These Santa Cruz, California, homeowners prioritized two items within their remodel: enjoyable and honoring their home’s past. So instead of throw aside an old “cattywampus” redwood water tank in their woodsy backyard, they chose to repurpose it as an outside toilet. They predicted in general contractor Harry Smeenk, together with electricians and plumbers, to help. The outcome is an unexpected combination of new and old textures which celebrates the magic of an outside bathing experience.

Job in a
Location: Santa Cruz mountains, California
Cost: $16,000, including pipes, labor and stuff
That is intriguing: The owners today prefer this outdoor bath to the one within their property.

Before Photo

The pad was in place. There was a pipe coming out of the tank where they needed the doorway to be, so that they steered the entire thing about 3 to 4 feet around so that they could both cut on the door and maintain the pipe. They removed the solar panels onto the roof along with the neighboring water tank structure.

AFTER: The team drew inspiration for the exterior from birdhouses, especially those that are round or octagonal with lots of detailed trim.

Smeenk added gingerbread scrollwork trimming to match the aesthetic of the main home. The reddish exterior paint has been left untouched.

Picket planters, settee: Joss & Main

Shannon Malone

Shannon Malone

The homeowners needed an old-world Victorian aesthetic to your interior. They gave the wood a light wash to help give the new redwood structural elements the exact same tone as the aged redwood. Contrasting corrugated steel wraps around the walls within an updated take on wainscoting.

Mirror: Joss & Main

Shannon Malone

With no walls to hide pipes, the owners picked a shower fixture using visually pleasing plumbing features.

Shannon Malone

They believed leaving the roof open but rather set up eight glass triangular panels to prevent some branches or other elements from the redwood trees from falling through. The owners wanted the roof for a circle but went with octagonal because curved glass was too pricey. The glass roof helps highlight the interior wood patina.

Smeenk painted the roofing beams a metallic silver hue by Modern Masters.

Shannon Malone

You may still see the original markings on the water gauge .

Shannon Malone

The homeowners reattached the original water float and judge system to increase the tank’s historic character.

Shannon Malone

The owners now prefer this shower to the one within their main property.

More:
Measure Into a Refreshing Outdoor Shower

View a Soothing Backyard Bathhouse Born From a Salvaged Tub

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