This recent bathroom remodel in Toledo, Ohio is a great example of how an older home can be updated without losing the character that makes it special.
There’s a balance that comes with remodeling an older home. You want the space to function better for the way you live today, but you don’t necessarily want to erase all of the character that made the home special in the first place.
That was the goal with this little cottage bathroom.
The bathroom needed updating, but it didn’t need to become something it wasn’t. By working within the existing layout, keeping details like the coved ceiling, and choosing light, timeless finishes, we were able to give the homeowner a brighter and much more functional bathroom while still making it feel like it belonged in her home.
And while we’re pretty proud of how this one turned out, the bathroom itself probably isn’t what our crew will remember most about this project.
More on that in a minute…
Updating an Older Bathroom Without Changing the Layout
A bathroom remodel doesn’t always require moving walls or completely reconfiguring the room.
For this project, we were able to keep the existing footprint while making some pretty significant improvements to how the space looked and functioned.
The original bathroom had conventional built-in storage that took up valuable space. We removed those built-ins and replaced them with a double vanity, giving the homeowner more usable storage and considerably more countertop space.
We also kept the existing coved ceiling rather than trying to remove or disguise it. Paired with light paint colors and bright finishes, it became part of the character of the finished bathroom.
The plumbing fixtures, lighting and hardware were all selected to complement one another, creating a space that feels fresh and updated without feeling overly modern for the age and style of the home.
The Work Behind the Walls
One of the biggest challenges of remodeling a bathroom in an older home is often the part you don’t see in the finished photos.
Early in the rough-in stage, our crew had to work through existing plumbing and electrical that needed to be updated to meet modern code.
The challenge was making those updates work with the bathroom’s existing layout while also respecting the structure of the home.
Older homes don’t always give you the clean slate that newer construction does. Plumbing, electrical and framing can all present unexpected challenges once a project gets underway. Part of remodeling these homes well is knowing how to work through those challenges without making unnecessary changes to the rest of the house.
In this case, our team was able to modernize what needed to be updated behind the walls while preserving the layout and character we wanted to keep.
More Storage and Better Everyday Function
One of the biggest visible changes was replacing the old built-ins with the new double vanity.
It gave the homeowner more storage, more countertop space and a setup that simply works better for everyday life.
That’s something we think about a lot when remodeling bathrooms. A beautiful finished space is important, but so is how that space actually functions once our crew leaves.
Sometimes the best improvements aren’t the biggest ones. They’re the changes that make using the room easier every single day.
Planning for the Years Ahead
We also wanted this bathroom to continue working well for the homeowner in the future.
Grab bars were incorporated into the finished space, and additional blocking was installed behind the walls to make future modifications easier if they’re ever needed.
These kinds of aging-in-place considerations are much easier to plan for while the walls are already open during a bathroom remodel. And they don’t have to take away from the overall design of the room.
The goal is simply to think ahead.
The homeowner gets a bathroom she loves and can enjoy now, with some thoughtful details already in place to help the space continue working for her for years to come.
The Part of This Remodel We’ll Remember Most
As much as we love seeing a finished project come together, this is one our crew will probably remember much more for the homeowner than the bathroom itself.
Throughout the project, the normal morning conversations and end-of-day updates became more than conversations about construction.
She shared stories about her life, her family and her friends. There were conversations around her table at lunchtime and, according to our crew, an abundance of food and desserts that she made sure they never went without.
When you work in someone’s home every day, you get to know them.
And every once in a while, a project leaves an impact that has very little to do with the remodel itself.
This was one of those.
Some projects make a lasting impact, and this is one we’ll be talking about for years to come.
We’re grateful we got to be a small part of her home and her story – and we’re pretty proud of the bathroom we got to leave behind, too.
Bathroom Remodeling in Northwest Ohio
If you have an older home and are wondering how to update your bathroom without losing the character you love about it, we’d be happy to talk through what’s possible.
Kleeberger Contracting Services takes pride in older home bathroom remodels in Toledo, Ohio and throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, including Maumee, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Monclova, Napoleon and surrounding communities.
Whether you’re looking for better storage, an updated design, improved accessibility or a complete bathroom renovation, our goal is the same: create a space that works better for you while providing a better remodeling experience from start to finish.
Thinking about remodeling your bathroom? Contact Kleeberger Contracting Services to start the conversation.