We’re calling this bathroom done! … For now. We still need to replace the faucet and eventually the tile floors, but those things will come. You can see lots of befores in this post, but here’s a before and after side by side (and lots of photos following with sources at the end):
The lines of the mirror I fell in love with. This thing is heavy with a metal frame that adds a nice industrial touch to a more feminine piece.
In the reflection, you can see how well it ties in with the fixture, but also the art on the opposite wall.
Things were feeling a little serious and fancy in here and we aren’t those people. We aren’t serious. We aren’t fancy and art is a really good way to inject personality and even humor into a room. So, while we definitely like nice things (all these shiny new accessories!), I think the art brings in the balance and tells more about who we are.
We ditched the previous vanity light and overhead fixture and installed this one which really illuminates the whole room at night.
When this area rug first arrived, I wasn’t 100% sold on it. I wasn’t sure the size was right, or the color. But after having it hang out in here for a week, it has really grown on me–especially with the darker wall color. And it is really really soft. A keeper.
We took off both doors of the cabinet and painted the frame and used the shelves open instead. It really opened up the room. These shelves now hold: my paint swatch basket, a couple photos, faux grass, a mirror and another basket with a lid that holds extra toilet paper inside. The bottom three shelves hold our towels. (Note: If I could give advice to newlyweds after 5 years of marriage, it would be go for white towels from the beginning. So much easier!) And a basket of other linens and hand towels.
So now that the bathroom is “done,” the rest of the house is looking sadder than ever. But, it gives us a lot of motivation to eventually make each room our own. Until then, party in the bathroom?
SOURCES:
Mirror, Towel Ring, Cabinet Hardware, Toilet paper holder, Candle (amazzinnngg!!!), Wire basket: c/o Rejuvenation; Soap dispenser and wooden tray: Target; Fixture: c/o Shades of Light; Rug: Home Decorators; Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy; Cabinet and paneling: Benjamin Moore Simply White
To see how we installed the paneling, visit this post
To read about the prep and painting process, visit this post
46 COMMENTS
Charissa Breeding
2 years ago
Where did you find your toilet paper holder (attached to the IKEA cabinet) and did you just drill it into cabinet? We have the same cabinet and have been wondering where to put the toilet paper holder?
Julia
2 years ago
AUTHORIkea!
Wendy
3 years ago
Hi Chris and Julia,
I was wondering you could tell me where you bought the darker vanity. I’m redoing my downstairs bathroom and I absolutely love it.
Julia
3 years ago
AUTHORIkea!
Michelle Kempen
2 years ago
Can you provide the details on the darker vanity? Which one from Ikea? I have a small bathroom and think it might be a good option.
Julia
2 years ago
AUTHORThis one! https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39127654/
kimberlee
4 years ago
Love it! do you remember what the flooring is? And do you have a link to the update you’ve done since then with the ikea vanity… I can’t find it anywhere on your site :(
Chris
4 years ago
The flooring is faux wood tile. Nordic Brown from The Tile Shop. You can see the refresh here: https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2016/12/half-bath-refresh.html
Thanks Kimberlee! I hope this helps.
Stephanie
5 years ago
Beautiful! We have similar paneling in our bathroom. I was wondering, does the mirror hang below the ledge of the paneling? Our paneling is quite high while I’m quite short – I’ve been wondering if I could hang a mirror that goes below the ledge….
Thanks in advance!
Julia
5 years ago
AUTHORIt does!
Stacey
5 years ago
Julia I’m having a hard time telling in the pictures- is that amazing mirror similar in color to an oil rubbed bronze? More black? More brown? It doesn’t look like the mirror itself is available anymore but I’m hoping to maybe replicate the feel of it!
Julia
5 years ago
AUTHORI would say it’s more black. I believe it’s iron.
Nora Rose
7 years ago
Also, I have been showing this to my BF for inspiration for our eventual remodel and I was wondering how much the planking was. I was trying to find it on Lowes website but I only saw boards at $8 each. Our bathroom is really long so he’s afraid materials would be too expensive. Maybe in our small bathroom!
Mama
7 years ago
I love this room! I even sent it to my husband and begged him to do it in our house… I’m wondering if there is nothing on the outside of that window?? We cant do that in our house (no window treatments)…. what would you have chosen if you were going to do a window treatment???
etsetara
7 years ago
i love this! great job sticking with it until you got it just the way you wanted it!
also, those holes on the inside of the cabinets reminded me of jenny’s solution here:
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-paint-and-even-wallpaper-ikea.html
but you’ve probably already seen it!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication
7 years ago
I’m loving this bathroom! It looks so good! And I’m definitely a huge fan of that rug!
Rachel Blanchard
7 years ago
I’m so glad you mentioned that about the towels! We just got married and everyone thinks we’re crazy for getting all white towels, but we’re totally loving it!
Tyesha Turner
7 years ago
Beautiful!
Dawn
7 years ago
Everything is lovely! Can’t wait to see what room you tackle next.
Kristine
7 years ago
this bathroom is a dream!! you guys are real good.
Kristen
7 years ago
Love the finished bathroom! So glad you switched to the navy paint! Looks fabulous!
jornakat
7 years ago
that mirror is so pretty! it looks great in the room.
The Smiths
7 years ago
So I noticed in this room the mix of chrome and oil rubbed bronze, which I normally wouldn’t think to do, but it WORKS. I noticed you did that in your master bath before you moved too….can you talk about that? (That feels like a super weird question). But I also thought it was one of those “rules” that you had to do everything in the same finish. Obviously people can do whatever they want, but yeah, I’m just curious what made you decide to mix and match?
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
Oh yeah, not mixing metals is one of those rules that you can throw out the window–with caution. I like just making sure the metal is repeated at least once in the room. And I like having one that’s more shiny (the nickel in here) and one a little more matte (the oil rubbed bronze/mirror). I think it creates interest, depth and a layered look. Give it a try!
Stephanie Craig
7 years ago
Where did you get your @ sign from? Would love that and a good #. :) Nice job, impressed by your speed!
CaveGurl
7 years ago
I wanna know that too!! I love it!
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
I got it off Joss and Main a couple years ago. Look on Wayfair?
Brit Pierce
7 years ago
Love the combo of dark and light, white and wood, mixed metals, etc. And I really love the new mirror – I have a similar-shaped one and think they are great! Nice work Marcums.
Sara
7 years ago
Great job! This room really exceeded my expectations…that mirror is fabulous and I really love the rug, it looks so lush and soft!
Megan Cuy Catellanos
7 years ago
Looks great! Curious why you chose to store your towels in there since there is no shower/tub in there? Is it due to lack of storage in other bathrooms? Love the look, I’m starting to change over to white towels now too, just curious. :)
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
The other bathrooms have hooks for towels but no storage (besides under the sink where we generally keep cleaning supplies, etc.) This is the only “linen closet” in the house. Kind of funny since there is no shower, but it is pretty central to the two showers so I guess it works for now. When we reno the other bathrooms, we’d love to add extra storage like this to the rooms.
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
7 years ago
Haha, Scott and I just purchased a boatload of white towels this weekend. After having mismatched towels for most of our marriage, we said, it’s time to be grown ups.
The transformation looks great! Are you going to keep the doors off indefinitely? If so, you could spackle those holes up for a super seamless look. Just a thought…. then again, you may want to change the shelving configuration later, in which case, don’t mind me. ;)
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
NO, YES! I just moved the shelves around this past weekend, but as soon as we don’t move them for awhile I will be all over spackling those bad boys.
Nora Rose
7 years ago
Love ittttt! I was so thinking beadboard for our eventual bathroom update and I wasn’t sure about the wall color, this totally makes me love blue!
Jennah Watters
7 years ago
love the gullible art ;)
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
Funny, huh. It made me laugh so hard when I first came across it a couple years ago I had to scribble it down and plop it in a frame.
Jennah Watters
7 years ago
So cute. I actually really want a big world map to hang in front of the toilet in our bathroom (so you can LEARN!). But I have had SUCH a hard time finding a big enough one (but not too big bc we have switches on that wall) that is pretty and actually has the info on it (not just a pretty watercolor map or something).
Andrea
7 years ago
I looooooove it!! That mirror! The hardware!! Aaaaaack, so much pretty in one place. It feels sophisticated but warm. Great job.
Sarah
7 years ago
I’m in love with this bathroom!! Can I please move in? Did you do all of that awesome art?
Julia Marcum
7 years ago
Greta did the gray abstracts last year, the caricature is by my friend, Lance Fry, but I did the car and the African queen and yes, scribbled the gullible quote down and framed it. ;)
Afton
7 years ago
soooo in love with that rug! and the bathroom overall – what a fantastic way to kick off your new home!
Callie
7 years ago
Loove it! Great job! Especially that rug, with the grey shades it totally takes the orange tone out of those tiles. And the painted cabinets makes a huge difference!