Historic Charm Meets Modern Comfort: A Wauwatosa Bathroom Radiant Heat Transformation

This 1920s primary bathroom remodel uses TempZone™ electric floor heating to replace an inefficient radiator, adding silent, luxurious warmth and value.

WAUWATOSA, WI
Vintage Bathroom Transformation with radiant floor heating
Size: 38 sq. ft. Voltage: 120V Wattage: 573 W Amps: 5 A Flooring: Tile, Marble or Stone Cost/hr *: $0.10

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath was tasked with updating a 1920s Wauwatosa bathroom, balancing vintage charm with modern needs. The homeowner's primary challenge was a bulky, space-consuming radiator and cold tile floors. By installing a WarmlyYours TempZone™ in-floor heating system, the radiator was eliminated, freeing up valuable space and providing luxurious, efficient radiant comfort underfoot, perfectly complementing the home's historic character.


Project Details

  • Location: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
  • Heated Space Type: Primary Bathroom
  • Square Footage: 38 sq. ft.
  • System Specs: 573 Watts, 120 Volts, 5 Amps
  • Operating Cost: ~$0.10 per hour
  • Products Used: TempZone™ Floor Heating Cable, nSpire Touch Thermostat

From Bulky Radiator to Blissful Radiance

Renovating a home with 1920s roots means respecting its history while upgrading its function. For this primary bathroom, the goals were to add a double vanity and improve comfort, but the existing bulky radiator stood in the way, providing uneven heat and taking up precious floor space.

The expert team at Kowalske Kitchen & Bath designed a brilliant solution. They cleverly reconfigured the layout to gain space from an adjacent closet and removed the radiator entirely. In its place, they installed 38 square feet of WarmlyYours TempZone™ Floor Heating Cable. This versatile electric floor heating system was laid out under the new vintage-style octagon-and-dot tile, providing a source of heat that is both invisible and incredibly effective.

The outcome is a stunning success. The radiant floor heating provides wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling warmth that feels luxurious and inviting, especially on cold Wisconsin mornings. The new system is silent, energy-efficient, and allowed the designers to reclaim the wall space for a more open and functional layout. The homeowners now enjoy a cozy, warm bathroom that seamlessly blends timeless style with modern comfort.


Featured Products

TempZone™ Floor Heating Cable: The ideal solution for small or oddly shaped rooms, this free-form cable provides 3.7 watts per linear foot. It was installed to provide robust, even warmth perfectly suited for the new tile and stone flooring.

nSpire Touch Thermostat: This programmable thermostat offers precise temperature control with a modern, intuitive touchscreen. It features a floor sensor to ensure the tile is always at the perfect temperature and includes a built-in Class A GFCI for safety.

Circuit CheckAn essential tool used by the installers, the Circuit Check continuously monitored the system during installation, sounding an alarm if the cable was damaged to ensure a flawless setup before the tiles were laid.

* This 38 sq. ft. floor warming system costs just $0.10 per hour to operate. Based on average Wauwatosa, WI electricity rates, that’s only about $0.83 per day (assuming 8 hours of use) or less than $25.00 per month to add luxurious, spa-like comfort to this beautifully renovated bathroom.

Project Gallery

Quotes

These quotes are linked to this showcase and include the products used in this project or recommended for a similar-sized project.

Frequently Asked Questions


It is highly affordable. This specific 38 sq. ft. bathroom project costs only about $0.10 per hour to run. For just pennies an hour, you can enjoy the significant comfort of floor warming.
Yes. In a smaller, well-insulated room like this bathroom, a radiant floor heating system can easily serve as the primary and sole source of heat. This project successfully replaced an old radiator, improving both comfort and aesthetics.
This in-floor heating system is perfect for tile, marble, and stone, as seen in this project's classic octagon-and-dot tile. These materials are excellent conductors, efficiently transferring the heat from the cables to the surface for a wonderfully warm feel.
Absolutely. Radiant heat is very efficient because it warms people and objects directly (like sunlight) rather than just heating the air, which can escape. When paired with a programmable thermostat like the nSpire Touch, you can schedule heat for specific times, preventing energy waste.
Tell Us About Your Project Our team of Radiant Experts is ready to help.

Contact Us

Have a question? We're here to help.

Add Photo or Floor Plan

By submitting this form, I understand and agree to WarmlyYours.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Please complete the security verification below:

Your information is secure and will never be shared