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Southern Living, Aug 2002 by Clavell, Alicia K

One couple shares tips on renovating a bath.

There are a lot of little decisions to consider when you're renovating a bath," notes Warner McConaughey. "You've got to pick and choose what areas are important to you." He and wife Allison provide insight into their recent renovation and offer tips on what to consider and how to budget. Here are a few ideas on how to achieve this look without breaking the bank.

First Things First

"Function is important," says Allison. She suggests planning a room around your daily rituals. "Think about the different items you use and where they need to be, even your hair dryer. This will answer a lot of questions," she advises. Their bath, for example, only had room for a single vanity and very little storage. So an adjacent closet houses a second sink and storage.

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Style With Tile

Deciding on a look was easy. The couple agreed they wanted a clean appearance, so tile was a good choice. They used inexpensive white tile, but because it covers the entire bath, the job was fairly expensive.

"If you want to get this look for less, use a little bit of tile to cover a small space or create a focal point," Warner offers. You can also accent less expensive tile with higher priced insets.

Making Compromises

Do you have a sinking feeling about purchasing a sink and surround? So did Warner and Allison. In a catalog they found a cabinet that cost around $4,000. Instead, they had a carpenter make the pedestal and two mirrors for less than it would have cost to purchase the one in the catalog. A pedestal sink is a great alternative; otherwise you'd have to purchase the cabinet, top, and bowl separately.

Smart Shopping

"One of the things we did to save money was to buy retro hardware," Warner says. They used old-fashioned bath faucets and had them fitted to the new shower for a wall-mounted appearance without the price. "It has the same look and ended up being $150 instead of $1,500," he says.

"Another item we saved money on was the louvered door to the water closet," Allison explains. "Instead of buying a new one, we salvaged a pine door, sanded it down, and refinished it with mahogany furniture wax."

Going All Out

Because the McConaugheys were cost conscious about most aspects of the project, they were able to splurge on such luxuries as tile throughout the bath and a heated floor. "That was well worth it," Allison says.

They also invested in a cast-enamel tub with whirlpool jets. "A less expensive garden tub or a plastic one with jets could give you the same function for less," Warner says.

Allison also recommends spending more on linens. "You want to pamper yourself with things such as soft towels," she says. ALICIA K. CLAVELL

Get this look for less

Southern Living, Aug 2002 by Clavell, Alicia K

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