Our Bathroom Glow-Up
- Wonjee
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
What started as a small repair turned into one of the first major interior home renovations we’ve ever taken on. It all began when we discovered water leaking from our shower room. What was supposed to be a simple tile repair quickly snowballed into a full-blown primary bathroom renovation — and honestly, we are so happy with that decision.
Our bathroom was completely untouched since we moved into the house 2001 - It was one of those areas where we didn't love the aesthetic, but it was functional enough to serve our day-to-day needs. After part of our shower room was cut out to repair the leak, we decided it didn’t make sense to patch things up halfway. If we were going to tear out the shower tiles, we might as well create the bathroom we’d always wanted. During demolition, contractors did find additional cracked or misaligned pipes from house settling over the years, so we really did give this bathroom a nice upgrade inside and out.
Just like our other major home projects (which one day, I will write about), my brother-in-law, aka Z's oldest brother/creator of beautiful designs/retired brother who is using our house to gradually change into his vision (jk), helped us refine our ideas and even created 3D renderings so we could visualize how everything would come together. His input made a huge difference, turning a stressful renovation into a creative collaboration.
The timing actually worked out perfectly — demolition began the morning while we left for our Alaskan trip. Our contractors, Joe and Erica, kept us updated through pictures and progress reports, which made it exciting to see the space take shape from afar. By the time we got home, the old bathroom was completely gutted and was prepped for a fresh start.
The renovation took about five weeks from start to finish. During that time, we basically lived out of our guest room since our bedroom, closet, and bathroom are all connected. It felt inconvenient at times (and humbling to realize how spoiled we are from our large bedroom space), but seeing the progress made it worth it.
We didn’t change the plumbing layout, so the shower, bathtub, and toilet stayed in their original locations, which helped stay in our budget. But literally everything else was upgraded — new finishes, fixtures, tile, cabinets, and lighting. One of the biggest changes was replacing our old window with a larger one that overlooks the backyard pool. It completely changed the atmosphere of the room, letting in more natural light and giving us a view we have been wanting to see better. We also took down the wall in the shower room that made the area feel like a cave. This really brightened up the bathroom overall and made the shower room feel more open and airy.
Now that it’s finished, the bathroom feels calm, open, and intentional — a real retreat at the start and end of the day. I love how it has become a peaceful retreat within our own home for Z and me.
Product Information
Wall color: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Ceiling color: Sherwin Williams Creamy
Floor tile (white): Sucre Blanco Woodplank Beige Ceramic Tile | Floor and Decor
Wet floor tile (stone): Kayan River Pebble Stone Mosaic | Floor & Decor
Accent wall (black): Monterrey Black Slate Ledger Panel | Floor and Decor
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