Our En Suite Bathroom Reveal!

Hi guys! We’re starting this year off with a bang with a brand new bathroom reveal! This project is a first for us, because this bathroom project wasn’t our typical remodel. It actually didn’t even exist when we bought our house. Confused? Let me explain.

Back in the fall of 2019, we purchased this old fixer upper, knowing that there had been a bedroom addition that was added onto the original floor plan some time during the 1990’s. It was in rough shape though; we’re talking no HVAC, no insulation, and no foundation. The other BIG issue with the space was that there was no way to access it, unless you went through the second bedroom. As a family of five, we desperately needed this bedroom and the extra square footage that it added to our modest size home. So….after meeting with an architect, several engineers, and five different builders, we had plans drawn up to fix this addition and slightly modify our floor plan to accommodate a new bedroom, a new bathroom (EEK!), and a closet.

This photo was taken right after we started construction and eventually would be the site of the new bathroom and closet.

The framing was next up in the construction process, and this is when I started to really get excited about having our very own en suite bathroom. A space solely designed for Nate and me. No kids…just for us. Sounds like a dream, right?! I thought so too!

The floor plan for the space was a simple L-shape, with enough room for a double vanity, the toilet, and a walk-in style shower. My vision for the new bathroom was pretty straightforward. Not a lot of frills. Nothing fancy. So, we began the design process with tile selection. Enter Ann Sacks. Ann Sacks is my absolute favorite source for all things tile. They carry all of the latest tile trends, as well as the classics. I’m probably their biggest fan!

For the shower walls, we went with their Idris by Ait Manos field tile in the 2×6 size option. The color is called White Cararre and it’s the prettiest snowy white, while still having some variation from one tile to the next. This tile is special. It’s glossy, it’s glamorous, and yet, somehow still feels casual and organic. When the sun shines in the bathroom, the tiles really show off with an almost sparkly effect. I love it. For the grout, we went with a simple white.

For the shower floors, we fell in love with their Salluto line. And for just a touch of drama, I went dark with their Nero color option. These tiles are tiny, but pack a punch! When you first glance at them, they almost look like a pebble you would find in nature. But, when you look closer, you’ll see that each tile is an imperfect square, and some have rounded edges that trick your eye into seeing some squares and some circles. They also have a matte finish that I love, but still reflect light. For the grout, I went with a complimentary black.

As for the rest of the floors in the bathroom, we used the Salluto line again, but this time, we switched out the Nero color for a creamy beige, called Bianco. I love the texture that it adds to the space and I especially love the way this tile feels underfoot. Almost like a little foot massage.

When the bathroom was finished, we immediately realized that the space was missing something. And after thinking on it for a few weeks, we decided that the bathroom needed some shiplap. We found this material at Lowe’s and I couldn’t love it more. I think it adds so much visual interest to the small space, and I love the pop of green that we used on the shiplap. The color is called Retreat by HGSW. It’s a moody green that looks different all the time, depending on the lighting.

We selected this vanity that was really an easy choice for us. It’s made from solid teak – perfect for the bathroom and feels so well-made! Also, don’t ya just looooove that chunky hardware? Hubba hubba

For the plumbing fixtures, we went with everything from the Tenet line from Pfister Faucets. I adore their brushed gold color option and the clean lines. It’s functional and beautiful. A winning combo, I think!

I especially love the handheld shower option, and is so nice for giving your hair that extra rinse. It also makes scrubbing up kids and/or pets a breeze!

These sconces were quite the controversial topic over on my Instagram page, and lots of you had big opinions about them. I originally went with a different pair, but ultimately swapped them out for these ones. In the end, I couldn’t pass on that wicker shade or the scalloped detail. They cast the most lovely, filtered light at night that I’m kind of obsessed with, tbh. The mirror we selected is simple and adds a little pop of black, which I wanted to incorporate.

I know this bathroom build was a long process, and thank you guys for all of your support, and for always being our biggest cheerleaders. I’d love to hear what you guys think! Have a question for me? Leave me a comment below! I promise to write you back.

Sources

Paint colors:

White walls– Extra White by Sherwin Williams

Shiplap walls– Retreat by HGSW

Additional Sources:

Vanity

Rug

Shiplap

Floor Tile

Shower Tile

Wall Sconces

Mirror

Robe Hook

TP Holder

Bamboo Window Blind

Scalloped Towel Basket

Lady with a Bubble Print

Waffle Bath Towels

Windows

Bathroom Reveal…It’s Finally Done!

Hiya guys! I can hardly believe that I’m typing these words, but THE BATHROOM IS DONE!!! Even though this was a small space (just 5’x8′!), it was definitely one of the more challenging spaces that we’ve remodeled. COVID certainly didn’t help, and we found ourselves without supplies that we just couldn’t get our hands on for weeks at a time. At one point, we ran out of grout, and thought we would be able to simply pick some more up curbside from our local home depot, but they were out of stock. So, we ordered from them online, and didn’t receive it for almost three weeks. Insert eye roll here. But, that’s all in the past, and I can’t wait to show you how it looks now!

I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and have a look at this space pre-renovation. Allow me to set the mood…think lots of dark, oak cabinetry from the 1980’s, reflective shower doors (adjacent to the toilet, so I’ll let that sink in for a sec), and the color brown for dayzzzzz. WARNING – it was so bad!

The space just felt sad. I assumed that it hadn’t been updated since the house was originally built in 1984, but we found wallpaper behind the cabinets so I guess it had to have been updated at some point. Scary, but true! In addition to how bad it looked, it also didn’t function well. The cabinet above the toilet was a hazard, and we were always bumping our heads on the doors when they were left open, which they always were. The faucet was leaking, and constantly had a small stream of water running down into the sink. The shower doors spent more time off of their tracks than on. Finally, the shower head was so low that Nate and I both had to crouch just to fit underneath for rinsing off during a shower.

The bathroom is so small that I decided early on that leaving the layout as is would be the best choice. Tip for ya; if you’re thinking about starting a bathroom renovation (or any room, really!), keeping the existing layout will save you lots of dough, in terms of budget. Moving plumbing/electrical is costly, and you’ll be forced to hire that work out. With that said, don’t be afraid TO hire work out, if needed. Nate and I aren’t comfortable with drywall/texture work, and can’t achieve the look of a professional no matter how hard we try…and trust me, we’ve tried! We always hire that out, and I feel good about that decision. We save money doing most of the work ourselves, so it feels justified in that way.

Ok ok ok…let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s how the bathroom looks now!

 

Ahhhhhhh can you believe it?! What do you guys think? Can you even handle how cute it is now? I will admit, I have been caught a few times over the past couple days just staring. It makes me so happy now!

A few thoughts on the overall process:  I wanted to have some fun with this space and mix some metals, you can see that I mixed brass, matte black and brushed gold. They all are different but I think it works! Everything had to go during the renovation which allowed us to start fresh. After the new water resistant sheet rock went in, we applied a coat of Redgard, and then had all the walls repaired, skim coated, and fresh texture was added. If you have a keen eye, then you might have noticed that we even replaced that old vinyl window with a modern black window from Sierra Pacific Windows. The clear glass lets in waaaay more light, and the modern lines helped to bring this bathroom from sad 1980’s to modern 2020. Welcome to the new century, Bathroom! We debated (heavily) on doing a glass shower door, but ultimately opted for a simple shower rod and shower curtain combo just to keep things light and airy. The shower tile pattern is a vertical stack, which I worried might feel too modern, but I think the handmade artisan look of the tile keeps it from feeling toooo modern. Nate and I learned a lot during this remodel, and now I’m itching to use everything we learned on our upstairs bathroom!

Link time! So if you wanna know where I scored a certain something, it should all be there for you in the list!

Vanity – The Morris 30″ from Signature Hardware

Hand soap

Mirror above vanity

Vanity light – Monarch Articulating wall light from Blueprint Lighting. Mine is in the color called Greece.

Sink faucet – Matte Black Tenet Widespread Bathroom Faucet from Pfister Faucets

Tub – Sitka Tub from Signature Hardware

Shower tile – Glazed Thin Bricks in Lewis Range from Fireclay Tile

Shower grout

Shower trim kit – Brushed Gold Tenet Tub and Shower Trim Kit from Pfister Faucets

Shower curtain

Shower rod

Shower hooks

Black heat register cover

Floor tile – Kasbah Trellis from Fireclay Tile 

Floor grout

Window – Urban casement style from Sierra Pacific Windows

Window Blind (that has yet to arrive) This is another good option for bamboo blinds that I have used in the past and loved (ships super fast too)!

Shelves above Toilet – Made by Nate who has a tutorial saved on his Instagram page @honeydudelist

Print on shelves (top left)

Print on shelves (top right) – Corinne Bizzle Art

Print on shelves (bottom right) – Thrifted but I linked a very similar look here

Wall baskets on shelves – Thrifted but I linked an even better set here

TP holder 

Stool by the tub

Rug – Vintage rug from Rug & Weave but I linked a similar one here. Everything on their site is amazing!

Plant hangers – Braid & Wood Design Studio

Whew! Well, I think that’s about it! Thank you so much for following along and for all of your comments, questions, and for cheering me on during this project (love you guys!)…even though it seemed like it kept going and going and going. Also, I’d like to thank my sponsors who I worked with and I’d just like to say how much I appreciated their patience with me during this project. Everything took WAAAAAY longer than I had originally planned, and everyone was so gracious. So a big thank you and a big hug (virtual, of course. Thanks to COVID) goes out to all of these generous partners for believing in me, and this little bathroom! I couldn’t have done it without you! XOXO