Bathroom Renovation DONE!

We have been at this project since July 10. It took a few years to decide to finally get it done. Our eleven year old very tiny bathroom was gutted in our 1890's condo apartment. It was scary to see what was behind the walls, under the floor, and in the ceiling. We also had the whole unit floor replaced with ceramic tile that looks like wood, added a backsplash and a new light fixture to the kitchen, and a ceiling fan/light fixture to the master bedroom. So today was the grand opening to actually use the bathroom. There are a lot more shower controls, no bathtub, better lighting and ventilation, and lovely tile throughout. I have to say that the new bathroom was really great compared to the old one. I still need to get things arranged and organized so it will eventually become a routine to use the space. We have had several visitors stop by to see the construction along the way. Some have requested the phone number of our renovator - a delightful Vietnamese couple who are well known in this neighborhood and beyond. It certainly wasn't a cheap project, but I have a feeling we won't regret we did it.

Bathroom Renovation in This Old House

When we lived in the Midwest, we renovated every room in the house, and added on a two car garage. It was an interesting experience and we had the best craftspeople and builders doing the work. But we were a lot younger then, and all the inconveniences are long forgotten. We have lived in DC now for almost eleven years and the bathroom in our tiny condo was showing its wear and was poorly constructed to begin with. So we finally decided to bite the bullet and have it completely gutted, put in a shower rather than keep the iron bathtub, and update it once and for all. Luckily we have our tiny studio apartment across the hall and can stay away from the mess - and it is a mess. We live in an 1890's building with an 1890's infrastructure and it can be scary maneuvering your way around it. Luckily for us, the builders doing this work did most of our son's house down the street - every bathroom, fireplace, kitchen - you name it. In fact, they have done probably touched every house on this block and have run in to just about every wierd experience imaginable. So we have confidence in getting the job done, but it's not as easy as the last time we did all this. And because we live in such small spaces, it means a lot more to get this one right.