Update dated bathroom (cream tile, oak and polished brass) w/o Reno
My husband and I recently bought a house that has a dated kitchen and 2-1/2 baths. We can’t afford to renovate them all, so I’m trying to figure out what small adjustments I can make to this bathroom that will update the space without incurring enormous cost.
I’m thinking:
- New mirror and light fixture (instant win)
- New whiter toilet
- New accents/hardware
- New Vanity (this is the big $$ item we can tackle currently)
Any thoughts on how to work with the shiny brass of the shower, the oak trim and the cream tile? All are very 90s.
Our house is traditional (built in 1970) overall, but we have touched of rubbed bronze with our decor, and lots of blues and cognac colors. I’m not afraid of color, but I shy away from yellow and green in this room that’s already so warm.
Any help would be so appreciated!!
Comments (8)
PROUser
4 years agobcgillen711
4 years agoRelated Discussions
How to decorate a bathroom with an almond tub & toilet?
Comments (7)Sorry you aren't a fan of almond - I much prefer that to white! Since you are going for a tropical paradise feel, let's talk about what that means to you. Are you going to have beachy accents in the bedroom like a hurricane vase with sand and shells and a pillar candle? Tropical floral arrangements? Some warm colors like corals as well as some cool colors like the turquoise that is the color of the year for 2010? I would think about considering the almond fixtures as a way to bring in the sand color of the beach. Pick a little warmer white for the cabinetry and trim. Do a white shower curtain with ribbon trim in one of the tropical colors you use in the bedroom, and the same for the towels, rug for the floor, etc. Find a wall basket that can contain some tropical greenery and orchids for over the toilet. Hang some artwork on the side of the tall closed cabinet that brings in sand and water. I think silver fixtures work with the almond, but I would do a brushed finish rather than a chrome. It is just a bit warmer....See Moreadvice please on budget bathroom reno
Comments (51)Oh dear. I am feeling so undecided. I put another coat of the Polyshades on last night and it does look nice now -- dark and even. But it definitely is "mahogany" -- deep, dark red. Not the espresso color I had envisioned. But I am now hesitant to start putting on other products and other colors. I'm worried that it will look uneven, or that I will just end up with a mess. Arg -- this is what I get for being impulsive and not doing enough research up front. Anyway, I am heading out to a music festival today, so I am going to take a break from obsessing about stain and see how I feel when I get home. Maybe I will just put the new hardware in and see how I feel about it once the tile is in. The overall impression of the room is more important than the precise shade of stain on the vanity, right? Although -- I suspect that I will have a hard time finding a wall cabinet (for over the vanity) to match this stain color -- I've looked around and there is a lot of "espresso" and white (and still a bit of golden oak). Maybe a "cherry" cabinet would co-ordinate, if not match. Anyway, I need to get my mind off all this for a few hours. Have a good weekend, everyone!...See MoreNeed help on a kitchen update with oak cabinets...
Comments (32)If you and your hubby aren't DIYers and you have a large, busy family life, gel-staining your cabs may be more of a challenge than you anticipate. Sweat equity is a great way to improve one's home with little money but even a project billed as easy may not be easy for people who don't DIY. Hubby and I are DIYers but even so, every project takes us longer than we think it will. If you decide to take this on, get sample doors and test your technique first before tackling your kitchen. Love nosoccermom's idea of replacing a few door panels with glass. Have you considered quartz counters? I think Ceasarstone Pebble (medium gray) or Raven (charcoal) would look good (I see gray in your tiles but it could be how it looks on my monitor and not the case IRL). Caesarstone Raven up close [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by San Francisco General Contractors Mascheroni Construction Caesarstone Raven with oak cabinets [Eclectic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by West Linn Interior Designers & Decorators Julia Williams, ASID Caesarstone Pebble up close [Traditional Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2107) Caesarstone Concrete (very similar to Pebble) on IKEA Adel Medium Brown, which has has reddish/orange undertones. [Modern Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Rockwall Design-Build Firms Modern Craft Construction, LLC It sounds as though the floor's maintenance is primarily focused on trying to keep the polished look. Instead of polishing the floors, can they remove the sheen - hone them - and seal them? Wear and tear should be less noticeable on a non-shiny surface. Honed surfaces are generally more prone to staining than polished but since the tiles aren't uniform in nature, stains will probably blend in. Good luck!...See MoreHow to update this small bathroom with RESALE in mind?
Comments (18)If this was for a pending resale, I'd say get rid of the wallpaper, shower curtain and carpets. Paint the vanity and change the hardware and be done with it. For 5 years down the road, you're really doing it for yourself, though. Because anything you do will not be current in 5 years. So if you hate the sink, tile and vanity, replace those, too. Getting a contractor to do it won't be too bad. It's not small like repairing 1 cracked tile. Replacing the vanity without doing the counter and floor is probably a bad idea. Chances are the new vanity isn't going to fit the counter, and there's a better chance you'll damage the counter pulling it out or putting it back. Be careful on the new toilet. We replaced all ours with low flow models. And the cheap ones are just that. They need to be cleaned almost daily because they aren't glazed properly to get a good rinse with a tiny bit of water. So either leave it, or do your research and get a good one....See More
PROFrameMyMirror
4 years agoThat's a great idea. I think you'll be amazed at the difference you can make even without spending much money. Painting your vanity navy, new lights, gold mirror and hardware, with white walls would look great! Something similar to this:
Nancy in Mich
4 years agobcgillen711
4 years agoThese are all very good thoughts! I’ve been looking on Facebook Market and Craigslist for used vanities or floor sample sale items, and I’ll continue to do that. We’ve been by a couple of warehouses that have items from demolition, but nothing has quite worked yet. Habitat for Humanity May be a good place to look though - we haven’t been there!
For removing the shower door, I didn’t think of that for a full shower. Can that be done? I figured doors were necessary, and my husband didn’t like the idea of just covering the doors with a shower curtain. Getting rid of it could be good..
I think changing out the mirror, light and paint could be the first step to take sooner than later.
Complication to white is that this tile is cream colored. See this pic to see the difference... still neutral at least! I think I can move forward with navy and gold accents, right?
Nancy in Mich
4 years agobcgillen711
4 years agoWe finished a mini update! Used Sherwin Williams Sea Salt that we had leftover from another room. Changed out the towel bars and toilet paper bar, his the shower door with a curtain (Target), bought a new mirror (target) and light fixture (Wayfair). It’s not exactly as we want it, but for $350, it’s great for now!
In the future I think we’d like to update the vanity and toilet.
Jilly