Hi friends!!
This week I’m tackling a long-neglected space –
our hallway bathroom that the kids share and overnight guests use.
Eventually we’d like to remodel it altogether, but it’s waaaaaay down on the home improvement list.
Our house was built in the 80s and it looks like this bathroom has already been remodeled once so it’s in pretty good shape – but it has one element that I know many of you face as well…..
dated almond fixtures.
Oh it’s soooooo hard to be me with my endless supply of clean running water and my almond bathroom fixtures. Woe is me.
I actually feel pretty darn lucky that the bathrooms in this house are not more outdated but there’s no reason they can’t be made more aesthetically pleasing.
Here is the kids’ bathroom at our inspection.
In addition to all that cabinetry, there is also a huge closet behind the door. Tons of storage space.
When we moved in I painted the peach walls white, and replaced the knobs and accessories with brushed nickel – those changes alone brightened up the space so much!
Side note: did anyone else out there think that if they installed one of these open toilet paper holders, their kids might actually replace the roll? Only to discover that not only do the sweet little munchkins NOT replace the roll, the roll frequently falls off the handle and rolls across the bathroom floor, essentially TPing your bathroom???? HA.
I spray painted the light fixture and changed out the glass shades,
but honestly I’ve never been sure which version is more repulsive – what’s your vote??
I know – I’m sorry to assault your eyes!! I should have warned you!!!!
AND I spray painted the faucet. It has looked *okay* for the past 5 years but after daily use by 3 kids and a whole lot of scrubbing over the years, this is happening –
The biggest designer’s challenge
is that the vanity and cabinets are off white and the shower……
*cue the Alfred Hitchcock Psycho music while I pull back the shower curtain*
is “almond”.
The original toilet was almond too, but when we replaced it I bought a white one that will work with a future non-almond bathroom.
Because white.
It’s the only color bathroom fixtures should be.
Not almond. Not avocado green. Not black. Not pink. Not navy blue.
Just clean, classic, timeless white.
Would you agree?
Now we have a vanilla creamsicle yawnfest – the almond shower, creamy vanity and counter, tile floor that leans towards peach, and a white toilet.
The big expensive part of this project (to the tune of $900) is going towards fans for both this bathroom and our master bath. You know what happens in a bathroom without a fan…..
Mildew. I know – it’s really gross!!! And unhealthy. YUCK.
I spent three hours bleaching the heck out of every bit of the walls, ceiling, doors, trim, cabinetry, and shower yesterday (for about the millionth time since we moved here!) and it’s sparkling and clean today. New fans that will exhaust through the attic to the outside get installed on Friday – not all that exciting to the look of the bathroom, but a huge improvement to the functionality!!!!!
This week I am tackling
how to make the almond tub surround, the off-white cabinetry and the white toilet
live in perfect harmony.
We’ve been really happy with our master bath that faces the same issues (almond/off-white/white hodgepodge of fixtures and flooring). Knowing that we will eventually gut and remodel this space entirely also, I didn’t want to put a lot of money into it, but a few tweaks made it feel a lot less dated until the bathroom remodels happen someday.
Our tiny master bath started like this:
and now looks something like this (photos taken a couple years ago)….
SOOOOOO
long story short, I am going to be the most boring person on earth and do what works!
Use the almond as part of the color scheme, but lighten it up with a lot of white.
Maybe just maybe replace that no-way-around-it-hideous light fixture.
Upgrade this shower curtain and rod situation.
(Please note the sparkling clean walls and ceiling!! Thank you.)
And all by the time our very welcomed company arrives Saturday morning!!!!!!
Stay tuned for part two of working around almond bathroom fixtures (and other hideousness)!
Have a great day lovelies!
LS
Denise Greenwood says
We have that same yucky mildew situation in our master bath. Why would anyone build a bathroom without a fan?? We are dealing with trying to fix it ourselves, we shall see how that goes! Looking forward to seeing your makeover! 🙂
pam {simple details} says
I love how guests kick us into high gear! I think a pretty curtain and/or rug in a fresh bold color like the green in Kris' post yesterday, a piece of art and you won't even notice the rest. Have fun!
Simply LKJ says
I have no doubt you will be able to make it work. The space does have great bones.
Vel Criste says
Your updates truly have made a huge difference in the bathroom Lisa,I am curious as to how you'll tie this all together, color-wise,but I know too how talented you are! I need to address the Nursery Bathroom issue too soon, to tie in with the new space, so I will definitely follow you thru this process! Good luck!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
we have all the same problems upstairs in our bathroom. mildew, no fan, almond shower…..i keep waiting for my millions to add on, bump it out, and redo it entirely.
tina says
Actually, I respectively disagree. Almond and bisque, etc. are still sold. I actually like the bisque (I believe it is a bit lighter than almond) color better than white. I have never been a stark white fan. I was sad to have to get rid of my almond kitchen appliances. My quartz countertops actually have shades of almond, white, off white, etc. so you could use white or almond, so this time around we went with white.
Katie @ Team Skelley says
We have that same open toilet paper holder! And yes, I used Lex's bathroom yesterday only to find that she had not replaced the roll. Sigh.
I admit that I don't think the almond looks that bad but I also think that you should have a bathroom you love — and mold is funky — so work your decorating magic!!
Jenny says
Girl, I hear you! It sounds to me like you need to do what I did in my master bathroom for the ORC – distract the eye with contrast. Paint the vanity in a contrasting color that will work with the almond. For now. 🙂 I feel your pain, I really do. #firstworldbathroomproblems
Lori @ Dining Delight says
Love what you did in your master bath making the "almond" look more like a "sand" colour espec with the shells and beach-y accessories. I'm sure you could do the same in this BR and maybe even add some blue to make it even more like you meant it to be beach themed. I actually think the painted light fixture looks great = had to look twice to see that it was the same one!
Mandi@TidbitsfromtheTremaynes says
Oh snap– I guess I have almond too! It didn't even dawn on me that it was bad or even almond, for that matter, til now! Shucks.
Prettypracticalhome says
Hey, Lisa! You had me laughing at the toilet paper holder. We have the same kind and my kids do the exact same thing. You're way ahead of the game with the pretty cabinets, and I didn't know the shower was almond until the curtain was pulled back, so there's that. Isn't it nice not being on a six week deadline?
Privet and Holly says
Proud of you for tackling
that mold issue ~ ugh!
That bath has great bones
and I love the cabinetry!
I know you'll work your
Lisa magic and it will all
come together perfectly!
Have a wonderful LONG
weekend. Happy Memorial
Day!
xo Suzanne
Sarah says
I am thinking about using some of your ideas, but would kove to see the final product picture. Could you please post or send me one? Thanks!
Lisa says
Hi Sarah, I don’t think I’ve posted about that bathroom since then. Painting white and off-white stripes on the walls and using a white shower curtain helped tremendously!
Sc says
Hi what is the name and brand of the almond paint color that you used on your beige/white bathroom walls?
Sue says
Hi, what a beautiful transformation! What is the name and brand of the sand and white paint colors?