Before and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub

Bathroom Remodeling Apr 18

For years we have been reporting the remodeling trend of bathtubs being replaced with elegant shower spaces.  The following article from Houzz details 6 projects that accomplished this very thing – and we choose to share it with you.  We hope it stimulates some out-of-the-box thinking on your part regarding your next bathroom remodeling project.Also, we have recently been hired to replace a number of bathroom projects that previously used cover-up methods to remediate and remodel their older bathroom.  These cover-up methods simply do not last well and rarely solve the underlying plumbing and mold issues that may have caused the need for remodeling in the first place.  The projects we are seeing were just completed a year or so ago – but are already failing… but since the cause of their problems were never resolved – the issues just continued underneath a pretty coverup – for a while!

Buyer beware of these methods – we feel they are an inferior solution.  Our answer is to tear the walls down to the studs, repair or replace older plumbing as needed, re-install new insulation and drywall and complete the project with appropriate materials. We use a specialty mold-remediation affiliate to remove dangerous mold if it is found.  This process does take a bit longer and it will cost a bit more – but it is the right solution to the problem, delivers the greatest value to the homeowner and insures that your new project will hold up for many years.~ Kurtis Kitchen & Bath

Before and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub

Sleek showers replaced tub-shower combos in these bathroom remodels. Could this be an option for you?

Bathtubs, while a common bathroom feature, don’t always get a lot of use. Fifty-six percent of respondents to a Houzz survey say they never use their tub for taking a bath. So it’s no surprise that some people are opting to take out the tub altogether when they remodel their bathroom. 

Let’s take a look at six bathroom transformations that said goodbye to the tub. Maybe these scenarios will shower you with new ideas for your own bathroom.

1.1980s Style to Classic Charm

Bathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple of empty nesters

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Size: About 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)

BEFORE: A renovation in the 1980s left this bathroom dark and cramped.

AFTER: A large glass shower greets the homeowners, who chose a plan that would age along with them. The designer, Christa Pirl of Christa Pirl Interiors, focused on adding a shower that allowed easy access should the couple have any mobility problems in the future, something their previous tub didn’t do.Wall paint: Mt. Rainier Gray; wainscoting paint: Alabaster, both Benjamin Moore; toilet: Kohler; sink: Barclay; faucets: Pfister; mirrored medicine cabinet: custom; floor, subway and shower floor tile: Daltile

2. Crumbling to Crisp

Bathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple expecting their first child

Location:  Philadelphia

Size: About 55 square feet (5 square meters)

BEFORE: This 1912 bathroom had patched tile, limited storage and flickering fluorescent lights.

AFTER: The couple gets a bright, warm bathroom, designed by Brian Osborne of Osborne Construction and Niko Dyshniku of Kole Made, complete with a large shower. (Note: A glass panel was added to create a side on the shower after this photo was taken.) The couple had fewer reservations about having only a shower in this space because the home has another bathroom with a tub.Toilet: Adair, Kohler; paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; sink: Teorema; fixtures and knobs: Purist in brushed Moderne Gold, Kohler; cabinets: reclaimed sinker cypress, Kole Made

3. Floral Curtain to Elegant Glass

Before Photo

Bathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: A single professional woman who travels extensively for work

Location:  Charlestown, Massachusetts

Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters)

BEFORE: The shower was tucked back into the corner of the space and was closed off from

AFTER: Meredith Tomlin-Hilliard and designers from Lee Kimball changed the space into a shower stall. It opened up the space, making the bathroom feel larger, lighter and more airy. The shower covers about the same footprint as the previous shower but gives the room a whole different look.Tile: Tile Showcase; shower wall and door glass: Starphire glass

4. Outdated to Efficient

Before Photo

Bathroom at a Glance

Who lives here: A family of three who regularly has guests

Location:  Toronto

Size: 45 square feet (4.2 square meters)

BEFORE: When the owners purchased this condo, the bathroom had a mismatch of styles in the bathroom, as well as outdated electrical and ventilation.

AFTER: The renovated bathroom by Projekt Home (Paul Kenning Stewart Design) created a bathroom that efficiently uses space and requires little maintenance. One maintenance saver was the fixed-glass shower door. It also lets in additional light, along with the new window, to make the space brighter. 

5. Unloved Pink to Cheerful

Rainbow

Before Photo

Bathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: Artist and psychologist Jan Ferris and her standard poodle, King

Location:  Los Angeles

Size: About 94 square feet (9 square meters)

BEFORE: Not only did the homeowner not love the color, but a recent leak that flooded her home had left black mold in the bathroom. The vanity also was jammed against the tub, making everything feel crowded.

AFTER: A large, glass-walled shower fills a corner of this artist’s now very colorful bathroom. The removal of the tub gave the homeowner more room, and she wasn’t concerned about the resale value of not having a tub.Glass shower installation: Yanev Hergass of Edden Glass and Mirror; mosaic tile: Sandstone mix #8323-H, Jasba 

6. Clunky to

Stylish

Before Photo

Bathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple of newlyweds and the husband's teenage son

Location: Downtown San Diego

Size: 75 square feet (6.9 square meters)

BEFORE: The bathroom was functional but felt clunky and didn't match the family's style.

AFTER: A walk-in shower with a rain shower head and divider brings an open, 1920s style to the family’s bathroom. Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs chose the black trim to amp up the contrast in the room.