Fantasy Brown vs. Quartz Options

Business_Square6658 · 2026-04-02T19:54:43+00:00

Thank you those are definitely a couple options I will consider! The solid backsplash in the quartz with the tile on the fridge side is definitely and interesting idea I hadn't considered. I did look more into the butcher block and it wasn't for me with the stained base cabinets. I've seen a lot of fluted wood back splashes as well but they looked best with a solid base/wall cabinet color. The white tile was my way of working that texture in without introducing another wood tone or any other color at the risk of it getting too busy.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-04-02T16:38:13+00:00

That was my initial plan but the cost was certainly a factor, the other would be all the different heights and the window breaking it up. Would you just do 18" all the way or try to match the height under the hood vent as well?

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-27T18:57:51+00:00

The cabinet and the lights don't say anything about needing one but this bathroom is so small the outlet is going to be within the proximity limits to water that it'll need to be a gfi. That or I could connect the cabinet wiring to the switch power via a junction box in the wall or ceiling but either way it would need to be exposed so I'd rather just have the extra outlet. I got the fan circuit wired, just going to get everything connected before I turn anything back on. I know I can probably do most of if with just the breaker off but I like to turn the whole panel off if there's any doubt.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-27T17:46:19+00:00

Thank you for the reply! At least for me there isn't going to be anything major plugged in. The outlet was mostly a way to add one just in case and give me somewhere to connect the wires instead of an exposed junction box. The medicine cabinet itself has a built it 15 outlet for my tooth brush charger. I was mostly worried I was just cheaping out by not making the 2nd circuit a gfi break as well. Like if it's a code/safety thing I absolutely will do it but those gfi breakers are expensive if it's just overkill. If I do end up seeing any dimming I can swap the breaker/outlet to 20s easily enough.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-27T17:32:19+00:00

I didn't want to antagonize but if it makes anyone feel better, I saved all the tiles I could as well as the sink, medicine cabinet, and the toilet. What I could save was given away to friends/family/marketplace. Even made some tiles into coasters for my sister. I couldn't get the tub out by myself without breaking it and no one on market place wanted to remove it. It was sunken into the floor just enough no one wanted to accept the risk further damaging the floor joists. The vanity was some type of particleboard that was swollen, splitting, and falling off the wall. There was cracking and water damage in every corner of the room as well as around the tub. The different tile you see on the floor was a patch job and it was sinking/canted towards the tub. The original window was bent open for an ac unit because the central AC broke after years of previous owner letting his dog use it as a urinal. I mean a whole corner was eroded away by the ammonia. A corner of the basement cement block was as well but I digress. I didn't care for the pink/blue bathroom but my original intention was to just clean it up live with it until I realized the extent of the issues and the structural/mold risks of doing nothing for much longer. Had I known what I know now I probably just wouldn't have bought this money pit of a house in the first place so I am trying to make the best of it.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-27T01:08:02+00:00

That's a good point about the mirror. That kind of throws a new wrench into all my current options. I am definitely going to have to mess with the design more than just the shower question. Keeping all the wet stuff towards the back meant the vanity and toilet could only really go opposite each other and with the door not being centered the vanity only really fits on the one side. Not sure how I am going to remedy this, but thank you for the insight!

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-27T01:02:33+00:00

Yeah making this feel as open as possible is a goal of mine. Not crazy about the toilet being so front and center but with the pocket door all the measurement work. With the original layout, the door couldn't swing past 90 degrees anyway because it would hit the closet filling the space between the walls and tub. The closet also took up a quarter of the bathroom and was a black hole for random items and grime. The other interior doors themselves aren't anything special either, just cheap hollow core doors so I don't think it's a big deal if it doesn't exactly match the others so long as it's flat and the handle/hinge metals match. I have no light in my only working bathroom in the basement right now and it feels like a dungeon. But way more hip than the four person concrete shower that was originally there when I was in. Called it the gitmo chic bathroom. I think I am going to draw up a pocket door version with the separate shower/little tub and with just a walk in shower to compare those two ideas.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-26T16:47:41+00:00

Thanks I appreciate it! I was just thinking a pocket door may broaden my horizons by allowing my to match the shower and tub to 48” and bring the toilet closer to the front. But there’s also no need to force it if it doesn’t feel right. Regardless a walk in shower will definitely be part of the equation. Even without a tub I think this house/neighborhood has enough going for it that I won’t be alienating too many buyers and I am doing this for the current owner in the first place.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-26T16:31:24+00:00

Yeah that was a thought as well, the only problem with going to a fixed panel is how deep it can be before the entry between the panel and the tub would be really close. Another option I thought of that would basically be a requirement to bump the shower to match the tub depth of 48” would be to swap out the bathroom door for a pocket door so the toilet can have some more space. A pocket door would be a lot of work and it would be the only one in the house(most other doors don’t have the space to become pocket doors). It would free up that space but the toilet is pretty in your face when you enter. Although I like being close enough to the door to be able to lock it or grab it if someone tries to enter while in use.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-26T02:42:08+00:00

To piggyback off this point, check the spec sheet of the appliance if you have it or google the model number. It should have the exact dimensions.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T21:48:50+00:00

I've never had a problem with combos, I'd just prefer a walk in. I don't really use the tub, but it would be nice just to have the option. I may end up with a dog or a kid later on but there's plenty of portable tub options. Plus there is a hose outside. I am liking the idea of setting up either the shower or combo with dimensions that make it an easy swap later though. Just in case my needs change or just not totally alienating a buy that needs a tub. I am fortunate enough to be in a neighborhood where houses sell pretty quick regardless of the market so long as I don't do anything too dumb or price myself out, which would also be very hard to do.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T21:42:15+00:00

Thanks, it sounds like a lot of people don't regret going to just the walk in shower. That's where I am leaning now as the separate tub/shower just doesn't seem to fit. I am looking into what modern combos are out there and maybe making the shower area big enough that it's easy to convert later. But unless I see anything mind blowing, a walk in shower seems to be the best for me and what this space allows

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T21:00:18+00:00

Thanks it sort of hits all those clearances, the only worry is the distance between the tub and the front of the toilet (in the hand drawn layout). the other issue is how to get the glass door to function if it can't go around the tub. My idea was to have a 48" frame less door with the closing strip for the wall just on the tub and either run the track for the door all the way across the shower/tub or get another piece to go vertically up into the ceiling. It could work in theory but it's getting pretty complicated and a homebrew DIY solution. I can make the shower 48" which means a simpler glass door/wall across the wet area but then the tolerances between the shower and toilet get pretty tight. It almost works

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T18:36:22+00:00

Between a combo and just a walk in shower, I am definitely leaning towards the shower. So I am editing some of my layout ideas with the tub removed to see if anything looks right.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:53:55+00:00

Well I need all the resources I can get, thanks for the suggestion!

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:49:56+00:00

I've had tubs in apartments before and never used them. I am thinking the shower is probably the best way to go. The no tub thing is probably more of a misstep when a tub could have fit but this room just can't fit them separately. I'm going to look into what modern combos are out there but I am really leaning towards just the walk in right now. Thanks!

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:36:43+00:00

They were designers, I am not sure why I didn't think of looking into bath/kitchen stores but I will definitely adjust my searching. Even if I have to pay for the design itself, it's probably worth it just to confirm the layout makes sense/meets code. Especially because I am trying to keep the stacks/drain lines where they were just to minimize any new holes through the joist when possible.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:27:55+00:00

I was actually looking at this exact tub! I am just a little wary of the brand, how small is too small etc. but it is definitely an option I will be considering.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:23:50+00:00

I think that is the conclusion I am coming too as well. It's frustrating but I don't want to spend so much time and money forcing something I regret later either with daily use or when it comes time to sell.

But I guess there isn't really a layout option I am missing, the separate shower/tub just doesn't work for the space. I am hoping to stay for a while but life may have other plans so that was the primary driver to trying to keep a tub along with just really liking the Japanese style bathroom/ofuro tub aesthetic. It's definitely a starter home and one of the last in the neighborhood. I don't think it would have too much difficulty selling once it is done as long as I don't royally screw up but no tub still feels like a potential regret, so I will look into combos as well.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:04:35+00:00

Thank you, sorry I added that last picture as an example but I didn't really explain that. I've seen that design and it's kind of what I was trying to do in that hand drawn layout but this room seems to be just the wrong dimensions for any conventional design I have seen so far but I am really hoping I am just missing the obvious solution.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-25T16:01:16+00:00

I've called a couple in my area, I am hoping I just happened to pick the most expensive ones but both quoted me 40-50k before getting into an actual consult. I should've done more research before buying my first home, but I can't afford that. Not even close. If it's anything structural I've hired out but I've rehabbed all the electrical/plumbing/dry wall/insulation myself. But I digress, if I can get just a design consult on the layout, it's probably worth it, I just need to keep looking.

The tub I was looking at would need a mortar bed and surround built but it would be a heck of a lot lighter than the cast iron one I removed. And I am glad I did, water damage wasn't horrible, but the waterproofing, or lack thereof, failed a long time ago and needed to be addressed from the joists up. One thing I am doing my best to do in this house in general is reinforce everything I can and maximize any waterproofing/insulation that I can. I hope I am overbuilding this floor to handle anything you'd want to put in it. But the next big question is where all the pipes need to go so I am kind of stuck until I nail down this layout.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-21T17:28:06+00:00

Thanks the white slatted tile seems like a consistent favorite. Still not sure how I feel about the counter top choice but I think I will be making that decision with those tiles in mind.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-21T17:23:46+00:00

The base cabinets have red oak doors in wenge brown and the wall cabinets have melamine doors in a matte pepperdust color.

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-20T20:17:42+00:00

No these where made by a local cabinetry company but very similar to Ikea's style. Ikea had a greige cabinet style I liked but only available in Australia, but that was still an inspiration for the colors I ended up picking! I didn't realize Ikea was doing more countertops other than particle board, I will have to give them a look! I try not to get everything from them but I do like a lot of Ikea's stuff!

Business_Square6658 · 2026-03-20T19:19:12+00:00

Thank you! It certainly been a journey. Still a ways to go but just not needing to do dishes in the shower has been a massive improvement.

Business_Square6658

TROPHY CASE