Bathroom Renovation: Creating Happiness in Tiny Spaces

We live in an old farmhouse house (circa 1855) with lots of tiny nooks and crannies. While these architectural details are never short on charm, the house is definitely lacking in the space taken for granted in more modern homes. Our upstairs bath is one of those small spaces, and it was definitely in need of an upgrade when we moved in.

Measuring at about 5’ x 8’ (the size of a small area rug), this room used to be either a large storage space, or a tiny sitting/sewing room. Plumbing was not installed until the 1950’s when the room was converted into the only bathroom in the house. We had several needs for this bath which doubles not only as a master bath, but also serves guests:

#1.) Upgrade the vanity. Being short on counter space, this was a big need.

#2.) Increase showering space. It was an unbelievably tight area for a clawfoot tub. My heart was completely torn about getting rid of it. Had it been a full-sized tub I would have kept it. But since it was only 48” long, it wasn’t very user friendly as a tub, or quite frankly, as a shower to easily step in and out of.

#3.) Improve the aesthetics. The color, texture, and style of the room all needed a major overhaul in order to give the impression of a larger and brighter space.

We hired a contractor to do our demolition and installation work. I designed the space with the above needs in mind, as well as our budget. Full disclosure: This tiny bath cost about $15,000 for demo, installation, and materials (design time is not included in this amount).

I wanted to create a classic bathroom that fit with the farmhouse architecture of our home, so I selected all white subway tile with a marble Greek key listello accent tile, marble basket-weave floor tile, marble vanity, and console sink.

The sink was a big debate in our house because we could have used the extra storage under the counter, but that would have visually enclosed the space. So we went with the open console, a basket underneath, and made a conscious effort to be more minimalist in our bathroom clutter. (It’s been awesome, btw.)

We removed the tub and installed a custom curved and tiled shower pan to increase shower space while not encroaching on the doorway. We added built-in shower shelving and selected brushed nickel fixtures.

I bought a classic gold-framed mantel mirror, and dry brushed some silver leaf paint to tone down the gold. Then I brought the mirror to my custom cabinet maker and had him create a medicine cabinet using the mirror as the door. He installed the cabinet in between the studs so the mirror looks like it hangs flush on the wall above the sink.

Finishing touches include upgraded wall and ceiling lighting (on dimmers, which make great nightlights), a custom stationary valance with an unobtrusive cellular shade for privacy hidden underneath, glass shelving, and some framed vintage menswear magazine plates.

The finished result required us to give up or compromise on some things, but we gained so much more by way of functionality and beauty.

If you find yourself in need of assistance with decision-making and design for your next remodeling project, please reach out!