Old fixer-uppers often require two competing levels of priorities from their new homeowners. First and foremost is the need to immediately attend to those repairs that ensure the continued functioning and general well being of the house’s structure. By nature, these usually demand “house on fire!” status, especially when compared to other types of remodeling work that simply enhances aesthetics and general comfort. In the case of a Delaware couple, a structural issue with the front of their 125 year old Victorian (it was sinking!), along with some other more pressing challenges, put a 13 year long hold on getting the bathroom for which they had long dreamed. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. By the time Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers was hired to handle the construction, the couple certainly had put plenty of thought into converting a spare second-floor bedroom into the master bath. Courtney Burnett, Fox’s Interior Design Manager on the project, credits the owners for “having great creative minds, with lots of ideas to contribute.” By the time it came to put a formal design plan into place, the client “drove the look while we devised how the space would function.” It’s worth noting that there are drawbacks in being given too much time for advance planning. Owners’ tastes in design may change, while a steady stream of new fixtures and building products always demand consideration up to the last minute. “We had been collecting ideas for a while…pictures of what we liked, but as it turned out, when it came time to select fixtures, tile, etc., we used little from those pictures,” the owners admit. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. The finished bath exudes an art deco spirit that isn’t true to the home’s Victorian origins, which Burnett attributes to being more of a reflection of the homeowners’ preferences than the actual era of the structure. Despite that incongruity, everyone feels that they have remained true to the house by selecting vintage style elements, including subway tiles for the walls, hexagonal tile for the floors, and a pedestal sink that served as the focal point for the entire room. But as with all dreams, once one is achieved, a new one soon beckons. With the bathroom’s strikingly beautiful turquoise paint barely dry, the completion of that long-awaited project has served to kick-start plans for finishing off the remainder of the Victorian’s second floor.

Bathroom Concept - White subway tile, walk-in shower, teal ceiling, white small bathroom in Columbus
Inspiration for a small victorian master white tile and subway tile marble floor alcove shower remodel in Columbus with a console sink and white walls

alyssa kirsten
Mid-sized transitional master white tile and ceramic tile marble floor and multicolored floor alcove shower photo in Wilmington with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Chip Riegel Photography
Elegant master alcove shower photo in Wilmington with beaded inset cabinets and blue cabinets

Dean Digital
Inspiration for a timeless white tile corner bathtub remodel in Wilmington with a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Inspiration for a country living room remodel in Charleston

Cottage living room photo with a standard fireplace

Example of a beach style medium tone wood floor and brown floor sunroom design in Miami with a standard ceiling

alyssa kirsten
Inspiration for a large transitional gender-neutral medium tone wood floor and brown floor playroom remodel in Wilmington with white walls

Example of a trendy master wood-look tile brown floor and vaulted ceiling freestanding bathtub design with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, brown walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Farmhouse white two-story gable roof idea in Columbus

Stunning Wallpaper from Relativity Textiles in Chicago
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master medium tone wood floor, brown floor and wallpaper bedroom remodel in Chicago with blue walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

alyssa kirsten
Bedroom - large transitional master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Wilmington with beige walls

Reclaimed wood beams are used to trim the ceiling as well as vertically to cover support beams in this Delaware beach house.
Large beach style light wood floor and gray floor hallway photo in Charlotte with white walls

Example of a large beach style beige three-story vinyl gable roof design

Sunroom - small coastal backyard dark wood floor and brown floor sunroom idea in Baltimore with a standard ceiling and no fireplace

Example of a large beach style beige three-story vinyl gable roof design

Photo by Stu Estler
Elegant formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in DC Metro with beige walls and a standard fireplace

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile gray floor and ceramic tile alcove shower remodel in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, a hinged shower door and a wall-mount sink