An Apartment Therapy post about our bathroom last year garnered 85 comments, which together amounted to a resounding chorus of "Ewwww!" Why? Because our bathroom has wall-to-wall carpet. Yes, you read that right. Carpet. In the bathroom. I know it is time for a new floor but I am finding the world of bathroom tiles downright overwhelming.
So I decided to turn to the guru of all things bathroom, Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks. To my delight Sallick agreed to speak with me. As did an area tile expert, Davida Rodriguez of Davida's Kitchen & Tiles. Both reviewed photos of the much-maligned bathroom and shared their wisdom.
Imagine Your Ideal Bathroom
Initially, I was thinking I would simply focus on the floor for now and tackle the rest of the bathroom bit by bit over the next few years. Sallick balked at this approach: "Renovating in this kind of piecemeal fashion is penny-wise pound-foolish," she warned. "It never looks like it came from same thought process." Instead I should imagine the space stripped down to the studs and build up from there. After measuring the space and laying it out on graph paper one should "imagine the ideal reincarnation of your bathroom--your fantasy bathroom," regardless of budget. She said I should conceptualize every detail, including towel colors.
I can already see the value of such an exercise. I had been agonizing over how to retile my floor to fit in with the rest of the bathroom, including the less-than-ideal vanity and the 80s style gold-trimmed shower. Moreover, I was building my ideal bathroom around the room's beloved William Morris wallpaper, which I think gives the room a unique and personal flair. But was I limiting myself to a handful of flooring options by trying to match the tile with the wallpaper? What if it gets damaged and cannot be replaced? How wedded am I to this wallpaper?
Gather Inspiration and Expert Advice
Sallick suggested I create an inspiration file, a gallery of bathrooms (or parts of bathrooms) that I love. Again, she advised not limiting myself financially at this stage. The idea here is to try to narrow down what features and styles appeal to me. Rodriguez added that before I go shopping I should have a contractor assess the space to see if there are any constraints I should be aware of when choosing tile or replacing fixtures.
It's All About Layering
According to Sallick, it helps to think of a bathroom renovation as "a process of layering," with each layer building on the last. I should start with the floor, then work upward through the walls and backsplash to the countertops and cabinets, and so on.
GETTING DOWN TO SPECIFICS
So, what did these experts think I should actually do to improve my bathroom? What should I change and why?
•Stone or Mosaic Tile for the Floors
Both Rodriguez and Sallick agreed that the carpet has to go. No question there. But what kind of flooring should I install? Sallick suggested stone tiles, with heated coils underneath, if I can afford it. Instead of the more ubiquitous 12x12 tiles, Sallick recommended other shapes and sizes, such as 9x18 or 18x18 tiles or even a 3-inch hex scheme. She suggested tiles in whites and grays rather than browns or beiges. As for the slip factor, Sallick said my concern is common but overblown. "You really don’t have to worry about slipping. Tiles are just not that slippery! And you will probably put a rug or large mat down anyway! Rodriguez suggested 3x6 mosaic tiles, perhaps in a diamond pattern that suits the Victorian style of my home. She stressed that the general contractor should gut the entire floor down to the studs to ensure there is no mold or mildew issues to contend with.
• Backsplash and Wall Tiles to Unify the Room
Sallick suggested installing tile that reaches far up behind the vanity and then continues around the room--almost like a wainscoting--to tie the whole room together. She was perplexed by the sink's dark grey countertop and backsplash. "I just don't understand 4-inch backsplashes. They make no sense practically or aesthetically," she explained. She pointed out the "awkward juncture" where the backsplash edges toward the window. Instead, she suggested I choose a more substantial tiled backsplash that matches the tiles in the shower to create continuity in the room. I told her that I tend to gravitate toward white tiles and walls and wondered if that instinct was uninspired. Her response was reassuring: "White will never look dated. The nice thing is white is a chameleon color. It can be casual or formal or anything you want. And there are so many subtle shades of white to chose from." She added that "if the bones of the bathroom are right then you can think outside of the box and do something funky and bold with paint and wallpaper."
• Ditch the Vanity/Countertop
Sallick said that while my vanity is "perfectly livable" she would ditch it. "I look at the vanity and want it out right away. It has the wrong overhang." She said the cabinets are not high quality and there are many good, affordable options out there that would look much better. If it were her bathroom, Sallick would install two separate sinks with a nice piece of furniture between them. But since I like the built-in cabinets of the wall-to-wall vanity, I could probably get away with leaving the box and sides and simply changing the doors and countertop.
• Adding a Personal Touch.
For Sallick, the key to a beautiful bathroom is good bones, but what makes a bathroom personal and unique is the detail. "In my historic home," she explained, "I put my own twist on the classic Waterworks bathroom. I have a 1928 sink and a $235 vintage cabinet with black glass. With me, it's all about vintage finds. And I always have some ferns or flowers in a vase to bring warmth to the room." So even the most classic white bathroom will become personal if I select accessories, furniture, lighting and linens that capture my personality. Moreover, these touches can be easily and cheaply mixed up whenever the mood strikes.
So, where does all of this leave me and my renovation project? I am knee deep in the inspiration-gathering phase. My current thinking is: stone tile or mosaic tiled floors, white tiled backsplash, existing wallpaper (with the option to replace), new vanity doors and sink basins and a new shower door and frame. I am hoping to save money by keeping the layout and plumbing intact.
Stay tuned for the next stages in this renovation!
What would you do in my shoes?
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I think that few people have the luxury of plunking down thousands of dollars to renovate an entire bathroom at once. If you are satisfied with the layout and do not anticipate having to move plumbing and electric -- then doing cosmetic makeover work a bit at a time is a great idea. It's not like the bathroom is AWFUL - falling apart - unusable - even if it is not exactly how you would like it to be eventually. I would start with putting together a vision of how you would like it to look when you are done and then do what you can when you can. The flooring is a great place to start since carpets in the bathroom are tough to keep clean. Then keep an eye out for bargains (sinks, vanities, countertops, lighting) that suit your style - same with tiles if you're planning to replace those. Best of luck to you!
Am I the only one who thought this was going to be an amazing before and after?
On a personal level, I don't like the wallpaper. In the context of the room I think it's overwhelming and just too much.
If it were me and I thought I wanted to keep some of the wallpaper I'd do a fairly simple and neutral ceramic tile, maybe 24" x 24", on a diagonal and run it up the walls to a height just under the window and use it as a backsplash behind the vanity. A beige with sage green undertones might be nice. Or something that leans a bit towards an ochre.
Pedestal sinks would be beautiful but it's hard to sacrifice the functionality of drawers and cabinets. It's not much cabinetry, I'd look at getting wood cabs in a mahogany or cherry color or at least refacing the existing one. Add a stone counter (granite, caesar, whatever) with a nice edge detail and drop in some vessel sinks. Then I'd strip off the wallpaper from at least that one wall and the adjacent wall with the door and the shower, and paint them a soft yellow. It's flattering to the complexion and relates to the color of the paper.
That toilet kind of bothers me just sitting out in the corner like that but maybe a built-in, full-height, linen cabinet surrounding it could give the illusion of a little more separation. I'd also look for a more traditional type of toilet. Those low slung ones just seem very dated to me.
Finish it off by getting towels and accessories in warm yellows and sage greens with dark brown accents.
That's my two cents, anyway. But whatever you end up doing I'm sure it'll be far nicer than carpet in the bathroom. :)
Ban Clothing, yes I also thought it was going to be a before and after.
3 inch hex tiles in white and grey and then you are done with it. This bathroom is cute.
William Morris wall paper has been around well over a century. I wouldn't worry that it would be impossible to replace even if it was damaged. :)
this bathroom is as grody as the leggings and giant shaker stitch Limited sweater I used to wear....maybe grodier.
Is that an obsolete low-boy toilet ? If so, I'd replace it when you do the floor as it will leave it's imprint on the new tiles when you go to replace it later, when you can't get parts for it any more. It also probably uses a lot more water than necessary and the cheesy plastic toilet seat is gross, imho.
I also think that the wallpaper, though very nice, is just too overpowering for all the walls in such a tiny room. There are too many elements, it makes me dizzy. I'd have only one larger unifying vintage mirror, at least. Or, since you have limited storage, consider building a 4' deep "medicine cabinet" wall-to-wall , mirror in the middle with a small cabinet on either side. And it would be cheaper and might look better to have just one much larger sink. Do you and your husband really use the sinks at the same time in such a tiny room? Hand towels on hooks or towel bars on both sides of the sink instead of just asymmetrically plunked on the wall above the sink. If that's a wash cloth, why not keep it out of sight in the shower ? Not too many steps back and forth, and much less of an "ick" factor.
I lived in a house built in 1909 and the bathrooms had original tongue-and-groove walls and built-in storage cabinet that looked great painted high gloss white. Perhaps wainscoting in tongue-and-groove veneer topped with moulding would be less expensive than tile, and you could keep your wallpaper above it. Add a plain deep baseboard moulding as well to anchor the room, plus it's more traditional. Make a tile footing at the base of the shower, as an extension of the floor. Then you could re-do your cabinet doors in the same tongue-and-groove material, and the "medicine cabinet" doors as well, if you like that idea. It would go with the age of your house and would unify the room with a sleek built in but period look. White marble countertop ? Definitely not tile.
And all those bottles and jars and toothbrushes on the counter top ? It would be an instant improvement to remove them. In my bathroom, I keep stuff like that in a caddy below the sink, take it out and put it on the counter to use the products, and then put it back. I keep makeup type things in an organizer in my top drawer. It will improve your serenity, I guarantee. And using a plain frosted film on your window glass instead of a curtain will give you better light and a sleeker look as well. Available at Home Depot, and it's even insulating ! And really, perhaps a covered basket to hide the wet wipes, feminine products, etc. and reading material brought in and out as necessary instead of stored there ? Vintage magazine rack outside the bathroom door, at least? And perhaps the toilet brush could live under the sink.
There's nothing better than a calm beautiful bathroom to start and end the day. I wish one for you. Good luck.
Oh, and maybe two overlapping towel bars on the wall by the shower (yes, the towels will dry just fine, especially if you don't fold them) and none on the door ? Just sayin' :- )
I second citipearl's comments. The person telling you to renovate everything has a financial stake in your doing so. If the only thing you want to change is the floor, just change the floor. If *you* are happy with a carpeted bathroom, leave it the heck alone!
It looks good to me and totally functional. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, that's my motto.
I agree with eiw and citipearl; just replace the floor, and if you want to, the toilet. The rest looks fine to me, and if you like it, keep it.
OK, so my taste sucks. Because the only thing I'd want to change is the carpet. I think the rest looks just fine. I happen to love that wallpaper.
@citipearl
I thought she was going to change everything of her own initiative? Only in a piecemeal fashion. I thought the designer's advice was more to the effect that you should envision the ultimate product so that your piecemeal changes don't compromise with the existing features so that the final product is not determined by what is there now?
But I don't see why she thinks 4in backsplashes are not practical. I splash water around when I wash my face; the backsplash is useful in at least that case....
This bathroom definitely has the bones to be drool worthy: replace the cabinet doors, add some sconces beside the mirrors, warm up the color of the woodwork and viola! The sink basins look alright; I like the fluting.
Maybe it's the heat affecting my brain, but I don't seem to read anywhere in the article what is under the carpet... because ripping up carpet on a whim is kind of rewarding.
Anything but carpet and wallpaper! The rest is fine, leave as is.
I know this is a to-each-his/her-own kind of thing, but I love that William Morris wallpaper. And the previous commenter is right, they've been around for age, so you could probably replace any part that gets damaged easily (even if their paper is on the costlier side). In fact, I just saw designer Sarah Richardson use it in a dining room and it looked fab!
Take down the wallpaper and paint the walls, paint the cabinets if you wish, take down all the hardware and spray paint with universal paint in oil-rubbed bronze or some other more current color (the gold accents are pretty outdated), then buy some new towels. Bingo. Problem solved.
I redid my bathroom like this and while it isn't perfect, it's 10 times better, and it only cost me $133 and 3 days of my time.
http://agirlwhodoesstuff.tumblr.com/post/6741025176/budget-bathroom-redo
I like the sinks
ohh the wallpaper, I wouldnt be able to lose that, its just beautiful. the window treatment is working really well with it.
I would work around the wallpaper, so elegant!
I would remove the carpet, replace the toilet, which will provide an instant update, then seal and paint and seal (again) the floor. I would go for a rich charcoal color or a fake woodgrain, but maybe you prefer something lighter. Then if budget permits, replace the vanity/sinks/taps. I love the idea of converting an old beautiful bureau or dresser, and adding a bowl sink on top, something from the same era as the wallpaper, then if there is wallpaper missing from behind the vanity, tile the wallbehind as a splashback. Replacing the mirrors with a rectangular one would give an instant new look, but I like the romantic style of the oval ones.
Cost?
I would guess $100 for the floor paints, all of which would be under 4 litres, $200 for new toilet, $250 for vintage buereau, $200 for tiles, $200 for sink, $300 for taps, plus plumber to install all, around $700 plus your labour.
so about $2000 for a new look bathroom.
Just the toilet and floor, likely $600 or so.
You can save money buy buying tiles second hand, also sink. I dont like second hand tapware as it often needs to be restored so it doesnt leak, end cost is same as new. good luck!
I would close the lid on the toilet the next time I took photos