Why not just build the tiles out? If you have to go that much, you could use layers of cement board, and then build the tiles out with a little extra stiff thinset, or are you talking about having to build out the entire wall to meet the floor? Maybe some PICHERS would be a good thing here!! :-)

Now that I have located my camera, pichers should be no problem :) It'll have to wait until tomorrow though!

Here's a pic and link to a few more...



{{gwi:1390809}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to album

I don't have suggestions; I have a few questions. First of all, that's a cute looking bathroom! I have a 1950 peach w/brown trim bathroom with a similar layout, and a similar need for freshening.

- Can you describe the interior of the closet next to the shower?
- Is there an access to the shower plumbing? If you have a setup that you think could/should be reproduced, I'd love a photo!

We removed the (probably not original) full height folding louvered closet door for painting and, for 2 years (aack!), have had a curtain in its place. The main problem is that the closet currently houses the water heater (new, large 50 gal) and is otherwise unfinished. No tile on concrete floor; yucky paneling on the walls and, yes, access to the bath/shower plumbing.

I like the look of your 2-door setup. So I would love to see more!

We are considering moving the water heater to the adjacent utility room (original w/h must have been in that location, as water distribution system originates there). So while I don't know exactly what the original bathroom closet setup looked like, maybe yours would be inspiration?

I'm thinking a raised wood floor and, now that I've seen your 2-door setup, I'm inspired to do a door on the bottom half (access to plumbing, some storage, raised wood floor all painted and nice) and open upper with shelves for towels, etc.

- What model/brand is the sink and toilet? So pretty and vintage looking. We took the quick route and put in a Toto commercial grade wallmount and the smallest most basic style of Toto toilet. Both work fine, but they ain't that cute!

Abby, I added a few pics to the album if you'd like to take another look. The cabinets are 27" deep so they are very spacious, but I feel like the space is not very practical. It's difficult to get to the very back of the shelf, so everything ends up piled near the front. I would love to have some shelves that slide out. Drawers would be even better. I guess it depends on what you want to store in there. Towels are a different story than little bottles, brushes, make-up, all that tiny bathroom stuff!

There is an access panel in the lower cabinet. You can see in the pic that the panel is off right now, so it might look a little funny.

The floor is just painted concrete. All the walls and shelves are painted as well.

If I could do it over, I would probably keep the large lower cabinet with the access panel and enough room for toilet tissue/paper towels and cleaning supplies and another shelf. There's about 15 inches of unused vertical space down there that could benefit from another shelf (removeable so you could still get to the access panel). I would put a couple thin drawers (5-6") in between the upper and lower cabinets for all the little stuff. Then I'd have the upper cabinet. At that point I'd ask a cabinet/organization/closet expert to sugget ways to use the space efficiently. I don't know if that would include pull out shelves or what. But if you got creative in that space, you could really have a ton of storage.

I would just keep your eye out around here, I have seen a few different bathrooms with this same set up. Maybe someone else has some additional suggestions.

The toilet and sink are both Kohler Memoirs. I can't remember who makes the faucet but it is not Kohler. Thanks for the compliments, I love the sink as well!

Good luck in your bathroom!

Here is a link that might be useful: Updated album

That looks like a ceramic mud job in the picture. The easiest way to do that would be to shim the studs so the whole wall gets brought out. Are you going to tile to the ceiling, or just halfway, as in the pic?

Thanks! Your storage setup is similar to what I was envisioning, except that your closet is narrower (mine is 36" wide) and your floor tile goes into the closet past the door frame (mine does not, hence my thoughts on framing up a false floor with a baseboard front that juts out a bit).

While I know I have to maintain access to the plumbing, I'd love to create a false back on the upper portion, so it's a nice 12-15"D X 36" W of usable space for rolled towels and a basket or two of bathroom stuff (with the main storage below, like yours). I've even thought that we might find a tower or shelving unit that would fit into the doorway and just use that as our closet. No refinishing of ugly interior of closet... Lazy, I know. But we've had to do a LOT of work on this house, and I'm about out of steam.

In any event, you are on the same track as us pretty much, and it's always nice to know we're not alone in dealing with old tile and layout.

I'm going to start a separate thread with some pictures. Hopefully someone will have more ideas than I do!

Bill, we are going to tile to the ceiling in the shower and around the corner, above the built-in cabinet. The other 3 walls will be tiled to approx the same height as they are now (55").

Abby, I will keep an eye out for your post! You are definitely not alone! A couple of the contractors that came out to look at the bathroom are pretty great cabinet makers so I'm thinking of asking if they could just add a couple drawers and "shorten" the upper cabinet.