Wednesday, September 28, 2016

New Reveal! My Mini Bath Makeover

I finally put the finishing touches on my little bathroom makeover, so drum roll, please, because I have BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. Woot woot!

(Seriously, aren't B&A's the best? Sometimes I go binge on Better After to get my decorating fix.)

Now, to be fair, I don't think my "before" was awful:


There were mostly practical issues that prompted the redo: cracking walls, a broken exhaust fan, and too much dusty clutter.

The light and fixtures had been painted several times already, and were ready to retire:


Plus I didn't like the wall color. Or the over-the-door towel rack, which kept the door from opening all the way.

John was raring for a new project, and had the room mostly gutted before I even knew what I wanted.
Boy moves fast.

He only mostly gutted the room, though. My secret shame, the 1960s peach shower tile, still lives on behind the shower curtain:
Someday, shower tile. SOMEDAY. [meaningful glare]

Within two days John had installed a new exhaust vent in the attic, door, trim, vanity, sink, light, fixtures, and painted the ceiling, trim, and walls.

The new, wider vanity meant we had to shift the mirror and light exactly 2 inches to the left. ARG. I at least helped come up with a solution for the light:


We traced a pretty shape onto plywood, which John cut and routed to make this backer plate. Since our new light has a smaller base than the old one, and since we had to move it over a few inches, the hole in the wall would show without this piece to cover it. Yay for less drywall work!

Here's all of John's work done:

The new wall color is a petal-soft peach, and I lurrrrve it. 

I actually hated to add anything after this point; it's just so clean and pretty! But sadly I still need towels and toiletries and stuff. Bah.

Right, here we go, big reveal time!

 [kazoo fanfare]
[confetti cannon]


Natural versus artificial light:


 I reeeeally didn't want another shelf over the toilet tank (again, major dust trap), so after much deliberation I hung these pretty copper-and-teal glass jars instead:
 
 I found them on clearance at Burlington for $5 each. SCORE.


Plus the silver hooks let me skip putting up a bulky towel ring or bar.

 
My larger towels hang with John's behind the bedroom door now
(You can't actually see the towel rack at that link, but I figured you'd want to see my bedroom redo again anyway. :D)
The galvanized metal box on the tank corrals all my bottles and tubes, and has a chalkboard front for when I figure out something to write on it. Any suggestions?

John trimmed out the bottom of the vanity, so no more dust can get under/behind the sink base:

 
 ... which is AMAZING. (Can we talk about the dusty backsides of pedestal sinks? No? That's fair.)

 
New faucet - which is exactly like my old one, 'cuz it's cute and only $30 - plus orange silk happiness in a jar.

 New TP holder:
 
And my non-matching loopy rug, which is squishy heaven, but which will be replaced when/if I find a brighter teal rug.

 Can I show you my favorite part, though?

It's the one feature you can't even see: the access to my hidden waste bin.


Yep, I convinced John to cut a hole in my new vanity. The room is so small I can't easily open the cabinet door while standing in front of it, so this cut-out is just about the handiest thing ever. And no visible trash can! YAY!


The ombre shower curtain is from Amazon, and cost about $19.

 The light fixture is from Lowes, and cost around $60.


The vanity and sink combo is from Home Depot - about $100 on sale - so with all the other bits and trim and new door and such our little makeover cost a bit over $300.

It's not the most dramatic of changes, I know, but I'm really diggin' my new space:


Oh, did I mention I painted the poppies a brighter orange? They were more reddish before.


Welp, hope you guys enjoyed a peek into my bathroom! ...which, yes, is a little weird for all of us, but I promise I won't mention my fabulous Japanese automated toilet seat if you won't.

89 comments:

  1. Thats so cute and clever use of space
    But how the heck do you get in the shower?? Climb over the toilet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, no, there's enough room in front of the toilet - just barely. ;)

      Delete
  2. Oh em gee. The vanity cut out trash can. Brilliant. Fellow tiny bathroomer here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bidets are one of the best inventions ever and I wish more people knew about them! Love the new color scheme.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the hidden trash can with access hole. I want to replicate that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. And here I was going to say the teal/blues make the poppies brighter! I'm glad I read alllll the text.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My suggestion for the chalkboard: Gorgeous! (It applies to both the bathroom and you!) And I wouldn't have minded hearing about tricked-out Japanese toilets; I sometimes think we should get one, but I've heard so many different stories -- some good, some... embarrassing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I want to hear the embarrassing stories.

      I thought about writing a post about my magical toilet seat sometime; it'd be hilarious. I think I may just have to get a little tipsy and let it all out. And then write about it. BOOYA SEE WHAT I DID THERE.

      Delete
    2. Yes! The whole post I was wondering about the toilet. I'm a bidet user and constantly singing their praises, which is weird for everyone involved. But bidets are awesome!! I miss mine when I'm traveling or house sitting!

      Delete
    3. Actually, the embarrassing story I remember involved a bidet. The user had finished, gotten up, and zipped up and, in attempting to flush, hit the switch for the bidet, which squirted surprisingly far with no bum over it. One generally uses the restroom in order to *avoid* a wet dribble down one's pants. The other story was less embarrassing, just taking a really long time to find the flush button. I think both of these were courtesy of a couple of my husband's buddies, who travel fairly often for work. (Hmm... I should ask my BIL if he has any... although he goes to China far more often than Japan.)

      Delete
    4. Ok, not to be gross, but I have a disabled adult daughter who has trouble attending to her needs, shall we say. I didn't know magical toilet seats existed until this post. Can I tell you how fast I ordered it from Amazon??? Installed yesterday and my life is better. Jen, your blog always makes me smile, makes me feel less isolated as an oddball in the prim south where I live, but this time. Wow. So many many thanks,

      Delete
  7. For the chalkboard, "Better out than in, I always say!"

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am currently saving up for my Japanese toilet. After living in Asia for three years I swore I'd have one in my forever house. Just 20 months to go!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Girl, my favorite part of your bathroom is the original 60's peach tile. (I'm a sucker for old mid-century bathroom tile) The peach with turquoise color palette is gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG, me too! NEVER RIP IT OUT. ;)

      (I'd go for a peach rug, too, btw.)

      Delete
    2. I get how some people would find that tile old and outdated, but it makes me nostalgic. I was born in 1971, so these tiles were just common when I was a kid.

      Delete
    3. Trade your peach tiles for our poison green ones any day!

      Delete
  10. I had to do a double-take on the first picture; I thought you had three different-sized rolls of toilet paper in fancy holders on the back of the tank!

    ReplyDelete
  11. For the chalkboard: LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT.
    I am not sure if this is the color you are looking for. IKEA TOFTBO Turquoise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Was just coming to suggest that very mat. They're super soft and wash beautifully, too.

      Delete
  12. this might be a weird question - but where is your soap?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bahaha! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO NOTICE THAT. I, uh, took the soap away because the bottle didn't match. I usually buy citrus or peach stuff from Bath & Body Works, which will go nicely, but this current bottle is lemon. :D

      Delete
    2. I wondered the same thing. I know you are particular about germs so I couldn't figure out why you didn't have soap out!

      My suggestion for the chalkboard: "aim carefully." Can you tell I have multiple boys running rampant through my house?

      Delete
    3. Also, the hidden trash can is GENIUS.

      Delete
    4. Oh that makes sense

      my mom would do the same thing, and stalked up on green soap that matched our bathroom whenever there was a bath and body works sale, she was really sad when they discontinues rainforest leaves

      Delete
  13. I love the hidden trash can! Gah! Fantastic. Now for my chalk board suggestion, "we aim to please, you aim too please".

    ReplyDelete
  14. This looks great! Adding the cabinet below the sink actually makes the bathroom bigger by streamlining that section of the bathroom in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Did John have previous experience with exhaust fan replacement? I find myself needing to replace one in our bathroom and I'm a bit anxious about it. New skills to learn, etc. If John used any sort of video or tutorial I'd love to be pointed to it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. Old house, and previous repair folks have just said "oh, well".

      Delete
  16. Love it. I love teal and it works with the picture.

    ReplyDelete
  17. For the chalkboard: This way to the Ministry of Magic.

    ReplyDelete
  18. LOVE!!! The trash hole is brilliant!
    I was going to suggest "potions" for the chalkboard, but Carrie (above) nailed it! I second her suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pretty! Love the teal + peach/orange color scheme. And your vanity cabinet tweaks. The dust-magnet recesses you typically get under bathroom vanities are really annoying (not to mention rather gross - stray fallen hairs always mutate into tanglespiders under there).

    My own bathroom is due for a refit next year, which I am looking forward to with equal parts anticipation and trepidation. Among other things, I will be replacing the shower tiles - or, more likely the entire shower and a good portion of wall along with it, as I strongly suspect the boarding behind the tiles is rotting. Some previous occupant thought trimming the shower with unsealed wood was a good idea . . .

    ReplyDelete
  20. If you really don't like your "vintage tile". Call Mica Magic (they are out of St. Pete but might drive to Orlando or have someone they could refer you too. They sprayed our old shower enclosures at MacDill AFB housing to cover up yellow/black, mint green etc.

    ReplyDelete
  21. As far as something odd to write on your new chalkboard, in my parent's house my mom has this really beautiful carved wall hanging that says 'do what you can, where you are, with what you have.'

    Only it's hanging in the bathroom. Right in front of your face while you're sitting on the toilet.

    Lol ;p

    ReplyDelete
  22. What about 'No peeking' on the chalkboard? It will drive guests crazy trying to decide if they should peek or not.

    ReplyDelete
  23. We have the same toilet seat, I'm considering getting another one because the kids only like using my bathroom now...
    Love the secret garbage hole ��

    ReplyDelete
  24. Weird comment, but I am love with the blue bird with orange flowers picture on your "Before" wall. Did you paint it, or where did you get it? LOVE!

    Amy LD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found that at Ross ages ago, and fell for the colors, of course. :) I'd gladly give it to you - it's in my thrift-store donation pile now - though I'm not sure if shipping would be easy/cheap. If you're really interested, shoot me an e-mail!

      Delete
    2. Sent you an email. I would LOVE to have that picture!!! Thank you so much!!!

      Amy LD

      Delete
  25. Re: the chalkboard, I like to be silly and use hyper-realistic words in cases like this so I would suggest something like "preen," or "goopy goods." Definitely not inspirational but would make me smile. "Clean" would work too, since it's a room you spruce-up in, and your cute box gives a clean look.
    Nice work on the makeover! I love the trash can trick!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Maybe one night you could put glow in the dark eyes on the box. John will get up in the middle of the night and find eyes watching him.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am surprised your bathroom is so tiny! All previous pictures of your house give a really spacious impression, and your bathroom size does not compute. XD Very pretty redo though, making the most of a tiny space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! We really try to make the rest of the house look spacious - and it is when you walk in, since you can see straight to the back room, but what you're seeing is like 70% of the house there. :D I think we have around 1400 square feet total, pretty average for a 19060s ranch - but they do have the teensiest bathrooms!

      Delete
  28. Please, please talk about your Japanese toilet seat! I want to get one and would love to hear from someone who has one. Pretty please?

    Your bathroom looks lovely by the way. I think it was fine before but now it looks more "you". I like the cutout for the trash can.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes please!!! I want to hear about it too!

      Delete
  29. Love the teal and orange pops in the new loo. The vanity/sink combo looks great too. I like the idea of finishing/trimming the base of the vanity. I also vote to keep the tile -- especially since the walls are now peach too. (Another lover of weird bathroom tile/sink/tub/toidy colors!)

    I'm afraid to start any projects because the bathrooms are back-to-back and I'm afraid to find whatever is behind the big vanities. Although, it might make good Halloween fodder.

    -Zippy

    P.S. I'm curious about the toilet seat too!
    P.P.S. Does John hire out? I'll take you guys to Disneyland AND Knott's! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Just curious. You hate the peach tile, but painted your bathroom peach? Or is it just grungy with age?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, good point. The tile is much darker and a bit grungy yes - just not the prettiest shade, while the walls are suuuper light. If I had my choice I'd probably have white subway tile in there instead, but we're makin' lemonade, as it were.

      Delete
    2. Watching all the fun HGTV makeovers, revamps, I'd vote with one of the earlier suggestions for an inexpensive choice of repainting the tile, if they aren't severely cracked.

      Delete
  31. Did your angle-stops actually work! lol the bane of my existence faulty angle-stops.... Since I'm talking about plumbing... does the cartridge in your shower fixture need replaced? You would know, the shower will "stick" on hot or cold. It's easy enough (if you have the tools a giant hex key and confidence) instructions come with the replacement cartridge! Lastly, can you tell I work in plumbing?, you would save soo much room with an in the wall toilet tank but that isn't near as easy as replacing a facet, which if the tightening bolt is rusted on isn't easy but... that's still a different cup of tea. You'd have to re-tile that part of the floor and move the drain line, obviously shitty business (pun intended) but most the time the toilet mounts to the wall as one piece and would gain you at least 6" if not more. Just a suggestion. Also, so much easier to clean...

    ReplyDelete
  32. I had to send this to my mom! She's got a tiny upstairs half bath that desperately needs a mini makeover, but has been scared of the cost. I think this is a pretty great way to show how much can be done with just some ingenuity and elbow grease!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love Carrie's idea: For the chalkboard: This way to the Ministry of Magic.

    I thought you were joking about the Japanese toilet seat... No?

    -Byrdie

    ReplyDelete
  34. Since a bathroom is often referred to as a john (and you already have one of those!) you could name your bathroom Jim. Then you can tell people you go to the jim every day.

    ReplyDelete
  35. imma need to hear more about this japanese toidy...

    ReplyDelete
  36. also, i have a tiny bathroom so i adore your makeover. thanks for the inspiration!
    p.s. my tiny bathroom is PINK. pink toilet, pink sink, pink tub, pink tile baseboards...pink everything. so i feel your distaste for the shower tiles. BUT, i really think you embraced it here and it looks great. should you decide to rip them out, rumor has it folks are paying BIG BUCKS for tile in colors like we have. i just have zero idea how one would get them out without hurting them. besides, i have grown to (mostly) love the crazy bathroom colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish my tile was pink. My house was built in the 50s, and while the pale blue is gone from the one bathroom, the other one (the main usage one) still has the pale green - yuk.

      Delete
  37. I love the teal accents--they prevent the room from being peach overload. Ikea has a teal bathmat you would like: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20163963/ I actually have two of them. I hope there's an Ikea near you, since it isn't available through online ordering.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Very nice Jen! - Wanna see something Outrageous? (french accent on that)
    Here is a video by a German school teacher about decorating her WC.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGf22nwVIWM&index=11&list=PL4503A16244E2AAD8

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is awesome, and makes my tiny bath seem downright SPACIOUS. Hee!

      Delete
    2. Apologies if this comment is a repeat. Something went weird on my end. I'm not sure how that painting worked in that tiny space, but it did. She also made a collapsible, foldable Tardis. And managed to make a funny video of the process to boot. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtWUrJU46M8 when you have a spare 15-20mins. Amazing! PS. Hope you're riding out the storm safely. It's horrible seeing the devastation so far...

      Delete
  39. I love this! I'm in the middle of a down-to-the-studs full house re-model (as in, I have not had a kitchen for going on 8.months. EIGHT.MONTHS.) But, we love it. LOL. So, I absolutely love to see what other people are doing to their homes!! This bathroom is adorable in a super teeny way. Great use of space!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love your makeover. It's so bright and clean. Haha, my first thought was, "Oh, I like that painting much better". Oops. It's the same painting.

    You had to know we were not going to remain mum on that Japanese toilet seat. ; ) When we stayed in Spain, they had a bidet, but I was too scared to use it. Scared that I'd flood the house or something, not scared of what it would do to me. So, yes please let's hear about your toilet seat!

    Do those glass jars have lids? All I can think about is you having dusty balls.

    -Just Andrea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Regular bidets are totally terrifying to me; they're like a GEYSER! ha!

      And re: the jars, no, no lids! :( I'd love to find some giant corks for them, but if not, at least I use cotton balls often enough that they shouldn't gather TOO much dust. I hope.

      Delete
  41. My suggestion for the chalkboard: "Always".

    ReplyDelete
  42. PS: Our landlord couldn't afford to replace the tile in the bathrooms, so they painted them white. Surprisingly/notsurprisingly, our tile under the white paint is exactly the same as your shower tile.

    -Just Andrea

    ReplyDelete
  43. Don't hide your peach tile! Celebrate it! There are tons of people out there who would be thrilled to get a bathroom that has the original peach tile. '60s tile is usually well made, well installed and durable, and comes in fun colors.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Maybe Target would have a bathroom rug. They have a beautiful set of teal towels and a matching rug. Though I'm not sure if its the exact shade you're looking for (http://www.target.com/p/all-that-jazz-bath-rug/-/A-15070630).

    ReplyDelete
  45. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Girl. Is that a TOTO washlet? I used to work for them! We had them in all our employee bathrooms :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Great job! I love the jars hanging on hooks, what a good idea! That's about the size of my main bathroom, except the toilet and sink are switched, with the sink in the middle between the tub and toilet. And the toilet is behind the door, so the door only opens 90 degrees, instead of 180. But it's better than the other bathroom...the door only opens about 50 degrees...but the good news is that it's a natural weight gaining deterrent. Get too big and you can't access the bathroom!
    I'm always looking for ways to find storage, and the jars hanging on the hooks are great!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love this so much! It looks awesome!

    However, it is *killing me* that the faucet is shiny silver and everything else is brushed.

    ReplyDelete
  49. i think you should put "have a nice poop" on the chalkboard in fancy script

    ReplyDelete
  50. It would only work if you had an inspirational artistic picture somewhere close saying "Your future is whatever you make it" but then you could write "so make it a good one"

    ReplyDelete
  51. It would only work if you had an inspirational artistic picture somewhere close saying "Your future is whatever you make it" but then you could write "so make it a good one"

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love the hidden bin!! I want to do this in our new bathroom. I'm thinking of a corner vanity unit though. I kinda like the Peach tiles....

    ReplyDelete
  53. If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie.

    ReplyDelete
  54. It looks so great. And, that trash can fix is amazing! I've got a few bathrooms itching for some re-dos (or rather just some dos). I'll definitely try to convince my hubby to make vanity holes too.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  55. great job! what about "lather, rinse, repeat" or "good clean fun" for the little chalk board?

    ReplyDelete
  56. Slightly embarrassing, but true, my best friend has that same 1970's peach tile in her small downstairs bathroom, and I, ah, actually think it's pretty. Especially with teal! (Hers is more green-y though).

    Suggestions for your board: If it were me, I'd use it to write myself notes about what to replace on the next shopping run (I'm boring that way), and my husband would write me rude jokes.

    But you could also use it to write sweet things to your sweetie (and vice versa). That would be nice.

    ReplyDelete
  57. "lotions and potions" for the chalkboard!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I have the same tile in my bathroom and the same level of disdain for it. My sympathies.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I find it funny that you hate the tile in your bathroom because I have the exact same (although a pale blue color) and it is one of my favorite features.

    ReplyDelete
  60. www.savethepinkbathrooms.com !!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Where, oh where is your faucet from? I can't find one in that style for less than $80!

    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful when commenting; dissenting opinions are great, but personal attacks or hateful remarks will be removed. Also, including a link? Then here's your html cheat sheet: <a href="LINK ADDRESS">YOUR TEXT</a>