When the Walls Came Down: Bathroom Remodel: Start to Finish | Part 2

Last month, I took you inside my sister Maria and her husband Mike’s primary bathroom, in the house that once belonged to our parents. It’s a bathroom that has been frozen in time since the 1980s. We talked about planning, budgets, and why I always tell clients to set aside a little extra for surprises. (Missed it? Click here to read Part 1.)

This month, the walls came down. And yes, we found a surprise.

Demo day is always a big moment. It’s exciting, a little messy, and it’s when an older house finally tells you the truth about itself. Planning is everything, but you never truly know what’s behind a wall until you open it up.

The Window with a Secret

If you saw last month's photos, you may remember the window in the shower. It let in plenty of light, but it also let in plenty of Florida humidity. When we opened the wall beneath it, we found mold.

The good news is that we caught it early. The mold was limited to that one spot and hadn't spread, and our contractor removed it safely and completely.

Honestly, that window was never a favorite. Maria and Mike always found it an eyesore, and it was a confusing choice by the original builder. A window in a shower gets splashed every single day, and over the years that moisture had found its way into the wall.

With the mold gone, we had to make sure it would never come back. That meant the window had to go, and we had two ways to do it:

• Remove it completely. Take the window out, rebuild the wall, and re-brick the outside of the house to match. That's a bigger job, with more cost and more time.

• Close it in from the inside. Seal the opening with cement board and a waterproof membrane, tile over it, and leave the exterior window in place.

We chose the second option. The window faces the private garden outside the primary bath, behind a privacy fence, so no one can see it from the street. From outside, it still looks like a window. Inside, the shower wall is now solid, and the moisture problem is gone for good.

Covering over the window was the simpler solution, it cost less, and it solved the problem completely. That's one of my favorite lessons from any remodel: the best fix isn't always the biggest one.

Where the Walk-In Tub Once Stood

The corner where my father's walk-in tub used to be has a whole new look. We tiled the area in a rich light brown that complements the rest of the room, and soon a beautiful freestanding tub will take its place. After everything that corner has meant to our family, it's wonderful to see it become something new.

An empty corner with a lot of history. After demo, the space where our father’s walk-in tub stood is ready for something new.

From studs to style: the tile and wallpaper are in, and this corner is almost ready for its freestanding tub. A few finishing touches to go!

Living Without Your Primary Bathroom

Here's the part of a remodel no one talks about: for several weeks, the bathroom you use every day simply isn't there. Add contractors coming and going, plus family or guests, and your home can start to feel like Grand Central Station. A little planning makes a big difference.

1. Set up a temporary "bathroom" station. Clear a dresser top or a corner of the bedroom for a mirror, good lighting, and a caddy with your daily essentials. You'll get ready faster, and you won't be carrying armfuls of toiletries down the hall every morning.
2. Share the guest bath gracefully. If everyone is using one bathroom, agree on a simple morning schedule, keep a basket for each person's things, and stock extra towels and toilet paper. A quick wipe-down every evening keeps it pleasant for everyone.
3. Plan for the crew. Decide in advance how workers will get in (a lockbox or a set entry time works well), which door they'll use, and which bathroom they can use. Agree on start and stop times, so you know when the house is yours again.
4. Contain the dust. Ask your contractor to seal off the work area with plastic sheeting, cover nearby air returns, and lay floor protection along the path to the door. Remodel dust travels farther than you'd think.
5. Protect what matters. Put away jewelry, medications, and anything valuable or fragile in the rooms near the work. If you have pets, keep them in a quiet room away from the noise and the open doors.
6. Give guests a heads-up. If family is visiting, especially with the holidays coming, let them know what to expect. A little honesty ahead of time, plus fresh towels and a cleared spot for their things, keeps everyone comfortable.
7. Keep the end in sight. Remodels are disruptive, but they're temporary. A bit of patience now means years of enjoying a bathroom that truly fits the way you live.

Coming Next Month: The Reveal

We're in the home stretch. The tile is in, the walk-in tub's old corner has a beautiful new look, and the freestanding tub is on its way. In November, I'll show you the finished bathroom, from the new layout to the final details that made it feel like Maria and Mike's own. I can't wait for you to see it!