About a year and a half ago I wrote my Bathroom Renovation On A Budget post about the down to the studs renovation we did on our guest bathroom that also plays double duty as a bathroom for our kids. First of all, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart because this post has been pinned well over 100,000 times from my site and I get the nicest emails from readers nearly every day asking me questions or just letting me know they’re heading off to Home Depot and they’re excited because they know exactly what they need.
That right there is the heart of why I do this whole blogging thing. I always just hope you guys feel inspired and helped a bit. But back to the questions! I thought I’d share some of your questions, concerns and comments while I let you know how things are going a year and a half later. Just in case you were wondering, all of these photos were taken just this week.
Okay, the number one question I get is…
How did you finish the tile you used up the wall in the shower? They don’t make a bullnose for this tile.
And you would be right! I used this gray woodgrain tile and they do not make a bullnose for this tile. It’s technically floor tile though after questioning a few very qualified contractors they agreed that it would be just fine in a shower. Personally I don’t love the look of bullnose. It’s all rounded edges and I’m more modern and straight anyway. We simply used a flat grout line where the tile and wall meet from the shower. It looks very clean and just works. This grout color
Oh and one more thing about the shower. My parents who are our most frequent guests insist that it’s the BEST shower head they’ve ever used. In fact my dad went out and bought the same one to replace the one in their home that totally didn’t need replacing. Lucky find I guess! Behold the bold look of this parent approved Kohler Shower Head
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Question number two…
How has the bathroom held up with kids using it?
Ahhh, a good one! Did I mention that our six year old is in the stage where she wants to do scientific experiments? They usually involve me hearing running water in the bathroom and then swishing and splashing noises while she is supposed to be reading in bed at night. Parenting is awesome my friends! This has been my biggest problem…
The honest truth is the bathroom looks pretty brand spankin’ new despite 8pm science class. We’ve had overnight guests, longterm guests and even a floor flood or two thanks to children that use excessive amounts of toilet paper. I was pregnant while we were undergoing this renovation and now I have a toddler who just recently discovered the joy of unrolling toilet paper. He makes a really cute face while doing it too…which is probably the only reason he hasn’t been banned from the bathroom.
But seriously, the only actual repair or upkeep we’ve had to do beyond normal cleaning is replacing a lightbulb in the light fixture. Which I actually still have to do and have been ignoring for a least a month or two. Slacker!
Question number three…
So really, how is that vanity? Does it stain? Have you had any problems with it?
The marble top vanity I spent DAYS looking for is doing just fine. Certainly better than my sanity, thank you very much. I have received a few emails of people saying they’ve read reviews about an issue with the sink. My best guess on that is the company who made it may have had a quality issue with a product lot sometime last year. Ours has been going strong from day one without any issues. If you’re looking for alternatives I also like this vanity for a very small space
On to the staining part. The top is marble and with that does come the possibility of stains. We’ve had sitting water and soap on it at different times but still it looks just about new. There are a few spots where maybe I can see the slightest bit of discoloration but you really have to be looking for it.
And last but certainly not least! Question number four…
So how much did you really spend on this bathroom? Was it REALLY on a budget?
Totally fair question! I get it, I get it! The phrase “on a budget” is a relative term. While searching the old interwebs I found this from HGTV “According to Remodeling magazine’s 2005 Cost vs. Value Report, a mid-range bathroom remodel is approximately $10,499, higher or lower depending on where you live.” Yeahhhh… we didn’t come close to that! Although I actually saved for more than that which leaves me just itching to do the next project and in a place of having money leftover for some new shoes! Which reminds me, I do also get emails asking where my flats from the original post are from. They’re Sperry Topsider and I still love them. They’ve also held up well with kids.
Okay, the numbers! When I added up the materials costs of everything from drywall to hardware, tile, The deep soaking tub, the very unique drain
If you’re handy, married, related or willing to bake yummy things for someone who is then you can do most of the labor yourself. The biggest jobs were actually getting the cast iron tub original to our 1950’s house out of the bathroom and grouting the tile. Because it’s textured you have to be extra careful to work quickly with the grout and smooth any excess away before it dries. I had a local contractor who is a friend (and still a friend so that speaks volumes) do the work for us because again, I was like really really pregnant and know nothing about plumbing plus my husband gets frustrated with projects that involve allen wrenches. It was the best choice for our marriage 🙂
And yes, you can always head on back and check out the original post!
