When we moved into our current house from our place downtown, we lost a guest/half bathroom. Now we have a bathroom that doubles as our guest bathroom and also Patrick’s bathroom (i.e. where he can get ready when he wakes up early and where he can store items). Since we have an older and smaller home, we also take advantage of any area that we can use for more counter or storage space. I knew immediately that we would need to make changes to this second bathroom to make it fit our style and serve as a more functional space.
While the pedestal sink was nice for a small bathroom, it didn’t provide any counter or storage space. This wasn’t going to fly for us, so I knew right away that we needed to purchase and install a single-sink vanity. A vanity added some charm and also much-needed extra shelf space. The harder problem was finding a vanity that wasn’t too big and that went with our decor style.
There are built-in cabinets in the bathroom that are cute and practical, but they needed a fresh coat of paint and new knobs (I used the same knobs that I put in our bar area). I believe the hexagon floor tile is original, and although it’s not perfect, I thought that it would be fun to keep. The same tile is also on the floor of our master bathroom, so it’s nice that it’s carried throughout the house. For me, there’s beauty in the charm and quirks of older homes, so I enjoy keeping original features if I can.
The other big item that needed to be altered was the shower. I wasn’t a fan of the (very sloppily applied) dark grout and off-center soap dish. Plus, the tub and shower faucet was dated. Since the floor tile is small and more patterned, I wanted something simple and clean looking to put in the shower. I decided on a larger white tile from Tileco to balance out the space and brighten the small bathroom even more. I went with a light grout since there is still the dark grout on the floor of the bathroom.
All in all, I think the alterations made better use of the space and definitely updated the look of the bathroom tremendously. Getting rid of the dark grout and smaller shower tile made the shower appear larger and more polished looking. Of course, a mirror, new faucets, and some decor always help too. The bathroom in general looks lighter and more welcoming than it did before (in my humble opinion).
Even with making relatively easy and inexpensive changes like new paint, knobs, and a light fixture, it’s amazing how different the look of a space can become. It’s also wonderful to have a bathroom that guests will like, but also one that works for Patrick too – it was almost impossible to rest anything on that small pedestal sink. I think he greatly appreciates some counter space and extra storage. Once we aren’t worried about Covid-19, we are certainly ready to have guests again to really put the guest bathroom to the test. Let me know your thoughts on the bathroom remodel and the before and after photos!
