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Laura Trexler and her husband renovated the guest bathroom in their 1915 home after leaks and a rotted subfloor required major repairs. Trexler kept the original pink wall tile and extended the color scheme with pink paint, a custom vanity area and mosaic flooring.
Laura Trexler and her husband renovated the guest bathroom in their 1915 historic home, repairing water damage while keeping its original pink wall tile and building a coordinated pink design around it. Apartment Therapy’s before-and-after report describes a project that also addressed a rotted subfloor and leaking plumbing in a bathroom split between a shower-and-toilet area and a vanity tucked into a closet.
The couple undertook updates throughout the house, which had been altered in the 1980s when it operated as a bed and breakfast. In the guest bathroom, a long-running leak had damaged the subfloor, and the vanity sink was leaking. Trexler said the original pink tile was a reason to preserve the bathroom’s character rather than replace it as part of the work.
Because the tile needed to remain undisturbed, the couple opened the plaster wall on the opposite side to access the plumbing. Trexler said the subfloor was more extensively rotted than they had expected and that every piece of plumbing they encountered was leaking. The repairs changed the project timeline and required them to adjust their plans, according to her account in Apartment Therapy.
After the structural and plumbing work, Trexler added a custom vanity, pink mosaic hexagon floor tile and Benjamin Moore’s Rose Blush paint on the walls and ceiling. She also found a pink sink on eBay and sourced a vintage wall sconce and accordion mirror. Rather than installing a shower door or custom vanity drawers, she made a pleated shower curtain and a matching sink skirt, using a $10 tension rod for the latter.
Keeping Tile Through Major Repairs
The renovation illustrates a practical tension in older-home projects: water damage can demand extensive work, while distinctive original finishes may be worth preserving. In Trexler’s case, keeping the wall tile shaped how the couple accessed the plumbing, with work carried out from the opposite side rather than by removing the tiled surface. Her account also shows how opening walls and floors can expose problems beyond the visible leak, including a rotted subfloor and plumbing failures.
The design choices connect that preservation work to the room’s everyday use. Trexler said the vanity is separate from the toilet and shower, allowing one guest to brush their teeth while another showers. She told Apartment Therapy that the finished bathroom has become the most loved bathroom in the house. That response is her description of the household’s experience, rather than an independent assessment, but it captures the personal payoff she sought: a useful guest space that retains an unusual layout and its original material.
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A Bed-and-Breakfast Layout Remains
The home had a history that shaped the bathroom before the renovation began. Built in 1915, it was later renovated in the 1980s to operate as a bed and breakfast. Trexler described the guest bathroom’s vanity as being built directly into a closet, while the toilet and shower occupied the main bathroom area. The vanity section lacked the original pink tile and, in her view, lacked personality.
Trexler and her husband chose to renovate the house as a whole, including rewiring and extensive replumbing, rather than treat the bathroom as a purely cosmetic project. She said the main bathroom already had the pink tile she wanted to retain. Her plans carried that color into the vanity closet, using paint and new finishes to relate the two areas. The report does not give a complete project budget or a dated construction timeline.
“Renovating a historic house is all about rolling with the punches.”
— Laura Trexler, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Timeline Unreported
Apartment Therapy’s report does not state how much the renovation cost, how long the work took, or when it was completed. It also does not identify the contractor or say whether the couple handled any of the work themselves. Trexler’s account describes the condition of the subfloor and plumbing, but the article does not provide an independent inspection or additional documentation of the damage.
No Further Work Announced
The report presents the bathroom as a completed renovation and does not mention planned follow-up work, a new construction phase or further updates from the couple. The next development, if any, would depend on Trexler or the publication sharing additional details about the house, the project’s costs or how the preserved tile performs over time.
Key Questions
What happened to Laura Trexler’s bathroom?
Trexler and her husband renovated the guest bathroom in their 1915 home, repairing water damage and updating the vanity area while retaining the original pink wall tile.
Why did the renovation involve major repairs?
Trexler said a long-running leak damaged the subfloor, which turned out to be rotted, and the plumbing they encountered was leaking. The couple also had to repair the leaking vanity sink.
Which features did the couple add?
The renovation included Rose Blush paint on the walls and ceiling, a custom vanity, mosaic hexagon floor tile, a pink sink, vintage lighting and a wall-mounted accordion mirror. Trexler also made a pleated shower curtain and matching sink skirt.
Did the couple remove the closet vanity?
No. The vanity remained in the closet area. Trexler said the layout lets one guest use the shower while another brushes their teeth in a separate space.
How much did the bathroom renovation cost?
The Apartment Therapy report does not provide a total project cost. It says Trexler used a $10 tension rod for the sink skirt, but that is not the overall renovation budget.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
