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Nicole McQuade and her husband renovated the 40-square-foot bathroom in their historic Richmond, Virginia, home after aging plumbing and electrical systems became a concern. They said the project cost $17,000 for supplies and hired labor, with the couple handling demolition, wall repairs, painting and curtains themselves.
Nicole McQuade and her husband renovated the 40-square-foot bathroom in their historic Richmond, Virginia, home after its aging plumbing and electrical systems began causing problems, according to an Apartment Therapy report. The couple said the project cost $17,000 for supplies and hired labor, and paired necessary repairs with a bright, vintage-inspired design.
The bathroom had last been renovated in the 1980s, McQuade told Apartment Therapy. Over time, the couple encountered problems with both plumbing and electrical work; eventually, water barely flowed from the sink faucet. A plumber warned that the plumbing could lead to a more serious emergency, McQuade said, prompting the couple to move forward with a project they had been considering since buying the home eight years earlier.
The couple initially collected contractor estimates to understand the cost. McQuade said quotes ranged from $30,000 to $50,000 for the small bathroom, without relocating plumbing or selecting premium materials. Because those figures were beyond their budget, they spent years planning, finding subcontractors they could afford and overseeing the work themselves. The final $17,000 figure covered supplies and hired labor, according to McQuade.
To reduce costs, the couple handled some tasks themselves, including demolition, repairing walls, applying Roman clay paint and sewing curtains. They used terrazzo flooring, creamy white textured walls, a bronze showerhead and matching sink faucet, and a marble countertop. Rounded forms on the vanity, countertop and recessed medicine cabinet were chosen with the room’s limited space in mind, McQuade said. The family of three uses the bathroom as its only full bath.
A Small Bath With Costly Repairs
The project shows how a compact bathroom renovation can involve more than a style update when older infrastructure needs attention. In this case, the poor sink water flow and aging plumbing and electrical made repairs a practical concern, while the couple’s account highlights the trade-off between contractor estimates and taking on project coordination and some work themselves.
The reported figures are specific to this household and project, not a general price guide. The couple said estimates ran from $30,000 to $50,000, while their eventual spending was $17,000 for supplies and hired labor. Their approach also involved years of planning and two weeks without a shower, a disruption they managed by using a local YMCA and a friend’s home. The design outcome matters to the family, but the report does not establish that the approach or cost would apply to other older homes.
small bathroom recessed medicine cabinet rounded mirror
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From Long-Delayed Plans to Repairs
McQuade said the couple had disliked the bathroom since moving into the house eight years before the renovation, but initially left it largely untouched while saving and considering options. They wanted a room that looked as though it could have been part of the more-than-100-year-old home for decades, while replacing the plumbing and electrical systems rather than preserving those outdated elements.
They spent time selecting distinctive fixtures, searching for a marble remnant, testing Roman clay colors and reviewing vintage rugs. The room’s small footprint shaped those choices: according to McQuade, rounded pieces and a recessed mirrored medicine cabinet helped address space and storage needs. Apartment Therapy’s report describes the finished bathroom as brighter and calmer; that characterization reflects the homeowner’s account of the result.
“Since the day we moved in, we’ve hated this bathroom, but knew that a quick paint job wasn’t going to do much, so it has been largely untouched while we saved money and figured out what to do.”
— Nicole McQuade, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
bronze bathroom sink faucet and showerhead set
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Project Costs and Scope Limits
The $17,000 total is McQuade’s reported cost for this project’s supplies and hired labor; Apartment Therapy’s account does not provide a detailed invoice, a breakdown by trade or a separate figure for the value of the couple’s own labor. It also does not specify how much each contractor quote included beyond a renovation without moving plumbing or using premium materials.
The report does not name the subcontractors, detail the permits or approvals involved, or provide an independent inspection of the completed plumbing and electrical work. It is also unclear which exact fixtures, materials or design choices contributed most to the total. The account is a homeowner profile, not a comparative survey of renovation prices.
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The Finished Room and Its Use
Apartment Therapy’s report presents the bathroom as completed; it does not announce another renovation phase or a pending decision. The family is now using the renovated room as its only full bathroom. McQuade said the marble countertop is a daily focal point and described the new space as bright and calming.
No further construction schedule or follow-up work was reported. The next developments, if any, would depend on the homeowners’ future plans; the published account does not say whether they intend to renovate another part of the house.
Roman clay paint for bathroom walls
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Key Questions
How much did the bathroom renovation cost?
Nicole McQuade told Apartment Therapy that supplies and hired labor totaled $17,000. The report does not give a separate valuation for the work the couple did themselves.
How large was the bathroom?
The bathroom measured 40 square feet, according to the report.
Why did the couple renovate the bathroom?
The bathroom’s plumbing and electrical systems dated to a previous renovation in the 1980s, McQuade said. The sink’s water flow had become very weak, and a plumber warned the couple that the plumbing could lead to an emergency.
What work did the homeowners do themselves?
McQuade said she and her husband handled demolition, wall repairs, Roman clay painting and sewing the curtains. They also planned and oversaw the project while hiring subcontractors for work they did not do themselves.
What gives the bathroom its vintage-inspired look?
The couple chose terrazzo flooring, bronze fixtures, a marble countertop and textured creamy-white walls. Rounded forms and a recessed mirrored medicine cabinet were selected to suit the small room.
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