Reader Bathroom: An $850 Gaudí-Inspired Makeover in Romania
A Bucharest renter turns her bathroom into a tribute to Barcelona’s famed architect. It’s ideal for sipping wine in the tub
This series profiles bathroom remodels shared by homeowners on Houzz.
Bathroom renovations are one of the more popular home remodeling projects around the world — typically among the top three most popular spaces for renovating, according to Houzz research. The cost of renovating this room can range quite widely, depending not only on the scope of the project, but also on the location and cost of labor and materials for that area.
To get a sampling, we asked Houzz readers to share their stories. Today, we visit a bathroom in Bucharest, Romania, where a creative DIY-er gave her apartment a new look for just $850. Although the low cost probably isn’t realistic in the U.S. and many other parts of the world, this renter’s DIY chutzpah can still be a global inspiration.
Bathroom renovations are one of the more popular home remodeling projects around the world — typically among the top three most popular spaces for renovating, according to Houzz research. The cost of renovating this room can range quite widely, depending not only on the scope of the project, but also on the location and cost of labor and materials for that area.
To get a sampling, we asked Houzz readers to share their stories. Today, we visit a bathroom in Bucharest, Romania, where a creative DIY-er gave her apartment a new look for just $850. Although the low cost probably isn’t realistic in the U.S. and many other parts of the world, this renter’s DIY chutzpah can still be a global inspiration.
BEFORE: Georgiana Daschevi, a diehard DIY-er, was renting a 520-square-foot apartment in Bucharest when she stumbled across an advertisement in the back of a magazine for a bathroom remodeling competition with a great first-place prize: a holiday in Tenerife, one of Spain’s Canary Islands.
With two weeks left before the deadline, Daschevi knew she’d have to work fast to transform her orange bathroom into a new space. “I like challenges, and this was the best way to get rid of the ugly bath I had,” she says.
The first step was getting her landlord’s approval. “I told the owner she doesn’t have to pay for workers, only the materials, and in the end if she doesn’t like it, it will be my gift to her!” That strategy won Daschevi a “yes.”
With two weeks left before the deadline, Daschevi knew she’d have to work fast to transform her orange bathroom into a new space. “I like challenges, and this was the best way to get rid of the ugly bath I had,” she says.
The first step was getting her landlord’s approval. “I told the owner she doesn’t have to pay for workers, only the materials, and in the end if she doesn’t like it, it will be my gift to her!” That strategy won Daschevi a “yes.”
Photo by Burn the asylum, via Wikimedia Commons
Style muse: Daschevi found inspiration in Barcelona — specifically, in the designs and architecture of Antoni Gaudí. The mosaics of Park Güell, one of Gaudí’s major works in Barcelona, served as her muse. Daschevi was inspired by Gaudi’s crownlike patterns in orange and blue. Above is a detail of a Parc Güell balcony bench.
Style muse: Daschevi found inspiration in Barcelona — specifically, in the designs and architecture of Antoni Gaudí. The mosaics of Park Güell, one of Gaudí’s major works in Barcelona, served as her muse. Daschevi was inspired by Gaudi’s crownlike patterns in orange and blue. Above is a detail of a Parc Güell balcony bench.
AFTER: Here is Daschevi’s final result, a total DIY job. She deliberately used wavy shapes for the mirrors, not only to imitate Park Güell’s ocean views, but also to echo the curves of the park benches.
She kept the tile mosaic to just the bathtub — and under the sink — to avoid creating a cold or heavy feeling by using excessive tile. She used white as the primary color also to keep the space feeling lighter.
She kept the tile mosaic to just the bathtub — and under the sink — to avoid creating a cold or heavy feeling by using excessive tile. She used white as the primary color also to keep the space feeling lighter.
For the floor, Daschevi chose terra-cotta tiles with white and blue accents that reminded her of the interior patios of Spanish homes.
She searched for a blue for the exterior of the tub that would pull out the blue in the floor tiles. She wanted the exterior of the tub to look like a boat; the round mirrors are meant to look like portholes.
Daschevi selected white grout for the blue tiles to avoid darkening the room with a heavier color. The same strategy applies to the white tiles on the wall, which she chose so that the room would feel light. In total, she spent $30 on the blue and white tiles that form the primary colors of the design.
She searched for a blue for the exterior of the tub that would pull out the blue in the floor tiles. She wanted the exterior of the tub to look like a boat; the round mirrors are meant to look like portholes.
Daschevi selected white grout for the blue tiles to avoid darkening the room with a heavier color. The same strategy applies to the white tiles on the wall, which she chose so that the room would feel light. In total, she spent $30 on the blue and white tiles that form the primary colors of the design.
Daschevi’s first stop for her project was a local kitchen and bathroom showroom warehouse, where she searched for broken tiles that would otherwise be thrown away. She left with two free bags of tile. The bags were so heavy that she couldn’t lift them alone; a showroom employee helped her carry them to the car.
After pulling down the old tiles, Daschevi went to work creating her mosaic. Breaking the large tiles into smaller, workable pieces was particularly challenging since Daschevi was working full-time and working on her bathroom after 6 p.m., when the neighbors in her apartment building were home. Before swinging her hammer, Daschevi put pillows on the floor for soundproofing, laid the tiles on top and then covered them with blankets to protect their finish. It took several hammer taps per tile to break them into the size she needed.
Daschevi didn’t have a strict design plan, but rather allowed herself to follow inspiration as it struck. In addition to the creative work of making the mosaic, she had to remove the old tiles as well as replace the sink and toilet.
She decided to replace the plumbing because it was three decades old, and she didn’t want any “surprises,” as she put it, after the renovation. Daschevi got a friend to help her for free, and together they swapped out pipes that were outside of the walls, including those under the bathtub and beneath the sink and toilet.
She decided to replace the plumbing because it was three decades old, and she didn’t want any “surprises,” as she put it, after the renovation. Daschevi got a friend to help her for free, and together they swapped out pipes that were outside of the walls, including those under the bathtub and beneath the sink and toilet.
She added mirrors to every wall to make the space seem larger. Daschevi also designed the vanity. She bought a piece of acrylic from a supplier, then paid a friend to create the transparent vanity and stainless steel support below it, and to apply a transparent blue film to the underside. The result is a see-through blue, intended to imitate the blue of the sea.
The landlord was so happy with the bathroom that Daschevi got the green light to work on other areas of the home. Over eight years, she changed just about every corner of the apartment.
Daschevi, too, enjoyed the fruits of her work for many years (she moved out in January). “Being inside the tub, with candles and plants around, and all the mirrors — in the end, you have the effect of city lights, like the view from the park,” she says. “Just picture yourself with a glass of wine, a good book, some chill-out music in the background and only candles.… It’s an oasis.”
Transparent film for vanity: Oracal Film 8300 in King Blue 049, Orofol
The landlord was so happy with the bathroom that Daschevi got the green light to work on other areas of the home. Over eight years, she changed just about every corner of the apartment.
Daschevi, too, enjoyed the fruits of her work for many years (she moved out in January). “Being inside the tub, with candles and plants around, and all the mirrors — in the end, you have the effect of city lights, like the view from the park,” she says. “Just picture yourself with a glass of wine, a good book, some chill-out music in the background and only candles.… It’s an oasis.”
Transparent film for vanity: Oracal Film 8300 in King Blue 049, Orofol
Georgiana Daschevi is referred to in this winner’s announcement as Georgiana Ene, her maiden name.
Oh — and Daschevi won the contest and with it the free trip for two to Tenerife. She took her mom along in gratitude for helping Daschevi, on the day of the contest deadline, to clean the grout off the tiles and “make it sparkle for the contest pictures,” Daschevi says.
Oh — and Daschevi won the contest and with it the free trip for two to Tenerife. She took her mom along in gratitude for helping Daschevi, on the day of the contest deadline, to clean the grout off the tiles and “make it sparkle for the contest pictures,” Daschevi says.
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: Yes, because the plumbing was from the 1970s.
Professionals hired: None
Special features: Tile mosaic
Splurges: None
Savings: The colored mosaic tiles came from a giveaway bin at a local kitchen and bath showroom warehouse.
Cost breakdown
Countertop: $80 for the acrylic, vinyl and labor to make the vanity
Sink, faucet and toilet seat: $250
Tile: $30 for the blue and white tiles
Lighting: $30 for the sconce
Accessories and decor: $102 for mirrors, plants and pots, and shower curtain (not shown)
Flooring: $100 for floor tiles, grout and supplies
Windows and doors: $20 for paint
Other: $238, including $100 for supplies for removing tiles, adding wall plaster and paint; $35 for a wall shelf; $50 for a new radiator; and the rest for other small expenses (plastic covers, gloves, garbage sacks, etc.)
Labor: None
Total: $850
Sconce: Uplight
How about you? Have you transformed your bathroom on a budget? Show us your before-and-after photos in the Comments!
Up next: $3,000 DIY Transformation in Tennessee
More Reader Bathrooms: New Shower and a Spa Look for $6,100 | $39,000 Brings Bath Into the 21st Century | $11,000 for a Spa Shower and More | $25,000 to Redo Master and Guest Baths
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: Yes, because the plumbing was from the 1970s.
Professionals hired: None
Special features: Tile mosaic
Splurges: None
Savings: The colored mosaic tiles came from a giveaway bin at a local kitchen and bath showroom warehouse.
Cost breakdown
Countertop: $80 for the acrylic, vinyl and labor to make the vanity
Sink, faucet and toilet seat: $250
Tile: $30 for the blue and white tiles
Lighting: $30 for the sconce
Accessories and decor: $102 for mirrors, plants and pots, and shower curtain (not shown)
Flooring: $100 for floor tiles, grout and supplies
Windows and doors: $20 for paint
Other: $238, including $100 for supplies for removing tiles, adding wall plaster and paint; $35 for a wall shelf; $50 for a new radiator; and the rest for other small expenses (plastic covers, gloves, garbage sacks, etc.)
Labor: None
Total: $850
Sconce: Uplight
How about you? Have you transformed your bathroom on a budget? Show us your before-and-after photos in the Comments!
Up next: $3,000 DIY Transformation in Tennessee
More Reader Bathrooms: New Shower and a Spa Look for $6,100 | $39,000 Brings Bath Into the 21st Century | $11,000 for a Spa Shower and More | $25,000 to Redo Master and Guest Baths
Who lives here: Georgiana Daschevi rented this apartment for eight years.
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Size: 35 square feet (3 square meters)
Total cost: $850
Construction time: Two weeks, or about 60 hours