Reader Rehab: A Budget Bath Remodel with Little Luxuries - Remodelista
John Lee and Masha Bogdanova bought their first house, a three-story Victorian in Toronto, knowing that it was in need of major repair. Armed with a modest budget and an architecture degree each, they poured love and money into the neglected former rental: They rewired the entire house, replaced the windows, and gutted an entire floor. The couple couldn’t afford to expand the five-by-seven-foot bathroom, but they established an initial $5,000 budget to brighten it up. Lee and Bogdanova established an all-white palette to brighten up the small space, and hung a wall-width mirror to give the illusion of depth. This, says Lee, is where people often underestimate costs: “It’s easy to get caught up with the supply side, because it’s definitely the more glamorous and fun-to-research part.” He emphasizes factoring in realistic labor costs. The couple no longer feels claustrophobic in their bathroom. Lee says that, as was, the bathroom was not only badly designed but also badly kept: “It gave us the heebie-jeebies.” A full bathtub made the already small space feel smaller.