The upstairs bathroom was one of the many projects we tackled in our first six months of owning our home. The previous owner ‘updated’ it by rewallpapering…with pink acid washed hideousness. I didn’t even get a picture of the whole room because I was so eager to rip it all out. Also didn’t get a photo of the retina-burning lights that were way too let-me-show-you-every-facial-imperfection-you-have-ever-popped-picked-or-pored-over. (get it? pored over?!)

When I tore off the wallpaper, a lot of the drywall came with it. It was a huge ordeal. I think it ended up needing four coats of joint compound till it looked remotely smooth. As you can see, the mirror was a decent size but was framed out with cheap 2 inch molding.

The stick-on tile floor, the matching vanity, toilet and bathtub all needed to stay. So I set to coming up with a color palette that would go with the here-to-stay green scheme. It also needed to go hand in hand with my nature inspired guest bedroom to give off a ‘suite’ feel.

And the grand reveal:

First thing to do was paint. The color is called Dried Grass…isn’t the name perfect? The light fixture was a sale item at Lowe’s and doesn’t point out all my facial flaws. All accessories were oil-rubbed bronze wedding registry items (free for us!) and all we had to do was switch our the knobs on our vanity to match. I would say this room is 99% done (I would love to switch out the faucets with a bronze version).

Let’s go over some of the great little bathroom items that make this room a bit more “finished”.

No linen closet can be found in this restroom, so extra storage was a must. We found this little cabinet at Bed, Bath & Beyond and registered for it licketysplit. It was the perfect size and creates balance in the room by offsetting the toilet which resides on the opposite side of the vanity. It also is the perfect place to display our lotion squirter, candle, cup o cotton balls, and Jesus plate (which was also from our wedding).

I love closed lid trashcans in bathrooms. Seriously, nobody wants to see what is floating around in there. Another favorite detail in this shot is our art – 2 framed pieces found at TJMaxx for a grand total of $20. Not bad my friends, not bad at all. And lastly, the blinds from Ikea. It was an easy and $6 solution to tie in the cabinet and mirror frame.

Speaking of the mirror…

I took some 2×4’s and beat the crap outta them. I used chains, hammers, nails, and a chisel to make it look like some reclaimed wood. Then spread some cherry stain all over and beefed up our mirror for under $10. We didn’t even bother trying to hide the exposed screw heads – Jeremy suggested just leavin em as is and I think they add some rustic bling 🙂 The water reeds were leftover decorations from our wedding reception so we get a reminder of our big day each day we walk in to do our thing.

Last but not least is our long wall. I had no idea what to do with the emptiness across from the vanity. It was a puzzling space until I found these antique dragonfly wall hooks. Now I have a space to hang more towels or a plush bathrobe ready for guests. Because they are bronze, they tie in perfectly with my newer items.

Do you have any great makeovers you wanna brag about? Do you have any wedding decor you were able to reallocate in your home? Or how bout a cheap item you just can’t believe you found? Share it with me in the comments or send me some photos (via email) and I can give you a Bower Power pat on the back.