They Removed the Clawfoot Tub and Rebuilt the Entire Bathroom
Bathrooms built in the 1920s often contain original features that no longer match modern needs. Reddit user u/MolassesGrouchy5615’s bathroom still had a clawfoot tub, vintage tile flooring, built-in cabinetry, and aging finishes, but the layout offered limited functionality for daily use.
The homeowners removed the clawfoot tub, gutted the room to the studs, updated plumbing and electrical systems, installed heated floors, and rebuilt the space around a walk-in shower. A custom wood vanity, frameless glass enclosure, large-format tile, and a wood-look feature wall replaced nearly every visible surface in the room.
Clawfoot Tub and Small Vanity Anchored the Space
Freestanding clawfoot tub occupied much of the room and sat directly in front of the vanity area. Hex tile flooring with blue accents extended across the floor, while wall tile wrapped around the perimeter.
Tub placement dictated the entire layout. Showering required a full curtain enclosure around the tub, leaving little open floor space in the narrow bathroom.
Decorative Updates Could Not Fix the Layout
Plants, shelving, baskets, and a colorful shower curtain added texture and color without changing the room’s structure. Original tile, fixtures, and layout remained in place.
Storage improved, but circulation did not. The tub continued to block sightlines from the doorway and limited how the room functioned day to day.
Demolition Took the Bathroom Down to the Studs
Walls, finishes, fixtures, and trim were removed until only framing remained. Exposed studs revealed plumbing lines, wiring, and structural components hidden behind decades of renovations.
Nothing from the finished bathroom remained except the basic shell. Demolition created an opportunity to rebuild plumbing, electrical systems, insulation, and wall surfaces from scratch.
Heated Floors and Waterproofing Went In Before Tile
Electric floor-heating cables were installed beneath an uncoupling membrane that covered nearly the entire floor. Waterproofing systems protected the future shower area before tile installation began.
New wallboard replaced the exposed framing, creating clean surfaces for tile. Preparation work occupied a significant portion of the project before any visible finishes were installed.
Walk-In Shower Replaced the Tub Entirely
Large-format porcelain tile covers the shower walls while a ribbed wood-look feature wall anchors the back of the enclosure. A frameless glass partition keeps the room visually open from end to end.
Removing the tub allowed the shower to occupy the full width of the room. Corner shelves provide storage without interrupting the wall surfaces.
Symmetrical Lighting Frames the Vanity Wall
A furniture-style vanity with substantial hardware replaced the compact sink arrangement. Thick marble surfaces, brushed metal fixtures, and a large rounded-corner mirror create a more tailored appearance while adding counter space and storage.
Matching sconces mounted on both sides of the mirror establish strong symmetry across the vanity wall. A solid metal towel ring, oversized cabinet pulls, and turned-leg detailing reinforce the furniture-inspired design, while the marble countertop becomes the visual centerpiece beneath the lighting.
Frameless Glass Shower Became the Centerpiece
Clear frameless glass stretches across the shower opening, preserving uninterrupted sightlines from the vanity to the back wall. Without metal framing or curtains, the enclosure allows the shower materials and fixtures to remain fully visible from the doorway.
A ceiling-mounted rainfall showerhead, matching hand shower, and minimal hardware reinforce the streamlined design. Vertical wood-look tile draws attention toward the window and ceiling, while the glass enclosure allows the shower wall, fixtures, and lighting reflections to become part of the room rather than a separate enclosed zone.
Wood-Look Tile Created the Statement Wall
Vertical ribbed porcelain tile forms the shower backdrop behind the rainfall showerhead. Large-format tile on the side walls contrasts with the narrow linear texture of the feature wall.
Warm wood tones balance the stone-look finishes used elsewhere in the bathroom. Combined with the glass enclosure, the wall became the feature most commenters noticed first.
What Did the Renovation Cost?
The homeowners spent about $13,000 on the renovation and completed most of the labor themselves, with licensed friends assisting on plumbing and electrical work. A custom frameless glass enclosure accounted for nearly $3,000 of the budget, making it the largest single expense. The project took roughly four months to complete.
Would you have kept the original clawfoot tub and hex tile floor, or made the same decision and rebuilt the room around a walk-in shower?
All image credits go to @MolassesGrouchy5615