She Refused to Demo Her 120-Year-Old Bathroom — Here’s What She Did Instead

Once the tub was removed, Samantha jumped right into finding the perfect shade of green for the walls. “I had a VERY specific warm sage green in mind and could not find the right shade (after sampling at least 20 colors),” Samantha explains. While she ended up mixing her own paint and getting it color matched, a similar shade is Behr’s “Back to Nature.”  

Adding the picture frame molding was another difficult task. Even though she leveled the molding, the 120-year-old house was uneven, so the frames looked way off. 

“Eventually, I decided to throw out the level (metaphorically speaking) and let the molding follow the natural direction of the room,” Samantha shares. The result was more authentic to the space and charming.

Samantha then painted the molding the same color as the walls, and it “gave the room instant character and depth, while the rich, carefully chosen color completely transformed the atmosphere,” she explains. “Everything else built off that foundation, making a huge impact without needing a full gut renovation.”

The original bathroom vanity was an IKEA HEMNES that Samantha updated by adding trim to the front, attaching wooden brackets, and painting the whole thing Sherwin-Williams’ “Black Fox.” She also updated the sink’s faucet with an antique-looking brass one from Wayfair. “[It gave] me a custom-looking vanity at a fraction of the cost of buying new,” Samantha notes. 

Samantha also loved the look of an arched bookcase in the corner to store towels and extra bathroom essentials, but it didn’t fit the budget. Instead, she took an IKEA BILLY Bookcase and added arches to the glass doors — softening the look of the squared-off bookcase. She then painted it the same color as the vanity and replaced the hardware. 

“By prioritizing where to spend and where to save, I was able to create a high-impact, stylish bathroom renovation on a tight $1,500 CAD budget.”

This project taught Samantha numerous new DIY skills, like installing the picture frame molding, using a nail gun, and changing the light fixture and switch. 

Samantha’s 23-year-old late brother, Devon, was an electrical engineer and helped her during the process of rewiring the vanity sconce over video chat. “He was so patient and generous with his time and knowledge,” Samantha comments. “He always made time if I needed help.”

Simpler updates were made, too — like adding an antique brass vintage-inspired toilet paper holder and towel ring. Or adding privacy film and a no-drill jute Roman shade to the window.

Now she’s even more proud of the space she created because of the skills she learned from her brother and that she did it all herself. “Every time I walk into the room, I feel proud and happy — it’s a warm, comforting space,” she notes. 

Inspired? Submit your own project here.

• Paints
  • Behr’s “Back to Nature”
  • Sherwin-Williams’ “Black Fox”
• Products
  • IKEA HEMNES White Bathroom Vanity with Drawers
  • IKEA BILLY/OXBERG Bookcase with Glass Doors
  • Antique Gold Towel Ring from Amazon
  • Antique Brass Toilet Paper Holder from Amazon
  • Antique Swan Watercolor Canvas Wall Art from Amazon
  • Textured Window Privacy Film by Artscape from Amazon
  • Cordless Jute Roman Shade by TWOPAGES from Amazon
  • 2-Head Brass Bathroom Vanity Wall Sconce from Amazon
  • Round Cabinet Drawer Knobs in “Antique Brass” from Amazon
  • Loloi and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Accent Rug in “Pebble/Taupe” from Amazon
  • Unfinished White Hardwood Trim Moulding from The Home Depot
  • Single-handle Bathroom Faucet with Drain Assembly from Wayfair
  • Olympic Wood Vintage Decor Bracket in “Chalk Dust White” from Wayfair