The Messy Middle: DIY Modern Vintage Primary Bath Remodel at the Georgian

When we toured our home for the first time, we tried to see past interior design choices and finishes to keep our focus on location, light, and livability. Those sorts of things can’t be changed, but so much else can! Our primary bath’s sea of brown tiles covering walls and floors immediately felt oppressive, and the 90s Jacuzzi with surround and steps were neither safe nor soothing for this wobbly woman of the manor. While we knew it would be a long, laborious remodel, I probably underestimated the time commitment and constraints! Here are plans and glimpses of the messy middle of our DIY modern vintage primary bath remodel at the Georgian.

Traditional freestanding white single vanity with carrara marble top in our French country bathroom. #hellolovelystudio #bathroomdesign #whitevanity #carraramarble #kohlerpurist #bathroomfaucets
The bath in our former home

Planning Our DIY Modern Vintage Primary Bath Remodel

Decide on a Style Direction

You would think this would be the easy and imaginative part, but for this very traditional elegant home, it is a more complex one. Since I’m all for listening to a home’s architecture, this bath was crying out to be more timeless and less “clunky, angular, 90s style.”

The primary bath before renovation - dark brown vanity, dark brown granite top, and tons of brown tile - Hello Lovely Studio.
During our DIY Modern Vintage Primary Bath Remodel

We love classic 1920s bathrooms, but we wanted the bath to function for modern life. Modern vintage style, serenity, and cloud-like living (white and bright!) are guiding the style direction.

Plastering ceiling during our bath remodel at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.
Here’s the stage we’re at: plastering a textured ceiling

Here’s what we’re thinking:

Address What Doesn’t Function for Our Lifestyle

The biggest problems are the shower and tub areas. A built-in bench in a spacious shower is swell except when it is built UNDER the shower head and not across from it. If backbends are your thing, have at it.

Vanity wall in bathroom after removal at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.
During our DIY Modern Vintage Primary Bath Remodel

The glass half wall is something we also don’t love since we hate being slaves to hard water spots. There are creative ways of bringing natural light into a shower without all the glass. The vanity is very low and not something we want to get used to!

Cutting tiles during bath renovation at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.

Determine What Stays and What Goes

We are good with the location of the W.C., vanities, and shower, so the floorplan will basically remain the same. We won’t touch the huge window overlooking our beautiful property. While we don’t like the soffit with its sharp angles and recessed lighting above the tub area, it will stay.

Tub niche during renovation of our bathroom at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.

An awkward angular shelf niche on one side of the vanity is just asking for clutter and dust, so buh-bye. We’ll add storage to make up for it.

Funny quote about a hard day - Hello Lovely Studio. #strugglequotes

Obviously the deep, dark brown covering the shower has to go along with the jetted tub and platform.

In the before bath at the Georgian, a milk chocolate brown ceramic tile with tan grout made me very sad! Hello Lovely Studio.
Dark brown tile on walls and floor

Plumbing for the new tub will be moved. The existing custom vanity while spacious, was worn out and so well-used that the finish had worn off the front of the stained doors.

During renovation of our primary bath - clawfoot tub full of materials - Hello Lovely Studio.
It’s not pretty round here.

Bronze fixtures, hardware, sheet mirror, vanity lights, and brown granite will go too. I despise textured ceilings so if possible, the one in here will disappear to underscore a feeling of calm.

before pic of Hello Lovely's bathroom renovation
This was the BEFORE at our former home when we started with this arrangement in our primary bath

Floorplan Issues

Because of the fussy varied ceiling heights in the bath (soffits will do that), we’re keeping the shower the same size. Demolishing the tub’s platform will free up floor space to accommodate more storage or possibly a makeup vanity.

We did the same thing to our former 90s bath we renovated where there was a huge platform in front of the window (above) before we demo’d it and added a vintage tub. So much better and so much more calm!

French country white bathroom with maids tub, accent stool, and white roses - Hello Lovely.
Our former bath which we gutted and completely transformed

Discuss Plumbing & Electrical Changes

Leaving the shower plumbing alone is a huge help timewise, and we’ll move the bathtub plumbing since the tub will be tucked into more of a niche for coziness.

Funny marriage quote humor on Hello Lovely Studio. #marriagequotes #marriagehumor

Plumbing will probably have to move for the new vanities but will remain on the same wall. There’s an electrical outlet and wiring for a television high on the wall across from the Jacuzzi that will be moved lower on the wall.

Electrical will be moved for lighting above and between vanities, and if we install fancy schmancy LED medicine cabinets, they will also require electrical. Finally, a huge amenity we plan to add is radiant heated flooring–it qualifies as part of the “modern” in modern vintage.

Clawfoot tub, French chair, and stripe Turkish towels in white French country bathroom by Hello Lovely Studio. #bathroomdesign #frenchcountry #hellolovelystudio #clawfoottub #plantationshutters #whitebathroom #frenchbathroom #vintagestyle

Budget Matters

Even if we splurge on every finish for this bath, the return on investment is promising based on neighborhood property values and the value to our daily lives. We’ll choose wisely and install quality materials that feel classic.

Tub niche during renovation of our bathroom at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.
Cast iron tub for our new bath

Demolish Existing Bath

They make it look like a party on all of those renovation shows on television, and you never see schlepping buckets and buckets of heavy tile from a second floor bath down the stairs to a pile in the garage.

During demo of our primary bath at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.
Beginning of wall demo after floor demo

The muscle aches and shoulder pain from swinging a sledgehammer are rarely mentioned. You don’t see clouds of dust that linger for weeks. As you dismantle it all, you sort of vow to get the design right at all costs so it won’t have to be demolished for a very long time.

During renovation of our bath at the Georgian - Hello Lovely Studio.
Our bedroom is still a storage room for things coming out of the bath and new components going in

Inspiration Baths With a Mood We Hope to Evoke

I love the serene color palette in here, the plant near the window, and way it feels like a living space. This is a different approach than say making a bath feel like a spa.

Ideally, this is the sort of lighting I prefer in the vanity area. However, I don’t think we have enough room for four sconce lights and two mirrors. I am toying with adding vanity lights above the mirrors and a sconce in between medicine cabinets.

Grey painted double bath vanity with marble subway tile and wall sconces.
source: unknown

Here’s another traditional bath that feels like living space to me. Love the drapes which you don’t often see in baths, and they add softness.

Tongue and groove paneling in a classic bath design with soaking tub and abundant natural light.
source: unknown

This reeded vanity really caught my eye. Is it traditional? Modern? I love those things where distinctions are blurred.

Luxurious reeded bathroom vanity, white marble backsplash with wall mount brass faucet, and double sconce.
via Decorpad

Distressed lanterns in a bath? Yes, please! Don’t think I’ll have room for them though. The pairing of white marble with the fluted or reeded vanity detail is such a lovely contrast. Also loving the size of what looks to be a mirrored medicine cabinet.

This is maybe my dream bath, and while ours won’t resemble it, it captures the timeless and understated mood I’m after. Psst. I put the exact mini gilded Darlana lanterns over our kitchen island.

Giannetti Home designed timeless European country inspired bathroom with antique vanity, wall mount unlacquered brass faucet, Darlana mini gilded lantern, and soaking tub.
Velvet and LinenLuxe Magazine – photography: Lisa Romerein, design: Giannetti Home, styling: Erin Taylor, produced by: Lisa Bingham Dewart

Fixtures & Finishes

What makes choosing finishes a bit easier is our experience since this isn’t our first bath remodel. We loved the herringbone marble shower floor we chose for our former bath so we’ll let that choice guide other decisions.

Porcelain wall tile in shower looks like Calacatta marble - floor tile is herringbone pattern honed marble mosaic tile. #hellolovelystudio #showertile #showerfloor #floortile #marblemosaic #calacattaporcelaintile #bathroomdesign

After bringing home a dozen possible options for shower wall tiles, there’s a standout that feels modern yet vintage. We may continue the herringbone marble on the floor in the rest of the bath as well. Marble mosaics feel very 1920s and like home to us. A cast iron clawfoot tub will provide vintage charm along with an antique arched window from a 1920s home we’ll incorporate.

Clawfoot tub, French chair, and stripe Turkish towels in white French country bathroom by Hello Lovely Studio. #bathroomdesign #frenchcountry #hellolovelystudio #clawfoottub #plantationshutters #whitebathroom #frenchbathroom #vintagestyle

Two 36″ Shaker-style vanity cabinets topped with carrera marble will replace the single low vanity. Modern oversized mirrored medicine cabinets will replace the sheet mirror, and a lantern-style wall sconce will be wired in the space between them.

Funny quote about wasting time - Hello Lovely Studio.

The bathroom faucets and lighting will be a mix of silvery tones with classic style. Not sure if we’ll incorporate a tower, shelves, or a makeup vanity table in newfound space near the tub.

Herrinbgone marble mosaic tile on floor of our shower during renovation of master bath. #hellolovelystudio #herringbone #showertile #showerfloor #marblemosaic #floortile
during the remodel of our primary bath at the last house

Surprises Along the Way

They just spring up all the time. When you demo a tub’s platform, the subfloor beneath is at a different level than the adjacent floor. (A subfloor must be level before you tile!) There are plumbing pipes in between studs where you intended to recess medicine cabinets. A tile you fell in love with months ago is being discontinued and in short supply. A shower valve you tile around that appears to be universal won’t accommodate the new shower fixture.

White French country master bathroom with rustic alder door, calacatta-look porcelain tile and clawfoot tub. #hellolovelystudio #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #frenchcountry #clawfoottub #alderdoor

Surprises are all part of the process so we have learned to (1) not become overly attached to a certain idea (2) prioritize function over aesthetics and (3) have a willingness to pivot. When I feel especially discouraged by a change that has to happen, I remember that it’s an opportunity to detach and look to the truly important parts of life.

Emily Dickinson quote about hope on Hello Lovely. #hopequotes #emilydickinsonquotes

Even timeless bath designs someday pass away as all things do. But things in the soul. Now those are everlasting. 🙂

I also shared ideas for finishes for this bath in THIS as well as details from a classic bath in our former home HERE.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing