It’s rare a “before” photo makes me laugh out loud, but Erin’s original shower tile did just that. Thankfully, the incredible renovation she and her husband completed has turned that unfortunate tile into a distant — and somewhat hilarious — memory. Here’s her story:
Hi John & Sherry, we’ve been slowly remodeling our foreclosure for just over a year and have completed three bathroom remodels so far. I’m still doing a happy dance over how this latest one turned out. The room began in the worst possible condition: dirty white tile with brown grout, a rain shower mural in the tub, and pink walls covered in a heavy, drippy texture.
Every time I used the room I thought, “I can’t believe we bought this dump.” That rain shower mural in the tub really drove the point home.
We aimed for a modern, natural look — minimal but not cold. The standout feature is a shoji-inspired sliding door I custom built. It slides to the right to close off the toilet and shower without blocking too much light. I’m still shocked it fit and worked perfectly the first time. Those rare moments when a plan comes together exactly as imagined are worth celebrating — score one for the DIYers.
The best part is that doing our own labor and using budget-friendly finds like an Ikea vanity and mirror — plus clearance 12” x 24” floor tiles for just $1.22 each — kept the renovation remarkably affordable. The whole project cost under $2,000.
We also added lighting under the floating vanity. It highlights the open floor area and doubles as a stylish nightlight.
The lights plug into an outlet under the vanity, and that outlet is controlled by a switch near the door — just a flick to turn them on. I hope you like it! — Erin
I have to give Erin extra credit for that door — the whole space is inviting, but building a custom door that fits perfectly on the first try deserves special recognition. Erin has more photos, including a close-up of the original shower, on her blog, so be sure to take a look. Thanks for sharing your fantastic bathroom, Erin! What do you think? Any favorite elements? Sherry loves the mirror that doubles as a shelf and the penny-tile accent stripe, while I’m completely smitten with that sliding door.
Psst — the latest Clara Conversations are up on Young House Life, including a favorite exchange about a hoped-for future sibling and what Clara imagines will come with that new family member.