Before and After: This Bathroom Redo Will Make You Say “Subway Tile Who?”
Living in an older home brings plenty of charm, but it also means that usually, much of the home will need updates. Chelsea Foy, of Lovely Indeed, saw the years of use in her 1950s ranch-style home. “It has a great layout and basic structure, but with most of the original fixtures from the ’50s still intact it felt dated and dirty,” she says. In the bathroom in particular, tile was chipped, the sinks and the tub had worn grooves in them, and the storage was just not functional for the family of three-going-on-four. “Using it on a daily basis felt more like being in a hotel bathroom than in a comfortable space at home,” Chelsea says.
With the family growing from three to four, they knew they wanted to expand their home, too. Chelsea and her husband Ryan wanted to add a master bath and create a space in this bathroom that was just for the kids, or guests when they visited.
“Our overall goal was to update the space to feel modern and fresh, but still honor the general layout of our 1950s home,” Chelsea says. The must-haves: vertical storage, one sink instead of two (“nobody’s interested in cleaning two when you can clean just one!” Chelsea says), a tub that was easy to bathe kids in but still worked for adults, and a shower that felt modern and simple.
“We were able to conceptualize and design the space ourselves, because there weren’t going to be too many major structural changes,” Chelsea says. “I knew from the start that I wanted the tile to be a focal point, so design-wise we started there and worked backward.” Chelsea and Ryan chose all the materials themselves, then worked with subcontractors to finish each piece. To save money, they did the demo themselves.
“The plumbing was a challenge, because all of the pipes were over 50 years old and needed complete replacement. Our plumber was a champ!” Chelsea says.
Just as Chelsea envisioned, the new bathroom features tile as its focal point; these tiles, from Fireclay, have a fun scalloped shape with a modern blue color. The new vanity features a long, low drawer that pulls out to function as a step stool for the kids to stand on for brushing their teeth or washing their hands. “This proved to be a little tricky and our cabinet maker had to rebuild it after the first try wasn’t successful,” Chelsea says. “But I’m so glad we kept trying, because it works like an absolute charm! No extra step stools kicking around the bathroom, and it will be added storage in a few years.”
The new built-in tub is kid and adult friendly, and shows off the unique tile, which Chelsea says is her favorite part. “The Fireclay Tile is such an eye-catcher, and I love how it brings a breezy, almost whimsical feel to the room,” Chelsea says. “The kids call it ‘mermaid tile.’ I love that it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in any other homes I’ve visited.”
To accomplish all of that, we kept a simple color palette of whites, grays, and silvers – and added the scalloped tile as a colorful focal point. It makes everyone smile who walks into the room!
A new shower lined with subway tile in a vertical pattern feels simple and modern, but still fresh. Built-in shelves make it super practical.
The new bathroom is much more functional for her family, Chelsea says. “That hidden step stool drawer has been a game changer! For families with small kids, building that little feature into cabinetry is so helpful,” she says. And the bathroom’s a lot more fun to look at now, too: “I love the airy, bright feeling that fills the space! In the evening, the sun shines through the obscured glass window and lights it up. It’s definitely a happy room,” says Chelsea.
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