Welcome to the grand reveal! Today is an incredibly exciting day as we finally pull back the curtain on our complete bathroom renovation. We’re thrilled to share every detail, from the vibrant “after” photos to a meticulously tracked timeline and a transparent budget breakdown. This journey, a testament to dedication and smart planning, transformed our dated bathroom into a cherished space over a month of dedicated weekend and evening work. Get ready to be inspired by a project that proves a stunning home makeover doesn’t have to break the bank.
From Demolition Dust to Dream Bathroom: The Initial State
Before we dive into the gleaming “after” shots, it’s crucial to revisit the humble, and frankly, rather unappealing beginnings of this ambitious project. Every major renovation, especially one involving significant upgrades like installing a wet wall board system, follows a universal truth: things often get worse before they get spectacularly better. Our bathroom was no exception. It endured a full, painstaking demolition, revealing the raw bones of the space in its bleakest moment. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer un-aesthetic appeal of our bathroom when it was completely stripped down. My incredible partner, John, bravely undertook the entire demolition by himself, dedicating a grueling 24 hours to this Herculean task. Truly, my hero!
Witnessing a room in such a state can be daunting, but it also provides a blank canvas, a fresh start for envisioning something truly transformative. The old fixtures, tired tiles, and worn surfaces were systematically removed, clearing the way for a modern, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design. This initial, messy phase is often the most physically demanding but also the most satisfying in terms of seeing immediate progress. It sets the stage for the meticulous work that follows, where every new component begins to breathe life back into the space.
The Reveal: A Bathroom Reimagined
Now, let’s fast forward and behold the same room, meticulously put back together. The contrast is simply astonishing. We are absolutely thrilled with how every element seamlessly clicked into place during the final stages, culminating in a bathroom that has genuinely become one of our favorite rooms in the entire house. It might sound unusual, but it’s unequivocally true. The transformation from a chaotic construction zone to a serene oasis is truly remarkable, reflecting countless hours of planning, hard work, and creative problem-solving.
Thoughtful Touches: Mirror, Vanity & Flooring
One of the focal points you’ll immediately notice is the elegant dark wood mirror we proudly hung above the similarly toned vanity. This mirror wasn’t a splurge; we scored it for an incredible $27 on clearance at Target, proving that style doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Its rich tone beautifully complements the mocha hue present in our discount marble flooring. You might recall we snagged this luxurious-looking flooring for an unbelievable price of approximately $2.50 per square foot during a clearance sale at Lowe’s. These strategic, budget-friendly finds allowed us to achieve a high-end look without compromising our financial goals. The dark wood and mocha tones create a cohesive and sophisticated aesthetic, adding warmth and depth to the otherwise bright and airy space.
Personalized Art: Vintage NYC Subway Signs
Beyond the foundational elements, you’ll also spot some unique artwork gracing our walls. True to our DIY spirit, we were never going to pay for something we could craft ourselves. The brilliant idea of creating vintage-looking wood signs originated with John (he truly is the creative mastermind behind many of our projects, I must admit!). This concept emerged after I expressed concern that standard square frames next to our rounded mirror might create a visually chaotic effect. Our solution was both ingenious and incredibly personal. We purchased a single $6 piece of wood, had it precisely cut into two equal pieces right there in the wood cutting section of Home Depot, and brought them home, ready to transform them into art worthy of our brand-new bathroom.
Our inspiration for these pieces stemmed from our cherished memories of time spent in New York City, where our paths first crossed and our love story began. Mimicking the aesthetic of old NYC subway signs, much like those we’ve admired online, felt like a profoundly special way to infuse our home with that customized, sentimental feeling we adore. We, of course, adapted the designs to be slightly less dark than their historical counterparts, ensuring they beautifully complement the abundance of white in our bathroom and throughout our home. We carefully selected two subway stops that hold immense personal significance: we met working together near Grand Central Station and both lived in Astoria, Queens, at different points in our lives. This thoughtful detail adds layers of meaning to our decor, making it uniquely ours.
The creation process was surprisingly straightforward. After bringing home our pre-cut wood planks, we painted them white using craft paint we already owned. The thinner consistency of the craft paint, as opposed to latex wall paint, allowed some of the beautiful wood grain to subtly show through, enhancing the vintage appeal. Next, we designed two “signs” in Photoshop and printed them out ourselves, completely free of charge. To achieve that coveted weathered, creased, and authentically vintage look, we gently roughed up our prints. Finally, Mod Podge came to the rescue for attaching them securely to the wood planks. Its waterproof protection was an added bonus, ensuring the longevity of our artwork in the humid bathroom environment. For those eager to replicate this project, stay tuned! We’ll be sharing a dedicated follow-up post with more step-by-step sign-making details.
Clever Organization & Toilet Area Details
Continuing our bathroom tour, observe the photo above, and you’ll notice a subtle yet intentional design choice: we opted to attach a simple chrome toilet paper dispenser to the side of the vanity. This strategic placement ensures it doesn’t draw undue attention from the hallway, which would have been the case had we positioned it on the opposite side of the toilet, directly under the window. Functional aesthetics were key here. Furthermore, we selected a simple white ceramic tray for the top of the toilet. To ensure it remained securely in place for the long haul, we ingeniously cut a thin strip from one of our rubber rug-pads, creating a grippy buffer between the toilet tank and the tray. This small hack prevents any unwanted sliding. The tray now serves as a stylish corral for our favorite soap pump (which we’ve previously raved about here), alongside a charming little shell ball and a vibrant leafy green plant, adding a touch of natural elegance.
While there was indeed space for a soap dispenser on the back corner of the vanity behind the sink, we collectively felt it looked far cuter positioned a few inches to the right, atop the toilet tray. We understand that personal preference varies, and while many might prefer their soap pump directly on the vanity, we personally love its placement on the tray – to each their own, right! This arrangement keeps the top of the sink wonderfully uncluttered and sleek-looking, contributing to the bathroom’s minimalist appeal. And should weeks of use lead us to rethink our toilet-top placement, we always retain the simple option of moving the pump over to the sink.
Smart Vanity Storage Solutions
One of our proudest accomplishments in this renovation is successfully preserving the vanity’s drawer by cleverly shortening it. You can delve into the full process of building this custom vanity here. This ingenious modification allows us to still neatly store a few essential staples within: toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant, all neatly organized in a bamboo tray, along with contact cases and John’s hair products. It’s a testament to how even seemingly small spaces can be optimized for maximum functionality without sacrificing aesthetics. The ability to keep daily necessities out of sight contributes significantly to the overall clean and organized feel of the bathroom, reducing visual clutter and promoting a sense of calm.
Our custom vanity also provides ample open storage space below, perfect for housing a stack of extra bath towels, which we wisely picked up for just $6 each at TJ Maxx. Alongside these practical items, we’ve incorporated a few charming decorative elements, such as a loofah nestled in a faux clam shell and a pretty scalloped plate adorned with Dove soap for our guests. While we personally favor a bar of organic soap in the shower, having a readily available, pleasant option for guests ensures their comfort and convenience. This blend of functional storage and thoughtful decor truly elevates the vanity from a mere fixture to an integral part of the bathroom’s design and utility, making the most of every inch.
Elevated Shower Design & Window Treatment
In our quest to maximize the visual impact of the shower area, we rehung our existing white waffle floor-to-ceiling shower curtain (you can read more about that project here). The decision to extend the shower tile all the way up to the ceiling was a game-changer. This continuous vertical line meets the shower curtain rod, creating an illusion of much greater height and adding a dramatic flair to the entire room. We are incredibly pleased that we invested the extra time and effort in tiling all the way up; the ceiling genuinely feels more than a foot taller, completely transforming the perception of space. This floor-to-ceiling tiling also provides a luxurious, spa-like feel, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the bathroom. Furthermore, for the window, we opted for a simple, inside-mount bamboo blind from Home Depot, a fantastic find at just $25. We adore the natural texture and the warm mocha color it introduces, which beautifully ties in with the tones in our marble floor, the vanity, and even the mirror, creating a harmonious and well-balanced design scheme.
The Brilliance of Bathtub Reglazing
Towards the culmination of our extensive renovation, we invested in having our tub professionally reglazed. This crucial step delivered a truly convincing, like-new appearance, breathing fresh life into an existing fixture. It’s worth noting that the tub had actually been reglazed once before we inherited it with the house, and that treatment impressively lasted over 12 years – we even received the original paperwork from the previous owners detailing the job years ago. Based on this precedent, we anticipate that this new reglazing job will endure just as long, even with daily use. The secret to such a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing finish lies in selecting the best professionals who utilize top-tier equipment and superior formulas. We highly recommend rigorous vetting: always ask for references, consult organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and prioritize specialists known for their exceptional results.
Our decision to reglaze rather than replace was rooted in our profound appreciation for the tub’s inherent qualities: its generous size, impressive depth, and its original cast-iron construction. It was simply too magnificent a piece to send to a landfill, not to mention the prohibitive cost and immense effort involved in attempting its removal and replacement. We are steadfast proponents of working with what we have, especially when it aligns with sustainable practices. Since salvaging the bathroom’s old tile proved impossible, refinishing the tub was the least we could do to preserve a valuable existing element. This cost us $399 – a significant saving compared to replacement. For those considering this option, note that if our tub hadn’t been previously reglazed, the cost would have been even lower, around $299. An added benefit for us is that we’ve long adopted the practice of not placing shampoo bottles around the edge of the tub (as it’s not recommended for refinished surfaces), so this was not an adjustment at all for us with the newly reglazed finish. Note: We were exceptionally pleased with the work of this top-rated family-owned local company.
Mastering the Subway Tile Shower
Here’s a captivating shot showcasing John’s truly amazing subway tile work, extending from the tub right up to the ceiling. Doesn’t it possess the flawless appearance of a professional installation? I couldn’t be more proud of his first foray into tiling! His meticulous attention to detail and unwavering determination resulted in a finish that belies his novice status. For the practical necessities within the shower, we opted for a simple chrome shower caddy. While we had extensively debated various options – from adding elegant white porcelain corner shelves to even considering the creation of a recessed enclave for shampoo and soap before tiling – we ultimately decided on the caddy. We don’t mind its clean, minimalist look, and it wonderfully preserved the sweet and simple nature of our very first tiling job, preventing over-complication.
You might also observe that we upgraded the shower fixtures with an incredibly affordable $69 chrome set we sourced from Overstock. Our previous fixtures, while functional, felt a touch too “cottage-y” and no longer aligned with the modern aesthetic of our new sink and faucet. The most satisfying part of this upgrade? We cleverly listed our old fixtures on Craigslist – given they were only used for a few years and remained in mint condition – and actually recouped $30 of the $69 we spent on the new set. You’ve got to love the resourcefulness that Craigslist offers! On another note, doesn’t that twenty-cent subway tile from Home Depot look absolutely exquisite up close? Its bright, shiny, and impeccably clean appearance makes it the perfect choice for a tub surround, providing both timeless style and easy maintenance. Mmm, perfection.
This particular project was one instance where we wholeheartedly embraced the wisdom of calling in the professionals. We invested $100 for an hour of an expert plumber’s time. His skilled assistance was crucial for safely removing our old fixtures, which were soldered in place behind the wall, and meticulously installing our new ones, also soldering them for long-lasting durability and optimal performance. This was an expense we considered entirely worthwhile to proactively circumvent any potential plumbing issues down the line. After receiving numerous estimates exceeding $300 for a seemingly simple shower-hardware swap, we were fortunate to discover a fantastic local plumbing company, Advanced Plumbing (804.358.1616), who provided us with a significantly more reasonable price. We will undoubtedly be utilizing their services again in the future, a testament to their fair pricing and expertise.
The Integrated Linen Closet: Form Meets Function
Adjacent to our newly renovated main space is our doorless linen closet (you can learn more about how and why we removed the door some time ago). This area now feels even more seamlessly integrated into the room, thanks to a few key modifications. We eliminated the old threshold and extended the new mocha stone floor tiles directly into the closet, replacing the previously wooden floor. The result is astonishing: the entire bathroom now boasts seamless stone squares underfoot, creating a continuous and expansive feel. The difference is truly amazing! It now feels as though this space was always intended to be an open nook, rather than a disparate, enclosed linen closet. This transformation not only enhances the visual flow but also provides a highly functional storage solution. It’s the perfect spot for all our extra towels, my hair dryer, my make-up bag, and various other linen-closet essentials. However, thanks to a selection of pretty boxes and bins that we already had, all the less aesthetically pleasing items are cleverly hidden away. This strategy maintains a clean, inviting, and organized look that is both super functional and aesthetically pleasing.
You might also notice the charming tags adorning a few of those woven baskets, which we crafted back in the day. These simple yet effective labels elevate our organization to another level, ensuring that John can never claim ignorance about where anything belongs or fail to return items to their designated spots. It’s truly a foolproof system that cost us absolutely nothing, a testament to the power of thoughtful, budget-friendly organization. This meticulous approach to storage not only maintains the aesthetic integrity of the open closet but also streamlines our daily routines, making the bathroom a pleasure to use.
The Finishing Touches: Towels, Hooks & Bath Mat
Moving to the other side of the bathroom, you’ll find our new $6 TJ Maxx towels gracefully hanging on the back of the door. (For a closer look at our personalized towel hooks, you can explore them here). Additionally, we strategically installed a small towel bar next to the sink, providing convenient access for hand-drying. This towel bar required a slight adaptation to perfectly fit our bathroom’s dimensions, and John will be sharing the intricate details of that modification in an upcoming follow-up post, so keep an eye out for that! These seemingly minor additions play a pivotal role in the overall functionality and polished appearance of the space.
It’s often the subtle, final touches that truly complete a room and transform it from an “in-progress” project to a “thank goodness we’re done!” sanctuary. The addition of plush towels and carefully selected accessories effortlessly elevated the entire space. These last-minute details not only add comfort and style but also serve to emphasize and complement the more significant material choices, such as the elegantly veiny marble flooring, the crisp white trim, and the soft taupey-green walls. These elements work in harmony to create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. Speaking of details, we were delighted to find our bath mat for just $9 on clearance at our local West Elm. (Sadly, this store is now closing its doors, which meant everything was drastically marked down – a bittersweet win for us!) The bath mat introduces a wonderful softness against the cool, dark stone floors, and its cushy texture is incredibly inviting for bare feet, adding a layer of luxurious comfort to the finished bathroom.
Budget Breakdown: Achieving More for Less
Now, let’s delve into the numbers – the aspect that often dictates the scope and feasibility of any renovation. To provide a benchmark for our DIY efforts, we first obtained two informal bathroom renovation estimates from contractor friends. Both quotes for a complete demolition, room rebuilding, floor and shower/tub tiling, and vanity installation came in at approximately $10,000. They acknowledged the complexity of our 50-year-old house, which featured mortar and metal-mesh behind the walls, alongside some old floorboard rot, making it a more challenging endeavor than a modern redo.
While we fully understood the substantial savings achievable through a DIY approach, we were also pragmatic enough to realize that “DIY” doesn’t equate to “free,” given the necessary materials and supplies. Therefore, we embarked on our bathroom makeover with a projected budget of around $3,000 for everything, from the initial demolition to the final stage of accessorizing. This comprehensive budget accounted for replacing virtually everything, including the floors, walls, vanity, and tile. Needless to say, our excitement was boundless when we crunched the final numbers and discovered we came in blissfully under budget! This outcome is a testament to diligent research, smart shopping, and the power of doing it yourself. Here’s how our budget meticulously broke down, showcasing the incredible value we achieved:
- Demo: $67 (for the rental of the demolition hammer and a few other simple supplies)
- Subway wall tiles: $101 (from Home Depot for 21 cents a pop)
- Marble floor tiles: $120 (thanks to an amazing clearance price of around $2.50 at Lowe’s)
- Grout, spacers, sealer, caulk: $70
- Drywall, furring strips, hardibacker, plywood, nails: $136
- HD truck rental to get the big stuff home: $19
- Trim, quarter-round & supplies: $100
- Thinset & notched trowel: $75
- Manual tile cutter: $15 (we went halvsies on it with John’s dad)
- Wet saw: borrowed from John’s dad
- Circular saw: borrowed from John’s dad
- Miter saw: borrowed from John’s dad
- Drywall mud, tape, sandpaper & spackle knives: already owned/borrowed from J’s dad
- Primer: $11 (Valspar Drywall Latex Based Primer)
- Paint: $26 (Olympic No-VOC paint color matched to Benjamin Moore Dune Grass)
- Vanity: $410 ($165 Crate & Barrel nightstandafter coupon+ $119 Overstock sink + $109 Overstock faucet + $17 Low-VOC eco-varnish)
- Shower Fixtures: $69 set from Overstock + $100 installation
- Toilet: already purchased a few years back
- Professional tub reglazing: $399
- Towels: $30 from TJ Maxx
- Mirror: $27 on clearance from Target
- TP dispenser and towel bar: $37 from Target
- Art: $6 for the wood (we already owned the paint/Mod Podge & printed ’em ourselves)
- Bath mat: $9 on clearance from West Elm
- Blinds: $25 from Home Depot
- Other small accessories & miscellaneous expenses: $67
- GRAND TOTAL: $1819.00
* It definitely bears noting that we were fortunate enough to get to borrow some tools and a few other supplies from John’s dad (ex: the wet saw, circular saw, and miter saw). If you were to purchase these items they’d probably come in around $450 but you could also rent them for far less from places like Home Depot and True Value. This significantly impacted our final budget, highlighting the benefits of a supportive network and smart tool sourcing for DIY projects.
Yes, we are truly thrilled with that final number. There may or may not have been some rather enthusiastic high-fives exchanged when we finally hit the equals sign on the calculator and saw that remarkably low figure. Not only did we complete this renovation for over eight thousand dollars cheaper than a professional would most likely have charged, but we even came in more than $1,000 under our original, ambitious budget. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to clearance tile sales and accessible retailers like Overstock, Target, and TJ Maxx for providing such affordable, stylish accessories. And let me tell you, we were incredibly eager to have our new and improved bathroom back in action after precisely 40 days sans shower. Although, surprisingly, showering at the gym and John’s sister’s house weren’t all that bad once we adjusted to the temporary routine.
Timeline: The Realities of a DIY Renovation
Of course, those 40 days weren’t 40 solid days of relentless work. Our project timeline was more accurately comprised of about four and a half intense weekends and a handful of dedicated evenings spent getting everything done. It’s also important to remember that Christmas and New Year’s holidays fell within this period, so we happily took quite a bit of time off to relax and celebrate with family and friends. This illustrates the true nature of many DIY projects: they are often interspersed with life’s demands and joys. Here’s a more detailed rundown of the hours we invested into each stage of our bathroom renovation, providing a realistic glimpse into the commitment required:
- Pre-project planning & shopping: 5 hours or so
- Removal of toilet/vanity before demo: 2 hours
- Tile demo: 24 hours (two twelve-hour days)
- Getting supplies and installing drywall, hardibacker and new plywood floor: 42 hours (three and a half twelve-hour days) Note: this step can be substantially shorter in newer homes where you’re not dealing with furring strips to build out walls to match old mortar depths; for example, John’s dad tackled this step alone at his house in less than one seven-hour day.
- Tiling the shower surround: 17 hours (one seven-hour day and two five-hour evenings)
- Priming and painting walls: 2.5 hours
- Tiling the floor: 11 hours (one seven-hour day and one four-hour evening)
- Grouting & sealing the shower & floor: 3 hours
- Buying, cutting, installing & painting trim: 9 hours
- Reinstalling toilet: 30 minutes
- Building and installing the vanity: 5.5 hours
- Hanging the mirror, art, shower curtain, towel bars, etc: 1.5 hours
- GRAND TOTAL: 123 hours (which breaks down into a little over five weekends of dedicated work)
This bathroom renovation unequivocally stands as the biggest DIY project we’ve undertaken to date. Prior to this endeavor, we had never demo’d tile, operated a wet saw, tackled any tiling whatsoever, or even used a miter saw! We love to champion our latest major makeover as compelling proof that anyone, armed with ample research, tireless enthusiasm, and unwavering determination, can successfully tackle a similar project in their own home. For more insightful information on how to judiciously evaluate whether a project might be too extensive for a DIY approach, we encourage you to click here.
A Look Back: From Carpet to Charm
To truly appreciate the extent of this transformation, we’ll leave you with a photograph of our bathroom as it appeared when we purchased our charming old house three years ago. Can you truly believe that the previous owners had a rather questionable, matted carpet covering the original, classic basketweave tile? It’s a testament to how far design trends have come, and how much potential can be unlocked with a little vision and elbow grease.
Indeed, you’ve come a remarkably long way, old friend. The transformation is nothing short of miraculous, a proud chapter in our home’s story.
Reflections & Future DIY Adventures
Would we embark on this entire journey again? Heck yeah! We’re genuinely intrigued to see how much faster and more efficiently we could execute such a project now that we’re no longer complete novices in so many facets of the bathroom renovation process. However, would we jump into another bathroom remodel this very weekend? That might be pushing it a bit! While we absolutely cherish the immense pride and profound self-satisfaction that our significant bathroom project elicited, we’d be flat-out lying if we didn’t admit it was incredibly hard work. We’re quite content to take a well-deserved break from swinging sledgehammers and meticulously cutting tiles for a little while. We’re not robots, after all! In fact, a long, luxurious bath sounds like the perfect antidote after all that blood (a tiny bit), sweat (a whole lot), and tears (just a select few moments of frustration).
So, what are your thoughts, everyone? Has anyone out there recently tackled a similar DIY bathroom project? Are there any first-time tilers on the brink of taking the plunge? We promise you, it’s not nearly as daunting or scary as merely thinking about it makes it out to be. Truly, once you cease dreading the entire process and simply dive in, there’s a certain relief in the act of “doing” rather than endlessly “anticipating.” Happy renovating to one and all! May your projects be successful and your spirits high.
Eager to follow each detailed post documenting our massive bathroom makeover? Be sure to check out Chapter One (Planning), Chapter Two (Demo), Chapter Three (Wall Reconstruction), a little teaser post, Chapter Four (Tiling), Chapter Five (Grouting), Chapter Six(Trim) and Chapter Seven (Building The Vanity). Each post offers deeper insights and step-by-step guidance on our DIY journey.