Week Eight | November 15 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Eight | November 15 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
The Big Reveal
Here we are, and this time the Primary Bathroom is DONE! Well, done enough. There are still some small things for the contractors to finish and repair, but for our purposes, the bathroom is DONE!
Do you remember where we started?
Bland, boring, and horrid! Nothing matched. And it was the cheapest of the cheap.
Need proof? Here you go…
These were my Project Goals:
A beautiful, functional bathroom for our whole family
More light — both with upgraded lighting and more light from the window as well
Uplifting color scheme with playful touches and a balance of MCM style
More functional sink and cabinetry for the entire family’s use
Luxurious shower with modern fittings
We certainly hit some snags along the way. And this was NOT an 8 week project — we are well into month six. And I haven’t even showered in there yet, but here it is — the Mostly-Finished Primary Bathroom!
Beautiful & Functional
My first goal was: a beautiful, functional bathroom for our whole family. This is the primary bathroom where we all begin and end our days, so it needs to suit each of us and be truly functional. We didn’t gain any square footage, but the bathroom feels bigger, and it works better.
How?
The vanity is smaller and narrower. Even the original plan — a vintage dresser — would have accomplished this. But this vanity, the Hemnes cabinet from IKEA, has a small footprint which allows us to pass each other in the bathroom — something we couldn’t do before.
Additionally, replacing the shower curtain with glass makes the room feel so much bigger. From some angles the glass truly disappears.
But it’s the tile from Modwalls Tile — that’s where the bathroom design started. I wanted 1”x1” tiles for the floor — a classic, late 50’s look. Modwalls’ Brio Glass Mosiac in Palm Springs is perfection! And the wall tile is their Lush Subway tile in Peacock. It’s gorgeous! The color changes and deepens as the day passes — the reflective quality of glass is similar to water, so every time I walk in the bathroom, it feels a little different.
More Light
Goal 2: More light — both with upgraded lighting and more light from the window as well
I started by adding more light out in the hallway — upgrading our lighting to the Kichler Phix Wall Sconce. We have used this series of lighting in several places in our home including in the kitchen, and we LOVE them all!
Adding more light actually started in the hallway where we upgraded the lighting using Kichler’s
But seriously, it wasn’t hard to have more light in this room as the original was really dark! The glass shower maximizes the natural light in the bathroom. Additionally, we took out the two can lights and a soffit and replaced them with this fabulous light from Kichler. The Harlaw 4 Light Vanity fixture offers soft but significant light in a lovely white that just makes the whole room glow.
Oh, and did you notice the hole in the wall by the light fixture — yeah, the contractor has to fix that. One of a few things on the punch list yet.
I also installed a vintage bubble light (the mate for the light downstairs). It’s one of the vintage touches in this room — and I love that the Kichler fixture works beautifully with it! Blending vintage with new isn’t always easy.
Vintage Style
Goal 3: Uplifting color scheme with playful touches and a balance of MCM style
Since this is the room where we begin and end each day, it was important to me that this room be one of joy and cheer. We are also a family who loves color, so I can’t take full credit for the color choices here. It was very much a group effort down to the towels — hot pink and teal for the win!
These classic hooks from Emtek hold our towels securely and look fabulous doing it!
I bought a rainbow of washclothes to try out towel colors. The rainbow will serve us well, too!
As for the MCM style: the chrome mirror over the sink was a vintage find from the FBMP. After hours and hours of scrubbing, it came away clean and looks like it is original to the house. It very well could have been!
Here’s the BEFORE — cleaning up a grimy, disgusting mirror and medicine cabinet.
And here it is after! Significantly better. I painted the back of the sliding doors with the same white spray paint that I used on the interior — I just didn’t want to be able to see what is inside the medicine cabinet.
Additionally, the train rack and other chrome fixtures tip the room toward the late 1950s, too.
I love a good train rack!
And the wallpaper: well, that is part of the playfulness I was after. I love the wave pattern — Mare Teal Wave from A-Street Prints. It clearly references Japanese printmaking, something dear to my heart, but also brings an organic softness which balances the geometry of the tiles.
A Better Vanity
Goal 4: More functional sink and cabinetry for the entire family’s use
While I am terribly disappointed that the vintage dresser/mirror combination had to be scrapped, I’m growing to love this vanity from IKEA. I was able to choose a sink with two faucets — but one bowl which saves space and, frankly, just will work beautifully for us.
It also has deep drawers for functional storage — something our previous vanity lacked despite its larger size.
However, the Hemnes collection has a faux farmhouse vibe to it which I needed to dispatch as much as possible. I lined the drawers with scraps of wallpaper — replacing the gray ticking-stripes.
I also used these beautiful chrome pulls from Emtek. If you want to dress up a piece from IKEA, high-quality hardware is a great place to start. It’s like expensive jewelry with a budget-conscious suit — good hardware elevates everything.
In the same vein, I used Speakman’s Quinn Single Lever Faucet. A high-quality faucet elevates any sink.
I am thrilled to have two faucets in this tiny bathroom!
Luxurious Shower
The final goal was all for me: a luxurious shower with modern fittings. And while I haven’t actually showered here yet, I KNOW I hit the mark.
I used Speakman’s shower system which allowed me to choose exactly what I wanted for my luxurious shower — complete with a rain head! Here’s what I put together:
Here’s the brilliance of the Neo Diverter Waterslide Bar: you don’t have to replumb your bathroom to have a rain shower! It attaches to a standard shower, and provided your ceiling is tall enough, you can convert your standard shower to a rain shower!
Closing Thoughts
First and foremost, I need to thank my sponsors: Emtek, Speakman, A Street Prints, Modwalls Tile, and Kichler Lighting. Not only did they provide products which make this bathroom better, but they also were patient when the contractors did not work quickly. These are better bathrooms than our insurance company would ever have allowed, and our home and family are better for it. Thank you!
And thank you, faithful readers! Your support in so many ways makes projects like this more fun and more interesting as well. Thank you for chiming in, making comments, voting on Instagram, emailing questions, and everything else!
We have now done the One Room Challenge eight times: two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a home office, a mudroom, a front entry, and a greenhouse. I am so thankful for this community and the experience of renovation together, cheering each other on! If you haven’t done an ORC and are thinking about it, I highly encourage you to join!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Cheers and many thanks!
Angela
Gardening News
Here’s your November Gardening Checklist — what to do in your yard and garden during the month of November.
Here’s to a wonderful week for all of you — and a great week of finishing to those who are also doing the ORC!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week Seven | November 8 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Seven | November 8 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: A New Vanity
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the disappointment of my vintage dresser. I’d chosen it almost a year ago with the intention of making it the star of the bathroom. But the plumbing was installed incorrectly, so that plan had to be scrapped.
Boo hoo!
After much cursing, I set about to find a reasonably-priced solution. Enter Ikea’s Hemnes vanity. Is it what I wanted? Nope. But it is functional, crisp, and clean. And we will have two faucets in a tiny space which is an unexpected bonus. I chose the 39” Braviken sink — one basin with two faucets. Since this is our primary family bathroom, I suspect those two faucets will be handy.
Oh, it is fine. Very functional. And fine. But I need to add a little vintage flair — I have plans!
I love the functionality of this vanity. It’s just a little too faux farmhouse for this house. So I have some work to do to make it sit more comfortably. But I have a plan!
Part of that plan involves pairing it with some vintage-appropriate fixtures. Since I also had to find a new mirror, I turned to my favorite source for vintage everything: FBMP. And after a few months of searching, I came upon this mirror:
Vintage mirror with medicine cabinet
It was DISGUSTING, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. It’s clear something sticky spilled inside the medicine compartment at some point. What looked like rust on the bottom and sides turned out to be mostly grime. Lots and lots of sticky grime. But with a lot of elbow grease and even more GooGone as well as a fresh coat of paint, it looks significantly better. I just need to get it up on the wall!
So the plumbing is all installed and the lighting is in, too. This bathroom is so bright — I realize how dark it used to be! What a delightful change, especially as we are headed toward the darkest time of the year. But it’s such a small room, that I am just going to save those details for the reveal which is NEXT WEEK!
So what’s left to do? All of the little details.
install shower glass (the pros will come to do this)
install all hardware, hooks, and towel bars
add new towels and accessories
hang the mirror
modernize the vanity
That’s not an insubstantial list, so I’d better get working!
Gardening News
Here’s your November Gardening Checklist — what to do in your yard and garden during the month of November.
Here’s to a wonderful week for all of you — and a great week of finishing to those who are also doing the ORC!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week Six | November 1 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Six | November 1 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Wallpaper
A few weeks ago, I posted some of the wallpaper samples I was choosing from on Instagram and asked which you would choose. This one choice came in second, but I am absolutely loving it!
This paper is Mare Teal Waves from A-Street Prints, one of the sponsors for this project, and it is glorious! I love the contrast between the very organic waves and the geometry of both tiles. I needed something to soften the room, and this paper does just that!
This is a tiny room, and that’s a large-scale print, but I think it works very well. I’m so pleased!
Wallpaper!
As I wrote last week, we are nearly caught up to real time on this project. We have been plagued with supply issues and the chronic skilled labor shortage here in Colorado which has meant a project that could have been done in 4 weeks is now entering MONTH 5. We are truly just a few working days from being done, but I am praying we will actually be done by the end of the ORC. Once the plumber is done, the rest we can do on our own, so I’m sure that’s what will happen.
One of the big delays: the sink and mirror. People, this has been a true trial. In January, I bought a fantastic vintage dresser on FBMP. It has been sitting in my living room since then waiting to be refinished and installed as the vanity. I also have a vintage mirror which we had hung in the bathroom a few years ago. It was perfect to go over the dresser. Lots of vintage style!
This dresser with its cool, curved front would make such a great vanity!
I love this fin-shaped mirror, too!
But alas.
You knew that was coming, didn’t you.
A few days after the wallpaper was installed, we realized that the drywall installer moved the location of the light fixture so that it is centered between the shower and the wall — not between the toilet and the wall. Why, you may ask? Who the F@*K knows! And the plumbing for the sink is also not where we specified it to be either. So unless we wanted to rip out the drywall and the wallpaper and relocate the fixtures, we had to choose a different, smaller vanity and a smaller mirror.
I am heartbroken.
But at this point I had to take the course of least resistance. So, the vintage vanity and mirror were out. And now I need to sell them. And I had to come up with a new vanity and mirror solution.
More on that next week.
All shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well. They just won’t be vintage and cool and what I wanted from the beginning. Le sigh.
Hardware
No matter what vanity I choose, it will be gorgeously dressed because I have knobs from Emtek which will look like jewels. This is a design trick — choose high-quality knobs and even a less-than-optimal vanity will look better! Emtek’s hardware is heavy, substantial, and gorgeous! They were also a sponsor for two my Mudroom Makeover and the Mid Modern Curb Appeal makeover, and their door hardware is exceptional.
With knobs and hooks and all of the gleaming chrome accessories we need, this bathroom will be both beautiful and functional. I’m excited to get it all installed when the time comes!
Gardening News
This isn’t the only project we have happening at our house. I know. Big surprise! Check out the new garden transformation in our front yard. It’s soooo much better, and I already have seedlings growing here, too!
Two more weeks to go! Thanks for all of your love and support as we bring this bathroom across the finish line at long last!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week Five | October 25 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Five | October 25 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Tile
Ok. So I have a confession to make: this project is not unfolding in real time. We started on this bathroom in June — June 12, to be precise. And I hoped it would be done before the ORC even started. Nope. We are ALMOST caught up to real time. So here we are at tile installation. The tile is in and it is GORGEOUS! This tile is from Modwalls — just like our Guest Bathroom.
And I am going to tell you something about glass tile: a good installation is CRITICAL. The tile in the guest bathroom was also glass, but the tile people installed it while we were out of town. I wasn’t able to supervise it, and they did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions (which, I absolutely provided them). Critical to glass tile is to WAIT BEFORE GROUTING — at least 48 hours. This gives the adhesive behind the tiles time to dry before the grout goes in.
We have had to have several tiles downstairs replaced — and another is cracked now — because they didn’t follow those instructions. So, for this bathroom, I was VERY careful about the installation. And I made them wait a week between installation and grouting. The tile guys were not happy about this, but if you do it right the first time, you don’t have to redo the work. It’s that simple.
So if you are considering a bathroom renovation, be sure YOU read all of the instructions even if a contractor is doing some or all of the work.
Anyway… the tile is up, and I LOVE it!
Floor tile — note the plug in the sewer line, too.
Wall and floor tile — pre-grout.
The tile choices are:
Flooring: Brio Glass Mosiac Tile in Palm Springs
Walls: Lush Glass Subway Tile in Peacock (3”x6”)
Both are from Modwalls Tile, one of the sponsors for this project.
At the risk of repeating myself: my inspiration for this bathroom was the bathrooms in my elementary school. I know that’s a little strange, but I remember those 1x1 inch tiles on the floors and walls with a random color pattern. They were so pretty in my 8 year old head, and for some reason it’s that image that started this design. Those bathrooms also had these super-cool sinks with foot pedals that were like fountains. I loved them — but there’s no room for that in this bathroom.
So the tile is in, and the next step is wallpaper! Very exciting!
Lighting
We aren’t there yet, but I want to show you the lighting I chose for this room. Le sigh! First, I have another of the vintage bubble fixtures like the one I used in the Guest Bathroom. I bought it several years ago on Etsy — really cheap because I loved it, and there were two of them. Originally, I was going to use them as wall sconces, but I love them in the bathrooms! It is unmarked, but I think it was designed by Helena Tynell, a Finnish designer, for the German glassmaker, Glashütte Limburg, in the early 1960s. All I had to do was rewire it.
This Waterslide Bar allows me to convert our standard shower into one with a rain head very easily.
Just add the rainhead to the Waterslide Bar, and I will have a spa shower at home!
To compliment the bubble light, I chose Kichler’s Harlaw Vanity Light. The circles echo the bubbles on the ceiling fixture, and with 4 LED lights, it will be both bright and flattering. It’s a more modern take on a makeup light that still nods to the 1950s. Kichler is one of the sponsors for this project for which I am so thankful.
Gardening News
We STILL haven’t had frost here! But it is coming this week. We will go from highs of 80 to lows of 10 within 6 days. That’s what we call “weather whiplash” here in Colorado! So I’ve been watering everything relentlessly and prepping for snow. That’s part of why I grow so many native plants, though. They can take these more extreme weather conditions without much preparation — and some even thrive on them.
I’ll remind you as fall creeps along: leave the leaves! And make some leaf mould if you need to rake them up. I have a whole guide for doing that here. It’s free and easy!
I will miss these nasturtiums! They have been glorious this summer!
Coming next week: wallpaper! Until then, be well my friends!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week Four | October 18 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Four | October 18 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Drywall
This week the drywall went up at last! So nice to have that dusty, dirty part done. Ugh.
Speaking of dust: our whole family has moved downstairs for this project. We are camping out in the guest room (ORC #1) and using our lovely new green bathroom (ORC #8) through this process. I’m thankful we have that option, and while it feels like the whole house has been in chaos for a long time, at least we have a space where we can retreat.
You can see in the photos that the tub is gone. We are replacing it with a shower instead which feels very small… it’s the same footprint, but right now it feels very, very small. But there’s nothing to be done. This is a small bathroom. Sadly, it isn’t getting any bigger. And I’m sure it will feel bigger once it is finished.
Drywall is up!
Shower Fittings
I’m really excited about this shower, though, because we have a gorgeous chrome rainhead shower and fabulous fittings all from Speakman, one of this project’s sponsors. Actually, this showerhead was supposed to go in the bathroom downstairs, but the plumber messed up his measurements, so we weren’t able to use it. Too bad! I use the Primary Bathroom a lot more often anyway, so I will get to use the rainhead rather than saving it for our guests. Probably a big win in the end for me!
This Waterslide Bar allows me to convert our standard shower into one with a rain head very easily.
Just add the rainhead to the Waterslide Bar, and I will have a spa shower at home!
I chose the Speakman Neo WS-3010 Diverter Waterslide Bar because you can retrofit a standard shower to a rainshower with a handheld attachment without replumbing most of the time — and that was true for this bathroom. So I will have a hotel spa shower in my very own bathroom. I can’t wait!
Next week: tile installation begins. And things get very real around here!
Gardening News
We STILL haven’t had frost here! We had a big freeze warning last week, and I got everything ready — cut all kinds of flowers and cleared everything away. But nope. It didn’t even frost. So I am still living into the beauty of this lingering fall with roses blooming everywhere! And I’m not complaining — the snow will be flying soon, we know.
What I thought would be the last bouquets of summer… but I’ll probably have a few more!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week Three | October 11 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Three | October 11 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Electrical & Plumbing
So I would love to show you a bunch of pretty pictures, but electrical work isn’t pretty. We had some done. It is done — by an electrician. Phew!
When we removed the soffit which, as it turns out was completely unnecessary, we had to relocate the light fixture. So that’s now done.
The plumber also came to do the work converting the tub area into a shower. Again, nothing photo-worthy, but certainly necessary.
Additionally: the plumber installed a toilet plug. Phew!
Now we are ready for drywall!
Electrical work underway
PSA: if you are having work done on a bathroom and have your toilet removed for any length of time, INSIST that your plumbers install a toilet plug. It’s REALLY cheap and can save you a lot of heartache in case of a sewage issue. Trust me!
The Fun Stuff: Wallpaper
Last week we talked about tile choices. This week is all about wallpaper! A Street Prints sent a huge range of samples to choose from, and the choice is NOT easy! Since we already have the shower and floor tile, I am trying to decide which print works best with the tile. What do you think?
I know my favorite, but I’m curious to hear what you think!
Gardening News
Do you know your first frost date? Or why it matters? Let me explain…
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
Pin it!
Week Two | October 4 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week Two | October 4 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Down to the Studs
If you’ve been around awhile, you’ll remember Poopapalooza I (there was also Poopapalooza II) — the event which lead to this entire two-bathroom saga in the first place. Well, this is the bathroom where it all began — a plugged toilet and sewage overflow plus a toilet shutoff valve that failed leading to hours of water damage before anyone came home to discover it all.
Icky.
And while this is the room where the trouble started, it suffered arguably less damage because the ceiling and walls were relatively less damaged than the downstairs bathroom. So we really didn’t know what we would find when they pulled everything up in here.
Now we know.
So there’s a lot of water damage. A lot.
You can see how the water pooled around the walls — and then wicked up into the drywall. It was also very, very wet under the toilet. Oh, and notice they haven’t truly plugged that toilet — that WILL be fixed ASAP.
Take a look inside our bathroom now that it is stripped to the suds.
PSA: if you are having work done on a bathroom and have your toilet removed for any length of time, INSIST that your plumbers install a toilet plug. It’s REALLY cheap and can save you a lot of heartache in case of a sewage issue. Trust me!
Our plumbers didn’t use one in the downstairs bathroom which lead to Poopapalooza II: the Sequal (which almost cost me my sanity last December).
I just calculated: it has now been 549 days since Poopapalooza I, and I still only have one functional bathroom. Where’s the blame for this: partly a battle with my insurance company and partly a contractor who has not made these projects a priority — oh, and a labor shortage because 1100 homes were destroyed in the Marshall Fire just before Poopapalooza I. But seriously!
Ok. Let’s talk about pretty stuff! Tile! The tile for the Primary Bathroom is also from Modwalls.
Here’s a look back at the day the shipment arrived:
The tile for the Primary Bathroom is from Modwalls.
The tile choices are:
Flooring: Brio Glass Mosiac Tile in Palm Springs
Walls: Lush Glass Subway Tile in Peacock (3”x6”)
There are two points of inspiration for this bathroom. First, my family loves to swim, and I have a collection of photographs for this bathroom of us swimming and snorkeling together. And secondly: my elementary school bathroom. I know that sounds strange, but that floor tile looks JUST like my elementary school bathroom’s floor — and it had the coolest sink operated with a foot pedal… it was a school built in the 50’s and there’s just something about that which works in this room. So we are going for it!
This week: electrician and plumbers come. Hopefully we will have some good progress for next week.
Gardening News
The season is winding down, and I am taking stock of what worked and what didn’t this year. Here’s my tomato check-in — a few problems and some things that went well, too.
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
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Week One | September 27 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Week One | September 27 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
Take a peek into my latest One Room Challenge project: our primary bathroom!
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Our Primary Bath
If you have been around for awhile, this will not be a surprise: we are taking on our primary bathroom. This project was supposed to be part of the last ORC round, but we are working with a contractor on this work (it’s an insurance claim), and we don’t control the schedule. So here we are!
Ta dah! Our primary bathroom…
Nothing matches. And everything is cheaper than cheap.
Nope. Not stone. Bad laminate topping the worst bathroom cabinet.
This is the bathroom our family uses the most. It is adjacent to our bedrooms and is in heavy rotation — particularly in the mornings and evenings. It is also small. And while it would be nice to have a bigger space, that’s not in the cards. So, we will make the most of the space we have!
While the space isn’t attractive — it has been largely functional for the last six years. However, our flood in the spring of 2022 originated in this bathroom from a toilet that has since been replaced. The flooring was saturated with sewage water which also wicked up into the drywall and under the bathtub. So it’s time to gut the whole room and start fresh.
I hate this floor with a passion matched only by my hatred for the cheap cabinetry.
Unlike in our Guest/Studio Bathroom, the bathtub here isn’t one to be preserved. It is vintage, but it is brown — not a color I love. And there is water damage underneath the bathtub from the original flood, so it will be coming out.
I’m drawing on these vintage catalogue illustrations for inspiration for this bathroom. Our house was built in 1958 and was outfitted with American Standard bath fittings. The only thing left is the brown tub, but I can use these ideas to create an updated look with 1958 style.
Aren’t those images fab! I just love what you can find in a library!
Project Goals:
A beautiful, functional bathroom for our whole family
More light — both with upgraded lighting and more light from the window as well
Uplifting color scheme with playful touches and a balance of MCM style
More functional sink and cabinetry for the entire family’s use
Luxurious shower with modern fittings
Next week I will show you some of the materials I have chosen and give you a peek at the demolition! Be sure to follow along on Instagram where I’ll be posting updates to my stories, too.
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
Don’t miss a single update!
Sign up and each installment of the One Room Challenge will come directly to your email on Thursdays! And be sure to stop by the One Room Challenge Blog to check out the other creative renovations happening across the country. You can also follow #oneroomchallenge and #orcat on Instagram for more inspiration! Be sure to follow me as well!
