THE GRIT AND POLISH GUIDES
Bathrooms for Old Homes
Bathrooms may be small, but there’s a lot to think through when renovating one. After working on old homes for over a decade, we’ve learned how to balance layouts, budgets, tile, fixtures, and the little details that make a bathroom feel comfortable, timeless, and right for the house.
The Bathroom Renovation Guide
We’ve made a lot of bathroom decisions over the years. And yes, a few we’d make differently ;) We’re bringing that experience into a digital resource you can work through and return to as your renovation takes shape.
Explore the mini guide here for now, and join The Grit and Polish newsletter for renovation notes and an email when our full bathroom resource launches.
Our Bathroom Favorites
Knobs, pulls, latches, and details for a classic bathroom
We look for useful details, lasting materials, and finishing touches that bring character to a hardworking room.
Bathroom Sources
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Walnut Bathroom Vanity
The curved-corner vanity in our Hill House ensuite.
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Blue-Shade Wall Sconce
Aged brass and a slate-blue shade in our hall bath.
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Polished Nickel Faucet
The polished nickel faucet in our Hill House hall bath.
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Brass Shower Set
The shower and handshower in our Hill House ensuite.
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Farmhouse Vanity Mirror
The mirror we chose for our Farmhouse primary bath.
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Marble Hex Floor Tile
The marble hex tile in our Hill House wet room.
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Epoxy Grout Parts A & B
Our go-to epoxy grout; color powder sold separately.
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Grout Mixing Paddle
A drill attachment from our bathroom grouting kit.
Bathrooms in Our Homes
From a quick refresh to a full renovation, these are the layouts, materials, and everyday details that made our bathrooms work better.
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The $1,000 Farmhouse Bathroom
A seven-day refresh brought new life to our main bathroom with a painted vanity, simple moldings, and a few thoughtful finishing touches.
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Our Farmhouse Primary Bathroom
Our primary bathroom brings together warm woodwork, marble, brass, and classic tile in a layout that makes better use of the space.
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Wood Bathroom Vanities
Prefab vanities can have plenty of character. These wood options offer a starting point, including the one we chose for our Hill House ensuite.
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Shower Glass or Curtains?
After years of choosing curtains, we tried shower glass at the Hill House. Here’s what changed our minds and how the installation went.
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Our Favorite Bathroom Grout
We’ve tried three different bathroom grouts over the years. Here are the tradeoffs, the lessons, and the product we keep coming back to.
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Classic Bathroom Tile
White subway tile and marble hex are familiar materials, but the layout, edging, and little details made our Hill House ensuite feel special.
Classic Tile, Thoughtful Details
White subway tile and marble hex are familiar choices, but the way they come together can make a bathroom feel special. In our Hill House ensuite, we worked through the layout, edging, and transitions to give simple materials a little more character. These are the details we considered along the way.
Before You Plan Your Bathroom
A good bathroom isn’t only pretty. It should suit the people using it, make the most of the space, work within your budget, and feel at home in the rest of the house.