A lot of problems were plaguing this bathroom when a mother and her 9-year-old daughter moved in their home. For starters, the cracked Pepto Bismol–pink shower tiles didn’t extend high enough to protect the drywall from water, and the two found that they didn’t even use the bathtub. They also feared that the loud clanking of their 1950s-era plumbing portended disaster, and the electrical system was older and potentially dangerous.
Needless to say, a very important portion of their house’s full remodel was making a beautiful and practical bathroom. Local builder Bill Fry tackled the project, with assistance from the homeowner’s daughter, who chose the dazzling accent tile in blue, her favorite color.
Toilet at a Glance
Who lives here: A mom and her daughter, who’s in fourth grade
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Size: About 40 square feet
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
The new airy and light area features crisp white subway tile which goes all the way to the ceiling, a crystal clear glass shower door, a white ceiling, refreshing blue accents and a glass block window.
Kelly-Moore’s Prairie Day light blue paint on the walls provides a watery and serene setting, while the recycled glass mosaic tiles energize the vibe.
White flooring tile: Chloe Pinwheel Mosaic, American Olean; paint: Prairie Day KM3130-1, Kelly-Moore; bathroom: Eco Promenade Elongated Two Piece Toilet, Toto
Before Photo
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
BEFORE: The obsolete bathroom’s first pink shower tile didn’t achieve high enough to protect the wall from water. “I feared what harm we would find if the walls were removed,” says the homeowner.
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
AFTER: “Some folks told me that for renting and resale, you must have a bathtub for puppies and babies, but I had lived in a home with a bathtub and a shower stall with a bench inside once my daughter was a baby,” she states. “I found it was a lot easier on my knees to sit down on the bench and bathe at a blow-up baby bathtub in the bottom of the shower with the handheld showerhead.”
She realized it is a fantastic solution for worldwide design. A new shower bench provides a seat for anyone who have mobility issues. “My daughter likes to sit and put her feet in a little tub of water when she’s home from softball practice,” the homeowner says.
Hint: “The significant thing about installing a shower bench is the fact that it is sloped properly to shed water,” says builder Bill Fry.
Subway tile: 3- by 6-inch Starting Line White Gloss Ceramic, American Olean
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
The homeowner balanced her budget with well-considered splurges and simple cost savers. For instance, the custom vanity was a splurge, but she kept costs down by choosing simple Shaker doors, a basic sink and a Caesarstone remnant that Fry utilized to your countertop.
Cheap subway tile covers the majority of the room, although the well-placed horizontal rings of more pricey recycled glass accents pack a potent design punch. Notice the clever way the accent tile is placed in the shower niche. Little details like this go a long way.
Mosaic tile: Glass Mosaic Ocean, Elida Ceramica; faucet: Caxton, Kohler; faucet: Grohe 33 170, Europlus Collection
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
Adding Starphire glass onto the shower doors was another worthwhile splurge. “This is much more clear than normal glass,” Fry says. “Traditional glass has a greenish hue and absorbs about 10 percent less mild.”
The homeowner struggled to obtain a white floor tile layout with blue squares inside ; white with black was the most frequent option. But she found that the black squares came in a different box, to be placed into the pattern individually, which resulted in a smart custom solution. “The tile guys used the recycled glass wall tile strips and put various colors in the mosaic into the centers of the white layout,” she states.
Heating mats beneath the tile keep toes warm.
Shower fixture: Grohe 19-340-002 Europlus Stress; glass block window: Pacific Glass Block
Before Photo
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
BEFORE: The renovations provided a fun activity for the homeowner’s daughter and her pals. Before demolition began, they assaulted the walls with mark.
More: How to convert a bathtub to a shower, Part 1