Remodeling my mom’s bathroom gave me a chance to put recent learnings into action. With some bathroom renovation experience already under my belt — and with the help of Aunt Mary Anne, who is a design whiz — I think we made some great decisions and the bathroom turned out really well. But, I also made some “mistakes.” Today, I spotlight 9 things that I was really happy with.
First up:
1. Install a timer for your bathroom exhaust fan. We added this to both bathrooms — and the love for this little feature is already huge. No more forgetting to turn off the bathroom fan and exhausting all your conditioned air into the environment for, like, eight hours (guilty!) Note: You need an entire switch area for this timer.
2. If you have a pretty bathroom floor — consider a vanity with legs so that you can see underneath. Of course, you will be forever fighting dust bunnies, but I think it is well worth it. Honestly, I would have preferred to show “more legs”, but this was the best we could do on short notice and considering other constraints. We found this vanity at Lowe’s and repainted it and changed the hardware to suit our black-and-white design.
3. Use forms to create recessed shelves in your shower or bath. We created tile-in shelves in two spots in the shower, using foam-forms that we bought from Louisville Tile. These are fabulous time-savers — no need to “build” shelves out of cement board.
4. $5 suction cup hooks. Also featured above, notice the very functional and ingenious (there’s a stick-then-lock mechanism) suction-cup triple-hook for the scrunchy scrubbies is from Bed Bath & Beyond, $4.99. When it comes to drilling things into tile I get very anxious. So, I gave these suction cups a try — this one looks like it will hold.
Here is what the recessed, tile-in shelf forms look like, going in. Hi, Kenny!
5. 30″ double-door recessed medicine cabinet. When I first wrote about the 30″, double-door medicine cabinet by Kohler ($98 from Lowe’s), I mentioned the negative reviews about the hinges that I had subsequently read online. Going in, the hinges looked fine and dandy to me!
6. Matchy matchy toilet flushing lever — Again demonstrating that no detail is too small, we bought satin nickel toilet flushing levers. Note, however, that this is Moen Banbury, while the towel hooks and toilet paper are Baldwin Prestige (as I recall.) Baldwin Prestige did not make a matchy matchy toilet flushing lever. Marketing opportunity LOST, Baldwin! Moen’s design was Close Enough.
7. Towel hooks are the new towel bars — When we went to install the Baldwin Prestige towel bar, gosh, room was tight. Aunt Mary Anne convinced me that using robe hooks for towels was quite acceptable — preferable, even — especially in a small space. Thinking more about it — heck, yeah, I almost always drape my towel, first, over the shower curtain rod to dry. It could then easily go on a hook. And having a hook right outside the shower is great – it gives you a place to grab your towel the minute you get out. Lesson: Do we really need towel bars? MAYBE NOT!
8. Safety grab bars — We chose a 30″ shower grab bar in porcelain-enamel-on-metal for the shower, to blend in with the white subway tile. We also have the same grab bar, 18″ high”, right outside the shower. And, we’re going to add a third one, perpendicular to the one outside the shower / leading to the door. We have structure in the right places. As to location for grab bars — consult with professionals. Our contractor was familiar with ADA requirements, which was very helpful.
9. Carrera marble shower threshold — Oh my, this is lovely. As my sister Jenni said, “I never want to leave this bathroom.”
Patrick Coffey says
All three bathrooms in the house I grew up in all had timers on the bathroom fans from when the house was built in 1968. No other bathrooms that I was in in my neighborhood had timers on the bathroom fans and I always thought that was dumb…. The original timersin our bathrooms were e Mark Time timers with black dials. In 2000 when the upstairs hall bath was remodeled all three baths got new fan timers that are identical to the one in the above picture. We never should have replaced the originals that were still working perfectly as with in 2 years two of the new ones stopped workikng and had to be replaced…….
Jason says
Pam,
I just have to say what you’ve done for your Mom is just so sweet and I know she must love it and it means so much more being a family project. I’ve so enjoyed following your progress.
As for grab bars, my house has them drilled into the 50s tile and I’m leaving them for my grandmother when she visits and whoever else might need them including me in hopefully not less than 50 years, but mine are a sort of matte nickel I think, probably stainless steel basic models.
My one complaint is that the one they put next to the sink limits my ability to put in a wider vanity or more importantly a sink and/or vanity that is more appropriate to the 1956 era of the home. What I have now is 25″ oak with cultured top and it is awful!! But, back to the grab bar, I hate to remove it if it is needed and because it will leave a hole showing in my tile.
Also, for the shower curb, I think you’ll be fine if it’s raised and you have a clear drain and the water doesn’t back up. My mom and her tile guy boyfriend are re-doing her bathroom to include a walk in shower and it’s large enough to need no door or curtain because the water won’t spray that far, but she did include the curb just because it made her feel better. Often for handicap access now they are doing larger showers with a slightly sloped floor and no curb for access ease, I know this because my ex is a hospital administrator, but be warned I know of them because he had to deal with water issues from slow drains! This ends my long long comment LOL.
Janice says
Jason, thank you for your comments about the shower curb. I feel like between your advice and Pam’s, I can get away with a shower curtain. I also like the idea of easy enter and exiting the shower without manuevering around the doors.
Jay says
Janice, I have a stall shower that isn’t much bigger then a phone booth (remember them?). The curb is low and since the opening to the shower isn’t full height to the ceiling, i usually have to cut the bottom off of the curtains. I just make sure that the curtain extends to a point below the threshold but above the shower floor. I chose not to put a glass door in and I use one of those tension rods. I use clear plastic liners because stupid me didn’t think to have a light installed in the ceiling of the shower before the tile went on. you want to be sure your drain isn’t clogged so the water goes down.
Jason says
You’re welcome! I also remembered that at my old roommate’s house my bathroom had a corner shower which was constructed with it’s base being one of those vinyl shower floor basins. The curb wasn’t high at all and I never had any issue. Just make sure you hang your curtain rod so that the curtain falls to the right height and you’ll have no need to trim it and generally you’ll have to get the extra long shower curtain, but they are easily found. The standard length is designed for a tub with a higher side. Also make sure it can go far enough inside the shower to fully close off the door. Also, the rod on that shower was one of those outwardly curved rods that hotels have that they sell for tub/shower now, just in shower only mini lenth – so they have all types of things to help!
pam kueber says
I do think that there is at least one good reason for a shower curtain vs. none at all: In the winter, a shower can be cold if there is no barrier to kind of contain the steam/heat. A shower curtain would serve that purpose…
Jane / MulchMaid says
Being someone who is almost always cold, I had always thought it was odd to have nothing to hold the warmth in those open showers. Too much like high school gym class for me!
Elaine says
We just bought a vintage time capsule home with bathroom intact. It did have a horrible shower enclosure thing installed on top of the Cinderella tub. The thing looked like The Box of Dr. Kaligari, or whatever that ancient horror movie was. We took it down and there are tiny little holes in the tile that we can easily fill. Could be removing the grab bar will not be as bad as you think.
Just another Pam says
My ex and his partner built a shower that doesn’t need a door or curtain and even in the dead of a Canadian winter keeping warm hasn’t been a problem….they let me shower there while my reno was going on and not just because they stored all their stuff in my place for 8 months while they did their reno ;o). They do have two large shower heads however so that may make the difference as there’s no cold side of the moon….so to speak.
lady brett says
lovely!
i certainly agree about towel hooks. they’re great for kids – just hang them a little lower and they have a much higher success rate than the bars =) in our tiny bathroom there’s no way you could make towel bar space for more than one towel anyway. another thing i’ve really liked is our “double” shower rod (they sell fancy two-in-ones, we just put two rods up a little space apart) – the inner one holds the shower curtain, the outer one can be used as a towel bar (and nice towels used to add some simple decor).
i highly recommend the grab bars too – even if you aren’t thinking about age. we bought our house from an elderly woman, so there are a number of grab bars in the shower/tub, and they are so handy! (though they need to be replaced along with everything else – one is wood…in a shower. ick.) we certainly don’t *need* them, but we do like and use them.
Ann V says
I installed a motion sensor bath fan for in my bathroom. It turns itself on when it sees you, and runs for a programmable amount of time after you leave. No forgetting to turn it on or off. It’s awesome!
Wendy M. says
First of all, I love everything you did in your mom’s bathroom…it’s beautiful!
Second, I’m a huge fan of hooks instead of towel bars! I think they are much more practical than bars. We had them in our last home and it worked really well. Our home now has SEVEN towel bars in one bathroom (and the walls are wallpapered, so I don’t really want to take them down). When you don’t have a large family (and they didn’t), who needs seven towel bars??? 🙂
pam kueber says
Agreed!
Gavin Hastings says
I too, hang towels from hooks, but may I make a suggestion?
Halfway down the length of the towel, on the selvage, I machine sew a 3 1/2 inch piece of twill tape (available at the notions area in any fabric shop). Just tack it on the top and bottom- like the label on a shirt….a flat loop.They will not snag-they hang and dry better and do not appear as a wet hunk of terry tossed over a peg.
Just another obsessive/compulsive thing I do….right up there with re-sewing all the hems on sheets taken right out of the package…….
pam kueber says
Great idea – not OCD at all!
Just another Pam says
Speaking of OCD whoever painted your Mum’s vanity is an artist. Even with the reflecting light from the flash it’s flawless. Very impressive and an inspiration to anyone who fears doing such a job.
Why the stitch in time, Gavin? I’ve got bed linens from 80ish years ago until last year and no hem problems. Please don’t tell me this has been where the little bit of luck I do have has been squandered!
pam kueber says
Well, the “artist” is me. But I assure you, it’s the RustOleum Transformations. The stuff is wonderful. I will do a separate story when I come up for air after being away from home for 4 weeks. Also, I broke my good Nikon while I was at Mom’s. Dropped it, actually, after taking some photos of my RustO painting in progress. I am hoping to get it fixed. Then, when I go down to Mom’s again, I can take good photos (without the flash and with the good camera.) Black is notoriously hard to photograph…
Gavin Hastings says
Most sheets sold today are constructed with a chainstitch, which is great for the manufacturer- no bobbin thread.
Did you ever pull a loose thead and the whole item unravels like a bag of Dog Chow? That is a chainstitch. I go over it with a lockstitch.
Jane / MulchMaid says
Gavin, twill loops are a great idea, and one they use frequently at Ikea. Most of their towels come with them. I think it stems from the typical European lack-of-space issue. I’ve found twill loops on other European towels, too.
Gavin Hastings says
….Call me shallow and vain, but I always put the bath lights on dimmer swtches.
This is my second house with Gerber “power flush” toilets…no water in the tanks. They do not work on gravity, but use the pressure from the water system. 8 years and never a second flush. Strangers step out of the bathroom asking if the waste system is linked to Hell.
pam kueber says
Dimmer switches: Great idea! That toilet sounds scary! Hi.
Just another Pam says
Too funny, Gavin!
To see myself when I apply the bondo and then make up I had to light the sides of the mirror like a runway but for other things, well, bring on the dimmer. There will be whining from my contractor as he thinks the bathroom is done, done, dooby do done, done (silly man) but I’m getting one today.
Brilliant!
Marc says
Remove the bar code tag from the toilet tank filler line. I always notice these on new installs… the plumbers never remove them.
pam kueber says
good one, Marc! Sara is at Mom’s — I’ll ask her to take care of this pronto! 🙂
Janice says
Pam, I have a question about the decision to go with a shower curtain vs. shower doors. I see that you have a low shower curb. Do you by any chance remember how tall that is? We are wrapping up our bathroom reno and the only major decision remaining is what shower doors to purchase. I’ve been stalling because I just can’t decide if I really want them, but because we also have a low shower curb, I was concerned the curtain wouldn’t be enough to keep the water from pouring out of the shower. Have you noticed that as an issue? In my opinion, showers doors only look good the day they are installed and unless you’re vigilant in wiping them down every time you take a shower, they quickly become unattractive. Anyone else have a low shower curb and if so, what is your experience?
pam kueber says
Hi Janice, I am home now, so cannot go measure. Looking closely at the photo in this post — from the outside the rise looks to be about 6″. BUT, inside there is a mud-set floor that’s higher. So I think that inside, it’s about 4″.
The thing is: You can install a shower curtain rod without drilling holes — get the tension rod style. Also, there are shower curtain liners that have like magnets or some sort of suction to create a somewhat tighter seal. You can try this at pretty low cost / low risk. If you end up wanting to do the door – you can always add that later.
Janice says
Thank you Pam. Good advice. Sometimes, it’s better to not have too much time to agonize over decisons, isn’t it?
pam kueber says
oh yeah baby
MCM is grand says
Pam – this discussion thread is so timely! This week we began to restore our 1955 pink tile shower,& the 1970’s aluminum frame door was removed, along with the moldy weatherstripping along the bottom…..let’s just say good riddance! We are now trying out the idea of the tension rod and curtain, versus the expense and added cleaning issues of a new door! Thanks again for all of your advice.
Sara says
@Janice….Pam’s sister here….Mom and I shopped online last night (slipxsolutions.com) and found shower splash guards which will hopefully solve the shower curtain concern. There have been no issues with the curb–though that marble is slippery when wet & Mom decided she wanted yellow duck tub tattoos for the top of the marble just in case she does step on the curb. She was torn between pink flamingos and yellow ducks.
@Pam…I will take care of the tag on the toilet innards.
pam kueber says
haha. send me a pic when the tattoos go in! i’ll check out that site, too. and — i have emailed Louisville Tile re some sort of spray on or roll on de-skidding innovation – we’ll see. thanks, sara.
Tami says
Wow – a great renovation all around. Kudos to you and the whole team! A couple of questions, however. Did you use a preformed showerpan or did your contractor build one up? The foam shower niche forms – were they expensive? I’ve found some plastic ones online and they seem outrageously priced.
pam kueber says
We built the shower pan up with mud. I believe that the niche forms were between $50-$100. In my mind, not outrageous, because if you have to build these out by hand with cement board, you are going to eat that cost in labor. I actually have an email into Kirby at Louisville Tile to get the brand name — I will add it.
johnny dollar says
excellent synopsis/tips. as for the shower grab bars, i have been wrestling with the idea of how to integrate grab bars at both the shower and the toilet, with the idea that we will be renovating our bathroom to age in place. the white on white is a good option for the shower. still noodling over the toilet grab bars, though…
pam kueber says
johnny, we added a toilet grab bar in the other bathroom – used the same white-on-steel design (just smaller) so as to be matchy matchy throughout the house. in mom’s master bathroom, though, there was no wall adjacent to the toilet to add the grab bar. however: toilets are comfort height — oops, i meant to add this as #10! and, at Home Depot i found a $40 apparatus that you can tuck in between the toilet frame and the bow, which adds two grab bars to the toilet. kind of like, arms on an arm chair. finally – grab bars can be found in many designs now — “age in place” a huge market. if i had had more time i surely would have driven myself and everyone else crazy researching these. in this sense it was a “blessing” to only have 2 days or so to decide all the fixtures for the bathroom.