When I look at vintage houses, I think there are always things that I would never choose myself if I were building a new house, or if I have to replace something. But if there are there and they are in good shape, I would live with them and try to like them for what they are. I would never pick out the elaborate pillar and arch style cabinet doors in the kitchen and other areas of this house, but I wouldn't take them out either. The bathroom I am renovating now is bathroom #2 for that space. It was poorly done in 2000 subway tile style with pedestal sink. (Style is fine, handsome sink, not quite right for the house). There was a crack in the plumbing that could be accessed only by making a hole in the floor of this bathroom, so the whole thing is demo'd. Evidence shows that the original original was white tile with gold sparkles with a gold and black mosaic floor, unknown fixture color, maybe gold. I could as it turns out, replicate the tile in this bathroom (Daltile Golden Granite tile for the white with gold sparkles, and Daltile Keystones porcelain mosaic in Luminary Gold and Black.) The fixtures would have to be black or white, but it would be the original color scheme. I am not going to do that. If it was still here and in good shape I might keep it, but I am not going to duplicate it. But I am going to try and do something that looks like it could possibly be original--just not gold and black.

Kristy, My kids rooms were changed over the years as they grew. My daughter wanted the walls painted lime green when she was 12! I was reluctant because it wasn't going to coordinate with anything in my house, but I had an older neighbor and she said to me, "What does it matter? It's only paint and you only have your children living in your home for just a few years. Do what makes her happy. You'll have plenty of time to decorate it as you please when she's gone." I thought about what she said, and we painted the room lime green! Lol. That color only lasted until high school, when she decided she wanted it changed to a beautiful shade of light blue. My son decided at that time he wanted University of Texas orange on his walls! Well, before I knew it they were out of the house. Now I do what I want. - The only people who really see your kids rooms are you, your kids, and their friends. Don't stress too much about making it look like a magazine photo! You will be making changes as they grow, I guarantee it! Enjoy your new home.

I would eliminate the doors you have circled. Agree. Too many doors. I really like J&J bathrooms -- when they're done well. The problem is that they're so rarely done well, and this one is no exception: what we see here is a bathroom made up of four small rooms, each containing one bathroom piece. The pieces will be choppy and small. I like the idea someone presented for one comfortable bathroom opening into the small hallway, but eliminate the mid-bath door /keep it all in one room. One large vanity with a single sink and plenty of drawer storage. Simple, classic, functional. A bathroom shared between only two children is quite a luxurious thing -- even if it's off a hallway. To get a “perfect“ design plan and include all our requests would have meant more square footage and we will have just over 4000 square feet of living space already in this house which is already more than we need and going bigger was out of the budget. Eh, no. "Perfect" doesn't mean larger /doesn't mean more expensive. Good layout doesn't cost more than mediocre layout. Like I said I’m not saying they are unusual big picture. I continue to say Houzz folk are really into identifying this as a perceived issue. Natural light is something that pretty much everyone likes /responds to very positively -- but people often underestimate its importance. As I think back over the houses I've lived in, all the rooms I've enjoyed most have had good natural light.

I don't think you will hit your elbows in a 3'6" x 3'6" shower but a shower curtain will work just fine. If you think that adding a glass down the road is a possibility, I would talk to the contractor about the extra cost involved to add a glass later as opposed to now. I see no problem with the curtain but it would allow you to take an informed decision. A curtain is also less maintenance as it is very easy to put it in the washer. Yes this shower is beautiful and the color scheme makes it looks spacious. This is something I mentioned earlier, I encourage you to put the drain in the shower in a location where you don't stand when you shower. It is more comfortable to the feet. In this picture, they put the drain far on the opposite side. They also put the faucet where it is really easy to turn on before entering the shower so you can set the water temperature before you get wet.