Hey guys! Thank you so much for hanging with me! A huge thank you to the One Room Challenge and Better Homes and Gardens for hosting this challenge. I really needed the motivation to get this space done and y’all were right there cheering me on even when I was so over it. Thank you to Carpenters of Christ for taking over this project and completing it on a tight timeline. Thank you to The Tile Shop, Schlueter Systems, Thomas Mach Interiors, Hansgrohe USA (Build.com), and Nostalgic Warehouse for sponsoring this project. I feel so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community and to have the opportunity for my vision to become a reality.
The Before
When we were demoing this bathroom we discovered that this bathroom was remodeled in 1990, making it 30 years old….30 years with that tub right there…30 years with carpet (possibly)…30 years with a dinky, tiny shower…30 years with that wallpaper…30 freaking years of this view.
To understand my vision, you need to understand how much space that tub took up. I mean it swallowed the room. It was a beast to remove. We had to take a sledge hammer to it because there was no way that that could fit through any of our doors.
This demo gave us some insight to what was and what is in terms of walls being moved. If walls could talk, right?
The Original Plan
This was my vision board number 12345 that I decided to run with. It gave me the warmth that I longed for and a bit of vintage swag that I desire in all my spaces.
This is a sketch of my plans that I proposed to all the contractors. Most of them suggested I move the shower in front of the window. I didn’t want to block the shower or the skylight. A galley-like bathroom made the most sense to me and I am happy that I stuck to my original plans, because I definitely entertained their idea…In the end, I just did not like it much.
The Pivot (The Plan I Went With)
A couple weeks into the One Room Challenge, I found out that the original tile (Macchia Vecchia) that I was gonna go with was no longer in stock and it wouldn’t be available for a couple of months. The Tile Shop proposed the idea of another tile…Invisible Grey Polished Porcelain 2×4. It took me a day to warm up to the idea and I requested a sample. All of my other sponsored content was already ordered, so it was important for the tile to complement the other details. To my surprise, I ended up loving the new tile…possibly even more than the other tile. I did not want to say anything about the tile switch up in case something bad happened and it didn’t work out.
The Overall Look
After looking at the tile, I knew that if I ran with this tile I wanted it to have a French Gothic inspired loook. I came across a pair of creepy, cool light fixtures that was dripping in twisted brass dread-like goodness and I knew I had to have it to complete the look. The antique dresser was purchased months in advance. I originally wanted a claw foot tub but the mister said no, because no one takes baths in our home. Kid you not, I wanted it for its looks. Once I saw this antique dresser, I knew it would live in my bathroom.
The wall tile is called Invisible Grey and was sponsored by The Tile Shop and is located in all 3 quadrants of this bathroom. I wanted a cohesive look to this space and I wanted the tile to make sense and be aesthetically purposeful. Prior to installing the tile, the contractors had me lay it all out in my front yard, that in itself was stressful but rewarding. LOL. The floor tile is Imperial Ivory Hex Mosaic tile and matches the wall tile perfectly. To add a traditional feel to the tile, we installed a chunky baseboard and capped off the edge of the wall tile along the window with Schlueter System Jolly edge trim. I also used Schlueter Systems, Kerdi Kit in my shower along with their drain.
To save money, we kept our toilet and switched out the toilet seat to a wooden Mahogany one purchased from Signature Hardware. I purchased a freestanding toilet paper holder because I did not want to make holes in the tile. This lion is a bit over the top, but let’s be honest, the whole bathroom is over-the-top!
I like to be resourceful and I absolutely hate it when people rip out good bones and replace it with trendy stuff that isn’t solid. Our vanity spans 7 feet long and is a solid build, there is no way that I was going to pull that baby out and replace it. One of my request when remodeling this bathroom was the vanity, countertop, and mirror stay. Most of the contractors couldn’t understand why, but I knew exactly the look I wanted.
The cabinet knobs were sponsored by Nostalgic Warehouse, style is New York.
It was really important for me not to overdue brass/gold fixtures/hardware in this space. I have a strong belief that by doing so feels way too matchy-matchy for me and can come off a bit “too much” but not in a good way. I needed modern fixtures to modernize this vintage sink. I love the detail on this sink and I didn’t want it to look aged or not thought out. Hansgrohe was kind enough to sponsor the faucets and shower fixtures in a brushed nickel finish…and trust me when I say this, they are beyond gorgeous!!!!! I love the height and sturdiness of them.
The rug I purchased from eCarpet Gallery.
Thomas Mach Interior sponsored the paint for this project. I love Farrow and Ball paint and the durability that it provides. I knew that with Thomas being a paint consultant, that I would need to lean on him a bit to help me make a decision on neutral (cream) color paint. Choosing a neutral paint seems to be my weakness…LOL…If ya know, then ya know. I knew by using Invisible Grey porcelain tile, that I would use Farrow and Ball’s Studio Green. Slipper Satin was one of my final neutral color selections, Thomas eased my mind in my decision and I am so happy that I had him to call on. This room is a Northwest facing room that has predominately aerial lighting. You cannot fight the darkness in a North facing room, so I decided to run with it. The ceiling and crown molding is painted in Studio Green along with the built-in bookcase. The walls, vanity, door trim, baseboards, and cabinet above the toilet are painted using Farrow and Ball Slipper Satin.
I knew I wanted a builtin in the area leading into the closet, so I encased a thrifted chrome and brass shelf and painted it in Farrow and Ball Studio Green. Since we had to enlarge the shower by a foot, we lost one side of trim work on the closet door. Nostalgic Warehouse was kind enough to sponsor the door knob. The door knob is a Classic Rosette, Round Clear Crystal knob. Leading into the closet is an art print by Heather Felder.
We originally planned on hanging hooks on the tile behind the shower wall but we did not realize how large the shower was going to be or that it would leave us without that much room from the door to the wall. So we hung the hooks on the wall with the pocket door. Nostalgic Warehouse sponsored the antique brass schoolhouse coat hooks. Nostalgic Warehouse also sponsored the New York switch and outlet covers.
I was gifted this Mccoy black lion catchall dish, along with this vintage lucite clock from Curated Home Decor. I love how both pieces match the bathroom in an unexpected way.
There can never be enough thank-you’s to all who have helped me make my vision come to life.
