1865 Brick row house bathroom remodel
Dwelly LLC
6 years ago
We are looking to remodel our very tiny 'master' bathroom (5'10" x 5'8"). We are planning on keeping the original fixtures, refinishing the tub, and updating with subway tile. However showering in the tub isn't ideal and I hate shower curtains. We could blow out a closet to the left and add an extra 3'6" for a walk in shower (2 shower heads, or 1 plus a rain shower head). Then remove the shower portion of the tub. I'm open to moving the sink/toilet/tub around if needed. Any suggestions or alternative ideas would be really helpful!!! Thank you so much in advance!
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
PROArrange Interior Design
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Small Bathroom Help 6'6'' x 5'. Convert Bedroom to Bathroom?
Comments (17)You are going to want more than 32" for the toilet. 36" is standard (and perhaps even code in some areas???? Not here in Maine but I heard people saying that on other forums...) We have 34" and it feels fine but I dont think I'd want to go much tighter. You could solve that simply by flipping the closet and shower. So, have your shower -rotated 90 degrees and witha glass end wall- at the end of the tub (which is a nice setup you can see in many bathrooms, the tub deck can actually protrude under the shower glass wall and be a ledge or seat in the shower). Then the passageway moves to the left, and you can steal a bit of space from the other closet for the toilet. Either that of have a shorter vanity. 48" isn't a size I'd fight for. It's too short for a double vanity, really (unless you're using one of the new two-faucet 'trough" styles) so why not go down to 42" and have a better toilet area? For resale, though, you should consider a double vanity. Some people I guess expert truly huge ones, like at least 5+' long. But you CAN get smaller ones, Ikea has some great ones for tight spaces. But if you're not selling anytime soon, do what YOU like!! (But I still think you'll want more toilet space...)...See Moreballpark costs for full bathroom remodel
Comments (11)personally, I would disagree with Steve_a on doing the demo yourself. He's right that you can, because it takes little skill and basically brute strength. But it's dirty, it's very heavy stuff (old tile, mudset, cast iron, etc., heavier if your bathroom is old). You're likely to have a problem disposing of the material, since a lot of cities refuse to pick up construction debris. When I demo'd a basement closet that was just old plaster and only about 15 sq. ft. of wall, I probably had to use 10-15 trash bags alone, because each bag can hold only about as much debris as a 5-gallon bucket (or less) before the plastic rips. Demo is, overall, cheap. You don't need skilled labor to do it, so contractors can get people cheap for doing it. Unlike plumbing and electric, and even tile. Also, contractors will have the appropriate tools to do things like break tile -- not just a sledgehammer, but a jack-hammer like implement. Do you want to rent one of those? And they can do it quickly. Assuming you actually need the use of the bathroom, the faster the better. They can do the demo in a day or two, whereas you might need a couple of weekends or more to do it. (or multiply both those numbers by 3-5 if you want). Finally, at least for me, and I'm a bit of a DIY guy, things like demo are the least interesting part of the job. I'm proud of building things because I can look at the end result and smile. Not so much with demo. Of course, you may feel differently, but those are some considerations why I don't think the couple of thousand $$ you'll save doing the demo yourself are worth it....See MoreBathroom Reveal, Thanks to the Bathroom and Remodel Forums!X-Post
Comments (6)Lovely! I like the classic white tile and porcelain and how you used furniture pieces in the bathroom. I love that the storage at the end of the tub has pull-outs that can be reached from the toilet. Your custom sink and backsplash and counter are unique and beautiful. Yours may be the first bathroom sink I have seen in which a small or medium dog could be washed! That is a good thing! I showed your pictures to my DH because I am thinking of classic tiled walls with a chair rail for when we redo our bath in a couple of years. He liked it! I was expecting him to say, "too old fashioned." He did not, he said it looked nice. From him, nice is a compliment. He even liked your rows of listello. I was just at the Tile Shop's site the other day looking at the Hampton tiles because someone was selling some on Craigslist. I am hoping to do as you did and get what I can cheaper there, and fill in the rest from the store. I can see that you worked very hard to secure all of your materials - and then cut the floor tiles to size and culled the Hampton tiles, too! You succeeded very well in getting the look you wanted while saving money along the way. Congratulations, and thank you for the pictures and great detail and supply list....See MoreBathroom remodel, Is this Mold?
Comments (7)We has the same exact substrate, although our glue was on lathe and plaster, not just plaster on the brick. We got the pleasure of living with the lovely plastic tiles for 7 years though! We elected to scrape the old glue off the plaster and it was a huge PITA, can't even tell you how many hours it took. We used a Hyde floor scraper and extrication gloves. At one point, dh used his angle grinder on some particularly stubborn spots. When we had scraped, we sprayed the whole thing down with bleach water a couple of times. It was definitely mold, but was more mold stains than active 'fuzzy' mold. Then finished the walls with Durabond. Unfortunately, we had to keep the bathroom up and running for the majority of our reno, otherwise, yes we should have gutted it....See More
PRODwelly LLC
6 years agopalimpsest
6 years ago- PRO
Arrange Interior Design
6 years ago 
worthy
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Milly Rey
6 years ago
PROBeth H. :
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoIf you're going to be there awhile, then blow out the other space and have a nice shower. You don't need 2 shower heads. that's a waste. I have a very large shower and have a semi rain head (it's on a 16" arm) and a moveable wall mounted hand held shower spray that can both be on at the same time.
if you pushed yours back, would be something like this (the sink/toilet are reversed here)
Not be able to really see your layout w/the extend room, I'd say do the subway tile all the way around the room,ignore the tub,,,,unless you don't expand, then you could do the tub like this. (I like the black bottom).
or keep that wood wainscot, paint it, and tie in the subway w/the new portion. get a pedestal sink or a small vanity.
if you are pushing back, then consider doing built in's of some sort, especially if keeping the pedestal. built in's were big way back and they're very handy if you can swing it
if you need a tub, consider doing a set up like this.
I like all of these period elements. the door casing, floor tile, colors, cubby next to shower, pocket door, vintage hardware.
if you decide to enlarge, make a floorpan w/the dimensions so we can see what's what. also, do you have a budget in mind? Any DIY skills?
Shaun Ma
6 years ago
Related Stories
HOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Remodeling Brightens a Row House in Washington, D.C.
A revamped layout and an airy palette create a soothing home for a Capitol Hill family of 5 looking to simplify
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSHouzz Tour: ‘Surgical Remodel’ Adds Modern Style to a Row House
A new open floor plan and an expansion help modernize a San Francisco home and open up a gorgeous hillside garden view
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESBathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Learn what features to expect for $3,000 to $100,000-plus, to help you plan your bathroom remodel
Full Story
BATHROOM COLOR8 Ways to Spruce Up an Older Bathroom (Without Remodeling)
Mint tiles got you feeling blue? Don’t demolish — distract the eye by updating small details
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGN14 Design Tips to Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom
Learn a few tried and true design tricks to prevent headaches during your next bathroom project
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGNTry These Bathroom Remodeling Ideas to Make Cleaning Easier
These fixtures, features and materials will save you time when it comes to keeping your bathroom sparkling
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House
More natural light and a newly open plan set off furnishings thoughtfully culled from the past
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: DIY Efforts Transform a South Philly Row House
Elbow grease and creative thinking take an early-1900s home in Pennsylvania into the realm of knockout style
Full Story
ECLECTIC HOMESMy Houzz: Color and Texture Fill an Eclectic Pittsburgh Row House
Moroccan touches join exposed brick, salvaged materials and scads of books in this home for a creative couple
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESRanch House Remodel: Installing the Interior Finishes
Renovation Diary, Part 5: Check in on a Florida remodel as the bamboo flooring is laid, the bathroom tiles are set and more
Full Story
auntthelma