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DIYer Ava Russo and her fiancé Danny transformed their all-white bathroom with deep auburn paint, patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper and brass details. They kept the clawfoot tub, hexagonal floor tiles and vanity, updating them to fit the new Victorian-inspired look.
DIYer Ava Russo and her fiancé, Danny, have turned their all-white bathroom into a dark, Victorian-inspired space, using deep auburn paint, patterned wallpaper and brass finishes to give the room a more personal feel. In a recent before-and-after report, Apartment Therapy described how the couple kept several existing fixtures while changing the bathroom’s look.
Russo said the bathroom had little personality and no natural light, but already included features worth keeping: a clawfoot tub, a vanity with a marble top and hexagonal floor tiles. The couple retained those elements and focused the renovation on paint, patterns and updated details. They resurfaced the tub and replaced its plumbing, painted the vanity base Sherwin-Williams’ “Cocoon,” and added wainscoting.
They painted the beadboard panels, chair rail and window trim in Sherwin-Williams’ “Dark Auburn”, chosen to complement the wallpaper. The couple also changed the window film to a leaded-glass-style design and replaced silver fixtures with gold and brass finishes. Russo said installing peel-and-stick wallpaper was harder than she expected, and that the couple’s first major home project involved a learning curve.
The work took three weeks, according to Russo’s account in Apartment Therapy. She said she wished they had painted the ceiling to carry the darker look further, but described the auburn paint as her favorite part because it adds depth and works with the wallpaper.
How the Existing Room Shaped the Makeover
The renovation shows how the couple changed the room’s atmosphere while keeping many of its original features. Russo said using the bathroom’s existing “bones” helped add character without pushing the project beyond their budget. Their approach centered on paint, wallpaper and fixture changes, rather than replacing the tub, vanity and flooring.
Russo’s account also offers a practical note for people taking on a first home project: the couple found that peel-and-stick wallpaper and replacing the tub plumbing required more effort than anticipated. She said she tends to rush projects, but advised taking time to plan because ideas can improve during the process. The report does not provide a full itemized budget or independent assessment of the work.
A White Bathroom With Useful Bones
Before the renovation, the bathroom was described as basic and all white, with limited natural light. Russo and Danny wanted a dark, moody interior with what she called a dark academia and Victorian feel. The existing clawfoot tub and other fixtures gave them a starting point for that style.
Rather than remove every older surface, the couple kept the hexagonal tiles despite their imperfect condition and retained the marble-topped vanity. They resurfaced the tub and changed its plumbing, then used the new colors and decorative details to tie the preserved pieces into the updated room.
““I wanted people to feel like they were at a hotel or somewhere luxurious.””
— Ava Russo, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Performance Details
Apartment Therapy’s report does not provide a total project cost, an itemized materials budget or details about the specific wallpaper and lighting products. It also does not independently evaluate the renovation or establish whether the changes affected the home’s value. The account reflects Russo’s experience and aesthetic preferences; the article does not present wider evidence about how dark colors affect the perceived size of bathrooms.
The Couple’s Reflections on the Work
Russo said she sometimes wishes the ceiling had been painted as part of the makeover, and that she would advise others to give themselves time to plan. The report describes the renovation as completed; it does not identify a further project milestone or say whether the couple plans additional bathroom work.
Key Questions
Who renovated the bathroom?
Ava Russo and her fiancé, Danny, completed the renovation as their first major home project, according to Apartment Therapy.
What color did they use?
They painted the bathroom’s beadboard, chair rail and window trim Sherwin-Williams “Dark Auburn”. The vanity base was painted “Cocoon.”
What features did the couple keep?
They kept the clawfoot tub, hexagonal floor tiles and marble-topped vanity. They resurfaced the tub, replaced its plumbing and painted the vanity base.
How long did the renovation take?
Russo said the couple finished the project in three weeks.
What did Russo say she would change?
She said she sometimes wishes they had painted the ceiling to continue the bathroom’s dark, moody look.
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