Before and After: A Luxe Revamp Transforms a Dated Bathroom into a Modern Oasis for $4,200

A bathroom should ideally feel like a serene, peaceful little sanctuary. Unfortunately, though, the bathrooms in many homes can be outdated and drab. With a few affordable upgrades and some thoughtful lighting design, it’s entirely possible to revamp a disappointing bathroom.

Just ask Lauren Sears and her husband, Kameron, (@thelksaddress), who decided it was time to update their bathroom — which was anything but an oasis. “The before of our guest bathroom can be best described as outdated, dirty, and dark!” Lauren says. “Not to mention, it had carpet!”

The space felt out of touch among all the charm of the early 1900s home. The couple, an architect and graphic designer by trade, wanted the space to not only feel luxe but also fit in with the rest of the home’s design. “We wanted to have some vintage nods while keeping with a modern and clean look,” Lauren explains. 

They hired professionals to refinish the tub and tile surround, but everything else was up to Lauren and Kameron. “From demo to completion, the bathroom took a total of eight weeks,” Lauren says.

One of the biggest challenges they encountered during the renovation was navigating the tricky layout of the bathroom. “The awkward layout made everything much more difficult and it took twice as long to complete as our other bathroom,” Lauren explains. 

Tiling the floor and installing new baseboards, in particular, were hard to tackle. “Knowing what we know now, I would have selected a larger tile format for the floor for ease of installation,” Lauren says. “Keep it simple, especially if you’re planning to complete the work yourself.”

But all the trouble was worth it. They may have been frustrating to install, but the small white hexagon polished mosaic tiles introduce the 1900s feel back into the room and are a serious upgrade from the carpet that once covered the floor. Small touches, like the brass sconce and gold mantel mirror, marry the vintage feel with modern trends. 

The whole project cost around $4,200, and the biggest splurge was merging the walnut fronts and sides of the vanity with an IKEA Godmorgon sink cabinet. “Because this was our primary bath, we wanted it to feel more elevated and luxurious,” says Lauren. They decided to replace their old vanity with a larger, more modern design to better suit the size and layout.

“I’m most proud of the fact that we did this project ourselves,” Lauren says. “There is nothing better than the accomplishment you feel in designing and doing the work yourself.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.