According to the National Association of Realtors, remodeling a bathroom will give you a 71 percent return on investment, based on 2009 statistics.
“Bathrooms are not really do-it-yourself projects. They are very labor intensive. I think in the long run you’ll be frustrated and you’ll have to bring someone in anyway,”
“It’s money well spent,” said Cambridge interior designer Mary Johnston, who remodeled the bathroom in her 1897 Queen Anne Victorian.
Johnston and her husband spent about $15,000 to upgrade their bathroom three years ago, a cost considered to be mid-range.
She planned the room to reflect a century-old period but made sure that the master bath functioned as a modern space for her and her husband.
Previous owners had moved walls to the original bedroom and created a huge space that dwarfed a pedestal sink, toilet and claw foot tub, so Johnston scaled down the 172-square-foot space by almost half and built a walk-in closet on the other side.
In keeping with the colors popular during the Victorian era, Johnston specified creamy bead board and sage green walls. She gave the custom-built painted vanity a furniture-like appearance by adding legs and opted for chrome lighting fixtures and bin pulls on the cabinets.
She replaced the sink and toilet and installed a separate glass-enclosed shower stall. A white five-and-a-half-foot claw foot tub, dating to about 1905, was salvaged because of its remarkably good condition. The cast iron material also holds the temperature of the bath water for extended soaks.
She changed the layout of the room, which necessitated moving the plumbing lines.
This can normally be an expensive change, but because Johnston already was involved in remodeling her kitchen one floor below, it made sense to change the pipe run while the ceiling was open. This also made it easier to change the electrical wiring, too, Johnston said.
While homeowners may want to focus spending on tubs and showers, the designer said they should make sure they put their dollars into the plumbing first, especially if it is in poor condition.
“If your clean out is going to a rusty cast iron pipe and you’ve done this whole renovation, you could have a leak later. A plumber is key,” Johnston said.
Once you know the condition of your pipes, form a budget for the rest of the project, she advised. Unless you really know what you’re doing, it is best to hire professionals for not only the plumbing but also for setting tile and doing the electrical work.
“Bathrooms are not really do-it-yourself projects. They are very labor intensive. I think in the long run you’ll be frustrated and you’ll have to bring someone in anyway,” Johnston said.
Though skylights were not a feature of the Victorian era, Johnston upgraded an existing skylight that was aesthetically pleasing. Because it is on the second floor, it can’t be seen from the ground.
Johnston designed the space with a single sink in the bathroom she shares with her husband and said it’s rare that the two of them need to use it at the same time. She didn’t want a lot of upkeep and chose materials like Corian countertops and a porcelain floor that are easy to maintain.
In her renovation work for clients, the designer said homeowners seem to be moving away from jetted tubs because of maintenance issues, especially if they are seldom used, and separate showers are replacing the tub/shower combination.
More people are asking for the body spa with multiple sprays, but Johnston urged consumers to consider the pros and cons before investing in one.
“The (body spas) produce a lot of steam and require a lot of water. It’s got to be constructed very well, and it does require mechanical maintenance. Unless you’re ready to make the commitment to that expense, I don’t think people take the time for it,” Johnston said.
Most importantly, make your space personal.
“If you’ve got a bathroom you’re going to be using forever, it’s so nice to have it remodeled to your lifestyle,” Johnston said.
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