Sunday, May 4, 2014

Downstairs Bathroom


This is the downstairs bathroom in our rental house as it looked when we moved in. It was one of the rooms I pondered about most as there is obviously no changing almond bisque porcelain out for white or replacing a bath cabinet very easily .

So after I pondered and pondered and pondered some more, I came up with a plan. 

Just embrace it. 


I felt that the dark sink cabinet just weighed down the tiny room so I had Patricia Banner at Cottage by Design make a lovely skirt for it. She sent me swatches of various linen colors and I chose a light sage green. It makes an enormous difference and really softens the room. Thank you Patricia! 

The other change is the faucet. The old one was peeling (that's the line I started with when I told Mike I wanted to replace it) and was of course, just plain unattractive.  I found an affordable chrome one at Home Depot. 


I opted to switch out the oak toilet seat for an almond bisque one (this is me embracing it). This immediately streamlined the loo area and made the almond bisque seem much more white than beige. 

The dark cabinet on the wall was an easy removal. I replaced it with the old Louis Phillipe-style mirror that was over our guest house fireplace. I had higher hopes for this mirror as I absolutely love it but I couldn't deny that it made a huge improvement in this little room. So over the loo it went. 

My mom arrives tomorrow so our house is giddy with excitement! 

Enjoy your wonderful spring week! 

47 comments :

  1. Wow, Catherine. Nice changes. Your landlords are soo lucky to have you all!

    Lisa B'ham WA

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  2. Love what you have done with this little bathroom. Have you ever thought of painting the brick? that might make the room look bigger ~

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  3. If it were our house, yes, I would think of painting it. It would definitely make the room look bigger for sure.
    Best, Catherine

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  4. I like what you did in that little room! We too, had a similar cabinet in our main bathroom -- fortunately, we could take it out -- but I think your solution is a good one for a situation like yours OR if you have to wait until you can afford to buy something better! Great solution -- great new bathroom! I like the wicker on the back of the tub as well! I have a basket as well in our guest bath which holds extra rolls of TT and the linen towels that we use for that room! For there is NO storage!

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  5. Lovely perfect I want it ! :)
    The lack of charm that my house has is compounded by the fact that even if I continue to do decorating style things to the interior, it is still a mid century ranch and not the farmhouse/colonial that I dreamt of . I think I have to start looking at the For Sale signs on houses again :)

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  6. Amazing! The skirt on the sink is adorable, the rug on the floor nearly covers all the ... what is that, vinyl? ... and the new faucet is a huge improvement. Great makeover!
    Claudia

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  7. Sometimes it's the simplest changes that make the biggest difference! Great inexpensive choices for a rental!

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  8. Love it- so charming! You definitely have the golden touch. Wish I could hire you as my decorator!

    What do you use as a bath rug? I can never find one that is stylish and useful. Love your choice- can you share where you got it?

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  9. Just beautiful. A few well thought out and executed ideas and you have transformed the space from dated to fresh and new. I love the result. Very well done!

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  10. Hi Catherine, I am so pleased to have just found you again, I did love to follow your blog posts at your previous beautiful home, and am now looking forward to being able to follow you and Mike and your family on your new journey. I notice you are renting - I do too, and am looking forward to your ideas for decorating a rental property. Very happy to have found you in blogland again!
    With best regards to you all

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  11. Beautiful change you made :-) Alexandra

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  12. A small bathroom yet gorgeous and cutest bathroom, I have ever seen so far! The transformation is cool, which is so white that attracts everyone to be here! That mirror! Exquisite!

    Sebastian Chuter

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  13. Rug is seagrass! I opted for seagrass because it is heavier and stays in place better than a light cotton one. We needed that with moving potty chair back and forth! Best, Catherine

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  14. amazing difference. and so YOU.

    great job. donna

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  15. What a wonderful redo... I love the look of sink shirts! Have a great week.

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  16. so pretty! what an improvement your little changes made. x

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  17. It looks like an entirely different room. It is amazing what a few small changes can make. Very pretty!

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  18. Amazing what a few, simple changes have done. Great idea about the skirt. It's lovely.

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  19. Thanks so much for advice regarding the bath rug. I am going to try a seagrass one in my bath. Thanks alot- you are a lifesaver!

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  20. Your simple changes make a HUGE difference. Well done!

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  21. You once again amaze me. LONG LONG LONG time reader- first time post. Now..... you've done a gazillion things that were worth me writing in about but this one for some reason takes the cake. Yeah. This one. I didn't even write in about your guest house remake (which remains my all time favorite space in blog land and the "muse" for my current house make over) but I had to write in about this make over. It is amazing and shows- to the average home owner/decorator- what can be done with out spending loads of money. I love this make over LOVE IT LOVE IT. It proves that making a space your own can be done. Thank you for posting. Have a wonderful visit with your Mom. Lynda

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  22. You did a great job. I really love the table skirt, great idea. Embracing some of the existing elements was definitely the way to go.

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  23. My goodness, how just a few changes can totally transform a room. Great job!

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  24. ...there is going to be a rental bidding war when you move out of this house...perfection indeed...blessings laney

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  25. The linen skirt for the sink is really lovely and soft--it makes such a nice contrast to the brick!

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  26. Wow! Looks great! What a huge improvement. I never would have thought of adding a skirt and yet it looks great. The mirror and the seagrass rug really update the space. So pretty!

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  27. wow that is a great idea! I have a cabinet like that in one of my bathroom and I love the idea of putting a skirt over it. what a change and so simple. thanks!

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  28. Beautiful!! I love everything. So classic and perfect.

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  29. Love all the changes Catherine. Your pretty things would make any room. Where did you get the rug?
    Thank you for sharing,
    Julie

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  30. How long do you plan to stay in this house? Curious, because you seem to be making a lot of changes for what I thought was a temporary stopping point. That said, I admire the changes you are making--I think you must have a great deal more vision than I do: )

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  31. I love the brick - your bathroom is wonderful. I also like the mirror suspended above the toilet.

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  32. I love the skirt around the sink. So so pretty.
    xoxo
    Lisa

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  33. beautiful! Your small changes make a huge difference. Love the seagrass rug and mirror.

    Would love to see the kitchen and master bedroom- perhaps just a peek? Please?

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  34. Wow! It's amazing how you made that rather sad looking bathroom look so much brighter and softer. Great job!

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  35. Just the right volume on that skirt. So charming! If I'd only seen the "after" photos, I'm not sure if I would have even noticed the almond bisque. Beautiful job!

    Take good care, Em

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  36. All of the sudden, it was transformed into happily ever after. You have such a way for bringing out the best.
    pve

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  37. Adding the sink skirt was a simple, dramatic improvement. Love it.

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  38. A fabulous transformation. Removing the dark units has really opened up the space and the mirror just completes the look. Great :O)

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  39. Love the changes. Would you consider the adding some art?

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  40. Yes, there is a Matisse piece that you can see in the mirror. Best, Catherine

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  41. Nice interior designing and interior decoration!

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  42. Much better. But I'd plead with the landlord for the option to paint the brick. Whitewash it, maybe.

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  43. nice ;)
    grettings xxx

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

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