What you see here started as one of the most common calls we get: 'We just need a refresh.' What it became was a complete bathroom remodel and tub-to-shower conversion (gut-to-stud, floor-to-ceiling) — and one of our most satisfying builds this year.
- The old tub is gone. In its place: a fully custom walk-in shower with a frameless-profile glass partition and matte black trim that draws the eye without crowding the room.
- The layout breathes now. Classic subway tile runs horizontally across the walls, white with dark grout — graphic, clean, and timeless. Two hexagon formats handle the floors: oversized white hex in the main zone, small-format mosaic inside the shower where slip resistance and proper drain slope actually matter.
- The vanity is wall-hung, finished in dark walnut. It grounds the space and pulls warmth into a palette that could easily run cold. Every fixture (faucet, shower system, mirror frame, light bar) is matte black. The consistency makes the room feel designed, not assembled.
- New windows replaced the originals. In a bathroom this size, natural light isn't a luxury detail. It's what makes the whole thing work.
What Was Actually Behind the Walls
This project is a good example of why bathroom renovation estimates exist in ranges, not fixed numbers. When we pulled the old tub and opened up the floor, we found what years of slow leaks leave behind: soft subfloor, rotted joists, and framing that had lost its integrity. None of it was visible from the surface. None of it showed up in the original scope.
We stopped, documented everything, and walked the homeowner through exactly what needed to happen before a single tile could go down. That's the job — not just the finish work.
The Full Scope
- Demolition & Structural Work. Full strip-out of existing finishes. Removal of a non-load-bearing wall to reconfigure the layout. Subfloor opened, damaged joists replaced and sistered, framing reinforced to eliminate flex, because flex under tile means cracked grout and failed seams, eventually.
- Windows. The existing window openings ended up inside the shower footprint. New moisture-rated window units were installed and sealed to perform in a wet zone long-term.
- Waterproofing. Schluter Kerdi membrane throughout the shower assembly. This is the system we use on every wet installation. It keeps water where it belongs and keeps callbacks off the schedule.
- Rough-In & Systems. Beyond the full replacement of supply and drainage lines, we optimized the ventilation for the room's square footage and installed a heated floor under the new tilework.
- Finish Work. Subway tile with dark grout, black metal schluter trim at all transitions and corners. Dual-format hexagon floors. Walk-in shower with glass partition. Wall-hung walnut vanity. Matte black plumbing fixtures and accessories throughout.