This week we are getting knee deep in our first floor bathroom makeover.
It was one of those rooms that fell off our radar. I mean…it shouldn’t have…it’s the one that we use THE MOST. But it’s like we became nose-blind to the stench of undone-room. Or just blind. Either way…it’s on the docket and it’s gonna get done! And soon.
The room did get it’s share of little updates. It’s just that I was too cheap to really invest in a full blown makeover. It happens. Apparently to me, it happens a lot. But now we are ready to class this place up and make it a powder room worthy of showing off to guests.
It’s a very small space with a lot of weird angles. The vanity has a little tucked in nook that I want to tile the back area. The vanity itself got a makeover a while back when I painted it red. I still love the red but it does photograph weird. I think I am gonna repaint it just so that it feels new.
And the other side has a little nook area for the toilet. One of the main reasons that we really need to retile is that the toilet won’t sit correctly on this tile. Apparently, there is a bolt issue where the previous tile layman put tile over the bolt spot so the bolt sits at an angle. We have it secure for now but every once in a while, it gets heavily shifted and the seal breaks and literally I might go insane if we have to buy another wax ring.
So the plan is to continue the marble in here – the same carerra marble that is in the nearby kitchen. The top of the vanity is currently particle board and that will get replaced with a solid stone top. I also want to jazz up the vanity with a new coat of paint – I’m thinking blue…maybe navy – and a champagne gold faucet.
The floor needs to go dark. We found an amazing slate look a like in porcelain (which is easier to clean and much harder since it’s been fired) so that will be a great dirt-hiding solution for the floor. The backsplash will get a marble arabesque tile (thank goodness for experience with the Pedraza’s backsplash!) and we will need to update the sconces with a more refined look. I love these ones. Totally gonna be a splurge 🙂
And lastly I want to update the shelving. I think if I made these shelves like big chunky marble shelves….is that weird? I mean…in my head it sounds like a good idea…but I’ve never done it before. So there is that.
We get to keep the toilet (score!) and the existing wall color (double score!) and the vanity (go ahead you say it!) which means that the budget can squeeze out some other more fun purchases like sconces/mirror/faucet. I always go through this process of ‘will it be something I love for years to come?’ and ‘will it go out of style?’ and ‘will people think it looks good?’ – like I have literally bought three combinations of tile for this space already and in less than a week, I returned it all because I thought that maybe I was designing it for someone else. BUT THIS? This is something I think I will really love for years to come.
Just a word of warning on the floor tile. We once had dark tile in a bathroom, and you could see all sorts of dust, toilet paper lint, etc. Literally 10 minutes after cleaning it, it looked dirty again.
I’m leery of the arabesque tile and the gold faucet. I feel like they are both going to be out and dated soon — especially the tile. What do you think?
Maybe I’m too practical.
I love this plan…I love the idea of navy (mostly i just love the red going!!) I love the stone top, I love the dark floor, I love that we’re back in the Bower house….but please, keep the shelves as they are…or at least, leave the alterations to the end before deciding. Marble is so popular at the moment….but i think it can be overdone…and the current shelves tie in with so much in your house. I’m excited for progress!! x
Yeah…we had some hesitations…but we did a dust test…a saw dust test actually…and it did ok. I think that this one helps hide it with the lighter streaks.
xo – kb
You know…I thought that same thing about our kitchen backsplash…but I still love that. I’m gonna go with my gut. After all…if I hate it in ten years, I can always retile 🙂
xo – kb
I agree with Jessica on keeping the wood shelves – the marble seems to clash with the backsplash in the mood board pic, plus could they fall (heads up!!! LOL) If you’re itching for a change, maybe re-stain or paint in a color that’s complementary to the new vanity color or gold hardware! That said, I’m sure anything you do will be GORGEOUS!
World Market has marble shelves with pretty gold brackets!
how did you NOT pick one of your girl Sherri’s new geometric sconces for this project?! i’m sure you have seen- they just posted on their YHL website and they are all amaze-balls
I agree with Jessica – please consider keeping those beautiful, chunky wood shelves! The marble, slate, grey and blue colors, and gold metallic fixtures are all “cool or hard” colors or textures, and I feel like there should be some balance of cool and warm. (Yes, I realize gold is a “warm” color, but it’s metal.) I love the direction you’re going, and it’s your room, so of course you do what makes you happy! 🙂 Personally, though, I love those shelves as they are!
I love your site!! I want to copy your guest bathroom!
Anyway, we just did a full kitchen reno with white cabinets etc and we used the marble arabesque, same as you have pictured for our back splash.
I am so in love with it! I splurged on it and and don’t regret it!
I love those sconces! So versatile and classic. Would you mind sharing the source? The mirror and paint colors are beautiful too. Excited to see the finished product!
Are you worried it could read too cold with all gray, marble and blue? I love the gold tying in and warming it up, but I worry with losing the wood shelving you will have a lot of cool tones… Certainly not a criticism, just wondering! You always do beautiful things, so I am sure the end result will be gorgeous!
I vote to leave the shelving. You need some natural wood texture in there. They’re great shelves. Plus, it saves you money. Love the sconces.
Hi, I read your post about your feelings of loneliness as a mom. I feel the same. Are you boys relatively well behaved with babysitters and or/ when out in public? I feel like my two boys run me ragged. How do you manage behaviors with your boys, particularly running errands, etc.?
I have dark floor in bathroom and the only thing it shows everything and with all boys I do mean everything missed toilets. I forever saying can you not aim right. And that is to my husband
The problem with us isn’t necessarily the kids with a babysitter…it’s finding a babysitter that can handle all four. Most of the ones I know or contacted don’t take on that many kids. And then the other issue is finding two babysitters that will work together. That’s why we usually just wait for my mom to become available…which is like maybe once every two months 🙂
xo – kb
I thought of that…it might…I think the solution will be to just do that shelving last and see if I want to pull the trigger or just switch out the decor on them to be more cohesive.
xo – kb
Here you go! Aren’t they gorgeous?!
xo – kb
OMG they are amazing right!? But in this space I wanted a shaded light…to diffuse it a little. Nothing is worse than going to another persons house, looking in the mirror and looking like a monster ate your face. We already have an overhead light in here with a fan built in so I wanted to have the lights near the mirror be that pretty filtered light that is flattering 🙂 Vain? Absolutely 🙂
xo – kb
I’m so excited to watch this update! And I love your little updates too! We can’t always get to a full update/renovation and honestly I think it’s best to live in a space for a while before jumping in to change it.
Hello, Bower Power! I just saw a Swedish blogger post a before-and-after on her bathroom makeover, and I think they did an amazing solution with the shelves, I’ve never thought about doing the shelves like that. And people in your comments section seem a little upset about your shelf-situation.. Just thought I’d share a little inspiration with you!
And I hope there’s no problem for you to click the link, it’s Swedish, but that shouldn’t be a problem, right?
http://www.isabellalowengrip.se/2017/03/varldens-finaste-wc/
Keep up the good work, hugs and kisses from Sweden! 🙂