Before and After: A Beige ’90s Bathroom Pops After a Pink-Tiled Makeover
Sometimes, even when homes or rooms within them are dated, you learn to live with the ‘70s or ‘80s or ‘90s look. Perhaps, to you, it’s even part of the appeal. (After all, there certainly are some incredibly charming, kitschy, character-filled, retro-inspired spaces out there!)
This is how homeowner Athina (@iona.molly) felt about her tan-tiled, dated bathroom, which she says was a “1990s bathroom with all the ‘90s trimmings you’d expect.”
The before was stuck in the 1990s.
“It had embossed tiles, diamond-laid tiles, a very ’90s corner vanity, and old shower screen with a cream base, and “to put it plainly, I was totally fine with it,” Athina says.
But when water leakage from the shower became a concern, she decided it was a sign from the universe to overhaul the whole bathroom. “I had two options: renovate only the shower, or create my dream bathroom,” she says. “The choice was easy.”
Because Athina was going for a head-to-toe redo as a first-time renovator, she brought in expert help: a builder, tiler, electrician, plumbers, and she also enlisted her brother Steve, who helped with jackhammering during demo “and moral support,” Athina says.
“It felt like every step was important, nerve-wracking, stressful, and exciting,” she adds of her reno.
Pink tiles add an exciting pop.
The first step was demolition of the old space. The team had to jackhammer through the existing cement floor in order to provide the right base for a new tiled floor, which would also extend into a new shower area in the corner where the closet once was.
Athina selected pink mermaid-style hex-shaped tiles, and she says they’re definitely the biggest difference maker in the space. The geometric, pink pattern had been in the back of her mind for a while, so the final pink deco look was a long time coming. “I saw [the tiles] on Pinterest about 12 years ago and saved [them] and promised I would source and use them if I ever did a bathroom renovation,” she says.
A new layout makes the space feel larger.
For the remainder of the project, Athina kept things bright and airy (thanks to new white tiles) and selected furnishings with clean lines and modern, simple silhouettes, like the circular mirror, oval tub, floating vanity, and round vessel sink.
The hardest part was finalizing the sizing, spacing, and layout of everything. She ended up moving the sink across the room, next to the shower, and relocating the tub to the back wall under the window, which allows for more room to move around while getting ready. “The bathtub is to die for,” Athina says. “It’s matte white, gorgeous, and it fits me and my partner perfectly.”
The floating vanity and glass shower partition, too, help make the bathroom feel more roomy. “The most challenging and hardest part was trying to envision the height, width, and alignment of the tapware, vanity, shower screen, and bathtub in an empty space,” Athina describes. “You cannot turn back after the plastering and waterproofing has been done. You have to make sure everything is aligned exactly where you want them to be and at what height.”
In the end, Athina got exactly what she pictured. “As a graphic designer, I had a vision and a dream bathroom in mind,” she says. “And that dream was all about the colliding of lines and textures in the same color and a pop of another color.
She completed the space with a towel ladder, a bamboo shelf, and matte black hardware. “I envisioned a day spa vibe and that is exactly what I got,” she says. “I feel like I have a day spa experience everyday without the hefty price of visiting one.”
Athina’s favorite detail, though, is the tile. “The thing I’m most proud of is sticking to my instinct and going with my dream pink hexagon tiles,” she says. “I was asked, are you sure you want pink tiles?” When undertaking a huge project like this, Athina has two main pieces of advice: Trust your gut, and don’t follow trends.
When it comes to following the herd or creating your own style, she says, “choose what you love and what makes you happy.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.