I get what you're saying about ventilation, but honestly, even with a good fan, exposed brick in bathrooms can be tricky. We did something similar—fell in love with the rustic vibe and went all-in on the exposed brick wall behind the tub. Looked straight out of a magazine at first. But after a year or so, even with sealing and upgraded ventilation, we started noticing little bits of mortar crumbling here and there. Nothing major, but enough to make me nervous.
Eventually, we ended up installing a glass partition to shield the brick from direct splashes. It wasn't cheap, but it helped tremendously—no more crumbling bits or moisture issues. I guess my point is that sometimes ventilation alone isn't enough; you might need to think creatively about barriers or partial coverings too. Brick looks amazing, but it's definitely not maintenance-free... learned that lesson myself!
Yeah, I hear you on the brick issue—sounds like a headache waiting to happen. Did the glass partition add a lot to your overall remodel cost? Wondering if something simpler like tile accents could give a similar vibe without breaking the bank...
Went through something similar last year when we did our bathroom—glass partitions look sleek but man, they can hit your wallet hard. Here's what I learned (the hard way, lol):
- Glass partitions were quoted at almost double what we initially expected. I mean, it's just glass, right? Apparently not. 😅
- Ended up ditching the glass idea altogether and opted for tile accents instead. Honestly, zero regrets there.
- We picked some mosaic-style tiles as an accent strip and it gave the space a really nice modern feel without breaking the bank.
- Bonus: tiles are way easier to clean than glass (less streaks and water spots = happier me).
All said and done, our remodel ran around $7k total (small-ish bathroom). Definitely could've gone higher if we'd stuck with the original fancy glass vision...but honestly, I'm glad we didn't. That extra cash went toward a nicer vanity and fixtures that we actually notice every day.
Bathroom remodels are sneaky expensive—little things add up quick—but there are totally ways to keep costs reasonable without sacrificing style. Tile accents ftw in my book.
Did you secretly spy on my remodel? 😂 I got quoted something ridiculous for glass too and thought, "Did I accidentally ask for bulletproof glass or what?" Ended up going with subway tile and a nicer sink instead...best decision ever.
"Did I accidentally ask for bulletproof glass or what?"
Haha, seriously, what's up with glass prices lately? I had a similar experience when looking into frameless shower doors—felt like I was funding some luxury yacht or something. Ended up going with reclaimed wood shelving and a water-saving showerhead instead. Honestly, not only did it save me a ton of cash, but it feels good knowing it's more eco-friendly too.
Curious though...has anyone else noticed that sustainable or recycled materials sometimes end up cheaper than the trendy high-end stuff? Makes me wonder why more people don't go that route. Maybe it's just marketing hype driving prices up?
