The Pulido Project: From 70s Swamp to Sleek Oasis in the Magic City
Birmingham, Alabama, is famous for a lot of things: mouth-watering barbecue, the towering iron Vulcan statue keeping watch over the city, and summer humidity that will make you sweat like a glass of sweet tea left on a front porch. When the thick Southern heat hits, a refreshing, relaxing shower isn’t just a luxury—it’s an absolute necessity.
But for the Pulido family, their daily cooldown was happening in a relic from a bygone era. They called us in to work a little “Magic City” miracle on their bathroom, and we were more than happy to oblige.
The Challenge: The Green Monster
Take one look at the Before photo, and you’ll immediately see what we were up against. The Pulidos were dealing with a massive, one-piece, olive-green fiberglass tub-and-shower combo. It featured a high, cumbersome step-over to get in, a lowered ceiling arch that made the space feel like a dark cave, and a color scheme that boldly declared, “Welcome to 1974!”
While avocado is fantastic on toast, it’s not exactly the spa-like vibe you want while washing off a long day of Alabama heat. The space felt cramped, outdated, and lacked the modern accessibility the family desired.
The Solution: A Magic City Makeover
We grabbed our tools and got to work, performing a complete Tub-to-Shower Conversion to bring this bathroom into the 21st century. First, we tore out the green giant and removed the restrictive ceiling arch to let the room breathe. Next, we installed crisp, bright, light-grey wall panels to instantly double the visual space. We anchored the new shower with a stunning, textured slate-grey low-barrier shower base for safe, easy entry.
To maximize comfort and utility, we didn’t skimp on the add-ons. We installed a matching floating bench—perfect for relaxing tired legs—along with dual recessed shelving units to neatly organize all their bathing essentials. We also mounted a sleek, strategically placed grab bar to ensure safety without sacrificing style. (Want to see how you can customize your own space? Check out our full line of Shower Accessories).
Finally, we enclosed the masterpiece with crystal-clear, smooth-gliding glass doors and upgraded the plumbing to feature premium chrome fixtures, complete with a versatile handheld shower wand.
The Outcome: A Breath of Fresh (and Cool) Air
As you can see in the After photo, the transformation is nothing short of spectacular. The dark, dated cave is completely gone. In its place stands a bright, accessible, and ultra-modern walk-in shower that looks like it belongs in a high-end hotel.
The Pulidos now have a spacious, safe, and beautiful retreat right in their Birmingham home. The high step-in is a thing of the past, the lighting is beautiful, and most importantly, the avocado green has officially left the building.
