Condo Bathroom Renovation — 77 Carlton St, Toronto

High-Rise Bathroom | Full Gut Renovation

This bathroom renovation at a high-rise condominium on Carlton Street in downtown Toronto required a precise balance of engineering discipline, condo compliance, and architectural design.

The client’s goal was to transform a narrow, builder-grade bathroom into a clearly zoned space with a private shower enclosure, maximized ceiling height, and multiple premium tile finishes — all while navigating upper-unit drainage, HVAC constraints, and strict condo renovation guidelines.

Full view of the vanity area featuring a tall wood cabinet, vessel sink, and a black and white hexagon mosaic accent wall

Project Snapshot

  • Location: 77 Carlton St, Toronto, ON

  • Property Type: High-rise condominium

  • Bathroom Size: 12’ × 5’2” (144” × 62”)

  • Structural Ceiling Height: 96” (concrete slab)

  • Original Drop Ceiling: ~85”

  • Renovation Type: Full gut renovation

  • Project Duration: ~3 weeks

Modern bathroom vanity area with a custom tall wood cabinet, LED backlit mirror, and black vessel sink
Close up of a modern black vessel sink and faucet on a dark countertop with wood cabinetry

Design Challenges & Engineering Solutions

Custom Partition Wall — Defining Wet & Dry Zones

To create a fully enclosed shower “room,” we constructed a 5-inch-deep, floor-to-ceiling partition wall between the toilet and shower areas.

This wall was engineered to:

  • Visually separate wet and dry zones

  • Support a full-height glass door system

  • Provide reinforced blocking for grab bar installation

  • Allow seamless tile transitions on both sides

Although the wall contains no plumbing, it was framed and reinforced to meet structural and safety requirements typical of condo environments.

View of the toilet area separated by a custom partition wall, leading into a glass enclosed walk in shower with a bench
Matte black toilet paper holder mounted on a custom partition wall featuring black and grey hexagon mosaic tiles

Ceiling Height Optimization in a High-Rise Unit

One of the most critical requests was to raise the ceiling as much as possible.

Above the shower area, drainage from the unit above required a localized drop ceiling. Our solution:

  • Minimized the size and depth of the bulkhead

  • Raised all remaining ceiling areas to the concrete slab where feasible

  • Integrated recessed LED lighting and the rain-can shower rod into the drop ceiling

  • Relocated the HVAC exhaust vent to accommodate tall cabinetry

The result is a bathroom that feels significantly more open without compromising building systems.

Custom built in triangular shower bench made of black stone look tile, located under a window in a high rise condo
Close up texture of large format dark grey slate look porcelain wall tiles

Complex Tile Design & Execution

This project required the installation of multiple tile systems, each with distinct layout and technical requirements:

Dry Area Floor

  • Woodgrain porcelain rhombus tiles

  • Installed in a precise 3D “cube” pattern

  • Layout accuracy was critical to maintaining visual symmetry

Dry Area Walls

  • 2” hexagon mosaic tile sheets in black and grey

  • Installed across large wall surfaces to add texture and contrast

Modern matte black shower valve and body jet controls mounted on dark grey slate look porcelain tiles
Linear shower drain with tile insert integrated into a curbless shower floor with dark grey porcelain tiles

Shower Zone

  • Large-format slate-look porcelain tile (Centura Ardoise)

  • Accent Neeko Décor tile within the shower

  • Fully waterproofed walls, bench, niche, and curb

Window Detailing

  • Window perimeter finished with 45-degree mitered tile edges

  • Clean, seamless returns for a refined, high-end appearance

Total tiled surface exceeded 330 square feet, requiring multiple layout strategies and precision edge detailing.

Custom built in vertical tiled shower niche with shelves, set into dark grey textured porcelain walls
Ceiling mounted matte black rain shower head installed in a drop ceiling

Waterproofing & Risk Management

In a high-rise condo with a window inside the shower area, waterproofing was treated as a critical system, not a cosmetic layer.

  • DensShield / Sub-Guard boards on all wet walls

  • MAPEI / ARDEX liquid waterproofing membranes

  • Reinforced seams, corners, bench, curb, and niches

  • 24-hour flood test completed prior to tile installation

✔️ 5-year warranty on waterproofing and tile installation

Black one piece toilet installed on geometric woodgrain floor tiles next to a custom oak linen cabinet
Geometric woodgrain porcelain floor tiles laid in a 3D cube pattern next to a black toilet

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC Work

  • Removal of existing tub plumbing

  • New shower drain and supply lines

  • Relocated vanity and toilet rough-ins

  • Pressure-balance valve installation

  • ESA-compliant electrical work:

    • Relocated GFCI outlet

    • Additional vanity and cabinet outlets

    • Recessed LED pot lights with dimmer

  • Exhaust vent relocation to support revised layout

All work was completed by licensed and insured trades.

Detail texture of black and grey hexagon mosaic wall tiles in a modern Toronto condo bathroom
Detail of geometric woodgrain porcelain floor tiles in a 3D cube pattern meeting a black and grey hexagon mosaic wall

Project Value

Approximate Project Value: ~$20,000 CAD
(Labour, base materials, and project management included. Major finishes supplied by the client.)

Pricing reflects labour and material rates at the time of project completion (Fall 2025). Final costs may vary based on finishes, scope, and site conditions.

The Result

The finished bathroom is a highly technical yet visually refined condo renovation that maximizes every inch of space.

The combination of geometric woodgrain flooring, hexagonal mosaics, and slate-look porcelain creates depth and character, while the custom partition wall and ceiling re-engineering ensure the space functions flawlessly within a high-rise environment.

This project demonstrates how engineering-first planning and architectural detail must work together to achieve a successful condo renovation.

Modern matte black shower valve and body jet controls mounted on textured dark grey porcelain shower walls
Ceiling mounted matte black rain shower head installed against dark grey slate look porcelain tiles

Why Homeowners Choose Magic Reno

  • Extensive experience with Toronto condo renovations

  • Licensed plumbing & electrical trades

  • Condo-approved processes and scheduling

  • 2–5 year workmanship warranties

  • Dedicated project management from start to finish

Planning a Condo Bathroom Renovation in Toronto?

Condo renovations require specialized expertise — from ceiling constraints to building regulations and waterproofing risk.

If your project involves windows in the shower, complex tile layouts, or structural modifications, our team can help you plan it correctly from day one.

Your dream bathroom starts here — let Magic Reno make it a reality.