Roots of Renewal
In the rolling landscape near Blanco, a century-old farmhouse stood as a testament to resilience. Relocated from San Antonio’s airport decades ago, this home had already survived two major renovations. Our latest project would breathe new life into an overlooked space between two bedrooms, transforming it into a master bathroom that honored the home’s history while embracing modern comfort.
Original Piers
Part of the original house was on 24″ piers, while the add-on bedroom was on 16″ centered piers
Treated 2x6s were installed between the beams
It was interesting getting everything plumb and level!
Final foundation for the shower and bath
Close up of old and new construction
Cross blocking helps keep the piers from racking and squeaking
First layer of plywood
Ready for Hardy Board
Trap door to crawl space
Here’s the trap door (closed)
Building a Solid Foundation
The journey began underground. Original pier spacing at 24 inches demanded careful reinforcement to support a modern bathroom’s weight and complexity. We meticulously strengthened the pier and beam structure, creating a rock-solid base. Two layers of plywood and a hardy board—screwed and glued—formed an impenetrable subfloor. A cleverly designed trap door in the closet area offered convenient crawl space access, a nod to the home’s historic construction techniques.
Vented light
This is our access to the ceiling crawl space (too cramped to call it an attic)
“Attic” access (wires were rerouted later)
Tongue and groove closeup with can lights. We left them unfinished.
Tongue and groove ceiling install
Barn door kits from Amazon
We found this old antique door at the Habitat Restore in Houston– even had the original hardware
Crafting a Space of Character
The ceiling became a canvas of warmth, with tongue and groove pine panels creating a rustic backdrop. Can lights punctuated the space, providing clean, bright illumination. A sliding barn door for the new small closet whispered of the home’s agricultural roots while delivering contemporary functionality.
A Moment of Celebration
With the major structural work complete, we turned our attention to the project’s final stages. The toilet found its place in the renovation timeline several months before the project’s full completion—a practical milestone that brought the homeowner one step closer to their dream bathroom. Its installation marked significant progress, though the transformation was far from over.
The Art of Waterproofing and Design
Professional plumbers laid the groundwork with precise PEX piping and proper venting. The shower became a masterpiece of technical and aesthetic choices. The Schlüter-Systems shower kit ensured absolute water protection. Penny tiles graced the shower pan, while vertically installed dark blue subway tiles created a striking visual statement. Dark blue-gray grout completed the sophisticated palette.
Starting to lay out the pattern for the floor tiles
The main bath floor
Lower part of the shower with the small shelf
Final hardy board install plus niche (prior to waterproofing membrane)
Water proofing the shower pan– we did a 24 hour test to make sure it was water tight
Shower pan
Waterproofing stage: not very pretty, but used a combination of waterproof hardy board plus the Schleuter shower system
Deciding which penny tiles to use… I’m glad we went with the darker
The penny tile is nearly finished
We started with the back wall. The red circles are tile levelers
Making progress
Starting on the right had wall with the shelf
Right wall almost finished
Close up of the final wall in the shower. We used tile spacer/levelers to keep things tight
Love the brushed gold
Shower fixtures starting to come in– this was prior to grouting (tile needs a good cleaning too)
Just add grout
Personal Touches and Precise Details
A repurposed Home Goods cabinet transformed into a custom vanity, showcasing creative problem-solving. Brushed gold fixtures added a touch of luxury, catching light and drawing the eye. The glass shower doors—sourced from Amazon—provided a clean, modern finish.
Beyond Renovation: A Dream Realized
What began as an underutilized space between bedrooms had become something extraordinary. The homeowner’s words captured the essence of the project: “It’s like taking a shower at a resort!” More than a renovation, this was a resurrection—breathing new life into a historic home while creating a sanctuary of comfort and style.
Need to add some fixtures
The “guts” of the cabinet– still need to open up the drain so it flows downhill
Barn Door to the master bath– found this door at an antique store in the Heights (Houston). Both doors took several days of stripping, sanding, and refinishing (love the original fixtures)