When BNR Interiors founder Nicole R. Fisher and her family bought their Hudson brownstone, the 200-year-old former YMCA building was crumbling. The designer lovingly restored the space and turned its two-family layout into a one-family home where they lived for several years. This dark and moody primary bathroom was, believe it or not, the former kitchen. “That was the biggest design challenge,” Fisher reveals. “We had to figure out how to use the existing plumbing components without having to redo everything, keep the footprint the same in terms of how big it was, but have it function entirely differently, of course.”
The Vibe
Fisher wanted a spa-like space that didn’t require a ton of square footage. “It’s not that big of a bathroom, but while you’re inside, it feels really luxurious, and I think that has everything to do with the black and all of the reflective finishes.”
The designer credits the sophisticated vibe to the simplicity of materials: a ceramic subway tile in a dark, reflective hue, polished brass fixtures, and parquet tile floors. The final touch? Cole & Son wallpaper that “brings everything together.”
A dash of the unexpected is what makes the space so refreshing. Fisher touts the advances in glue and materials that have made wallpaper a must for bathrooms. And, she says she loves using darker hues. “Most people do the opposite effect, but I think the dark really transports you and makes you feel like it’s at a spa,” she says.
A locally sourced vintage rug brings “added warmth and a little bit of texture,” the designer notes. “It warms up your toes in the morning — a nice little bit of pattern and color in there without taking too much attention away from the other components.”
Signature Style
The bathroom’s romantic aesthetic is in step with the rest of the home, Fisher explains: “The whole house is dark and moody; it has huge seven-foot windows that let in a lot of sun, but you feel like you’re in a completely different space when you’re inside.” To bring the building back to its former glory, the designer restored all of its mahogany wood. “I’m never afraid of using darker colors. I think it makes the space look bigger and more cozy, and it adds a lot of depth,” she says.
That aesthetic also plays into Fisher’s design philosophy that clients should live in chic and luxurious spaces that are also comfortable. And that’s exactly what she did in her spa-like bathroom, where Fisher often got ready and even took phone calls. “I loved being able to take a bath curled up with a book, feeling like I was in a hotel,” she remembers. “It had a secluded position at the end of a long hallway. It was a nice little escape.”
Get the Look
- Angel’s Trumpet Wallpaper, $229, Cole & Son
- House of Rohl Edwardian Low Level Spout Widespread Bathroom Faucet, $1,140, Best Plumbing Tile and Stone
- House of Rohl Edwardian Thermostatic Shower Package, $5,300, Best Plumbing Tile and Stone
- Beekman Sconce, $358, Hudson Valley Lighting
- Polished Black Subway Tile, Price Varies by Size, Westchester Design Center Tile, Larchmont
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