Reader Bathroom: A Splash of Nautical Style for $330 in Kentucky
This guest bathroom had good bones. The homeowner just needed to punch up the decor with a little DIY magic
This series profiles bathroom remodels shared by homeowners on Houzz.
Bathroom remodels can be pricey endeavors or thrifty undertakings depending on what is done. But sometimes all that is needed is a superficial upgrade to make a bathroom feel fresh. Here, a Houzz reader in Kentucky upgraded her “blah” guest bathroom with a nautical theme, doing all the work herself with supplies that cost less than $350.
Bathroom remodels can be pricey endeavors or thrifty undertakings depending on what is done. But sometimes all that is needed is a superficial upgrade to make a bathroom feel fresh. Here, a Houzz reader in Kentucky upgraded her “blah” guest bathroom with a nautical theme, doing all the work herself with supplies that cost less than $350.
BEFORE: Heather and Jamie McKinney had lived in their custom-built home for 2½ years before they got around to finishing their guest bathroom. And in Heather’s own words, the space was “blah, to say the least.” She decided to improve upon the look by giving the room a makeover with a nautical theme.
AFTER: To give her toilet and sink areas a more finished and stylized look, Heather purchased cedar fence pickets from Lowe’s for about $40. She painted, sanded and stained the slats, then attached them to the wall studs using a nail gun.
BEFORE: This is the sink area before she refreshed it.
Single-sink vanity with cultured marble top: Style Selections in Espresso, Euro collection, Lowe’s
Single-sink vanity with cultured marble top: Style Selections in Espresso, Euro collection, Lowe’s
AFTER: This photo shows the transformation of the sink area. The boards McKinney used weren’t exactly the same length, so she hid the edges with thick rope. The mirror she purchased conveniently had rope attached.
Paint: Valspar Signature satin paint color matched to Freestyle Blue WDTW19, Glidden; water-based wood stain: Island Water, Minwax; mirror: Kirkland’s
Paint: Valspar Signature satin paint color matched to Freestyle Blue WDTW19, Glidden; water-based wood stain: Island Water, Minwax; mirror: Kirkland’s
Above the mirror, Heather placed a vintage clear glass sconce.
Below the chair rail, she used faux-beadboard wallpaper, which she finished off with a piece of wood trim and later covered with rope. This photo shows the wall treatments and wood trim before she applied the rope. It also shows the orientation of the toilet to the sink in the small bathroom.
Beadboard wallpaper: Allen + Roth via Lowe’s
Beadboard wallpaper: Allen + Roth via Lowe’s
Heather covered the wooden chair rail with five rows of rope that she tacked on with a glue gun. This photo shows a close-up of the rope trim as she was applying it.
Heather filled six shadow boxes behind the toilet with what she calls “precious finds” from yearly beach excursions.
Shadow boxes: Studio Décor via Michael’s
Shadow boxes: Studio Décor via Michael’s
She added a towel rack-shelf combo to the right of the mirror, where she displays more beach-themed treasures.
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: No
Professionals hired: No
Special features: Wood-plank accent walls with rope detailing
Splurges: “Heck no! I’m as thrifty as they come, so I was trying to be as economical as I could,” Heather says.
Cost breakdown
Lighting: $55 for the glass sconce above the mirror
Accessories and decor: $30 for the mirror
Supplies: $246 ($20 for one roll of beadboard wallpaper, $40 for rope, $35 for paint, $11 for water-based stain, $40 for fence pickets, $10 for wood trim and $90 for shadow boxes)
Total: $331
Up next: Flamingos Make Way for a $23,000 Spa Look in Florida
More Reader Bathrooms: $3,000 DIY Transformation | $22,000 Remodel for Aging in Place | $20,000 for a Pair of Renovations | From ‘Blah’ to ‘Aah’ in a $27,000 Makeover
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: No
Professionals hired: No
Special features: Wood-plank accent walls with rope detailing
Splurges: “Heck no! I’m as thrifty as they come, so I was trying to be as economical as I could,” Heather says.
Cost breakdown
Lighting: $55 for the glass sconce above the mirror
Accessories and decor: $30 for the mirror
Supplies: $246 ($20 for one roll of beadboard wallpaper, $40 for rope, $35 for paint, $11 for water-based stain, $40 for fence pickets, $10 for wood trim and $90 for shadow boxes)
Total: $331
Up next: Flamingos Make Way for a $23,000 Spa Look in Florida
More Reader Bathrooms: $3,000 DIY Transformation | $22,000 Remodel for Aging in Place | $20,000 for a Pair of Renovations | From ‘Blah’ to ‘Aah’ in a $27,000 Makeover
Who lives here: Jamie and Heather McKinney, their son, Brandon, and their daughter, Breckyn
Location: Kevil, Kentucky
Size: 25 square feet (2 square meters)
Total cost: $331
Construction time: One week
Heather McKinney calls herself “as thrifty as they come” and embarked upon the guest bath makeover with a plan to keep costs way down. In total, the improvements cost her just about $350. She saved by doing the design work and labor herself.