From Green Tile to Marble: A DIY En-Suite Bathroom Transformation

When we opened this reader email, our first thought was that someone had taken a photo of our yellow guest bathroom and simply shifted the color palette to green. The layouts are remarkably similar (our yellow guest bathroom is here on our house tour page). But the similarity was just coincidence: Susanne was fortunate enough to inherit a genuine green-tiled bathroom from 1956 that she and her partner completely renovated themselves. Below is her account of the project and the outcome.

Hi John & Sherry! We just completed a total DIY renovation of our 1956 en-suite bath. Prior to the renovation, the bathroom looked a lot like your yellow bathroom… lovely green tile up to your eyeballs (well, your eyeballs when you’re 5’2″). Three different patterns of green tile, a scary, small shower with little ventilation, cramped quarters… and so on. We did our best to update the look with accessories, but at the end of the day it just wasn’t our cup of tea.

The renovation was ambitious. Susanne notes that they had tackled large projects before—their kitchen remodel in 2011—but leveling concrete floors proved to be a new and challenging task. It’s a reminder that even experienced DIYers face steep learning curves when working with old homes. Despite the difficulty, they did the work themselves, kept costs low, and completed the renovation as a team. The result is a dramatic, modernized primary bathroom that still honors the house’s history.

One of the most striking changes is the new marble hex tile floor, which replaces the dated original tile. Marble hex is a classic, timeless choice that adds elegance and visual texture without overwhelming the space. The lighter tones and refined pattern open up the room and contrast beautifully with the clean lines and modern fixtures they selected.

The team also replaced the small, claustrophobic tile shower with a floating glass shower door that visually expands the room and lets light move freely through the space. That open feeling is one of the renovation’s best successes: the glass door feels modern and airy compared to the former enclosed stall.

In a thoughtful nod to the bathroom’s past, they framed one of the original green tiles and displayed it as a keepsake—a small but meaningful reminder of how far the space has come. Preserving one element of the original design creates continuity and adds personality to the updated bathroom.

The overall transformation combines practical upgrades with stylish choices: modern fixtures, improved ventilation, and a layout that feels open and functional. The marble hex tile and the floating glass shower door are highlights for many viewers, offering a balance of classic material and contemporary form.

If you’d like to see more photos and renovation details, Susanne has shared an extended before-and-after photo set and additional shots on her blog. Check out her full posts for extra images and a closer look at the finished details: Before & After — Master Bathroom Edition and a complementary post with more master bath details.

What do you think of this DIY renovation? Are you impressed by the transformation from a dated green-tiled en-suite to a bright, marble-floored oasis? Share which elements stand out to you—the open shower design, the marble hex tile, or the framed vintage tile keepsake—and tell us which part you’d consider incorporating into your own bathroom remodel.