Main Floor Bathroom Makeover

Well friends, I am finally getting around to sharing my main floor bathroom makeover!  I have no excuse for why it took me so long to post this besides I was too lazy to get my camera out.  Poor excuse huh?!

Anyhow... I didn't realize how much different our bathroom looks until I started putting the pictures together for this post and I keep on saying "wow" to myself!  I cannot even take a guess as to what the previous owners were thinking when they painted the bathroom this color.  What's even more puzzling is why it took me so long to repaint the darn thing!

Isn't this the most awful green you have ever seen?! They even painted it on the ceiling.  Seriously?! Oh hey - can you tell where the toilet, mirror and light fixture used to be?! Yeah, it used to be white in there...they should have left it. 

Did you just say "wow" when you saw the after shot? I just did, again. We replaced the toilet, mirror and light fixture and I gave the vanity cabinet a fresh coat of paint.

Do you see the green on the wall paper outside the bathroom? (Yes, unfortunately that terrible wall paper still exists in our house.) I think they were trying to make the spaces flow together? Maybe?

I found the mirror at Target as well as the toilet paper stand, towel ring and towel. I had the extra un-opened paint on-hand from our previous bathroom project when I wasn't sure I liked the color I chose for that bathroom. Read about that project here.

You would think that I could have put a new roll of toilet paper on the stand, huh?! or removed it completely from the picture.  Whoops - photgrapher error!

This little vanity cabinet was probably the most transformational part of the makeover! I grabbed a quart of Sherwin Williams Thunder Grey paint (SW 7645) and repainted.  I even saved the hardware on the vanity.  Nothing a little silver spray paint couldn't handle!  We also changed the outlets to white.  For some reason the same silly folks that painted the bathroom green thought the light switches should be painted green too.  Weird. 

Our short term (3-4 years) plan is to remodel our kitchen and take out this bathroom which separates the kitchen from the rest of the house so we have a more open floor plan.  Thus the reason this makeover was pretty inexpensive (no flooring or vanity changes). I think we maybe spent $200.

I am always amazed at what a little paint and elbow grease can do! Hope you enjoyed this little before and after to kick off your Monday! :)  Have a great day!

Bathroom Cabinet Organization

I'm a little embarrassed to share this on the world wide web but for those of you who think my house is in perfect condition, this post is for you!

My bathroom cabinet was in desperate need of cleaning and organization!  Can you believe this disorganized mess?!  Ahhhh... embarrassing!

This cabinet is HUGE!  When we moved into the bathroom after the remodel I just put things in the cabinet without any sort of organization.

After all of the construction we have been doing on our old farm house we have accumulated a little dust.  Kinda icky and a lot embarrassing!  Thank goodness my mom doesn't read my blog very often, she would wonder if she raised me right.

And since we need to have two of everything on hand at all times (insert sarcasm for my "other half"), the cabinet became a little cluttered.  So,  I decided to tackle this project the night of the presidential election!  I'm not one to sit and watch the polls...

Holy smokes we have a lot of stuff! Thank goodness we opted for a lot of counter space in our bathroom. :)

After about an hour, this is what the cabinet looked like.

Way better, much cleaner and definitely more organized thanks to my finds at Home Goods the previous weekend!  

I scored these sweet wire baskets at a Home Goods in Burnsville, MN!  I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them when I spotted them but I knew I'd figure out something!  Ta - da!  Totally worth the buy to help wrangle the mass amount of extras we seem to need on hand!

I also scored this jar at Home Goods.  I really had no clue what I was going to use this for, I just liked it!  But, it's making a good container for all of my travel-sized items!  

Again, kind of embarrassing to share but I wanted to bust the myth that my house was always clean and organized! :)  

Have a great Thursday! 

P.S. If you want to see the bathroom remodel before pictures click here.  If you want to see that final project click here.

Extreme Makeover Bathroom Edition: The Reveal!

I am SO EXCITED to share pictures of our newly remodeled bathroom with you today!  This project is FINALLY done with shower door being installed yesterday! (Remember, my blog post from March about this project?!)  Well, regardless of how long it took, we absolutely love our bathroom! 

Remember this bathroom?!

Now check this out!!

If you see anything you like, are curious where we found the idea or got the supplies, let me know and I'll get you the information!

Our vanity sits where the toilet and built in shelf used to sit (picture directly above.)  We completely re-did the layout of our bathroom which was a great decision!

Our cabinets are all custom made out of walnut - I love them!  We incorporated so much storage.  My cupboards aren't even full!

We have a local custom surfaces company that we worked with in town for our granite counter tops.  They do fantastic work!

To lighten up the room some, since we chose dark wood, I had glass inserts put into the doors.

Kind of funny to include a picture of our toilet but moving our toilet to the opposite corner of the room was a good move.  Now when you look into the bathroom you don't see the toilet.

Glass doors are definitely the way to go on a shower.  It seems so much bigger.  Apparently not many bathrooms have a combined tub and shower, but since this is our only bathroom (besides the half bath on the main floor) this was necessary.

I LOVE this shower inset that we included.  It saved space in the shower and added a little bit of dimension and interest!

Thanks for sticking with me on this project... I bet you were wondering if you were ever going to see after pictures!

What do you think?!

Extreme Makeover: Bathroom Edition!

In case you haven't been following Design Your Dwelling on Facebook, you probably haven't heard that our bathroom is getting a makeover!  Yep, that's right a complete face-lift!  ( I secretly wish that the people from HGTV's "Bath Crashers" would show up)

Here is what our bathroom looked like pre-makeover!

We were in the process of packing up the bathroom, if you can't tell! :)

The bathroom was very 70's with the mint green, vanity and mirrors.  We are ready to replace the wooden floors with tile floors.

Here is what our bathroom (construction zone) looks like now.  

When we removed the toilet, the date stamped inside the tank was from the 1950's! Do you think it's about time for a new one?!

Since our bathroom was gutted, we had the opportunity to start completely start over and create a new layout.  Our bathroom is actually pretty large for bathroom standards, 9' x 11' 1/2". Here is the rough sketch that Adam drew up for us!

Here is what's next:

New floor plan

Replace sheet rock & ceiling

New plumbing and electrical work

All new lighting & bathroom fan

Custom built vanity, closet and cupboards

Replace wood floor with tile

Tile the shower

Glass shower doors

New mirrors

New bathtub, toilet and hardware

Whew - what a list!  Basically everything is going to be replaced and updated.

Coming up next, I'll share some of my bathroom design inspiration with you!

{Guest Post} Bathroom Remodel: Where to begin?

Today I am excited to have my first guest post from Aliza Soko, author of the blog at Quality Bath.  Aliza has a background in decorating and interior design.  She works with Quality Bath's customers to offer expert advice, guiding them through their home decorating decisions.

Quality Bath has been the premier provider of luxury kitchen, bath, and lighting products for more than 30 years.  Check out their website and enjoy your shopping experience!

Bathroom Remodel: Where to begin???

According to recent surveys a bathroom remodel is one of the most significant improvements you can make in a home (as far as reseller value). I believe the reason for this is that the bathroom is fast becoming one of the most important rooms in the home. Long gone are the days when the bathroom was a tiny room secluded in the far back corner of the house. Now the bathroom plays an important role in so many of our lives.

When a client comes to me with a strict budget or limited time I almost always tell them that the most important modification they can begin with for their bathroom remodel, with the most apparent results, will be through the bathroom vanity. Now of course each bathroom is a different situation and must be assessed separately but in most cases the bathroom vanity has the power to give a real “facelift” and work as a strong focal point. It’s also a great starting point because there are so many different options available. Between the differences in style, size, finish and price there is something for everyone.

To help you get started on your search for a new vanity here is a compilation of five new bathroom vanities that I LOVE! Now you’ll begin to understand what I mean when I say there are soooo many different options (and so many are so beautiful!).

My five top picks:

The Wave vanity, by creative bathroom manufacturer Xylem, is a romantic, Asian inspired design. Obtainable in two sizes it is constructed of MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and finished in a rich dark espresso stain with brushed nickel hardware. The vanity can be paired with either a vessel or under-counter sink, depending on your preference. The simple yet intriguing design and warm beautiful color make this vanity so alluring and desirable. It’s the perfect option for so many style bathrooms from oriental to contemporary.

The height of glamour this incredible vanity is aptly known as the Hollywood Sink Chest. The gorgeous mirrored chest is topped by an off-white marble countertop and polished nickel faucet. The delicate bead detailing, gold rub trim and porcelain sink are truly dazzling. A real Hollywood classic!

The Atrio vanity caught my eye because of its sleek, simple design (and my love of black and white and all things modern). The vanity has an extra wide counter but actually takes up very little space since it is wall-hung. The drawer unit is a separate section, complete with a chic leather handle. The vanity is available in wenge or oak wood and includes a ceramic wash basin.

Sonia is most commonly known for its modern design but the Nouvea vanity actually takes an interesting twist with some ornate, deco detailing. The 40” vanity base comes in both wenge and white and the glass countertop is offered in white or black. The beautiful detailing makes the vanity stand apart, an ideal focal point for an otherwise plain bathroom. 

Unique and completely beautiful! The gorgeous color of the XO Lefroy Brooks vanity is what puts it on my top five list. Made of Iroko wood the open concept vanity is not like any other I’ve seen before. It’s paired with the XO rectangular ceramic basin and Jo Mono deck mounted basin tap. If you are looking for a vanity that will make a statement without being ostentatious this vanity is ideal.

As you can see there are so many different types of vanities. Each of my favorites is a different style, size, color, finish and price. Choosing the one that’s right for you should be fun! To keep it uncomplicated and not confusing figure out what you need before you begin looking. And always remember that decorating is enjoyable!!!

 

Guest Blog Post at Quality Bath

Today is an exciting day -  Quality Bath asked me to be a guest blogger today on their website!  Click on this link to check out my post about styling your bathroom.

I'm pretty excited about my first guest post.  It's neat to have my work and my blog recognized!

Tomorrow, Quality Bath will publish a guest post right here on my blog about selecting a bathroom vanity.  Make sure to check back!

Thanks for reading, following and supporting - you all are great!!

-Beth

Baskets Fix Anything!

In our main bathroom we have built-in shelves.  They have the potential to be a great storage space but they end up collecting "stuff" and they are impossible to organize and make look "pretty."  So I gave up on continually trying to make these shelves look neat and organized so I invested in wicker baskets from Target.  They made great storage to hide bathroom essentials like toilet paper and kleenex.  The baskets are also large enough to hold a set of bed sheets.  The best part of using baskets as storage on these shelves is that I could just throw the stuff in them and give up on the organizing completely.  The end result is that the shelves look pretty and I created some much needed storage - take a look below! 



What a Mess!





Much Better !

How do you use baskets to organize your home?  Feel free to leave a comment!