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110 Comments

  1. Becky
    May 28, 2013 @ 2:43 pm

    I LOVE windows in a shower. Showering in natural light beats all.

    The washroom looks beautiful, you’ve done a great job!

    Cheers, Becky

    Reply

  2. Aimee
    May 31, 2013 @ 6:10 pm

    haha great blog! I always love giving helpful commentary while helping with diy projects.
    xoxo Aimee
    bowsandbeau-ties.com

    Reply

  3. Tammi V.V.
    June 3, 2013 @ 12:25 am

    I don’t even remember how I stumbled onto your blog last week, but I love it! In my own true OCD manner, I spent that last couple of evenings devouring your archives, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of doing so. The only thing missing? A post dedicated to Elvis, cat not singer. Any chance there might be one coming up?

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      June 8, 2013 @ 4:26 pm

      I’ve been having intermittent comment-issues… (because the universe thinks I have nothing better to do than pull my hair out?)

      So I’ve had to wait to tell you thanks for noticing the deficit of Elvis (the cat) related posts. She should get her own column at some point… she has a lot to say.

      Reply

  4. Whitney
    June 10, 2013 @ 2:02 pm

    Victoria!
    I love your blog! It’s so fun! I found you in the Home & Garden group on Facebook. I’m subscribing now and will make sure to keep dropping in.

    Happy blogging!

    Whitney

    Reply

  5. Andrea @the Distracted Housewife.com
    June 10, 2013 @ 7:06 pm

    I love it. Your writing is hilarious!

    Reply

  6. sandra fortuna
    June 19, 2013 @ 11:28 pm

    VICTORIA! HELLO! WHERE ARE YOU? All caps because I am YELLING. We miss you! We have always LOVED Tall Paul and we have ALWAYS found him to be funny and endearing, BUT he is funnier and more endearing when you are around! Come dance with us soon. Like I said, WE MISS YOU! You can use the studio to store any mirror (we LOVE mirrors!)

    Reply

  7. Alison Verhoog
    June 20, 2013 @ 8:20 pm

    Hi Victoria, I also live in a very old house (1895) that we have been renovating for far longer than we should have, but I love what we are achieving! I love the yellow that is in this bathroom….what is it if you don’t mind my asking?

    Your blogs are very entertaining.
    Alison

    Reply

  8. Sara
    June 24, 2013 @ 4:57 pm

    Just found your blog today and have read half a dozen posts. Thank you for making me laugh. Our home restoration experiences are very similar. Especially is this was your third house, and you had three kids, and the youngest was a newborn when you closed on it. Oy the tales I could tell….We have windows above the tub in all three bathrooms of our 1907 four square. They are wood and either painted with exterior paint or sealed with marine varnish. Love your marble sill. Why wouldn’t there be a window in the bathroom? I mean duh, light and ventilation in a time w/o mechanical versions of either! Now I hate bathrooms w/o a window–too dreary and stale. Privacy schmivacy!

    BTW, what WILL you be for Halloween?

    Reply

  9. Carol Rea
    June 26, 2013 @ 1:00 am

    The bathroom in my 1931 California bungalow has a window next to the tub. My solution was a bit easier – I installed a claw-foot tub (for whatever reason, my neighbors didn’t want it!) and it has the oval-ring shower curtain set-up so a shower curtain on each side keeps all the water in the tub when I shower. I’m not sure how it would look but for others who might want a simple fix, but a second shower curtain bar installed against the wall could allow a shower curtain to be pulled across the front of the window to protect it. But I do love what you came up with, too!

    Reply

  10. Emily
    June 29, 2013 @ 8:36 pm

    Do you happen to have a photo of how the window looks with the plexi in front of it?

    We have a shower window – it used to be a tub window but when we put in a shower it became a shower window which we kept (same size, replaced with vinyl) because it’s on the front of the house. Even though it’s well grouted & vinyl, I still worry about too much water hitting it…

    Reply

  11. sherry
    July 1, 2013 @ 10:27 am

    Looks great I love a window in the shower Natural light and all.

    Reply

  12. Pj
    July 4, 2013 @ 12:44 pm

    This is sooooo much better than some of the “solutions” I’ve seen, like installing a tub surround over the window–with foil-faced insulation covering the window, of course! I like how Paul (or you) decided to leave as much of the original molding around the window as possible. I do wonder if the small ledge style trim or other border tile could have been continued around the top of the subway tile, but otherwise it’s hard to think of any improvements. The marble sill is perfect. You & Paul have helped solve what many owners of old homes face. We will be able to locate our tubs/showers away from windows, but too often that can’t be done without compromise. And some of us don’t like to compromise. I’d rather not do anything if the result isn’t a vast improvement, or isn’t the best solution to the problem. Kudos again! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Claudia
    July 10, 2013 @ 7:01 pm

    Hi, I’m new to your blog and yes, I totally agree with you about a window in the shower! It is like bathing outdoors. We have a window in our 1922 bathroom shower, and we replaced it with glass block, but not the wavy kind. The kind with a diamond pattern, which looks more old fashioned. The sun streams in through that window in the late afternoon/evening and leaves pretty little rainbow prisms on the wall. We tried another solution (frosted plexiglass) before knocking out the window and putting in the glass block — we even enlarged it somewhat. We do have privacy issues, and I’m sure the neighbors can see a little bit in the mornings when it’s dark outside. But they’re not the peeping Tom types so I don’t worry about it.
    Claudia

    Reply

  14. Amber @ Tales of Domestica
    July 11, 2013 @ 12:50 am

    We have a little 1950’s cottage (that makes is sound so much better than it is!) and we also have a window in our shower. We will be putting in new windows some day in the near future and this gives me even more visions in my head!
    Thanks so much!
    Amber

    Reply

  15. Collette
    July 17, 2013 @ 3:57 pm

    Hi Lady Barnes (you look like a Lady Barnes), I truly enjoy your blog, you share so much information while entertain and you do not fluff stuff up for us folks without talent or creativity or FUNDS as to how time consuming, stressful and expensive even a hallway bathroom can be. I should also say that I am so happy you have a husband that is patient and willing to agree with your choices and ideas after doing a renovation before. Ah but I suppose his agreeability is tempered by LOVE and RESPECT for both you and the Elvis:)
    So having said that, I wondered how many bathrooms your home has and if there is a master, when will you do it or have you done it already?
    An avid reader

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      July 18, 2013 @ 8:26 am

      I DO like Lady Barnes… I may change my name officially! We do have another full bath, which we’ve finished… and I’ll recap it soon!

      We also have a wacky half bath IN the kitchen whose fate we’re still debating.

      Reply

      • Kathy
        September 17, 2014 @ 12:22 am

        Dear Bathroom Redo Soulmate,
        I have a wacky half bath in my kitchen that the previous owner actually laid out quite nicely. For 50 bucks I was able to rip out the half-arsed wallpaper job and stupid chair rail (honestly, the room is 28″‘ x 76″, where would one put a chair?). Paint and a towel rack finished it off. I’d send a photo but I don’t know how.

        Anyway, the door is 24″ wide. The sink is to the left, and the toilet to the right. The bump out for the bathroom and pantry butts the kitchen counter, so it fits right in.

        Reply

  16. peter
    July 22, 2013 @ 11:30 am

    i think i’m the only man to leave a comment thus far. i found this site in a google search, as i am in the midst of renovating the bathroom in our 200-year old house. and it has a big window. right in the shower.

    ironically, we have the same layout as you did, and it took me a while to realize what was driving me crazy about it. also ironically, i am the OCD one and my wife is the one who doesn’t care what it looks like. hence why i am reading your blog…

    i like the light and want to keep the window, but alas… how to waterproof it? the crux of the situation is that ultimately, in 5-7 years, the bathroom won’t live where it is now. but it needs attention now, and i am not going to tile it… so… i’m looking for creative solutions.

    thanks for the good read, and great job on the bathroom.

    peter

    Reply

  17. Kevin
    December 3, 2013 @ 6:30 pm

    Where did you find those white folding shutters?!

    Reply

  18. Yoonjung
    December 20, 2013 @ 4:50 pm

    Hi, I am looking at your beautiful bathroom pictures as my very first step of planning our bathroom remodeling. 🙂 I also well read your article about home remodeling you posted on Houzz.com. Yes, I am following you everywhere. Here is my big question!!! Could you share how much you spent for material cost only in this bathroom remodeling project? It seems like Paul did partially gut down the space. Right? Your bathroom looks elegant and affordably luxurious to me, which I want my bath to be because we are planning to do three bathrooms in a row. I would very much appreciate if you share your $$$ but please do not mind my question if you feel uncomfortable to share it here. Thank!!!

    Reply

  19. Debbie
    February 10, 2014 @ 7:04 am

    Hey

    I just wanted to know where you got your beautiful washstand it’s Devine x

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      February 12, 2014 @ 12:52 pm

      I searched the entire Internet for a console sink that fit my space, AND was not hideously expensive.

      We ended up with this one: http://amzn.to/1aZQHXX
      The size and shape are fantastic. I don’t love the integrated soap dish, but for the price was happy to overlook it.

      Not sure how far back you read in my archives, but I did have an issue with the legs. It took them three tries to send me a pair that were straight. I am not sure if it was an issue with manufacturing just that batch… Or if it is a case of– you get what you pay for.

      Reply

  20. Debbie
    February 14, 2014 @ 8:27 pm

    Hi Victoria so very kind of you to point me in the right direction!!!

    I think how you guys restored the bathroom with such precision and professionalism is amazing, right down to that marble sill…..every inch was covered and the storage at the end was genius especially to know to utilize empty space like that. It is all perfect and so well chosen and the workmanship is a credit to you!

    I am in Ireland and have only just come across the site through pinterest but will be a keen follower, thanks for the reply and help and keep up the good work……..brave woman <3

    Reply

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