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maggiej033

Bathroom help please!

last month

Anyone have any ideas how to upgrade this bathroom without doing a full demo? I’m thinking of replacing the vanity, mirror, light fixtures, etc., tiling the floor, opening up the doorway to the shower and adding an arch, re-tiling the shower, and not sure what to do with the jetted tub? Any ideas appreciated!

Comments (36)

  • PRO
    last month

    The first thing needed would be dimensions of the space. Also take a couple of more pictures to show what is happening on the right.

    Next - do you like the whirlpool tub? Do you want to keep a tub?

    Honestly for the amount of work you just stated, that is almost a full demo. I would wait a little to do your research , get designs and estimates, then save for a proper remodel.

    Best of luck

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    We need a to scale floor plan and lots of info. The slanted ceiling drives many choices , that shower is tiny . The tub ? Do you use it ? IMO if the changes you mention are being done then IMO just gut the thing and do it right . Yes to pics of the whole space too. The flor plan is best done on graph paper show every window , doorways where those lead and every measurement clearly marked . In this case also that sloped ceiling needs to be marked and the height of the walls in that area shown . Post here in jpeg format in a comment /

  • last month

    Hi Debbi! Thanks for your response. I did meet with several contractors and they quoted me over $50K which is out of my budget, so trying to think of creative ways to upgrade the space. The toilet is to the right, I’ll post a photo.

  • last month

    This is an image of the floor plan

  • last month

    Floor plan

  • last month

    The shower is actually not that small, it has double shower heads.

  • last month

    I would want to address the green tile if it were me - I would paint the walls and ceiling a nice cream to jibe with the floor and then paint the tub tiles to match so it recedes into the background - a lacy fern or orchid on the side of the tub will distract from the painted tile


    I’d replace the vanity and get a new counter and lighting, keeping the same footprint so as not to disrupt the flooring - then I’d add a nice sized washable rug

  • last month

    I actually feel that if styled right the green tile could be really cool.


    https://www.remodelista.com/posts/ceramic-french-tiles-le-moulin-lourmarin/


    https://www.remodelista.com/posts/bath-remodel-green-heath-ceramics-tile-new-zealand-katie-lockhart/


    I would most urgently want to open up the shower cave but it's hard to imagine doing that without taking out everything.

  • last month

    I agree! I think the green tile could look neat with the right upgrades. Does anyone know how to refresh tiles, maybe a clear gloss or maybe I just need to regrout? I was also thinking about replacing the wood step with stone or marble and upgrading the wood paneling around the tub.

  • PRO
    last month

    50K is about standard for that bathroom.

    The minute you touch the shower, you will be messing with the waterproofing so that will become a bigger job.

    How high is that tub? That step is a safety issue in itself but getting rid of it may not be an option because of the tiling.

    You can leave the floor , leave the shower, pull the wood trim from the tub area and put a simple bullnose trim there in white or a cream color. Regrout the tile all around the tub - something darker. Remove the vanity, top, light and mirror and replace all of those.

    Get a price first so you can have a comparison. If you go that far with it, then there is no changing the plan down the line if you want to without losing some of your initial investment.

    Take your time and be smart about it.

  • last month

    I would sample some different wall colors (I see what they were trying to do with the light green but it doesn't hit the mark for me). I'd also like to see the wood trim around the tile removed. If the step tread matches the floor I'd leave it alone. Maybe consider installing a small grab bar by the tub to help climb in and out?

    If the grout is cracked it can be removed and regrouted. If it's just dingy you can apply a colorant/sealant like Grout Renew or a similar product.

  • last month

    You don't need to pull the trim from around the tub - simply paint it to be the same color as the wall.


    The grout doesn't look like it is in bad shape, so you should be able to repair any issues and recolor the grout. I have been successful in recoloring grout using grout renew from home depot. You do need to deep clean the tile and grout prior to recoloring the grout.


    You will need to decide if you want to keep the grout white or change it to something darker.


    The reason that I suggested having it epoxy painted is because most homes today don't have enough color to support a really colorful bathroom and you don't want one room to be so different than the rest of the home that it looks like it belongs to another home.


    Bathrooms are a space where you can brighten things up a bit and go a bit more dramatic, but it does need to "work" with the rest of the house.


    I can see someone who loves color being able to do something with this wallpaper and the green tile



    The question is, can you see yourself with tropical wallpaper in the bathroom and tropical bedding and art in your bedroom and moving toward more neutrals for the main area of the home, or will this stick out like a sore thumb?


    You can keep the green, keep the white grout, paint the walls white and have a green and white theme







    or go for something a bit softer







  • last month

    The green is a great green. I would darken the grout like the picture immediately above, paint the walls a soft corally pale pink, bring in plants to embrace the biophilic theme. Add more organic elements like baskets and a wood stool. If that's making you happy, change the lighting, knobs and faucets and you have an eclectic bathroom.

  • last month

    For an upgraded look and feel without remodelling, install a fabulous wallpaper, buy luxurious towels and bath rugs.

  • last month

    Thank you all! These are great ideas.

  • last month

    @Maggie Jay - are there any of the ideas you like better than others, any that fit your home better than others. If you expand on your likes/dislikes and reasoning it will help us provide better ideas.

  • last month

    I like the idea of keeping the green tile around the tub and darkening the grout, I do plan to replace the vanity with an affordable option from Home Depot (the Collette double sink), painting the walls either a creamy white or beige (alabaster sherwin Williams), we will refinish the wood floors, add a nice area rug/mat, replace all the hardware with antique brass, new sinks, new faucets, double mirrors, new light sconces, replace the tub faucet with antique brass with handheld shower head, and add a chandelier.

  • last month

    Here are the simplest solutions for way under $50,000, well under $5,000.



    --Paint the bathroom a warm white with a hint of pink. Benjamin Moore's Atrium White is perfect.


    --Refinish the current wood vanity and the floors. The wood is a nice natural element in a warm color. If the wood vanity really isn't to your liking, get a great painter to sand it down and paint it white or green of the tiles. Then get a patterned vanity top.


    --Replace green tile vanity top with a new countertop in white and new faucets


    --Frame youir mirror in the same color as vanity and floors.


    --Get new lighting over the mirror--3-4 bulbs so both sinks get illumination.


    --Add an art work (non breakable glass) and wood shelves on bathtub wall and a smaller art work near vanity.


    Green with wood vanity:


    Wood shelf over tub to harmonize with wood vanity:


    Paint current vanity green of your tiles + wood pulls. Add elegant patterned new vanity top, soft wall paint, soft lighting, beautiful mirrors over each sink. Add basurkets, soft rug, art landscapes, bronze fixtures.


    Note beautiful art work, patterned vanity top, vanity painted to match green walls.


  • last month

    I would paint vanity, trim and step white. Replace mirror and lights and wallpaper…….or I would do a full $75k gut job.

  • last month

    The collette double sink has legs. The flooring underneath is not going to match the rest of the flooring.

  • last month

    Jennifer, that’s a good point! I didn’t think of that. The reason I wanted to replace the vanity is because it’s too low for my liking. Maybe if we add a new counter top to the existing vanity it will add height. I like the idea of painting the walls with a pink tint, maybe scallop by farrow and ball.

  • last month

    I think a new vanity at the more modern height will have a high ROI, it will look and feel updated and provide great storage for you to enjoy -plus it also addresses the sinks (i don’t think a thicker countertop will give you the height you want)

  • last month

    A neighbor had low cabinets like yours and they had a cabinetmaker build platforms to go under the cabinets to raise them up. It looks just fine.

  • last month

    Maybe something like this? It’s not quite the dimensions of the room, but you get the feel of it.

  • last month

    @Maggie Jay: that looks so elegant and gorgeous!

  • last month

    You can get a higher vanity, just not one with legs.

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    DO NOT tile the floor - it will look cheap and is hard on your legs and hard on any plastic or glass you drop. Keep the wood. Wood is ALWAYS the first choice in ANY room. And DO NOT use any grey or black - it will clash with the wood! - and is ugly. Stick with warm inviting colors. Go with one of your favorite colors and shades of it - teals, greens, blues - in warm tones that do with the warm brown wood floor. I would leave the jetted tub if you use it, and change out the tile around it to a neutral color - even white. If you use white tiles, paint the walls a color you like or wallpaper, and use towels in a color you like. Change out the vanity and use a solid neutral surface of some kind - look thru online photos for ideas there. Try not to go too trendy or you or someone will change it out in a few years. Open up the shower and enlarge the area taking away space where the vanity is. I would use a shower curtain rather than glass doors for more privacy in case a family member wants to use the toilet or sink while you are in the shower. If not a curtain, orient it such that the wall gives privacy somehow. Have fun!

  • last month

    $50k estimate seems high. Maybe just open up the shower and paint over the light green walls - just those changes would do a lot. Any sometimes there are highly skilled handymen around that charge less than a contractor, but they are difficult to find and many are not honest - there are a few around tho.

  • last month

    Bathrooms are expensive to renovate as was said. DO NOT change the floors as likely that will be the biggest expense-plus they are gorgeous! The glaring thing that stands out is the green tile. Do you like that color/style? I wouldn't touch the shower either. As was stated above, either play up the green with jungle or silver/gold regality. Change out the vanity/mirror/cabinets or whatever that you can afford. Look around for inspiration pics and make a vision folder before doing anything. Think about what you really want.

  • last month

    This is a unique bathroom and it’s quite attractive IMO. Changing it the way you outlined will be really expensive. I think you are better off doing only cosmetic things until you can afford to gut it and completely redo it. I would paint it a better color than the light green ( cream?), regrout that beautiful dark green tile-I agree that darker grout would be better than the present white, refinish all the wood, replace that ugly light fixture and replace anything that’s broken. If you can afford to replace the hardware, too, that would be fine. But if you do anything major like changing the shower or getting rid of the tub, you’re talking big money and I think you’d be better off saving up for a total redo.

  • 29 days ago

    Okay, asking another question to the group, my husband wants to paint our master bedroom (adjacent to the master bath) De Nimes by Farrow and Ball. Would this color work with the green tiles and if we painted the master bath walls alabaster white by Sherwin Williams? I’m wondering if the green tiles would complement or clash with the blue paint? Am I overthinking this? Thank you!

  • 29 days ago

    Paint samples are the answer! I do think it may be hard to make it work, because De Nimes is a complex less-saturated blue green, and your tiles are a pretty straight ahead pure green... but worth a test! De nimes seems to look lovely with wood.

  • 28 days ago
    last modified: 28 days ago

    Paint colors have to work with the other finishes.

    Pick your new vanity and top before moving forward with paint colors. Pick those based on the colors that will stay - flooring and green tile.

    I know that the pictures of Farrow and Ball Scallop have wood floors, but the mix of gold wood tones and soft pink beige is really difficult to pull off - takes a great designer.

    You have orange toned wood floors and the deep saturated green tile and I think scallop, although a pretty color, will clash with the other colors.

    If this were my space and I was keeping the green tile I would buy a bed cover that had strong green tones and then pick a wall color from the bedding. Picking paint color from the bedding






  • 26 days ago

    Consider white paint unless you’re your changing the tile. Consider adding a vanity tower with matching framed mirrors above the sinks on either sidethe sinks.

  • 24 days ago

    Save 50k, paint and decorate. New paint color for walls and vanity. New light fixtures and hardware, new rug and art work and you are done. Spend the 50k on something else. Just my opinion of course.