We’ve shown you every room in our new house except this one: the bathroom. It’s the only bathroom in the house, which sounds like it might be a challenge, but so far it has worked out just fine. When we bought the house the bathroom wasn’t even functional. The vanity had been ripped from the wall, the water was shut off due to leaks, and there was no working sewer or septic connection. In short, even if the toilet had flushed, the waste would have had nowhere to go.
Because of that, we couldn’t wait to address the bathroom. Although we typically live in a house for a while before making big changes, this space forced our hand. We coordinated the county and professional work remotely to get the sewer hooked up and the house running again. Our original plan was to do the cosmetic work ourselves during spring break—retile the floor, install a new vanity and toilet, and call it done. Instead, the pandemic prevented us from traveling, so we switched to plan B and hired our contractor to finish the job.
That turned out to be a good move. Once the contractor opened up the shower wall he found a hidden leak, so the shower, tub, and surrounding drywall needed to be removed and replaced. What began as a straightforward refresh became a much larger project—one we likely couldn’t have completed during a single week away from home.
Since we were stuck in Virginia, we chose everything online and had items shipped directly to the contractor in Florida. We didn’t see most pieces in person until they were installed on the day we moved in. Fortunately, it all worked out. Sherry added a few personal touches—art, plants, brass accents, and our favorite toilet—and the space finally felt like home.
We don’t consider the room completely finished. It feels a bit like a blank slate and we’d like to layer in more texture and detail down the road—maybe wainscoting, wallpaper, or open shelving. For now, the essentials are in place: working water, a solid sewer hookup, no leaks, and a sink vanity securely attached to the wall. That alone feels like a major win.
One detail we appreciate is the 31″ vanity with the wide integrated sink top. The kids can brush their teeth side by side without elbowing each other for space. Counter space is limited, which we thought might be a drawback, but it’s actually helpful. Having less room discourages clutter on the sink surface, and all daily items are stored in bins under the large cabinet. Each family member has a bin for toothbrushes, contacts, and other essentials, so we open the door, grab what we need, and close it up. Sherry has long kept some grooming products on her nightstand, and I’ve adopted the same habit. That keeps the bathroom traffic moving efficiently during busy mornings.
We wondered whether moving from two renovated bathrooms in our old house to a single smaller bathroom would be difficult. At first it felt like a potential challenge—four sinks down to one—but in practice it hasn’t been an issue. Because the bathroom functions well and we have some nearby storage, there’s no rush to add an ensuite off the bedroom. It remains a future project rather than something we need to tackle immediately.
For the shower we kept things simple with white subway tile to the ceiling and a playful patterned tile on the floor. The classic white tile keeps the shower feeling clean and bright, while the colorful floor tile adds personality and a beachy, cheerful vibe. It’s a combination we’ve used before and really like—the neutral upper walls paired with a more fun floor surface.
We relied on a tub and shower fixture we’ve used successfully before. It’s a trusted choice that felt reassuring, and the tub is deep and comfortable enough for both of us. Brass accents continue through this room, tying it to the rest of the house. One favorite detail is the wood towel hooks with brass caps—they took a while to arrive but were worth the wait.
We’ve also reused some sentimental items: a hanging circles mobile that used to be at the beach house fills a tall wall by the toilet, and two framed prints in Sherry’s favorite gold frames have come along with us. The space still feels a bit sparse in places, so adding wallpaper or another wall treatment to introduce texture is on the list for later.
One small practical note: the window glass is frosted, so we didn’t need to add a privacy covering. That lets in plenty of light while keeping the room private. The deep windowsill is perfect for a plant and a candle, and it adds a nice touch when someone takes a relaxing bath.
Funny enough, we rarely use the indoor shower. The outdoor shower has become our go-to, so the indoor shower sees less frequent use—something that may change with the seasons. For now, it gives us extra flexibility so the bathroom isn’t out of commission when someone else needs it.
So that’s the final interior room tour for now. We still have outdoor spaces to share, and we’re working on a kitchen cabinet reveal soon. For the moment, we’re simply happy to have a fully functional bathroom after starting with one that was basically unusable—and we’re grateful for the team who helped get it done from afar.