Welcome to part 7 of The Remodeling Series. I hope you enjoyed the Main Bath I shared yesterday. While I really like that bathroom, I’m excited to show you our master bathroom because I love it! More than a year later I walk into it and marvel at the changes. I do not mind spending time in it at all.
However, I did mind spending time in this:
Master Bath Before
Again, how I wish I had remembered to get good before pictures! One day I will learn…maybe. Here’s a few of my least favorite things about this room (or should I say rooms?):
- Repeat of the yellow-gold theme: toilet, sinks, tile, vinyl, shower surround, wall paint.
- Frosted brown aluminum window like the main bathroom.
- Every piece of wood was dark brown. The vanity was 8 feet long.
- The lovely wood and gold towel bars were repeated here, as well as the 70s sink faucets and huge mirror, except this one was eight feet long. Too much of me, I can tell you that.
- It was broken into two rooms: a “dressing area” and a toilet/shower area which were separated by a wall with a pocket door.
- There was also a pocket door leading from the master bedroom, plus a bi-fold door into the walk-in closet to the left.
- It was dark, dark, dark. You needed a light no matter the time of day or season and you couldn’t see outside anywhere in the room. I personally dislike bathrooms with no windows (except maybe powder rooms), which helps explain what drove my vision for this room.
The first thing we did was to replace the door leading into the bathroom with a french door (hung with a curtain for privacy).
We actually did this about a year after we moved in when we were remodeling the garage into living space. We removed both of the pocket doors to use them as doors in the new rooms because they were beautiful solid wood paneled doors that matched those in the old rooms.
Then we demolished the wall separating the vanity area from the shower area in order to create one big space:
Master Bath After
This is the same view as the “before” picture. It feels so much bigger, it’s hard to believe it’s the same room.
After we removed the wall we added a long, high window over the tub and replaced the frosted aluminum window with a double hung vinyl that was not frosted so I can look out at the trees and see outside.
Of course, part of any good DIY project is making it last a really long time {ahem}, so after removing the wall and adding the windows we didn’t complete the rest of the renovation for about nine months.
We lived with exposed pipes, drywall, and studs for all that time. Then we buckled down, took a week in summer when the kids were out of town and tiled both this room and the other bath.
Need I reiterate that I will never tile again? I thought not.
Here’s the complete tour of the room:
Besides the new window (with another privacy curtain made out of a vintage piece of linen- this one with a pretty drawn-thread design), we installed a new toilet, beadboard and molding.
My biggest money-saving tip is: Buy in advance when the deals are good. I knew we would be redoing the baths, so when I found things I wanted to incorporate, I would buy them and store them.
- The hotel rack came from a thrift store for $3
- The small hanging candle holder with prisms on clearance for $8 at Target
- The shelf over the tub was just $17 on clearance at Target as well (just like $59 ones I’d seen at PB).
- I mentioned previously how I found the light fixtures for both the baths at another clearance sale for $13 each.
- We bought all the windows at a discount window supplier.
Ah…the shower. This is the part where I beg and plead: if you are building a house, please make all the fixtures white.
I think I shed some tears over the shower.
The original shower was a fiberglass one-piece unit that was in good condition and I would’ve been happy to leave it in place but for one thing: it was yellow-gold. Almost all the way to the ceiling, and not easy to cover up like the tub in the other bath.
I searched and searched for a cost-effective shower surround, and let me just say, oh. my. goodness. You wouldn’t believe what they wanted for FAKE marble, people. And I wanted easy clean, which eliminated tile (like I would do that, anyway!). I really wanted a smooth surface, but it couldn’t be found at a reasonable price.
In the end, we ended up with this $340 unit consisting of three wall pieces and the floor pan. And while I love that it’s white, it’s exactly what I feared: all the lines from the “fake tile” hold enough moisture to allow pink mold to form (in our climate, at least). So, see the green towel hanging on the left? That’s a microfiber cloth which we use after each shower on the walls. It really does help keep it clean and shiny.
But I still miss the smooth walls of the old shower. Oh how I wish it had been white.
Here’s a little detail of the curtain. In order to have it hang closer to the ceiling, I added a piece of coordinating fabric to the top and bottom and then simply used curtain clips to hang it on the rod.
Why a curtain on a shower instead of doors? Well, $300 dollars to start…but also I just can’t stand the cleaning issues with doors. Ugh, those tracks are awful after awhile.
This is the view from the window which shows the bi fold doors to the closet. I’m thinking of painting them green and aging them a bit and then putting vintage knobs on both sides so they’ll look more like little double doors.
And see the hook next to the shower? I love this little touch- it’s just to hang your towel on when you are showering so you don’t have to reach too far.
And here’s the tub in all it’s glory- isn’t it a beaut? It’s also the reason this room cost more than twice what the other bath did. Ah, but I always wanted a claw foot tub. And it is nice to soak in- regular tubs just don’t compare.
Luckily, I didn’t know how much it would cost in the end, otherwise…who knows? Two pedestal sinks would’ve looked good here, too, and been A LOT cheaper. But I know I would’ve always wished for the tub!
Our tub was a “deal” on Craigslist bought two years before the renovation for $100. It was dirty so I thought it would just need a good cleaning. When it was finally time to do the remodel, we realized that the enamel was cracked on the bottom and therefore wouldn’t be water tight. Ugh, it needed to be refinished.
We then searched for a plumber to move the pipe from the wall to the floor to accommodate the tub. The first bid we got back was $1500! Aaack- that was the budget for the whole room. Talk about shock.
We finally found someone who would do it for half the price if we did the finish part. Can you believe it- feeling like $700 was a deal?
Then I needed to buy the exposed pipes and faucet. Wow. I did not know they would be quite so expensive…but we’re already down that road, so…
Tub: $100
Refinishing: $325
Plumbing labor: $700
Supply lines: $39.99 (a deal, believe it or not)
Faucet and drain: $248.00 (*faint*)
Total: one expensive tub
Moral? Be very sure that tub is worth it.
And here is the final corner of the room. The corner that wasn’t finished until a month ago, a year and a half after the rest of the room was completed. We seriously had a “temporary” vanity here that had been cobbled together from the parts we had cut off of the old one. It wasn’t pretty- notice how I don’t have a picture?
But far be it from me to keep any secrets. I’m going to show it in all it’s glory in a post about remaking this dresser into a vanity (go here to see the tutorial to make a dresser into a vanity).
Why would I want to make a dresser into a vanity? Well, I like the look for one, and for the other, I like the price: $70.
And after the shock of the tub, $70 sounds real nice to me.
So in the end the total to redo every surface and fixture in the room was just under $3,000 with the tub being about half. Which seems like a lot of money to me, and we never would have thought we had enough at one time to do it, but because we spread it out over a couple of years, we could afford it.
And I have the bathroom of my dreams.
Well, until the next house, where I’m sure my dream will be something different.
-Jami
PS – View this hilarious video that Brian made to get his take on the bathroom remodeling saga!
And: Show Us Your Bathrooms @ Thrifty Decor Chick
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
I love your new look! What did you use for the “bead board” or wainscoting? The dresser into a sink is a great idea as well!
Wow! That’s an awesome redo – I love the tub!
Oh Jami! You’ve done it again. It’s like you’ve stepped inside my head and used everything I love here in your bathroom (except I would have tiled the shower, but that’s cuz I don’t mind doing the work of it).
Beautiful job!
I totally agree on never tiling again. And I hope I never have shower doors again too!
I love your claw-foot tub! Beautiful and definitely in keeping with your “cottage” home
Melinda- I should’ve said “plybead” or something like that- we just buy the 4×8 sheets of beadbord-look plywood, cut it in half and attach with liquid nails and some small finish nails in the grooves. I’m not sure that’s the way it’s supposed to be done, but that’s what we do.
Melody- I’m so glad you like it! Yeah, tile and me are not friends anymore.
Lauren- I always feel like I need to justify why we don’t have shower doors because it seems like everyone does now…I’m happy to know I’m not alone!
Thank you Candi and Afect: I do like my tub, too!
Both the bathroom look amazing! You always do such a great job.
Unfortunantly my bathrooms look just like your before pics. Ugh! I even have those lovely wood and gold towel racks.
It looks like my dream bathroom now!
I say the tub was worth it! We have plans to do something similar one day so I really appreciate the details and budget info. It looks beautiful! 
R
Jenelle- Oh no, I feel your pain! Maybe one day remodel?
Thanks, Roeshel!
Hi, I just love your bathroom transformation, everything looks so pretty, I especially love the claw foot tub, brings back fond memories of days past…I hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugz,
Kim
Hi Jami…GREAT JOB on the bathroom. Wow. It’s so nice and bright now. Congratulations. Sincerely, Susan
This is absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for posting it! I love your new bathroom — I bet you do too!!
OMGosh…your bathroom makeover is sooooo stunning…luv the beadboard, dresser/sink and that tub is to die for! I’m so glad I checked it out:)
Blessings,
Linda
This bathroom is gorgeous. You did a really nice job!
-FringeGirl
What a gorgeous bathroom. I think the tub was worth all the trouble!
Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day!
This is an amazing transformation! Simply gorgeous! Would love to have you stop by the Sunday Showcase Party. Hope you are enjoying your weekend! Your tub is to die for! Stunning!
Looks beautiful! I’ve always wanted a clawfoot tub too…yours came out really nice–even with all the sticker shock! :0)
Looks like it is from a magazine! Beautiful!
Beautiful and calm, great job!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing at the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly appreciate it! This makeover is incredible! Hope you have a great week! ~ Stephanie Lynn
Hi Jami! I’ll be featuring your bath today! Love it! Stop by and grab a featured button if you like! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase! ~ Stephanie Lynn
How did you refinish your tub I have one in desperate need of refinishing and I have seen the kits but not sure if they work
Jo- we paid to have this done- we took it to a refinishing place and paid $300, but we feel it was worth it ’cause it’s beautiful and nice to bath in.
A dream master bath!
Sue @ Beach Bungalow
xo
Your bathroom is amazing! Great job! and yes that tub is beautiful! I’ve been looking around for some freestanding bathtubs http://www.thebathtubreview.com/freestanding-bathtubs.htm but not sure what to get, any suggestions?
Thanks
Your home is lovely and this bathroom remodel is amazing! Can we trade?! Love your tub.
Thanks for visiting and your sweet comment.