It’s been over a year since we did a One Room Challenge. I was practically scarred and traumatized by taking on that much work in such a short period of time. It was such a big room, plus we refurnished the whole room. Please send messages of support and lots of coffee, cause we’re gonna need it. I might cry. I don’t know.

We’re renovating a much smaller space, but with more ‘technical’ moving parts. The downstairs bathroom is our only bathroom on the first floor, and the only bathroom with stand up shower. Yes, you heard me right. I would categorize having one stand up shower in a 5,200 sq ft house as old home hell. I feel like a college student living in my own house. But we’re grown ups, I promise! We grab our towels and tromp down stairs to shower, then track back upstairs to go to our master bathroom where all the personal ‘getting ready’ stuff is stored. Imagine how fun this is when we have guests over. Ummmm. No… NO. NO. NO. Too many awkward passings on the staircase – half naked. It’s strange.  

Since day one, I have been dying to renovate this bathroom. But frankly, it’s a huge puzzle and that’s the reason we haven’t done it. Every single thing needs to be touched in the bathroom. I’ll put my long to-do list at the bottom of the post so you can see what we are up against. We also have to figure out where the new shower will go on the second floor. While we are focusing on the downstairs bathroom for the One Room Challenge, you’ll hear us talk about the master bathroom because we need to install a shower to make the house functional. We’ll be taking baths for a few weeks, I’m sure. I’m not complaining, but Will is not thrilled.

Let’s go back in time, to the 1800s. When this house was built, there was no electricity and no indoor plumbing. We think the spot under the stairs was an old servants hallway. There was a swinging door that lead into an odd back corner of the living room. You could easily come and go mostly unnoticed. In the 1950s when Fred and Les owned Stony Ford, they converted this space into a tiny powder room. Checkerboard tile, heavy drapes and yellow paint. Hot for the time. Fast forward 60 years, Fred has passed away and Les can’t do the stairs. His family installs a handicap shower so he can shower without going up and down the stairs. Totally understand.

I’ve always known the shower was a point of necessity for the house. Les put so much into making the house chic, and Fred so much detail into the woodwork. This bathroom was a fast conversion done out of need. We are removing the shower. I can’t see the point of having a shower on the first floor. What gets me even more is that when you are in the hallway and look through the bathroom door, the first thing you see: handicap shower.

When the bathroom was converted, the toilet paper holders were never moved, and guest legit come out of the bathroom and ask why there are two. There’s the two floor and chopped up moulding. Plus, builder grade moulding and a hollow door. I know, I know. Don’t freak out. We already bought a new solid wood door. One of the things I love about this house are the original details, so when something like this bathroom is out of place, it really stands out. Everytime i swing open that hollow core door, my heart aches. I’ll tell you how much we paid for the replacement door and I’m sure you’ll never look at doors the same.

We’d like to chanel the craftsmanship and detail that Les and Fred put into the house and renovate this bathroom by bringing it back to life. We need it to function as a powder room and bathroom, plus I need some storage for down stairs. After living in an apartment for my whole life, living in a house with multiple stories is COMPLICATED. You need multiples of the same thing. It drives me bonkers. I’m going to put some thought into what we need and plan the best supplies cabinet you ever did see. It will be so nice to not run upstairs for a band-aid. Or for Advil.

The only thing we are keeping from the bathroom is the sink. You heard me right, everything else is a gonner. Two styles of mish mash flooring, two toilet paper holders, all gone. And the fiberglass shower, hits the trash pile. We’re also getting a new toilet (you are gonna pass out when you see it!).

Here are the before pictures! Avert your eyes! Next week, I’ll share my design plan and some of the product we’re going to use in the space.

You’ll see us working on multiple bathrooms at once. It’s going to be confusing. We are hyper focused on this bathroom for the ORC because it’s our main floor bathroom, where as our master bath we can be a bit leisurely about completing. If we have time and it makes sense, you’ll see us interweaving work to save time and plan for maximum efficiency. I’ll post before and afters of the master bath after the ORC.

If you’re not already, follow us on Instagram. I share our daily life on Stories and the complete behind the scenes.

To-Do List
(in no particular order)

– Get new tile floor
– Install new sub floor
– Install floor
– Find replacement door, solid wood from salvage
– Look into ordering new wood paneling
– Install wood paneling
– Gut space
– Move toilet
– Get new toilet
– Get new faucet
– Install new faucet
– Get new under sink pipes that match sink, brass
– Recase window
– Recase door
– Install new door hardware
– Find antique cabinet for corner
– Order wall paper
– Wall paper ceiling
– Wallpaper walls
– Wallpaper ceiling
– Find new mirror
– Hang new mirror
– Get new toilet paper holder
– Get curtain rods
– Make new curtains
– Pick paint color
– Order paint
– Paint
– Get new sconces
– Get new ceiling fixture (check third floor for vintage one)
– Install lighting
– Source art for space (check storage cabinet)
– Style new cabinet
– Get new hand towels
– Consider vintage rug for winter
– Take out radiator
– Paint radiator
– Strip and paint door
– Install all new hardware
– Install new door hardware (knob and hinges)

Is that it? Did I miss anything. I think about this list around 3:00 am. Be sure to check out the other bloggers doing the ORC. Link list below. 

At Home with Ashley | Brepurposed | Dabito | The English Room | Erin Kestenbaum

Harlow & Thistle | House of Brinson | J & J Design | Kelly Golightly | Linda Holt

Megan Bachmann | Michelle Gage | Mimosa Lane | Murphy Deesign | Vestige Home

Old Home Love | SG Style | Shay Geyer | Sita Montgomery | SMP Living

Media Partner Better Homes & Gardens | TM by ORC