Before & After: A Dreamy Bathroom Makeover
What's better than a transformative makeover? Our coworker, Chelsea, who recently refreshed her rental kitchen, decided it was time to give her bathroom the same treatment. With a fresh coat of paint and a few simple swaps, she was able to turn a once bland and stale space into a delightfully charming bathroom oasis.
Below, Chelsea gives us insight into her design process and shares more about the DIY that made this space truly shine.
Before:
After:
What inspired the makeover?
I'd been dreaming up this specific refresh since I first toured this apartment. I knew I wanted something bold and feminine, and after spending more time than I'd like to admit looking at and thinking about paint, I landed on the color Vanilla Chai by Sherwin Williams, which informed the rest of the bathroom design. I love that this color boasts a lighter or darker sheen depending on the time of day, creating the perfect light and airy bathroom for getting ready in the morning, and a moody escape when it's time to wind down with a bath in the evening.
"I love making mood boards to help me conceptualize a space! It's nice to see everything I've been thinking about in my head all in one place so I can thoughtfully narrow down design decisions."
Can you tell us your favorite part of the finished design?
I'm definitely most proud of my DIY bead-board wall. I'm a very "go for it" type of person, and after looking at a few (very long) tutorials online I decided to just wing it. In this case, it totally turned out! There are definitely a few things I think I would do differently next time around, but overall I'm so happy with how it looks. It's the perfect spot for hanging towels, clothes, plants, baskets...honestly just about anything!
We'd love to know more about the bead-board DIY! Can you give us a little insight into how it came to be?
It ended up being a lot easier than it may look, which was a very nice surprise. Plus, I think it really took my bathroom to the next level! I actually started off by just painting the wall, and figured I would put up some shelves to fill the space and give me a little more storage. But after going back and forth on what kind of shelves, and whether or not I should paint them the same shade of pink, I decided to scrap the idea altogether and try to find something that would add a bit more visual variety to the space.
After spending some time on Pinterest hunting for inspo, I came across a few bead-board tutorials and realized it was the perfect solve. It makes my bathroom feel more elevated while providing plenty of storage in a tight space, making it a win-win!
Tell us more about your Schoolhouse picks for this space. What are a few of your favorites?
My favorite pick for this room (and one of my favorites of all-time) is definitely the Fran Sconce. Dainty and delicate with a subtly romantic scalloped edge, it fits into the overall design of this space seamlessly.
Additionally, I've really been loving the the Brake Angle Shelf! It's sleek, sturdy, and only gets better with age. Plus, it can fit in just about anywhere so I know that I'll have no trouble finding a spot for it in my next home too.
