Outstanding job with beautiful results! And A+ on the storytelling

Bravo! And…I am especially impressed with how you raised the arch and retained the beauty and the “feel” of the 1920s in your bathroom. Fabulous job! And remember…nothing is perfect. Some people actually build in a subtle flaw to demonstrate that they are not perfect (think Amish quilts!)…so, that tile glitch is simply your way of admitting that you aren’t quite perfect! (But almost! ;>)

amazing work and very enjoyable writing. love the way you strapped and saved the tub ceiling during demo.

I’m especially impressed with those willing to dig deep on the sourcing part of a project.

It looks great! Congratulations to you and Steve. I hope you packed the open wall with insulation. Any mis-positioned floor tiles can be hidden with some nice washable bathroom rugs.

Outstanding!!

Beautiful job!

Steve's a genius! And the end result is beautiful!

You’re a cool dude Farley! Love your story and your bathroom!

Farley, Truly a stunning make over! What a good job saving that arch and what a clever guy you are to have thought to attempt that….or was that another project ”the wife” thought up for you? Your remodel story made me laugh out loud - your talents obviously include more than knowing how to use tools! Thanks for sharing.

This is lovely. Great job!

I love your new bathroom and the narrative that accompanied it, thank you!

Wow!
What an impressive transformation where it’s obviously new but still keeps the vintage charm. Beautiful bathroom and great story telling.

Looks wonderful - congratulations!

Thanks gals and guys. It was a new experience working on the inside of the investment nest. I have come to the realization that I'm restoring not renovating so new is not what I'm after. That eases the tension of imperfection that generally sends me over the edge (well at least keeping it at bay no longer than a week or so).

Thanks Jinx for the gift, lol.

Pteckel, We realized how important it was to save that arch. It was made with lath behind the plaster and we had a heck of a time trying to figure out the save. In the end I think Steve and stood on things and pushed while tightening the straps but then had to literally use our heads to push and lift with. It was a scene.

feizlady, I remember stuffing the exterior but I'd have to go back through pics to see if I did the interior.

Thanks KW. My head was already pushing the limits with the old tub. So yes to beauty but also to form. Also, it took forever to source an extra pipe riser for my shower set up. I finally struck gold on an old man treasure hunt as an elderly customer of HD, sent me on a pilgrimage from one obscure place, who told me of another, who told me of another, etc, until I finally ended up at a back-room Restaurant Depot parts guru's desk and he found the part for me.

Thanks muchly for the compliments. This project just fueled my obsessions with the house as I tackled the kitchen next.

Ooo, can’t wait for a kitchen thread! Can we get a peek here? :D

I’m with @Jilly - can’t wait for kitchen restoring thread to begin! I also agree with you that really old houses are mostly treasures to be restored vs renovated. Will you again have assistance from that friend Steve (who we don’t know, so we shouldn’t care what his last name is)?

@Jinx All I can say is that I used Houzz quite a bit to research marmoleum.

Ahh, I will have to go visit my old Marmoleum threads!

I, too, love your new vintage bathroom and writing style. Thanks for the trip!

I tried the Craigslist hunt for bathroom materials. I did get a great deal on some Carrara marble trim, some of which we even used. But I had to re-sell vanity #1. Vanity possibility #2 now holds bed linens in the extra bedroom. Vanity possibility #3 sits in the garage, half refinished, needing paint and new knob holes to be drilled. It is a woman’s vanity that would be great in your house. Want it? I ended up designing a modern vanity and had my contractor guy build it for me. That is my experience trying to source things that were gently used. I learned that one should not settle for “good enough” when doing this, because you may later decide that it really isn’t!

Wow, great job!

Lovely!!

Loved your professional explanation and the great transformation.

Steve seems like a handy guy, the likes of which are worth their weight in gold. Is he single? Asking for a friend (you don't know her. It doesn't matter what her name is).

Did he say marmoleum?! Because I might faint.

Now I want Steve to be single so we can introduce him to Pam. I mean, Pam’s friend!

What a fabulous story- and restoration! Having lived in a 1920’s beauty myself, I understand the wish to update but retain the house’s uniqueness. You did a FABULOUS job. And your storytelling skills match your determination to do right by your house — and your wife. Bravo to Steve as well. Thanks for sharing your photos and story. Awaiting the Kitchen Chapter!

What a massive undertaking. It is gorgeous. So nice to see a bathroom with real character and personality, not just another cookie cutter. Very, very nice.

Transforming an old stereo cabinet into a beautiful one of a kind cabinet for over the toilet was genius!! Its a rare person who has the vision! So much better than something from a big box store, bravo!

Beautiful!

Love your style

We are in the middle of a similiar gut re-do - what a lovely job you did! thank you for sharing - it is helping me realize we will get through ours at some point… enjoy your new space!!

wow what a great difference!

@Pam lol all over the place. Unfortunately for many, Mr. X is taken.

@sueb1961 Thanks, glad you appreciated it. I needed a little challenge that was cheap and unique.

@la_la Girl Get after it! Did you know that some employers offer couples counseling services for free?

Gorgeous!

Congratulations!! Fabulous job!

What a great post. Loved the story and the outcome. Waiting for a kitchen update...

Love the vintage style! Especially love the black and white tile flooring.

Thanks peoples. After a year, it's still my favorite room to poop in.

Oh yeah, the kitchen... I'm still waiting for pinterest to get back to me and come take photos so I can claim all my free stuff.

Sorry, off topic, but wouldja just look at this huge egg that Barb'e laid yesterday compared to Char's.

Also, I thought the speckles on Chops' egg were cool when held up to the light.

Again, sorry. Just a proud Chicken daddy I guess.

I think this looks amazing. I love the style and the curved ceiling above the bath is a triumph. However, I think the freestanding tub in the alcove was a mistake. It looks good, but it's a poor use of space, will be a pain to clean around and the shower curtain set up would really annoy me. A simple cast iron alcove tub and a curtain on a straight rod would have been a better solution IMO.

Which came first, the kitchen or the egg?

I’m here all week, folks!

Thanks, I’ll see myself out …

Farley, you’re a true craftsman, full of heart and appreciation for the original work. Restoration work is rare compared to the typical “gut job” involving new everything. How nice you shared this for all of us to enjoy.

Looks great!

Beautiful job and great on keeping the charm of the house.

Superb!

Beautiful! I love how you did the arch over the tub/shower!