They Removed the Dark Blue Tile and the Bathroom Looks Like a Completely Different Space
Dark blue square tile covered the floor, walls, tub surround, and shower partition in this primary bathroom. A large built-in tub occupied much of the room, while the same navy finish connected almost every major surface.
Reddit user u/Fit-Olive-4680 spent seven months remodeling the space. The project went over the original estimate, cost more than their kitchen renovation, and reached a point where they fired the contractor. Removing the tub freed wall space near the pass-through to the closet and changed the layout.
Wood cabinetry, pale stone counters, terracotta-toned flooring, cream shower tile, and new lighting replaced most of the dark finishes. One part of the old bathroom survived the renovation, and it became one of the biggest points of debate in the thread.
Dark Blue Tile Covered the Floor and Walls
Square navy tile ran across the floor and continued halfway up the walls, creating a dark band around the room. The tub deck used the same tile, including the step built along its front edge.
A white door and cream upper walls broke up the blue, but the repeated tile left little separation between the floor, tub, and walls.
Shower Mixed White Tile With the Same Navy Finish
White square tile covered most of the shower, with a wide navy stripe running around the enclosure. A handheld showerhead, built-in soap dish, and triangular tiled corner seat filled the compact interior.
Small white mosaic tile covered the floor, bringing more contrast into the shower without separating it from the navy palette used across the bathroom.
Glass Blocks Divided the Shower From the Toilet
A large panel of textured glass blocks formed part of the shower partition beside the toilet. Navy tile framed the blocks, while a blue-and-white striped curtain covered the shower entrance.
The blocks let light pass through the partition without using clear glass. Several Reddit commenters expected them to disappear during the renovation and were surprised to find them in the finished bathroom.
Built-In Tub Occupied Much of the Floor Plan
The drop-in tub sat inside a wide navy tiled platform beneath another glass-block opening. Its surround projected toward the center of the room, with a tiled step adding more depth to the footprint.
The homeowner chose to remove the tub because of space constraints and the pass-through to the closet. That decision provided more usable wall space and improved the room’s flow.
Demolition Opened the Wall Toward the Closet
Once the tub and surrounding tile came out, the scale of the layout change became clear. Sections of wall were stripped to the studs, exposing the closet on the other side.
The glass-block window remained untouched during demolition. Instead of rebuilding the former tub zone, the new plan used the available walls for counters and storage.
Wood Cabinetry Filled the Former Tub Area
Stained wood cabinets now wrap around the corner beneath a pale stone countertop. Deep drawers, smaller drawers, and sink cabinets turn the former tub side of the room into storage and counter space.
Brass-toned hardware pairs with two globe sconces, while a black-framed mirror adds a darker line above the sink. A woven pendant hangs overhead, and the existing glass-block window now sits above the counter rather than the tub.
Second Vanity Added Another Bank of Storage
A separate vanity occupies the opposite side of the room, with wide cabinet doors and a vertical stack of drawers. The wood front mounted beside the mirror conceals additional wall storage.
The same stone counter and brass-toned hardware connect both vanity areas. Instead of dedicating a large section of the bathroom to the tub, the remodel distributes storage around the room.
Shower Gained a Bench and Arched Niche
The small triangular seat was replaced with a bench spanning the back wall. Narrow cream tiles cover the walls and bench, while a pale herringbone mosaic extends across the shower floor.
An arched niche adds recessed storage above the bench. Its illuminated upper section and marble-patterned lower section break up the horizontal tile without adding another projecting shelf.
Glass Blocks Stayed in the Rebuilt Shower
The shower partition kept its original glass-block center, but the navy frame disappeared. Pale rectangular tile now surrounds the blocks and continues into the shower.
That decision split opinion in the thread. Some commenters praised the homeowner for keeping the blocks, while others questioned why they survived such an extensive remodel. The homeowner said preserving the glass-block shower wall was one part of the project they were glad they could keep.
Terracotta-Toned Hex Tile Replaced the Navy Floor
Large hexagonal tiles in rust, brown, cream, and ochre now cover the bathroom floor. Their varied surface stands apart from the pale shower and counters while picking up the brown tones in the cabinetry.
The floor did not turn out as expected. The homeowner said the store example showed a soft golden terracotta, while the delivered boxes contained three or four variations. With the tile nonreturnable and the project already wearing them down, they went ahead with installation.
Before and After Shows How Much the Palette Changed
The side-by-side view shows the shift from navy tile and a built-in tub to wood cabinetry, pale counters, cream shower tile, and a multitone hex floor. Removing the tub also changed how much of the room could serve as storage and counter space.
Yet the glass blocks remain visible in both versions. Surrounded by pale tile instead of glossy navy, the same feature reads as part of a new material palette rather than something erased with the rest of the old bathroom.
Would you have kept the glass blocks, or removed them with the dark blue tile?
Image credits to reddit user u/Fit-Olive-4680.