After Just 2 ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments, a New Master Bath
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Steven and Katie Schiffgen, with labradoodle Penny and terrier-poodle mix Ruby
Location: Cottonwood Heights area of Salt Lake City
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Total cost: $1,000
Construction time: The couple completed the remodel in three weeks, working evenings and weekends after their regular jobs.
BEFORE: The bathroom looked original to when the home was built in 1983. There was a single vanity sink with outdated cabinets and hardware, and dingy tile and grout throughout.
Who lives here: Steven and Katie Schiffgen, with labradoodle Penny and terrier-poodle mix Ruby
Location: Cottonwood Heights area of Salt Lake City
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Total cost: $1,000
Construction time: The couple completed the remodel in three weeks, working evenings and weekends after their regular jobs.
BEFORE: The bathroom looked original to when the home was built in 1983. There was a single vanity sink with outdated cabinets and hardware, and dingy tile and grout throughout.
AFTER: The Schiffgens ripped out everything in the bathroom. The only parts they salvaged were the toilet and the bathtub. They kept the layout the same and added shiplap to the walls, a new double vanity, new lights, new floor and bath tile, shelves above the toilet, new hardware and paint.
“Uh-oh” moments: To save money, rather than buy prefabricated shiplap, the Schiffgens purchased wood and had it cut to their specified sizes. Unfortunately, not all the pieces were cut correctly, so some didn’t line up right or weren’t the proper width. The couple had to make lots of extra cuts to fix the issue. Once they got the pieces to fit correctly, they used a nickel to space each board and nailed them to the wall using a finish nail gun.
The Schiffgens were learning as they went and didn’t think about the need for a plumber to add an additional drain and water lines for the second sink. “We went to install the vanity and realized right then that it wasn’t going to work. That was the only part of the remodel that we hired out,” Katie says. “It was plumbed for two sinks, but the way it was done was really confusing, so we hired a plumber. He cut a bigger hole in the wall and hooked it up to the double sink.”
Framed print: purchased by the couple in Vietnam
“Uh-oh” moments: To save money, rather than buy prefabricated shiplap, the Schiffgens purchased wood and had it cut to their specified sizes. Unfortunately, not all the pieces were cut correctly, so some didn’t line up right or weren’t the proper width. The couple had to make lots of extra cuts to fix the issue. Once they got the pieces to fit correctly, they used a nickel to space each board and nailed them to the wall using a finish nail gun.
The Schiffgens were learning as they went and didn’t think about the need for a plumber to add an additional drain and water lines for the second sink. “We went to install the vanity and realized right then that it wasn’t going to work. That was the only part of the remodel that we hired out,” Katie says. “It was plumbed for two sinks, but the way it was done was really confusing, so we hired a plumber. He cut a bigger hole in the wall and hooked it up to the double sink.”
Framed print: purchased by the couple in Vietnam
Paint on walls: Aesthetic White, Sherwin-Williams; Hainsbrookvanity lights: Allen + Roth, Lowe’s; double vanity: National Product Sales. See more vanities
Style muse: “We watched a lot of Fixer Upper before remodeling, so that was probably our biggest inspiration when it comes to style,” Katie says. The couple wanted a bathroom that felt brighter, more modern and much cleaner than their existing one.
The glass terrarium is attached to a hook on the ceiling.
Terrarium: HomeGoods
The glass terrarium is attached to a hook on the ceiling.
Terrarium: HomeGoods
“We didn’t splurge on this project. Our goal was to keep it to a budget, and we did it! We did finally use a gift card that we got years ago for a wedding gift. We bought an expensive shower curtain with it,” Katie says.
Floor tile: Floor & Decor
Floor tile: Floor & Decor
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: No but added plumbing for second sink
Professionals hired: Plumber
Shower fixtures: Amazon.com; shower tile: Floor & Decor
Find plumbers near you
Plumbing moved: No but added plumbing for second sink
Professionals hired: Plumber
Shower fixtures: Amazon.com; shower tile: Floor & Decor
Find plumbers near you
Cost breakdown
Plumbing: About $300
Sink and fixtures: $300
Shower: $120
Tile: $150 to $200
Lighting: $70
Accessories and decor: Less than $100
Total: About $1,000
Blue elephant: T.J.Maxx; flower: Ikea; clock: Amazon.com
More
See more bathroom makeovers
Browse vanities on Houzz
Plumbing: About $300
Sink and fixtures: $300
Shower: $120
Tile: $150 to $200
Lighting: $70
Accessories and decor: Less than $100
Total: About $1,000
Blue elephant: T.J.Maxx; flower: Ikea; clock: Amazon.com
More
See more bathroom makeovers
Browse vanities on Houzz