Mooresville Bathroom Remodel: Goodbye 80's, Hello Fresh Update

If your home was built in the 1980s, there’s a good chance your bathroom still shows it.

One of the most common layouts we see in older homes around Huntersville / Mooresville NC area is the classic 80’s tub/shower combo — complete with a dropped ceiling over the tub and rounded, curved edges. At the time, this design felt custom and upscale. Today, it often feels dark, dated, and closed-in. It did not age well.

A Very 80’s Bathroom Design

This bathroom checked all the boxes of its era:

• Tub and shower combined into one oversized unit

• Lowered ceiling above the tub

• Curved corners and soffits

• Limited lighting and a boxed-in feel

While functional, these features make planning updates difficult without a full renovation.

A Design-Build Approach to a Full Bathroom Overhaul

Because this was more than a cosmetic update, we approached the project using our design-build process. This allows the homeowner to work with one integrated team from initial concepts through construction — creating a smoother, more refined planning experience.

During the design phase, we:

• Evaluated how the existing layout was limiting the space

• Developed a plan to remove the dropped ceiling and simplify the structure

• Guided the homeowner through material and layout selections

• Aligned design decisions with budget early, before construction began

  
  

This upfront planning is what allows projects like this to move forward with fewer surprises and better results.

The Result: Brighter, Cleaner, and Timeless

By opening up the ceiling, removing unnecessary curves, and modernizing the tub/shower layout, the bathroom was completely transformed — without changing the home’s footprint.

The finished space feels brighter, more open, and far more intentional, proving that even heavily dated 80’s bathrooms can be reimagined with the right planning and execution.

Remodeling an Original Bathroom in Huntersville, NC?

Many homes in the Huntersville and Lake Norman area are reaching the age where bathrooms need more than surface-level updates. If you’re considering a complete bathroom overhaul and want a guided, design-focused experience from start to finish, our design-build process helps make that possible.

Thoughtful planning makes all the difference.