Every time I read about someone keeping the old medicine cabinet, I get a little nostalgic. Ours was original to the house (1954), and I tried to save it, but the mirror was so warped it made you look like you were in a funhouse. Ended up swapping it for a new one, but kept the old hardware for a bit of character.
Your point about wiring hits home. I thought I could just swap out a light fixture, but once I opened up the wall, it was like unraveling a sweater—one thing led to another. Ended up rewiring half the bathroom because the cloth-wrapped wires were literally crumbling in my hands. Not something you want to find out after you’ve already tiled.
Mixing old and new is definitely where it’s at, though. I reused the original sink (cast iron, weighs a ton), but put in new tile and fixtures. The contrast works, and it saved some cash. My total came in around $6k, but that’s with me doing plumbing and tiling myself. If I’d hired out everything, probably would’ve been closer to $15k—labor adds up fast.
Curious how folks decide what’s worth saving versus replacing? Sometimes I feel like I’m too sentimental about old stuff, but then again, some of it really is built better than what you can buy now... except maybe for those ancient electrical panels.
Mixing old and new is honestly the sweet spot, especially when you’re working with a tight budget. I totally get the urge to hang onto that old medicine cabinet—sometimes the quirks are half the charm, even if the mirror turns your face into a Picasso painting. I had a similar dilemma with our 60s-era bathroom tiles. Half were chipped, but I ended up keeping the best ones and just patching in with close matches. Not perfect, but it kept some history.
“Ended up rewiring half the bathroom because the cloth-wrapped wires were literally crumbling in my hands. Not something you want to find out after you’ve already tiled.”
That right there is the stuff of nightmares. I learned the hard way, too—old electrical is always a can of worms. You did the right thing by tackling it before the tile went in. As for what’s worth saving, I usually ask myself if it’s solid and will last another 10-15 years. Sentimental value counts for something, but I draw the line at anything that could be a safety hazard (looking at you, ancient breaker boxes).
Six grand for a full DIY job is impressive. Labor really is where the costs balloon. Feels good to know you saved a chunk and still have some original character left.
I think you nailed it with the mix of old and new—especially when you’re on a budget. There’s a lot to be said for keeping original features if they’re still functional. That medicine cabinet with a “Picasso” mirror made me laugh; I had a similar one that always gave me a funhouse reflection, but it was too solid to toss.
“Ended up rewiring half the bathroom because the cloth-wrapped wires were literally crumbling in my hands.”
That’s a rough one. I ran into knob-and-tube in my place and didn’t realize how bad it was until I started pulling drywall. You’re right—old electrical is not worth the risk, no matter how much character the rest of the space has.
Six grand for a full DIY is honestly pretty impressive. I tried to do as much as I could myself, but plumbing and electrical are two things I’m just not comfortable skimping on. Labor costs add up fast, but safety’s worth it. Keeping what you can and upgrading what you must seems like the best approach—sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially when it means you still have a bit of the house’s story left.
Mixing old and new is the sweet spot, especially when you’re trying to keep costs down. I’ve seen so many folks rip out everything just to “modernize,” but sometimes those quirky original features are what make a place memorable. That said, I totally get not wanting to mess with ancient wiring. I’ve had a few properties where the electrical was so sketchy I didn’t even want to touch the light switch—definitely not worth the risk.
Six grand for a full DIY is solid, especially if you got decent fixtures and didn’t cut corners on the important stuff. I usually budget more, but that’s because I almost always end up hiring out plumbing and electrical. It’s just not worth the headache (or liability) if something goes wrong down the line. Labor eats up a big chunk, but like you said, safety’s non-negotiable.
Curious—did you end up keeping any of the original tile or hardware? Sometimes those little details are what buyers or renters comment on first. I’ve had people fall in love with an old-school hex tile floor or a weird vintage sconce, even if the rest of the bathroom is brand new. On the flip side, I’ve also had to rip out stuff that looked cool but was just too far gone to save.
Ever run into surprises behind the walls that totally blew your budget? I swear, every time I think I’ve seen it all, there’s another “hidden gem” waiting for me...
Kept the original hex tile in mine, even though it had a few cracks—figured it added character. But yeah, once I opened up the wall, found an old lead drain pipe that needed replacing. That alone ate up a good chunk of my contingency fund. Sometimes you just have to roll with it...
