Before & After: Becky’s BOOOR-ING Bath Gets Some Oomph

updated Dec 19, 2019
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(Image credit: Submitted by Becky)

Becky sent in before and after shots of her master bath makeover. She writes: Our house was beautifully renovated about 15 years ago, long before it was ours. All the important stuff was done perfectly, but a few aesthetics left something to be desired. Like our master bathroom. BOOOR-ING.

Square tile on the walls, pinkish-peach square tiles on the floor, builder grade sink top and vanity. Cheap, boring fixtures. And GIANT wall-encompassing mirror. It was newer and clean, but needed some oomph to actually be considered a “master bath”.

(Image credit: Submitted by Becky)

So we got to work, trying to work with as much of the existing stuff as we could. But that floor HAD to go. Cracked tiles were demolished and replaced with gorgeous (and affordable!) large format tiles.

I popped off the bullnose wall tiles to make way for some new wood trim and a small ledge. Away went the ugly ceramic/plastic towel bars and up went some shiny hooks.

As a feature, we cut down cheap plywood to make “planks”, painted them white, and staggered them on the sink wall. Two affordable and vintage-style sconces were hung around where a new mirror would hang. And finally, after a looooot of searching, an antique wood-frame mirror was found and placed on the plank wall with care.

We removed the dated medicine cabinet, filled the hole, and painted the walls a warm gray color. The cabinets got a coat of warm taupe and some new vintage-style hardware. After considering an attempt at a DIY concrete counter top, we decided to try a very affordable butcher block from Ikea. The warm wood added dimension and made a perfect perch for a new vessel sink and faucet.

A few more finishing touches included a new outlet and switch plate, trim caulking and touch-up, trim painting, and some plants.

There were tough spots like matching the old tile, finding the right stain/paint option for the counter top and plank wall, and plenty of uneven surfaces and angles.

The mix of bright white, warm wood, modern fixtures and vintage details created a truly luxurious and beautiful master bathroom that fits our home perfectly. And it didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Becky also sent a resource list:

See more of Becky’s style on her blog: Preparing for Peanut

Thanks, Becky!

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