A Family Bathroom Built for comfort and durability

The Lincoln Street Bathroom Remodel transformed a dated hall bathroom into a space the whole household actually enjoys using. The homeowners wanted a timeless look and to preserve the original character of their door and hardware, even as everything around it was rebuilt. Getting there took some creative problem-solving behind the walls. The finished result pairs warm wood tones with soft green tile, anchored by brushed brass hardware throughout, for a bathroom that feels genuinely custom. 

project overview

This was a full gut renovation of a hall bathroom serving the whole family. The design leans warm transitional, with vintage-inspired touches that nod to the age of the home while still feeling current. Soft green shower tile pairs with a maple shaker vanity and brushed brass fixtures throughout, giving the space a pulled-together look.

Two of the three walls around the tub and shower were exterior walls, which shaped several of the decisions our team made once we got into the space.

client goals

The homeowners came in with a clear vision for the room. Their priorities included:

• Adding a place to sit, since the layout previously had none
• Keeping their original door, mortise handle, and hinges wherever possible
• Upgrading to a larger recessed medicine cabinet
• Choosing finishes that would feel cohesive throughout the space

Above all, they wanted a bathroom that felt like it had always belonged in the house.

Timeline

Our team began work in April 2025, with a target completion date of May 7. The project wrapped up on May 9, just two days past the original estimate.

Challenges & Solutions

Bathroom remodels, especially in older homes, often require special attention due to issues like outdated plumbing or water-related damage. Here are the challenges we resolved for our clients during this project:

Reconfiguring the Tub and Shower

The homeowners wanted a large niche in the shower, but building one directly into an exterior wall would have meant losing insulation. We moved the tub forward six inches, which created enough depth to build the niche against the back exterior wall while keeping the wall fully insulated.

Preserving Original Hardware

Multiple layers of flooring over the years had raised the finished floor height, and the existing door no longer cleared it properly. The homeowners wanted to keep their original mortise handle and hinges, so we sourced a new door in a similar style and cut that hardware into it. The result looks original to the house even though the door itself is new. We also sandblasted and refurbished the existing hardware to strip away years of built-up paint and restore it closer to its original finish.

Replacing Aging Brass

Once we opened the walls, we found original brass water supply pipes showing real signs of age, something we see often in homes of this vintage. We replaced them with PEX piping, which won't corrode the way old brass pipes do.

adding Usable Seating

The bathroom's original radiator took up space without adding much value to how the family used the room. We removed it, capped the pipe below the floor, and built a custom seat and open storage area onsite. An electric toe kick heater installed underneath keeps the spot warm without bringing the radiator back.

Project Highlights

Here are some of the features that delighted our clients and made this project such a joy to complete:

A Warm Material Palette

The vanity is a 42" Tyrv maple shaker panel design in Beachcomber, paired with an Alto polished quartz countertop and a 4" backsplash. That same quartz was used to build out the niche and the door saddle, keeping the stone detailing consistent throughout the room.

Brushed Brass

Every fixture in the space, from the Heir widespread vanity faucet to the thermostatic shower valve, multi-function shower head, tub spout, and handshower set, was finished in brushed brass. The Frankfurt towel bars, robe hook, and toilet paper holder carry the same finish, and a Visual Comfort three-light vanity fixture with opal etched globes in satin brass ties the lighting into the same warm palette.

Soft Green Tile

Lagos Jade 2x10 glossy tile covers the tub and shower walls, set with frost-colored grout for a soft, cohesive look. The floor uses Asian Statuary 6" hex honed tile, also with frost grout, which adds a bit of vintage character underfoot without competing with the shower tile above it.

A Bigger Medicine Cabinet

The homeowners asked for a larger recessed medicine cabinet, and we installed a Kohler two-door model that gives them meaningfully more storage than what was there before.

Thoughtful Finishing Details

A Pure white bathtub, Connelly toilet, Circo 20" glass shelf above the toilet, and a brushed gold Signature Hardware shower curtain round out the space. Every piece was chosen to support the same warm, timeless feel the homeowners asked for from the start.

A bathroom built for daily family life

The Lincoln Street Bathroom Remodel shows what's possible when a small footprint gets a thoughtful, detail-driven approach. Moving the tub, rebuilding around old plumbing, and fitting original hardware onto a new door took extra planning behind the scenes. What's left is a bright, inviting bathroom that feels like it has always been part of the home.

We're glad this family trusted us with their hall bathroom, and we're looking forward to working with them again. We're currently pursuing approval from the historic commission and the local building department for a front porch rebuild, along with a kitchen and powder room remodel for the same home.