Before & After: An East Hartford, CT Bathroom Remodel
Beautiful Tub-to-Shower Conversion In Plainville, Connecticut
Project Overview
If you're interested in doing a bathroom remodel in East Hartford, CT, this recently completed project shows just how dramatic a full shower transformation can be. First Choice Bathroom Remodeling recently finished a complete bathroom renovation for Arthur, an East Hartford homeowner whose bathroom had been stuck in another decade. The vision was clear: tear out the aging framed shower stall and every dated finish around it, and rebuild the room around a custom walk-in shower with a jacuzzi-style shower system, modern vanity, and bright, spa-inspired finishes.
In this post, we'll walk through the entire bathroom renovation in East Hartford, Connecticut — before, during, and after — so you can see the craftsmanship and design choices that went into this East Hartford CT bathroom remodel. As with every project, our goal was a space that looks beautiful, works hard every day, and is built to last for years to come.
The Challenge
Before the remodel, this East Hartford bathroom was showing its age in every corner. The shower was closed in by a bulky framed sliding glass enclosure with textured glass, surrounded by yellowing tile with floral accent pieces and stained grout lines. The shower floor was worn and damaged, the ceiling above was discolored around an old vent fan and a bare-bulb light, and the walls were covered in a dated bamboo print that made the whole room feel dark and closed in. Across the room, an old white vanity with a faded blue basin, an ornate framed mirror, and an avocado-green toilet completed the throwback look.
Like many East Hartford homes — from the mid-century capes and colonials near Main Street to the ranches not far from Great River Park and the Connecticut River — this bathroom was functional but decades past its prime. Arthur came to us wanting a full reset: remove the old shower stall entirely, replace it with a spacious walk-in shower with genuine spa features, brighten the room with modern lighting, and add a vanity with real storage and a clean, timeless style. It was the kind of dated bathroom we see all over Hartford County, and it was more than ready for a modern transformation.
Our Solution
Our team began this East Hartford CT bathroom remodel with a full demolition, removing the framed sliding enclosure, the old tile surround, the worn shower floor, the vanity, and the dated wall coverings — taking the room back to a clean slate. From there, we upgraded the plumbing to power a multi-outlet shower system, updated the electrical for new lighting and a smart mirror, and waterproofed every wet-area surface behind the tile to protect the investment for decades.
Highlights of this East Hartford project include:
- A spacious custom walk-in shower clad in large-format marble-look porcelain tile, opened up with a frameless sliding glass enclosure that keeps the room bright and airy
- A jacuzzi-style polished chrome shower system featuring a rainfall showerhead, a handheld wand on a slide bar, and dual body jets for a true spa experience at home
- A recessed shower niche with polished chrome trim for storage, plus a chrome grab bar for safety and everyday convenience
- A white low-threshold shower base with a modern square drain, replacing the old worn shower floor
- A white shaker-style vanity with furniture feet, black bar pulls, a white quartz countertop, an oval undermount sink, and a polished chrome widespread faucet
- An LED backlit smart mirror with touch controls and a built-in digital display, paired with a sleek modern vanity light bar
- Terrazzo-look porcelain floor tile, recessed LED ceiling lighting, a new high-efficiency ventilation fan, and full waterproofing behind every surface
The Final Result
The transformation speaks for itself. The dark, closed-in shower stall and bamboo-print walls are gone, replaced by a bright, open walk-in shower wrapped in elegant marble-look tile. The frameless glass enclosure lets light travel freely through the room, making the entire bathroom feel larger, while the rainfall showerhead, handheld wand, and jacuzzi-style body jets turn an ordinary morning routine into something Arthur actually looks forward to. The recessed niche and grab bar make the space as practical as it is beautiful.
Across the room, the new white shaker vanity and quartz countertop deliver the storage and clean look the old blue-basin vanity never could, and the LED backlit smart mirror adds a high-end, hotel-style touch that also makes the room feel bigger and brighter. The terrazzo-look floor ties everything together with a durable, low-maintenance finish that hides everyday wear. The result is an East Hartford CT bathroom remodel that feels like a brand-new build — proof of what's possible when experienced bathroom remodelers in East Hartford CT combine smart design with quality materials and careful craftsmanship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are frameless glass shower doors hard to keep clean?
Not at all — in fact, they're easier to maintain than the old framed sliding doors they replace. Traditional framed enclosures have metal tracks and channels that trap soap scum, grime, and mildew, which is exactly what we removed from this East Hartford bathroom. Frameless glass has no bottom track and minimal hardware, so there are far fewer places for buildup to hide. A quick squeegee after each shower keeps the glass crystal clear, and we can also apply a protective glass coating that repels water spots and cuts cleaning time even further.
What's the difference between a rainfall showerhead and jacuzzi-style body jets?
A rainfall showerhead mounts overhead and delivers a wide, gentle cascade of water — like standing in warm summer rain — while jacuzzi-style body jets are mounted on the wall at torso height and shoot targeted, pressurized streams that massage your back and shoulders. The great news is you don't have to choose: in this East Hartford remodel, we installed both, plus a handheld wand, all running through one chrome valve system with diverters. That lets Arthur switch between a relaxing rainfall rinse and an invigorating, jacuzzi-like massage — or run them together for the full spa experience.
Are LED backlit smart mirrors worth the upgrade?
For most homeowners, yes. An LED backlit mirror does three jobs at once: it provides even, shadow-free task lighting for shaving and makeup, it adds a soft ambient glow that makes the whole bathroom feel larger and more upscale, and features like built-in anti-fog pads, touch controls, and digital displays mean no more wiping down a steamed-up mirror after a hot shower. They're also energy-efficient and long-lasting. In this East Hartford, CT bathroom, the smart mirror became one of the most complimented features of the entire remodel — a relatively small upgrade with an outsized visual impact.
