Guest Bathroom Remodel – The Reveal

I am thrilled with how our guest bathroom remodel project worked out. Problems with a leaking toilet gasket, cracked grout in the tile floor, corroding brass fixtures, and even a mouse were the perfect excuse to tackle this project. Hope you find inspiration here.

The marble we used for the Locke-Marchialetti Historic Home bath vanity and full master bath renovation was gorgeous. I’m certain is was an important feature in selling the house. I was secretly waiting fo the perfect opportunity to use the marble hexagon tiles and oversized subway tiles in our Italianate Victorian home (Balis Historic Home circa 1886). Kitchen or bathroom?

Opportunity knocks! As if the leaking toilet gasket, swelling plywood subfloor and cracking grout weren’t enough? The brass fixtures, likely installed in the 1980’s with the hope of reproducing period fixtures, were corroding and peeling. Furthermore, the drawer cabinet adjacent to the bathtub was not a closed cabinet box. This allowed a sneaky little mouse to move from the basement to our first floor bathroom. He made a cozy little nest in our toilet paper storage drawer. Mice are so cute, but this is my house………..GROSS!!!

The finished bath is amazing. The marble tile compliments the original leaded glass window. It also provides a venue for all of my coastal vacation souvenirs. Check out the process and budget overview below.

During the Remodel

I don’t have a good before picture of the bathroom, but we all know what a toilet looks like. Right? Standard toilet and the floor tile was the same hexagon size and shape, but it was white ceramic versus marble. Our first task was to get the toilet and floor in order.

We replaced the toilet. Fortunately, the pedestal sink was in great shape. We were able to reuse it but we did replace the sink fixture.

Once the flooring and sink were updated and looking beautiful, the shower situation and tile on the drawer cabinet were totally unacceptable. Again, the brass shower fixture was green and peeling. What an eyesore? Too many material transitions. I love the wainscoting, but not above the shower tile.

Solution? Use the beautiful marble large subway tiles to replace the square ceramic tiles in the shower and on the drawer cabinet.

The enameled cast iron tub was reused. It has a perfect shape. It’s large and wide, but a bit shallow so it’s easy to step in-and-out. An important feature when older parents visit.

While we had to survive through dust and construction, ripping this bathroom apart allowed us to build a proper, enclosed drawer cabinet. No more basement mice! ICK! Now we can focus on preventing their entry in the first place.

The Completed Guest Bathroom Reveal

Months in the making, mainly because we had major scope crepe, but well worth the effort. The final result is a much more streamlined look. No more wainscoting trim. The marble crown was an extra expense, but I think it was well worth it. What do you think?

This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase, I will receive a small percentage of the seller’s profit to help cover expenses associated with maintaining this website.  There is no additional cost to you.  Please see my Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for additional information.

Fixtures

The shower and sink fixture were purchased from Signature Hardware. The handheld shower makes if really easy to bathe our little dogs.

This leaded glass window is original to our historic home. The window faces west, providing lots of sunlight sparkles on the marble in afternoons or evenings. Absolutely gorgeous with the color spectrum on full display.

Using a marble slab for the top of the drawer cabinet is a much more polished finish compared to the square ceramic tiles. An elegant finish and I don’t miss the extra grout. Easier to clean.

Replacing the drawers with basket storage forces me to stay more organized. Everything is visible. I store towels, soap, toothpaste and a blowdryer. In the picture below, you will also notice I replace the floor vent. The oil rubbed bronze Victorian vent sure beats the builder grade white vent that was there before.

Decor

I love the sea and dream I was a mermaid in a past life. My guest bathroom is filled with sentimental, sea-inspired decor. This includes rocks, geodes, sponges, starfish, and seaglass from vacations past. I’m convinced our vacation souvenirs prompted weight limits on luggage. Ooops! The picture in the background is a souvenir from a memorable trip to Hawaii. It is the state fish of Hawaii, the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. Giggle every time I try to pronounce it.

Extra storage can be found in the medicine cabinet. Sconces and the ceiling light fixtures were installed early in the homes history when electricity became available. The house was rewired in recent decades for safety and insurance compliance. Also note that I was able to find oil rubbed bronze switch plates.

Our first floor has ceilings over 9-feet We were fortunate that the previous owner installed the multi-layer ceiling trim. Bridges a large expanse of space and so elegant.

More vacation memories. This is a map of Roche Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington. One of my most favorite vacations ever. Such a unique experience.

And the vacation souvenirs continue with a glass mermaid from the coast of Oregon.

We also found a glass sea turtle to remind us of our vacation in Gulf Shores, AL .

Guest Bathroom Remodel Project Costs

Planning

While I love watching home improvement shows on TV, the short timelines and ridiculously low project costs make me crazy. This sets unrealistic expectations for someone new to remodeling. Materials and labor add up fast.

Your budget should be consistent with the value of your home. Check out a few open houses in the area. What appliance brands are installed? Any other special features? What are home sales prices in your neighborhood? Is your home value higher or lower?

Do a little research, using tools like Zillow or Redfin. Is your project going to put you over the top end of the market? It might be worthwhile if it’s important to you and you plan to stay in your home. If not, it’s worth reconsidering.

Contractors

I’m fortunate to have a brother who has skills in home renovation. I get great work at a great price. There are useful resources available to research including the ‘Nextdoor’ app and HomeAdvisor. Like a friend’s or neighbor’s renovation project? Ask them for a recommendation. Consider the magnitude of the project. More significant projects that involve major plumbing or moving walls likely require licensed contractors.

Wrap Up

For our project we tried to salvage what we could (e.g. pedestal sink, bath, light fixtures, shelf, medicine cabinet). We liked what we had in some instances and there was no need to replace these items and send everything off to a landfill. What are your thoughts on the remodel or budget advice? Are you in the process of planning or have you recently completed a bathroom remodel? Any tips?