From Rotting to Radiant: A Century-Old Bathroom Rebuilt
When water damage threatens a bathroom’s structure . . .
This family has lived in their home for 20 years. The century-old bungalow in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis houses five people and just one bathroom.
As if one bathroom for five people wasn’t enough of a challenge, the bathroom itself was sorely outdated. . . the victim of at least one poor DIY project. Wonky fixture placement, mismatched finishes, cabinet doors that never stayed closed, and can we just say. . . blah?
The worst of the DIY errors wasn’t even found within the bathroom. Not only had the previous jack-of-all-trades made grievous errors when cutting through floor joists for new plumbing, but the tile in the shower leaked so badly water literally poured into the wall with every shower.
“We cannot wait any longer” was an understatement when first meeting the homeowners. Time to get to work.
Just because a repair is desperately needed, doesn’t mean it has to be all doom and gloom or result in a boring space. And what fun we had planning this project! While the homeowners couldn’t pinpoint exactly what colors or finishes they wanted, they knew they wanted color – and to invoke a Mexican vibe, harkening to their cultural heritage.
The decisions about the floorplan had to be intentional to create a feeling of space in the tiny bathroom. We needed to inject every inch of the bathroom with creative functional aspects.
The ledge along the wall allowed for plumbing to run through the wall, while creating additional surface area in this bathroom that has no vanity.
Extending the ledge into the shower creates a continuous sense of balance. Accompanying with corner shelving in the shower guarantees everyone has a place for their products.
Replacing the worn out tub with a spacious walk-in shower is not only more appropriate for this family of adults and near-adults, it contributes to the visually expansive changes in the room.
Frameless glass shower door eliminates the visual barrier of the old shower curtain.
A wall-hung sink means an open and airy vibe underfoot.
Custom cabinetry extends all the way to the 9-foot ceilings, with ample space for linen storage and features tip-out doors that double as surface area for cosmetics and toiletries while primping, but can be discretely stowed in the cabinet when not in use.
The oval mirror is sleek and features dimmable LED task and mood lighting.
Deep teal mixed with shades of gold and burnt orange, alongside earthy travertine-like tiles elicits the feel of a Mexican spa retreat.
The mosaic tile blend was custom curated, carefully choosing colors and percentages to for the perfect balance of shades and texture.
Hand-painted Talavera-style cabinet knobs and funky orange-and-glass light fixture are the jewelry to this gem of a bathroom!
The homeowners have said they didn’t know what they wanted or even how to communicate the vibe, but their Designer was somehow able to extract the information from their brains and create a new space that is entirely and uniquely them. There’s no higher compliment to a Designer!
The ability to “be in their brain” was a huge reassurance as we embarked on the construction of this project. We knew the water damage was significant, but we could not have known how severe.
To combat the anxiety, we made as thorough an assessment as possible, then created a contingency plan and included an allowance in the project for repairs. This way, pivots during construction can feel less daunting and more like part of the plan rather than on-the-fly decisions.
Demolition revealed floor joists that were rotting from the topside, and from the inside-out. Behind the shower wall, we found wood studs that had quite literally decomposed into fertile soil. While repairs were difficult, the project team remained calm and agile, working together to creatively leverage their unique skills and problem-solving abilities. Truly, they knocked it out of the park.
The floor joists were reinforced and the exterior wall was re-framed. We may not have expected to entirely remove the wall or support as many joists, but this house is now as solid as the day it was built – and will be for another hundred years.
At the forefront of all our efforts is always – always – taking care of our homeowners. Doing right by them and their home, and making sure they have all the guidance they need to make smart decisions. This project was no exception.
With the structural repairs resolved and the moldy, rotted materials removed, the homeowners could quite literally breathe easy.
When the new bathroom was revealed, their teenaged son, wearing a rare expression of surprise, said “whoa” before nodding and disappearing into his bedroom. I don’t think I need to tell you how much of a compliment that is!
This new bathroom is beyond what this family had hoped for; a vibrant, joyful space that celebrates their unique style and supports their bustling lives.
The family now enjoys a space that brings them daily happiness and security. There’s no other way for Two Island Design Build to leave our clients. Anything less is just not enough.
Working with warm and welcoming families like this to rebuild what is fractured to leave them feeling so supported and heard. . . is truly an honor and a privilege. Winning awards for projects like these are just a validating cherry on top!
A heartfelt Thank You to these incredible clients who trusted us with their home and invited us to be part of their journey. Thank you to our trade partners who expertly worked together with us and each other to pull every detail of this project together. Thank you to colleagues and friends for encouraging and cheering us on. And to NARI of Minnesota, thank you for recognizing the hard work, careful planning, trust, and creativity that went into this project!
Thanks so much for reading and following along with the Two Island Design Build adventures. Cheers!