A Traditional Bathroom

The traditionalist in me is happy with the latest trends in interior design. Rich earthy hues, classic elements, and lots of texture, among many other timeless concepts, are among the features that I want to incorporate in this traditional bathroom makeover.

Our hallway bathroom needs a makeover. Twenty years of daily use were enough to consider a complete renovation of this small space. The toilet tank was leaking, the linoleum floor was turning yellow yearly, and the entire bedroom looked grimy.

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The open storage I gave this room during the first makeover wasn't the most appropriate solution for its users. As you can see in the picture below, all the mess happening in that lower part of the vanity.

The shower was still functioning, and it looked very OK. However, storage space was non-existent in this area.

Looking the other way, the wall shelf was another messy spot. To the left of that shelf is that mirror, which happened to be a medicine cabinet. To my surprise, that cabinet was almost empty.

DEMO

Back in December, I started demoing this bathroom. I started by removing the tile surrounding the shower, and then the entire bathroom was gone. 

Well, no, I couldn't remove the tub. I didn't have the tool to disconnect the tub's drain to separate it from the plumbing.

Pipes were sticking out from the floor in the vanity area, and this needed to be fixed by bringing those pipes inside the wall.

The medicine cabinet was removed, and I wasn't planning on adding a new one.

Let's talk about the plans I have for this bath!

BATHTUB

A bathtub/shower combo is a necessity in this bathroom. This is the only tub in our house, as I got rid of the tub in the master bathroom and don't care about bathtubs.

Now, my daughter is the opposite of me; she loves bathtubs and she can use her tub every. single. day.

She's a lucky girl, too; her uncle gifted her this awesome Jacuzzi tub with jets and a system to keep the water warm during use. Needless to say, she's been anxiously awaiting the makeover of this bathroom.

The not-so-fun detail about this new Jacuzzi tub is that a qualified electrician was required for its installation. We also needed a GFCI outlet installed within the tub area. 

The tub also required a dedicated 120 VAC, 15 Amp GFCI-protected circuit for the pump motor and a separate 120VAC, 15 Amp GFCI-protected circuit for the heater.

I let the pros work on this tub situation and all the electrical, plumbing, and tile installation.

| Bathtub - similar |

LIGHTS

The tub was the first element to make it inside this bathroom. I remember waiting an entire weekend with the tub full of water, ensuring there weren't any leaks and that the tub was operating perfectly.

Soon after, a pair of can lights were installed in the shower area and above the vanity, and a new exhaust fan was also installed.

The sticking-out pipes in the vanity area were brought inside the floor and wall. 

Those two jobs (plumbing and electrical) took time & money!

PAINT COLORS

Let's now focus on something prettier. Paint colors!

The two primary colors I'm using in this bathroom are BM Gloucester Sage and Moonlight White. Both of them are warm colors.

ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL

I plan on installing a board-and-batten treatment around the room, up to three-quarters of the way up. This B&B treatment will be painted in BM Gloucester Sage. Given that this treatment will cover many walls, it will infuse the room with lots of character.

TILE

I'm installing this tile in the shower area.

| Wall Tile |

A Zellige dupe.

Have you heard about Zellige tiles?

Those hand-cut mosaic tiles are all the rage nowadays. They have been used in kitchen and bathroom designs and are well-loved for their imperfect charm; they ooze with texture and character.

I couldn't afford Zellige. Instead, I chose this Ivy Hill 2 x 8 satin ceramic wall tile, which I love because it has a handmade look, a glazed smooth finish, a random shade, and tone variation. That tone changes according to how the light hits the tile.

I'm sure this tile will give this shower/bath warmth and texture.

Now, the most significant decision was how to lay the tile.

In a subway-running bond, straight set, straight vertical set, or diagonally?

Which one do you prefer?

VANITY

I wanted a wooden vanity, and this one fit the bill. The asymmetrical sink adds interest and allows more room for countertop storage on the right. 

Talking about storage, those guys will have four drawers and space below the sink to store all those bath necessities out of sight! :D

| Vanity |

FLOORING

In my last post, I talked about the upcoming job of installing hardwood floors on the entire second level of our home. I contemplated bringing those hardwood floors inside this bathroom, as this is the first room we see as we climb the stairs. That would give both areas, the hallway and bath, a seamless transition.

However, I know water spills are going to happen no matter what. Wood and water aren't a good mix, so I have changed my mind. Instead, I'm installing wood-look ceramic floor tile in this space.

| wood look ceramic floor tile |

FIXTURES

I'll be mixing metal finishes for more visual interest. 

Well, guys, that's it for now! I'm leaving you with this picture of when the Durock was in place and all the pretties were about to be installed!

Yes. That's a long shower niche that will solve most of the storage problems in that shower. ;)

Have a great weekend!

UPDATE:

Guess what?! This space is done!

Check this bathroom's final reveal HERE.

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