Hi Sochi and Kristin, gorgeous wallpaper projects! I am in correspondence with several Italian fiber glass wallpaper suppliers now and all of them have different waterproofing methods. The main issue I am finding is that the substrate needs to be white in color and smooth. Sochi mentioned the contractor used Schluter KERDI-BOARD but it is orange, so how did you eventually get it white? Krisitin what did your contractor do for substrate? What products were used to waterproof the wall before the application of the glue, wallpaper and sealants? My other concern is that the drywall or cement board (depending on what to use) has to sit on top of my shower pan so I fear it will absorb water is not properly waterproofed. Any guidelines and suggestions will be highly appreciated. Alex

It sounds like you have a choice of putting up more wallboard with the patterned wallpaper or a faux-tile, putting up drywall, or putting up some other kind of paneling. I know that Swanstone makes a wall board that looks like subway tiles. It would mean that the walls all look tiled, though. Swanstone generally is adhered to existing drywall with construction adhesive so may require that the wallboard you have be in good enough condition and strength to do that. There may be other faux-tile wallboards, too. 30 years ago I bought one that looked like tile that was pretty nice. It was called Baker Board. You probably need to determine a couple of things before you go shopping. Does your home have standard stud spacing? Are the studs wood, or metal? Are the existing panels adhered well enough to standard studs that you can use it as a base to work off of, or do you need to remove the panels and put up drywall or other wall material first? If you peel off the loose wallpaper covering, can the existing wallboard be used to glue (construction adhesive) onto, or will it crumble or otherwise not be a good substrate to glue to? These questions may need to go to the home manufacturer. You might find that hiring a GC or consultant who works with mobile homes will work best with this project, since they are used to the construction standards involved with this kind of wallboard. My mom and sister lived in a double-wide and we found quite a few shady companies working in the field in our area, but good ones are out there if you get good references.

I like option "B", with some possible tweaks (some of which may have already been mentioned by others): 1. Recess a medicine cabinet above the sink. I did this three years ago and absolutely love the medicine cabinet we ended up with, Kohler, with mirror both inside and out, plus an adjustable magnifying mirror. If I had to renovate a future bathroom, I'd pick this same cabinet again in a heartbeat. Kohler Mirrored Medicine Cabinet 2. It looks like you may end up with several inches of space in the upper left hand corner between the wall and the end of the tub. A. See if it is enough for a narrow storage space - maybe something can fit in there like a 6" pullout, which can be great for storing a variety of personal hygiene items - shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, etc. Look at some kitchen cabinets or rev-a-shalf items for possible fits. Here's an example: Using Narrow spaces Another option would be to use that space to stack rolled-up towels and similar linens. B. Another option would be to use that space for storage from the inside of the tub, as in a deeply recessed niche for the usual assortment of bathing products. 3. Consider putting in partially recessed shelving or cabinetry above the radiator for additional storage. Depending on your decor and budget, you can be pretty creative with something like this wall system, and it give you the option to easily adjust it as your needs change in the future: Kerf modular adjustable wall system 4. Don't forget to consider storage above the door frame, and behind the door itself. You can put a couple of towel racks on the back of the door. And if you have a wall towards the back of the tub, you can add a couple of hooks on the wall partitioning the tub from the narrow storage space, to hang a bathrobe or towel.

I also grew up in NYC in a building complex built in the late 1920s. No central air and there was no vent in the bathroom, just a small window in the shower we would crack open for ventilation. My mother wallpapered the bathroom and it lasted many years but eventually began to peel at the edges. I do not know how she installed it but since she's an artist and the type to do everything correctly, I suspect she used the right techniques. The room definitely got steamy and moist on a daily basis as it was the primary bathroom for two teens.