A 1950s Bathroom Barely Looks Like the Same Room After This Remodel
Most bathroom remodels replace cabinets, fixtures, or tile. This one stripped the room to bare framing. In a project shared by Reddit user u/Saitherino, a mid-1950s bathroom with a shell sink, aging tile, and a full-size shower window was rebuilt from the inside out, including new framing, plumbing, waterproofing, and a smaller glass block window.
The bathtub stayed in place through the entire project, but almost everything around it disappeared. Months of demolition, rebuilding, and finish work transformed the same footprint into a bathroom that bears little resemblance to the original.
A Mid-Century Bathroom Hid Several Problems
The room combined a shell-shaped sink, cream wall tile, a wood vanity, and a large clear window inside the tub surround. The shower curtain provided most of the privacy while dated finishes covered every surface.
The oversized shower window became one of the first features scheduled for replacement.
Demolition Exposed Every Wall
The drywall came off every wall while the bathtub stayed in place. Open framing exposed insulation, plumbing, wiring, and the original window before reconstruction started.
The new window opening was framed smaller to accept glass block instead of a full pane of glass.
Waterproof Backer Replaced Standard Drywall
Cement backer board covered the tub surround while moisture-resistant drywall finished the remaining walls. The new glass block window and vent were already installed before waterproofing began.
Every wall around the bathtub received materials designed for wet areas.
The Floor Pattern Locked Into Place First
Large geometric floor tiles replaced the original beige flooring. Careful layout kept every pattern aligned across the narrow room before grout filled the joints.
The bold floor became the foundation for the rest of the design.
Every Shower Wall Received Waterproof Protection
A waterproof membrane sealed the cement board before tile installation. The recessed niche, plumbing, and glass block window remained exposed while the waterproof layer covered every wet surface.
No tile went up until the shower enclosure was fully sealed.
Subway Tile Wrapped Around the New Window
White subway tile reached the ceiling while matte black fixtures replaced the original chrome hardware. A blue vanity and black-framed mirror introduced contrast without competing with the patterned floor.
The glass block window brought daylight into the shower without sacrificing privacy.
Finished Bathroom Shares Only One Original Feature
The completed bathroom bears little resemblance to the room that came before it. The shell sink, cream tile, and oversized window disappeared, while the original bathtub remained as the only major fixture carried into the finished space.
The new finishes changed the appearance of the room without changing its footprint.
From bare studs to finished tile, the renovation included framing, insulation, plumbing, waterproofing, drywall, flooring, and finish work. The project rebuilt almost every surface while keeping the original bathtub in place.
Would you tackle a full bathroom gut renovation, or leave this one to the professionals?
All image credits go to reddit user @u/Saitherino