It’s rare that a “before” photo makes me laugh out loud, but Erin’s original shower tile did exactly that. The dated tile in her main bathroom was so memorable — in a not-so-good way — that it became the running joke of the renovation. Fortunately, Erin and her husband transformed the space completely, turning that awkward, outdated room into a sleek, modern bathroom that feels calm and intentional. Here’s her note describing the process:
Hi John & Sherry,
We’ve been remodeling a foreclosure for just over a year and have completed three bathroom remodels so far. This latest one had to be my favorite. When we began, this bathroom was basically the worst-case scenario — dirty white tile with grimy brown grout, a rain shower mural over the bathtub, pink walls covered in a heavy, drippy texture, and general neglect everywhere you looked. Every time I stepped in, I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time and wondered how we’d ever live with it. Obviously it needed a full makeover.
Our goal was to create a modern, natural-feeling bath that reads minimal without feeling cold. The standout feature became a shoji-inspired sliding door that I built myself. It slides to the right to enclose the toilet and shower area without blocking too much light, which keeps the whole room bright and airy. I was honestly surprised when the door fit and worked perfectly the first time — those moments when something you imagine actually comes together are rare, and this was one of them.
We kept the renovation affordable by doing the labor ourselves and choosing practical, budget-friendly pieces like an Ikea vanity and mirror. We even found 12” x 24” floor tiles on clearance for as low as $1.22 each. By combining sweat equity with smart shopping, we completed the entire project for under $2,000. That included updating plumbing, installing the floating vanity, tiling, painting, and adding finishing touches.
One of my favorite details is the lighting installed underneath the floating vanity. It highlights the open floor beneath the vanity and provides a subtle, practical nightlight. The lights are plugged into an outlet concealed under the vanity, and that outlet is operated by a switch positioned near the door, so a quick flip turns the soft glow on and off. It’s small, functional, and adds a modern, spa-like feel to the room.
The transformation also included removing the outdated shower mural and replacing the old tile with a cleaner, more contemporary material and grout color. The result is a shower that feels calm and fresh rather than dated and busy. The wall and floor choices, combined with the floating vanity and the shoji-style door, create a cohesive, calming palette that reads modern but warm.
I have to give Erin extra credit for that custom door. The entire space now feels welcoming and thoughtfully composed — the kind of bathroom that makes you want to linger. If you’d like to see more photos from Erin, she has a full reveal with close-ups that show the original shower tile and all the new details. She shared the project to inspire others who are working with limited budgets and plenty of resolve.
Thanks to Erin and her husband for sharing this impressive, budget-friendly makeover. What stands out to you? Some might love the vanity that doubles as storage, others might be drawn to the penny-tile accent or the under-vanity lighting. For me, that sliding shoji-inspired door steals the show — it’s a clever, beautiful solution that truly elevates the entire room.
P.S. — On a related note, the latest Clara Conversations are up on Young House Life, and there’s a particularly sweet exchange about siblings that made us smile.