We’ve officially started our main bathroom remodel! And in true old house fashion, the walls immediately tried to fight back. Behind the tub surround? A thriving little ecosystem of mold, moisture damage, and some of what I can only describe as “uninvited guests.” So… tons of fun so far.
In case you missed it, this is where it started.
Main Demo Recap
Demo is done. The floors are up, the walls are open, and we’re back down to the bones. The subfloor under the toilet had some not-so-unexpected water damage, and once we opened things up, we found mold hiding behind the shower walls (classic). We’ve already handled remediation, because obviously we’re not building a spa on top of a petri dish.
Also: I may never emotionally recover from what was living behind the drywall. 🫠 Spoiler Alert: it was decades old petrified mice 😳.
This is what was living behind the shower surround. 🤢
Framing: The Calm Before the Sub-Storm
Before we handed things off to the plumber and electrician, we knocked out the new framing—which included reworking a few walls and adjusting some spacing for the tub shelf layout. We did this as part of the DIY + Pro support model from Heritage Builders, where they provide expert oversight and guidance while you still get your hands dirty (and save some money).
It gave us the flexibility to get exactly what we wanted, but with professionals making sure everything was actually square, safe, and done right the first time.
What’s Happening Now: Main Bath Remodel
Our plumber and electrician are currently doing their part, which means the room is filled with wires, pipes, and the faint echo of “uh, this wasn’t up to code.” This part isn’t the most glamorous, but it’s absolutely essential for making sure everything works (and issues don’t come back to haunt us later).
Design Choices, Delays & Decision Fatigue
We’ve finalized most of the design, this blog post is the most recent design plans.
Are there already delays? Surprisingly, no!
Am I still pretending we’ll be done in 6 weeks? … currently operating on “delusionally optimistic”.
What’s Next:
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Drywall install
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Tile
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Me, second-guessing paint colors for the 100th time
I’ll keep you posted as we go, but for now: send good vibes to the subs, and maybe sage sticks to the rest of the house, just in case the mold wasn’t the worst thing hiding in there.
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Thanks for being here today and please keep following along for more! More updates on instagram: @heritagehausdesigns
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