make it more workable for this busy family.

AFTER

AFTER

As you can see below, the extra walls closed in the space, making it feel much smaller than it really is. To open up the flow, we eliminated both walls and repositioned the fridge against the back wall. This allowed up to accommodate an island that houses a drawer microwave, making room for a true hood over the range.

BEFORE

BEFORE

We stuck with white shaker cabinets and opted for a light gray subway backsplash to complement the veining in the quartz countertops. To create a more functional entryway, we shifted the laundry and closet doors over to make the pantry more accessible. It also made room for an additional full-height pantry cabinet, which helped to increase their original storage space.

AFTER

BEFORE

Next up, we tackled the master bath. To make room for a double vanity, we swapped the sinks to the opposite wall, which also allowed us to make the shower stall much bigger. We added extra storage will a tall linen closet built-in and unified the space with light gray tile, a marble mosaic, and pretty gray painted cabinetry.

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

To see the entire project, check out the full set of photos on our Projects page. Thanks for following along, can’t wait to share the next one with you!