My Dirty Little Secret.

Did that title get your attention? Almost sounds like I have some juicy gossip news to share with you. It's not really that juicy..

Dirty? ok, yes.... Little? definitely yes. Juicy? Not so much.

It's actually a little detail that I've neglected to mention on many occasions, in the last few years since I've started this blog. Something that I like to call:

The tiniest, ugliest bathroom in Canada.

No joke. I beg you to find a worse one. Seriously, I dare you to even try.

I've shared the humble beginnings of each room and their transformations over the years but somehow always managed to leave out the bathroom. It seemed easier to forget that tiny space that burned me eyes every time I entered. Over dramatic? Maybe, but just wait. You haven't seen it yet.

Before I share the before photos, here are a few last thoughts.

• There is only one bathroom in this house. It's crazy tiny (6 X 7) and there is absolutely no borrowing space from somewhere else. We've looked at every angle and alternative. Our reality is simply making the most of the space we have currently.
• Since there is only one bathroom, renovation means bathing elsewhere. Hi Mom and Dad!
• I used to clean it a lot. I felt that at least if it was clean, it wasn't so bad. That got old fairly fast. Cleaning a bathroom isn't fun on the best of days. Cleaning the ugliest one in Canada? Enough said. (embarrassing) I can't wait to clean a new one. I wonder how long that will last?
• I used to secretly pray that when people came to visit they wouldn't need to use the washroom. If by chance they had to go, I'd offer a million apologies before they entered. If they didn't go, I bid them farewell, grinning over my stroke of luck!
• Our toilet runs, occasionally. Seems to happen in the middle of the night, just after you've gone back to your cozy bed, only to have to get up and flick the handle. 
• When I sit on the toilet, my knees almost touch the tub. Enough said. Thank goodness we aren't particularly tall.
• Steph loves taking baths. I really don't know how he does it. 

So... Are you ready? 

I actually can't even believe I'm putting this on the I.n.t.e.r.n.e.t! And if you can believe it, it's actually worse in real life.. what do they say? Pictures don't do justice. This is very true in this case.

Here is when I moved in.  Look at that marble!.. I actually don't even know what it's called, except that it's glued to the plaster. In other words, total mess to remove.

I made very few updates other than replacing the window, adding a roman shade and painting the door. As you can see, the holy sh*t handles stayed.

Makeshift rough wood shelving. I also never got around to painting the trim around the new window. oops.

You have to love that light box above the window and the toothbrush holder!

The ceiling is the most embarrassing part. I cleaned it with bleach from time to time but the peeling paint and mildew kept coming back. Gross.

More gross ceiling.

Rusty rad. It has to go.

Before you call me crazy for having lived with that hideous space for five years now (five years!), hear me out.

• I had originally planned to renovate right away when I moved in. I ended up tweaking the budget allocation a bit and putting in new windows instead. In retrospect, a good decision. This house is cozy warm and I love having new windows.. that actually open! I also had no idea, at that point in home ownership, what kind of finishes I wanted in a bathroom. I feel much more prepared now. Thank you Pinterest!
• When you only have the one bathroom, renovating it will temporarily turn your life upside down. I wasn't ready for the inconvenience.
• Bathrooms are expensive!

So all this to say, it's finally official! Operation #ugliestbathroomreno has started! The dumpster arrived on Monday, Steph is in demolition mode and for now, I'm frantically running around trying to keep the dust at bay. We currently still have a tub, so we can take baths but are brushing our teeth at the kitchen sink. Oh, the joys!

I've been looking forward to this for a long time and I must say, I cannot wait to have a relaxing bath in my new tub. By the looks of things, that could be a little ways off but the thought is keeping me going.

I'll be posting updates along the way here and on Instagram. Follow along, if you like!