Bathroom remodeling a 60-year-old Arlington home is a completely different animal than updating a newer space—and this project is a perfect example of why. What started as a tired, cramped "combo" bathroom became a clean, high-contrast black-and-white space built for the long haul. We went all the way down to the studs, fixed what decades had broken, and put it back together the right way.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the full before-and-after.
The Challenge
This Arlington bathroom had been doing its job for over six decades—and it showed. The cast iron drain pipes were well past their service life, making leaks a matter of when, not if. The layout had no separation whatsoever: toilet, tub, and sink all crammed into one open space with zero privacy. Years of inadequate ventilation had taken a toll on the walls and ceiling, and the old tile made the room feel darker and smaller than it actually was.
What We Did
Full Demo & Subfloor Repair — We stripped everything back to the studs and replaced the subfloor. Nothing gets tiled over rot or soft spots on our jobs.
- Complete Plumbing Replacement — Out went the old cast iron drainage; in went new PVC piping sized and sloped correctly for trouble-free performance.
- Privacy Partition Wall — A new partition wall now separates the toilet area from the rest of the room. Simple addition, huge difference in how the space feels and functions.
- Full Membrane Waterproofing — Before a single tile went up, we applied a continuous waterproofing membrane across the entire tub surround. This is what protects the home's structure for the next 20–30 years.
- Vertical Subway Tile with Custom Niches — White subway tiles installed vertically draw the eye upward and make the ceiling feel taller. We built two custom recessed niches into the surround and finished them with hexagon mosaic accents—practical storage that also breaks up the field tile nicely.
- Matte Black Hardware — New matte black faucets, a rain showerhead, and matching accessories give the space a consistent, modern look without chasing trends.
- Ventilation & Lighting Upgrade — A high-powered exhaust fan keeps moisture under control now, and recessed LED lighting replaced the old fixture to make the room feel open and well-lit at any hour.
The Result
The finished bathroom is exactly what this Arlington home needed: bright, clean, easy to maintain, and built to last. The vertical tile pattern and black-and-white palette do a lot of visual heavy lifting—the room reads as noticeably larger and more open without touching the original footprint. No gimmicks, just good work and smart choices on materials and layout.
Is Your Bathroom Showing Its Age?
If your bathroom is stuck in the past or worse, hiding infrastructure problems behind old tile - NextDay Remodeling is ready to take a look. We serve Alexandria, Arlington and the greater Northern Virginia area with straightforward bathroom renovations focused on quality and long-term durability.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Let's figure out what your bathroom actually needs and get it done right.