I Transformed My Builder-Grade 2019 Bathroom with Wallpaper in a Surprising Spot
“Should we move here?” This question, which my partner, Stephen, and I often ask ourselves while traveling, is interestingly where my bathroom revamp started.
On a trip to the Hudson Valley, we sipped White Negronis and dreamed of a northern outpost someday. Ultimately we came back down to reality and decided, for the time being, to simply be inspired by the bold wallpaper in the cozy Hudson bar we’d curled up in and focus on the house we had just purchased in New Jersey. (Priorities … )
I reverse Google Image searched the wallpaper and placed an order to arrive by the time we returned from our trip. That spark (or buzz, thanks to the bartender) inspired a redesign of our flipped-in-2019 bathroom.
The bathroom was in good condition — but not our style.
We were welcomed into home ownership with a litany of urgent repairs: squirrels in our gutter, a cracked sewer line, exposed electrical wires, just to name a few. Once those were resolved and paid for, we decided to revisit our original wish list, where our top priority was adding personality to the builder-grade bathroom.
It had new tiling, sleek matte black hardware, a wooden built-in vanity, and a fun (albeit a bit cheugy) barn-style sliding door. But it was lacking a little oomph. The bare white walls and plain shower curtain were the antithesis of our shared style (which is handsome, colorful, and personalized).
Not to mention, the “PLEASE DO NOT FLUSH ITEMS DOWN THE TOILET” sign for renters from the home’s previous stint as a beach Airbnb was not our preferred art taste. The back of the sliding barn door was adorned with a very large and conspicuous stain that we were eager to cover — but with what?
The barn door got a makeover with our dream wallpaper.
The barn door is, of course, where our beloved floral wallpaper comes in. Affixing it to the back of the sliding barn door both covered the aforementioned mysterious stain and serves as a little surprise “aha moment” for guests.
Our bathroom is directly off our kitchen, and we’re still tickled when a friend goes in, and we hear “Oh wow! Look at that!”
The flowing, swooping nature of the print adds much-needed curvature to an otherwise very square-edged room, and the colors paired perfectly with our paint selection.
New paint makes the bathroom feel warmer.
After half a dozen visits to the store, we landed on Benjamin Moore’s Herb Bouquet (Millennial Green, be damned!). We were able to tackle two coats over the course of one weekend, and by “we” I do very much mean Stephen. And he gets major credit for the wallpapering, too.
The green adds warmth, despite being a cool tone; I love the way it complements the preexisting wood elements and neutral tiles.
Replacing the plain shower curtain was a game-changer.
Do not underestimate the power of a luxe shower curtain! No famous designer or poet ever said this, but I want to shout it from the rooftops.
We opted for a warmer white this time around; it’s a woven-fabric shower curtain with subtle gray thread details from Pottery Barn. It’s a thicker material and gives the space much-needed texture.
I added personal finds to finish the bathroom.
With the paint refresh and wallpaper installation complete (thanks, honey!), I started embarking on the finishing touches. I put vintage postcards from Asbury Park, Jersey City — plus some from a trip to Saint Martin — in curved black frames from HomeGoods. Plus, I hung a ceramic tile from a trip to Lisbon.
I rounded out the decor with a terracotta tissue box from Etsy and tons of greenery in vases (several made by my best friend, Will, a novice ceramicist).
So, while we didn’t move to the Hudson Valley, we did bring the Hudson Valley (and other destinations) home with us. These small-but-meaningful additions now make any visit to the bathroom a quick trip down vacation memory lane.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.