"Labor and fixtures pushed total to nearly $6k... historic charm ain't cheap, but worth every penny."
Haha, tell me about it. We redid our tiny 1930s bath last year—went with subway tile walls and penny rounds on the floor for that vintage vibe. Thought we'd be clever and save money by sourcing fixtures ourselves... yeah, right. Ended up falling in love with a pedestal sink that cost more than my first car. 😅
All said and done, we landed around $7k. And that's with me doing some of the demo myself (turns out smashing tile is therapeutic, who knew?). Honestly though, every time I walk in there now, I feel like I'm stepping into a Pinterest board. Worth it? Totally. Would I do it again anytime soon? My wallet says no way.
Historic charm definitely has its price tag, but hey, at least we're not alone in this madness!
Your bathroom sounds dreamy—Pinterest-worthy indeed. And yeah, fixtures always end up being the sneaky budget killers, don't they? When we tackled our vintage bath, I thought DIY-ing would save a ton...but between special-order faucets and matching hardware, my "budget" quickly became more like a vague suggestion. Still, there's nothing quite like stepping into a space you love every single day. Totally worth the splurge.
Yeah, fixtures are definitely sneaky little budget inflators. When I redid the bathroom in one of my rental properties, I tried to keep things simple and cost-effective. But even with basic upgrades, once you factor in faucets, towel bars, and matching hardware... it adds up fast. Makes me wonder if splurging on high-end fixtures really boosts property value significantly or if it's more for personal satisfaction. Curious if anyone's noticed a real difference in resale or rental rates from going premium?
"Makes me wonder if splurging on high-end fixtures really boosts property value significantly or if it's more for personal satisfaction."
Yeah, I've wondered the same thing. Just finished my first bathroom remodel, and honestly, the fixture aisle was a rabbit hole I wasn't prepared for. Ended up going mid-range—nothing too fancy, but not bottom-tier either. My realtor friend said renters mainly care about cleanliness and functionality rather than premium brands. Maybe it matters more for resale? But for rentals, seems like as long as it looks decent and works smoothly, you're golden.
I remodeled my bathroom about two years ago and went through a similar thought process. Initially, I was tempted by some really sleek, high-end fixtures, but after crunching numbers and considering long-term value, I decided to stick with mid-range options too. Honestly, from my experience, the premium fixtures don't necessarily translate into a significant increase in property value unless you're dealing with a luxury home or a very specific buyer demographic.
One thing I've noticed is that buyers (and renters, as you mentioned) tend to prioritize overall aesthetics, functionality, and efficiency over brand names. If your fixtures look modern, clean, and well-maintained, most people won't even notice if they're not top-tier brands. Plus, investing in energy-efficient and water-saving fixtures can actually be a bigger selling point these days—especially with utility costs rising and more people becoming environmentally conscious.
When I did my remodel, I focused more on sustainable materials and water-saving features rather than splurging on designer brands. For instance, I installed a dual-flush toilet and low-flow showerheads. These weren't the cheapest options available, but they weren't outrageously priced either. The savings on water bills have been noticeable, and when I had the place appraised recently, the appraiser specifically mentioned that eco-friendly upgrades can positively impact resale value.
So, while high-end fixtures might give you personal satisfaction (and there's nothing wrong with that if it's within your budget), from a purely practical standpoint, mid-range fixtures combined with thoughtful eco-friendly upgrades seem to offer the best balance of cost-effectiveness and long-term value.
