We have made some major progress since I last checked in here, so much so that we’re very close to being finished with the current bathroom and we’re moving on to the next one! Of course, this process didn’t happen without a series of hiccups and issues, which I’ll delve into below. I also have some controversial content to share! And just a heads up, this post is a long one …

The last time I checked in on our renovation we were on hold waiting for our tile installers to return. That went on for months and the wait (and nothing much happening) was agonizing. In order to move on to setting up the shower enclosure and templating the glass—a major step—the tile install needed to be completed. Once the tile was completed we were able to move forward and make progress more quickly. However, with the design of this space being as complicated as it is (small spaces are always more challenging than large ones) the progression was not entirely smooth.

For example, our shower enclosure was damaged in transit and arrived damaged with a bent structural support and we had to wait for another piece to be rebuilt. Annoying! While we waited for the door to be fabricated we draped a shower curtain over the door opening since we needed to get started on the second bathroom project ASAP which is where we were showering. Our door was installed on Monday and yesterday I took my first normal shower in the space and I must say it was lovely!

Now, this might annoy you all but I am not planning to reveal this completed bathroom in totality until we’re ready to share our whole home. So, I hope the glimpses of the primary bath have been enough to satisfy you!

Moving forward…

As previously mentioned, as soon as we were able to shower in the new bathroom, we moved on to working on the next bathroom. We’ve completely gutted the space: removing tiles from the walls, the old toilet, the old sink and vanity, the tub and the flooring.

Don’t Hate me!

I shared the tub removal video on TikTok knowing full well that it would cause some controversy, but OF COURSE not without disclosure. But when it comes to videos, I’m not sure who pays attention to the small print. I am the first to admit that I love a little drama, and honestly I stand by our decision to remove it in the fashion that we did.

You also may know that I am no stranger to clawfoot tubs and refurbishing them. In our apartment in Brooklyn, New York we have a cast iron clawfoot tub. For that tub we went through the work and spent the money to have it properly resurfaced and resealed. That tub is in great condition and was well worth the cost to have it repaired. See photos below to get an idea of that process.

If You’re Still Ruffled About The Tub, Here’s Why We Did It.

We actually thought about the tub removal for quite some time and here is why we decided to demo it:

The tub itself was already damaged beyond valuable repair. It had a large crack in the structure and the finish was cracked and chipped in several locations.
It’s a “dime a dozen” clawfoot tub and nothing special. Being a conservationist at heart you will often find me at our local salvage yards and what I’ve come to learn and realize is that there are A LOT of cast iron tubs out in the world and quite frankly not enough people who want them (it’s the piano of the bathroom). This tub would not have been one that someone would want to purchase.
One of the biggest factors was that we couldn’t physically get it out of our house without damaging other rooms in the process. The hallways in our house are narrow and the stairs are steep with three sharp turns. We also had all of our plaster walls expertly repaired and we did not want to risk damaging all of that work.
Lastly, the cost to hire out the labor who could carry the tub down the stairs and properly move it would total more than the value of the piece itself.

Ultimately, we decided the tub had to be broken down and carried out of the house in pieces, technically through the window in pieces …

What’s the Plan Now?

Due to the issues we experienced working with the previous tile installer, we decided to work with a new installer. I have worked with them on client projects and they’re work is beautiful. And even though the wait to get on their schedule is long and the quote significantly higher, it will be worth it for the quality and efficiency of work. I actually think it will ultimately take less time than if we used the other installer. Most often, quality is worth the wait.

The good luck gods were on our side though because last week our new installer called to let us know that they were running behind at their current job and would have to push the start date to next week! So now we have several things to work on to finish in time, but I think it’s now possible to be ready for the tile install next week!

*I found a booklet on Ebay showing that the sink was a part of the Styled for Modern Living: 1957 Booklet. The sink is the bottom middle sink on the page.*

We spent the last two weekends demoing the bathroom and redoing the plumbing. The plumbing situation was quite complicated and needed to be reworked and properly retrofitted.

Still left on the to-do list for the bathroom before tile can start: finish plumbing; update the electrical plans and wiring; remove the residual glue from the old tiles; and frame out the bathtub niche. Be on the lookout for some updates hopefully coming to you over the next two to three weeks!

Cheers!

Lauren

Part 5: Finished One Bath and On To The Next

Moving forward…

Don’t Hate me!

If You’re Still Ruffled About The Tub, Here’s Why We Did It.

What’s the Plan Now?