It doesn't look like an eighteen-month project, but it was.
Primarily because of labor shortages, but also because of supply chain issues, this modest bathroom update became an extended lesson in patience.
When we purchased the home it still had the gold-framed sliding shower doors, brown tile, a contractor-grade synthetic countertop, and a ubiquitous big-box store light fixture.
This space was a yawn.
In 2017 we were tackling numerous projects throughout this new-to-us house and our budget was stretched thin, so we decided to only update the most glaring design misses in the bathrooms.
We started by changing out the offending countertop with a remnant of Taj Mahal granite and giving the existing vanity a fresh coat of paint.
The tiled floor was replaced with a beachy-vibed engineered wood that was installed on the diagonal and an upgraded light fixture also helped to give this bathroom a fresher look.
But removing the metal-framed shower doors and replacing them with a glass enclosure was the changeup that seemed to elevate this space the most. It was surprising how much larger it made the room look.
For some reason, probably a Pinterest-inspired moment, I decided to have the ceiling painted a soft coral. I don't know why, but about a year later I noticed that the paint was fading around the canned lights in the ceiling. And the reality of that color didn't match the vision that had been in my head. It didn't take me long to realize that the result looked rather kitschy.
Jumping forward three years, most of the other bigger projects in the house were complete and we decided it was time to revisit the guest bathrooms. It was the beginning of 2020 when we called our contractor. Our timing was impeccable.
We were toying with the idea of a move to another home in our development so, again, we wanted to stay within a budget but get the most impact from the dollars spent.
This round of upgrades would involve changing out the tile in the shower. I was thinking of resale so I wanted to keep it very neutral. I also have a lot of color throughout the house and I wanted a more sophisticated and clean look here.
We started looking at tiles in July 2020 but we didn't get an installer here until February 2021.
The ceilings in this room are twelve feet high and although we weren't going to take the tile to the ceiling, we wanted it to go up higher than the old tile had gone. The higher tile dwarfed the mirror (one thing always leads to another), so we decided to replace it with a larger piece of glass that would also allow for sconces mounted on the mirror itself.
We opted to keep the existing vanity but rejuvenate it with new doors.
As I saw the new tile going in, I knew I loved it. It is just so much brighter and it reminds me of water and the beach.
The new shower fixtures and glass were installed
and the new cabinet doors and hardware finally arrived too.
We went with a minimalist style for the sconces
and a simple lantern design for the chandelier.
Then it was finally time to bring back the towels and add some fun personal touches.
I wanted the white and sand colors to be dominant but my love of color couldn't resist bringing in some of the watery blues and greens.
The framed outgrown swimsuits from Crew and Greer's earlier visit are a fun twist and a memorable beachy addition to this room.
It took eighteen months to complete and another ten months for me to write about it.
From this...
to this...
I'm still looking for the right rug for this space and with the dramatic increases in home prices here in Florida, we have decided to stay right where we are for now. But check off another project as we work our way through this Florida home.
tiles: back walls- Glaciar Wave Glossy 12x36
side walls - HF Model 10 Glaciar solids 12x36
countertop: Taj Mahal granite
flooring: Naturally Aged Wood Floors, The Medallion Collection in Speckled White
sconces: Crystorama Lena Collection available here
pendant chandelier: polished nickel cage pendant available here
framing source: my favorite framer here
monogram guest towels: available here
