They Replaced the Tunnel-Like Shower and the Bathroom Stopped Feeling Like Separate Rooms
Most homeowners would have considered the shower a selling point. It was large, fully tiled, and occupied a significant portion of the master bathroom. Over time, however, the enclosure became the feature the homeowners wanted to change most.
Reddit user Calebm1001 and his wife spent years planning a remodel that replaced nearly every visible surface in the room. The project transformed the shower, vanity, flooring, and storage areas while keeping the bathroom in roughly the same location and size.
Beige Tile Covered Almost Every Surface
The original bathroom relied on the same beige tile across the floor, shower, and lower walls. Combined with builder-grade maple cabinetry and laminate countertops, the room lacked a strong focal point despite its size.
A long double vanity occupied one side of the room while the shower and closet sat on the opposite side. Every area functioned independently rather than contributing to a unified design.
The Shower Looked More Like a Separate Room
The shower became the feature most commenters focused on. Surrounded by tiled walls and accessed through a narrow opening, it resembled a hallway or closet tucked inside the bathroom.
Several Reddit users described it as a cave, hallway, or separate room hidden within the space. While the shower offered generous square footage, the enclosure prevented the bathroom from feeling open.
Half-Wall Tile Divided the Room
Decorative tile wainscoting wrapped around much of the bathroom and created a visual break around the perimeter.
The wall treatment, combined with the beige floor tile, introduced multiple horizontal lines that cut the room into smaller sections instead of allowing surfaces to flow together.
The Closet Shared the Same Awkward Layout
The walk-in closet sat directly beside the shower and remained accessible through the bathroom.
Storage functioned well, but the arrangement reinforced the feeling that each zone existed separately. The remodel would eventually connect these spaces through consistent finishes and better sightlines.
Demolition Exposed the Structure Behind the Shower
Once demolition began, the tunnel-like construction became easier to understand.
Removing drywall and tile exposed framing that surrounded much of the shower enclosure. The photos reveal how much of the bathroom’s visual weight came from walls rather than finishes.
Floors and Walls Came Out Together
Tile removal exposed the subfloor and framing beneath the bathroom.
The project extended beyond cosmetic updates. Sections of flooring, wall assemblies, plumbing access points, and framing required rebuilding before new materials could be installed.
New Framing Started Defining the Updated Layout
Fresh framing and drywall transformed the rough structure into recognizable spaces again.
The rebuild focused on simplifying transitions between the vanity area, shower, and closet while preparing the room for larger-format finishes.
The Shower Began Looking Less Like a Tunnel
New wall surfaces reshaped the shower enclosure before waterproofing and tile installation began.
Even at this stage, the opening felt less confined than before. The project retained the basic location of the shower while improving how it connected visually to the rest of the bathroom.
Drywall Revealed the New Shape of the Shower
After the framing work was completed, new drywall covered much of the exposed structure throughout the bathroom. Open wall cavities, visible studs, and rough construction details disappeared behind clean wall surfaces.
With the enclosure closed in, the shower, vanity wall, and adjacent spaces became easier to visualize before waterproofing, tile, and finish materials were installed.
Board-and-Batten Added Structure Without More Tile
Instead of wrapping the room in tile again, the remodel introduced board-and-batten paneling beneath painted walls.
The combination adds texture while avoiding the heavy appearance created by the original beige wainscoting. Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt paint softened the room and introduced subtle color.
Fluted Vanity and Knee Wall Reshaped the Bathroom
The remodel replaced the original maple cabinetry with a furniture-style double vanity featuring fluted wood drawer fronts, open towel storage, and a bright white countertop. A large mirror awaits installation, but the vanity already serves as the visual anchor of the room.
A knee wall beside the vanity creates separation for the toilet area without blocking light or interrupting sightlines. Combined with the board-and-batten wall treatment and soft green paint, the new layout feels more organized while maintaining the open character of the bathroom.
Large Wall Panels and a Full-Length Shelf Simplified the Shower
The original shower relied on smaller tile, corner storage, and thick side walls that framed the entrance like a separate room. The remodel removed much of that visual weight and introduced large-format wall panels that expose more of the shower from the bathroom.
A continuous shelf spans nearly the full width of the enclosure, providing storage without breaking up the wall surface. The shower also incorporates a rainfall head, handheld wand, body sprays, and a linear drain, while the larger porcelain panels reduce grout lines compared with the original tile installation.
The Shower Stayed the Same Size but Looks Completely Different
The original shower occupied a large portion of the bathroom, but small-format tile, a raised curb, and a heavily tiled enclosure made it feel disconnected from the surrounding space. Despite its size, the shower read more like a separate room within the bathroom.
The remodel retained the shower’s footprint while changing nearly every visible surface. Large-format wall panels replaced the smaller tile, a full-length shelf replaced several storage areas, and a linear drain simplified the floor. Compared with the original shower, the finished design uses larger surfaces and far fewer grout joints throughout the enclosure.
All credits go to Reddit user Calebm1001. Images and original project shared on Reddit
The post They Replaced the Tunnel-Like Shower and the Bathroom Stopped Feeling Like Separate Rooms appeared first on Homedit.
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