Scary Bathrooms Vol. 4: 1970s Bathroom Nightmares
Oct 05, 2023Nothing Says 70s Bathroom Like a One-Piece Retro Shower Pod...
The fun of home improvement is expressing yourself through design. But as homes change hands, and style trends come and go, our crews see more than their fair share of outdated bathroom design choices. Take this year’s Scary Bathroom features, for example.
We’re sure these retro bathroom designs were groovy back in their day, but It was time to turn them into something truly outta sight. In addition to some far out 70s bathroom choices, we threw in a couple of extra-scary tubs and showers that turned into scary-good transformations!
A Blue, Brass 70s Bathroom Bummer
Sometimes vintage styles can make a comeback, but this 70s retro shower pod, brass hardware, and teal vanity top aren’t on the list. The tub/shower combo is dark and difficult to get in and out of, while the “matching” sink just doesn’t go with the beautiful woodwork.
Knowing the homeowners planned to keep the substantial built-in vanity cabinets, our team was happy to install a beautiful, neutral quartz vanity top that suits it much better. The vanity also ties in with the new white and grey walk-in shower, which is clean and bright. The homeowners kept a unique style element by choosing a scalloped back wall panel.
Get This Look: This shower features a white base with smooth Basket Weave walls on the ends with matching corner shelves, a white scalloped accent panel across the back, and a smooth white ceiling panel. The showerhead, valve handle, and grab bars are finished in brushed nickel from the Brantford collection. The shower door features a brushed nickel frame with frosted glass doors. For the vanity, the homeowners chose our Castelo quartz vanity top.
Read More: See Another 70s Time Warp Bathroom!
Flower Power Retro Shower
This dingy, yellowing molded shower surround is almost surprising enough to distract you from the outdated and worn-out blue bathtub. And while the petal-shaped shelves are a clever use of design, the combined shower walls, tub, and clutter don’t make for a modern look.
Read More: See More Blue, Yellow, & Green Bathtub Disasters!
This family decided on a more streamlined and neutral design for their retro shower update, and Improveit team was happy to help! The expert installation team was even able to build out a custom shelf that fit in line with the window sill. A custom glass panel was added to fill the space precisely.
Get This Look: This neutral design includes a white shower base and a shower surround in our neutral Brecchia wall color. The brushed nickel shower door features a stationary glass panel to the left, and a swing-open door to the right.
SEE MORE SCARY BATHROOMS!
- Volume 1: 4 Scary Bathrooms You Have to See to Believe
- Volume 2: More Scary Bath Problems You Have to See
- Volume 3: Attack of the Green Bathrooms!
Not-so-Groovy 1970s Bathroom Colors
Bathrooms are a fun place to play with color, but our design team recommends using paint and accessories that are easy to change out. This mauve shower pod and brick red shower surround were bold choices but were never going to stand the test of time. Read the captions below to see how each family upgraded thier 70s bathroom selections with new, timeless colors.
Mauve Madness
Get This Look: Goodbye, pink shower pod! This vintage shower insert went from dated mauve to timeless marble in just a few days. The homeowner chose a white shower base and Silver White marble walls with our Fairfield large-format tile pattern. A white niche set into the back wall gives plenty of storage space. The barn-style double sliding shower door and Brantfort collection fixtures are all finished in brushed nickel.
Brick House
Get This Look: Between its size and dark color, this garden tub/shower combo took up lots of physical and visual space. The homeowners made better use of it with a stone-look walk-in shower featuring Valencia granite shower walls to the ceiling, and a matching shower base and bench seat. Corner caddies provide lots of storage. The family chose oil-rubbed bronze fixtures from our Wynford line, and a matching shower door to complete the look.
Real Bathroom Nightmares & Beautiful Shower Makeovers
This wouldn’t be a scary bath roundup without a couple of truly frightening bad bathrooms. These two projects show just how bad a tub and shower can get when moisture isn’t managed properly. Of course bathroom fixtures are designed to be in regular contact with water, but as finishes degrade over time, they lose their ability to withstand water’s relentlessness.
Well Water Takes its Toll
In this bathtub, orange stains from iron-heavy well water accumulated over time and wore away at the bathtub’s finish. You can see the same staining on the grout around the shower surround. The homeowners covered the tub stains with a bath mat, but knowing they couldn’t be scrubbed away, it was time to replace the tub and update to grout-free acrylic shower walls.
Get This Look: A white acrylic bathtub serves as the base for this alcove shower with Silver White marble walls and matching corner shelves. The homeowners chose contrasting black matte fixtures from our Gibson shower collection for a bold statement, and paired them with matte black Belfield grab bars.
Scary Mold Behind the Tile
This family intended to take on their shower update as a DIY project. When they took down the tile and found their backerboard was full of mold, they called Improveit. Grout is porous, and if water isn’t able to drain or dry fully, it will degrade grout over time and attack the wall board behind it. Handling moldy materials is definitely a job for professionals, and we’re thrilled that we were able to help!
Get This Look: This tub-to-shower conversion stayed light and bright with a white shower base and smooth white walls. The family chose safe bathing options including two grab bars and a teak bench that folds away when not in use. Brushed nickel fixtures complete the look.
For both of thes bathroom nightmares, Improveit installation teams removed the old materials completely, down to the studs, and made all necessary repairs to the water-damaged spaces underneath. New waterproof backerboard was installed, followed by the homeowners’ fresh, clean tub and shower selections.
Let Improveit Handle Your Retro Bathroom Remodel
Whether your bathroom is stuck in the 70s or is the victim of more recent water damage, Improveit can turn your bathroom nightmare into a dream bath of your own design! Give us a call today, use the form below, or schedule a convenient appointment when it works for you. We can’t wait to bring your bathroom dreams to life!
