A small half bath gets a perky makeover!

This client was having an open house to celebrate her sons graduation, last June. She asked if I could work some magic on the tiny half bathroom that most of the guests would be using. I was honored to help!

Before:

After:

She already had an inspiration piece, this adorable sunflower painting she had done, herself! Choosing a paint color, I advised her to go two colors lighter than what looked like the perfect yellow. Yellow is a difficult color to choose, probably the MOST difficult. The best thing to keep in mind is that yellow is a powerful color...we notice it! That's why they use it on a highway signs and school buses. If you don't want to wear sunglasses upon entering the room? Go lighter than you think you should. It will still be plenty bright!

And a bathroom you don't spend a lot of time in is the perfect space to go bold!

To update the older light fixture without replacing it, I primered the brass, then painted it flat black,not glossy. I used oil based paint because i think it holds up better on metal in humid bathrooms, and I did not want to risk any rust issues in the future! I turned the bulbs up instead of down, so that the light was less harsh and glaring. I also replaced the frosted pink tulip shaped shades with simple clear glass, in a more modern shape. A simple update, for under $10!

Before:

After:

 

Another way to "quiet" yellow (or any bright color) is to use both black and white liberally in the room to offset the strong hue. Painting all of the doors and trim in high gloss white really made the yellow pop, and using black metal as an accent helped to set off the warm walls. The client had this black iron scroll mirror already, and I picked up the matching candleholder at the Goodwill for just a few dollars.

It is hard to photograph a room you can barely turn around in, but I think you can see the difference, the bathroom is now cheerful and bright!

After:

Some of the clients scrapbook art, opposite the commode:

This client had great intentions but her life is just super busy and so her guest bath had been neglected longer than she wanted it to be. Sometimes a family milestone, such as a wedding or graduation, is just the push we need to cross something off our home to-do list! I'm so glad she called, and I can help YOU get your neglected space lovely and welcoming, too!

 

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Bathroom makeover

        When my sister-in-law was out of town this Summer, my brother called and asked if I'd be willing to help surprise her with a bathroom makeover. Honestly, I was nervous and told him so! Normally I work hard to help a client as they decide on every aspect of their re-design, and if I made all those decisions without her, and then she hated it...well, we are family, that could be awkward over holiday dinners, right?!

But my brother promised she would be thrilled with ANY changes made. Plus I love my sister-in-law, and the chance to bless her was too fun to pass up!
We started with a mess, frankly. (And I love that, as it makes for the best Before/After shots, right?!)

They had updated things quite a bit, with new flooring:

a new sink cabinet, and a better toilet. But the remnants of the old bathroom were still showing through, in mismatched paint colors and torn Sheetrock from the old vanity.
BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This is the only bathroom for a busy family of four, including two young children. Storage was sorely lacking and was my min concern. We needed to replace the practical-but-ugly plastic drawers with something easy to access, but more contemporary. I chose this open, cherrywood shelf from Lowes, and fit it with various baskets found around the house. The color of the wood ties in the existing cabinetry but adds a more modern feel.

The main problem with the sink cabinet is that it didn't "fit". And I don't mean size, I mean style. When you have an ornately carved, rich wood piece of furniture it gives a very classic, traditional "old world" vibe. But if your room or lifestyle is more urban casual, then the piece sticks out like a sore thumb...it just doesn't blend, no matter how beautiful it is. Your choice then, is to either "class up" the room around it, or "bring down" the furniture, by painting it.

For example, you inherited Grandmas French provincial, solid walnut buffet. It doesn't match your beach house, but its an heirloom you want to keep, so you paint it white (when your husband is away, because it causes men actual pain to see wood get painted) Instantly that stuffy old piece is shabby chic and right at home in your cottage!
This was the dilemma with their sink cabinet, and since they weren't keen on painting it, we went the other route. We elevated its surroundings, so it felt more at home!

One of the ways I classed up the bathroom, was by utilizing a deep, earthy and rich wall color. Benjamin Moore HC-79 Greenbrier Beige. Because of the green granite countertop, and the greenish gray of the floor, I chose a color in the green family but NOT green. That would be overload! This mossy gray-brown has enough green in it to marry the various colors, but still hold its own. I love "chameleon" neutrals like this, that change colors with the light, going from putty to brown to gray, depending on what the light source is. This is where it is extremely important to know what the undertones of your paint colors are! Notice in every photo, that it is a little different? Here is a picture of it, on the opposite wall, that shows very brown:

A key to adding more warmth to this room was the shower curtain...you don't get more traditional than paisley, but the colors in the pattern are very fresh and modern. (Found at Target) I also loved how the touches of brown pulled in the wood tones, helping blend the various elements.

To continue the upscale feel, I added "real" artwork (stolen from another room) with thick, traditional style frames that matched the heaviness of the sink cabinet. My luck, that the colors and styles matched so well!

And I think every bathroom can use a houseplant, for a touch of life in an otherwise sterile space! Another important component is how the wicker texture of baskets helps too break up all the slick surfaces that are inherent in a bathroom. Whenever you are decorating, even in a bathroom, remember that having various texture is key in making a room feel warm and welcoming!

Finally, a glass and tumbled stone mosaic backsplash to marry the mirror and vanity together. This was tile they had already chosen, and I installed it for them only because they are family! I am an amateur tile installer, at best, so don't expect to hire me to do yours (though I do have someone competent and professional I can recommend, if you need that in your redesign!)

They plan to move the light fixture over, and center it above the mirror. That was making me crazy, but my hair is curly enough as it is, I wasn't brave enough to attempt electrical work!

Considering that all of the shopping and the work was done in one day, that they live 2.5 hours away, and that we spent less than $150, this turned out amazingly well!

Of course the real test for me was Anne...I liked it, but would she feel like I'd overstepped? A few days later when her name popped up on my phone, I nervously answered. Sweet relief, that she was thrilled and appreciative! It made me so happy to hear her delight in their new bathroom...Another successful re-design! (And no awkward family get-togethers, either!)

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Outdated Oak Cabinets Updated with Java Stain

I posted about our master bathroom cabinet update a few months ago, here:

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8461157380551183494#editor/target=post;postID=4879238404474922297;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=7;src=postname

My mother-in-law loved ours, so while she was out of town I surprised her for Mothers Day by re-doing HER master bathroom vanity cabinet, also. I have wonderful in-laws who are incredibly loving and supportive. I was tickled to bless them in this way!

Here are the AFTER photos:

 My father-in-law was in on the surprise, so he took the light oak medicine cabinet down so I could stain it to match. Here is a tip: If you have brass hinges, knobs or fixtures you want to blend, use Rustoleums Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint to update the metal finish. It worked well with the java stain here, especially.

It took several more coats than my cabinet did and I was wishing that I had taken a bit of time to sand them, first. The tutorials online say you don't NEED to sand but I found it helpful and worth the extra step. Here is what her vanity looked like, before...your basic builders finish.

 

Since I adore my in-laws, they got a bonus: I re-painted the bathroom walls, too. They chose the shade, a warm rich neutral that was just a shade off from the previous color. It is always surprising how just a shade or two lighter can still make a room brighter and warmer! If you enjoy your current color scheme but wear and tear makes it time to re-paint, consider going up one shade on the paint chip for a simple but effective change.


My mother in law loves neutrals and her home is always warm, classic and welcoming...like her!

 

Bathroom Vanity re-Design for under $60! Staining Oak Cabinets Espresso

 

The Master Bedroom and Bath are often the last rooms to be remodeled because they are not seen. And often, by the time you've renovated the public areas of the home there isn't much money left to tackle the private spaces! We've lived in our home for nine years this May, and have remodeled extensively...now we are finally heading towards the BACK of the house, to our room.

 

This is the sink in our master bedroom. It's a built in, so not easily (or cheaply!) replaced. Being short on funds is a gift, for it is such a boost to creativity...I hope you are inspired by what a difference 3 twenty dollar bills and some DIY skills can accomplish!

 

BEFORE:

                                  
Dingy gray tile counter top with stained grout.
Oak water-damaged back splash and edge.
Chipped white enamel sink.
20 year old plain Jane faucet on top of a honey oak 1980s cabinet.

The blessing is that the cabinet is solid wood, very sturdy and has plenty of storage. Good bones like that are worth keeping, they just need a little cosmetic update!

                              
                                                            AFTER:
A dark and modern vanity with a vitreous white china sink, creamy laminate counter top, solid tumbled stone back splash plus a Kohler single handle faucet.

COST BREAKDOWN:
General Finishes "Java" gel stain $20
Laminate counter-free (re-used something we had)
new sink $15 (Restore)
Kohler faucet $12 (yard sale)
tumbled stone back splash $4 (Restore)
pre-mixed grout $6 (Home Depot)

I found inspiration for this through Pinterest (I'm on there daily. It's such a treat for a visual person like myself! Feel free to follow my boards, my name on there is MorninGlory!)

I followed a link from there to a blog, which breaks down EXACTLY how to stain a vanity. Wonderful directions here, so I will not bore you by repeating them, just go there if you are interested in doing the same:

http://www.monicawantsit.com/2012/02/staining-oak-cabinets-espresso-color.html

She says "no substitutions! Use THIS BRAND ONLY!"

Sadly, I ignored both the caps and exclamation points because I am a rebel. When I found out I had to special order this stain I was too impatient to wait (which is dumb, you can get it on Amazon in 2 days) and it seemed high in cost. $20 for a little quart? So, I tried to save time and money by using a different stain that Almighty Google assured me was similar...

NO.

 

Instead of a lovely dark java espresso stain? Mucky dark streaks. I madly swiped it off. I tried several coats. I ruined my cabinets, basically. (also smeared it accidentally all over the nearby wall and ended up having to re-paint that, too. ugh.)

 

Now staining my cabinets was no longer a fun option but a dire necessity! I sanded the mess off, logged onto my Amazon account and ordered the correct stuff.

 

Listen, I am all about saving money, but using good materials DOES save money, in the long run. For instance;

I just painted my kitchen. I forked out over fifty bucks for a gallon of Benjamin Moore because I wanted a very specific color and didn't want to risk color matching (posts with photos to come!) That gorgeous paint went on like yogurt, covering a deep mid-tone green with a pale aqua blue in ONE COAT. When I did the living room a few days later, I was kicking myself for not using Benjamin Moore. I had read that Behr's 'Swiss Coffee' was an exact copy of BM's 'Cloud White'. It may be the same color but it is NOT the same quality. It ended up costing the same $$ amount (4 gallons at $25 apiece versus 2 from B. Moore at $50 each) but it cost me TWICE as much time. And as we all know...time IS money.

 

(If you are on a tight budget it is better to get Walmart paint, instead of Home Depots best Behr paint, it's horrid. Truly. It spatters, it barely covers, even the higher end stuff with "added primer". I've painted rentals and kids rooms with Walmart brand (their Antique White is actually a very lovely creamy neutral) and always find it to be a great, though basic, paint. For only $18 or so a gallon it has far better coverage than Valspar or Behr!)

 

 

Lots of sanding later...which is ironic, because the very thing that attracted me to this DIY project was the promise "no sanding!" Learn from my stubbornness...get the right stain and follow directions. The Java gel stain went on thick and beautiful, covering perfectly both the wood I had painstakingly sanded AND the doors that still had poly finish on them.

 

This counter was my nemesis for years. Makeup, toothpaste and grime was continually collecting in these grout lines. I hate tile on counters, because it never feels CLEAN, no matter how you scrub. Tile floors are cold and if you drop a dish, it shatters. Tile showers are a daily chore to keep mildew-free and eventually they leak. Where will I willingly put tile, you ask?

An entryway. In front of a fireplace. As a backsplash. And that's it!

 

You see those "back splash" strips of oak? Pried them off with my favorite tool...

 

 

a butter knife. My husband doesn't understand. He tries to tell me it's only purpose is spreading condiments. However, us creative types see things differently. It's a Flathead screwdriver and also a crow bar that pries almost anything off! Except, apparently, ugly tile.

Then it snaps in half.

 

This is the new laminate counter...much easier to clean! It was a counter remnant, bought a few years ago at Lowe's and used for a desk top.  My sweet husband cut it to fit the space.

I'm not allowed to use the table saw since I cannot handle even utensils correctly.

The lovely Kohler faucet is a bargain that I picked up at a yard sale and tucked away, hoping to do the bathroom "soon". It sat patiently in the garage for years, waiting for that elusive "someday" to arrive. If you see a quality item, jump on it. Maybe the renovations won't be completed as quickly as you hope, but when the time DOES come, your expenses will be far less because of those bargains you stashed away. Craigslist has a great category under 'For Sale' called 'Materials'. I scan it weekly for great deals on tile, windows, lighting, stone and more. If you know you'll be eventually updating parts of your home, it's worth looking early!


Another great source for bargains is your local ReStore. It is a thrift store that supports Habitat for Humanity (If you live local, it's on Oak Patch off of West 11th Ave) and it is full of both new and used materials. People who are renovating donate their materials when they update
(A treasure hunt if you are looking for mid-century lighting fixtures for your atomic ranch, or glass doorknobs for your Victorian cottage!)

and new stores donate extra stock for tax write-offs, too. High quality and new-but dented items are often there, though in smaller quantities. I found the tumbled stone tile (above) for under $5, despite being brand new. There were only a few sheets, but for small projects like a bathroom this is to your advantage!


To sum up, here is my advice for renovating even when you are on a TEENSY budget:

--Keep your color scheme neutral and materials basic. Focus on simply improving the basic functions of your current space rather than on creating new, custom or glamorous remodels. Laminate may not be my number one choice, but compared to dingy gray tile? It's an upgrade! Progress, not perfection is the rule when you are on a tight budget. (Actually, it's a great rule for anyone, am I right?)

--Know when to skimp and when to splurge. Materials matter! And if an expert insists on a certain gel-stain? Don't be impatient or rebellious. Unless it involves cutlery, then go for it.

--Shop beyond the Home Depot and the fancy Tile Store. Scour yard sales, Craigslist and thrift shops for the materials you need, and store them until you are ready to begin.

--If you don't know how to do something? YouTube has videos that will teach you almost ANYTHING. I had never installed a tile back splash before but was driven to desperate by my desire to get rid of those nasty oak strips. Bonus-when your project is complete you have more than just a lovely home improvement. You've added a new skill to your repertoire!

--Focus on the blessings. I would love double sinks but realize that having one is a gift. I only have to share with my husband, and not my three teenage sons! I'd like solid surface countertops, and I'd love to frame the mirror but if neither ever happen, that's okay. We honor God by being good stewards of the time and money He's given, and by being content with what He's given!

Grateful for my new vanity and hoping it inspires YOU!