After more than six years of planning, our bathroom renovation is finally finished. Nearly six months of work later, the ensuite feels bright, open, and dramatically improved from the cramped, closed-off space it once was. In this post I’ll walk through the key decisions, materials, and costs, share sources, and highlight what we learned along the way.
The top priority for this reno was to make the bathroom feel light and roomy. Simply opening up the walls and removing the narrow barriers made a huge difference. We originally imagined reworking the layout a lot to fit a freestanding tub, a large walk-in shower, and a more usable closet, but in the end most fixtures stayed roughly in the same place. The big change was removing walls and repurposing the old linen closet into a cozy tub nook, which achieved the open feeling we wanted without a full layout overhaul.
Demo made the space reveal itself: it was larger than it felt and we didn’t need to reinvent the footprint to get everything we wanted. That said, executing the work—especially the shower tile—took time and patience. We stretched this project across six months, but doing many of the trades ourselves for demo, framing, tile prep, tiling, molding, and painting helped reduce costs and kept the project satisfying rather than purely stressful.
The Vanity Area
We chose a store-bought double vanity with a quartz countertop in a weathered gray finish. The factory hardware was brushed nickel, which we swapped for polished chrome pulls and knobs to complement the faucets. We debated painting the cabinet but kept the factory finish since we plan to sell the house and wanted a neutral, buyer-friendly look. The vanity gives us practical storage: the top drawer is organized into bins that separate our daily items and the lower drawers hold less-used supplies.
Visually, we introduced some warm accents to balance the many cool tones: brass pivot mirrors and brass sconces on the wall paired with chrome hardware and faucets on the vanity. We like the visual rule of keeping similar metals along the same eye line—gold on the wall, chrome on the vanity—so the room reads cohesive without feeling cluttered.
The Toilet Nook
Removing walls also revealed a window that had been largely blocked before, bringing natural light into the entire space. We opted not to create a private water closet because it would have blocked light or forced us to sacrifice higher-priority features like the freestanding tub. Instead we highlighted the toilet corner with a DIY molding treatment and a clean, classic toilet that suits the room’s traditional-modern aesthetic.
The Shower
The shower is my favorite element. It sits in the same footprint as the old tub/shower but feels far more expansive. We used marble tile laid in a herringbone pattern on the walls and hex tile on the shower floor. Laying herringbone across multiple walls, around a ledge and window, and keeping everything level was demanding but worth the visual payoff. We tiled the walls to the ceiling and used matching marble ledges, which made the whole space feel luxurious and cohesive.
Instead of a glass door we chose an extra-long white waffle shower curtain to add softness and texture to contrast the geometric tile and crisp moldings. The curtain preserves the tile’s visibility when the shower is not in use and offers privacy and easy maintenance when it is.
We kept the plumbing straightforward with a main shower head and a hand-held sprayer on an adjustable bar, and placed the controls on the opposite wall so you can turn the shower on before stepping in. The fixtures are chrome and coordinate with the vanities and hardware for a consistent look.
The Soaker Tub
The freestanding soaker tub is Sherry’s favorite feature. It fits the space perfectly and is deep enough for a true soak. The acrylic tub warms quickly and retains heat well, and it turned out to be more affordable than we expected. We built a simple pine tub tray ourselves to avoid over-styled accessories and keep the look spare and functional. Above the tub we hung an inexpensive, large print in a simple frame that anchors the area without competing with the tile.
The Closet
The closet opens into the bathroom, which we’ve lived with for years and find convenient for getting ready. Widening the doorway from 22″ to 34″ made it much less cramped. We considered a pocket door but decided it would rarely be used, so we left the flow open. Towels live on the back of the bedroom door just steps from the tub; it’s a simple, practical solution that keeps the bathroom wall free for art.
Budget Breakdown
Here is the budget summary for the bathroom and closet work. We saved where we could by doing much of the labor ourselves and choosing cost-effective materials alongside a few higher-end focal pieces.
- Marble shower tile, thinset, grout: $2,043
- Porcelain floor tile: $277
- Framing wood & plywood for floor: $212
- Cement board & tile prep supplies: $311
- Shower pan materials: $107
- Misc tiling supplies: $102
- Plumbing labor: $3,250
- Electrical labor: $900
- Drywall & patching labor: $450
- Soaker tub: $542
- Double vanity with quartz top: $956
- Vanity hardware & hooks: $93
- Toilet: $352
- Shower & bath fixtures: $1,207
- Wall molding, caulk, paint: $648
- Vanity mirrors: $550
- Sink faucets: $280
- Art over tub (print & frame): $83
- Toilet paper holder: $37
- Vanity sconces: $198
- New 15-light door: $205
- Miscellaneous supplies: $66
- TOTAL: $12,880
Combining the closet and bathroom, the total for both spaces is $15,316. Given the scale of the changes—a tub, a large walk-in shower with marble tile, improved lighting, and a refreshed closet—we’re pleased with the result and the value.
Our Bathroom Sources
Paint: Behr Irish Mist. Shower tiles, floor tiles, tub, vanity, faucets, mirrors, sconces, and hardware were selected to create a timeless, layered look mixing marble, warm brass accents, and chrome fixtures. We sourced many items from national retailers and local showrooms. If you’d like specifics for any item, ask and I’ll share the exact pieces we used.
Room Dimensions
The bathroom measures roughly 8′ x 12′, with the closet occupying about 8′ x 6′. The layout and dimensions influenced decisions like door width, tile coverage, and fixture placement to maximize light and circulation.
This renovation turned a closed, dark bathroom into a bright, functional suite that feels much larger and more refined. We loved doing the work and are thrilled with the result—so much so that it’s bittersweet to know we’ll enjoy it for only a few months before moving. Still, the experience and choices here will serve as a useful blueprint for designing our next en-suite in the new house.
*This post contains affiliate links; we may earn a small commission when purchases are made through links we share at no additional cost to you.