After revealing almost every nook and cranny of our new home, we’re thrilled to finally unveil the one room that remained a mystery: our bathroom! As you might know, it’s the *only* bathroom in our house, a fact that initially gave us pause but has, surprisingly, turned out to be a non-issue – a blessing we’re incredibly grateful for. What’s even more remarkable is that despite being the sole bathroom, it was completely non-functional when we first purchased the house. Picture this: a sink vanity ripped from the wall, the entire house’s water supply shut off due to numerous leaks, and absolutely no functioning sewer or septic system. In short, even if you managed to flush the toilet, there was quite literally nowhere for anything to go. It was a blank slate, but one that presented an immediate and daunting challenge.
While our usual approach is to live in a house for a while to truly understand its rhythms and needs before embarking on major renovations (as we touched upon in last week’s post), this bathroom offered no such luxury. It demanded our immediate attention. And to add another layer of complexity, we were managing this critical overhaul from five states away!
Overcoming Renovation Hurdles: From Remote Planning to Unexpected Discoveries
Our initial plan was to handle much of the bathroom’s physical update ourselves during our spring break in April. We envisioned retiling the floor, installing a new toilet and vanity, and, just like magic, a brand-new bathroom would emerge. However, the unforeseen arrival of the coronavirus pandemic swiftly derailed these in-person plans. Quarantined in Richmond, we had to pivot rapidly to Plan B, which meant entrusting the entire project to our trusted contractor.
Looking back, bringing in the professionals was undoubtedly for the best. Our contractor soon uncovered a significant leak hidden within the wall behind the shower. This unexpected discovery escalated the project from a simple cosmetic update to a full-blown gut job, necessitating the complete removal and replacement of the shower, tub, and surrounding drywall. What we initially thought might be a week-long DIY endeavor transformed into a much more extensive renovation, far beyond what we could have realistically tackled on our own during a short spring break.
The remote nature of the renovation meant making all design decisions from Virginia in March, having everything shipped directly to our contractor in Florida, and not seeing any of the chosen elements in person until they were already installed. It was a leap of faith, to say the least! Yet, despite the logistical challenges and the lack of immediate oversight, everything came together beautifully. When we finally moved in during May, we were greeted by a functional and aesthetically pleasing space, elevated further by Sherry’s thoughtful additions of beloved art pieces and accessories – expect to see plants, brass accents, and our all-time favorite toilet making an appearance.
Living with One Bathroom: Practical Design and Storage Solutions
While we’re not quite ready to call this room “finished,” we are incredibly satisfied with its current function and refreshed aesthetic. There are still a few design elements we’d love to incorporate down the line – perhaps some wainscoting, a bold wallpaper, or elegant shelving – to inject a bit more texture and character into what currently feels like a delightful “blank slate.” But for now, the sheer joy of having a working sewer hookup, consistent water pressure throughout the house, not a single leak, and a sink firmly attached to the wall is more than enough to celebrate!
The transition from our previous home in Virginia, which boasted two generously-sized and recently renovated bathrooms (our master bathroom and the kids’ bathroom), to this single, smaller space, came with some understandable trepidation. We literally each had our own sink before (that’s four sinks for four Petersiks!), and now we’d all be sharing just this one. This felt like a potentially challenging adjustment, but thankfully, it has been a complete non-issue – a huge sigh of relief! In fact, the smooth transition has led us to put the brakes on our plans to add a new ensuite bathroom to our bedroom, a project we once thought we’d tackle immediately. We simply don’t feel the urgency we anticipated back when we purchased the house. While we’ll likely still pursue it at some point, there’s no pressure to rush.
Smart Solutions for a Shared Space
One of the most practical features contributing to the seamless shared experience is our 31-inch vanity, which boasts an incredibly wide sink top. This thoughtful design allows both kids to brush their teeth simultaneously without engaging in an “elbows match” when it’s time to spit, as they’re not confined to a small, centered basin. The generous basin space makes morning routines much smoother for everyone.
While the vanity offers a somewhat limited counter surface, this perceived drawback has actually transformed into an unexpected perk. It completely discourages us from accumulating clutter and crowding all our personal items onto the sink’s surface. After all, they do say toothbrushes should be tucked away when you flush, right? This inherent limitation has fostered a more organized and minimalist approach to our bathroom essentials.
Our storage solution is both simple and effective: all our bathroom supplies – toothbrushes, toothpaste, contact lenses, and more – are neatly organized into individual bins stored within the spacious cabinet under the sink. This cabinet is generously sized, comparable to a large base cabinet found under a kitchen sink, providing ample room. Each family member has their own bin for everyday essentials, making it easy to grab what’s needed and quickly stash it away when finished. I’ve also adopted Sherry’s long-standing habit of keeping personal items like deodorant, hair gel, and (hypothetically) my Axe body spray collection in my nightstand. By getting ready in the bedroom each morning, neither of us monopolizes the bathroom for extended periods, contributing to a smoother start to the day for everyone.
We anticipate that as our children grow older, their toiletry collections will expand, but that’s a challenge we’re prepared to address when it arises. The conveniently located hall linen closet just outside the bathroom also provides valuable overflow storage, offering an additional layer of practicality. Perhaps at that future point, should our current setup prove less effective, we’ll revisit the idea of adding our own dedicated bathroom. For now, however, it’s not a major concern. We are simply basking in the satisfaction of how far this room has come from its dilapidated state back in February when we first acquired the house.
Design Choices: Classic Meets Playful
For the shower and tub area, we opted for a straightforward yet classic approach: subway tile extending all the way to the ceiling. This decision was driven by our appreciation for its timeless simplicity and the confidence that it’s a choice we wouldn’t regret. The clean lines of the subway tile provide a perfect counterbalance to the more playful and vibrant tile choice on the floor. Indeed, it was the colorful floor tiles we had previously installed throughout our duplex project that inspired us to bring a similar sense of fun and character to this bathroom’s flooring. We adored how those duplex bathrooms achieved a harmonious balance with classic white ceramic shower tile paired with cheerful, beachy floor tiles. It was exciting to replicate this “classic on top, party on the bottom” aesthetic – perhaps the “mullet of bathrooms,” if you will! – for our own personal use.
Continuing the theme from the duplex, we also opted for the same tub/shower fixture set that we installed in those bathrooms. This was a comforting decision, relying on a tried-and-true product that had already proven its reliability and functionality. Likewise, we chose the same tub we selected for the duplex, which not only accommodates Sherry comfortably but, in a surprising revelation, fits me too! Perhaps all these years of Sherry extolling the virtues of a relaxing bath have finally convinced me to give them a try.
Thoughtful Details: Brass Accents and Art
You’ll also notice that we seamlessly extended the brass accents from the rest of the house into this bathroom, creating a cohesive design narrative. Among our favorite details are these exquisite wooden brass-capped towel hooks, a unique Etsy find. While they took a patient six weeks to arrive, their elegant design and sturdy construction made them absolutely worth the wait.
Other brass accents in the room might look familiar. The captivating circles mobile is a piece we acquired years ago (it’s no longer available, but here’s something similar) that once graced our beach house. It now perfectly fills the somewhat awkwardly tall space along the wall adjacent to the toilet. Since no one typically stands in that corner, there are no concerns about head-hitting incidents. Additionally, the two framed art prints, housed in Sherry’s favorite go-to gold frames, have been a part of our collection for about seven years. These delightful old Etsy finds from this shop previously hung in the foyer of our last house, bringing a touch of history and personal style to this new space.
The above photo still shows the space looking a little sparse, reinforcing our thoughts that some wallpaper or a strategic wall treatment would greatly enhance the texture and visual interest of the room. However, for now, we are simply relishing the sheer luxury of a fully functional bathroom that meets all our family’s needs, particularly a toilet that actually flushes! Securing the sewer hookup through the county, all while coordinating from five states away, was one of the most involved and challenging tasks on our renovation list, a triumph that ensures we will never, ever take that flushing toilet for granted.
Natural Light and Privacy: The Frosted Window
One final, yet significant, detail to highlight is the window. There’s no need for any window coverings because the glass itself is frosted. This might not be apparent in these photos, so I wanted to explicitly point it out to ease any concerns about accidentally flashing our neighbors! This pre-frosted glass has been a fantastic feature, allowing us to forgo bulky privacy blinds or shades that would otherwise obstruct valuable natural light. Instead, we can fully capitalize on the window’s deep windowsill, perfect for displaying another lush plant (naturally, in a brass pot) and a calming candle, ready for those rare moments when one of us manages to steal away for a slightly more luxurious and uninterrupted bath.
The Unexpected Champion: Our Outdoor Shower
In a twist none of us anticipated, we actually don’t utilize our indoor bathroom shower all that frequently. To our collective surprise, our family unanimously prefers the outdoor shower, which we use perhaps 85% of the time! I’m certain this will shift as the weather inevitably cools, but for now, it has been wonderfully convenient not to have the indoor bathroom blocked off while someone is showering. This unique preference has significantly reduced the pressure on our single indoor bathroom, making daily routines even more manageable for our family.
And there you have it – the final room reveal in our new house! While we still have some exciting outdoor spaces to share with you, in case you missed any of our interior room transformations, here are direct links to catch up:
- Our kitchen (plus some recent updates)
- Our bedroom
- Our living room
- Our laundry closet
- Our son’s room
- Our daughter’s room (plus our wall mural project)
And exciting news – we’re diligently working on the “holy moly, it’s mauve!” kitchen cabinet reveal (you can catch a sneak peek at the end of this post)… fingers crossed for next week!
P.S. To dive deeper into other aspects of our Florida house renovation journey, from initial progress photos received remotely to the complete exterior makeover, you can explore it all right here. We’ve certainly covered a lot of ground!
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