Our Bathroom Renovation Journey

Welcome to the Blog today, Friends!

It’s a pleasure to be back here with you after taking a couple of weeks away.

I’m so glad you’re here to share this bathroom renovation journey with me. What started as a small problem turned into a much bigger project—but isn’t that often how these things go? One minute you’re trying to fix a little leak, and the next you’re choosing tile and wondering how you managed to get yourself into this!

The whole adventure began about six months ago when we noticed water leaking into the molding around the shower. We tried caulking the shower, but unfortunately, that didn’t solve the problem. Rather than risk making things worse, we decided to stop using the master bathroom shower until we could figure out exactly what was happening.

And then came the surprise. We discovered that our foundation had shifted by about half an inch and needed to be corrected. So, before we could tackle the bathroom, we had to tackle the foundation. We contracted to have that work done, and once the foundation was restored, we could finally turn our attention to the plumbing problem in the bathroom.

Fortunately, our daughter’s good friend, Hannah of The Yellow Bowerbird, is a designer and has a wonderful relationship with a contracting company with an excellent reputation. We felt very fortunate to have a recommendation we could trust, so we decided to have them take care of the shower repair.

Of course, as these things tend to go, once we started talking about repairing the shower, we began thinking about the bathroom as a whole. And that’s when the renovation grew into something much more exciting. We decided it was finally time for a little facelift, along with a brand-new shower—and, perhaps most importantly, the removal of that enormous bathtub!

Now, I know some people absolutely adore a good soaking tub, but we are definitely shower people. That beautiful tub was taking up a tremendous amount of space and, quite frankly, was wasted on us. I had dreamed for years about having it removed, so when the opportunity finally presented itself, I was more than ready to say goodbye.

And so, what began with a little leak became the bathroom renovation I had been dreaming about. Come along with me as I share how it all came together!

Demolition Day and the Decisions Begin

After obtaining the necessary permits, demolition day finally arrived. The shower was gutted, along with the bathtub and cabinetry, and suddenly our bathroom looked very different! There is nothing quite like seeing a room stripped down to the studs to make you wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. Fortunately, we knew we were in good hands.

Once everything was opened up, two plumbing issues were discovered that had caused the leaking and had also undermined the flooring beneath the shower. Thankfully, the damage was contained to that area. The construction crew removed the old flooring and replaced it with new subflooring, giving us a solid foundation for the new shower. They also replaced the damaged pipes and added an additional ventilation fan in the shower to help address moisture and humidity.

Our house sits over a fairly large crawl space, which turned out to be a real blessing when it came to accessing the plumbing. The crew was able to get to everything easily, and they also added a shut-off valve for the shower in the crawl space. With the plumbing repairs completed and everything properly secured, we were finally ready to start putting the walls—and eventually the pretty parts—back together.

If you’ve ever renovated a room in your home, you know that there are a million decisions to be made. And I’m not exaggerating! From plumbing fixtures and tile to countertops, lighting, hardware, and finally the paint color, there seems to be a decision hiding around every corner. By this point, I was very happy to have our designer, Hannah, helping us navigate all the choices.

Hannah was wonderful at narrowing down the possibilities and helping us create a cohesive look. She understood that we wanted the bathroom to feel peaceful and luxurious—a little spa-like retreat right at home. With her guidance, the many decisions began to feel much less overwhelming, and we could finally start imagining what this newly renovated bathroom would look like when all the dust had settled.

Watching the Bathroom Take Shape

It was really exciting to watch the bathroom begin to come together and, little by little, see it being rebuilt. After all the demolition and repairs, it was wonderful to finally see the room moving in the right direction! The shower walls and floor were waterproofed and carefully prepared for the new tile. The wallboard in the bathroom was replaced in preparation for the new cabinetry, and the flooring was built up beneath the old tub area. The wall surround was also replaced, giving us a fresh canvas for everything that was to come.

Meanwhile, we were very busy making decisions—and there were plenty of them! We chose fixtures, cabinetry, faucets, mirrors, lights, and all the other details that would eventually turn this construction zone into a bathroom. Once we made our choices, we had to arrange for everything to be purchased and delivered so it would be on-site and ready when the crew needed it. It felt a little like putting together a very large puzzle, except the pieces were arriving in boxes and I was hoping we hadn’t forgotten anything!

Hannah brought in samples of the shower wall tile so we could see the possibilities in the actual space and make our selections. Having those samples right there made such a difference. It’s one thing to look at a tiny picture or sample in a showroom, but quite another to imagine how it will look covering an entire wall.

We also had one little challenge with the flooring. Since we weren’t replacing the entire tile floor, we needed to find a new floor tile that would work beautifully with what was already there. Fortunately, we were able to find a tile that complemented the existing floor, so we didn’t have to replace something that was perfectly good simply to start over.

Once the walls were in place and all the preparation was finished, the tile installation could finally begin. This was one of the moments I had been waiting for. After months of repairs, demolition, decisions, and a whole lot of dust, we were finally seeing the beautiful bathroom we had envisioned beginning to emerge.

The Tile Goes In

The shower tile we chose is made up of large pieces stacked one on top of another, creating a clean, simple look that I really love. For the shower floor, we chose a beautiful pebble tile that adds a bit of natural texture and gives the space a more relaxed, spa-like feeling.

Since we weren’t replacing the entire bathroom floor, we needed a way to make the new tile work with the existing floor. Rather than rip everything out and start over, we added a border to the tile that was already there. It turned out to be the perfect solution and allowed us to give the floor a fresh look while keeping the original tile that was still in good condition. Sometimes the best renovation decisions are the ones that let you work with what you already have!

Once the walls and floors were finished, we could finally move on to the really fun part—bringing in the cabinetry and all those little details that would transform the space from a construction project into an actual bathroom. After months of planning, repairs, and decisions, it was so exciting to finally see our vision beginning to come together.

Sinks and Countertops

We chose beautiful, hammered stainless steel sinks with a brushed nickel finish. They are nice and deep and give the bathroom a unique look. I fell in love with them when I first saw them and they look wonderful. The sinks are undermounted in a gorgeous white quartz slab streaked with grey. It’s quite thick and goes beautifully with the floors and shower tile.

The vanities are made of wood and are on feet raising them above the floor. Simple, modern , brushed nickel hardware accompanies lots of drawers for storage. The white finish keeps the colors nice and calm and compliments the white molding on the floors and ceiling.

A Little More Storage

We also ordered two additional cabinets in the same white color and simple style as the vanities. I wanted a place to tuck away some of the bathroom accessories, along with towels, soaps, and all those little necessities that are much nicer when they’re close at hand—but not necessarily on display!

We placed one cabinet beside each vanity, which gives us some much-needed storage without making the room feel crowded. I love that they blend so naturally with the vanities that they look as though they were always meant to be there. They add function without taking away from the light, open feeling we wanted for the room. After all, you can never have too much storage in a bathroom…especially when you don’t want all of your “stuff” looking back at you!

Mirrors and lights came next. The mirrors add a bit of whimsy to the room with their metal birds perched at the top of the frame and the lights add some crystal shimmer that goes well with the crystal chandelier.

Lights and mirrors are a great way to add your personal style. I wanted the bathroom to feel just a bit fanciful without being too “girly”. We also wanted a back splash that added som interest and style to the room. We found the perfect tile that has whites, grey and some brushed nickel pieces that tie in all the elements we used. The grey color has a hint of blue that ties in well with the paint color we chose. The lovely, soft blue tone is relaxing and peaceful.

Simple white linen curtains were added to the window on white rods with pretty white finials. They add a bit of softness to the room. We have a private backyard so no one can see in but we also have a shade on the window that can be lowered for additional privacy.

Shells, coral, some pretty pictures from Ireland and a glass picture were added to the cabinets and the wall. A philodendron adds some pretty green and we’ll probably be adding an additional plant to the room.

The Finishing Touches

The installation of the shower door will be the final piece of the renovation, and then we can officially say that the bathroom is finished and fully moved back in! After months of planning, construction, dust, decisions, and more decisions, that feels like quite an accomplishment.

I am really pleased with how the bathroom came together. It has the serene, peaceful feeling I was hoping for, with a little bit of a spa-like atmosphere. The different shades of blue move from light to dark throughout the room, adding interest and depth while still keeping everything calm and restful.

It’s amazing to think that this whole project began with a leaking shower and a plumbing problem. What started as something we certainly didn’t plan on turned into an opportunity to create a bathroom that feels fresh, comfortable, and much more like us. And I have to say, there is something especially satisfying about walking into the finished room and remembering what it looked like when we started. Now, if only renovations always ended this happily!

The Final Touches

With the major work finished, it was time for my favorite part—adding the little touches that make a room feel personal and inviting. We tucked shells and pictures of beautiful sea views into the upper sections of the storage cabinets. These small coastal touches bring a bit of the outdoors into the room and add to the peaceful, spa-like feeling we wanted.

The gold mirrors also received a little makeover. We gave them a silver overlay, allowing just a hint of the original gold to peek through. I love the way this adds a subtle bit of warmth and dimension without competing with the blues and silvery tones throughout the bathroom.

We also painted one of the other picture frames silver so it would blend more naturally with the rest of the decor. These little changes didn’t require a major investment, but they made such a difference in pulling the room together. It’s often those finishing touches that take a room from simply finished to feeling like home.

The Finished Bathroom

And here it is—our beautiful, spacious bathroom, finally finished! It is hard to believe how far this room has come from the day we first discovered that little leak. What began as an unexpected plumbing problem turned into a complete transformation, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

The room now feels fresh, serene, and wonderfully peaceful. The soft blues, natural touches, coastal accents, and little personal details have created the spa-like atmosphere I had hoped for. It feels comfortable and inviting, and most importantly, it feels like home.

Thank you so much for joining me on this three-month journey. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the renovation unfold and watching all the pieces come together. I’ll be sharing some of the collateral upgrades we’ve made around the house in upcoming posts, so there is more to come!

For now, we’re enjoying the feeling of a house that feels new and fresh and ready for all the gatherings, family time, and happy memories still to come. And after three months of construction, I have to admit—I’m more than ready to enjoy it!