Who: Kay Marquis

Where: Bellefontaine, OH

What: Tub & Shower Replacement

Products: Wave soaker tub in almond, paired with smooth shower walls in Brecchia, and accented with listello trim and an almond ceiling panel. Matching four-shelf tower caddy in Brecchia adds storage space.  

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From 50’s to Fabulous

Updating an old bathtub

After 68 years, the original cast-iron tub in Kay Marquis’s 1954 Bellefontine home finally needed replacement. Kay says her late husband, who had previously updated the bathroom himself, believed in quality work done right. With that in mind, she knew updating the wet space this time meant choosing a company that would honor his hard work.  

“The installers were fantastic,” Kay says. “One of them asked me who redid the bathroom before, and I told him my husband had done it. He said, ‘well, he didn’t cut any corners,’ and that’s true – he believed in doing everything top-notch.” 

Beautiful Bellefontaine Shower Remodel 

Because the finish on Kay’s old tub had started chipping, a replacement was necessary. Working with an Improveit design consultant, she chose an almond soaker tub with a complementary shower surround in Brecchia and requested that the shower walls go all the way to the ceiling and be paired with an acrylic ceiling panel. “I wanted to make sure they put the ceiling panel in,” she says. “That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about the water condensation on the ceiling in the shower.”  

Kay also indicated to the Improveit team that her husband had installed all of the bathroom’s beautifully stained trimwork, and requested that it be preserved. The installers removed the trim only where necessary, and carefully protected the rest of the woodwork outside the wet space.  

Shower safety & style

Since the tub-shower combo installation, Kay has made additional updates to the bathroom, but the charm remains – and reflects the value she and her late husband place on quality. “When Improveit came out, we had a blast!” she says. “They didn’t force me to sign anything, didn’t put any pressure on me – and we had fun. It’s a good company to work with, and I recommend it to anybody.” 

In fact, Kay says she did recommend Improveit to several visitors not long after the installation. Following back surgery, Kay had physical therapists and home health aides visiting, and insisted they all take a look at her remodeled bathroom! Some of her favorite features are the reliable bathtub drain that closes easily (her old cast-iron tub needed a separate drain cover to seal), and the non-slip finish that was added to the base of the tub to help her feel safer and reduce the risk of slipping.  

“The installers were wonderful and very polite,” she adds. “A lot of companies don’t follow up on anything, and you guys have just been fantastic.” 

That’s great to hear, Kay! Welcome to the Improveit family. We’re so happy you love your new tub and shower!