Case Study: Rethinking a Bathroom from the 70s

Modern Comfort and Tradition

After the rehabilitation

Sloppy and Uncomfortable

Before the Love

This bathroom, last remodeled in the late 1970s, had accumulated so many issues. The tub wobbled on some poorly sawn pieces of wood, the wall-mounted toilet made the whole wall flex, there was no ventilation or working windows, a glass door opened into the toilet, the medicine cabinet had to be pried open, and there was dry rot and questionable installations all throughout.

In this 1904 Queen Anne, the primary bathroom received a total transformation with all new tile, fixtures, cabinetry, moulding, windows, paint, and a new-old door. Leola handled all of the design, sourcing, deliveries, hiring, scheduling, oversight, and even some of the simpler installations!

This project was hyper-local. The grounding penny tile is a traditional shape but non-traditional green color, and from South San Francisco. The moulding is from a lumber yard in San Francisco and is an exact match to the original moulding from the parlor room. New polished nickel faucets and console sink from a couple of California companies mix with antique brass knobs and light fixtures.

While the tub looks vintage with aged copper, it's actually a sturdy and repairable acrylic clawfoot from a US company that we found an example of in Calistoga. Given that this tub is on the third floor, the lightness of acrylic gave much more peace of mind.

Soapstone from the Dogpatch District and left over from a prior project makes the half wall much more usable and brings in yet more earthy tones. And a giant medicine cabinet, providing much needed storage and the clearly the star of the show, was created by a talented carpenter from the East Bay.