How To Do a Bathroom Remodel One Piece at a Time

Many people of the wealthier world may look at this article and laugh out loud.  Their reality and the one many of us middle income folk live in is quite different. Most would love to call in a professional service to remodel their bathroom but for a moment let’s just consider the REAL world! This one involves piecing together a beautiful bathroom from the monstrosity pictured below. Follow me as I have carefully picked out the replacements during a variety of sales leaving me with only two or three pieces before the construction can begin.

Observe the not so fabulous linoleum of the black and white variety. This will someday be replaced with the fabulous marble tile pictured to your right. Thankfully or not, as you prefer, this is a small bathroom so a large quantity was not needed, however I am still left with the joys of finding a marble tile cutter…or am I? It may be easier as both the sink and toilet will be replaced to simply cover the entirety of the rectangular floor surface with the marble tiles. These babies were less than a dollar per sq foot compliments of a ‘going out of stock’ special at our local Home Depot. In this manner, any cutting can be in straight lines. So far there has been no reason to complicate the plan with circular cuts in order to place the new pieces within, instead of on the surface of the new floor.  What would you do?  

If you look at the picture above you will notice a wall-mounted sink with some old-ish faucet fixtures. The porcelain has begun to crack around the outside of the sink and the pipes sadly have rust and corrosion that every now and then leaves an unexpected chunk in the sink basin.  To replace this I found a small base cabinet with a sink basin for less than $80 at our local Menard’s store. I went with white in order to have the ease of matching it with just about everything…worst case I can always paint it later too. I have not yet purchased the fixtures though I have always got my eyes open for the right design and price.

This has not yet been purchased but a new, water conserving toilet from Menard’s is about $75-95 in cost and will be an easy find when the time arrives. The old toilet whose seals and flushing features have already been replaced once has a limited life-line. 

Another close-out special were the behind-the-toilet and corner shelving that is already furnishing the bathroom. These will be removed at the appointed construction time and replaced in their rightful positions. For now they serve as excellent storage. Again, white is the color of choice due to its flexibility for use and matching.

The bigger ticket items still to purchase are related to the tub/shower plans and the window in the wall that provides a series of planning questions. If we choose to do a window there it will have to be a special ordered size and tempered glass to meet codes. I think though have not yet confirmed that tempered glass block may also be a possibility.  Whatever we decide this will also be the mainstay of the moisture venting system.  We are still going back and forth on just a shower, a tub/shower combo and then we have to decide whether purchasing a surround is the way to go or my current favorite is putting in some nice tile for the wall. At this point a rod and curtain will be the door of the shower but this can still change.  Then of course there is the paint, this choice is simplified by it must be a moisture resistant type but complicated by the color choices which must somehow blend the floor tile, tub/shower wall or tile to leave a quaint yet comfortable bathroom. 

The biggest pro is that we are not going over our heads in debt to complete such a project. The biggest con is that it has taken us years to collect what we have and what’s left is due to financial constraints as well as design choices yet to be made.  Another con is the storage of the pieces while waiting to complete construction. However, to me this is all cushioned with the fact that when I do have all the pieces I will be able to pretty much rock and roll the remodel, barring Murphy’s law and the unknown factor X’s that I have no doubt will arise with every renovation of “this old house.”  Furthermore the final design will be mine which for me will undoubtedly yield a fabulous sense of pride and satisfaction in taking what’s there to what will be. We have not yet pulled the permit because that is something we will do just as we are ready to renovate. Also as the actual plumbing changes are minor it may not be necessary to do so, I am sure I will reference the link below when the time finally comes.