Contemporary Bathroom Remodeling in Middletown, CT
Contemporary Bathroom Remodeling in Middletown, CT
Is your bathroom stuck in the "beige age"? It is a common narrative we encounter often. For many homeowners in Middletown, CT, bathrooms built in the 1990s and early 2000s suffer from a distinctive set of design flaws: an overload of monochromatic tan, generic oak cabinetry, and lackluster plastic shower inserts. While these spaces are technically functional, they often fail to inspire or provide the relaxation you deserve after a long day.
At First Choice Bathroom Remodeling, we believe your bathroom should be a highlight of your home—a personal sanctuary rather than just a utility room. Investing in a bathroom renovation is not just about aesthetics; it is about improving functionality, increasing home value, and enhancing your daily routine. Our recent project in Middletown showcases exactly how we take a tired, builder-grade space and transform it into a vibrant, custom-designed retreat. If you are searching for expert bathroom remodeling in Middletown, CT, you have come to the right place to see what is possible.
Before
Before the Remodel
Every great renovation begins with a vision for something better, usually born out of frustration with the current state of things. In this Middletown home, the existing bathroom was the definition of "dated." As you can see from the "Before" photos, the room was dominated by a sea of uninspired beige.
The walls were painted a dark tan that absorbed the room's natural light, creating a "cave-like" atmosphere that made the space feel significantly smaller than its actual footprint. The vanity was a standard-issue builder’s oak cabinet topped with a speckled laminate countertop. Laminate, while common in older homes, is prone to staining, peeling, and water damage over time, making it a poor choice for a high-moisture environment.
Perhaps the biggest eyesore was the shower: a bulky, one-piece fiberglass insert. While these inserts were popular for quick construction decades ago, they are notoriously difficult to keep clean. Over time, the porous surface discolors, scratches easily, and offers zero aesthetic appeal. The flooring—a standard square ceramic tile—blended too much with the walls, creating a "washed out" monochromatic look. The homeowners were ready to ditch the drab brown palette for something fresh, cool, and modern. They envisioned a space with personality, utilizing slate blues, clean whites, and bold contrasting hardware.
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During the Renovation
A pretty bathroom is meaningless if what is behind the tile isn’t built to last. As a leading bathroom contractor in Connecticut, we prioritize the structural integrity of your remodel just as much as the finish work. We often tell our clients that the most important part of the bathroom is the part you don't see.
For this project, the first step was a complete demolition of the wet area. We carefully removed the old fiberglass shower unit, which allowed us to inspect the framing and plumbing. Transitioning from a prefabricated insert to a custom tile shower requires precision and modern waterproofing standards. We updated the plumbing rough-ins to accommodate a new, modern mixing valve system. This is crucial for supporting high-end fixtures like dual-head systems, ensuring that water pressure remains consistent whether you are using the rainfall head or the handheld wand.
As seen in our progress photos, we utilized a high-density waterproof backer board system (visible as the grey panels in the shower stall). This is a critical step in any quality Middletown bathroom renovation. Unlike the old "green board" drywall used in the past, today's advanced foam-board waterproofing technologies ensure that moisture never penetrates your walls. This creates a vapor-tight seal that prevents mold, mildew, and rot for decades to come.
During this phase, we also framed out a custom recessed niche. This is a practical luxury that provides essential storage for shampoos and soaps without taking up valuable elbow room in the shower—a vast improvement over hanging wire caddies.
After
After
Post-Renovation
The transformation is truly night and day. We moved entirely away from the warm, muddy tans and embraced a crisp, cool color palette that feels spa-like, sophisticated, and clean.
The Custom Tile Shower
The shower is now the undeniable star of the room. We installed large-format (12x24) white marble-look porcelain tiles on the walls. By installing them in a horizontal brick pattern, we not only created a timeless look but also minimized the number of grout lines. Fewer grout lines mean less scrubbing and easier long-term maintenance for the homeowner.
The floor of the shower features a stunning penny-hexagon mosaic in a blend of slate blues and greys. This choice was strategic; the texture provides excellent slip resistance, while the color variation hides soap scum better than a solid white floor would. We replaced the old chrome faucet with a sleek matte black dual-head shower system. The contrast of the bold black fixtures against the elegant white marble tile creates a striking, modern industrial look that is highly sought after in today's market.
The Vanity and Fixtures
Storage and durability were key upgrades for the vanity area. The old oak cabinet was replaced with a modern grey shaker-style vanity. Shaker cabinets are a staple in Connecticut bathroom design because they bridge the gap between traditional and modern styles perfectly.
The vanity is topped with a pure white quartz countertop and a rectangular undermount sink. Quartz is an ideal material for bathrooms because it is non-porous, making it highly resistant to stains and bacteria. The undermount sink profile offers a sleek look and makes wiping down the counter a breeze. We continued the matte black theme with a high-arc widespread faucet and a matching black-framed rectangular mirror with rounded corners—a very trendy silhouette that softens the angular lines of the room.
Flooring and Lighting
Gone are the boring square floor tiles. In their place, we installed large hexagon marble-look porcelain tiles. Hexagon shapes are trending heavily in bathroom design right now, adding geometric interest to the floor without being too busy.
To brighten the room, we painted the walls a bold, slate blue. This color contrasts beautifully with the white trim and the new white interior door. Lighting is often overlooked, but it can make or break a renovation. We upgraded the lighting to a modern black vanity fixture with clear glass shades. This ensures the new blue walls pop and provides ample, flattering light for morning routines.
After
After
Project Snapshot
Project Location: Middletown, CT
Service Provided: Full Bathroom Remodel / Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Key Design Features:
Shower: Custom white marble-look tile walls with blue/grey mosaic floor.
Vanity: Grey shaker cabinet with white quartz countertop.
Fixtures: Matte black rainfall shower system and matching vanity faucet.
Flooring: Large format marble-look hexagon porcelain tile.
Walls: Painted in a deep, calming Slate Blue.
Storage: Custom recessed tiled shower niche.
Primary Goal: Remove dated builder-grade fiberglass insert and update with modern tile and bold color.
Why Choose First Choice Bathroom Remodeling?
📞 Call us at: 860-560-1028
🌐 Visit us online: firstchoicebathremodeling.com
📷 Follow us on Instagram: @firstchoicebathremodeling
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Book a free 30-minute in-home estimate at any available time. We’ll walk through your bathroom, discuss design ideas, materials, timeline, and pricing with no pressure and no obligation.
