This Cramped 1930s Bathroom Feels 2x Bigger After a Light, Bright Makeover
There’s a lot of charm to mid-century bathrooms, which often feature wall-to-wall pastel tiles. But all that charm can sometimes get in the way of practicality. Architect Andrea Ford’s (@theford_project) 1930s pink-tiled bathroom is the perfect example.
“The bathroom before was your classic pink-tiled bathroom with original features,” she says. “Although I’m an architect with a care for historic fabric, the function just didn’t work for us. We’re tall people, and the sink was so low and had a small leaking issue. The toilet, while amazing in its pink glory, used so much water. And the shower head was at about shoulder height on my husband — not a desirable shower experience.”
“Overall, the bathroom was tired and just not working for us — not to mention I grew up with a bathroom just like it, so the charm of it was somewhat lost on me,” Andrea adds. She and her husband, Hunter, decided to say goodbye to the pink, setting out on a $20,000 top-to-bottom gut reno that would give them the bathroom of their dreams (and a much more usable space, too).
Keeping the same layout curbed extra costs.
To minimize extra costs, the Fords kept the layout the same — but with changes that make it work better. “The layout, although small, is very efficient,” Andrea says.
The Fords worked with contractors to make their vision happen. Andrea, an architect, sourced her own materials and fixtures over the course of a year so that she could grab things on sale when possible.
“Since the rest of the house was in such great shape, this was one of the top spaces we felt like we could really invest our money and do something that we would really enjoy,” Andrea says. “My husband really wanted a walk-in shower. I wanted something clean and fresh.”
They achieved both in this makeover, thanks to a light, bright color scheme of white, cream, and gold.
A floating vanity makes the room feel bigger.
In this bathroom, the old console sink was the worst of both worlds: It didn’t offer any storage, but the legs still made it feel clunky. Andrea chose a floating vanity instead, which has a lighter look.
“I’m glad we did the floating vanity,” she says. “There’s a linen closet and medicine cabinet, so that holds everything, and the extra floor space makes the space feel bigger than it is.”
Andrea’s biggest splurge in the room was the floor tile. (She went with a 6-inch circular glazed tile from Tierra y Fuego.) “I’m still really happy with that purchase,” Andrea says. “It’s a unique shape and the color is perfect.”
The shower tile is more basic, with a twist.
The shower tile, Andrea says, was easier on the wallet, but she was able to elevate the classic subway shape by arranging it in a unique pattern.
Three other things she likes about the new shower: the built-in ledge for storage, and the knobs on the glass doors, and its functionality.
“We are both tall people, so the ability to simply shower without squatting is a luxury enough,” Andrea says. “But really, having the overhead rain shower has been a dream, and the handheld was strategically placed so when I workout I can do a quick rinse without getting my hair wet. Bonus: It makes giving our dog a bath super easy!”
Andrea says the hardest part of the project was just keeping the process moving with contractors. “We had hoped to start the project sooner, but our original contractor kept pushing us back; eventually, he just plain bailed,” Andrea explains. “So I was back to the drawing board, but I found a good contractor. The process was a bit slow as it’s a small space, and he didn’t put a lot of workers on the job.”
But the long wait was worth it! In addition to being much more functional — especially in the shower area — the bathroom’s style is total 180 from the pink bathroom(s) of Andrea’s past. She describes the new vibe as “light and airy with a hint of playfulness.” (The crisp new white color on the wall, by the way, is Benjamin Moore’s Simply White.)
“I wanted to play with tile patterns and shapes to bring in visual interest while staying clean and simple then to bring in warmth added brass lighting and accents,” she says. The result is a dreamy new bathroom that she and her husband both love.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.