Christina Hall's Stunning Crawl Space Makeover Raises Some Important Questions

Christina Hall is known for her elegant, buzzworthy designs, but the makeover from Season 5, Episode 8 of "Christina on the Coast" gained attention for more than just the stunning decor. The HGTV star restructured the attic crawl space to make an en suite bathroom work in the home's space. While the renovation turned out beautiful, it did have major setbacks and delays. The end results are tempting to emulate, but the process might not be one to repeat. In an exclusive House Digest interview, we spoke to Erika Dale, interior designer and founder of Erika Dale Interior Design, on if Hall's bathroom conversion project was a smart renovation choice.

"As a professional interior designer, I am always in favor of exploring ways to maximize the functionality of underutilized or completely untapped areas during a home renovation," Dale said. So, Hall gets a few points for elevating the crawlway. "However, any time the remodel project involves messing with the existing roof line ... be ready to open your wallet (and your schedule) pretty wide," she said. Even if you have the time, crew, and budget for the job, this isn't a go-to renovation to recommend. Dale explained why this project is a challenging one and some tips if you decide to take it on.

"Any time you are altering the existing roof, the project instantly becomes complicated with codes, permits, redistributing the roof load, matching shingles, gutter changes, etc," Erika Dale exclusively told House Digest. "Add on top of that a whole new bathroom worth of plumbing on the interior." Christina Hall and her team took on the challenge, and well, let's just say the name of the episode is "Delays for Days" for a reason. "Not only are they expensive projects to begin with, but the high number of potential complications could cost a pretty penny and lots of time as well," Dale added.

There was already an existing bathroom in the primary bedroom of the client's home, and that attic crawlspace was being used as a closet. It would have been easier for Hall to redo each area while leaving the layout as is. Instead, she opted to turn the old bathroom into a walk-in closet and the crawl space into a new bathroom. The renovation took almost a year to complete and left the couple more than $55,000 over budget. Further, the homeowners had a portion of their roof missing for three months with only a plastic tarp to protect them and the residence from stormy weather. Adding a new bathroom can boost your home's value, but Dale had a few suggestions so you don't have a time and budget disaster like Hall did.

If turning your crawl space into a bathroom is a project you want to take on, then hire a professional. This isn't a DIY remodel. You want a qualified contractor who can assess if your crawl space is suitable for a bathroom conversion. They should be able to inform you of the difficulty and cost before the renovation begins so you know what you're getting into. 

A lot of delays from Christina Hall's makeover were due to permit issues. "Be sure that your construction team is taking the time to thoroughly review all documentation before it is sent through the slow-moving building and safety approval process," Erika Dale exclusively told House Digest. "Having the original blueprint to your home is also really helpful because errors like [plans needing to be revised and approved] can be caught ahead of time based on the home's original drawings." That way you don't end up partially roofless for three months.

There are better alternatives if you're looking to add or relocate a bathroom in your home. "Any space that would not require altering the existing roof would be preferable to a small crawl space when it comes to converting to a bathroom, as well as an area with fairly ready access to plumbing to keep costs lower," Dale said. That way you can avoid too much reconfiguration and possible plumbing, roofing, demolition, and permit issues. It can help cut the cost of your bathroom remodel and save you time.