An ’80s Bathroom with “Yellow Undertones” Gets the Most Stunning Makeover
You might think you need to completely change the layout of a bathroom to make a big difference, but Candice Shah (@studioandcodesign) proves you can make a major impact while keeping a lot the same. “I liked the layout of the bathroom, and that was something I kept the same when renovating it,” Candice says.
There was also a lot Candice didn’t like about this ‘80s bathroom. “It had cream colored walls with yellow undertones, a wooden vanity, and a shower with a tub that felt very outdated,” she says.
“The bathroom was never updated; it was original to when the condo was built, and I felt it needed a complete transformation,” Candice explains. She did just that.
Get rid of a dated bathtub.
“I didn’t like the style of the tub, the floors, walls, and the vanity,” Candice says. First up, she recruited the help of a contractor, Romeo Aguilar. “[He] helped with the installation of the entire bathroom from demo to install,” Candice says.
With professional help secured, Candice demolished the existing shower and tub, which she says made “the biggest difference.”
While Candice got rid of her tub, she didn’t move the location of the shower. “I got rid of the tub and installed a stall shower,” she says. Candice also swapped out her old toilet for a newer KOHLER model.
Add modern touches.
With a blank slate for her shower, Candice made this room match her own style. “I decided to modernize the bathroom by incorporating a colorful backsplash and checkered tile flooring,” she says.
“[I] added in a backsplash that goes all the way up the ceiling, and I also incorporated brass accents,” Candice explains. She installed blue MOLOVO picket tile vertically in the shower and laid black and white checkered Merola tile on the floor. The backsplash and new Delta bronze showerhead shine beautifully through the clear shower door from The Glass Warehouse.
Candice chose a white paint for the wall color, Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, and a white vanity from Amazon that has plenty of storage.
Not everything in this room is new, though. “I saved the original mirror and sconces that came with the bathroom,” she says.
Roll with the setbacks.
While Candice had a clear vision, there were roadblocks along the way. “There was a pipe that was leaking because the pipes were old,” she says. “It needed to be replaced with a brand new pipe, and it delayed the installation of the whole bathroom,” Candice explains.
Candice recommends that anyone taking on a renovation do the research, especially regarding design and where to source materials. “It’s also important to start with a budget and take into account any setbacks you might encounter throughout the process,” Candice says. She spent around $6,000 on the entire project.
“I learned that when doing a full gut renovation, you have to be patient with the timeline. [You might have setbacks] that can cause delays during the project,” she says.
But a little patience led to a big payoff. “Once the issues with the plumbing were under control, the actual installation of the floor tiles, backsplash, toilet, vanity and shower was seamless,” Candice says.
“I love that the space feels new, but also still lived in,” she shares. “The new bathroom definitely feels cozy and has been perfect for guests when they stay over!” Candice adds.
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