Tag: bathroom makeover in 30 days challenge

Bathroom Makeover: Resources

Written by Jenna on January 15, 2015. Posted in DIY. 1 Comment on Bathroom Makeover: Resources

So you guys really like the bathroom makeover??? I am thrilled! Those of you who left comments about the transformation on the blog or on facebook + instagram – thank you so much. Your kind, sweet words mean the world to me!

As promised, I am back today to share the specific resources for the bathroom revamp. The other day my post went on and on with pictures of the newly finished space and today’s post is all about the details…

As I’ve mentioned throughout the process of renovating this bathroom, my design approach was to create a space with neutral, classic basics and layer in the bold + unexpected. The main items in the bathroom – tub, vanity, toilet, etc. – are basic bath elements typical of many homes. What makes it above and beyond the norm are the details & layers – the wallpaper, towels, shower curtain, etc. Those layered elements give the sophisticated wow-punch! At the end of the day, it’s all about the layered colors + patterns and how they work together to create an overall beautiful composition.

On to the resources…

Starting with the original mood board – some of the elements changed, but the overall idea/aesthetic stayed the same…

From wall to wall, these are the specifics…

Resources

1. Wallpaper – Serena and Lily

2. Framed prints – frames from AC Moore and prints were a DIY project

3. Decorative tile border – Lowe’s

4. Herringbone accent tile – Lowe’s

5. 3×6 Subway tile – Lowe’s

6. Showerhead – Lowe’s

7. Tub fittings (replacement fittings for the old Moen fittings) – Lowe’s

8. Tub – Lowe’s

9. Shower curtain – Target

10. Towels – Homegoods

11. Metal Allen & Roth baseboard vent – Lowe’s

12. Toilet – Lowe’s

13. Shelf – DIY project; materials from Lowe’s – tutorial coming soon

14. Light – Lowe’s

15. Mirror – Lowe’s

16. Accessories: soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, cup – Lowe’s

17. Faucet – Lowe’s

18. Vanity – Lowe’s

19. Toilet paper holder – Lowe’s

20. Tiled Niche – DIY project >>> click for tutorial

21. Hand towel holder by Moen – Lowe’s

22. Burlap baskets – Lowe’s

From start to finish, these are all the posts pertaining to this bathroom remodel
Plan of Action
Demo: Removal + Installation of the Tub & Walls
How-To Tile + Grout the Bathroom Walls
Installing Wallpaper
Adding a Tile Accent Border
Creating a Tiled Niche
Bathroom Makeover Reveal
Resources

Bathroom Makeover: Reveal

Written by Jenna on January 13, 2015. Posted in Bathroom Makeover, DIY. 10 Comments on Bathroom Makeover: Reveal

The day is finally here… reveal day of the Bathroom Makeover. The project that I challenged myself to do in 30 days. Keeping reading (till the end) to see if I accomplished the goal…

The finished space has taken a wee bit longer than planned to share, but with the holiday high, I got a bit sidetracked. Good news, Good news… the bathroom is done and has been for a few weeks. I was planning on sharing the reveal sooner, but thought it would be best to wait till after the Christmas craze.

Without further ado, here it is…

As always, I love partnering with Lowe’s on projects and this bathroom makeover wasn’t any different. I have worked with Lowe’s on so many projects over the years and not only am I thrilled to be apart of their Creative Team, but I truly love their product line. Minus a few elements, this entire space was pretty much created using in-stock items that can be found in most of their stores. How great is it not to have to order and wait 8 weeks for something to arrive?! Grab & go today – that’s a bonus in my book. (I wasn’t paid to say any of that and am sharing my true, honest thoughts!)

Before sharing more of the ‘after’, I have to state that bathrooms – in my opinion – are so difficult to photograph because of the limited size of the space. I’m not a pro photog, so I tried capturing it the best I could. That being said, let’s get to it.

You can’t appreciate the after, without seeing the before. This bathroom has had quite the evolution. It was pretty sad when we moved in…

Within a year, it was painted & got a little refresh…

Since it’s heavily used by 2 young kiddos it got + gets quite the abuse on a daily basis. After a while, the exposed walls (sheetrock) + the builder-grade melamine cabinet just wasn’t fitting the bill anymore.

If you missed following along from the beginning, this was the mood board I created for the new space…

A few changes had to be made along the way, but the main elements & more so, the main aesthetic / feel of the space, was absolutely achieved.

My goal was to create an updated, modern bathroom with a classic (live-a-long-time) background + lots of eye-popping, unexpected layers. I am thrilled with the result not only because it’s super functional for the kids (with tile going half way up the walls), but it’s really a dynamic + fun space!

Come on in…

Many have asked, “why did you choose to do the kids bath instead of the Master?”, and the reason for that is I see this bathroom much more throughout the day (plus it seemed more of a manageable DIY project because it’s a smaller space).

This bathroom is right at the top of the stairs and since I am up & down a lot on a daily basis, I wanted it to look & feel new, updated, and fresh. I’ll get to the Master bath someday. Even though it was featured in a national magazine, it does need some fixin’ up!

This is what I see each & every time I walk up the stairs…

snapshot from my phone

Let’s explore the new bath space more…

The space is a typical standard 5′ x 8′ bathroom with a sink, toilet, tub layout on one wall & then a straight wall on the other side.

I installed 3×6 subway tile from the tub deck to the ceiling in the tub space and continued the tile about 3′ up the wall in the main part of the bathroom. Above the tile, I installed a dynamic wallpaper in a beautiful damask pattern with colors of navy, beige, and orange. It really is the art of the space so I didn’t add much more to the walls.

On the left side, above the towel bar, I hung two framed custom art pieces (created by my 2 older kiddos) which I will be sharing more details on soon. The frames + matting are white & simple, the perfect contrast to the bold background.

tutorial for >>> how to install wallpaper

As you continue around the revamped bathroom, you round the corner to the tub space. This area is drastically different with new floor to ceiling tile (all installed by me – thank goodness my hands aren’t cracked anymore).

3×6 subway tile was used as the main tile material, which frames an accent tile of natural stone in a small herringbone pattern

tutorial for >>> how to install tile + grout

Where the wall meets the ceiling, I added a small decorative moulding, which really gave the space a finished, tailored look. I am not very good with moulding (remember my troubles in the powder room), so this time I chose a moulding that had a 90 degree angle and it was much more manageable + easy to install since the cut was a simple 45.

Adding the moulding not only provides a finished look, but it allowed the install of the wallpaper to be easier – the wallpaper didn’t have to be perfect at the top because the moulding covered it. Additionally, the moulding continues in the tub area where I was left with a 1/2″ gap between the last tile and the ceiling – a space too small to install tile.

Here I am installing it…

On the other side of the bathroom were more big changes… a new toilet, vanity, lighting + a new shelf and medicine cabinet turned tiled niche.

The shelf is a simple DIY project that I will share more about soon. The original thought / plan was to add an industrial-style shelf above the toilet, but after the wallpaper went up, I just couldn’t bring myself to cover it + with the new vanity there was ample storage.

A simple white shelf along with a few layered accessories and a framed print seemed to be the perfect addition.

To the vanity…

The vanity is a beauty and I love the openness it brings to the space. This vanity compared to the previous one is about 6″ longer. There was enough room at the side of the toilet to go a bit wider and the additional inches really makes a difference. Even though it’s minimal, there seems to be a lot more countertop space.

Also having drawers with this vanity, the amount of storage has tripled versus having 1 large open cavity with the last cabinet. There looks to be 5 drawers, but the center drawer under the sink is a faux panel. The 2 smaller side drawers + the 2 larger drawers provide so much room. As the kids get older & accumulate more stuff, I am sure the drawers will definitely fill up. For now, they’re fairly unused.

Underneath the closed part of the cabinet is an open shelf perfect for towels, baskets, etc. I chose these cute burlap bins at Lowe’s and revamped them a bit (of course, how could I not…?)

I loved the texture of the burlap, but the rope pull was slightly too nautical, so I swapped them out for a chalkboard label that I found in the dollar bin at Target. Using jute rope, I attached them through the holes and in 30 seconds gave these pretty bins a whole new look…

I love how easy & simple something like this can change a space & be unique to your personal aesthetic + style.

Back up above, the countertop is adorned with a few simple, but must-need items. I found these really cute accessories – liquid soap holder, toothbrush holder, and cup – that were super inexpensive at Lowe’s. They are clear (plastic), but look very modern and $$$. The look of lucite is hot right now.

I chose a minimalist-style, frameless, rectangular tilt mirror and an industrial-style oversized outdoor light that is centered above (because of the longer vanity, the light had to move over a few inches – my contractor did that since it’s above & beyond my skillset).

On the wall to the right of the vanity was a medicine cabinet (which I had painted with chalkpaint + added a frame a few years ago) and is now an open tiled niche…

A niche is really so much easier for the kids and tiling it makes cleanup so simple. I was originally going to create the niche using wood and that would have been a big mistake. wood + water = disaster.

tutorial for >>> creating a tiled niche

A few more detail shots…

And of course a look at a few before & afters…

I will admit, I am so happy this bathroom is done. It was a bit tiring, but in all honesty, it was 100% worth ~~the blood + sweat + tears~~ the effort! This post was chock full of info on the final stages + reveal of the space, but you really might be wanting where I got it all & the actual resources. No worries… that post will be coming up later this week – pinky promise.

In all, from start to finish, this bathroom makeover took just around 30 days to complete (95% DIY and mostly all by myself – the mister helped when he could). So I guess I can say, I met my challenge… which I really only set for myself so I would finish it 100% and not slack off. 10 days, 30 days, 60 days, who cares. It’s done! This makeover was a big accomplishment for me as tackling the removal & install of a tub + such a HUGE tile project was nothing that I had done before. The challenge scared me, but I did it! That’s the beauty of DIY!

Lastly, I want to give a big shout out to Lowe’s for believing in my talents & choicing to partner with me on this project. They never tell me what to do, what to buy, or what to write, but instead they always say do what you do best… create something good & inspire!

Thanks for following along with me on this bathroom makeover journey! Cheers to another successful (but tiring) before & after makeover!

Resources for all the items in this bathroom makeover coming later this week.

Bathroom Makeover: Installing Wallpaper {Day 17}

Written by Jenna on November 20, 2014. Posted in Bathroom Makeover, DIY, Wallpaper. 2 Comments on Bathroom Makeover: Installing Wallpaper {Day 17}

If you follow along with me on Instagram, then you may have seen a few sneak peeks of the next phase of the Bathroom Remodel… the WALLPAPER! Tile is done (well mostly) and after 17 days of cutting, grouting, tiling, I never want to touch another tile again in my life. Now we know that’s not true. But in all honesty, it was a big job. Totally doable for any skill level, but just time consuming!

As I move forward with this Bathroom Makeover in 30 Days Challenge, the walls are now adorned with pure beautiful.

Take a look…

Can we say dynamic?! What do you think??

The evolution of this bathroom has been quite interesting. Every moment I think I am leaning one direction, I end up going the opposite way. Such as life, I guess. Originally my plan was to go basic and neutral for the base elements, and then add pops of color and interest with layers. Before tiling, I painted over the previous yellow paint color with a neutral greige. Once the white tile went up, it felt boring. It wasn’t a reflection of my design style or the home we’ve created. It needed something… Then I found the wallpaper.

This wallpaper by Serena and Lily gave the perfect amount of eye-catching intrigue without overwhelming the space. There is still a lot of whites + neutrals, and with the other elements I have planned, it’s going to be my next favorite space.

So on to the install…

I’ve wallpapered areas in my home before including the powder room and my son’s bedroom. Both were one wall projects and didn’t involve a lot of cutting. When working with a tight space that has lots of nooks, crannies, and crevices, it can get a bit tricky.

Differently from the other walls I’ve used wallpaper on, I never before used a wallpaper paste. A discussion started a few weeks back on a picture I shared on Instagram about using wallpaper primer. An expert chimed in strongly suggesting using wallpaper primer before wallpapering, ” You can install wallpaper without primer if you have smooth walls, however, it’s going to be a pain later when when you want to remove it. If you prime your walls, the wallpaper will roll down in long flowing strips. If you don’t prime, the drywall comes off with the wallpaper in 6+ years.” My thought upon this input… USE WALLPAPER PRIMER.

I chose this clear wallpaper primer at Lowe’s and the gallon was about $16. I used the smallest amount so a little goes a long way. I wish they sold it in smaller amounts, but o well.

I poured the primer into a paint tray and using a roller, I applied it to the walls. You really only need a thin coat because it is watery. I found after a few minutes some of the primer dripping down the wall, so I took a cloth and dabbed it so it wouldn’t harden.

In about 3 hours, it was dry and ready to wallpaper. I waited till the next morning to start though…

Supplies for Wallpapering

Wallpaper
Wallpaper Paste
Smoothing Tool
Sharp Razor or blade
Other handy tools for wallpapering are: a tape measure, a laser level, a pencil

How-To Wallpaper

I started off at one edge of the wall and worked my way around the room from that point. Because I am planning on adding moulding at the top of the wall, and a tile trim piece at the bottom, measuring exactly wasn’t needed – phew! I measured about the length of the wall and cut my wallpaper with a scissor. Then I layed it on the floor so I could apply the paste.

Unlike with my previous wallpaper experiences, this time I applied the wallpaper paste to the back of the wallpaper as indicated on the instructions that came with the wallpaper. In the past, I put the paste directly on the wall, then adhered the paper. I wanted to see if this other method worked better (and in the end, it did!). Why? I felt that by adding the paste to the back of the wallpaper instead of applying the paste to the wall there resulted in less air bubbles and air pockets. The paper was easier to smooth out which avoided the paper from getting creased or damaged.

I applied a nice coating of wallpaper paste using an inexpensive paint brush.

Then I let the paper sit about 3 minutes (as the instructions stated) and aligned it on the wall.

Once I positioned it where I thought it look best, I used a long level (sorry no picture) and made sure it was vertically plumb. Once I had the paper in the right place, I used the smoothing tool to smooth out the paper from air bubbles and air pockets. It’s best to start in the center of the paper and work your way out to the edges.

Once the paper was smooth, it was time to move on to the next piece. I cut another piece of wallpaper length and then aligned it edge to edge with the previous piece. Never overlap the wallpaper.

Once it was smoothed out, I took a lint-free rag and cleaned off the paste from the seams. One reason that I love this paper is that is easily cleanable.

This damask looking wallpaper was really nice to work with and the quality was very good, but I was slightly unhappy with the design repeat when I went to align the edges. The design didn’t match exactly like it should and I was bummed about it. I tried my best to line up the design to make it look right. Thankfully the pattern is so busy that you don’t really notice.

Once I had the 2 sheets up, I was feeling really confident in my work. I continued around the room and then I came to my first obstacle… the corner and the door.

For this area, I used the old method of applying the paste to the wall because I was afraid if I didn’t, the paste would get on everything – door, tile, etc. To start, I measured and trimmed the paper leaving lots of extra on the edges. Then I put it in place and trimmed again until the size of the paper fit the exact space.

I had a few other obstacles to overcome like the outlets, the switches, and the light. I typically use a scissor or a sharp blade to cut the paper.

Before I knew it, a few hours later, all the walls were covered and the wallpapering process was complete.

A recap of the before & in-progress now.

Whats up next?

The moulding at the top + the tile trim around the shower & walls…

As you can see, this new bathroom space is surely NOT going to be boring. I can’t wait to finish it up and finally use it. Even though there are lots of little things still to do, I am thrilled with the direction that it is taking.

The installation of this dynamic wallpaper took about 5 hours on one day

Follow along on this bathroom remodel with these other posts
Plan of Action {Day 1}
Demo: Removal + Installation of the Tub & Walls {Day 2-4}
How-To Tile + Grout the Bathroom Walls {Day 5-16}
Installing Wallpaper {Day 17}
Adding a Tile Accent Border {Day 18}
Creating a Tiled Niche {Day 19 + 20}

Coming up (still to do)
Details: Moulding, Lighting, Accessories
Finishing Touches
Bathroom Remodel Reveal

{Day 17} Wallpaper â€“ Complete! 13 more days to goâ€¦

This post is sponsored by Loweâ€™s, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I am thrilled (and a bit nervous) about tackling this project, but very excited to be partnering with Loweâ€™s on creating an entirely new bathroom space. Iâ€™d love for you to follow along on this new project!

Check out more of my posts on wallpapering

[Frames Wallpaper in my son’s bedroom]

[Amy Butler Wallpaper in my Powder Room]

Bathroom Makeover: Demo {Day 2-4}

Written by Jenna on November 3, 2014. Posted in Bathroom, Bathroom Makeover, DIY. 1 Comment on Bathroom Makeover: Demo {Day 2-4}

It just got real. No more dreaming or fantasizing about a new bathroom, because it’s happening NOW.

So it’s Day 2 for this Bathroom Makeover in 30 Days Challenge (day 1 was putting together the plan of action and by day 30 my goal is to be finished) and the DEMO HAS BEGUN!

Instead of me jumping ahead and sharing what it looks like now (a hot mess with walls missing), let me show you what it looked like before…

Yes, the space was fine, but it needed updating. All the fixtures had seen better days. The tub was an insert style and very dated, while the shower/tub fittings were starting to leak and even though I would scrub them regularly, the mildew would not go away.

It pains me to share these before images, but I’m just being real…

The difficult part about a tub insert is that it only goes 6′ high leaving the above space open for water splashing (which could lead to bacteria growth and/or warping of the walls). Because the kids really ~~abuse~~ use this bathroom, the new space not only has to be pretty, but extremely functional. With my kiddos it seems there is more water outside the tub than inside, so the surrounding areas really need to be protected (hence my decision to tile the entire tub area + the lower section of wall around the rest of the bathroom).

The current vanity is a factory-made cabinet and even though I freshened it up a few years ago with a coat of paint, it was starting to warp and fall apart (that’s what eventually happens to a paper composite cabinet that is in a moist area). From the pictures, the space may look okay to you, but close-up it’s not.

Here’s a snap shot of the bathroom right before demo started…

So that’s the story about the before bathroom…

Onto the current.

Removing the Tub + Walls

The plan of action is in place and the start of the renovation has begun. The other day I failed to mention that with all of the kitchens and bathrooms I have designed for others, I have never renovated my own kitchen or bathroom. I think because I know the process and the unknowns that could happen, I have a fear of embarking on such a big project. Putting fears aside, I am psyched about this new proposed space. Like with all big projects, not everything can go as planned. With that being said, LET THE DEMO BEGIN!

1. First up, the removal of the bath fittings.

2. Next up, demoing the walls above the tub using a hack saw.

3. Once the walls above were removed, the screws that held the tub insert in place (to the studs) were removed and the tub got cut up into pieces (separating the sides from the tub) to be hauled out.

This is what the plumbing looked like (in the wall) once the tub was removed…

Installing the New Tub + Walls

4. When the tub was out and the space was cleaned up (somewhat), the new tub was put into place. As I mentioned the other day, we chose to hire this part out and called in a pro to install the tub, as well as the tub fittings so it was done right. We don’t have any experience with installing tubs / tub fittings and the hookups need to be done right to avoid any water leaking. A contractor + a plumber were definitely needed for this job – we know when to call in help, and this was the time!

New studs were also added behind the tub + at the corners to provide the right support + best fit.

5. Next up, the walls! In the tub area cement board was installed (ie: DUROCK > Lowe’s) instead of sheetrock because it’s resistant to bacteria and fungus + will not warp, delaminate, or disintegrate when/if exposed to water – it really it a must-use material in a shower or tub.

I found this very helpful video with a great tutorial on installing backer board

The new cement board butts up to the existing sheetrock walls that continue around the room. It is important to have the two materials align as perfect as possible and also be at the same plane so the tile can be seamlessly applied.

The removal of the old walls + tub and the installation of the new tub and cement board took about 2.5 days – about 10 hours

Removing the Medicine Cabinet

6. Also on day 2, I removed the medicine cabinet that sits near the sink. We never really used it in the past and I thought it would be better served as a niche. I thought the removal process would be tricky, but it was actually very simple.

Inside the medicine cabinet were screws that were screwed into the surrounding studs. I removed the screws and voila, the medicine cabinet came right out.

Now there’s a huge hole. O, the potential for this little niche!

So there you have it – day 2, 3, 4 are complete. There are 26 more days left to meet my goal of a complete bathroom in 30 days! The space looks pretty scary and I’m not feeling super confident, BUT I am trying to stay positive and like always, I’m going to keep chugging along…

Next up… TILE!

{Day 2-4} Tub Removed + Installed â€“ Complete! 26 more days to goâ€¦

Bathroom Makeover: Plan of Action {Day 1}

Written by Jenna on October 29, 2014. Posted in Bathroom, DIY, Paint, Renovations, Tile, Wallpaper. 4 Comments on Bathroom Makeover: Plan of Action {Day 1}

I’m at it again… another project! And this is a biggie. I know, I know…. I haven’t even waited 0.05 seconds before starting something new, but this project has been in the works for over a year and I’m thrilled that my thoughts + ideas are actually coming to fruition! So the next big remodel… the hall/kids bathroom.

This bathroom got a mini DIY revamp about 3 years ago, but it’s been used & abused by two kiddos, so it was time to put my design expertise to work and create a space that would handle the everyday splashes & wear of two busy bees.

Of course, I can’t start the remodel without a plan of action. So here it is. My creative vision board for the new bathroom space…

I’m thrilled to be partnering with Lowe’s on this bathroom renovation and they’ve put me to the test to create a dynamic, on-trend space using their in-stock products (items that can be found in store versus online). My vision for this revamp is to mix my design style of classic eclectic – classic for the background with bold elements layered in! Since the tile is the dominate feature (shower + 3′ up all the walls) in this bathroom, that’s where I started…

My design philosophy when creating any space is to go classic for the elements that are expensive and/or difficult to change. Similar to buying a sofa (which I typically go neutral in color and pattern), I wanted a tile that could “live” a long time… I DO NOT plan on changing the tile in a year or two (or even 5), so it had to be something that I would like now & in the future. There is nothing more classic and beautiful than 3 x 6 subway tile. The bonus, it’s only .22 cents a tile – one of the least expensive Lowe’s has. But (there’s always a but), I wanted something more. I needed to create a wow-factor. So along with the classic subway tile, I am also going to incorporate a gorgeous herringbone carrara marble. Crossing my fingers that it looks as good on the wall as I envision it in my head {squeal}.

But you all know me, I need color somehow, someway. That’s where the layers in the space come in. I’ve selected a dynamic wallpaper that is really give an incredible contract against the classic white subway. It’s bold. It’s unexpected. It’s me.

The classic and the bold are covered! The other elements in this new proposed bathroom are all going to enhance the beautiful classic and bold selections. The old builder-grade vanity will be headed curbside and a new, more modern vanity in an espresso finish will be installed in it’s place. For the lighting, I wanted to introduce another unexpected element and chose an oversized single exterior industrial-style light fixture.

Here’s the catch… I’m doing 95% of this bathroom renovation on my own. I’m crazy, right?! Nutso, but I’m determined. The part that I will not be tackling is the install of the new tub and shower components. The mister nor I have ever installed a tub or shower fittings and are too nervous to tackle it on our own and want to avoid any possible leaks. We know when to call in the pros and the tub install is not within our skill-set. I am sure we could do it, but who wants to take the chance? Not Us! Beyond that though, it’s all on me. Tile, toilet, vanity, lighting… All DIY baby!

Since this bathroom makeover is almost an entirely DIY job, it’s going to take longer than typical, so our goal is to tackle it in 30 days. 30 days start to finish, complete! Can we do it? Let’s see. I hope you’ll follow along on another crazy DIY adventure…

{Day 1} Plan on Action – Complete! 29 more days to go…

This post is sponsored by Lowe’s, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I am thrilled (and a bit nervous) about tackling this project, but very excited to be partnering with Lowe’s on creating an entirely new bathroom space. Iâ€™d love for you to follow along on this new project!