This seems like a red flag to me, but I'm assuming if you're closing, you've already done your due diligence on checking quality of work.

I would probably paint it either the color of the walls, for now, or a fun metallic and embrace the quirk. But definitely get those dealt with when you renovate! :)

Thanks, and yes, I agree - if I saw someone else post this I would definitely wonder at the craftsmanship of the rest of the house. This is really the exception in the house, everything else was well done. I had a very thorough home inspection to ensure that there weren't problems beyond what I could recognize. I like the "embrace the quirk" idea in general, but this is beyond quirk!! Thanks for your response!

I once lived in an illegal basement unit, complete with furnace in my "living room." I hung twinkle lights from it, lol.

I feel your quirk pain!

Best of luck and looking forward to an update :)

-stefanie, 415 design+build

If you are going to renovate, then the fix should be part of that plan.

It would be a simple thing to lower the ceiling and close in the wall where the pipes are but keep in mind the space will for sure become smaller.

Interesting! I kind of agree with painting them to match the walls...until you can do the reno.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting - Thanks! Yes, I agree, that would be simple, but it's a pretty tiny half bath already, so I'm trying to come up with the best solution where I'll lose minimal space.

What about doing the bathroom in a classic black and white? Painted walls and/or painted pipes to match would go along way. Wallpaper, too if you're a fan.

Oh, I'd also paint the wood frame on the mirrored cabinet either black or white.

I like the look of painted pipes. You could remodel with an industrial style!

Have an actual real plumber take a look at that. Mr. Home Inspector that gets all of his business from the Realtor, as long as he doesn't find anything that will kill the sale, is talking out his earhole if he thinks that gets a ''pass''.

Hi Sophie Wheeler, thanks for your comment. I have to say, you sound bitter. Did you have a bad experience with a home inspector? I didn't use a traditional realtor, and when I chose my home inspector, it was based on a recommendation from a knowledgeable friend. In the houses I've bought in my lifetime, I've never looked at a home inspector as someone who gives a "pass" or a "fail". I look at a home inspector as a professional who has the knowledge to find issues that I may not see, who will then point out these issues, and let me decide for myself what is truly a problem too big to confront. I trust myself to be level-headed and informed enough to choose what I can and can't deal with in a property, I don't hire a home inspector to make that decision for me. Good advice to have a plumber check it out, though. Maybe there is an alternate plumbing solution that I wouldn't have to cover up!

I imagine you have fixed this problem by now? I built a home in Costa Rica, the only way to have a half bath in the upstairs part of the A-frame Rancho, was to have the pipes run through the main living area. I covered the pipes with wood, it matched the teak wood of the flooring and joists. You could build over the pipes and paint the wood. Hope you have been able to change your eye sore by now:) Look closely at the ceiling, you will see how I had to build over the pipe.