Athena Calderone’s Go-To Bathroom Reno Hack Is More Popular Than Ever

Today Yelp released its 2021 Home Trend Forecast Report, a document that’s chockablock with info on what home improvement services people are searching for and reviewing on the app. While some of the data confirmed our hunches (yep, everyone’s updating their outdoor spaces), one stat truly surprised us. According to the report, Yelp has seen a 2,000 percent increase in searches and reviews for reglazing bathtubs.

But the news is no shock to EyeSwoon creator Athena Calderone, who used the technique to make over her Brooklyn bathroom. Instead of replacing the tub, she hired a pro to refinish the old one with a coat of paint and polyurethane, making it like new in just a few hours (plus 24 hours drying time). “It completely transforms a grimy space into something that feels sparkling, clean, and fresh,” says the designer. 

It’s also quarantine friendly. “At a time when we’re already feeling a little bit like we don’t know what our future holds, getting into a big gut renovation can be overwhelming,” says Calderone. “But reglazing is something that can be done in one day.”

And you don’t have to stop at the tub. Calderone says you can also reglaze tile floors and walls, and in any solid color you’d like. For her project, she chose to cover dated powder blue tile in clean, crisp white.

The best part? It’s not a budget-breaking endeavor. For about $800 (you can get quotes through Yelp, Calderone points out), you’ll have a whole new bathroom—a fraction of what a full demo would cost.

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