Complete bathroom renovation after 25 years: How to plan?

Good day!

The bathroom is the most heavily used room in our house. After about 25 years, a complete renovation is therefore necessary. Despite constant dry wiping, the grout lines are a persistent problem. The silicone joints have been replaced every few years, but by now even the hard grout is worn out. Besides that, the style from the late 90s is no longer what one wants today.

How would you approach the planning? It’s not just about technical issues, but especially about design questions. We were recently at a bathroom exhibition at a wholesaler because they are near us. Of course, it is primarily about tubs, showers, toilets, and sinks. The employee there approached it accordingly: she said the installer takes measurements, she transfers them into a 3D drawing, and then plans the bathroom. She was very surprised that I found this approach too technical. I actually need someone to come to our home to get a feeling for us, for the house, and the room. I could practically see the incomprehension on her face when I said that I primarily want to talk about surfaces. And preferably about seamless surfaces, in order to have as few maintenance units as possible especially in the wet areas.

How should one tackle something like that? Are there freelance interior designers in Berlin, for example, who specialize in bathroom design? By that I don’t mean a "bathroom planner" who sits in a wholesaler’s showroom making some 3D sketches. That could then be the next step, but in the first step I need someone on site.

It is also a question how far to strip down the existing structure, whether, for example, the screed should be removed, and so on...

In the very end, for me it is about finding the necessary craftsmen to implement it all, from installation to surfaces.

Matthias looks forward to all good ideas on how to proceed!

A specialization solely in bathrooms seems a bit niche to me, but there is nothing that doesn't exist. Especially in Berlin, that certainly exists. Unfortunately, I can't help you with specific suggestions. But I would simply write to various interior designers and ask them for example pictures of created plans as well as photos of the implementations.

We renovated our bathroom last year after 25 years and I can briefly tell you how we proceeded:
For us, it was clear from the beginning that the position of the individual furniture/items should remain as it is. So it was only about doing everything new and having some ceiling spotlights installed. We then contacted the plumbing company that also installed our heating system again. The owner came by, briefly discussed the planning with us, and also gave a few tips, for example regarding the size of the tiles and what we should consider when choosing the bathtub, shower, etc. In the bathroom showroom, we selected everything; the plumbing company had previously sent the measurements directly there so that everything would fit later. We chose the tiles from one of the tile dealers the plumbing company works with.

As you were told, that is basically correct. First, measurements have to be taken, and you can also discuss ideas right away. If you redo the pipes and lines, the screed naturally has to be removed as well. But the bathroom showroom has nothing to do with that; you should get advice from a plumbing and heating specialist. With their experience, they can certainly tell you whether a seamless bathroom or large tiles (= fewer joints) would even look good. You then discuss the details with the tiler.

Our procedure in brief:

[*]Visit from the plumbing company for measurements and discussion of our ideas
[*]Visit to the bathroom showroom
[*]Visit to the tiler
[*]Received an offer from the plumbing company

In the bathroom showroom, we partially chose two variants (e.g. rain shower or just handheld shower), two bathtub models, etc.
Therefore, we then picked the desired positions from the offer and ultimately commissioned it.

How big is your bathroom and what is your budget? Our bathroom is about 6m² and the renovation cost about 25k. However, we did not choose the cheapest things. You should definitely discuss your budget with the plumbing company, because then maybe some things will be taken care of right away ;-)

We didn’t feel like coordinating the trades individually and therefore had everything done and coordinated by one plumbing company. That worked really well, there was no downtime, and we are very satisfied with the result.

The employee who later does the 3D planning certainly does it professionally and not for the first time. I would assume competence – more than an interior designer has (technology and such). Architects, whether interior or those who just call themselves home designers, are dangerous when it comes to the money that will be spent. It is also not a dating platform where you first have to thoroughly check the builder and bathroom user. Why not simply plan what one likes? Technical details and ideas will come during the planning anyway.

I would assume competence

I’m happy for you that you seem to have had a good experience there. I have been to several bathroom studios and have encountered a level of concentrated incompetence and lack of motivation that I have not seen in any other trade.

I was met with such concentrated incompetence and lack of motivation

However, incompetence and lack of motivation are not evident here.

She says the plumber takes measurements, which she then transfers into a 3D drawing, and then plans the bathroom.

On the contrary: not every sanitary specialist shop proceeds this way. It’s great if someone offers 3D planning there.