Primary Bathroom Remodel: Inspiration + Mood Board
The Backstory
We are (a bit unexpectedly) remodeling our primary bathroom! The reason I say a bit “unexpectedly”? Well, we had a vinyl insert in our shower that the previous owners installed. It would shift a little tiny bit every time we got in the shower. And a “little tiny bit” of shifting doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? Wrong! It is, in fact, a very big deal. Every time the vinyl insert would shift, an itty bitty amount of water would seep into the crevices of the shower. And no matter how much we re-caulked the shower, that little bit of movement would split the caulk, creating a point of entry for the water. This creates problems like mold and rot if left to its own devices. Big problem.
I mentioned it casually to my husband, and left for my AutoCAD class. I came home a couple hours later and he has TORN OUT THE ENTIRE SHOWER and half the floor in the bathroom! I think my eyes were the size of saucers. But we did discover that there was definitely a leak from the shower, and which have gotten significantly worse if we left it. Thankfully, my husband’s zealous nature was a blessing…in this case! But there’s no turning back now! We are committed and it only took me a few minutes to move from shock to excitement.
I would NOT recommend this strategy. If you are remodeling, wait until you have a vision, plan, budget, contractors and materials. It significantly extends the timeline of a project if you don’t have these things in place BEFORE you demo.
When we bought our house we knew we would eventually have to remodel the bathrooms, so it was on our radar. The previous owners had remodeled them a couple years prior, but the finishes were cheap and the storage was abysmal (somebody please explain to me why you would ever put a pedestal sink in a primary bathroom!!). Plus, bathrooms make a huge difference in resale value. This is why it’s always a good idea to hire a professional to consult when you remodel a space or spend a lot of money on anything (ie: new furniture, bathroom remodel, etc.). Even if you have a tighter budget, interior designers think about quality, timelessness, cost benefits, and perceived value to potential buyers all day long. It’s what we do! By hiring an interior designer, you can be assured that the money you spend is worth it. Otherwise you could be making a decision that doesn’t pay off in the long run!
The Inspiration
My style leans a little traditional with a little contemporary added, and I want to carry that throughout our entire home. I don’t want to remodel this bathroom anytime soon, so timeless materials like marble feel like the right call. When deciding on materials for a kitchen or bathroom, I will always lean toward the more timeless option. Bathrooms and kitchens are the two most expensive rooms to renovate, and I want them to stand the test of time!
My vision? A fresh space that feels clean and crisp, with the coziness of traditional design. I noticed all of the inspiration images I was pulling felt fresh and simultaneously timeless.
The Vision
Like I mentioned, timeless classic materials that feel clean and crisp are the driving force in my plan. I chose marble, classic square subway tile and mini hex tiles - all materials that have been used for centuries.
I contemplated a moody, rich color scheme, but ultimately decided since we use this bathroom the most a fresh clean approach was the better choice. White walls and surfaces bounce light around the room. I want to be able to put on my makeup every morning with plenty of light. I chose a really classic color palette with whites, creams and black. I decided to mix both matte black and brass hardware to contrast all the white. And the baskets and bamboo blinds add warmth and texture to all the hard surfaces.
I’m super excited about the floor. I have been pinning historic tile floors on Pinterest for years. I can’t get enough! (Take a peek here!) It’s so fun to see how many different patterns and color combinations have been popular through the decades. I decided on a classic black and white motif. We are planning on DIY-ing the floor and I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!
The vanity is one of my favorite parts! I love that it has exclusively drawers and it has legs. Our bathroom is a small space and by choosing a vanity that doesn’t sit directly on the floor it makes the space feel larger and more open. These little interior design tricks can make a huge difference in the final product, which is why it’s helpful to hire an interior designer when renovating a space (wink, wink).
I’m super excited about this bathroom and seeing my vision come to life. We’ll be making major progress in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!