Pink Tile Bathroom Revamp: Before and After

When you buy a house you’re planning to renovate, there’s always that one room you instantly label as the “worst.”

Our current 1960s-era home is full of quirky spots and strange choices, but the main bathroom on the main floor was just too much. The walls had green glass tiles that had been stuccoed over and painted purple ages ago. The ceiling was a mix of green and pink glass tiles, and the floor was a poorly installed grey wood-look tile.

The grout lines were a mess, ranging from 1/4” wide to 2” wide in spots, making it easy to stub your toe on the uneven tiles. The shower had four different white tile types, and there was an old vanity light hanging loosely over the sink, attached to a board with exposed wires. There was also a big hole in the wall where a medicine cabinet used to be, hastily covered by a hanging mirror.

Bathroom remodels are expensive, and this one needed everything redone to do it right. We weren’t sure we’d get around to it soon after moving in. The first year, we focused on the rest of the upstairs, but as that renovation neared completion, it became obvious that the bathroom needed a makeover to match the rest of the house. Since this project was way beyond my DIY skills, we brought in our contractor to get it done, and the result is simply amazing.

One of the best decisions we made during the reno was relocating the tiny sink cabinet to the wider alcove on the right side of the room. This allowed us to install a vanity and countertop that spanned the entire width of the alcove. Previously, the sink blocked access to the toilet, and the minimal countertop space caused my curling iron to fall off constantly. To add insult to injury, the only outlet was on the opposite side of the room. Now, we have a huge countertop area with a white quartz top that can handle the traffic of the main bathroom. And, we added two outlets above the vanity, so I can get close to the mirror to curl my hair.

The vanity now offers ample storage with drawers that slide out under the sink for taller items. We also switched out the vanity pulls for a brighter gold with rounded edges to match the other fixtures. I added this soap dispenser and toothbrush holder to keep with the curved theme.

The bathroom light was very one-directional, with all the windows on one wall. So, I installed 70s-style globe lights to flank the mirror and chose a mirror with a built-in ring light to evenly illuminate the face for makeup application. The dimmable mirror light serves as our nightlight so we can see in the middle of the night.

Though I had a soft spot for the vintage pink tub, it wasn’t in great shape. But, I kept the pink vibe with these gorgeous Fireclay glass tiles in Rosy Finch Gloss. These pink tiles still feel like a neutral and the stacked bond pattern looks modern and fresh. Lola was sad to see the pink tub go, but she loves the pink shower.

The pink tiles match beautifully with the gold shower kit, and it’s such a happy combo. We also switched out the old tub for a clean-line soaking tub that’s perfect for baths and kid-friendly splashing.

I knew I wanted rose tiles for the shower but wasn’t sure about the floors for a long time. I eventually went with Fireclay tile in Calcite, laid out in a herringbone pattern for a subtle Parisian touch. We also added a heated floor system under the tile—it was worth every penny. My husband has already fallen asleep on the floor, and our cats love the pre-warmed bathmat.

My brother introduced us to a fancy toilet with programmable bidet settings, an adjustable temperature dryer, automatic flush, and a heated seat. It requires its own outlet, but it’s worth it. We added a slim trash can and a cabinet above the toilet for extra storage, closing off an old laundry chute in the process.

The old bathroom had no towel racks, so I chose a towel rack, hand towel holder, and toilet paper holder to match the new look. I also added a Matisse print above the towel rack for a splash of color.

I also hung a print from one of my favorite artists and added a gold floating shelf to hold my most-used Leahlani skincare items and added some greenery and cute matches from our friend Sarah’s shop.

We absolutely love the new bathroom. It’s so much more functional now. Taking the first soak in the tub felt like a spa experience—it was magical. I may add some more color or patterns to the walls in the future, but for now, I’m enjoying the bright and fresh look.