Low-budget Bathroom Makeover

[bliss2187]

I already posted my kitchen makeover (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=277791.0) and we did something similar here in the bathroom.  What we have done so far is again remove the busy wallpaper, texture and paint the walls, and we removed the CARPET that was in the bathroom and tiled the whole area.  Total cost is probably around $900 which included the purchase price of a tile saw and a Kohler "comfort height" toilet - our splurge!   I know $900 is not cheap, but considering that bathrooms can easily exceed several thousand, I consider this in the realm of low-budget for bathrooms.

New mirrors and lights for the vanity.


Paint makes ALL the difference in the world.


Turquoise accessories/wall art.




We LOVE this toilet!


Should I paint the cabinets high-gloss white like the trim?  I didn't right away because I got lazy, but now I'm used to the oak cabinets with the "mississippi mud" walls and I'm not sure if the white would overpower/sterilize the look.

[Lisa C]

that looks great, $900 is awesome for a bathroom reno. Things always cost way more than you think they will anyway. I think you did a fabulous job and I think white cabinets might be a bit to much white.

[TheMistressT]

You made a huge improvement! And since bath renovations can EASILY cost TENS of thousands, $900 is FANTASTIC! 

Part of my mission in my work is ridding the world of humdrum oak cabinetry so I am voting for painting it.  I would suggest that maybe you do a dark brown, rather than white. It will look less "sterile" than white and I think be more in keeping with the level of sophistication of your lovely tile floors.  Another option would be to stain it dark, dark brown rather than paint it so you could still have some variation in the surface, it could look very rich.

[EnginerdLisa]

I love the new lighting and tile floor.  You are lucky to be blessed with such a big bathroom, and a great counter area. 

[bliss2187]

You made a huge improvement! And since bath renovations can EASILY cost TENS of thousands, $900 is FANTASTIC! 

Part of my mission in my work is ridding the world of humdrum oak cabinetry so I am voting for painting it.  I would suggest that maybe you do a dark brown, rather than white. It will look less "sterile" than white and I think be more in keeping with the level of sophistication of your lovely tile floors.  Another option would be to stain it dark, dark brown rather than paint it so you could still have some variation in the surface, it could look very rich.

Thanks for the idea, T.  I had the thought to stain at first, but parts of the cabinets are actually laminate, so that is not an option.  But I like that idea of the dark brown.  Don't know why I haven't thought of it!  I'll have to shop for brown color swatches!

[TheMistressT]

I can't recommend a primer called UG-30 enough.  Not the easiest to find, kind of expensive, but it goes far (I'm sure a quart would do more than just your vanity and wall unit) boy does it stick and takes paint really well.  This stuff sticks to un-sanded porcelain.

[Belladune]

LOVE IT!  love that mirror too, the one with the mosaic blue on it... so wonderful!

[RuneAriala]

Wow, that's a really great renovation.  The little "seats" in your sinks kind of confuse me though.  As for your cabinets, maybe a dark teal to go with your accents, or a dark, espresso stain of some sort? The white would be overpowering with the rest of the white fixtures.  In our bathroom, we are painting the exposed wood a plain old black and "antiquing" it, which is a good way to break up just a solid, dark color.

[sistervigilante6]

I personally love EVERYTHING you've done with it, and I wouldn't change the oak cabinets. The small splashes of color are perfect! I LOVE that blue mosaic mirror, it's gorgeous! There is just enough white, if the cabinets were white too, I think it might make the room too bright, the oak compliments the walls perfectly.

[Singalala]

Very well done!

That shag carpet and thee wallpaper were awfull in there!

The cabinets: I think it would looks best in a dark brown stain, but keeping them as they are (if they are not damaged and such) is not bad either.