An Indiana Family Gets a Primary Bathroom Makeover for Angi’s House Calls

For Victoria Amrozowicz, the past few years have thrown a series of curveballs, from a thyroid cancer diagnosis to extensive water damage in her home. “It was not our best season of life,” she says. “It felt like one thing after another.” 

The mother of three managed to stay strong through it all—but nothing could’ve prepared her for the surprise of Angie Hicks, the Co-Founder of Angi, knocking on the front door of her Indiana home. 

Hicks announced that Amrozowicz had been nominated for Angi House Calls, a new program that matches homeowners facing hardship with professionals in the Angi network. These professionals complete house projects, big or small, that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Amrozowicz took the opportunity to remodel her outdated primary bathroom and closet, which were plagued by a poor layout, a leaky shower, and black mold. Ken Bennett from Home Experts Indy took on the project, and he transformed the space into a bright, modern oasis filled with natural light.

A Deserving Surprise

Amrozowicz is grateful for her new bathroom and closet, but the path to the remodel wasn’t easy. After navigating tragic losses in her extended family, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the cancer and her thyroid, and she was put on medication for the rest of her life.

At the same time, Amrozowicz’s home was compromised by water damage. “We had a water heater leak and flood our house, and then it went unfixed for about six months,” says Amrozowicz, adding that she didn’t have flooring in part of her downstairs living area during that time. 

Amrozowicz’s struggles struck a chord with her friends, Dave and Rosie Howard. They believed Amrozowicz deserved a pick-me-up, so they nominated her for the Angi House Calls program. The past few years “were a revolving door of catastrophe” for the Amrozowicz family, Rosie Howard told Hicks over a video call. David Howard added that they “deserve some good karma to come back their way.”

To set the stage for the surprise, the Howards claimed they needed Amrozowicz to sign paperwork for their son’s National Honor’s Society. “Rosie let us know that we should probably do our hair that day,” said Amrozowicz. “She was very vague, but she knows me well enough to know that I am a stay-at-home mom, so I'm usually in sweatpants and a T-shirt.” 

Amrozowicz still didn’t suspect anything until Hicks showed up at her front door. “She let us know that she was going to redo our whole master bathroom and our master closet,” says Amrozowicz. “You certainly don't expect Angie Hicks—or anyone, for that matter—to show up at your front door and surprise you with something like that. I was completely in shock.”

An Outdated Primary Bathroom

Through the Angi House Calls initiative, Amrozowicz chose to remodel her primary bathroom. “We had a few things going on in there,” says Amrozowicz. For example, the shower had been leaking for several months, creating a consistent and irritating dripping sound. 

Amrozowicz had also found black mold near the shower—which was especially problematic because her entire family used the bathroom. “I always wondered, in the back of my mind, am I not feeling good because of my cancer, or am I not feeling good because I'm being exposed to black mold?” says Amrozowicz. She tried ripping out the caulking in the shower and replacing it, but the black mold came back.

To make matters worse, the drywall outside of the shower had begun disintegrating because of a design flaw. “The shower was tiled, but the wall outside of the shower was getting wet, so the drywall was crumbling,” says Amrozowicz. The bathroom’s wood trim was also showing signs of rot. 

Among other issues were a toilet without a door, a confusing layout, and outdated fixtures. “None of it worked,” says Amrozowicz. “Honestly, I wanted to change everything about the bathroom.”

Planning the Project

Amrozowicz had considered remodeling her primary bathroom in the past, but “we didn't want to start opening up walls because we didn't know how much of a renovation we were going to get into,” she says. “Are we walking into a $10,000 project or $50,000 project?”

The Angi House Call let her envision the bathroom of her dreams, which was something light and bright with the aesthetic of a hotel spa. “It's a petite space, so I felt like the brighter and the lighter I could make it, the bigger it would feel,” says Amrozowicz.

Before starting the project, the contractor—Ken Bennett from Home Experts Indy—offered his insight. He closely listened to Amrozowicz’s concerns and ideas, then he offered suggestions on remodeling the space. Together, they decided on the layout, materials, and design.

Remodeling the Bathroom

The entire bathroom remodel took a little more than three weeks. Bennett’s team worked five or six days per week to complete the project. “I didn't ever feel like my home was sitting idle,” says Amrozowicz. “We were making progress every single day.”

According to Bennett, the project timeline went something like this: 

• Demolition: three days

• Framing: one day

• Plumbing and electrical: three days

• Drywall installation: two days

• Tile work: four days

• Shower glass acquisition and installation: one week

• Painting: one or two days

Bennett’s team only encountered one minor setback: they found rotten floor joists and studs around the shower, which had to be replaced before putting the drywall back up. All in all, though, the remodel went smoothly. “When you have the right contractor, it's a really great experience,” says Amrozowicz. 

The Final Bathroom Reveal

Amrozowicz monitored her bathroom project every step of the way. Still, when she saw the finished remodel, she was left speechless and giddy. “The bathroom turned out exactly like how I envisioned it,” she says. 

The Shower

“The old shower was in an enclosed room, and it was very dark,” says Bennett. His team moved it to a new location by the window and installed glass on two sides. Now it’s encased with natural light that showcases the white ceramic tile, which has an architectural wavy design. 

Amrozowicz loves the “huge” and “luxurious” shower, as well as the cut-out that fits even the tallest bath products. And perhaps the best part? No more leaking or water damage!

The Bathtub

The freestanding bathtub is perpendicular to a window overlooking lush trees, which adds to the spa-like feeling that Amrozowicz hoped to evoke.

The Toilet

Before the remodel, the toilet was out in the open. Bennett’s team moved it into the former location of the shower, and they added a door for much-needed privacy. 

The Floors

Bennett’s team installed porcelain tile floors in the bathroom. The design resembles marble, but it’s more affordable and durable. Amrozowicz says the tile elevates the look of the entire room.

The Countertops

Like the rest of the bathroom, the quartz countertops are light and modern. They’re a nice contrast to the black faucets and cabinet hardware.  

A Transformed Closet

As part of the renovation, Home Experts Indy remodeled Amrozowicz’s primary bedroom closet, which had plenty of wasted space above the hanging clothes. Bennett installed shelving and additional rods to increase the functionality of the room. “I can actually move my clothes left to right because there's so much more hangable space in there,” says Amrozowicz. For the finishing touch, Bennett ripped out the carpeted floors and installed porcelain tile.

About Angi House Calls

Angi House Calls seeks to help people facing difficult or unique situations. The program connects homeowners to a professional in the Angi network, who will complete a house project that will make an impactful difference. All work and materials will be donated by Angi.

Anyone can submit a nomination for Angi’s House Calls. Share your story on the submission page here.