#groutistheenemy

Opening: "My bathroom is the most utilitarian room in my house—white tiles, builder-grade mirror, and a shower curtain that’s seen things. I tell myself it’s ‘minimalist,’ but really, it’s just… sad. I want to step out of the shower feeling like I’m at a boutique hotel, not a mid-tier motel."

The Problem: Full gut job? Too expensive. But small upgrades? Maybe doable. The vanity is too small, the lighting is harsh, and the tile grout is slowly turning a color I can only describe as "questionable beige."

The Discovery: I fell into a rabbit hole of before-and-afters and landed on Custom by Cavelli’s Bathroom Renovation page (link). Their tub-to-shower conversions caught my eye—apparently, it’s a common ask in Chesterland’s older homes. But what really got me was their section on small bathroom solutions—floating vanities, large-format tiles to minimize grout lines, and niche shelving. Genius.

The Takeaway: I’m now obsessed with the idea of:

A wall-mounted vanity (bye-bye, dust-bunny haven underneath)

A frameless glass shower door (no more mildewed curtains)

Heated floors (because Ohio winters are brutal)

Closing Thought: "If I can’t have a rainfall shower head, can I at least pretend with better lighting?"