I hear you on the “character” thing—my attempt at a vintage medicine cabinet turned into a three-week saga involving splinters and a lot of swearing. Sometimes simple is just... better. Your $7k sounds pretty reasonable for what you got.
I totally get the “character” struggle—last year, I tried to salvage an old clawfoot tub for a client. Looked amazing in theory, but the rust removal and refinishing took way longer (and cost more) than just buying a new one. Sometimes those vintage touches are worth it, but man, they can eat up your budget and patience. $7k for a full remodel actually sounds pretty solid, especially if you kept plumbing in the same spots. Did you end up splurging on any fixtures or just keep it basic?
Honestly, $7k for a full remodel sounds like a minor miracle these days, especially if you didn’t have to move the plumbing. I hear you on the vintage stuff—
—I fell into that same rabbit hole with a 1950s sink. Thought I’d save money by “restoring” it. Three weekends, two YouTube disasters, and one plumber later, I’m pretty sure I could’ve just bought a new one and taken a vacation instead.the rust removal and refinishing took way longer (and cost more) than just buying a new one
For our remodel, we kept most things basic (hello, off-the-shelf Home Depot fixtures), but did splurge on a rainfall showerhead. Wasn’t in the original plan but figured if I’m already living in renovation chaos, might as well have one tiny spa moment in there. Did you find any budget-friendly hacks for fixtures or just stick to the tried-and-true? Sometimes I wonder if “basic” is just code for “won’t destroy my wallet.”
Wasn’t in the original plan but figured if I’m already living in renovation chaos, might as well have one tiny spa moment in there.
I totally get the “basic” approach—sometimes it’s just code for “I want this done before I lose my mind.” We did our first bathroom last year and, like you, tried to save with off-the-shelf stuff. I did splurge on a matte black faucet because I thought it’d make the room look fancy. Spoiler: it shows every single water spot. Live and learn, right? Honestly, the only real hack we found was waiting for holiday sales at Lowe’s. Not glamorous, but it helped keep things under $8k.
Honestly, the only real hack we found was waiting for holiday sales at Lowe’s. Not glamorous, but it helped keep things under $8k.
Waiting for sales is underrated. I did the same—tracked prices for months and ended up snagging a decent vanity and tile at a fraction of the regular cost. Still, even with all the DIY and bargain hunting, mine crept up to about $7,200. I hear you on the matte black fixtures too. They look great in photos but are a pain to keep looking clean. If I did it again, I’d probably go brushed nickel.
