💌 The Surprises Behind the Walls: Nicole’s Basement Bathroom
Dear Reader,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a contractor, it’s this: the house always has secrets. And sometimes, those secrets are waiting right where you least expect them.
The Before: an outdated dark basement bathroom with a complicated layout (cue in the wall with hidden secrets!)
Let me take you back to December of 2020 — the very beginning of Guild Properties. My very first client, Nicole, wanted to renovate her dark, outdated basement bathroom. Her vision was beautiful: she was preparing to turn her basement into an apartment so her sister could move in during the pandemic. It wasn’t just a remodel — it was about creating a safe, comfortable space for family.
We got to work. The plan included demolishing an awkward wall in the middle of the bathroom and relocating the toilet to create a better flow. Demo day went smoothly… until it didn’t. Behind that wall, right where we planned to open up the space, was a big surprise: a cast iron pipe running straight down the middle.
During demolition we discovered the beast lurking within the walls: the cast iron pipe!
Cue the deep breath.
This is the part of renovation no one shows on Pinterest: the “well, now what?” moment. And yet, these are the exact moments that define a project. With Nicole’s bathroom, we had to stop, rework the plan, and engineer around the reality of what the house gave us. It wasn’t the quick, clean solution we had mapped out on paper — but it was the right one.
Here’s the lesson I carry with me from that first project: renovation is equal parts vision and flexibility.
You can design the dream, but the house will always tell you what’s possible.
Surprises don’t have to derail the dream — they just require problem-solving.
With the right team, you can turn an “uh-oh” moment into a “we did it” story.
In the end, Nicole’s basement bathroom turned out beautifully. Her sister moved in, the space felt open and bright, and we delivered a project that worked with the bones of the house instead of fighting them.
That was my very first taste of the surprises behind the walls — and I’ve seen many since. But I’ll never forget Nicole’s project, because it taught me that being a builder isn’t just about installing tile or moving toilets. It’s about listening to the house, solving problems, and always keeping the bigger picture in mind: the people we’re building for.
The After: seamless layout (no more wall in the middle!) and so much brightness!
With warmth (and a little gratitude for cast iron curveballs),
Gaby
Founder, Guild Properties
P.S. Thinking of tackling a renovation in an older home? Expect a surprise or two. With the right plan, those hidden challenges become just another part of the story.