Thriifty Decor Chick: bathrooms

Showing posts with label bathrooms. Show all posts

Looking back: A powder room redo

Hey there! Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday! It’s time to go back in time again and check out the progress of the smallest room in our house over the years. First of all – I think the amount of time and effort I’ve put into this bathroom is odd because I haven’t done much at all in bathrooms that would bring more value – like the master bath. But, we use the powder room ALL the time. And guests see it. So in the end, I guess it’s worth making it a priority. And secondly, I’ve painted this small room more times than I’ve painted most of the rooms in our house all together. I was talking with a friend a few months ago and she mentioned how much I paint in our house – I told her she’d be surprised that most of the rooms in our home have only been painted once. They’ve stayed that way for a long time too. The kitchen, family room, master bath, guest bath and master have been painted once in ten years. And the living room, staircase, loft and upstairs hall as well. BUT…when I paint one tiny room like 56 times, yeah, I could see how it seems like I’m always painting walls. ;) This was a room I was never quite happy with, until last year when I finally finished it up. I lived with each look for a couple years, but it never felt quite right. Shortly after we moved in I tried my hand at molding – and I used Liquid Nails to apply the molding. You know, just in case I NEVER EVER WANTED TO TAKE THEM OFF: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9dGFit7pfArchdVxLds2RtexWn8_hySvYqJvzWkBf9E2zPI7vfQz5A4kIQK6KquEV5F6wOoMIN77IB48wAgvGaZD1UMXwjwdTZXya2NBO2bW3zltv-XafrLdGs3JPE8FDGoZek6DmLQ/s1600-h/unnamed%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXxlGcSG7cgK52Z1ROPJWO5Zyaj7jJyn6dcgqgrWcFF-0HqzxgszisMpCiat20vEULsmgjHQT-1pfVZqnbutlFXu_SH0rWfjLmydhq7c1Ktg0JMzgqVPvperUPICPC2X_SNo4uMfcFK4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a> Here’s the proof that we all start somewhere. I was using an electric handheld saw to cut that wood and didn’t begin to know how to cut at an angle – so I used some trim pieces in the corners. I think they’re supposed to be installed with baseboards. The quality was…interesting. :) So years later I made over the room again. This time with mitered corners (yeah!) and lots of brown (noooo): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9zHGhvY4PbrCePuqQXXHD7JxHAmbsE8dID77h3d1GOtbdI1ICKAFFpaefQhzh4XXU3tMl4hKAFkxLZam_3r7fOU4T8zZkdpdwUndPq0gua9lUW0W960ENeXiJbNUUKjhG4b67-PlWVs/s1600-h/DSC06182%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark brown bathroom" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFp8LTYlTwCQku1PHv4o-CKQUaavpIT0LwqBC5sHzwYY5s-W60f3yXj1KW7c-9eH8Wc4ZdJT35bPbkI2aPEnWjqB61v3eDZiHVDzZBgO5yJUrjhoGDGV-CQlfQz-Vn-5sFPdJEBlplAE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark brown bathroom" width="500" /></a> I actually quite like this for a while. But after a while the chocolate brown got depressing and dark and…brown. I went all the way too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEmmDkRqJYZA76J9DF5nXB6DehIj58SgyjH1fWqOJYxExHvC9gFmN0Mgb75h8qLTha8vkIo66gx_6EaUjTtzYnv5c3vMQndrfcm_HFxk7JIS-Io0Uy3BtQhT5tnwcklR-Q4y_NE15Ve8/s1600-h/DSC06197%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark brown ceilings " border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVx4ENQic_0MzQdnMrM4bbJCeBxKUHJwaVG3zLCKYYf8bx_rhF8KqorFXQSYNa4xMCoc4ooia8h7KbJZNALFlZlXbu5upvd3OYCAk3tgL7CjhkmzBv6IdpINENfpFvNt7QDAGr8asvzE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark brown ceilings " width="500" /></a> But pretty soon I was craving a lighter look. I painted over the stencils, took the molding down, then started painting over the brown in a hurry before a party. It was months later before I finally finished it up:  <img alt="" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YbIKfTqgyEAA9kVBcFhN7rotnhdt8AlfiUFUOhtFqlWk4TONI73XpgVcShxt5v4rpk_mLONQexJzfNvfq6-TZWEODljO9LVuRigDoT8cwmFseUrGVXSLwDkg7eaYBtN9JOIXIG2jl-Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCgBeq0J93dNN_FW4CSVM7duGwN31Juxrf9W7crnoB7D_HPmT-Q4Uybr0eV7r5PXtVV66sTbSyH898X9Xspa5sK0GVoYwVa3XUc7wtevgc6XzPZiSaPqznYpFbkzZjquvTc42pKVqx0s/s1600-h/IMG_1900_thumb2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4ag-HFw7mIgagyeuA3Kn3J9nznDKP4e4ug0JQhySl2yTCQ4SIcp40dFOmcl0cYpMLgwArNG87lbK2ve-nMfy9uib-P5SIVVX5Y9fnst55CjOF5mV27DOCFrBpWzfZd-2ilPA7mYU5sY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="286" /></a> At this point we’re a good two years into the redo here. I’ve mentioned a few times that when I stall on things it’s either because they’re incredibly hard or because I’m still not convinced on my direction. This one was the latter. :) But the plan finally came together in my head and I forged on! I started installing the wood planks: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R6ahiW7Zb7dbedSCkd5X8zbaCEm5hUXonvq4r_bvvy5yjXkVYPQuwEtdIwbH7ioxhjvdwwCM1PQPQKD_mTO8RnagcXhRirR6eJ-huig7Fq3k4Stc2FokhuSvqnxWPs0qlbwYaBt1D-M/s1600-h/IMG_4366_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRmhnrOgemJRFmgTfzR3eA6ta0VTIuW0svJPWZIbdPruRUJNxQSGvPBGTrM_x8lz5DI78YvGr0nzArJPuEV8J3qYzswXX6htqVfCRYwTtrvVhjpaaNf0x78qPwbHsw_jA012vS_wN_NI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="350" /></a> And pooped out again. I knew it would look good eventually – I was just tired of the space and needed to focus elsewhere. A few months went by and I was ready again. (Told you – longest makeover EVER.) When I was ready again I spent a few days straight working like a beast. The planked walls came together:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiPZK1IEQguU5EGTHUvqj4ej4f6ISo335_nRHr0qGBM4RVP39tJ3E55JCkE9O0bfyhrVr1OORvrKUUd2_eYcAAqC_VXvgvTfQ5EDuWk67W5musmV35qS0jeusBe8ixyCHd9JHBaLRBmU/s1600-h/IMG_5122_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to install planked walls" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhULlvr-J-gsFTQLPb-SLkzPOeMpZOzms4iPO8bcx_YnczHTXBpF7AGF_FrVBt70XaGD5s6h7eO6RdCBqM0KFwLhQ-OrnzpAbh76rDgRXo4JH2bWJqV0XxV1hT-IuwJbRtlQSG_HBRGs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to install planked walls" width="450" /></a>You can see how I installed those <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/planking-wall-not-me.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The process is really easy, it just takes some time. And painting them in a pain in the butt, for real.  And then I tried my original plan on the walls – painting them red: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b8Rv31nkjj1dkXE5pWwffvl11g_9Jzk-ZShRvNbBxnnRXttGd9JOzLs0ctAPSU7E7b9ewHFk3eN5ppaSxSXEZD95fO-3j_sBEGV66fMXMG7JNvfS07h9mNq_xcDQFLs0SP88-F0YAgs/s1600-h/IMG_5502%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman trim " border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6bJ6-Rmi9yf7x9dDJs0xKAkkdX46vaU1_oWxvxH57An9fLMapVJp_S2YlAAKjKJ0e4fac6uwAsOjsX3gUaarHduzlU1So4LZD5fKNdIsp2PlYvGOSlbf-LeyyKwZjItx9c2kJYyOMJQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman trim " width="500" /></a> If I was more of a red girl I would have gone for it – but I’m not. I loved the red against the white for sure, it just wasn’t the look I was going for. After two more attempts on the color I finally <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/powder-room-paint-with-ez-twist.html" target="_blank">got it right</a>. Accessible beige by Sherwin Williams: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBYM5FKlKLNxFRbx9rYgigVR-IlbI_6vUbeTSrTJE6i3361H3zpBzzK38qyQREoqD5opVmBHLtAOmnF6VZVWC9K30dkRsSbl0b207GHC35jad6WTSTlWGT2QY5w2Ps9dalUkhQrm4QVM/s1600-h/1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white planked walls" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax8jrNKyCJzT58_79wL78jAPeh_4h2qqQIlOVdLpXX3J7IKxl7bzx8W0-2xdfVyisGg3FgwD-SKGPvXwNZ3tKNe8rLCFFA-yiQU9e5D_yIXDoVeXAuUEXqf7ZiftZE5tOKMyaMsnKzmU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white planked walls" width="500" /></a> Let’s count the number of times I’ve painted this room now, shall we? I think I’m at seven. :) Seventh time is a charm I guess. The whole room was designed around my son’s artwork – it was when I saw it that I knew exactly what I wanted to do in the room: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC_7sNs2O9mq1Rg46gTrK2i9_JIaUB5KZrImtV5uv54-Q78Tv-dA70ntS9yCNWG2SUeuBu_Yd_N8cHTcjeOUW2b0R4KdnTVqi0my0VOhrniUCIfUW9jFuchNJz6TIQNjBvOvTqyjboP8/s1600-h/IMG_5758%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="planked walls in bathroom" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuKUeTKpHl7-0wJtEKdNmEIZ9dzls0oNuPMrLN0Yfj3s5XUDpxv35YEyPH-ADW1RndkQOuQVUMaH-nhvEIlXClaDOWf3m4WxJXQfcB9bzD-JQQkmFg549073XOVAG2xdYvu3oVKoxxiM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="planked walls in bathroom" width="500" /></a> We obviously changed more than just the walls – the hardwoods are so lovely and the IKEA vanity offers a ton more storage. I truly, truly love this space now. It’s bright and happy and fun – and it reminds me of my boy. :) You can see the full reveal of the room <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html" target="_blank">here</a> and all the details of the space are <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/07/ikea-vanity-and-more-powder-room.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Even though it’s the smallest room in our house I think it’s one of the biggest transformations I’ve ever done. Maybe I need to take five years to redo all my spaces! Oh that’s right. I do. Thanks for looking back with me again! Before and afters are my favorite! :)

Looking back: A powder room redo

Hey there! Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday! It’s time to go back in time again and check out the progress of the smallest room in...

8:59 AM

The room you’ve never seen

Dun dun dunnnnn. That sounded a bit ominous right? I shared a bit of of this space back when I showed you how to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-install-new-knobs.html" target="_blank">switch out your door knobs</a> but other than that I don’t think it’s a room I’ve ever shown on the blog. Mainly because I’ve hardly touched it for years now. But I’ve been planning some big changes to this space for the past year or so, so I figured it was time to share the current pics (and some of my plans!). I decorated this room about eight years ago now – I honestly can’t remember if I did this when I was pregnant with our boy or if I did it after, but either way it’s been awhile and it’s looked the same since. My stepdaughter also used this space for a long time and our guests use it too – I’m sure they appreciate the little touches I added. ;) This is one of those spaces that is not at all what I would do now but I’m proud of it and it brings back really sweet memories. It was done early on, just a couple years after moving into our home and every bit of it was done with love. (All of the rooms in our house are but the kid’s spaces give my heart that extra tug.) I painted the walls a pretty yellow and the ceiling the same blue as the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/big%20boy%20room" target="_blank">Bub’s room</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBeGBIPTHe5H-45_pVwn5tq3XzbhXXnY6QpR27L91EiA-aFLqCBJfSBCk6yBalEVj9lmAbHuHxOquxOYZWU65o8Jv3nJfIfcGMbuzmKhyphenhypheneUnCXnlH2aTy31JvNukn6aGsRbLpgBcV_yo/s1600-h/IMG_8733%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFHgGlSbnYhSt88ZjIXLxaGAm2Jy8H1pg2sQqHBQIR0JUANIS2TXZKq4mLeiREcfd6qntkTQcgY8oc1NsTJbtbhlPmyASgqvmIrmuIjU733U31OQL8nwS0H1XiL2opQlHzhYCTtOZhSM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="445" /></a> Bear with me on the lighting in here – it’s pretty horrible and the yellow walls don’t help. More on that later. :) I installed the crown molding – the “cheater” way I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/cheater-crown-molding.html" target="_blank">here</a> – and a wall of beadboard as well: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdzJnCyKaxFd0nIqejxEn9VzSpd9nidSv8dkeF3A0xTdeP37xA0Q-7ZjGNNAAy0Rc8VfkS9CuzdczyQs-3ssrOdjqXS61-aOkaglOby8T_5URCriVJeeEOc_eMSoLfTVzogKp_B4Ew0o/s1600-h/IMG_8725%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJzNz7B6XPuQ15KlfulP4AfSIaGfyaME3hEGfewGJhcjFOcetVVeLvy66y1uD6KYIXwpUjUsHHtuf_ZxkTQWOKITEx36Brof9LmAlpjya9GafN6Dlak-NcOfn5pK4TFpSQ7UmcIK9DfQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a>No idea why I stopped with the one wall. I must have gotten tired. I framed out the mirror with wood trim and went a little stencil crazy: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc2uKnKwU2h_lGdS4YIF5NCdxZu1nfl7UWfiQfTKXeE_fZNWMjiwL_ZpSYbjh9iFX4okEJT4515z-miaWBIiIAAeq4-Xlr2cz4VKnoCuDuBEXOwB5zxzJ_NidW25tuj7FxV2_fo2l0Ok/s1600-h/IMG_8729%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oisfB2rm8wZK0ugPbpBCV4EbLksbrLs3qoHVZ7nTYfY9MoRswNy9YBAMDM2BuZMc9SLLoKQIQCUa5bVxSjZZWGE5BtviGUy2QD4qR_Qfy3pNNPpf1ZMA2nKngq4F016TKFDuUgZTyXg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuiwWRm88ZPdkNx9yTJr0IHMrYN-llInaxPhEIG7yB1PNgB7hgerdg6PhvB3bSwyme2c1zC3gfZ5LUXvFeoQ5t1NSwgMzZr1AmK4twNlUzPz4SitCUNNh9Lim2Uv9M0jn9vmsHCKGVEw/s1600-h/IMG_8726%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE27LasYOZux3Yj9nFl-m037CT06OX4rlSZuHHSBkZrA9oJVOoOZE2p7__A08lQR0Pdqt8HDg1UmyFwg4diFZhSuZW5xdfb3gI-tsLs2Zfg3C9qRRzn8rETnPz3pz7pRsThde8MzcBTc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> For a long time there was a little Goodwill medicine cabinet where the “E” is now but I replaced it about a year ago. I think that’s the one update I’ve made in all these years. I added little touches like a little DIY towel hook and some letters in the shower room with what are supposed to be bubbles on them but have always looked like paw prints:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaOccLum1a0xy0BxbzCGzwWekEoBJpAWCj9N_zQ5RJQWyAyk_xgynC348ci5NfNdF5d8poLxgulcx2r_11Z8-sO2vWktqighfxgU_Eb2VfBZNmh-ESs5XwS1gN82LRAdTt1Hau8ICXn0/s1600-h/IMG_8731%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="kid bathroom towel hooks" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9KQCQFO2oHX7NAlgjnZFEw6tDfjdUMy34l__dlxvip4vp-C7Le5dp7F0yJ5J8cwMMSyd-pARjcAq4bgkceL2tv6H4LqzxPVgPrHptRyTuxpsO7A1PAHfNidOAV-mRow8lzK3KXK16UE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="kid bathroom towel hooks" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vUAcyauYPnIXiBzJo14uDEcjv8mazH7qEOSnqnMH2rhrP6U2AFKvIsTTNnPmDID9Zsjz-Es8TrM6EGW-bSkt_aOTKnCqY0EhPehrLwn5ly-vI3m8BTqxeOJbdVenC5UwpuqBRUZMaIg/s1600-h/IMG_8723%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="kid bathroom art" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLvsh3XmgnIKMLMWoaSxgWii89QECS5kEWlwzyqjc3PbXb3mpxxoqzjYzR9A11ZsqIk8MPsA8K9iQhnSXQawR7a0vRQ8UKrVyMJxuNEc5pdPnacQmCeFMNV49kIhcH9NGIczry3AJtOc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="kid bathroom art" width="290" /></a> But there’s a big issue with this bathroom that I thought I would love at first. The whole separation thing – one “room” with the vanity and one with the toilet and shower – has not worked out well. In fact, it drives me a little crazy. :) This isn’t a small bathroom (not very wide but it is long) but it feels SO tight because it’s broken into two spaces. That back room with the shower is so dark and small, we pretty much hate being in there: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmRTCLWDsVhgtHqSfAQKrDVaGi50t4DB3o_Yd9w19lDzdVhmegG3O30tT0ea6kukSR7zGm2t07QK7A0lnb5FIrjdkWiboPyx49mvGQRfn_Awrvmmuj6gIExhyphenhyphendrZ4naX9y34wL_2GAHQ/s1600-h/IMG_8730%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKTX47co5BXWe9OciyDFLcvPP07UBb6Epfacj9wJq51Gf1NlBPRK4nHx-Mn02JpU5iqPhlOK2_HMeQH6iCz_8Zr9OrXTDYs40juH_uPCzFoPBBOLDdGbY7G8TTJUlo5T6nu_en4xurPY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="474" /></a> I thought the separated rooms was so unique when we built the house, but within months I was cursing it. So…I have a plan. The easy stuff first! I want to do one of two things to the vanity area -- cut down the countertop and place a tall, painted hutch or something similar there for storage. Or extend the vanity and make it twice as big. As of a couple years ago our cabinet design was still being produced, so I could just add on to the ones that are there. We chose one sink when we built and only need one – but for resale (someday, long time from now) I think adding another one may be worth it. I just need to see how much of a pain that would be. One thing I know – I’ve wanted to paint the cabinets a navy blue for some time now, and <a href="http://www.twodelighted.com/2012/02/20/my-painted-bathroom-vanity-before-and-after/#.UzGT7VzgVuY" target="_blank">Megan’s vanity</a> convinced me: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc5rVl1NeKstKbfFxqIRYpY5ky_FUovfz3CC7ukkFFY-DWbsbI9BYHEgiIUV_AB7XE-Be9nP2YnWqXI1o5IjiqZLlcAUb0gXY391_IHlG0A7T0dIqq3PKCBjP8yopSWdl81xPMkO9g2o/s1600-h/Vanity-111%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="navy blue vanity" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeZFLymt95oQeWRTG6z-7HON2CFdxSp7aHOcjODVh5G6ANLfirGJTIZFARDQ-suvjKoBzYTzlY74JmU-xVs6cvPdGD1XITNbW0PicB15qUi9GeQFiyztzvDb_-oOQDEIOLbLeDDHHZ18/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="navy blue vanity" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2013/08/bathroom-makeover-week-reveal.html" target="_blank">Jen’s navy blue</a> looks great too, I’m pretty sure this is the direction I’ll go: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqCJPsLpQV2mCeo75ybCuEeAzN7ADqcU8tpCOtfMFCkBE289mduNP70W-cQtkrCTZt_ZWbYAvQsaCcvcCDJJiIv7jt2vY_b5ZJK8DigsOWyeUyDPmEs1b0ybYlwE5KJICOX4ehhSKxZQ/s1600-h/DIYBathroomMakeoverReveal35%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="navy blue vanity" border="0" height="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskrA_u7p8j_0PrCs0KDA8_C_SWvaxrOsdZYuszSN9RMPK3Rtn8K05o_QaLVAz4wny-MadDY8KhfVyJWzkE_hnw5dnRfxdv9DxWUlA4KYNztcq-muhTb0wBSMxxsTPTG_52MvGmJeSf-Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="navy blue vanity" width="480" /></a> I also considered a kelly green, but I think the dark blue is calling my name. :) I want the vinyl floors gone and right now I’m planning on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-pick-out-tile-in-laundry-room.html" target="_blank">laundry room tile</a> instead: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaY26Rnh-WDn81ldlM3YiVU9WjBNJPnu3bRPuEtSx_blss0hqXsPD4dZyGC1Ez2JPIIZdUAgbpJUmb2t13v1RYvq_OBB6GBORGxlxCw4_daXXimdoUmfdUB-KHlA31Ht55lNWUJV6gQw/s1600-h/IMG_6986%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6986" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJSQdprtuReUkWkbjd6ZG5gsu4lVHsnMYA6oLoDcCUGbiemKxMTvwpdTWpFvNGBqdgcntRHnT8xpJy50B0LDrnw69-qbSrPJ_226ipvONXP3EzU7tWyZnLX7YmBeGq_ANdSQcecZLaf4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_6986" width="500" /></a> It was crazy affordable and I LOVE how it looks. Of course the wall color will change, but I have no idea what it will be just yet. But there’s a couple biggies I’d like to add too. One is a window above the shower. I know windows and showers don’t always mix, but I’m thinking a long, skinny one well above the shower, just to allow some natural light in this space. That back area especially is so dark and dreary. Are windows near showers asking for trouble? And THEN…about a year ago I saw this photo in This Old House and I haven’t gotten it out of my head since: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabFCadvbimUUt0VGkHCgwLPDp71dN8IFSuGFKnwwGCBOmP24Sn3V8Ag9fPZPS0044QCjozaZVNjrc4d5MjttUzUN3NjtDAJTXSoNjvYcvpPDjR-w_1aSNnKnAK4XBThXbXDUJYyHUeE/s1600-h/unnamed%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking down wall in bathroom" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsawmTf_s_KnwtOKjJ7sDjA54polIH1CrmDRU7jBC1Iq7A836aWQ_P7OxBZ3VYzbVwNSDE_EWkHgqPSgRBgU_8JoUGpRIA7U4bi7zTHqEV6zC3BgfV4mlrSinrU9YcRUM93R0zlJFUM4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="taking down wall in bathroom" width="500" /></a> It’s hard to tell from the little before photo, but it was a similar set up as ours. This bathroom is much wider than ours, but the idea is the same. They took down the wall between the two rooms and opened it up – LOVE it. I like that this one shows the difference taking down that wall made without adding a window too – maybe we wouldn’t add one? (Adding a window is a big deal, at least it seems like it.) And then I saw <a href="http://www.houzz.com/discussions/898764/1972-bath-makeover" target="_blank">this bathroom at Houzz</a> the other day and it made me even more determined to take down that wall: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAsQMMPBLBfhcwd_9E9kK3K6Sxdif0hycucK-YJ5bSGcQNc2LRGHKEWK7nz4HrYT-s8ZN-ZGP3oyFmTdaivcvv2N6E3_EZkDB-EJLYolKdqNXFkmXOELKZPqsOlLxlHDruAWucfgSkAw/s1600-h/23625bdf0327b5ad_1346-w282-h376-b0-p0--home-design%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking down wall in bathroom" border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELMMZk4fR4xqDvkwTdL-YNXZaJ3DbizjNp5G5bhyphenhyphengaDOGvpR9NrpRn7XiDWkxqcP6b-hDe7x1m8G_rpL41H96_tIFped1tQTkIbosT2ST11OMuJMFG4J6QkFFZND7AiCO6Y-ygjLLUC0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="taking down wall in bathroom" width="285" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3Xfg_54EtefUgBCeOQ398hPFKzEJ30TG3QFURjuOM7ZBPwk62jqQT5moILmqUSi4Zcz2l5miXKWOIuY7tREs8zbOHOI4NgNkSAl6aPd5x8FzyLXZn3gHYu3UC4QP30Pd1OhVmsWF9vA/s1600-h/8a0268520327b5b3_1352-w282-h376-b0-p0--home-design%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking down wall in bathroom" border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2e0IVVldt-GaHeoPF1MMcG7whOqPAMtE7nLxPi6ZyrfIE4P03Gd3I1XTMHX4N0muKJKnsBjiBM79dNCDxXJuN7xR5ujtOD5BOx7VeD5OMex-EwuQsI1oD2EP_8LPAFzNVM3-YzTmc2b4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="taking down wall in bathroom" width="290" /></a> I can’t even believe the difference it makes! That bath is a very similar size as ours and it looks twice as big without that wall. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to knock down a wall in our house. I blame the DIY Network. This may be my chance to do just that! I’m giddy at the thought. :) For the most part I’ve not focused on the rooms in our home that are supposed to bring more value – the kitchen and bathrooms. I’ve had big plans for our kitchen for awhile but I don’t know when it will happen, and our bathroom is totally functional so I’ve never made it a priority. And I know it will not be cheap! But I’m starting to get an itch to update these spaces – I think it must be the ten year itch. :) Do you have a separated bathroom like ours? Do you love it or hate it? Any windows in the shower people who want to chime in?   P.S. The pin it button is now on all of my photos but I ask you visit the original source to pin from there.

The room you’ve never seen

Dun dun dunnnnn . That sounded a bit ominous right? I shared a bit of of this space back when I showed you how to switch out your door kno...

8:46 AM

Would I do it again? (Laundry chute)

So every so often I like to update you on projects that I’ve done/purchases I’ve made to let you know how they’ve held up and if I like them as much as I thought I would. I’m always curious to hear that so I like to share in case you are wondering too. I will say…I think and research and plan things to DEATH, so it’s rare that I regret doing anything. This one I’m still not sure about. :) I shared our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html">completed powder room</a> a couple months ago and I’m so happy with how it turned out: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvR4l-dLQesbGzz5KSnEdG8Kv5fBDS2Z6zY9oXbKGA7iLo4Qw776WNkMO2SwaweyJBu9a-Pq6yRuv84A9ZMRxVMuIGgro_88U0CqbW5Z9Lk2x-npYrKbNBs3qXSdOd_YugDi1q92WxGs/s1600-h/IMG_5760_thumb14.jpg"><img alt="planked walls bathroom" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Iv0-aLJpGrJAmb9XOuey4btmOUQ6i_5LAr2uZa5D5YEMHrvy3hE10yYzdBeqPF39JzK5EI2b6zC52CgOGO3h2SW-UK9ybH90IuGl_F14aDxSII1wVxBCkCERNbI7aDbJlSpUwDl7yzc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="planked walls bathroom" width="450" /></a> We have a huge powder room, right? It’s big as far as powder rooms go. We could have made it a full bathroom (it’s near my office which could have been another bedroom), but we went with the half. Anyway, I’m so glad we have a linen closet in this room. What you didn’t see at that reveal, and many of you have already seen, was the big honkin’ tube inside the closet: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d-xtRUdJAIYItHlYc_1fcEwdyjfOQXmzqOFOXAy_Su_0rE6FkzA2UzcUk_07ZijRNnpnogPtp0PXv5YQy0_FhN5THFoT1yY0-pYn3BgkDwlLAqVixEA5A5hsprE01R5fVM1rCynxIyQ/s1600-h/IMG_2319124.jpg"><img alt="pipe laundry tube" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CtmGz82niklP_vNNVPoBzZIJjiul9ICR298mqnO3A5_AhjLM0Zo0fc6H73UCXKbOicdmtUlwOg0ap9Fi3wxLqSI3sb-mIJbBUaZ08qsRgUxbAbIEKiv1jTu-6QnF1hDqThpFW7iOk5k/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pipe laundry tube" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7_Yo2oqZ0D7D8WWHarDhFyF9E_U_EK8Odta7uNZh8oq-4YyO_NFttdlRtYUItP3rUkhv5PUo8yV4L7mVDU5LassGjBljhkBRca_CCf5RYXTs7XIBCqg8SkX2P75ah99gB4pPNklyGiM/s1600-h/IMG_2320_thumb74.jpg"><img alt="pipe laundry tube" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxOmTiPDPpVFC3yza2KzzTJDyk0kTDC-QRWf7yQTaMI3qf3JPFyN0Dg6cnznY2qWbKVaxlhxljyXOwcvg748hqrgFjeAlWPF2RQ3YOGrZGZpB8H2oMvFLWDFtXSeVgllt0tr8c6Ale1k/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pipe laundry tube" width="290" /></a> That is something I dreamed about for years and was SO thrilled to get installed. By now you’ve probably read the title of this post and deduced that this is our laundry chute. Smarty. ;) (You can see more about it <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-new-laundry-chute.html">here</a>.) What you didn’t see was the horrible, no good, did I mention horrible paint job I started last year. Originally I was going for red walls in this room and thought it may be fun to add a touch of red to the shelves (they needed to be painted anyway): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTIIQdrhLGO3xDT7r1xAdVmoAIR68cA21RHMsAs0B3fTtITx071sfCHo4K_p5Pbu2693mAIUzeWd598lKLLbIFVlGz1Cq5y8tU-pSzcYnvVDu7vZ_Fxf7msacwwXnkt_BFaFechMnR4E/s1600-h/laundrychute3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyGptiBIwIymkL2eirv28OUb3QxZLnwqaMw-OD1vvEOskl1dF7_hjpIp8te-s5v-7D2yS4dNJ36BrIphi1iK7Zkzy4palqsZeyQGYXEvc0U9D2Uz3qkKwnegyt6hZBYHB6UfBlhSI7bY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="300" /></a> Ugh. I know. I mean, the photo is horrible but seriously…I KNOW. It was horrible. This one goes in the what was I thinking column. I was going for white walls and bright red shelves, but somewhere along the way I got lazy and didn’t tape off (WHY?) so the paint got on the walls. And the PVC was always ugly -- initially I tried to get the lettering off the pipe using a method a reader mentioned, but it didn’t work for me. Then I thought, I’ll just paint it! Red! Like the rest of the closet! Brilliant! Well red doesn’t cover well. Your tip of the day. So I stopped. Anyway, I fixed it – more on that in a minute. First up, the main purpose of this post. Would I do the laundry chute again? I’ve thought a lot about this lately and actually, I probably wouldn’t. There’s a few reasons for this. The biggest – I never do laundry. I just…don’t. My husband does his own and I wait until I am out of clothes to wash my own. I will dig to the bottom of a drawer to find an odd sock before I will do laundry. It’s just my thing. I don’t hate laundry like I used to now that we have an <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/diy-laundry-room-storage.html">actual laundry room</a>, but I just don’t do it. It’s my thing. BUT. Because I don’t do it often, I wait till I can’t wait anymore and then I spend a day washing clothes, so in those instances it is nice to be able to just drop the clothes down the chute. Thing is, you still have to take the basket down to carry them back up when they’re done. So if I’m doing one load here or there I just take the clothes down in the basket because I’m going to have to bring them up in it anyway. All that being said…our closet is a major disaster right now so I’m on a laundry binge. It’s laundry all the time – and I’ve been using the chute a ton. Perhaps if we had more kids and more clothes I would use it more? Maybe someday when I’m totally and completely organized (snort) and I keep up with washing the clothes I will find it more helpful. But for now…I walk the clothes down the stairs as much as I throw them down. I gotta say though – it’s fun. There is pure joy that happens when you throw the clothes down and hear them thump into the laundry basket. It kind of rocks. ;) So…the chute is staying. Which brings me back to the hideous red linen closet. I finally painted it. The powder room was next on my decluttering rampage and like usual I couldn’t pass up this little DIY that needed to happen. I used some paint I already had – it was a color called Billowing Clouds that I originally used to paint the powder room years ago. I didn’t want to spend a ton of time on this so I painted the walls and the shelves both the blue color: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2iP-N-GbzjMG47Vb3u16-5_LizDDjWsawGTVdMpEFGN_kTDSkXCMu14CQqkmJ60G5Y8Uwv_ftOn943GS7xaG0btEHtJaURhX5f5Q6KtEOHA9QsA5YqPluFuOIvPbTn98xoacKy9cOxo/s1600-h/laundrychute43.jpg"><img alt="linen closet laundry chute" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF4DW6Wxtr-Il_Hzc39YewYDZJxI-rpje2YO_C5XVGtna_mCUSK7uUcKdTEjjcec5lMOzFzUYVxQOxxM-YqoeZl13L3sQqSWDpYDfx1fXnzv0WtLaS351PrFReI1pMkZcMMGBtWj9le0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="linen closet laundry chute" width="500" /></a> Oh, I did prime first that red first, just one coat. Since I was painting the walls it took no time at all. I was able to prime, paint and organize the stuff in here in a couple hours. I’ve put this off for a year, and it took less than two hours. Story of my life! You may notice the polka dots. ;) Yes, I covered the tube. YES…I obviously have no life. It was just so ugly. I went through a few options in my head for covering it and then remembered I had some contact paper. AND it matched the new paint. It’s like it was meant to be!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK3Xhtnt5xXWoSNtVSXdepDOYJUxuHEWAo8DzRp8RHOlbxTGwwivGK77NlpUwnN0m6hS4PcxE3679_kDxc6UObgUoUMlcZOM7D7RU_DZ1oiJwr-JRkDqjac3k3UXgZmiQdRUQFhyphenhyphenQ5FY/s1600-h/laundry-chute-tube.jpg"><img alt="PVC laundry chute" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrlV-25DJcZO7NOamwBOukGE9eBH1U4Fzm39e3j4OvWev2k5id63Os7js0OIg-4VXmDX3m2P5jewFs16ltjtgYttR3o1Rjp47K04TxmvSUMgWLPAxYR6Q_bxyUvoM8SNXKZIwaEGwYX8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="PVC laundry chute" width="450" /></a> See, I kind of have a life – I didn’t do the bottom part. Honestly it took about 15 minutes to cover it – and the dots make me smile when I open this door. :) I want to get some sticky tiles to put on the floor in there (I didn’t have the hardwoods put in the closet since the cuts would have been so tricky and added to the cost.) By the way, a few readers wondered if that little bend in the pipe would keep things from going down and it doesn’t at all. Nothing has gotten stuck – even bulky towels and sheets because it’s so slick inside. So as far as laundry chutes go, this is a good one! After decluttering the stuff in the bins in here I was able to get rid of one (that is a great feeling!). So even though we have half the space in here that we used to, everything still fits great: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yum1-5sqHfPKoFWmGRI90YYQr7e7PPiz2dssGHlupGCiIEdjPeS6jYzZfzT3iJPmSE_9lHIj9w1ol-DOpSSMdA-tIcRk2VVT_qQUwortnvljM81RDXVB3c29uCH7C5axRal22_vKjss/s1600-h/laundry-chute-1.jpg"><img alt="DIY laundry chute" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI1HA6VXgAcTmTiiSuG1nguzvQYA4gZTgPAtdPGxQsy0SwO-AxnM_jir33LR4v7xuvM74mVMn4txgpa3cpS3yLq5w9Qyfra2O8VWJVLQuZHjUILuLlUKP8zQGNrD1RHQ6ftGQS1dGowU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY laundry chute" width="450" /></a> And it’s pretty cute, seriously. I say even though other people won’t see a space, if you have to look at it every day it’s your prerogative to make it cute. :) SO. Overall I do like having the laundry chute, but if I could do it again I would have waited longer before installing it. I think I would have decided that we really didn’t need it after all. Have you ever done something in your house you are iffy about? Regret any renovations or decisions you made? I don’t know if I regret this one really, I just would have waited to see how things functioned without it.

Would I do it again? (Laundry chute)

So every so often I like to update you on projects that I’ve done/purchases I’ve made to let you know how they’ve held up and if I like them...

8:04 AM

Bright basement bathroom (done!)

Good Monday to ya! How was your weekend? I was fighting a cold all weekend but managed to fit in two movies and plenty of DIY, so that’s a good one for me. :) I’m continuing my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/08/july-in-review-and-no-spend-august.html">no-spend August</a> by wrapping up a HUGE project. I love the no-spend idea – not only do I save money when I do this (no impromptu trips to HomeGoods!) but I get a lot done. Stuff I’ve been putting off for months! Our basement bathroom is one of those projects. It was thisclose to done anyway, and I had everything I needed on hand…so this one is checked off the list! WHOOT. Let’s look back at how it looked a few months ago: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXqBaWPbg9dvf7GV8MAu1HUZcQZoLrI8kj8ibv9z717akCtk-SGcrbzHJFEyM1KTRutYQx2wEI6_1nSV4t_8-mes_LHLqFXLiykPZ7o8CoHdSs2MJVeCOGxUOCIeWDEDZ-fKWPQBEdhQ/s1600-h/bathroom-before%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="unfished basement bathroom" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hj5uqaQ-bSYeAAbhty_N7yJmOOIQghkUcahIsfhP1iX9J-AsZF9e4tRZkeoPaS1vPZmx6y84mMceRIO_VTuLOkvPhnGPqB9QOr1YQt3Y9z7-p17ig5TWzTKv6EDaUIdiWgjyMkL_RSM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="unfished basement bathroom" width="400" /></a> If you’ve been around for awhile you know we <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/basement">finished our basement</a> last year. We did it slowly so we could pay cash and it took about six months total. The basics are in and everything is coming together beautifully, but there’s still a LOT we want to do down there. So we had it finished but the basement bathroom was still incomplete, as you can see above. The <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/bathrooms-progress-floors.html">floors were installed</a> earlier this year, along with the main fixtures – the toilet and vanity. Then I showed you how I installed some storage in the form of <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-floating-shelves-bathroom-progress.html">DIY floating shelves</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCXdZ-iXJ5yWNXxFx1klrbqp43pDuOR7_F7jchmN0rIWK8nrIn9Q_6aN__CMab-rgbTDY1X9XzgcrlqyD1AvFWLfBqe9ORbLr6o3GVsrGxlVfxvr13evqPNAZ5NzUNaCVKrVhHcysjCc/s1600-h/floating-wood-shelves%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY floating wood shelves" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibquCn7rPnBv2T0Hw2Xox0KFYQp_6RjpkbG2pdUsEjdqIsawyRSClLWz8ahjF6KSuXE7Ulj6iBFC5ckWMuzp0aFNrAnXZtULWQO4hvzixLnmFJTFUaoeNMzxcZGYIEDECJRkgOBUPRGJs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY floating wood shelves" width="400" /></a> I LOVE those shelves – I’m still so happy with how that came together. But there were a few things left to do – back when I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/black-interior-doors-in-basement.html">painted all the doors black</a> in the basement I pooped out and didn’t do the back of the bathroom door. Soooo…I got that done: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQUb6thnYNe-TvP3F-kHX3AmYZtbmjXgOO-a5DqxvGxSRepQubT2sN9Cx-hhFEMh0_2UiNY8Jhb86WdHXwDOACmlW36Kevmx1PJEaEErzGSxqwvt3atCRxiQ-_sAhN7LueM8WZ3jlk04/s1600-h/how-to-paint-a-door%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="painting interior doors" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Hz8szrSr81M4Hneq-KV8Ukm5_wkgthMD8axkCijSj386ZnIQQQY43XfC-woEATvkz5aMCGAZVSurxxuA4F8pXHZaZpFY0nPkf64MuvyQkZobviRuHaS8Xhf6teN1mY317QeCvhcUWrs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="painting interior doors" width="450" /></a> Three coats and done! Back when we had the electrical work done for the basement I knew I wanted two lights above the sink, so we guesstimated where the vanity was going to go. Well the outlet for that room ended up being right in the middle of the sink (right where the mirror went) so the guys came out a few months ago and moved the outlet (and one of the lights) for me. They patched up the drywall and I just hung the mirror back over it and left it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeB9ggeCDRNImEpU-TZBQoS5E1mWrgtEKdMMBXXMeJ0jAgBURNxsAggizd_tza6Ya1xEaIncO4o5zfFBifpEC4fsDETe7Mq2XnBlsuk31DAMGHh-iBdBuSQV1BUouJ8lxxRgzvDJIHKA/s1600-h/patching-drywall%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="patching drywall" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rew6WjrR-wmDAqmS7ECVFjNHMkKzM4tkSHA3lbFEC41yURkLfEDSaxRN7aMCmxDAXO9nDYHtkMBrgrt5ow7WQiB1fH2coQckN4vtQplDzR2ui22yy_7yPkPHz0P_K9opGWQIa_vNjuU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="patching drywall" width="400" /></a> So yesterday I sanded it down and touched up that paint and a few other spots in the room. I also caulked the rest of the baseboards down there as well. OK, maybe I wasn’t thisclose to done. ;) I used the mirror that used to be in our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html">upstairs powder room</a> -- it was shimmery brown so it needed a redo bad. I taped it off to prep for spray paint: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-AXAojTJouK64a3s9WjnydJWo4ssb1BNw25Mpgxpu7sLOlQWrpvY1u-4SUriVFxul0NUu94iIFg6o_BnQNF5EO2Xo3AZGrfmm5VEGjr-fvHLbCYj1_clSmbHGnoLSuHTpkiWGmE8VGM/s1600-h/taping-off-a-mirror%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taping off a mirror" border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4PYjQPe71stJnLjBcdSnCc0umJAw8CU7OXULk5Kh7Al35bw32MwHkhntM7Cul3S-ACptD1uhmVW4HxeCGISHh4nfwOcLn_k7_7jsVqO4jKEfqcuqDiIru3-_i7NpSTD4mJaOItrQY5w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taping off a mirror" width="573" /></a> I’ve seen a lot of people not taping off and just using a razor to clean up on mirrors, but with spray paint that’s too messy (for me). So I covered it with newspaper, taped it all down and checked out my spray paint stash to decide on what to do: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHLVmsUI-_ss1Ox2BFAcHG74Z-365j7LhD9SAdigLnjKzRekw8piIfwlJ5QclW0QbTWh-wrfcmLFPEWvNjYCeqITe7TRIAjidDrR_IhMh3bmCtlJvTB61pkXkduhebG4cvm9CzxUVJDs/s1600-h/nickel-spray-paint%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="nickel spray paint" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLwcgPLN4f4jv9FAy98X98WB-tx1TSI6ggmuDbhjvenvI8Wa0KZ-mSCEUclt4JH0XANudVDnAnnZRnTPi-oOKQbYjVVxR7Vzim4shIRgHHZ4b6J3u2rrMrA9OCPJkKUiLPZZAE-ZcRPY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nickel spray paint" width="400" /></a> I started with the satin nickel color and it was pretty, but when I got it down there it was so…boring. ;) The lights, faucet and mirror were all the same. Then I took it back outside and just went with a basic white – but, duh, that was pretty boring too. I wanted a pop of color on that wall and kept looking to my spray paint to find the right color (not spending money on DIY and all.) Well I finally found the color I wanted in my regular paints: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eMFKiW2FSlwLha4K7Er_cc_1eOipX5jzFpbLXYHucsaJZ_qMxSgmWO-FpDmI0cZLJ7AKsAYwwueTu0Q1AwyBSmE9Q-c8a_1HMk9FJuguksSwfpe3BEcpFiCLl8mFlljVB8w9PxjtYpc/s1600-h/IMG_6238%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="light and bright bathroom" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vn7fcJNYCr_mz0iWLRABWvfxQj61p2DMyFSo1jSgdmvyIsoAzjOReZpeOQmpBB49lgursxGqEHqPVvz11QJELJUIwBUsIrRp311RzUmHNBnEa9HUEmRLcerDYLLyabSrzssDI-blW-M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="light and bright bathroom" width="450" /></a> It’s the same aubusson blue color I used on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/aubusson-blue-in-foyer.html">this project</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFPXzBQHA0AE8ut7DVDCdGsxd849kwg6tetlWIFa5w-Ut4y2dVK0YEEOLH8BC-mM5tUOwNI_6wTuswVlTvDR9Ls3lNoGmXS8zw6k0jYROEdkXHWLzxw6Zw4-d3FGBQudX_xW3yeF0YxU/s1600-h/IMG_4418_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="aubusson blue chalk paint" border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvVb0fXRVnf5hYruaCtTCwal5AccnsVusTMPj6FANvbliOqbDvXfVIcWA-GhvXLcjIgV5Jc23dmBKMty5s6YQU8WJ5Lyr_mtc-lvbbSo6-yCtYipN8zACsT8pIX-mbHf33oJS1oQd2Hg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="aubusson blue chalk paint" width="425" /></a> It was PERFECT. And it only took three tries. ;) The blue brings the color in the towels and shower curtain over to that side of the room: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VXo4ucEkoacJWkgLnmjqxWly8Ny1ZPdaoAdK-HkunnE4pmlktBd1HOCwa6EgbyySt2V6OcOYtI1zcmJeYV9ZNqAaT2RcPwWs20xNtrjKXDW3yC9zaXarek4M2t8VQcwHtsAiEu1yVmY/s1600-h/IMG_5476%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY floating shelves" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQunO9UbeMHLzLFRgwdGqIdtilrMHo2k_oft4jaQK5TmW8GrHfakMTgSHkbfLNTp2BjYeVlft96j0WGml8SVddM0sxgtP0iQ8fF0EKfruYcT-3sf9PmeN8wVVNLukTGy5ExLAt_kO9xCk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY floating shelves" width="550" /></a> You can see all the sources for these items in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-floating-shelves-bathroom-progress.html">this post</a> (most was from Target). Originally I planned on using our pedestal sink from upstairs in this space, but when it came time to install it I realized I really wanted something more substantial and something with storage. So I shopped around and found a really inexpensive vanity at Lowe’s that worked perfectly: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lMMwuEY7AjF7iWa7R1GqAPGqOxeImlszJtYx1lIaarC9WLTVsg1KbM5Cc3UH_dwNqTlI_j8JHV5nvYxJK3ipgMORmH52QsmkihFzyuV3PsAOPKJlGjtW6lDGQzCgMHrfQXVgd2G0SvQ/s1600-h/shallow-bathroom-vanity%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bright basement bathroom" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbLAYh4rZZo0nOCEKHDJHeSy4GJVqCK37-sZBABNZLVgKXeXxTS3_olUBreK4CWnZAItK_UAU_xQGUw4UI4B2qNysgSKfHJogXl9o9rQxQBr1-SD2tF9tcDJosyVaPcAnuIAhUYu0W3s/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bright basement bathroom" width="500" /></a> It’s really shallow but the sink juts out so it’s still a great size. It’s perfect for this skinny bathroom. (You can find it <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_297596-68085-41661_4294965416__?ipTrail=98.253.1.199&productId=3162239&pl=1&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%4041124112%5D&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dnarrow%2Bbath%2Bvanity&storeNumber=1191&Ntt=narrow+bath+vanity&facetInfo=Style+Selections">here</a> online.) I’m pretty thrilled with how this little space came together! Well…it’s not exactly little -- it’s just long and skinny: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKcw6vH0NbwhwhmJxGs0Q1wZ2gtmRmknFztb1agx_8cz5W7dtDwlAbvWI-CH0Ic7P5QhP-PUyMBKTFmB0DsiaTpV14GdAtHb4I_w6YHj0QJL9XCglupyeJnkMPGc1JrwECBskw_EaEQ/s1600-h/IMG_6244%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="black interior doors" border="0" height="779" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1xjBY-PL-uJgLuQnLpHvs1kuJ37L1tn8FprJCMCJ5M7Y-OD5yefg_bcDvRn294FnOjmOINRWnEiSxfLli_YPy01PSFn-mooO3co4cBibfwPU_fINvWK-n4kzt_FtQB7OcXH4qBZAueE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="black interior doors" width="500" /></a> It’s about 11 feet by four feet -- there was no other way to set up the room with the beams in the basement and the rough in plumbing. Also we had to make it this long to incorporate a support column into the wall. When the door is open it goes right near the vanity so there’s actually not much room to spare. I had a mantra in my head the whole time I was finishing off this space -- “It’s just a basement bathroom.” :) So I went pretty basic with the finishes – the faucet, shower head and lights were all basic, inexpensive finds. We spent a little more on the toilet since this is in the basement – we wanted something that will hold up well (since the plumbing down here has to work against gravity). Even though we didn’t splurge on much, I think the space turned out beautifully. One thing I don’t regret at all in the building process – I made sure we had a TON of lights in this space. Early on I thought it may be overkill but since I’ve realized it’s a great thing in a room without natural light: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkMcPEHOfJ_wxYigiC3WZR7Ka5DdKJT8TX4HfX-gdpyDX1CfMNEBT8MCJTohzkyb4d0OOWFlsxQhshXiDi6gd1sLcf3MbTPV7qdZ4ONIqyWEr8BjzZ01NnzB065w_rrUplAEpLqZ8bsE/s1600-h/blue-green-bathroom%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="blue green bathroom " border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V2z1jOERx-Q0Q-KZi78sgPJx7l0C7cLgx7GC7fhKeEeyetvt0rLoq8pJv5pBSHKsdwkscYmFAnDRe63lsYS8bAQqjv6tpPhCL1ShEsHfjcd265U4mR9rxHv7YqN4LgxFEJ3SZAdqy0Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="blue green bathroom " width="500" /></a> We have a total of five lights in this space – recessed lights in the shower and by the door, the light in the fan and two over the sink. I love the look of the two lights over the sink – I did the same in our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/07/ikea-vanity-and-more-powder-room.html">upstairs powder room</a>. :) I do have one more thing to do in here – paint all the trim (baseboards and door trim). But I have to do that in the entire basement so I’m going to wait till I can knock it all out at once. (That will be a fun day. Want to come over and help?) Here’s a look at the before and after side-by-side – my favorite. ;) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26X1UmTEwyYCt4GARkhefUTNw-3t08I-7G_O1Jk5VFMHeVWY3QWiZpbr1kEAIO-Cq6pOk6BVyquhjLJlC0NOFHrgmSKPHoIDEHCIbYNsp88gAR-Rj7krzg2nAXR_E4l0kNbHx_oQN8QM/s1600-h/before-and-after-basement-bathroom%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bright basement bathroom" border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeX-o3tRDGMWHlcXI8wK3X5nUc0ok0k6ZTL_zMivF78IlyUkNF9D53dU15ntrq3KonRZ4i1dxDcpdXWICdl0jIN5m6PVCjcOjcv06PBQ6uI-EMmpsq0v-8Aro4sL5oL3y4GJXk_ZZPLg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bright basement bathroom" width="550" /></a> I’d still like to add some art or something to that big wall at some point. I have an idea in mind but for now I’m just thrilled to have this space done! I’m knocking things off the to-do list and it feels so good! I may do these no-spend months more often!! (Although I’m starting to get a HomeGoods itch.) If you have any questions about this space that I didn’t answer, let me know and I’ll get you info in the comments!

Bright basement bathroom (done!)

Good Monday to ya! How was your weekend? I was fighting a cold all weekend but managed to fit in two movies and plenty of DIY, so that’s a g...

7:36 AM

Ikea Hemnes vanity and more

Hello and happy almost Fourth to ya! Do you have any fun plans for the holiday weekend? One thing is a priority for us – Despicable Me 2. We have been waiting YEARS for this and are all so excited. It’s a little ridiculous. So a couple weeks ago I showed you the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html">finished powder room</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2T8PzWjYBzT4DF5m9CITLXz0PdnqR9bqHEsnmNmtDX8fh0WPsIo8aU0gGfnNmFahbPGz7wF3rtZVb4hTeGf-gBg1-rVsw0pBTxFhfppVURDtPVieJuY_xffWiedAYsFJN8y-9IESHDU/s1600-h/2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="planked walls bathroom " border="0" height="786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoX3CAKffHeLI54zbYizbd4-1tPtQEhNZRkdjW13t-XnQW9Fl60fl9AtI9bsO1XidVbYFCgEFq-JEdeHoNsuFeozHkDWVq0MB2BQ6fniBhEtPbmBUTTw7ZQxS8MWo7P4XqWbrdiBIhRc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="planked walls bathroom " width="500" /></a> Thank you for all the lovely comments, yet again! And I went back and answered your questions in the comments but I just realized some of them didn’t go through, so I’m going back again today. Or you can ask any questions here too. I promised a more detailed post on the vanity area and that’s what we have today. I’m thrilled with EVERY part of this room but especially all these pieces. They were all brand new and I love every one. First up, the vanity – I searched for months for the right one! I knew I wanted something with storage, most importantly. We’ve had a pedestal sink in there all this time and I was ready for something more substantial. It’s a big powder room – it can take it. I searched both Lowe’s and Home Depot and couldn’t find what I wanted for under $300 (for both the sink and vanity). I found plenty I loved…but most of those were around $400. I had been eyeing the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30217668/#/20217664">Hemnes vanity</a> from IKEA but didn’t want to make the drive unless I was sure:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPs4o1kJBs4YxoOLNl5NAMNKtggBVK22gl8VmGrag6y-SS7LJ0QRQOm7DlrMiJL-oBabikb9rF_BCevzxfcU3MO1VRVdsbF1tWTUIIyW6vFD-VOFp-pWIgkUBC-u2nOp7v3aEO8sMVVA/s1600-h/hemnes-sink-cabinet-with--drawers__0143688_PE303210_S4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ikea hemnes bathroom vanity" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe2HOj9pZVsQ7pm6x8a2OTLksha2ZEBlK4SkAkikCeWaZk0uWc5FGE4AZ9CCX5-O_qAm5wui45DftyiY7mC9uVF-rBgQ4fxUrVmX02ABst1ldLxF2oqIctN8zb0Ydctv9TAXfS5P9qS0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ikea hemnes bathroom vanity" width="400" /></a> It’s 31 inches wide and has a ton of storage space. And the vanity and the sink combined were $290. Originally I had planned to find an old dresser and transform it with a sink, but I couldn't find what I wanted. So I met two girlfriends at IKEA and we made a fun day of it – a great excuse to travel for the vanity. ;) I gotta say, I’m thrilled with it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MfkJSvyDcDaxZT8clyrohlWYw7S2O7anTBIUcpWZgsZDiuDjvAMMu7tJaU2_yRL21UcShdJsNVA-RJlVHGyQSKYTbPMompKJP-tDelpfLFmDm0IRh-w5LtrIZWe2jQxNwct2D9pJqTA/s1600-h/IMG_5795%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="planked wood walls bathroom " border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA2aw6UHfvHqZTSvcLr9K4Ql2tZWOI7WiPY3joFiEDauc9sJat6NOkscR9XIGqsb2nLEP9lHJykGmggrPp9TkxZN_LepaZfmdoh4ra24aZ2AyXZXlD_njrrU2eXgq-xMNRczO996SOvI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="planked wood walls bathroom " width="500" /></a> The sink is lovely and pretty – but really shallow. Not sure I’d love using it for washing my face in a master bathroom. But I don’t mind it at all for a powder room. The installation was fairly easy – my Dad had never worked with an IKEA plumbing and overall he thought it went pretty smooth. All of the plumbing is installed in a way so that the drawers can close, at least they’re supposed to. ;) When all was said and done (and installed exactly how it was supposed to be), the top drawer wouldn’t close because of one of the pipes. So I had to jigsaw out a little notch in the back of the drawer: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriZ3xhbov8vKsB3nrX0psyIRw3R2nQ4GfoByKJZjPEryLNLGXulZ2EJF0WpmUuB9JUwy7Wp9WGmsaS-62a97i6B41p4DuHvI5xW5lPqCM9PeWAG1QQ1xwWlsUo4uH44r8Wbx0wyytXm8/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrD_dus-a8twaZ-VkeiZNjDWZXTqdOiTIJS71t-A9JuZ28rTFg4S7QLO8t3VHbqeoJUBOapNxVcCCvwVa8UekivmDTZwYryo6QXATXh5S_wq85ZKZTzmQWJXreNrkZPfGZAsIaFAKsBA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="350" /></a> Not a big deal. A little annoying, but it just took a few minutes. You don’t really notice it when you open the drawer so no biggie. The GREAT thing about these drawers (other than the cutie stripes) is that they are soft close. Glorious! I replaced the IKEA hardware with some knobs from Hobby Lobby: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5Ny8ONUJsrGLCogmUCFds5980eELF2TqIbWOcHnJSgUS-bwbSr9p9SpKho9V3YUJ3VWKIyR7TRwHkAt3V8AiPjGBgf48SLb2e-mlb15DMwVAt7gMoPBHNXxnR2muhkvs5npwL8i1oaY/s1600-h/IMG_5797%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white planked walls " border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-hiBF5zIcbOxCWBv4zLyatqIbYY0Flk7DDKq626xmTKIZ-13mP2qxmuD16xEfDsdDIX0_HDpzc4QtlZHgXWhRC6wQVApiCVQP_lhfIOl9lDNChJAoKAwz9_7L88raONV42aT2CQoo8E/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white planked walls " width="500" /></a> For a hot second I was going to try and paint the vanity, just because I was worried there wouldn't be enough color in there. I’m SO glad I didn’t and just added a pop of color with the knobs. (You can see more about those <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/knob-love.html">here</a>.) The only major problem we had with the sink was that it only has one hole for the faucet installation – you don’t really think of that until you get to the store and realize all but about two of the bathroom faucets are for multiple holes. (Meaning there are more holes already installed in the sink.) I really wanted to reuse the faucet we had on the pedestal but we couldn’t because of that. Soooo, after a moment of panic, thinking I would have to drive the four hour round trip to IKEA to get a faucet that worked because Lowe’s guy kept telling us they didn’t sell one hole bathroom faucets…I finally spotted one: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhR60cpxyHYfiT7SqYlUtlgc9Ounf5JmzacsXZilvCgbEOrKhskHme-w2ezymdb0tO4qDHSWCNCZj6dhpCDzaDbplLwgXK9evre59siZVCqPP98Iz0YdsnBoeigzZ7Sydzf_Kxgl1irk/s1600-h/IMG_5801%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="single hole moen faucet" border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpNY1yu8m9uJc6noh93Div0HcAvaHe85j55lSbye4RdD-UtHztZX-HdUHGtiN067i9uIP1K0Zyo9csTo8B7IAtFtz9CQ8C1CJv3p_yDndfA92gyWkWnzp8KO_W3uTXsouvQhyzIODXj8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="single hole moen faucet" width="570" /></a> It was GORGEOUS. And EXPENSIVE. It was about $90 I think? Ouch, I think I actually winced. But it was between that and one other one they had, both were expensive. I do love it though, really. I mean, REALLY love it. It’s a <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_36710-866-84805SRN_0__?productId=4736795&Ntt=one+hole+faucets&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Done%2Bhole%2Bfaucets&facetInfo=">Moen (single hole) faucet</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bosL_b3iRagGaK_Wkt6gQQ9rM3YRfLLBbIqELTFhzqRwjIR7GyV92QeFIjbLq6K5Imj0oeSPk-xN80vEtaGmoCtbAwQgurlVfGKtOSa6vOURi48-Lso_dDEyi7q06T-4mH_FjO0JcNQ/s1600-h/026508237717lg%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="single hole faucet" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvZ5vYka4nw6Q72Ps4JPYxVDu8dbjylsRlV4SrpdxCZRWeTVgE7nxwub6rbKiyPRaCJOZNllq_px5I7q9_t87BH3D2JtvPlGb0MC4q9vEyQd3oU_MfhnJTY-HdVU2Hkjx5XJpTaNSj14/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="single hole faucet" width="400" /></a> I chose not to use the plate at the bottom – I just liked the simpler look without it. I especially love that the faucet ended up matching the finish on the new light fixtures exactly: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqh0femPB86FcOZZNNORk12teyDnN0ij18HpOXmsJHyYHiK9u1oswO8e2cDWCmuqB3o_DdrQdnHTC6LQ1XIU86qAvJd4D1fVmBo-Vb_5LRvIWvVPEMg-6Lw3XJPrf1tefUva4K_Hxvv0/s1600-h/IMG_5806%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage looking glass sconce" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iOaP9oLGPR22U0cZHZpWiIIwmuNXRWbPySGAvUsSmPLdNLY5SnwfMkbYny1FBRbC952BM7PsFvU2FJ4IGReP2gGX8gJ9wIWtqRi-lclwxowBLcxPwm4ycTGyXInjCun-dvRnySBMtK0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage looking glass sconce" width="450" /></a> I mentioned that I had the one light we had in here changed into two lights, and we did use an electrician. I just had the guy who did everything for the basement do it, he’s great and inexpensive and was done in 30 minutes. If you know much about electrical stuff I guess it’s not that hard, but I’m not ready to take that leap quite yet. ;) I did find the light fixture online, although this one is in shiny chrome: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMsvf-lv6Xf1XFRVEg1dUrafamsLdS8k2qA6EO-_V709-J5RaHvWFCzSDVSFeL0qSm87Nq9mWhNi7qahepfWw2IN-6fZahEm5-DCZvbUGbdlMBrwJKg4F_5qGFS5_yW1mFPDt-Gnh98o/s1600-h/f9661659-e9f5-4643-afc2-a30c120361f3_300%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage sconce" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V0ZxU45lOmUeekG8KtR2NEVWd8XGV63u8IJbsgnF308auWNDUsD2P4mOYOrfc7Su2ygFu1SwVWNE4BcPUUXoFmWjhpAtiJ9NISWge1xWsi3Yx22N2KXvzIy2OZbLHPVi090AtttIoTk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage sconce" width="350" /></a> There called the <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Progress-Lighting-Archie-Collection-1-Light-Chrome-Bath-Light-P2989-15/203910380?N=12l1#.UdQr8BaE7ww">Archie Collection</a> and I LOVE love love the vintage vibe of the glass and the pretty arch of the arm. They are one of my very favorite parts of the room!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZefVbhyphenhyphenh8ABiI3H3kFkN9Vlv2JMmBXJ24OMqKAayFZEZRzLzqdifMbYIJ5gOn-tLKeRPiqg7dU8YvUzRp7hscEeKZp_dZXpdrRzZ6opMvXMRxzoVyN669BwKDNT8gNe16N0okvvjT8w0/s1600-h/IMG_5824%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white hemnes bathroom vanity ikea" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATeR-rOnLGRryUWfgQgjrmcomTHivzns2Wj2xI9otfqnVWa9NGjlhZQDGTQHSqNSYYG1Hrot_5Mvd8NN8wikWjV3zOXEOg2cDzN1f4F4Ij_W-StPUuWhw2X5_iFYsQGvd9V7OmyEaB5w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white hemnes bathroom vanity ikea" width="500" /></a> So the last piece of the puzzle was the mirror, and I think I spent as much time looking for that as I did the vanity! For years I knew I wanted an oval mirror here, like we had before – but something simpler and classic. And more than anything I wanted those super cute mirror brackets on each side so that the mirror would tilt. Like this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkUzfZne9FUgt84ARQmRGvgx1ZrfmXCtbqhRsE-rzF003lPfQ7rWv6BhOR31uRhJea1gmaZ_sNBUs1rK3bgWl2-YhcBCazeh3dcPCuOuxg1luKXlHclKrvAWFSo27YYbs5Qat0D9gbEM/s1600-h/7522ba0b-2d1b-4d9b-96c7-9f22751b973d_300%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="oval mirror with pivot brackets" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhhKvb1fT-LPLNZwXmszyaOW-mwfS6dRytUBgzpo0ZCy2neItFNtrsz_rq9lxlAXLjWKWubwRh-v8oqqgcVl3lpXbZjagbWnRcITUkY9PiBrnntytdtEyr3jmCSBhrvqL7W954Ijml2s/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="oval mirror with pivot brackets" width="300" /></a> I actually saw on a blog forever ago that you can actually just buy the brackets/pivots separately at Home Depot and use them to hang a regular mirror. Well I searched everywhere for them and they just aren’t there anymore. Bummer dude. So then I found a mirror at HD that already had them and the price was about $60 – not too bad really. But it was way too small for the room (about 18 inches tall I think) and the pivot things were actually a pain in the patoot. They didn’t allow you to tighten anything, so the mirror was permanently angled down. It wasn’t going to work. (I’m sure a more expensive one would have a way to keep the mirror at a certain angle.) Sooooo…I took it back to HD and ended up with a pretty, <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202075095?productId=202075095&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=BazVoice%2d%5f%2dRLP%2d%5f%2d202075095%2d%5f%2dx#.UdQ11xaE7ww">basic oval mirror</a> they had for $40: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZq7ogfrIdJCXTLYeZs9KudgVNOdDekQz_fmlaozeJnF7iYxXCcuX5Hlhvo6P_Iye1ej-TGnF6cx1WtG2dp9150Bmwyt4cMKZuedJfa8BS54mdD7C-JZU5xz6mzFpBO2UN7MaBiWBCY0/s1600-h/3371d900-e9a2-486e-ab5d-906680286116_300%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="oval beveled mirror" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir16H9eVbeOkBSyGTsIxTo68IHhQIInSOn35o3TnmmlhseyHQGZ753UtqkmvVYdoVC64cjtBsAF5h9WVCn4C5aCeTh9QFZ0odc8qfDbRaO4ySXxrtKGEjA696CBeD4Dj8xYkA456EH3tY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="oval beveled mirror" width="350" /></a> I ended up with this one because it’s the only oval mirror that had a cleat on the back – so you don’t see any of the hanging hardware. The one I found at Lowe’s had to use the little mirror brackets to hang it. I hung it on the actual board and batten trim: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUCqftScd4P_B58QcwXyvZozfRjari5nVGxEOhETsrBfmhXZFycmaBJUMSp4go4ca6yeKhqjTOw4cju7lNNpqiAeVRiwnuPyz5HewgAl6FC9ORoj7tL_r11gd5ei_LNEtkeE-M8L2m6k/s1600-h/IMG_5815%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="oval mirror bathroom no hardware" border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7QvAMG4WJZ8qOU5a2ZZY1rgaY-T0QOeJdVjMfOd7jn1Cb8zN1jC41Ny67kKTJxvrOVepbc33LYwaNMGiOsOVI7HU6qq8ShyphenhyphenS5jJx76ANWv3rSbxoEdvi-4iNb4-UJBIt49DS3xiwTKE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="oval mirror bathroom no hardware" width="450" /></a> And I think it’s just perfect in there! The size is much better (21 inches tall) and it just works so well in the room – love how it all came together! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xnpvyVrtcaEstyco-5epwAR_18pIG9BZaGpgVcEIb7313e8D-BBmXcrh21AD7qNh7Kv5ExGGYB69MD2FV3bbq58tFamZIIdlMlMSfYEnXJAu2bL1FmtrJBs6pjd90vRZ7K7CUnfvxco/s1600-h/IMG_5829%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="oval mirror bathroom " border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpNkU11dHPgk29THbFCKuDLupVjsFqWE7toPzqjdf6MlvfudfqU_UJR-OmSzpzhpB30yHkcJyAErcpr08lxORdZmDQZEwsairfYgtRqPExcD6TayhACO4BZm5jEcT4LA8OCpfoDHaDO4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="oval mirror bathroom " width="500" /></a> OH! And some of you asked where the “S” hook for the towel came from: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIYFp2Oj7zD_-tChEpj_yrBaKGN1y2uqDUQ1l3edxOE8xujZBeLQetthV29p8YO4sQh1_VJlePt1NC_9z2POh8TesH8bUIKjMtmCguD5YZbdFlbsZ-WkstwfWG1FVJwvmkaSQfqKsiDY/s1600-h/IMG_5805%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="letter towel hook " border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRXAIZtsLsxJVPLV9Vojd1GZpSfCUH67nocX7srBbteJvswg9XECLY9qJNgmyJeclrDprwsFpZtZUghObPyweUmi_RgSmVl7UlcWnRzV8pil5wi6X3Bhow8y1p8cl34qa3ouABSjk54g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="letter towel hook " width="400" /></a> I actually got that hook at Anthropologie (one of probably three things I’ve ever purchased from there) about a year ago. I saw it and knew it would be perfect in this room, before I even knew for sure what I was going to do in there. ;) Looks like they still sell them! You can find them <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/670301.jsp">here</a>. So there you go! All the deets on the vanity area – I hope that helps with any questions you had. Overall I’m thrilled with everything, but again I took forever to find it all so I better be! Geesh. I’m taking the rest of the week off for the July Fourth holiday, have a lovely weekend and God Bless the USA! :)

Ikea Hemnes vanity and more

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Ikea Hemnes vanity and more

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