Where Modern Meets Vintage: Our Bathroom Makeover Story
After years of saying “one day,” our 1980s master bathroom has finally gotten the update it’s been waiting for—and let’s just say… it was time 😄
We’ve traded in the old and created a space where modern meets vintage charm, layered with classic details, a pop of color, and thoughtfully updated fixtures. It’s now a space that feels fresh, more functional for us, and beautifully timeless—a little retreat right in our own home.
In all the homes we’ve lived in, we have NEVER spent time or money on our master bath. It’s just one of those places that wasn’t a priority or ever in the budget. So THIS feels like a dream.
The Vision
When I first began dreaming about this space, I knew I didn’t want something trendy that would feel dated in a few years. Spa-like bathrooms are all the rage, but I wasn’t looking for that either. I wanted a bathroom that felt collected, warm, and inviting—where modern function meets vintage character.
I wanted it to feel like a place to slow down… a place to begin and end the day with a sense of calm and feeling of warmth and home.
The demolition started as a DIY project by hubby and me, but after we demoed, we realized we were in over our heads and decided it was time to bring in the professionals. BEST. DECISION. EVER.
For years, we talked about removing a wall, taking out the bathtub, and creating a larger stand-up shower. After 11 years in our home, this space had been dreamed about and reimagined more times than I can count.
When the contractors stepped in, they brought a fresh perspective—an idea we hadn’t even thought of that gave us exactly what we wanted, but even better. It felt like the final piece falling into place, and we couldn’t have been more excited to begin, finally.
I had already begun to purchase items for the bathroom remodel. I’ll add a list of resources at the end of this post. My first purchase was the vanity. Wayfair had one I LOVED.
I knew I wanted gold or brass fixtures, and Amazon was very helpful. I bought the faucet, mirror, light fixture, and shower hardware before the project began.
The Details That Made It Come Alive
The Floor
I had a specific floor I wanted, and I wasn’t compromising. The floor ended up setting the tone for everything else. I chose a vintage-inspired hexagon white tile with black hexagon tiles that form a flower.
While visiting Magnolia in Waco, I fell in love with the bathrooms throughout the complex. I’d have to say this bathroom floor, while not exactly what we saw in Waco, is a result of that visit.
As it turns out, this type of tile is a bit more intricate to install than I realized, but our contractors truly rose to the occasion and did a beautiful job. And the grout color? That decision kept me up at night! I finally landed on a soft light gray, and I couldn’t be happier with how it all came together.
The Vanity
The modern dark brown vanity grounds the entire space. It brings warmth and richness, while also adding the clean lines for the modern/vintage look I was going for. The vanity has a white stone top with gray veining that complements it perfectly. It also coordinates well with the other materials we had chosen in this space.
The gold pulls drew me in from the beginning. In my mind, gold had to be a component of this bathroom.
Vintage Touches
One of my favorite parts of this space is the vintage mirror and light fixture. They add so much character and charm—those little details that make a home feel personal and lived-in rather than straight out of a showroom.
Let There Be Light
The skylight had always been there, but when they freshened it up with some new drywall and fresh white paint, it came to life and completely changed the feel of the room.
With the white finishes throughout, the skylight reflects light beautifully, making the space feel bright and cheerful. Natural light pours in, highlighting each detail and creating an open, airy feel throughout the day.
A Shower That Feels Like a Retreat
The subway tile shower with glass enclosures keeps everything feeling classic and clean. It’s simple in the best way—timeless, bright, and easy to maintain.
We took the flooring into the shower, making it seamless and making the room feel larger. We added a built-in shower niche for both function and beauty—it keeps everything tucked away while blending seamlessly into the tile. The floor tile was used in the back of the niche and beautifully ties everything together.
And those glass doors… they allow the beauty of the tile work to shine while keeping the space feeling open and uncluttered. The glass was expensive but worth every penny.
The Paint Color Decision
My original thought was to paint the walls white. I would then add a wallpaper I had fallen in love with (wallpaper with peacocks) 🥰.
However, the more I sat with the idea, the more it didn’t feel quite right. With the pattern already happening on the floor, my vision of a calm, collected bathroom was starting to feel a bit too busy.
After having a conversation with the contractor, I found myself at Sherwin-Williams seeking green paint, and boy, did I find it. Evergreen Fog was perfect! It was the right decision, and I couldn’t love it more.
It brought everything to life—the floor, the vanity, the subway tile, the gold fixtures. My only regret is that the photographs don’t clearly show how beautiful this color is.
Could I fit a Cabinet for Storage?
I knew I needed more storage in this bathroom. So my biggest question was, could I fit a cabinet for storage with our new layout? The answer was absolutely, yes!
With the new plan for the shower, there was room to add a storage cabinet. In true Kim fashion, I had already bought one from Wayfair before the renovation began. I was so hopeful it would fit.
When I met with Jack’s Glass to design the shower enclosure, I showed them where I was hoping to fit a cabinet—if it was even possible. They thoughtfully came up with a design that allowed just enough space for it.
It all looked great on paper, but we truly didn’t know how it would come together until everything was finished and we could finally move it into place… and it worked!!
The Fun Part
The best part of finishing a project is putting the jewelry on it. I found this gorgeous gold-framed flower picture to place over the toilet. The Psalm 23 print was not something I was looking for, but it popped out at me at Marshalls, and I love it so much, and a beautiful reminder of God’s promises to start and end my day.
The gold hand towel stand, toothbrush holder, and green glass bowl were all HomeGoods finds. I also added the cutest matching scalloped rugs from Marshalls that I picked up before the renovation.
And really—who doesn’t love a scalloped edge? The green in the rugs inspired the paint color and tied everything together perfectly.
In Conclusion
Thank you for being here and allowing me to share this long-awaited project with you. Watching our 1980s bathroom transform into a peaceful, intentional space has been such a long-awaited gift.
It’s a reminder that home doesn’t have to come together all at once. Sometimes the most beautiful spaces are the ones we wait for, dream about, save for, and finally come to fruition 😘
