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Case Study: An Unexpected Renovation Prompts a Return to Hastings

Background

Water Damage Results in the Need to Renovate

In 2009, a Brooklyn homeowner sought tile and furnishings for an apartment renovation that included the primary and guest bathrooms and a powder room. The architect on the project was a friend and the scope was limited, so she was doing the interior design work independently. 

She had been wandering around the A&D Building in Manhattan and stumbled upon Hastings. Intrigued by their tile displays, she went into the showroom and found much more that met her needs. Hastings not only provided design support for the layout but also helped guide the selection of furnishings and fixtures based on the client’s aesthetic vision. The renovation was a great success and she had no desire to make changes, even after 15 years of use.

However, in 2024, a leak from the upstairs neighbor caused water damage that required another renovation. Based on the success of the initial renovation, the client returned to Hastings to help her with the retiling project.

Sandy CS 5

Limited Space and a Lack of Design Options

...she wanted something similar to the CT tiles she had originally chosen, but they were no longer available

Challenges

During the initial renovation in 2009, the client wanted two sinks in the primary bathroom, but space was limited. The powder room was also very small and she struggled to find a sink that would fit the footprint. Additionally, the vision included an exclusive tile arrangement that would act as the cornerstone for the space.

With the more recent renovation, the Hastings tile collection had changed. She wanted something similar to the CT tiles she had originally chosen, but they were no longer available. She visited several other showrooms but felt that most of the tiles were unimpressive and did not suit her vision.

Solutions

problem-Solving with Personalized Designs

When visiting the Hastings showroom in 2009 and again in 2024, she finally found design solutions that met her specific needs. Hastings was the common denominator in her journey, serving as a hub for the tailored, personalized solutions that other brands simply couldn't provide.

During the initial renovation in 2009, the Hastings team assisted with tile selection, offered layout recommendations, and suggested colorways that would complement both the tile and the powder room’s aesthetic. VOLA fixtures were also chosen for the primary bath and powder room, which delivered a look so timeless that she decided not to change them with the second renovation. 

Hastings helped her find a double-wide sink and designed dual fixtures for the primary bathroom to accommodate two users within a minimal footprint. A sleek, offset handwash sink in the powder room was the perfect fit, providing the necessary functionality without sacrificing style. A swiveling mirror with extra storage behind it was a smart design choice to elevate usability in a tiny bathroom. 

In 2024, when water damage required a second renovation, she returned to Hastings because she remembered a tile she loved that looked like sea glass. In the showroom, Boni helped her find porcelain tiles that were a suitable and stylish substitute for the original tiles and provided samples for her to test at home, making it even easier to choose. 

Sandy CS 1

Results

A Renovation of Only the Essentials

The installation and coordination of the first renovation were seamless. The client provided the square footage details from the architect and Hastings used the information to help design the layout, specify products, and select the tile. 

The original renovation was exactly what she wanted—nothing had been changed since 2009, and she was only replacing the tile because of the water damage. She and Hastings nailed the aesthetic the first time, and the durable materials have withstood the test of time, even in the face of a leak from above.

The Future

Hastings Is The Go-To

The client is currently working through minor repairs from the water damage. She’s hopeful that there won’t be another unexpected reason to renovate but was adamant that Hastings would be the first stop if the need arose. She says, “Hastings has an enticing selection of tiles and fixtures, and the staff was very helpful working with me on specific projects.”

Hastings has an enticing selection of tiles and fixtures, and the staff was very helpful working with me on specific projects.

- Sandy W.

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