I think I like the before better.

yeah the before is awesome. after is boring.

I liked the before much better, but that's because i like art. It had warmth and personality. The tile design on the new floor is pretty though.

I'm with everyone else...I prefer the "before". Before I read the full article, I thought the poster had mixed up the pictures. The "after" shots don't have a lot of personality.

If the before was actually hand painted and not some kind of cheapo wallpaper, it looked way better than the "after" in my opinion.

Wait.... what? I thought the point was to show us that awesome Monet mural.

That's the "Before"???

I LOVE that new floor.. so gorgeous

The after is very nice, but I think it would be awesome if they had kept the mural--maybe the pictures aren't showing it accurately, but it actually seemed pretty well done.

I like the sophisticated tile work in the after. Well done!

I'm so sad now. What a waste. Although, the after floor IS beautiful.

The new floor really is gorgeous, and I like the tile ledge/lip detail around the middle of the shower.

That mural might not look so fabulous up close, or when you've seen it for the 500th time while you're doing your business.

Yeah, I would have painted the walls a color, and used different floor tiles... but style aside the amount of work they put into it shows! It's clean, more open, and well, nicer. I love the faucet!

I would have painted over the Mural as well, it was kinda cheezy. However, I think a little more color would be nice maybe a cool shower curtain, some artwork, or towels??

I'm torn here...

While I'm not crazy about the mural (I'm probably the one person on the planet who doesn't care for 'water lillies'), I did like the color & personality it gave. That said... carpet in the bathroom?? No... it definitely needed the renovation & the after is sleek, crisp, and elegant (I love that floor!). Well done!

The after does lack the 'punch' of personality the before had, but I think that can be achieved now with towels, accessories, art, etc... And if the owners are like me, then as much punch and personality that mural had, it might just not be their taste!

I hate renovations like this where they remove beautiful moldings like the original around the window in order to replace them with cheap-o cookie cutter trim... blech.

I don't think the before was horrible, but I think the after is so much better.

I agree with the other responders; I think I prefer the 'before' to the rather uninspiring after (though it in itself is nice as well) and disagree that "anything would've been better than the before"... I was hoping that the after was going to change the flooring, window covering, etc, but incorporate the mural in a tasteful way... oh well!

Shenanigans. Is this an April Fools joke? The 'before' is much nicer. The after looks sort of cold, even a tad grimy to me. :-/

Yup. Before was interesting and had flair. After is just another boring neutral modern bathroom.

I definitely prefer the after shot. but I would have chosen a different sink. I don't like the exposed piping so much. the tile is quite nice though and I like the new faucet and hardware.

I think I would have preferred to keep the original window molding and probably would have tried to match the bathtub spigot with the sink faucet. the bathtub faucet looks a little low-budget. and I might have kept the radiator as well as it seems to add character. But I can see why you took it out because it does take up a lot of space and this is a small bathroom.

I don't like the mural. why do people think it looks good? because it is hand painted? the tile wainscoting looks a lot better.

i can't understand why "personality" is the #1 most prized attribute of a home around these parts, often at the expense of function and sophistication. the old bathroom had bad lighting and a scary looking shower enclosure (how do you even get in that thing?). the monet wallpaper is admittedly kind of cute - maybe for a nursery - but not a grown up's bathroom. the new bathroom has classic finishes and probably added a ton of value to the home. it's super chic.

i have to admit though i do miss the frame around the old window. my parents' 1920's house has the same style molding and sills and i have quite a nostalgic attachment to them.

Okay, apparently this is not a joke, judging by the link in the article. Still, I prefer the before.

This post has inspired me to paint an awesome art mural in my bathroom. : P

I like both really, but I can't imagine doing my business in a Monet.

I'm amazed at responses - the original bathroom was carpeted, people!

@sholt --

You'll notice that the new tilework extends up the wall now - with the old window casing, there was no way to install the tile properly without replacing the sill & apron casing with a picture-frame casing - and the profile isn't plain-jane either.

I too thought the Monet was the "after" picture. It looks as though the "before" fixtures--tub, sink, etc.--were of higher quality. I am often surprised by the willingness of people to undertake the work, expense, and waste of total renovation when a partial re-do and some redecoration would suffice. If one doesn't like the mural, for example, paint over it, and pull up the rug if it's wall to wall. When a baby and children are around, of course safety and convenience are paramount, but again, I think there are accessories to make rooms safer without having to renovate completely. Of course I don't know the whole picture for this family... so this is not targeted at them... but I would be in favor of thinking more often about the environmental impact of all this renovating as we contemplate the upbringing of our children.

BOOOOOORING after. As someone else said, what a waste. From personality and beautiful color to bland everything. Blech!

I'm not really a fan of Monet, but I prefer the before.

Sorry, but I liked the mural. I would have tried to work with it. I especially don't like the after sink and faucet, which look kind of pretentious. The after floor is nice, though.

The after is nice, but the before is NEAT! Maybe the other aspects of the bathroom needed renovating, but that mural is so unique and interesting... rather than just the standard, boring, "nice" bathroom that is the after.

Firstly, I would take either bathroom...and the renovation is very classy...BUT...the Monet bathroom really was awesome and there is no way I would have ever painted over it:) I agree with AnnieStuart...I was thinking how fun this type of mural would be in my house!

the before looked a little too messy for my eye. love the floor - it beats the hell out of a chopped up monet mural any day. it's not a terribly large bathroom either, so the clean walls look so much better - especially with the new thinner window moulding.

While I do prefer the after, there are some odd aspects to it:

---The new window molding is tract home-like. The old molding had so much more presence and character.

---The new vanity is too large for the space, visually. This is exacerbated by the center pattern of the floor tile, and the way the vanity extends into it (looks like the vanity extends too far into the center of the room). A smaller pedestal sink would look much better. Or, the floor tile should have been the same throughout (no center decoration).

---The faucet is too large for the sink. A lower profile model would be more appropriate -- and you could have installed a medicine cabinet that opens for storage.

I think these are pretty minor issues, though. Part of the "live and learn" process of renovating/remodeling. There is usually something you'd have done differently, after all is said and done. Most of us don't do this every day.

I think the tile wall buildup in the shower looks nice. It has more of a hotel/spa feel. the fact that it matches the tile on the wall gives the room more cohesiveness.

perhaps so many people think the Monet mural is an after shot because of the emphasis on this blog about DIY projects that add individuality. The mural is definitely an individualistic piece. But honestly, it's not an attractive mural at all. it is tacky and really closes in the space, which isn't so great for such a small bathroom. and the huge window and radiator give the mural a very disjointed look. if I went to a party at this person's house and saw this mural I would laugh.

I disagree that it would have been impossible to install the tile without replacing the window casing.

I think the whole window was replaced which I categorically reject. Old windows are about 100 times more beautiful than the modern plastic stuff you find these days. It looks like the trim is plastic MDF foam stuff too. Old windows are not as inefficient as they make you believe. Proper maintenance and a bit of glazing putty go a long way to retaining the charm of old buildings. Please consider this if you are making a decision about windows yourself. See http://www.nps.gov/history/HPS/TPS/briefs/brief09.htm#Window%20Replacement

I didn't particularly like the Monet mural (it gave me a cat lady vibe)but it did look quite well done. I love the new floor, and will look much better once it is broken in and looses the Home Depot shine.

I know hate is a strong word, but I hate that before mural and absolutely love everything about the after.

I don't have an opinion on the look of this bathroom, neither are to my taste. However, I do have something to say about your presentation: with the amount of hand-painted and odd custom finishes held up as an example of design excellence, maybe you should reconsider the "anything would be better" comment. That could be very hurtful to someone who appears to have put much time and effort into the mural. For all you know, it could be someone reading this column, sad that they had to leave their custom impressionist-painted bathroom. Just don't let it degrade into the snark, please.

Were this my bathroom, I too would have painted over the mural. "Personality" is not really a characteristic I prize in a bathroom--I much prefer the crisp and restful "after" shots. And, clearly, the carpet had to go!

However, I do wonder at the choice to replace the sink and the window casing. It seems wasteful to rip things out when it's not really necessary, unless for reasons of efficiency (like installing double-paned windows or low flow toilets).

I love the renovation. Although the Monet was nice I'm guessing that it doesn't looks as good up close.

I love the faucet but it looks a bit tall, so tall that it looks like it would be the way of opening the medicine cabinet.

I love the after and think its near perfect. I actually like the sink and the exposed pipes in this case they are honest but totally attractive. The tile on the floor is beautiful.

Nice job.

I agree that the sink is too big and the window trim has much less character. Based on the pictures shown here, I disagree with Georgina who thought the fixutres looked cheaper in the after - I think they look high end, even if I really don't find the sink fixture to be my cup of tea.

I think the big thing the after is missing is art. That is what is making stuff look so sterile. Even an orchid or two would help.

The new bathroom is boring, except for the floor. I don't want to spend all my time looking at the floor, only.

The vanity is so big it looks like it takes up the whole room. The pedestal sink was so much better...

You can't buy charm.

Too each their own, but I would not have been so proud of the after that I would have bothered to post about it.

I thought the mural was sort of OK, myself.

with apologies to some posters, but a mural next to a toilet is not "art" nor is a toilet paper roll hanging in the middle of a blue/green forest "charm".

I'm totally for the after. If I was buying a house and had a choice between the two bathrooms, the after would win. It's clean, classy and sophisticated.
The before looks more rental, cutesie, run down.

I actually loved the mural! =/

Sad. It did need some minor updates, but the after looks like something out of Home Depot product catalog. Generic.

Agree that the sink fixture is too big--it will splash a lot a lot water out of the sink bowl. The space is too small to pull off that floor tile treatment.

And soon these new parents will learn that a deep bathtub is a good thing. It keeps the kid from climbing out. Getting rid of that was almost as bad a move as painting over the mural.

I really hate to be negative but I actually like the before better. Just my opinion! Congrats to the owners for taking the time to make the space their own.

The "after" is one of the most boring clunky bathrooms ever shown here, sigh.

I agree that after is quite boring. No personality at all.
I just don't understand why they removed those beautiful window moldings and the baseboard. And the heater! Might sound weird but I actually liked the look of the heater there. Wouldn't it be cold without the heater, unless they have a new heating system and don't need it anymore?
I like before very much, but I might not recognize it's Monet until someone tells me... I mean, honestly it doesn't look like a good imitation of the original art. I love the personality and flair there though!

"Anything would have been better" than the before? I evidently don't get the AT aesthetic....

I really like the before too, but I can understand wanting to change it. And I'll bet the mural was just a wallpaper print, not a hand painted job.

I like the long thin defining line on the wall in the tile, and I loooove the floor. Wowza.

The exposed pipe sink vanity is kind of weird and I'm not completely sure why they did it - they lost a few inches of important walking room, covered up a ton of the crazy-beautiful floor tile, and didn't get much storage space in return.

Still, that's something that can be really easily replaced! The important part is the beautiful tile on the wall and floor, which really works and isn't "contemporary" enough to quickly go out of style.

i think it could've been nice to fix the flooring & leave the monet in sections. maybe paint could frame it. but yeah, it looked neat, now it just looks kinda same old same old suburbia

I think the Before could have been fixed to look much better. And the After, though predictable, is clean and beautiful. If I had to pick one, I pick the After.

Two things I like about the "after": The higher tile privacy wall between the tub/door view and the toilet, and the floor. Everything else is so sterile and well, boring. I really the before picture (minus the carpeting). I love that old heater and the window molding. Plus the sink is too cute. I'd love to have that before bathroom.

I can understand not loving the mural but I very much dislike the ridged-fiberglass-looking tub with the high wall and the large modern sink in this space. It just looks lower-quality than what was there before, as another poster pointed out. ALL I might have done is painted over the mural if I hated it. And although I like the idea of the basketweave floor I would have only done that and not set the pattern in among the larger squares. It's just not that big a bathroom and the way it is done accentuates the lack of space.

The before is gross. Simple.

I don't get why anyone would appreciate a Monet knockoff mural, whether hand painted or a wallpaper print, over beautiful tilework. I like Monet -- on canvas, framed, and if not in my living room, in the museum where it belongs. Not as a cheap reproduction of any kind, and certainly not as a bathroom mural. Tacky!

The only qualms I have about the makeover is my personal aversion for the sink plumbing being on display. Somehow it reminds me of some high end 1920's and 1930's bathrooms I have seen, primarily in schools and similar institutions. ("Institutional" is, in fact, the word...)

But the basketweave tile is gorgeous, and the overall room is much more sophisticated and luxurious looking than before.

I don't think "anything" is better than the mural. But if they like their new bathroom, good for them.

Aside from the nice floor, this "after" has no personality...

Where's the character? The life, the color? This could just be a shot of a basic hotel bathroom. Nice tile work ok, but really basic, let's face it. I feel like I've seen this room a million times before because there's nothing unique about it.

While I thought the mural was kind of neat when I first saw it, I can respect the fact that it certainly wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

I've seen far more inspiring bathrooms on AT before this, that's for sure!

Beautiful new sink and flooring - should have been paired with some sort of mural. Perhaps something in the style of Monet?

we miss you mural!!

How much personality do you need to go to the toilet and have a shower? It is a very clean and simple approach in such a small space for a family.
Carpet and murals have no place in a bathroom, so I definitely think it is an improvement.

As an interior designer I'm blown away that so many would prefer the 'before' picture of the bathroom. The before bathroom has numerous offenses including the carpet (ew, can you say mold?), the wall mural (obviously an extremely personal painting that I am surprised anyone but the painter would like), the awkward tub, etc... It was extremely outdated.

The owners did a great job of updating the bathroom with classic fixtures, tile, and other updates. Simply put, I'm surprised that so many people were fans of the before. Especially readers of a site that commends good design?

ktschida21, no one suggested keeping the carpeting. But if you read the comments carefully, you can see that people have reasoned opinions for what they like and don't in this space. With all due respect, I am sure not everyone likes what you do, either. Our differences in likes and dislikes are what makes everyone unique--and uniquely qualified to comment on "good" design.

I have been following this blog since its inception so I have a lot more context about this bathroom than do 99% of the commenters thus far. I know how much thought went into the layout and why various fixtures were chosen (if you were vertically challenged you probably wouldn't want a tub that requires a step stool to climb into, for example). This room is the essence of Jennifer's design style; it is graceful, well thought out, and functional. It's not my style (although I LOVE that floor!), but I still find it aesthetically pleasing. Also, there are more recent pictures of the bathroom available (http://ramblingrenovators.blogspot.com/2010/03/la-salle-de-bain-cest-fini.html) where some pictures were hung by the window, a decal was put on the door, and a roman blind was added, which really added the missing touches to the room.

bepsf said exactly what I was thinking.

Love the after.

I'm sure the warmth in the After comes from the lovely mix of materials. Not everyone likes DIY quirk.

That new mosaic flooring is GOR-GEOUS and good riddance to the old radiator, among other things.

And for those saying they think the After is lower quality, we must not be looking at the same pictures.

Jennifer and husband, pay no attention to the naysayers and negative nellies. You could redo my bath ANY day.

@sholt - Agreed, that original window trim was awesome and probably really solid.

I'm not a fan of Monet, but that mural was kinda neat!

The after is beautiful!!
The before looked like someone on acid painted it. As someone that has murals and lil art projects left by the previous owner I can understand why they would want to redo the space.

The glass wall by the shower opens the room up so much, and the tile floor is to die for!!!!

I agree with the other posters who liked the before better. But then I just painted my bathroom walls a vivid pink! I like color and I like art and can't get enough of either.

While, I'm sure that there were practical considerations in re-doing the bathroom (Carpeting? Really?) the reason that I can't embrace the 'after' is that it looks like every.single.bathroom you'd find in a Restoration Hardware catalog.
Whatever the problems with the 'before', at least it was unique.

There are worse fates than to end up looking like a Restoration Hardware bathroom.

I would have renovated the bathroom while keeping the mural intact, because I love the style of Monet.

And we all no there is no better way to express appreciation for an artist than peeing next to his work!

I doubt that 90% of the people that said they loved the mural in their reply, would have kept it if it were their home when push came to shove. Late night out, not feeling well the next morning - I dont think that mural would do anything to keep me calm. *shudder* Really people.

And there is a reason why it looks like a Restoration Hardware catalog .... it's gorgeous and pretty darn functional. I'm super surprised that this makeover has gotten some of the comments that it has.

I would LOVE to have this bathroom!

A bathroom with clean, crisp colour and a few subtle accents is definitely preferable to an in-your-face, look-how-different-I-am decorating scheme.

I've had my share of eclectic bathrooms - the previous tenants of my first apartment had painted the bathroom a dark blood red, for example. Different, dramatic, and totally awful, after a few minutes of contemplation. I painted it white, and if that makes my taste boring, so be it. At least it was a more comfortable space.

Yeah, I liked the before better. The after is boring and bland. Doesn't look like actual people live there.

I love the before more, too. If someone has done something amazing with the house, how do you have the guts to change it? Yes, it's *your* house, and you've bought it...but I just feel sick when I think of the Arts & Crafts houses with the woodwork painted out, the built-ins knocked out, siding put on, etc.

Plus, I've always wanted a mural in my house. Preferably in the dining room.

The before is toooooooo much. The after is nicely tiled, but I think could be softened up with some nice window treatment. Lovely!

The before looks okay in a picture, and I suspect, based on what I've been able to find, that it was either hand-painted or not as inexpensive as you'd think. That said, it's clearly someone's very personal taste, and I'm pretty sure I'd want to get rid of it if it was in my bathroom. I'm not sure why there is so much complaint about the fixtures. As someone currently making bathroom design choices, there's a limit to what you can do without spending a fortune. I think the choices were very well made, particularly the floor and vanity.

the BEFORE image was taken to HEIGHTEN negatives --- look, it's DARK OUTSIDE, there's a granny-rug around the commode and some kleenex and sundry items atop its tank, there's some Suave lotion on the sill, as well as toothbrushes in a ceramic jar, a wrinkled towel hanging over the heater --- need I go on??? This photo was taken to BOLSTER and JUSTIFY the owners' argument for a re-do. it doesn't matter what the rest of us PREFER. obviously BOTH bathrooms appealed to us readers. what ** I ** would like to know is WHY apt therapy posted a re-do so banal ---- pretty soon it's going to be just photos of nice rooms that are attacked at random by people with a lot of money and little taste

I hate the carpet in the 'before', but I love the mural and the original window. New bathroom looks sterile and boring. No charm. Too vanilla. Ugh.

To each their own, but ... I liked the before. (OK, not the carpet.) The after looks expensive but crowded.

Love the new bathroom! I might have painted the walls with a bit more color.

I can see why some folks would like the mural. But to me it screams 80s and makes the room look much smaller than it is.

While I personally am not a fan of carpet in the bathroom, I think many are passing judgment too quickly. If the previous owner had lived in the house for a very long time, never updating or remodeling it, I can see why they were never bothered by the carpet. It is obviously cold there, as evident by the radiator in the bathroom and the kleenex on the toilet tank (which to me symbolizes more than a few colds). I can't imagine the previous owner ripping up the carpet just to have a stylish and modern tile floor which would be extremely cold in the winter. Once the new owner moved in, the carpet removal was more than appropriate....but don't beat up the former owner for having cold feet!!! :-)

I liked BOTH of them A LOT. I guess the moral is that you fix up your dream room, it satisfies you totally, and then, though wonderful, it may go when your house gets new owners. A home is for the people living there.

My bathroom is currently pretty much all white and it reminds me of being in the hospital. I think the before Monet Mural is soothing and comforting, but to each his own. I imagine the rest of the house is pretty sterile as well?

Oh, sad. The mural was so pretty. The current bathroom looks so sterile and bland...like they're waiting on someone else to make it their own. But, oh well, it's just a bathroom. One hopes the rest of their home has a bit more pizazz....

Although I liked the mural of the before photo, the carpet and the tub surround needed to be replaced. Like how the new surround "hides" the toilet from view. I agree that the old moulding could have been kept, as the window looks to be the same. The faucet is really cool, and the tile floor is great. The sink is too large as it takes up too much floor space and you lose the inset tile work. If the owners of the apartment want this look then that is fine. However, since I am a faux art wall artist, I think that the mural shoul have remained. The outside view is nothing to write home about.

Wow. I don't understand why people are so defensive of the old bathroom! It had an amateur faux Monet, a small sink with no ledge or storage, and a crazy-high bathtub. Old windows might look nice but often the wood will decay in high humidity.

The Monet looks like the type of thing a renter would do to improve a crappy carpeted bathroom.

The new tile bathroom with a sensible sink and bathtub looks like a place a grownup lives!

I dig the after.

PS -- I am sure one of the reasons the bathroom looks so "sterile" is because they have tidied it up for the shoot. In real life, you have soap and bottles and laundry and yellow rubber duckies for the baby. :)

a vast improvement - way to go guys! the floor tile is beautiful! :)

Before = hideous

After = Could use some color but MUCH MUCH better. Maybe paint the walls a soothing clay brown or fresh green?

the before is much better - the new sink is ruining it all.. i think the before could have had minor adjustments and be perfect... a missed opportunity

I love the crispness and sweet Parisian accents in the after. As TravelingRae said, the website gives lots more context than this small selection of photos. Well done, Rambling Renovators! If you enjoy splashing around in there, pay no mind to the haters.

I feel like the posts preferring the before are the April Fool's joke. It was hideous. The fact that people even think of keeping a Monet knockoff mural shows is mind-boggling. Could you get more cliche? Whomever said that mural screamed cat lady is right. And keeping a heater right by the toilet? That is incredibly awkward.

The after is much better. The floor is really lovely.

I like the look of high tubs, but I know the contortions one must go through to get into one. They are probably quite dated though. With a baby? Never. And WHY do people carpet bathrooms -gross. I think the re-do is FAB. (But I did like the mural. Maybe living w/ it every day would be a different story.)

And seriously, AT readers, PLEASE for the sake of all that is holy, cut the self-righteous snark! Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Let's not cut down the homeowner or the other commenters. It reflects badly on YOU.