Every home has that one project—the one that starts with gusto, a little demolition, maybe even some Pinterest boards, and then… stalls. For this family, it was the guest bathroom. Once stripped of its original fixtures (and much of its plaster walls), the room hit pause when the house’s air conditioning was added. Ductwork took priority, soffits were roughed in, and the bathroom sat in limbo, waiting for its moment to shine.
That moment finally came when the owners decided their guests deserved better than a half-finished “work in progress.” This bathroom would not only be completed—it would be transformed.
Goodbye Tub, Hello Double Vanity
The wish list was simple but ambitious: lose the tub, add a double vanity, and create a shower that would feel more spa than spare. The challenge? This home was built with clay tile walls inside and block-and-brick outside. Translation: moving plumbing wasn’t going to be easy. Enter the master plumber, whose expertise helped sort what pipes could be shifted, which could be eliminated, and which were simply staying put—no matter what the wish list said.
Space planning became the star of the show. The toilet was rotated ninety degrees (a small but mighty move) to clear space for a swinging glass shower door. The tub’s old footprint became home to the second sink. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces fit.
The Floor Saga
Of course, no renovation is complete without a subplot, and in this case, it was the floor. The back half of the bathroom rested on wood sleepers, topped with old cementitious material that needed removal before new tile could be laid. Most of the sleepers survived, but abandoned lead pipes on the other side left gaping holes. New sleepers were built differently but carefully aligned, ensuring a consistent level.
And then came the workout portion of the remodel: hauling bag after bag of cement up the back stairs to level the subfloor. By the time it was ready for the mosaic tile, the crew could have skipped leg day for a month.
A Guest’s Delight
The finished bathroom is anything but makeshift. The new shower, bright and spacious, features corner shelves, well-placed controls, and a luxurious rain head in the center. The effect is part spa, part sanctuary—an unexpected perk for overnight visitors.
The Kohler Memoirs suite set the tone for the fixtures, with elegant pedestal sinks that look right at home beneath polished chrome faucets. To ground the silvery-gray walls (painted in Drift of Mist), touches of black accent the window, mirrors, and the striking pinwheel mosaic tile on the floor. The repeating dots of the pattern subtly guide you through the space, while crisp white trim and baseboards echo the style of the adjacent rooms.
The Takeaway
What began as a half-finished project turned into a polished retreat. By embracing constraints—like immovable plumbing—and tackling tricky subfloor challenges, the homeowners ended up with a guest bathroom that feels intentional, elegant, and ready for company.
Now, when visitors arrive, the invitation is more than figurative: this bathroom practically says, “Be our guest.”
