Cheap Ideas for Small Bathroom Makeovers

Read article : Cheap Ideas for Small Bathroom Makeovers

by Lane Cummings ; Updated July 27, 2017

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. Nearly everyone spends time in the bathroom before leaving the house. Your bathroom should be a space that you enjoy being in, no matter how small. If you find your bathroom cramped or cluttered, you can make a few small changes that will quickly transform it without ruining your budget.

Add Color Creatively

A new coat of paint is one of the most basic and inexpensive ways you can change the appearance of your bathroom, no matter what the size. Painting your bathroom is something you can do even if you have no experience, and light colors give the impression of more space. However, don't stop there. Once your top coat of paint has dried, add decorative stencils to liven up the room. For example, add stencils of cheerful objects that you'll like seeing, such as sailboats, sunflowers, bows, seashells or country hearts.

Cabinet Hardware

If your bathroom cabinets are old and tired looking and you can't afford new ones, there's still a cheap and easy way to freshen them up. Purchase new cabinet handles and drawer pulls. Nowadays there is a wealth of strikingly decorative cabinet hardware that will take attention away from the outdated cupboards and drawers and act as a distinctive finishing touch for the entire bathroom. Consider selecting cabinet hardware that matches the color of the paint on your walls as it will help bring the room together.

Shower Curtain and Rug

The shower curtain and rug in your bathroom are two articles that can quickly take a beating from frequent use. The shower curtain can turn moldy and cloudy and the bath mat rug can lose its bright color and fluffiness. Purchasing a new, crisp shower curtain and a new, soft rug are easy ways to freshen up your bathroom immediately. Select curtain and mat colors that either match your walls or that contrast in a harmonious way.

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References

About the Author

Lane Cummings is originally from New York City. She attended the High School of Performing Arts in dance before receiving her Bachelor of Arts in literature and her Master of Arts in Russian literature at the University of Chicago. She has lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she lectured and studied Russian. She began writing professionally in 2004 for the "St. Petersburg Times."

Photo Credits

Bathroom Paint Colors - It All Started With Paint

Read article : Bathroom Paint Colors - It All Started With Paint

I’m sitting here shaking my head in disbelief …

sheer, utter, 100% mystified disbelief.

Do you remember my weekend project?  The one where I redid the kids bathroom with a huge helping hand from my neighbors at Ace Hardware?  This one …

Well, the folks at Ace Hardware shared this with their Facebook fans.  And you know what?  There was more than one person who preferred the “before” over the “after” …

Huh?

Yep.  I’m shaking my head, questioning what exactly they love in the before?  Perhaps the orange oak cabinet?  The stained sheet vinyl floor?  The beige sink?  No, no, it must the plastic white handles on that orange oak cabinet …

And then I chuckled … and admonished myself for my snark.  Bad Linda.

To each his own.  Style and design is subjective.  And yet I can’t help to think that if I had given them a personal and in-person tour of the before they might agree with me that the after is vastly  improved …

vastly so!

When I redid this bathroom – the bathroom shared by my teen son and teen daughter – I consulted closely with said daughter on the design and colors.  She is the one who spends the most time in this room.  Though, in all fairness, the son does take exceptionally long showers but I’m pretty sure his eyes are closed much of that time …

(okay, seriously, as I’m writing this post said son just walked down the stairs after taking a shower and fessed up that he mistakenly washed his hair with soap instead of shampoo and now it feels all weird and hard and stringy.  The sleep showering assumption has been confirmed).

But my daughter?  She is a bath lover.  A daily occurrence for her.  So I wanted the bathroom it to feel soft and soothing and relaxing to compliment her treasured bath time …

The first color we chose together didn’t go over well.  Not because of the color.  It was lovely.  But it was much darker and bolder and, in this small window-less space, overwhelming.  So we went back to the drawing board and selected Clark + Kensington’s Lucky Charm.  It’s a blue-gray color that is much softer.  And it’s a primer and paint in one, so it easily covered that rejected bolder color with two coats …

And then I did something crazy.  I took that very same flat paint and painted the beloved-by-some orange oak cabinet …

I gave it two coats of the flat latex in Lucky Charm.  And then I gave it two coats of clear wax (I used some Annie Sloan wax I had on hand, but any clear wax would work).

And can I tell you something?  I just love, love how it turned out.  No brush strokes and the wax has hardened nicely so this cabinet will stand up to two teens who can’t seem to brush their teeth over the sink …

am I the only one with this problem?

The beadboard wallpaper (I really need to get that ‘how to hang’  post written!), trim, baseboards, and door were all painted with Clark + Kensington’s Designer White.

The medicine cabinet was painted with Ace’s Cabinet, Door & Trim paint …

It’s and Alkyd enamel paint so it’s thick and self leveling and, in the end, the finish looks like it was sprayed on, not brushed on …

And can I just say how great it feels to have a room complete.  Top-to-bottom-cross-it-off-the-to-do-list-finished!  Even it it’s not to everyone’s taste, it makes me smile.  And my kids smile.  And that is the critique I value most …

P.S. Just in time for the New Year, I’m giving away a $100 gift card to Ace Hardware.  You know, to jump start your 2014 home improvement and paint projects …

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was written as part of my partnership withAce Hardware as a member of theAce Blogger Panel.  However, any and all opinions are my own.

Sharing:

* Between Naps on the Porch *

Bathrooms - Gray Bathroom Pink Accents

Read article : Bathrooms - Gray Bathroom Pink Accents

Glam bathroom features a walk in shower finished with a frosted glass door with gold trim next to a gold trimmed mirror.

Sotheby's Realty

Luxurious long white bathroom features a gray damask mirrored stool placed on statuary marble floor tiles beneath a white built-in makeup vanity fixed beneath a small inset mirror located under a television niche.

Lucy Interior Design

Black and white bathroom with pink accents features an accent wall clad in Schumacher Agadir Screen in Noir Wallpaper lined with a black washstand topped with contrasting white quartz.

Vanessa Francis Design

Fabulous gray bathroom with gray walls framing extra-wide grey vanity with calcutta marble countertop paired with white lacquer mirror flanked by Visual Comfort Lighting Ziyi Sconce in Polished Silver and white and gray hers bath mat.

Palmetto Cabinet Studio

Gorgeous beach cottage bathroom boasts walls covered in gray and white marble subway tiles holding a whitewashed circular vanity mirror positioned above a polished nickel gooseneck faucet supported by a polished nickel washstand fitted with white marble countertops and a sink.

Rosemary Beach

Fantastic gray bathroom with light blue ceiling and gray walls framing grey vanity with calcutta marble countertop paired with Visual Comfort Lighting Ziyi Sconce in Polished Silver on white lacquer mirror and white and gray his bath mat over marble tiled floor.

Palmetto Cabinet Studio

Incredible bathroom with floating gray lacquered vanity with towel shelves, filled with white and pink towels finished with a white quartz counter which frames an undermount sink with modern faucet situated below a beveled vanity mirror which reflects a brass arch top lantern lit by a glass sphere pendant light.

PNE Prize Home

Chic bathroom features an ivory lacquered washstand fitted with slide out drawers topped with thick grey countertop accented with his and her sinks under wall-mount gooseneck faucets and polished nickel vanity mirrors alongside a dark gray slate tile herringbone floor.

Stonefox

Incredible bathroom design with gray dual vanity accented with nickel hardware and a white and gray marble countertop framing the undermount sinks with gooseneck faucets.

Artistic Designs for Living

Chic master bathroom features a arched doorways leading to walk through shower for two with two entrances and exits fitted with a grey marble surround lined with multiple shower heads over a white hex tiled shower floor.

Rock Paper Hammer

Navy blue and gray bathroom features walls clad in grey grasscloth lined with a polished nickel framed medicine cabinet illuminated by polished nickel sconces accented with white plated shades over a navy washstand with ring pulls topped with white marble alongside a marble hex floor next to a walk-in shower.

Meg Lonergan

Pink and gray en suite girl's bathroom boasts marble floors framing a light gray washstand accented with satin nickel pulls and a white quartz countertop fitted with a sink and polished nickel faucet kit positioned beneath a frameless vanity mirror illuminated by a quatrefoil flush mount.

LUX Design

Chic bathroom features a corner walk in shower fitted with a steel and glass shower enclosure and a polished nickel shower head mounted on marble shower surround with a small niche.

Lucy and Company

Fabulous pink and gray bathroom with walk-in doorless shower enclosure with marble tiled walls and ceiling.

Lewis and Weldon

Pink and white contemporary girl's bathroom boasts a white step stool positioned on a hot pink striped bath mat sits on gray wood like floor tiles in front of a white washstand fitted with nickel hardware and a hot pink countertop finished with an oval sink and a polished nickel faucet kit fixed under a polished vanity mirror mounted on a white wall illuminated by light bulb pendant.

Kim Lewis Designs

Gorgeous gray bathroom design with gray walls and light blue ceiling over modern freestanding soaking tub over marble tiled floor.

Palmetto Cabinet Studio

Stunning gray bathroom with gray walls and light blue ceiling over modern freestanding soaking tub over marble tiled floor.

Palmetto Cabinet Studio

Steel and glass doors open to a walk in shower clad in gray plaid wall tiles and concrete floors complementing a concrete shower bench and exposed plumbing nickel shower kit.

Tiffany Farha Design

Gray country style bathroom dons flagstone tiled floors leading to a gray washstand adorning small nickel knobs and gray quartzite countertops supporting tall cabinets on either side of a gray framed vanity mirror positioned above a polished nickel faucet and rectangular sink lit by mirror mounted glass dome sconces.

Tiffany Farha Design

Under a slope ceiling, a light gray washstand donning small brass knobs and marble countertops fitted with a satin nickel deck mount faucet sat under inset vanity mirrors lit by brass sconces.

Jackson and Leroy

Small rustic cottage bathroom features a plank accent wall holding a beveled medicine cabinet between two nickel and glass sconces mounted above a light gray single vanity fitted with a shelf holding a towel tray, polished nickel hardware, and a white marble vanity top placed between gray walls.

Norwell Design Build

Melissa Haynes - Chic girl's bathroom features a nook clad in white beveled subway tiles lined with a cream bone inlay mirror illuminated by sconces with pink shades placed over a white washstand with shelf fitted with pink baskets topped with a bowl sink and wall mount sink.

At Home in Arkansas

Wedge more storage into bathroom corner

Read article : Wedge more storage into bathroom corner

My “Room by Room” co-host, Shari Hiller, and I have decorated numerous bathrooms, and all of them share one common problem – not enough storage. Typically, the only places to store items are the medicine cabinet and under the vanity, neither of which offers much space.

We recently decorated a bathroom that had no storage whatsoever. The sink mounted directly to the wall, so there was no vanity. There wasn’t even a medicine cabinet. This bathroom needed help.

Shari helped by creating a skirt that attached to the sink and provided some covered space to “hide” things. Unfortunately, more storage was still needed.

I decided to build a tall corner cupboard, which would offer plenty of storage while taking up very little space in this small bathroom.

The materials I used:

• 1/2-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• Wood glue
• Nail gun (or hammer and nails)
• Large square
• Pencil
• 1-inch cleats
• 1/2-inch quarter-round molding
• 1×2, 1×3 and 1×4 poplar lumber
• Jigsaw with scroll blade
• Hinges and hardware
• Tape measure
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper
• Primer and paint or stain

Measure the corner of the bathroom where the cabinet will be placed to get the desired dimensions. The featured project’s one side is 18 inches wide and the other is 18–1/2 inches wide (when attached together, each side will be 18–1/2 inches because of the plywood’s thickness).

Since the piece is angled, the sides and cleats need to be mitered at the front so the front facing will lie flush. Set the circular saw at a 45-degree angle and cut the plywood sides using a guide to keep the saw straight. Cut the cleats to size, being sure to miter the front ends.

Lay the sides next to each other on a flat surface. Use a large square to draw lines across both boards to mark where the 1-inch cleats will hold up the shelves. Run a bead of glue along the cleats and nail each in place. Assemble the two sides together using a butt joint, wood glue and nails.

Measure the inside of the cabinet from outer corner to outer corner and cut the shelves to size using a circular saw. Tip: When cutting plywood with a circular saw, cut with the finished (good) side down so chips don’t ruin the exposed surface.

Install the shelves to the inside of the cabinet by nailing each into the cleats and dress up the inside top edge using -1/2-inch quarter round. Cut 1×2 facing pieces to length to cover the front of each shelf.

For plain cabinet doors, measure the bottom opening and add -1/4 inch all the way around. Cut two doors this size.

Fill all nail holes with wood filler and let dry. Sand the entire piece and prime it if necessary. Once dry, paint or stain the piece as desired. Once completely dry, install the doors with chosen hinges and hardware.

Place the cupboard in the corner and make sure that it is secure. In the room we were working in, the floor was somewhat uneven. We found that our cupboard needed to have a few shims placed under the front edge to make it completely stable.

I was pleased with the project because it provided some much-needed storage. Shari was pleased for an entirely different reason: There were four shelves that needed accessories.

She added greenery, towels, decorative bottles and baskets. The accessories added color and texture to the piece, and gave the piece a nice, finished look.

This tall corner cupboard was just what this bathroom needed. Does your bathroom need a bit of extra storage? Why not give this cupboard a try? I guarantee: You’ll love the results.

Cindy updates her 50s bathroom vanity, tile floor and shower

Read article : Cindy updates her 50s bathroom vanity, tile floor and shower

Last week we looked at Cindy’s beautiful Holyoke, Mass., home – photos I took last summer. Today – we get to see the updates that she made to her bathroom vanity and tile floor and shower over the winter – she replaced the laminate on the bathroom vanity in a lighter ‘beigewood” shade, and also retiled her floor and shower stall. Cindy’s updates are incredibly well done – she has a great eye for detail and I know that she labored over each little decision…. Great inspiration and ideas, I am sure, to many retro renovators looking for a way to update their tired bathroom vanities, in particular.

Cindy writes:

Hi Pam,
Since you were here I redid the tiles and laminate cabinet in the bathroom…. Fiorella Cosgrove of Cortina Tile in West Springfield, MA was the only tile advisor who “got” my desire to be retro and I could not have done it without her and highly recommend them.(Corina Tile;1645 Riverdale St.; West Springfield MA 01089).

• The old laminate was stripped off and replaced with Wilsonart laminate-the color is beigewood #7850-60.
• The hardware was purchased at Re-Store for a super awesome $10.
• I also got a new soap dish to match the existing ones – that came from ebay and it is the Hall-Mack polished chrome …Coronado series. A local hardware store with 50 years of old inventory provided me some items from the same line and of course I have extras…even a towel rack I couldn’t resist and haven’t used yet.
• The bathroom pendants are original BUT the canopies were brass – I found a local guy to chrome them for me so they would match all other metal in the bathroom. the toilet, sinks, and tub are original.
• I’ll be looking to replace the Church toilet seat very soon if I can find the same color.
• The shower tiles are 6″x6″, made by Original Style in England, color is Ecru.
• The floor tiles are 2″x2″ Dal-Tile color is elemental tan with sporadic 1″ x1″ tiles color urban putty.   (Size created by tile installer by cutting 2×2 tiles in quarters…this give extra texture and was recommended by Cortina Tile).

The project brightened up the bathroom and remained true to the 1960’s!!! PS, do you notice the cabinet hardware from Re-Store???? Hope to see you this summer for a Re-Store rerun~
Cindy

Renovate a 1950s Bathroom | Family Handyman

Read article : Renovate a 1950s Bathroom | Family Handyman

Big splash, low budget

Some say that if you wait long enough, Everything—including 1950s bathrooms— comes back in style. But “in style” doesn't necessarily mean “in perfect shape” or “in sync with today's lifestyle.” Such was the case with the bathroom shown here. Moisture problems had caused peeling paint and sticking vanity drawers, while 50 years of wear and tear had taken a toll on the grout, fixtures and hardware. However, the owners, Mary Jane and Bruce Pappas, saw too many things going for the space to completely gut it, such as unique tile work that was still in excellent shape.

“The whole point of buying this fifties house was to create our 21st century life here while honoring the original architecture and detail,” says Mary Jane, who is a professional interior designer. “Bruce and I wanted to complement and elevate what was already here and reuse as many materials as we could.” And by doing so, they were able to reach their goal of updated function on a modest budget. The couple were able to avoid expensive demolition work and get the bathroom they wanted for just under $5,000. “The results for the investment are extraordinary,” says Mary Jane Pappas.

Updated, But Still Original

This bathroom now has greater utility and a clean, contemporary look— without breaking the bank.

Updated bathroom

ReDO, reuse, recycle

Vintage tile

The vanity's vintage “Sputnik” tile pattern inspired the khaki color scheme of the bathroom and adjoining bedroom.

New rollouts, old cabinet

The vanity cabinet is original, but for about $1,500, the new door and drawers were constructed with wipe-clean Melamine bottoms and maple sides decked out with metal slides.

Updated storage closet

Adjustable shelving with Melamine surfaces was added along with a replacement tissue box holder. A hidden cabinet outlet keeps a hair dryer ready to roll and the electric toothbrushes charged.

After adding an exhaust fan to handle the moisture problem, they began dealing with the cosmetics, as explained by Mary Jane Pappas.

Freshening tiled surfaces
A professional tiler was brought in to repair the period tiles that had seen 53 years of bathroom life. By tuckpointing broken edges and freshening the grout, the tiler brought the surfaces up to standard. “The tile is unique to the era; we embraced the retro feel of it. It was in great shape and worth saving.”

Vanity drawers and doors
Another great example of the couple's “reuse it” philosophy lies in their treatment of the vanity. Years of water damage had made the drawers difficult to open, but instead of scrapping the entire piece, the Pappases hired Thomas J. Ross of Ross Custom Cabinetry Inc. to build new rollout drawers and cabinet doors for it and adjustable shelving for the attached linen closet. “Before, the cabinet drawers were only simple wooden boxes resting in a wooden cabinet. It was a struggle to pull 'wood-on-wood' drawers, especially when they were damp. Now that they're equipped to glide on rollers, it's like having a new piece of furniture. And when you think of the floor, tile and drywall work that we would have incurred had we demolished and installed all new cabinetry, that decision saved thousands.”

Paint, pulls and hinges
The vanity face-lift continued with several coats of an enamel paint and re-chromed hinges and the addition of contemporary drawer pulls. “We re-chromed the hinges because the plates had a unique screw pattern and I didn't want to add any additional screw holes to the vanity and risk the old holes showing.” The original mirror was saved by painting its trim the same color as the vanity.

Sink faucet
The Pappases wanted to add a soap pump and a water filter to their bath sink. By changing the old, widespread faucet for a single-lever faucet, they were able to avoid the expense of either buying a new sink or drilling new holes. The change in style left two unused holes for the new accessories.

Lighting
The old sconces were replaced with lights that better match the new drawer pulls and add a contemporary flair to the room.

Keepers! The '50s heat fan and tissue dispenser
The couple wanted to maintain the items that, like the heat fan, were still stylishly serving a useful function in the bathroom. “It's a nice amenity and it still worked, so why get rid of that?” They were even able to save the original metal tissue dispenser housed in the linen cabinet. It could no longer hold tissue boxes because the dispenser slot was vertical instead of the modern horizontal style. “But the same company, Brobick, now offers a replacement dispenser that fits tissue boxes perfectly.”

The tub
Replacing a bathtub affects the tile surrounding it, the walls above it and the plumbing below it. Keeping the existing tub saves tremendous time and money. So the tub stayed put, while some of the more easily changed elements around it were replaced. One of the first changes was to oust the shower door. “In a small bathroom, a flexible shower curtain creates a sense of spaciousness. And I use my bathtub every day, so a shower door is just not practical,” Pappas says. The original tub had a single showerhead with a bathtub faucet. Now a low-cradled hand shower, perfect for tub bathers, easily sets into an adjustable height showerhead fixture, adding to the usefulness and elegance of the bathroom.

Simple details make the difference

Custom blind

Instead of settling for an off-white window blind in the bathroom, Pappas used a window blind company to create a custom window treatment to match the wall color. (Small rooms appear even smaller with a different color window treatment.) “For $175, getting an exact color match is a great deal,” says Pappas.

Towels and rugs

The towels and bathroom rug proved to be a shopping challenge. “I wanted to find rich colors to work with the khaki walls and the cabinetry. I found high-quality towels I love from an online store, but searched and searched for a matching rug that would stand up to a wet environment. Finally I had a custom one handmade to match,” says Pappas.

Shower curtain pull

A last little splurge of elegance lies in the Kravet silk tassel shower curtain pull ($75). Costing half as much as the Restoration Hardware shower curtain itself, the tassel adds a touch of luxury to this otherwise thrifty remodel.

Having saved a bundle by retrofitting many existing systems in the bathroom, the Pappases had some budget left to indulge in a few accessories.

Part 5: Making room for our home’s hiding places

Read article : Part 5: Making room for our home’s hiding places

As we put the finishing touches on the plans for our home, our dreams of dinner parties in the finished open kitchen, of repurposed original sconces and refurbished original details, gave way to a less sexy obsession. The mop, the vacuum, our winter coats, the laundry. Specifically: Where would they all go and how could we banish them from sight?

In the New York prewar apartments we’d lived in for years, closets were strictly optional and washer-dryers were nonexistent. What made glossy interior photos appealing, I came to realize, was what you didn’t see, because it was tucked into a hidden closet or built-in cabinet. Renovating our house gave us a shot at discreet convenience.

Entering the first-floor apartment, pre-renovation, meant coming face-to-face with a faux-wood-grained cabinet door—in actuality, a false front. It was an arguably clever way to bump out the bathroom on the other side to make room for a turquoise jacuzzi-shaped tub. Otto’s initial plan for the enlarged bathroom included a non-aqua, 6-foot tub. But what we really wanted was an entryway closet. With a standard 5-foot tub, we gained a proper foyer and a narrow coat closet on the other side of the wall.

First-floor square footage was valuable, but we admitted to ourselves we would be much likelier to stay on top of the wash if it were integrated into kitchen chores and didn’t involve trekking up and down stairs. So Otto designed a new pantry/washer-dryer closet in the kitchen with an automatic light and stacking electric Miele washer-dryer. The same closet, which my partner later fitted with an Ikea Norberg table and some Elfa wire shelves, would also hold cleaning supplies and dog food.

The closets pre-renovation.

The laundry pantry in progress.

One of our favorite ideas from Otto: Since our ceilings are 10 feet high, he suggested additional closet doors above both the entryway closet and pantry. The mini-closet above the pantry alone would provide an additional 15 square feet of storage. Our contractor, CNS, priced out the additional closet framing and custom doors at a very reasonable $600.

We could have added traditional closets to the bedroom. But we wanted to keep the non-utility rooms flexible, in case we add to our family or otherwise change how we used the house. The windowless room between the living room and bedroom would make a perfect walk-through closet.

Using left-behind plastic garment racks upstairs convinced me that I did not want open storage. Open storage is for the preternaturally tidy, which I am not, and I wanted seamlessness and harmony. Generally, getting to “seamless” means custom cabinetry. Otto estimated a wall of built-in clothes closets with nice doors could run around $6,000. Or we could hack some Ikea for less than a third of that.

The Ikea PAX wardrobe boxes in the closet area.Devon Banks

We thought we’d left Ikea behind with our futon days. But that was before we had a designer who knew how to use its modular components precisely, or how to hack cabinet frames with custom doors. For the storage that was really going to put in the work, the old blue-and-yellow big box was it. With Otto’s help, we were soon on a first-name basis with the Ikea catalog.

Naturally, there are no short trips to Ikea. Not with the cavernous dimensions, the waits for returns, and the inescapable, interminable “full-service” pickup. It frayed domestic relations. “I feel so basic getting into a fight on the Ikea line,” said my partner, as we traded apologies on what felt like our 50th visit. By then, paying the impressively responsive Perfect Assembly $50 to $149 to shop and deliver from a New Jersey Ikea seemed worth every penny. (They also will put it together for you for a reasonable fee.)

We got lucky with Ikea’s ubiquitous PAX wardrobe boxes: three PAX frames in a row (small, medium, and large widths) just fit the walk-through closet space when bolted to the wall—no fill-in molding required. But my partner disdained the PAX doors: They were cheap-looking without even being that cheap.

Enter Semihandmade,* which makes a variety of doors for PAX frames that start at just $40 more a door than Ikea’s Hemnes doors, though you have to factor in production times and shipping from California.

We were trying to be disciplined about the finishes, sticking to neutrals knowing that color variation would come later with removable items like rugs and art. We sought to limit the number of wood tones we chose, settling on matte white oak (the same wood as the original staircase and the one we chose for the floors) and a darker walnut and mahogany. We promptly fell in love with Semihandmade’s flat-sawn walnut doors, which fit the moodier, cocoon-like feel we were going for in the bedroom suite.

The completed and stocked laundry pantry in the kitchen. Devon Banks

We wanted a similar aesthetic consistency on all the house’s hardware: Almost everything new would be either antique brass to match the house’s original hardware, including the snakelike exterior door handle, or a more transitional matte black. (For the uninitiated, “transitional” is what bath and hardware manufacturers came up with to describe fittings that aren’t sleekly modern or fussily traditional, but streamlined enough to fit in with either decor.) For the closet doors, we picked inexpensive brass tab pulls whose clean lines didn’t compete with the beautiful walnut grain.

For the walls, we tried to be strict about sticking to white and three shades of gray, one of which, the blue-green-gray Night Train, we used in a glossier exterior finish (called Grand Entrance) that would only be found in the outer vestibule and door. We went with Benjamin Moore—already Otto’s go-to paint brand—who generously provided product.** After at least a dozen sample pots, we settled on Brushed Aluminum, the ideal ambiguous, warmer sage gray for key moldings and our foyer.

Benjamin Moore Century paint colors.Devon Banks

To hide television cords, we went back to Semihandmade for a $20 wall-mounted Besta frame topped with a DIY slab door ($44). Late one night when the contractors were gone, we painted the Besta door the same white we’d chosen for the living room and dining room, Benjamin Moore’s Snowfall White, in the hope it would simply recede into the wall. We added a matte-black handle from Atlas Homewares I’d ordered on Amazon as a sample for the kitchen.

New to Benjamin Moore is the velvety Century line. Unlike the bajillion colors available in Moore’s other paint lines, Century is a much smaller selection of highly saturated colors—intriguing but intimidating—that have to be seen in person to be understood. My partner was averse to truly dark colors, so my love for dark teal would be limited to the office. After spending time with all the emerald tones, I picked Light Beryl.

For the bedroom area—both walk-through closet and bedroom—we chose Marcasite, which would also visually separate it from the sunny white of the more public rooms of the house.

Another cheap trick to attain the visual smoothness of built-ins: Painting Ikea Tarva furniture, made of unfinished pine, with the same Marcasite paint and then upgrading the hardware. It took all freaking night, what with two disassembled dressers and two nightstands, but in the end, we would have our “built-in” furniture at a fraction of the price.

*Semihandmade partnered with the homeowners on this project; they received a 50 percent discount on cabinet fronts.

**This project is sponsored in part by Benjamin Moore, who provided the Century paint.

Next week, onRenovation Diary:

Our intrepid homeowner finds out what happens when you try to carry slabs of marble on your own—and a peek at the finished bathroom.

Bathroom Remodel Ideas

Read article : Bathroom Remodel Ideas

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  Relaxed Traditional Bathroom Design

  To get this designer look, mix marble countertops, furniture-style cabinetry, and paneled wainscoting with mirror frames and flooring that look like weathered wood. Choose fixtures, faucets, lighting, and hardware that incorporate sleek tweaks into traditional lines and shapes.

• 

  Powder Room Vanity Updates

  If you want a stylish powder room for guests, but you don’t have time or money for a full bathroom remodel, focus on updating the bath vanity. See four ways to update a half bath or small bathroom using in-stock materials.

• 

  Transformed Tub

  Give your tub alcove a custom look by adding a paneled side and a tiled wall niche, both doable DIY projects. Marble tiles on the tub surround add to the high-end look.

• 

  Black-and-White Bathroom Makeovers

  Create a bold new bath with these stylish design ideas, in classic black and white.

• 

  Modern Makeover

  A brushed nickel light fixture (#27219) complements the modern finishings in this bathroom. The subway tiles (#64396) run vertically for an unexpected twist. Durable Valspar paint in Skyward contrasts nicely with the white tile on the walls.

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  Crisp and Contemporary

  This stylish bathroom incorporates accent tiles in small doses. Decorative tiles around the bathtub create an eye-catching tub surround. The crisp white walls get a boost from tiles-turned-wall art. Patterned tiles around the mirror serve as a one-of-a-kind frame.

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  Down to Earth

  This light-filled bathroom mixes several tile colors and tile types to create a soothing natural color scheme. The espresso double vanity adds contemporary styling and vanity lights (#35151) above the tile-framed mirrors provide task lighting.

• 

  Perfect Symmetry

  The high ceilings in this bathroom are balanced with pendant light fixtures (#8337) that hang above the separate vanities. The glass vessel sinks and chrome faucets provide a fresh, airy contrast to the dark tones of the cabinetry and tile.

• 

  Stylish Surround

  A basic tub surround is transformed with tile. Here, white tiles arranged in a vertical running brick bond (#255052) -- the traditional brick arrangement -- get a decorative lift from a strip of black-and-white mosaic glass tiles (#255044) just above eye level.

• 

  Mini Makeover

  This bath vanity gets a new life with a fresh coat of paint and new cabinet pulls. An updated vanity top, sink, faucet, and backsplash complete the look.

• 

  Green With Envy

  A new coat of paint, a contemporary vanity, and a vessel sink transform a once-bland bathroom to a stylish retreat. A four-bulb vanity light and recessed lights provide the right amount of illumination. A graphic area rug ties all the colors together.

• 

  Mixed and Matched

  Large tiles (#235890) cover the top portion of the shower surround in this bathroom. Arranged on a diagonal, they make the bathroom appear larger. Smaller stone tiles in a lighter shade add texture to the room and provide contrast to the larger tiles.

• 

  Casual Elegance

  A new vanity with a marble top (#319961) adds instant appeal to this bathroom. The brushed nickel cabinet hardware coordinates with the new faucet and light fixture (#5232), while blue shower tiles contrast with Valspar Moose Mousse-colored walls.

More Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Small Bathroom Makeover

Make a small bath stunning with an easy spring makeover that’s all about color, shine, and surfaces. Update a single element or transform the entire bath.

Learn More

Family Bath

Create a shared space that works for the entire family with affordable updates that add storage, function, and style.

Learn More

Beach Cottage with Transitional Coastal Interiors

Read article : Beach Cottage with Transitional Coastal Interiors

Stunning open concept dining living room with a walnut dining table lined with William Sonoma Farallon Armchairs below a glass bubble cluster chandelier. #DiningRoom #Cottage #CottageDiningRoom #GlassBubbleClusterChandelier" width="642" height="448" />

With impeccable transitional coastal interiors by Nina Liddle Design, and located in Sconset, a small village in Nantucket, this beach cottage is all about color, pattern and nautical decor.

The cottage exudes sun-filled spaces with white walls that serve as a canvas for all the colors that beautifully come from slipcovered and upholstered furniture, decorative pillows and accessories.

A modern, transitional white kitchen brings this beach cottage to the next level, leaving nothing to wish for, except the desire to spend the entire summer or an entire life in this dreamy place.

Take the day to imagine yourself in this bright and airy cottage. I know the colors found here will make your day a tiny bit happier!

Beach Cottage with Transitional Coastal Interiors

stunning foyer features shiplap walls, a wraparound staircase with a sisal stair runner beside an Oomph Fenwick Console Table, with a pair of raffia wrapped poufs and a rectangular raffia mirror. #Foyer #Entryway #Entrance Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="967" />

With a hint of color, this stunning foyer features shiplap walls, a wraparound staircase with a sisal stair runner beside an orange Oomph Fenwick Console Table. A pair of raffia wrapped poufs were placed under the console while a rectangular raffia mirror is placed above it.

Open Concept Living Room

Open Concept Living Room. Open Concept Living Room Ideas. This open concept living room is painted in Benjamin Moore Horizon. #OpenConcept #Interiors #LivingRoom #BenjaminMooreHorizon #BMHorizon #BenjaminMoorePaintColors" width="642" height="427" />

 This open concept living room is painted in Benjamin Moore Horizon.

Decor

features blue armchairs with white piping and decorative pillows and a accordion side table. #LivingRoom #Coastal #Chair #Pillows" width="642" height="444" />

The living room also features blue armchairs with white piping and decorative pillows and a accordion side table.

Dining Room

Stunning open concept dining living room with a walnut dining table lined with William Sonoma Farallon Armchairs below a glass bubble cluster chandelier. #DiningRoom #Cottage #CottageDiningRoom #GlassBubbleClusterChandelier The Muriel Chandelier by Oly Studio." width="642" height="448" />

This stunning open concept dining and living room exudes beauty with a walnut dining table lined with William Sonoma Farallon Armchairs below The Muriel Chandelier by Oly Studio. Timeless choices with a hint of “unexpected”. Love that!

Built-in Cabinet

large seaweed art print against the dark glossy navy blue backdrop, lit by a library wall sconce. The shelves display stacked books, coral and seashells. #LivingRoom #Cabinet #Builtin #DisplayCabinet #Bookshelves #Bookcase Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="965" />

This living room continues to surprise with a custom built-in display cabinet placed just before entering the kitchen area. Notice the large seaweed art print against the dark glossy navy blue backdrop, lit by a library wall sconce. The shelves display stacked books, corals and seashells.

Kitchen

brushed nickel hardware alongside white quartzite countertops with a subway tiled backsplash. The kitchen features a stainless steel stove below a white paneled stove hood accented with corbels across from a stainless steel industrial style, built-in refrigerator. A farm sink stands below three sash windows opposite an extra long kitchen island lined with Piston Barstools illuminated by a pair of lacquered navy lantern pendants from Oomph. Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="464" />

Isn’t this an amazing kitchen? This coastal U-shaped kitchen features white cabinetry accented with brushed nickel hardware and white quartzite countertops. The backsplash are classic white subway tiles. The kitchen also features a stainless steel range below a white paneled stove hood accented with corbels. A farmhouse sink stands below three sash windows.

Kitchen Accessories

lacquered navy lantern pendants. The designer used a pair of the Oomph Palo Alto Lantern in this kitchen. Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="913" />

The long kitchen island is lined with LEM Piston Barstools illuminated by a pair of lacquered navy lantern pendants. The designer used the Oomph Palo Alto Lantern in this kitchen.

Kitchen Paint Color

Benjamin Moore Horizon paint color. Benjamin Moore Horizon. Benjamin Moore light gray paint color. Benjamin Moore Horizon. #BenjaminMooreHorizon #BMHorizon #Horizon #BenjaminMooreGray #BenjaminMoorePaintColors" width="642" height="433" />

The wall paint color is Horizon by Benjamin Moore. This paint color works beautifully with the white cabinets.

 Banquette

Saarinen Tulip Table from Room and Board. Nina Liddle Design. #Banquette #BreakfastNook #Nook" width="642" height="487" />

This entire space makes me smile! I love the colors found here. The breakfast nook features a custom banquette with storage and colorful fabric choices.

The dining table is the Saarinen Tulip Tablefrom Room and Board.

Navy & Green

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Summery colors!

Breakfast Nook

Benjamin Moore Horizon. Kitchen Nook Paint Color Benjamin Moore Horizon. #BenjaminMooreHorizon Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="430" />

The kitchen nook paint color is also Benjamin Moore Horizon.

Mudroom

overhead cubbies alongside wood planked walls with a ceiling mount surfboard over ivory floors layered with a gray rag rug. #Mudroom #Coastal Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="929" />

This fun, coastal mud room offers built-in lockers featuring a built-in storage bench with overhead cubbies alongside wood planked walls and ivory floors, layered with a gray rag rug. A closet laundry room is on the right.

The vintage surfboard is from a store in California called Surfing Cowboys.

Powder Room

Nina Liddle Design. The wallpaper in this turquoise powder room is the Chain Link 5641 in Aqua on Ivory Manila Hemp by Phillip Jeffries." width="642" height="965" />

The wallpaper in this turquoise powder room is the Chain Link 5641 in Aqua on Ivory Manila Hemp by Phillip Jeffries.Isn’t it beautiful?

Lighting

Ro Sham Beaux Malibu Turquoise Chandelier. Ro Sham Beaux Chandelier. Coastal Ro Sham Beaux Chandelier. Turquoise Ro Sham Beaux Chandelier. #RoShamBeaux #RoShamBeauxChandelier" width="642" height="538" />

Oh, I love this one! Lighting is the Ro Sham Beaux Malibu Turquoise Chandelier. It costs around $688.00 – $1,242.00, depending on the size (12″W x 12″D x 15″H” OR 18″W x 18″D x 28″H” ).

Bathroom Sink

Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="438" />

Timeless pedestal sink by Kallista.

Master Bedroom

white Greek Key mirror reflecting a Ro Sham Beaux Frankie Beaded Chandelier hung over a peacock blue, nailhead trimmed headboard on bed layered in white bed linens topped with a pair of chartreuse pillows and an aqua blue striped pillow flanked by a pair of modern white nightstands topped with Robert Abbey Triple Gourd Lamps in Peacock. Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="890" />

It’s summer year-round in this master bedroom! The master bedroom features a white Greek Key mirror reflecting a beaded chandelier hung over a peacock blue, nailhead trimmed headboard. White nightstands topped with Robert Abbey Triple Gourd Lamps in Peacockadd an airy feel to the space.

Chandelier

Ro Sham Beaux Frankie Malibu Clear Chandelier. Ro Sham Beaux Frankie Beaded Chandelier. #RoShamBeauxFrankieBeadedChandelier" width="642" height="838" />

Ro Sham Beaux Frankie Malibu Clear Chandelier.Price? $3,220.00 – $3,680.00. It’s definitely the “jewelry” of this room.

 Pick Your Colors

I love the teal accessories mixed with green and turquoise in this bedroom. This is a very fresh color scheme.

 Coastal Blue and Green Bedroom

Wall paint color is BM Horizon. #Blue #Green #Bedroom #BMHorizon Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="439" />

The wall color is once again Benjamin Moore Horizon – a very soothing gray.

Master Bathroom

rainfall shower head linear marble tile surround linear marble tile marble shower floor marble shower ceiling rectangular marble floor tile freestanding tub freestanding bathtub floor mount faucet floor mount faucet with shower head plantation shutters bathroom plantation shutters woven baskets white sink vanity with shelf sink vanity with drawers dual sink vanity with shelf nickel cabinet pulls marble counter gray marble counter white lacquered mirror glossy white mirror square polished nickel wall sconce white and gray bathroom extra long vanity extra long sink vanity extra long washstand long sink vanity long washstand Jonathan Adler White Rococo Mirror. Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="445" />

Who wouldn’t love to have this bathroom? This bathroom features an extra long, white dual sink vanity with lower shelf filled with baskets and drawers accented with nickel pulls alongside a white marble counter and shallow backsplash with a pair of Jonathan Adler White Rococo Mirrors. A large walk-in shower stands at the far end of the space tucked below the dormer ceiling with a seamless glass door and a linear marble mosaic, surround with marble tiled shower floors and ceiling, accented with a rainfall shower head. A freestanding tub situated below a plantation windows finishes the space, framed by shiplap clad half walls over rectangular marble tiled floors.

Bathroom Countertop

white marble countertop with polished nickel bathroom faucet. #Bathroom" width="642" height="473" />

 Stunning polished white marble countertop with polished nickel bathroom faucet. A simple coral brings a coastal feel to this space.

Bathroom Storage

white dual sink vanity with lower shelf filled with baskets. #WhiteBathroomVanity" width="642" height="472" />

Extra storage and texture can easily be added with baskets under the vanity.

Guest Bedroom Paint Color

Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth. Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth is a great neutral paint color. #BenjaminMooreSailCloth #BenjaminMooreNeutrals #BenjaminMoorePaintColors" width="642" height="464" />

The paint color in this bedroom is Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth. This is a great neutral paint color.

Vanity Paint Color

Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange. Sherwin Williams Orange Paint Color. #SherwinWilliamsKnockoutOrange #SherwinWilliamsPaintColors" width="642" height="478" />

The vanity paint color is Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange.

Sconces

Jonathan Adler Parker Pendant Wall Sconces." width="642" height="600" />

The sconces are the Jonathan Adler Parker Pendant Wall Sconces.

Orange & Turquoise Guest Bedroom

geometric lantern pendant hung over an orange ikat headboard on bed layered with white bed linens and a pair of blue geometric pillows. The bed is flanked by a pair of white two drawer nightstands topped with mercury glass lamps with a pair of Arteriors Home Tennyson Turquoise Linen Stools at the foot of the bed over hardwood floors layered with a braided jute rug. #Bedroom #BeachHouse #BeachHouseBedroom Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="965" />

This guest bedroom features tongue and groove cathedral ceilings adorned with a geometric lantern pendant hung over an orange ikat headboard. The bed is flanked by a pair of white nightstands topped with mercury glass lamps and a beautiful braided jute rug.

Turquoise Stools

Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="462" />

Stunning Arteriors Home Tennyson Turquoise Linen Stools.

Lantern

Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="965" />

This geometric white lantern is a show-stopper!

Blue & White Coastal Bedroom

framed sailboat blueprints over a blue striped headboard on bed layered with white bed linens topped with blue sailor knot pillows and a blue fringed rug throw. A pair of two-tone nightstands stand on either side of the bed topped with Pottery Barn Rope Knot Table Lamps with a Serena and Lily Montara Mirror." width="642" height="456" />

This nautical bedroom looks amazing with channel groove boards accent wall and framed sailboat blueprints.

The lamps are the Pottery Barn Rope Knot Table Lamps and mirror is the Serena and Lily Montara Mirror.

Coastal Touch

framed sailboat blueprints over a blue striped headboard. #CoastalBedroom #SailboatBlueprints Nina Liddle Design." width="642" height="483" />

Blue and white decor is always beautiful, soothing and classic.

 
 
 

See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

Interior Design Ideas: Paint Color

 

 
 
 

 Doesn’t it this place makes you feel happier? I love the stunning colors brought to this light, airy home. It certainly makes it feel more alive.

Talking about happiness, I hope you’re feeling happy today, but if not, put everything that is bothering you aside. Maybe you’re forgetting to look at the good things in life and is putting too much of your energy and health towards the bad stuff.

When was it the last time you said “That’s it! I will think about myself right now”? We tend to always focus on people, on how they’re feeling, on how they’re doing or on how things are going and we rarely stop to thing about HOW WE ARE.

Take this day to look at yourself. Look in the mirror and only say what you love about yourself. Do not allow any criticism to come to your mind. Say all the things you can remember that you have accomplished in life. Try to remember all the details, from childhood, to your teenager years to this day.

Look at yourself and think about all the good things you have done to others. Even the small gestures count.

Now, look at yourself and say what a good person you are and that you are loved. Tell yourself that you understand that life has not always been fair but that you will always be here, you will always be present and you will always be alert.

Tell yourself that no matter what, you will always love yourself.

Also, remember to tell yourself that you’re walking on the right path at this moment. You’re taking the directions you need, you’re making the necessary changes and you’re paying attention. You are growing and you’re open to learn.

And most of all, tell yourself that no matter where this path takes you, you will always be loved.

Take today to remind yourself of how important you really are.

I know you can do that because I know you believe in that.

with Love,

Luciane at HomeBunch.com

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Sources: Interiors by Nina Liddle Design. Photos by Kit Noble.