we don't generally think of decorating a bathroom.
(a gut job, remodel, demolition - sure)
sometimes, though, a 'cosmetic' makeover
completed with some simple decorative accessories is enough...
as part of the process of giving my friend's house a budget-friendly new look,
i spiffed up her two powder rooms with a few basic styling tricks.
one small bath is located off of a hallway from the side door to the kitchen.
it functions more like a utility room, so it has to work hard -
if you're working outdoors gardening, or painting, or washing the dog,
this is where the dirt gets washed off!
there were a few challenges i addressed to help it function well:
as much as i LOVE this stunning farmhouse sink, it has a flaw:
no ledge to hold soap.
previously, varied bottles of hand soap & hand lotion sat on the toilet back. um... no.
there's a space between the sink and toilet that could be utilized for that purpose,
if only i could find the right thing to put there...
after rooting around in the garage, i found a white metal plant stand
that is @ 14" square and 16" high.
it fit into the space between the sink and toilet perfectly!
the top of it, however, was a mosaic of tiles that had seen better days,
so i cut a square of the vintage tablecloth (also used in the kitchen) to cover it up.
a small square basket on top of the plant stand
neatly holds liquid soap, hand lotion, and air freshener in easy reach of sink and toilet.
speaking of that tablecloth...
previously, there was a piece of lace hung as a valance on this window.
it's a frosted window, so privacy isn't an issue...
to give it a fresh look, i cut one more corner off of the damaged tablecloth
and hung it as a valance (just as i did in the kitchen).
on the windowsill, a few small items add vintage charm
and extend the blue palette established by the valance and hand towels.
in the corner by the window, there used to be a low gray metal corner shelf unit.
it held towels, books, a bunch of bottles of dog shampoo and dog grooming supplies
but in this small room, the dark color and protruding shape just didn't blend.
back out to the garage i went, and found the white metal 'dressing table' chair -
it matches the plant stand, and fit neatly into the corner.
on top of it i placed a large basket filled with all of K's puppy care goodies
with folded towels stacked on top of the basket to hide the contents.
not only is it neater, it's easier to access -
all in one place, and up higher than it was before.
on the wall behind the door, i hung four colorful 5 X 7 pieces of art in black frames...
two were greeting cards, one was a sketch by a friend, another was a print.
and then i forgot to snap a photo. doh.
the main thing i addressed in here was storage of items used often...
keeping them corralled, contained, and in one place for easy access,
without every container and item being visible on the toilet back or shelves.
one reason for that is that it looks better -
but it also makes it much simpler to keep this hardworking room clean.
move a basket, wipe things down, put the basket back. done!
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another powder room is located off the entry hall and living room...
i love this sink, too,
but it had previously been paired with a square, brass-framed mirror.
the styles didn't work together, so i swapped it for this oval mirror with an oak frame
(previously hanging in the entry hall)
to match the floor and the vintage vibe of the sink.
between the sink and toilet sat a half-round oak table,
which sat at the same height as the toilet back and held a few books -
that table was moved across the room.
two unused wicker picnic baskets found in the pantry came in to stack on the floor,
providing storage for a book on top and extra TP inside!
it was challenging to get photos of the window,
as all of them were blown out by the sunlight coming in.
so let me describe what was going on with the window treatment before:
previously, the lace panel that is currently at the bottom of the window
hung at the top, as a valance that covered the pull-down blind.
the challenge:
as a guest in this house several times,
i will say that it was unnerving to use that toilet next to that window -
which faces the front porch, right next to the front steps.
the window isn't frosted, so there is no chance of privacy without the shade drawn.
and the shade's not easy to maneuver, either.
my solution took less than a minute:
i slid the lace panel and curtain rod from the top to the bottom of the window.
now the lace panel screens the view in the window right next to the toilet,
and that makes a huge difference - tho at night, you still have to pull the shade down.
i did the same thing in the laundry room window to screen the view from the front of the house,
making it possible to feel less visible without having to pull down the blind during the day.
(the laundry room was a drop zone of stuff that we didn't use in the makeover -
it piled up in there, waiting to be put back in cabinets and closets and boxes.
we didn't get around to 'decorating' that space... so no pictures!)
this cute little 'vintage' porcelain sink soap dish is a charming accent on the windowsill,
and coordinates with another unusual porcelain decor piece
that i discovered hidden in the pantry:
it's a little clawfoot bathtub! and no, it's NOT a planter.
(you won't believe what it turned out to be....)
there are pretty blue 'forget me not' blooms that decorate the side of the 'tub',
and when i found it (under the bottom shelf in the back corner of the kitchen pantry)
it was filled with 12 tiny teacups that also have those flowers on them.
[ i was stumped. i had no idea what this was - except cute.]
so i took out the cups*, put the tub on this table, and popped a fake plant into it -
she can replace that with a real plant later.
* some of the cups are now on the shelf in the kitchen, others in a cabinet.
when my friend came home and saw it in the powder room,
she said in a very matter-of-fact way, "oh, yeah, that's a punchbowl."
turns out, my friend's Dad, who owned a plumbing business,
was given this very unique punchbowl as a gift.
and not only was it used as a punchbowl over many decades,
it was also used as a prop for baby photos!
(you just never know what you're gonna' find when you start poking around people's houses!)
above the table, there are three small Disney-themed original art pieces
and one vintage black and white photograph.
since they are all in black frames and in tones of black and white,
they work together to give the room a counterpoint to the 'vintage' vibe.
pre-makeover, this wall had a scattering of 'old tyme western' family photos
above a heavy wood bookshelf filled with books. it felt very crowded,
and to be honest,
having faces of people in a bathroom looking at you is not a good thing!
those photos are all awaiting a new gallery wall arrangement in the loft family room.
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yes, those two bathrooms could be painted a color.
they could be wallpapered. or a white board & batten wainscot added.
but remember, this project was focused on simple things we could easily do NOW,
without spending anything, to get a fresh look.
consider it 'phase one' of infusing the house with my friend's style!
she has plans to eventually add new paint and carpet and lighting fixtures...
but you have to start somewhere!
so... where will YOU start in YOUR house?!
links to previous related posts:
coastal style,color,entertaining,farmhouse style,decorating,room makeovers,colorful home,diy decorating,FREE,spring,makeover,DIY,furniture,color palettes,boho style,grandmillenial style,bathroom decor,powder room decor,farmhouse bathroom,simplified decor,minimalist decor,gallery wall decor,create a gallery wall,wall art
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