The Adored Abode

After a lot of mulling and many, many re-designs our upstairs bathroom plans are finally complete.

The bathroom’s current state is… dated. We have made some updates in the 2.5 years we’ve lived here, but they were temporary fixes until we got to the full scale renovation, which is finally here!!

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This was what the bathroom looked like when we moved it. The pink and maroon shell sink and countertop combined with the yellow linoleum really take the cake. I honestly don’t mind the pattern of the wallpaper too much, but it’s peeling badly near the ceiling and needs to come down.

When we first moved in I opted for a “light” makeover. I painted the vanity white, but it is still falling apart and very, very low. All of the original bathroom vanities in our house are about 5″ lower than standard height. I am even on the shorter side and still feel like a giant when I use the bathroom sink. I painted the sink and countertop using a countertop “refinishing” kit, which didn’t go so well. It looks good from a distance, but it’s very patchy and has chipped a lot. The linoleum was in bad shape and very stained so I painted over it with a gray porch and floor paint, which has held up very well. We replaced the toilet 2 years ago because the original toilet was busted, so the newer toilet will be staying.

The bathtub itself isn’t bad and we will not be replacing it, it just needs a good cleaning, but the tile and fixtures will all be replaced.

We have these beautiful vaulted ceilings in the bathroom that are currently highlighted by wallpaper that is peeling badly. We plan to tile all the way up the angled part of the ceiling to really make the shower feel tall and luxurious! Plus, it will help with the angled part of the ceiling not dewy from the shower running.

This bathroom will be mostly gutted (aside from replacing the tub and toilet). We plan to remove the peeling wallpaper, paint the walls, and add all new wall and floor tile. We will be replacing the vanity, mirror, plumbing fixtures, and adding all new decor. For fun twist we plan on keeping the original sconces, I think. Stay tuned!

The Plan

My vision for the bathroom is a space with traditional bones and a modern twist. I am so excited to see this bathroom take shape! It is getting me even more excited to get started on our master bathroom renovation, hopefully later this year.

shower curtain // vintage rug (similar) // wall tile // floor tile // shower head // shower and tub controls // bird print // bums print // mirror // sconces (similar) // vanity // vanity top // faucet // toilet

We plan on using a hand glazed subway tile for the shower walls. The hand glazed tiles give the tile a bit of texture, while still keeping with the traditional look. Some people think subway tile is too simple, too trendy, or too cheap, but I have loved this type of tile for a long time and think that done correctly it can make a beautiful statement that will stand the test of time.

The floors will be done in white penny tile potentially with a fun border.

The walls are going to be painted a light blue-gray and the vanity will be painted a dark charcoal (similar to our kitchen cabinets).

I plan to layer in artwork, a vintage rug, and a few other decor pieces to give the space more warmth and character. This bums print is one of my favorite things I found for the bathroom. I like that is a little cheeky, pun intended. It’s a bit more than I would normally spend on a print, but I am leaning into buying quality pieces that support artists and that truly bring me joy (why yes, that is a Marie Kondo reference).

Speaking of spending… in the past I have not usually shared our budgets for our renovation projects, but I think it can be helpful for reference if you are planning your own project! With this bathroom we plan to do all of the work ourselves and we are budgeting $2,500 for the bathroom. Keep in mind that does not include the toilet or bathtub because we are using the existing fixtures rather than replacing them. After we complete the project I will break down exactly what we spent so that if you are planning your own bathroom renovation it may help you out in the planning process.

Demo is starting this weekend!! I can’t wait to say goodbye to this dated bathroom, especially the wallpaper and the shell sink. Be sure to follow along on Instagram as I plan to share some behind the scenes in my stories.