Transforming a Small Bathroom in a 1938 Colonial Without Losing Its Character
Project Summary
This remodel included a designer porcelain enamel bathtub, custom Onyx Collection cultured stone tub surround, Fabuwood vanity, custom Onyx vanity top, updated plumbing and electrical, luxury vinyl plank flooring, new ventilation, custom trim work, a custom pony wall with satin privacy glass, and numerous layout improvements designed specifically for one of the smallest bathrooms we’ve remodeled.
Location: DeWittshire Neighborhood – DeWitt, NY
Home: 1938 Colonial
Project Type: Full Bathroom Remodel
When the homeowners of this beautiful 1938 Colonial contacted Bath Pros after reading through our online reviews, they knew their guest bathroom had simply reached the end of its useful life. The room was extremely compact, offered virtually no storage, suffered from aging plumbing, and had likely last undergone a significant renovation sometime during the middle of the twentieth century.
Our goal wasn’t to recreate a 1938 bathroom. It was to build a modern bathroom that respected the craftsmanship and character of a nearly century-old home while providing the durability, storage, and functionality today’s homeowners expect.
A Bathroom That Had Faithfully Served Its Time
One of the reasons we enjoy working in older homes is that every project tells a story. This Colonial, built in 1938, sits in the heart of DeWittshire—one of the area’s most recognizable neighborhoods. Like many homes built during that era, it had been well cared for over the years, but the bathroom still reflected a very different time in residential construction.
The existing bathroom was exceptionally small. A unique double-threshold bathtub occupied much of the room while a standing sink with decorative legs offered almost no practical storage. The toilet had become increasingly troublesome, ventilation was poor, there was evidence of a persistent plumbing leak beneath the floor, and although the ceramic tile had survived for decades, it was simply showing its age.
The homeowners weren’t interested in making the room larger. They simply wanted to make it work better.
Remodeling Older Homes Means Expecting the Unexpected
Homes approaching one hundred years old rarely reveal all of their secrets before demolition. Long before construction began, we expected to encounter aging plumbing hidden behind the walls. Sure enough, much of the bathroom still relied on original cast iron drainage and galvanized water piping. To many homeowners, that sounds intimidating. To us, it was simply part of remodeling a 1938 home.
Older plumbing systems require a different approach than modern construction. Original cast iron drainage and galvanized water lines are common in homes from this era. Rather than treating those discoveries as surprises, we anticipated them during planning and adapted the project as conditions were uncovered.
This certainly isn’t the first time an older home has surprised us. In fact, we recently documented another remodel where demolition uncovered several significant structural issues that had gone unnoticed by multiple contractors during previous estimates. If you’re interested in what can hide behind the walls of an older home, take a look at our article on the structural problems three contractors missed during a bathroom remodel.
Experience matters most when the walls come down.
Every Inch Had to Earn Its Place
Designing a small bathroom isn’t about finding the perfect layout. It’s about finding the best balance.
Every additional inch of vanity affects toilet clearance. Door swing influences countertop dimensions. Plumbing locations dictate fixture placement. Storage, walking space, and functionality are constantly competing for the same few square feet.
We knew from our first design meeting that this bathroom would require thoughtful compromises. Rather than commissioning an expensive fully custom vanity cabinet, we selected a 30-inch Fabuwood Allure Galaxy vanity and paired it with a custom-manufactured Onyx Collection vanity top in Platinum. The integral sink was intentionally offset toward the left, maximizing usable countertop space while creating significantly more storage than the original pedestal-style sink could ever provide.
In a room this small, good design isn’t measured by eliminating compromises—it is measured by choosing the right ones.
An Unexpected Challenge During Construction
Construction began early Monday morning with Lead Remodeler Brandon beginning demolition. Unfortunately, Brandon became ill shortly afterward and missed the next two days while attempting to recover. He returned to work for one day, but his condition worsened and ultimately required hospitalization for an unrelated medical issue.
Throughout the process, we kept the homeowners informed and developed a plan that allowed construction to continue with minimal disruption. Rather than leaving the bathroom partially demolished, we coordinated with our installation team and scheduled Shannon Boyer to take over the project beginning the following Monday.
Shannon is an invaluable member of our team, has been with Bath Pros for years, and is one of the craftsmen we trust with our most demanding remodeling projects. He quickly familiarized himself with the design, stepped into the project seamlessly, and spent the following weeks rebuilding the bathroom with the same attention to detail we expect on every remodel.
We’ve actually written a separate article explaining how Bath Pros handles situations like this and why having multiple experienced remodelers allows us to continue serving homeowners even when unexpected medical emergencies occur. You can read more here: What Happens If My Contractor Gets Sick?
A Modern Bathroom That Still Respects the Home
One of the goals throughout this remodel wasn’t to make the bathroom look like it belonged in 1938. It was to make sure the room still respected the home that surrounded it.
The finished bathroom is unmistakably modern. At its center is a designer porcelain enamel bathtub surrounded by full-height Onyx Collection cultured stone wall panels featuring the classic Subway Tile pattern in Platinum. Unlike traditional ceramic tile, the large-format cultured stone panels eliminate hundreds of grout joints while preserving the timeless appearance homeowners love. That wasn’t just an aesthetic decision—it was a practical one. Because this bathroom will primarily serve as the family’s children’s bathroom, selecting a durable, easy-to-clean wall system with minimal maintenance requirements simply made sense. The result is a space that should remain attractive and functional for many years without the constant upkeep that traditional grout joints often require.
The walls are capped with Onyx White trim, and that same design language continues throughout the vanity area. The custom vanity top is also finished in Platinum, while the integral sink is cast in Onyx White, creating a cohesive appearance throughout the room. Together, they create a cohesive design that makes the room feel larger and brighter than the original bathroom ever could.
At the same time, we intentionally preserved as much of the home’s original character as possible. Nearly one-hundred-year-old window and door trim was carefully retained wherever practical. Where age or previous damage made preservation impossible, we replaced sections using matching profiles so the finished woodwork blended naturally with the surrounding trim. Rather than replacing the original mirror with a large frameless mirror, we custom wrapped the existing mirror using matching wood trim. It preserved a familiar feature of the room while allowing it to feel intentionally integrated into the finished design.
Those details matter. Anyone can install new products. Taking the time to integrate them into an older home without erasing its character requires a different mindset.
Custom Features Throughout the Bathroom
Every older home presents opportunities for custom craftsmanship. For this project, we constructed a custom pony wall adjacent to the bathtub before building a matching cultured stone pillar designed to support a traditional shower curtain. Once complete, the pony wall will be finished with a custom piece of satin privacy glass, creating separation between the bathing area and the remainder of the room without making the space feel closed in.
Behind the finished surfaces, the bathroom also received updated plumbing where necessary, new electrical work, improved lighting, a properly vented exhaust fan, fresh paint, finish trim, and durable luxury vinyl plank flooring designed to provide years of reliable service.
During construction, the homeowners also elected to replace an existing drain line connected to the home’s main stack. As with every change outside the original scope of work, the additional plumbing was documented through a written Revision Agreement before work proceeded. We believe detailed contracts and written revision agreements help create smoother remodeling projects by clearly documenting changes before work begins. If you’d like to learn more, we’ve written an entire article explaining why Reputable Contractors Want Detailed Contracts.
The Finished Result
Nearly one hundred years after this Colonial was built, its bathroom is ready for another generation. The room now offers dramatically improved storage, durable materials, updated plumbing and electrical systems, improved ventilation, and a layout carefully designed around the realities of a compact historic home. More importantly, it still feels connected to the character of the rest of the house.
Historic homes deserve remodeling that respects the craftsmanship that made them worth preserving in the first place. Our goal isn’t simply to install new materials—it’s to create a bathroom that feels as though it has always belonged in the home while providing the comfort, functionality, and durability today’s homeowners expect.
If you’re considering a bathroom remodel in an older home anywhere in the Syracuse area, we’d be happy to discuss your project and the unique challenges your home may present. Call Bath Pros today at (315) 217-1151 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small bathroom in an older home really be made more functional?
Absolutely. While older bathrooms often have limited square footage, thoughtful planning can dramatically improve storage, lighting, ventilation, and overall usability without changing the home’s footprint. In many cases, selecting the right vanity, carefully planning plumbing locations, and optimizing the layout makes the room feel significantly larger than before.
Is it common to find cast iron and galvanized plumbing in a 1930s home?
Yes. Homes built during the 1930s commonly contain cast iron drain lines and galvanized steel water piping. Experienced remodeling contractors anticipate these conditions and understand how to safely modify or replace portions of these systems when necessary.
Why did you recommend Onyx Collection cultured stone instead of traditional tile?
For this project, durability and ease of maintenance were just as important as appearance. Because this bathroom will primarily serve as a children’s bathroom, the homeowners wanted a material that would be easy to clean while still providing a timeless look. Onyx Collection cultured stone panels provide the appearance of classic subway tile without hundreds of grout joints that require ongoing maintenance.
Can original woodwork be preserved during a bathroom remodel?
Whenever possible, yes. One of the goals of this project was to preserve the character of the 1938 Colonial. We retained the original door and window trim wherever practical, replaced damaged sections with matching profiles, and custom wrapped the existing mirror with matching trim to help the finished bathroom feel connected to the rest of the home.
Why are small bathrooms so difficult to design?
Small bathrooms require balancing competing priorities. Increasing storage may reduce walking space. Door swing affects vanity placement. Plumbing locations influence fixture selection. Rather than searching for a “perfect” layout, experienced bathroom designers focus on creating the best overall balance between functionality, aesthetics, budget, and the physical limitations of the room.
What happens if unexpected conditions are discovered during construction?
Older homes occasionally reveal hidden plumbing, electrical, or structural conditions after demolition begins. When additional work falls outside the original scope of the project, we discuss the findings with the homeowner, prepare a written Revision Agreement outlining the work and associated cost, and proceed only after approval.