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small bathroom - worth spending ?

3 years ago

Hi - I have a 1950’s bathtub in white ; and a surround that’s off white . Plus I have a frosted glass shower door that I don’t love. I already spend 1000 bucks on the tile , and painting the room and changing vanity.
Questions

  1. is it worth spending another $800 on reglazing the tub and surround to white ?
  2. should I get rid of the door ?
  3. will removing the door damage the tub ?

Comments (26)

  • 3 years ago

    If the tub is in good shape, I wouldn't mess with it -- reglazing doesn't have the same durability as the original finish. As for the door, if the frame is screwed into the tub, then you're probably stuck unless you can find another with the exact same screw placement. if it's just caulked on, then you might be able to change it up to a different door. But the glazed door hides the difference in tub versus surround color, so I think I'd just live with it unless you want to get into more reno than you hoped for!

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you - do you think it’s worth doing just a surround epoxy paint in white ( maybe I could even do it myself )

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    You don't want the answer.

    You hate it, have limited resources and spent a grand on working around it.

    What should have happened? You live with the bath, until you rip the tub.

    What is done, is done. Leave the whole tub and enclosure alone. No paint will hold up. Call a local contractor/ plumbing supply, and look into replacing glass only. But even that? It will be more off white seen.

    Unless a leak, or a compromised, moldy bath.....sometimes the only answers are :Wait. Save.

  • 3 years ago

    I would just leave everything including the door.


    I am not understanding what you would gain aesthetically by replacing the frosted glass. It hides the tile color difference. If you replaced it with clear glass you would only be providing a clearer view of what you don't like as opposed to keeping the door shut.


    Aesthetically get some beautiful towels and hang them on the bar which would then become the visual focal point. Even if you don't actually use the towels, they would be a decorative element.


  • 3 years ago

    Thanks all - yes, if I was going to fix the color of the surround , I would leave the frosted glass alone . Only if I painted the surround , I would remove the door , and use curtains instead

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Nothing prevents you from buying a good tension rod, and a navy and white, white and navy shower curtain.............Buy TWO for extra fullness, and install right in FRONT of the offending frosted glass : )....

    You need no liners, the glass is the liner








  • 3 years ago

    Leave your bathroom “as is”. I like what you have done! The tiled floor is lovely. I even like the retro frosted glass door. It all looks to be in great shape. Embrace that look; it is not a “cookie cutter” renovated bathroom.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I would remove the glass doors and put up a shower curtain. I find taking a bath with shower doors to be too claustrophobic. A curtain will hide the difference in color of the surround, but I don't find that really objectionable. I removed shower doors from fiberglass showers that were screwed in on the sides and just caulked the holes to keep water out. It didn't look too obvious.

  • 3 years ago

    The goal is something like this

  • 3 years ago

    If you can remove the door, do that. I don't think the colors are bad at all, at least not in the photo. You can mix whites. Your challenge is to find a curtain that also mixes whites, or maybe a wallpaper...or just ignore it. Because it's fine.


    Retro bathrooms don't always match perfectly. It's part of their charm.

  • 3 years ago

    Hi - I have a 1950’s bathtub in white ; and a surround that’s off white . Plus I have a frosted glass shower door that I don’t love. I already spend 1000 bucks on the tile , and painting the room and changing vanity.

    - The tile and paint look nice -- can't see the vanity.

    - No, I would not pay big bucks to reglaze the tile from off-white to white; that's not a big enough change to make a difference.

    - You're going with today's trendy choices here, and the frosted glass door doesn't quite mesh with them. I think that's the mismatch to which you're reacting.

    - I'm jumping on the bandwagon here, but I'd go with a shower curtain. Get a really nice one with not too much pattern (because your floor pattern is strong). It's more in keeping with what you've done already, and it will cover up the clutter-y toiletries that're visible behind the door now.

    - Yes, removing the door MIGHT damage the tub, but the shower curtain will cover that up.

    Embrace that look; it is not a “cookie cutter” renovated bathroom.

    Yes!

    Retro bathrooms don't always match perfectly. It's part of their charm.

    And yes!

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I have seen some very nice white and off white shower curtains, with cut outs that give openness and lightness to small spaces. Try something like that to blend your colors. The photo is more yellow than real life it's cream and white-Ignore the skeleton please!


  • 3 years ago

    I like glass doors, but updated ones. However, I agree that a shower curtain will do wonders.

    Even if the track marks are still on the tub, you won't see then with shower curtain.

  • 3 years ago

    I'd get rid of the door. It is always helpful to be able to sit on the bathtub edge.

  • 3 years ago

    Love your wall color and floor. Great job so far.


    Try a curtain with a tension rod to see how you like it. Live with it for a month. If it is your thing, then get rid of the glass doors. I suspect the frame will leave some surface gunt that you can scrape off. I've learned to cover screw holes in shower tiles with special putty made for that purpose and then dab over them with nail polish to match the color of the tile. I think your tub and tile contrast are minimal and wouldn't worry about it.

  • 3 years ago

    Also, please note your inspiration pic has a rod hung much higher than normal and the shower curtain is taller than normal and goes almost to the floor. Those things are what make it look so high-end. Decorative shower curtains in longer lengths can be hard to find, but you can easily find liners that are taller and wider. If you get double hooks which allow you to hang a liner and a decorative curtain, you can use regular draperies for your outer decorative curtain, with a liner inside the tub. They come in longer lengths and wider sizes, too.

  • 3 years ago

    Ah yes - the miracle of a curtain that covers up everything

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    you already spent a chunk of money on this bathroom, a pity to put up with wall tile that doesn't match. I would reglaze the tile but not the tub if at all possible.

    personally, I'd keep the doors -- I like frosted glass like that because they're so retro. (plus you don't have to keep them so spotless.) at least they're a simple design, no seashells or anything on them.

    Or I'd remove them in favor of a shower curtain. A nylon curtain is SO easy to keep clean, just throw it in the washer every other week or so. With regards to removing the frame: any holes that were made can be repaired by the tile glazing company.

    Or you could keep the tracks and have the frosted glass replaced with clear.

  • 3 years ago

    The shower curtain with the netting that allows the light from the window to show through is a great choice.  I might add a curtain with a colorful pattern if you can find one that attachs to just cover the lower section.

  • 3 years ago

    I agree - a shower curtain with a little pizzazz is needed!

  • 3 years ago

    A bit more pizzazz

  • 3 years ago

    Ha, Ha.....Love it!

  • 3 years ago

    The shower curtain was a great choice; I like how you have hung it and the lips are perfect!

  • last year

    Removed the shower door - so much better !

  • last year

    Sometimes the smallest change makes the biggest difference.