This redesign was inspired by two very special homeowners: my parents, Tom and Kathy. They bought their Northern Virginia house as new construction 30 years ago. Over three decades they raised four children who eventually left the nest, leaving the couple with several spare bedrooms and decisions about life after retirement. One plan they’re considering is selling the house and moving to Richmond to be closer to their son—me. This post chronicles my parents’ bathroom redesign.
As they prepared to sell the family home, my parents decided the bathroom needed updating. While a 1970s bathroom can’t compete with today’s larger master suites in square footage, they wanted modern finishes: ceramic tile, granite countertops, and an overall clean, updated look. My dad used the renovation as an opportunity to learn a lot of new DIY skills, my mom focused on decorating, and Sherry and I captured before-and-after photos to show the transformation.
Here’s a before photo of the sink side of the room:
One major change was retiling the entire floor and shower surround. Below is a photo of the old hex-tile floor; we don’t have a picture of the original fiberglass shower surround because my dad eagerly demoed it before we could shoot.
After a lot of renovating, retiling and redecorating, the bathroom now looks completely refreshed:
A key upgrade was replacing the builder-grade fiberglass shower with floor-to-ceiling ceramic tile. They selected a neutral tile complemented by a stone border that introduces a subtle, spa-like river rock pattern. My dad cut, laid and grouted all the tile himself—his first tile project. He learned practical lessons like “measure twice, cut once,” and recommends planning the tile layout in advance so you avoid tiny, difficult-to-cut slivers at the edges. Establishing a center line and dry-laying tiles before cutting and grouting yields a balanced, intentional result rather than something that looks lopsided.
To enhance the illusion of height and emphasize the new full-height tile, Sherry helped my mom find an extra-long shower curtain so they could mount the rod as close to the ceiling as possible. That simple trick draws the eye upward and complements the fully tiled surround.
For the floor, my parents chose a ceramic tile in an earth tone that complements the wall tile. My dad set the floor tiles on the diagonal, which provides contrast to the horizontally laid wall tile and adds visual interest. Diagonal floor tile can make a small room feel more spacious and dynamic.
To balance the warm tones of the tile and the new maple vanity, my mom—consulting with Sherry and a stack of paint swatches—selected a cool gray-green wall color (Comfort Gray by Duron). The towels she found at Target managed to pick up nearly every color in the palette, tying the look together. While the women handled paint and accessories, the men took on reinstalling the toilet. It was my dad’s first time replacing a toilet, so I enjoyed passing along a few installation tips.
To make the small bathroom feel larger, they chose a wall-mounted vanity that leaves open floor space beneath, allowing the eye to travel through the room and creating a more open feeling. The cool gray-green wall color also complements the brushed nickel fixtures and the rich granite countertop, giving the space a refined, contemporary look that no longer feels like a bathroom from 1979.
We’re sending a big virtual pat on the back to my parents for their DIYed bathroom makeover. It’s certainly designed to appeal to buyers, and we’re hopeful the real estate market improves soon so they can move to scenic Richmond. If Dad brings his new tile saw, there may be plenty of future projects to dream about for our bathrooms.
Paid for by the committee to get John’s parents to move to Richmond—love you, Mom and Dad!