Bathroom Before and After: PART 1

Here's the deal.  We purchased a house last June, and had some spaces that while structurally sound, were not pleasing to the eye.  I give you, our Master Bath update from last January.  When I didn't have a blog to share these changes with.  I guess the good thing (?) is that I like it so much that it's basically remained the same for the last year.

So, here's the quick tour: Before, and After.  Oh, and this fun is only PART 1!  Our hall bath needed it's own work done, and that my friends will be up and coming on PART 2.

First off, the after, cause that's always so much more fun:

But, before (I'm almost too embarrassed to show you, but alas, I'll take my chances

First off, yes, that vanity is 70's builder grade, and yes, it is purple.  Your eyes are not deceiving you.

Somehow, they managed to stage it well during the open houses.  I mean, we were keenly aware it was purple, but it didn't really sink in until we had to live with it for a few months.  Did I add the mirror was purple too?  yea, that got painted probably week one after moving in. 

Anyway, we started with this purple vanity:

Limited counter space, one odd shelf above the toilet, and that was about it.

I went to work, but the one thing that really transformed this bathroom in a hot minute?  Paint.  Yes, semi gloss, Behr paint in "clear moon" from Home Depot.  I'm pretty sure we purchased that the week we moved in.

I primed the cabinet, and then applied two generous coats of paint.  SOOO much better.



For little touches, I did the following:

- Add two chrome Hotel Shelves above the toilet (used gift card, but were $16/ea I think at Bed Bath & Beyond)
- Change hardware on vanity to Chrome ($6 for two knobs)
- Install a new Medicine cabinet (that I also painted in Clear Moon)
- Add three chrome hooks for handtowels (used gift card, but I think these were $3.99/ea at Bed Bath & Beyond)
- Painted the shelf system (this was a "sure, you can have it" piece of furniture from with Z's brother moved)



And for the decorator touches:

- Shower curtain to cover the doors (already had)
- New bath mats ($11 and $9)
- New canisters for the counter (total of $20)
- Purchased coordinating baskets for aforementioned shelf ($28 for 4 of them)
- Add piece of artwork ($10 on Clearance)
- Add tall PB vase and coordinating orchids (already had the vase and the orchids)


Here's the progress:

 

And the medicine cabinet, before and after:

 

 

I purchased her on clearance a HomeGoods for $20.  Yes, $20.  She was scratched, but boy was she the PERFECT piece.  I had been looking for this exact cabinet.  No mirror.  Extra wide doors and storage, and cubbies for baskets (now if I could only find tiny baskets to fit in there.  sheesh.)

Anyway, here's how the whole thing came together after the overhaul.  Just try to replace the small white mirror medicine cabinet in your mind for the one shown directly above...  (there were too many mirrors in this tiny, two door, awkward shape bathroom!  One simply had to go.)

 

 

 

 

 

I love it so much better.  Of course, a real overhaul is needed, but won't happen for a bit still.  We were lucky to have this room already have good flooring, and neutral light grey walls.

So, you like what you see here?  I've got PART 2 coming up soon- from hospital bland, to contrasty grand.  Our hall bath needed an overhaul too, and I was the one to tackle this one too!  Stop back soon for Part 2.  And don't forget to check out my recent "my spaces" post to see a sneak peak at the bathroom, and some of the other spaces we call home. 

So, where are your before and afters?  Did you do a project that took minimal work to go from bland to grand?  Show me 'em!

Redesigning the Master bedroom

A migraine a day, keeps the designer in bed. It's "nice" every 5 years or so to be reminded how great a migraine is. After 14 hours of sleep, then 3 hours on the couch and a movie, I moved back to the bedroom to sprawl out my design book pages, and pick the new finishes for our master bedroom.

When we moved in, the walls were all nicely painted modern colors, but as we've lived here, I've changed things slightly to my (our?) tastes. I really wanted a room with a modern feel- read "saturated" color on the wall, and bold black and white linens. With our new headboard, the room colors, mismatched furniture, and linens just don't cut it! So, from bed, as the migraine subsides, here are my picks for our renovated room.

Paint colors, inspired from a few magazine clippings, and a crate & barrel catalog, either going with Pittsburgh Paints "Azalea Leaf" or "Prussian Blue":


I'm thinking the linens should be Black and white to really play off the color on the walls, and to allow the nailhead trim headboard to stand out. I'm thinking a combination of the Pottery Barn "Suzani Black & White Crewel" and a folded duvet by West Elm "Organic Cotton Pin Tuck Duvet" in Natural or White:





For our furniture, I'd like a small dresser/large nightstand in warm wood on the fiance's side. On my side a table and a comfy ticking stripe chair. I'm debating between a black and white stripe, vs a tan and white stripe. Tan and white certainly would pull the color from the headboard in, and would be a nice warmth next to the dark wood, and walls. I'm thinking of the following:

Buchanan armchair w/ottoman (PotteryBarn.com)


Portola Bedside Table or Montego Oversize Bedside Table (PotteryBarn.com)



Valencia Oval Bedside Table or Rawlins Accent Table (PotteryBarn.com)


A new dresser or armoire complete the furniture pallet, and what's left? Accessories! I'm thinking some great art above the bed (maybe some of my photos of the new succulent arrangement? Maybe some framed initials? Maybe some modern artwork with our accent color?

Now, what accent color? I think a modern lime green would look great, or a nice deep red (perfect for the holidays coming up?) Or, ORANGE? Totally bold? Check out these colors by Pittsburgh Paints:

Yellow/green color called "Golden Cricket". Against the blue would be a nice pop :-)

I'd like one of these (color is pretty close too!) from Ballarddesigns.com:


Or, this orange called "Mandarin" Blue + Orange=yum



More to come! Migraine is getting the best of me right now. Enjoy!

Master Bedroom Chair Desires

I'm looking for the perfect chair for my side of our Master Bedroom. hmmm... Got this email from Pier 1, and here are the chairs I'm interested in. I just love the patterns!

Ikat Wing Chair $319.95:


Chryssie Chair, $329.99:
Sigourney Wing Chair, $499.95:
Daisy Chair, $329.99:


SPLENDID- I love Fall!

Afternoon Headboard

I have expensive tastes. There, I said it. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to becoming a better person. The problem is I don't want to "get better!" I like expensive things, sans the price. Quality, function, design, etc.

So, after much searching, I settled on a head board I'd like, however had to gasp at the price. Restoration hardware, for $1300?? I don't have that type of money. I searched google, and found this project on centsationalgirl.com, and realized I could do this myself (aka, Rosie the Riveter pose.)

Here are my inspirations, and below, OUR final product.

Restoration Hardware, $1300:


West Elm, $450:


Kate's, from Centsationalgirl.com, $165:



And, MINE, $67







I really like the trim being set in a few inches on the Restoration Hardware version, and loved the color on the West Elm version, so went somewhere in the middle with my trim.

Here's how it came together:

I hit the jackpot yesterday stopping by the Joann's fabrics nearby, and scored fabric, foam, batting and my nailhead trim. Oh, and at a SCREAMIN' deal. This ridiculously simple project took only 3 hours (would have been less, had I not have been a sloppy mess dealing with an allergy attack). Labor Day really brings the sales out. Everything I got was at LEAST 40% off, and most was 50% off. I'm a bargain hunter extraordinaire.

First, the base. My future in-laws had a sheet of 3/4" plywood that was just calling my name. We trimmed it to the desired dimensions for our Queen bed. (60" w x 32" h). Plywood was garage stored, 20 years old, and didn't cost us a penny!



Next, I had foam cut at Joann's that I knew I would piece together onto the plywood at the first layer. I hot glued this down, and it seemed to stick well. My only suggestion if I was doing this again would have been to use a larger tipped glue gun. (I used the mini one, the only gun I own).




I layered 2 layers of generic batting, that I also had cut yesterday at Joann's.




I had already ironed both the front and the back of the Christopher Lowell Caramel Tweed fabric. 50% off. Really. I had it laid across the dining table, and after the batting had been affixed, matched and lined up the material and started my first set of staples on the top end.




Next, I pulled the sides around, then the bottom. The corners were last, and honestly, there wasn't a great technique I could mention to do this. I just kind of folded it to the back, while watching the front to make sure it pulled the way I wanted, and was smooth.

Now, since the expensive, nailhead trim was wooing me, I had found this product while viewing other version's of this product online. It's a roll of metal trim, where every 5th bauble takes a real nailhead. Pound that in with a rubber mallet, and watch those corners. I went around the whole thing and pounded the nailheads for the second time.





Then, flip over! All done!



(last task? We've decided NOT to hang this on the wall, but rather to brace it and attach with bolts to our bedframe. We are using scraps from the 3/4" plywod to make these, and some bolts. That's the fiance's job though...)




So, total this one up:

3/4" Plywood, cut to size, 60"w x 32"h, $0 (think around $20 if you were to buy a 4x8 sheet at the local hardware store
1/2" foam, $11.25
3 1/2 yards (enough for 2 layers) of 54" batting, $9.50
2 yards of 54" Tweed fabric, $31.50
Nailhead trim kit, $8
TOTAL: $60.25 + $6 tax= $66.25 (let's just say "$67" for good measure)

So, $1300 or $67? I'll take the latter, and the gorgeous headboard please. Now, to revamp the rest of the room to suit this elegant piece. :-) I'm sure the fiance will love that!

Can't wait to cozy up to it!