Christophe is not afraid to tackle a home improvement project; he’s a true DIYer whose passion and enthusiasm come out in his exceptional work.
The original bathroom in his 1950s rowhouse needed some sprucing up. It had some redeeming qualities — the neutral white and gray tile floor and the tub were in good shape – but overall the room was dated.
With this being the only bathroom in the house, Christophe knew the renovation would be a long-term project. He needed to use the bathroom as he remodeled, so that meant he could only do a little at a time.
Christophe started by removing all the tiles on the walls and around the tub. He liked the gray color and some of the tiles were still in good condition, so he kept some to use as accents for the new walls. He took the walls down to the studs, including the extremely messy task of removing the plaster walls. The process took well over a month.
But it was well worth the effort. Here’s the tub with the new tile that goes all the way to the ceiling. The window ledge is also tiled (if you have a 1950s bathroom without a tiled window, you may be very familiar with the mold issue).
The original floor goes so well with the new wall tile. I’ve heard those old floors are a beast to redo, so Christophe was lucky this one was in such good shape.
In the end, Chrstophe created a spectacular new bathroom, still in line with the original style of the house, but with a more modern feel and some interesting accents including this recessed shelf.
Another creative touch is this mirror built into the wall.
Christophe’s attention to detail is exquisite — this does not look like a first-time tile job.
The project took months to complete and in addition to the tile, he also installed a new toilet, a new faucet and base cabinet for the sink, and a new light. The cabinet was purchased at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the remaining supplies were purchased at Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Christophe’s advice for anyone undertaking this type of project: “Be patient. If you get frustrated, take a break, do not rush.”
