This bathroom remodel project in Alexandria, VA started the way most of our calls do - a homeowner done with patching problems in a bathroom that had seen better days. The plumbing was aging, the floor was freezing cold every winter morning, and there was nowhere to put anything in the shower. We gutted it completely and rebuilt it from scratch. The result is what you see in the photos: taupe subway tile, sage green walls, a clean floating vanity, and a layout that actually makes sense for the space.
The Challenge
The existing bathroom had a few issues stacked on top of each other. The water supply and drain lines were old enough to warrant full replacement - not the kind of thing you want to discover mid-project. The floor had zero insulation underneath it, which made it genuinely uncomfortable during Virginia winters. Ventilation was poor, the window was letting moisture in, and the shower had no dedicated storage - just bare tile walls and nowhere to put shampoo.
None of these are unusual problems for homes in this part of Northern Virginia. But fixing all of them at once, while keeping the project on schedule, takes real coordination between trades.
Scope of Work
We started with a complete bathroom demolition down to the studs. That gave us a clean slate to work from and let us address everything underneath before closing anything up.
- Plumbing & Mechanical: Replaced all water supply lines and the drain/sewage connections. Installed a high-capacity exhaust fan to handle the moisture load properly going forward.
- Heated Floor System: Ran electric radiant heat beneath the tile before setting it. It's wired through a programmable thermostat — the floor warms up on a schedule, so it's ready by the time you step in.
- Tile Work: The tub surround is covered in large-format taupe subway tiles, set in a running bond pattern with tight white grout joints. We built in a recessed niche on the back wall — lined with small hexagon mosaic tile — specifically to solve the storage problem without adding any protrusions into the shower space.
- Fixtures & Vanity: Installed a new soaking tub, a wall-mounted white vanity with a deep rectangular ceramic sink, and chrome hardware throughout. The rain showerhead sits at the right height for the sloped ceiling without feeling cramped.
- Window & Paint: Replaced the old window with a new moisture-resistant unit with clean white trim. Walls were finished in a sage green, moisture-rated paint that works well against the warm tone of the tile.
- Mirror: The mosaic-framed mirror was selected to pull in the texture from the shower niche and give the vanity wall some visual weight without adding bulk.
The Result
The bathroom photographs well, but what the homeowner actually notices day-to-day is the floor being warm, having a place to put things in the shower, and not seeing condensation build up on the walls anymore. The aesthetic came together - the taupe tile, sage green, and chrome hardware read clean and current without trying too hard - but the functional upgrades are what make it worth the investment.
If your bathroom is due for a real overhaul, not just a surface refresh, we're happy to walk through what that looks like for your home. Give NextDay Remodeling a call and we'll set up a free consultation at your property.