N. Highland Ave
bathroom remodel
An Art Deco-inspired bathroom update for a 1920 home.
This Highland Park bathroom renovation updated an existing bathroom in a 1920 home while keeping the design connected to the character of the house. The project focused on refreshing the shower, flooring, plumbing, lighting, and tile design with an art deco-inspired pattern that gives the room a more detailed and intentional look.
The finished design brings new function to the bathroom while using tile, pattern, and layout choices that feel appropriate for an older Pittsburgh home.
Home details
Highland Park
year built
1920
neighborhood
project type
Bathroom remodel
Bathroom, shower, vanity area, flooring
main spaces
Project details
The existing shower and wall tile were removed, along with the existing flooring and mudbed. The shower fixture and valve trim were moved to an adjacent wall to better support the new layout.
The existing shower bulkhead was built out to accommodate the updated design and a new shower light. The project also included replacing the existing drains and supply lines for the toilet, sink, and shower, replacing the light fixture above the vanity, updating bath accessories, and moving a GFCI outlet.
Project highlights
The tile design is the main feature of this bathroom. An updated art deco-inspired pattern wraps continuously around the room, creating a more cohesive and custom look.
A focal point wall and shower niches add detail within the shower area, while the continuous tile pattern gives the room a finished, designed feel from every angle.
The bathroom floor was also updated with a basketweave mosaic in the center and a border around the edge, adding another layer of pattern that fits the age and style of the home.
Challenges
This project required more than a surface-level bathroom refresh. The team removed the existing tile, flooring, and mudbed, then addressed plumbing, lighting, outlet placement, and shower fixture location to support the new design.
Because the tile pattern continues around the entire room, the layout needed careful planning so the finished design felt balanced and intentional.
Finished Result
The finished bathroom feels updated, detailed, and connected to the home’s 1920 character. The new shower layout, updated plumbing, improved lighting, art deco-inspired tile, shower niches, and basketweave floor pattern all work together to create a bathroom that feels polished without feeling out of place in an older home.
The result is a smaller-space renovation with a strong design point of view and practical updates behind the walls.
