Tone on Tone

Based on the size and period of the home, we decided to go with a very simple color palette consisting of shades of white, with a very simple black accent. We chose shiny chrome for hardware and lighting to add sparkle, and just a hint of contemporary. And because the bathrooms are back-to-back, I felt it best to repeat all materials and color choices in both bathrooms.




Gone now are the fluorescent tubes aside the old mirrors. The new lighting consists of recessed cans in the ceilings, beautiful new sconces and ceiling lights from Restoration Hardware, and of course they're all on dimmers! The homeowner discovered the cool black"frames", which are actually recessed cabinets with a picture frame on the front. (Think medicine cabinet, but replace the mirror with a picture!)

The first two custom bathroom entry doors were made the wrong size. Another minor setback, but resolved quickly. Start to finish for both bathrooms was about seven weeks. Not bad, actually. That did require a lot of planning and ordering before hand to make sure materials were available when needed. Hey, that's where we come in!

Hope you enjoyed this "Tale of Two Bathrooms"!

When the Dust Settled

We're a little further along in the duo-bathroom redo now. The day that sheet rock goes in is always special. Suddenly, you start to see the shape of the new rooms!

New tub and shower enclosures go in. All of this needed to be done with extra care to keep from damaging the plaster and lathe walls on the other side. For the most part, this was successful. Hey, there are always little mishaps!

Because we needed to be very exact on toilet, sink, mirror and sconce placement, we created a paper template so the plumbing and electric would be right where we wanted it. We did miss the AC vent placement on the first try. Oops...forgot to tell the contractor we were putting in crown moulding. Oh well, only a minor adjustment needed!

How many people does it take to move a floor-to-ceiling cabinet into a room and get it to stand up? Well, when it just barely makes it, apparently three of us. There were a few words exchanged along the way, but it made it...just barely! Whew!!!

Tile beginning to go in. A wonderful faceted subway-tile, with a simple black band to add visual interest.
We're getting close now! Finished pictures next.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Yup, I told you this was going to be a tough one. The double bathroom redo got pretty messy. The homeowners ended up moving into their living room during the construction process...it was like dorm-life all over again! This much demolition was necessary to pull down an original (nonoperational) attic fan. I swear, the propeller on that thing would have powered the Titanic! Also, plumbing fixtures and electric were moved and added to. This afforded the opportunity to delve a little beyond the bathrooms and correct some other problems unearthed, including bad floor joists and wall studs.


This gives "a room with a view" new meaning. The centrally located bathroom literally created a shaft into the attic once the old ceiling was removed.

This view shows some of the old plumbing pipes, and yes, as you probably expected, below those floor joists there is air space, then dirt...and undoubtedly creepy-crawlies!

The rest of the house was sealed off with plastic to avoid a mosquito infestation. Oh this was no walk on the beach!

I promise to show some results next.

Through Door Number Two

You may recall the "two-for-one" bathrooms we worked on earlier this year. Well, here are some pictures of bathroom number two, done simultaneously with the one pictured last week. Same sort of layout...awkward, cramped space with outdated fixtures and finishes. An interior closet, next to a closet opening from the hallway, were taking valuable floor space from this tiny bathroom.




This photo shows the closet from the hallway, once the doors were removed during demolition. This is ultimately where the bathroom entry door will go.


Next week, I'll start to reveal the solutions used to maximize the new bathrooms for function and aesthetics!

Happy New Year!

Old and Tired

Early last year, two of our friends decided it was finally time to do the bathroom renovations they had been talking about for years. I had done some drawings of what I thought would work in the new spaces, and it was time to get off the mark. Yes, I know it's crazy, but they decided to redo both of the bathrooms at the same time. From financial and logistical standpoints, it made sense...but I'm not sure they knew exactly what would be in store. They did survive it all though, and are still raving about the difference the new bathrooms make in their daily lives!

Here are some before pictures.






This is one of the two bathrooms. In this one, aside from the dated and "scabbed together" tile, the space was cramped to the point that the bathroom door banged into the toilet when it was opened. The challenge was to squeeze every square inch of the space into something more attractive and more functional. We couldn't change the footprint due to the layout of the house, so it took some careful planning to open up their bathroom spaces and still maintain approximately the same amount of storage that they started with.

The solution entailed moving plumbing and electrical, both bathroom doors (one to a different wall, and one just a few inches "to the right".) The demolition uncovered some surprises, and some predicted situations. I can wow you (or scare you!!) with some of the "during" photos in days to come.

By the way...Happiest of Holidays to you all. We'll catch up next week!