They Wanted a Tiny Bathroom to Look Vintage (and Nailed It!)
Renovating a home yourself can take a while — especially if it’s an older space that’s been patched or updated occasionally over the years. When Nicole McQuade and her husband moved into their historic Richmond, Virginia, home eight years ago, they tackled renovations room by room.
“Since the day we moved in, we’ve hated this bathroom, but knew that a quick paint job wasn’t going to do much, so it has been largely untouched while we saved money and figured out what to do,” Nicole explains.
It Was Time for an Upgrade When Water Barely Came Out of the Sink’s Faucet
But the bathroom had previously been renovated in the 1980s — meaning the plumbing and electrical “were ancient.” The couple had started having issues with both over the years, and eventually the water barely came out of the sink’s faucet. “This is when we knew we had to address the bathroom, whether we were ready or not,” Nicole says.
They Became the Contractors When Construction Quotes Were Too Expensive
Nicole and her husband had originally gathered quotes from contractors for a cost breakdown, especially since they’d wanted to renovate the bathroom “from day 1.” However, because they live in a historic district of Richmond and their home is over 100 years old, “contractor prices have gotten out of control,” Nicole notes.
The couple received quotes between $30,000 and $50,000 to renovate the 40-square-foot bathroom without moving any plumbing or using premium materials. “We could not afford that, so we spent literal years planning this project and finding subcontractors that were in our budget, and then oversaw the job,” Nicole shares. In the end, they only spent $17,000 on supplies and hired labor.
They also DIYed what they could — the demoing, wall repairing, Roman clay painting, and sewing their own curtains. Because they saved by doing so much themselves, they were able to splurge on certain aspects and put the money towards higher-quality materials.
The Hardest Part Was Living Without a Shower for 2 Weeks During Repairs
While Nicole and her husband wanted the bathroom to feel “like it could have been there for 100 years,” they couldn’t say the same about the plumbing and electrical. “We held our breath until the plumbing and electrical were done,” Nicole shares. “Our plumber said it was only a matter of time before we had a real emergency on our hands.”
Beforehand, Nicole planned as best she could to minimize how long her family would be without the shower. And while they were grateful they fixed the plumbing before it became a larger issue, the hardest part was being without a shower for two weeks. “We showered at our local YMCA and a friend’s house,” Nicole explains.
But to create the bright, airy, vintage look Nicole and her husband wanted in the bathroom, they chose a bronze showerhead and matching sink faucet, installed terrazzo tile flooring, and added texture to the walls with a Roman clay paint in a creamy white shade.
They Took Their Time During the Design Stage to Create a One-of-a-Kind Bathroom
“We wanted unique fixtures that didn’t appear in everyone else’s bathroom and hunted high and low for the perfect marble remnant slab, tested tons of Roman Clay wall colors, and sifted through pages of vintage rugs to find the perfect one,” Nicole explains.
Because the room is so small, the couple intentionally chose pieces with rounded corners, like the vanity, the Calacatta Viola marble countertop, and the recessed medicine cabinet. Plus, the mirror added much-needed storage for the family of three’s only full bath.
“The new space is a bright, calming place to be now,” Nicole comments. Especially because the marble vanity countertop “is like looking at a piece of art every day.”
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Shop This Before & After
- Paint
- Products
- Theodora Powder Vanity from Rejuvenation
- Ossie Dual Mount Medicine Cabinet in “Gold” from Rejuvenation
- True Terrazzo Tile in “Kashmir Beige” from Tilebar
- Sahara Matte Porcelain Tile in “Ecru” from Bedrosians
- Delta 2-in-1 Showerhead in “Champagne Bronze” from Ferguson Home
- Delta Bathroom Faucet in “Champagne Bronze” from Ferguson Home
- Vanity Light with Cream Colored Shades by BOHOCREATIONStudio from Etsy