What can I do with this mess

Shizzle
by Shizzle
  39 answers
  • Shizzle Shizzle on Oct 22, 2013
    Want to remodel this old bathroom any ideas
  • Lori J Lori J on Oct 22, 2013
    Love the footed tub and the medicine cabinet. If you keep them, I would get rid of the sink and go with something more period--like a pedestal sink. What kind of budget do you have?
  • Shizzle Shizzle on Oct 22, 2013
    That's just the bathroom haven't thought about the kitchen but that's next. I hate the tub sink and medicine cabinet. Far as budget not sure yet but I'm doing most of the work
  • Trent-Tonya Sharp Trent-Tonya Sharp on Oct 22, 2013
    paint and flea market finds.. great bathroom love the bathtub and mirror .. cant wait to see the results
  • Sandy Tom Sandy Tom on Oct 23, 2013
    Use a ruffle shower curtain to give a good look to it
  • Shizzle Shizzle on Oct 23, 2013
    My wife loves the tub to so I maybe forced to work around. I will install a shower tho
    • @Swizzle If the wife loves the tub definitely get rid of the sink and vanity. find a vanity that will have more storage and that will help coordinate your claw foot tub and the medicine cabinet. What are the dimensions of the bathroom and is that a closet? Are you able to move plumbing around? I would definitely move the toilet from the corner! Can you post a layout with dimensions? And I assume that the walls may be lathe and plaster? The easiest way to remodel would be to gut and start over. Been there done that and it is a lot easier than working around things when the bathroom needs a lot of TLC. Is that subway tile? Is it all the way around? Is it in good shape? there are so many things you could do to the bathroom. I would also consider putting in a pocket door. We did in a bathroom and boy does it add space!
  • Judy Parkey Judy Parkey on Oct 23, 2013
    HGTV is repeating episodes of Nicole Curtis' Remodel Addict showing how she remodeled a house of this time period. Try to watch some of these episodes. She sanded and painted a sink and reused it. You could do that to the tub. I believe she found (or reused the original) a medicine cabinet very similar to yours and reused it. I remodeled two bathrooms over the past 4 years. I used Toto toilets (you can buy standard height at Walmart and Toto is what Walmart uses in their public access restrooms) and pedestal sinks and highly recommend them. I used a 'universal height' toilet. New drywall and paint will work wonders in that room. Keep the bathroom door, too. You have a diamond in the rough; especially compared to what I had to work with - I disgustedly called it "redneck white trash" and it was an insult to that subset of society. The bathtub was the only thing worth keeping...when I casually mentioned replacing it my adult daughter had a meltdown. Sometimes I think she only comes home to take a long soaking detox bath. After thinking about it, prior to all the remodel work, the tub alone was worth 25% of the value of the house and I would have had to tear up the front of the house to remove it.
  • I would start from the top and work down. Meaning tackle your ceiling and light fixtures first, then walls and trim, then the floor. No need to do a complete demolition IF the structure is sound. So if the floor is solid and there are no leaks I would first TEST FOR LEAD, then start scraping and sanding, caulking and pait. You can add peel and stick tin tiles to the ceiling or bead board wallpaper (see my post on that), then pick a pretty color for the walls, spruce up the sink cabinet with paint and new knobs and faucet, and lastly add a new flooring (if needed) and add accessories. The pretty ruffled shower curtain the person posted above is nice. I would keep your trim and accessories in white to make it look clean and fresh.
    • Carole Carole on Oct 24, 2013
      @Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos Jennifer, I am looking at your post and seeing " test for lead" . I suddenly remembered in older houses that you may also need to test for asbestos. If that is in the walls or ceilings it will need to be removed by a specialist as breathing that in is very hazardous and can cause asbestosis to the lungs which is eventually fatal. I would be getting someone out to take some samples before demolishing or removing anything - even the sink as it will be attached to the wall somehow possibly and if there is asbestos in the walls, it could stir it up.
  • Me personally, I would keep the old tub, door, and medicine cabinet/sink and focus on cleaning up all the surrounding surfaces. It already has good bones to work with so save the money and keep the tub definitely and as much as you can.
    • Judy Parkey Judy Parkey on Oct 23, 2013
      @Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos That sink is not worth the time it would take to clean it. It's not the same color as the tub! Pedestal sinks aren't that expensive.
  • Sounds like your getting some good advice. The only thing I would add to Jennifers' post above is to have the electrical checked, and be sure that outlet is ground faulted. Good luck on your project!!!
    • Patricia Mompier Patricia Mompier on Oct 24, 2013
      @Straight Nails Construction sometimes in older homes they don't have the wiring ? grounded like they do now, but you can replace the plugins of course make sure the power is off
  • I agree that this tub needs to be saved. Besides it's beauty, it's a beast to remove. Change out the sink as advised and get a new toilet!!! I always get new toilet seats (at least) whenever we move - just want something fresh to sit on. Your walls will be okay with some TLC - I've rescued worse. This bathroom will be charming once you're done.
  • Tammy@Deja Vue Designs Tammy@Deja Vue Designs on Oct 24, 2013
    Oh my goodness! This bathroom has so much potential to be a charming farmhouse jewel. Add some beadboard, paint your tub with a dainty print on the side...and add a pedestal sink...and you'll have an AMAZING bathroom!
  • Cathy Rayburn-Trobaugh Cathy Rayburn-Trobaugh on Oct 24, 2013
    Great bones--so many possibilities! I agree about the sink and toilet-they are new enough not to be quaint and old enough to be outdated. But the tub and the medicine cabinet are jewels. I'm seeing a cheery farmhouse white, maybe?
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Oct 24, 2013
    Here is what I did with my bath that looked a lot like yours before redoing it. I didn't keep the mirror/medicine cabinet because it was too small but kept the tub. I made a vanity from an old dresser.
  • Robin S Robin S on Oct 24, 2013
    I love the tub and would check about getting it resurfaced. I'd put beadboard paneling on the bottom section and paint it white. I'd scrape, patch and sand the walls at the top and paint them the color you like. I love the sage greens.Rip out the old vanity and replace it with a white pedestal sink which would go well with your tub, You have a tub for long soaks and you could add a shower if you want one.
  • My daughter just moved into a 100 year old farmhouse with almost the same bathroom in the same or worse condition. They were on a shoestring budget and just needed to make it work since it was the only one in the house. After checking out a soft spot we had to replace the entire floor. We just found a soft neutral vinyl remnant for the floor. The clawfoot tub was the only option but we had to replace the one there since it was starting to rust out. She found a good one on Craigslist. We also had to replace all the plumbing and found a faucet/shower head/shower ring set on Amazon for a good price. Keep in mind that the tub plumbing is not the standard sizes we have now, so find someone who knows their stuff to help you at the hardware store if you are doing it yourself. We replaced the toilet and put in one of the compact sinks with storage at Lowes. She would love to have a pedestal, but storage is precious in this house. She painted a small metal stool glossy black and it sits by the shower so they have a place to put shampoos, etc. that they can reach through the gaps in the shower curtain. After removing the two layers of wallpaper we painted everything bright white. Her washer and dryer are also in the room so we were able to stack them and put in a 12x12 dark wood shelf she found at Ikea. I'm visiting her tomorrow and will try to take pictures. A lot of work, but it really looks nice now.
  • C&K Custom Remodeling C&K Custom Remodeling on Oct 24, 2013
    Here are a couple we have done recently. Both of these were in worse shape than yours.
  • Laurali M Laurali M on Oct 24, 2013
    don't forget to insall a vent for exhaust @Shizzle, you want to avoid those moisture problems in the future
  • Robin H Robin H on Oct 24, 2013
    Be sure to check out Antique Hardware and Home for great ideas on antique fixtures for the tub - shower curtain rails and such would really look great (since you don't want to give the neighbors a free show through the window while you shower/bath). They've got some really wonderful old fashioned glass drawer pulls too that would look amazing on the cabinet! And you might even find some great ideas for the toilet and sink there as well!
  • Anne Anne on Oct 24, 2013
    Pedestal sinks are great to look at but you must add storage somehow. AND, all those ugly pipes in back of and under the pedestal sink? Find a way to hide them. My pedestal sink was installed about 12 years ago & I don't like the look of it from the side and that is what I see everytime I enter the bathroom!.
  • Lisamariaweiss Lisamariaweiss on Oct 24, 2013
    Keep the sink, tub and medicine cabinet, and the door. These are great pieces and you can have them refinished and they will be gorgeous and keeping with the history of the house. Since you already have a chair rail I would put beadboard below it and paint it bright enamel white to match the beautiful sink and tub that are refinished. If you want to upscale the room, depending your your style, you could paint the walls a dark moody color like blue/black which is always beautiful in a room with alot of bright white when there is little wall space. Now you need some glitter and Light, so put mirror behind the sink behind the medicine cabinet and make sure you trim it in a beautiful molding; add some hardware that are vintage reproductions on the cabinets in a black hand hammered metal from a company like Acorn. Last not but least, to set the whole place alight, replace your tub fixtures and sink fixtures with reproductions in a nickel finish and go all out here because this is the jewelry of the room and it will set the whole room off. A chandelier or vintage light on the ceiling will be great and schoolhouse electric has some that will keep with the style of your decor. The hardest thing to find is the fixtures at a reasonable cost because places like Kohl are outrageous and I know of a company but can't think of it offhand. Let me know if you go this route and I will try to dig it up for you!
  • Lisamariaweiss Lisamariaweiss on Oct 24, 2013
    Shizzle, I just found the name of the company that makes beautiful reproductions much more affordable than the leading companies. It is called Strom. You can go online and pull up the catalog and you will be blown away at what you see. Also, I wasn't able to see all the walls but if you don't like the medicine cabinet over the sink you can put a large mirror but keep the cabinet and move it to another wall. It has a lot of character and will keep with the architecture of the house and just make it look more beautiful. And even if you go with two lights on the side of the mirror you choose, put a chandelier in too, It will bring all the classic elements of the room together; just make sure it is the same style as the rest of the elements in the room.
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Oct 24, 2013
    I guess everything depends upon your budget. Take inventory and decide exactly what "has" to go, I'm thinking it's the sink. Definitely white bead board and a color you luv on top. If the inside of the tub works, you might consider painting the outside of it or have it re-finished. Great looking door, new knobs would be in order. Also, some inexpensive shelving above the toilet might work or you could place a skinny cabinet/shelving between the tub and toilet. Would be a good spot for décor/essentials If you cannot replace the toilet, get a great seat that fits and looks like you need a TP holder! Lots of great ideas here. Check back with us if you run into a problem, one of us might have a solution. Best of luck, and keep us informed of your progress.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Oct 24, 2013
    You are getting great advice..I would reglaze the tub and maybe sink... they can be glazed almost any color..and its not hard. I would scrap the medicine cabinet, or use it for some other purpose..get a mirror with a beautiful frame and play it up. I would keep the beautiful molding on the top of the cabinet, it is beautiful. A frosted glass door might be nice and be a touch of the 30's. This could be a wow of a bathroom, even if small.
  • LaVerne DeHart LaVerne DeHart on Oct 24, 2013
    What a mess with so much potential! ha ha. I would keep the old mirror cabinet as is (clean and paint) and put a pedestal sink underneath it , some light bars on each side of it. The bathtub is a keeper. New toilet and new sink, a bit of paint and it would be beautiful!
  • Centrd Centrd on Oct 24, 2013
    I would love to redo that bathroom. The bones are great (awesome doors, medicine cabinet, etc.) It doesn't need much at all. Just some paint, a new sink, pedestal or small vanity (could convert a piece of furniture), I'm guessing a new floor is needed (if you're looking to save money, I'd do a typical vintage looking tile floor, maybe hex with a black accent tile here and there) and some cute lights on either side of the medicine cabinet. Maybe a crystal door knob? You've got a diamond in the rough there! I personally love to keep the integrity of a vintage space like this...it will retain it's value if you do it right. But if your style is modern or glam, then there are other things you can do as well by switching up your finishes. A bathroom is a great spot for some pretty wallpaper, too. Basically, find some pictures of what you like and have fun. It's a great space. The sky's the limit!
  • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Oct 24, 2013
    Wow where do I start? I would sand down and re-paint the medicine cabinet for sure. Install a new toilet, wall lights, and a new vanity or pedestal sink . I really like (centrd) idea. Wainscotting with a chair rail would look great. If the walls are really uneven I would sand down the best you can and cover with wall paper or give the upper walls a speciality plaster type finish. Also I would keep the original door as it looks like solid wood. Just buy a new door handle. I think all the accents should be silver. What is the surface of your tub like? If it is worn down then have it resurfaced. A hanging shower curtain would look great as well. Something that would match the rest of the colours you pick. Lastly I would stick to light bright colours. Can't wait to see your bathroom transformation.
  • Z Z on Oct 24, 2013
    Though I love the looks of claw foot tubs I hear they aren't easy to get in and out of. Before you decide what to do I'd have your wife getting in, setting down and then getting up and out and see if she still feels the same. We often don't think of things like that when see something as pretty as a claw foot tub. We tend to romanticize it.
  • Sabren Sabren on Oct 24, 2013
    I had a claw tubs and I'm 74 it was easy for me to get out of because of the sides of the tub I could hold onto. My tub now is very big and long and very hard for me to get out of. The only part that is hard with the claw tub is trying to clean around it. so when we put it in we left some space from the wall. You had a great start keeping going it will look wonderful.
  • Raya Deych Raya Deych on Oct 24, 2013
    Well there is a lot of work here but it can be done. As to the Wall and Ceiling. One option is to clean to a clean secure surface and apply Glue up ceiling tiles that can be painted in any water based color. PVC Back Splash can be applied to the wall with Base, Chair Rail and or Ceiling Crown Molding Visit www.ceilingtilesbyus.com
  • Carole Carole on Oct 24, 2013
    If the vanity unit is sound (just a bit tatty looking) I would repaint it or just change the doors if the carcass is still in tact. Depending on the sink part - that could probably be lifted off and replaced and the hardware - knobs and sink taps etc updated. If you are going to repaint the walls, remember to use a paint that has a fungicide in it to cope with the moisture that bathrooms inevitably have to deal with. Tiles can be cleaned and repainted using special tile paint and the grout redone. If any are broken and the tile style is readily available to fit in from size perspective, you could just replace any damaged tiles before painting and regrouting. This goes a long way to making it all look fresh and clean again. If the vanity is too far gone how about considering a second hand buffet/chest of drawers or something you can use to convert into a nice vanity and either a new basin sitting on top or a hole cut into the top and a sunken sink and nice tapware added? This way you can still hide your plumbing pipes and have some storage. It could also add a touch of personality to the room. Just some thoughts.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Oct 24, 2013
    Everything depends on your budget. If your own a tight budget the first thing I would do is re-mud and sand down your walls. Then paint them. It looks like you also have tiled walls? If so and the tile is in good shape clean out the grout they have tools for this and re-grout and seal it. If it is that stick on stuff tear it off and re-mud and sand down your walls then paint. If it is tile give it a really good cleaning. Taking your tub to a auto painter costs a whole lot less then having someone come to your home to re-finish it. Yes it is more work. Save your money for floors. Toilets are cheap. Sand everything down before you paint. It's hard work to do it cheaper but it can look just as nice.
  • Tracy McLean Packman Tracy McLean Packman on Oct 25, 2013
    When I saw the photo's I nearly cried. How awful it looks. But I agree with the previous comments, it would be a shame to loose the charm and character of this little room. Lots of elbow grease, scrubbing and sanding should bring this room back to life. Save the medicine cupboard, bath, door and chair rail. Personally, I'm not in love with the vanity unit or loo - they don't look like they belong with the period features. Good luck and whatever you decide to do, please post pictures.
  • Shizzle Shizzle on Oct 26, 2013
    Thanks for all the replies, this house was my great grandmothers an it's been empty for years... The sink is a must go. Been busy but ill keep all posted
  • Mary Jane Tejeda Mary Jane Tejeda on Oct 27, 2013
    This is a diamond in the rough. I hope u keep the tub and do maintenance on the walls, replace the vanity n toilet. So many ppl don't know what treasures they have. Modern goes out of style so soon. But traditional old fashioned themes keep their charm. Good luck.
  • Lady Peace N Luv Lady Peace N Luv on Oct 30, 2013
    I wanna sign up for this forum just to respond to this post! Love the title! My first reaction was FINALLY! someone with a "Before" that is as awful as mine! ha! Agree with most comments above. Lose the sink & vanity and the commode, keep and refurbish the tub and med cabinet and all that lovely molding and framework. All that old wood is gonna be a bear because its probably oil-based but it'll be worth it in the end. Is there no window or natural light in the room? Hmmmm, skylight. Well I do love to dream with other people's money! Good luck with it, its a keeper for sure.
  • Lori Lori on Apr 22, 2015
    Soooooo...... It's much later, what did you do?
  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Sep 16, 2016
    Do you want to keep tub or any of it? Refinishing tub won't be cheap and to have to also pay for new toilet and sink an vanity! I'd get rid of all of it put tub on Craigslist or let go list maybe get enough to help pay to redo this room. What's behind the door that tub looks like it won't let you open? I guess you need to figure out budget and then check out refinishing tub and floor underneath it and toilet make sure that room or space underneath can still hold ppl in tub with water aND that there is no damage as well as toilet. Do you have other bathroom in house? This maybe a total gut.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Sep 17, 2016
    oh, please keep that tub..if you scour it you may have a treasure. I would look for a pedistal sink and keep to the era of the house...go for a new toilet. Keep that medicine cabinet..refurbish it..and repaint the walls. Put in some sconces with the Edison bulbs..simple white tiles on walls and floors..and you would have a gem that will not cost all that much.Hit second hand stores and habitate for humanities stores.. they are real treasure troves.