Buying a house with renovation in mind is like embarking on a treasure hunt, but it often comes with a surprise – that one room that stands out as the “worst” of the bunch. In our 1960s – era home, filled with its fair share of odd design choices and quirky nooks, the main bathroom on the first floor took the cake. It was a visual and functional enigma, a space that seemed to have collected decades of haphazard decisions.
The walls were a testament to a bygone era, covered in green glass tiles that had been stuccoed over long ago and then painted a rather bold purple. Glass blocks were scattered everywhere, creating a disjointed look. The ceiling was a patchwork of half green and half pink glass tiles, as if two different design ideas had collided mid – construction. The floor was a grey wood – look tile, installed so poorly that the grout lines varied wildly, ranging from a quarter – inch wide in some spots to a whopping two inches in others. Walking across it was like navigating a rocky terrain, and stubbing your toe was an ever – present risk. The shower was a mishmash of four different white tiles, and a full – on Broadway – style makeup desk with exposed light bulbs flanking the sides added to the chaos. The room’s only light source was an old vanity light attached to a board, hanging precariously over the sink like a lopsided picture frame, with wires snaking everywhere. To top it off, there was a large hole in the wall where an old medicine cabinet used to be, clumsily covered up by a mirror. It was, quite simply, a lot to take in.
Bathroom makeovers are notorious for being expensive, and this one was no exception. It needed a complete overhaul from top to bottom, and I wasn’t sure if we’d ever find the time or budget to tackle it after moving in. During the first year, our focus was on renovating the rest of the upstairs. But as we neared the end of that major project, it became clear that the upstairs had been transformed into a beautiful space, and the bathroom now stuck out like a sore thumb. It needed to be updated to match the rest of the house.
Since this was a full – scale gut job far beyond my DIY capabilities, we called in a contractor. This winter, they worked their magic, and the result is nothing short of amazing. One of the best decisions I made during the renovation was to relocate the tiny sink cabinet to the wider alcove on the right side of the room. In the old setup, the sink was a constant obstacle, blocking the path to the toilet, and the minuscule countertop was so narrow that my curling iron was always in danger of falling off. And let’s not forget the single outlet, which was inconveniently located on the opposite side of the room. Now, with the new layout, we have a spacious countertop that feels positively huge. I opted for a white quartz countertop, knowing it would withstand the daily wear and tear of the main bathroom. Plus, the addition of two outlets above the vanity means I can finally curl my hair with ease, getting close enough to the mirror to see what I’m doing.
The old bathroom had almost no storage to speak of. It seemed the previous owners had resorted to cramming a large cabinet into the room just to have a place to stash their belongings. In contrast, the new vanity is a game – changer. With its drawers that slide out smoothly, there’s plenty of room to store taller items under the sink. I swapped out the pulls on the vanity for ones with a brighter gold finish and rounded edges, which blend seamlessly with the other fixtures in the room. To maintain the cohesive look, I added a rounded soap dispenser and toothbrush holder, their curves adding a touch of elegance.
The bathroom’s lighting situation presented its own challenge. With all the windows on one wall, the light was very one – directional. To solve this, I chose 70s – inspired globe lights to flank the mirror, and a mirror with a built – in ring light. This setup ensures even lighting for makeup application and other tasks. What’s more, the mirror light can be dimmed to a soft glow, which we now use as a nightlight. It casts a gentle illumination, perfect for those middle – of – the – night trips to the bathroom for me, my partner, and our little one.
Looking at the before and after photos, it’s hard to believe this is the same space. What was once a chaotic, dysfunctional bathroom has been transformed into a bright, beautiful, and functional oasis. It’s a testament to the power of a well – planned renovation and the joy of seeing a vision come to life.
