bathroom renovation progress

I started our little bathroom renovation several weeks ago and it’s slow going. This is our kids’ bathroom so everytime I work on it, I have to take all their stuff out then put it all back again so they can use it. This adds a little more time to this project. But that’s ok. Even though it’s slow going, I’ve made progress. And although it may not look too pretty right now, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Check out my original bathroom inspiration post here.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

Stripped the wall paper. I rented a steamer and it went fairly smoothly. It’s not the most up-to-date piece of equipment but it was definitely faster – and cleaner – than using the chemical option. And it was only $35 for the day. The combo blue and beige walls {I’m assuming} are because the previous owners must have painted/primed the walls behind the wallpaper. FYI- wallpaper doesn’t stick to your wall, it sticks to the paint on your wall. And yes, the wallpaper was really stuck to the paint on the walls!

Found 2 big mirrors at HomeGoods. They have beautiful wood frames giving them a nautical, beachy feel without being too cliche. Plus they were only $35 each. score.

Replaced the faucets. $100 for both and they look fabulous. Obviously I didn’t go with anything too expensive but definitely an upgrade.

Replaced the toilet. Three kids. Enough said.

Tore off the linoleum backsplash. Not sure if this was a good idea or not. The wall was a little torn up in a few places but I think I repaired it pretty well. The problem is that I really hate back splashes. I feel like they’re a little unnecessary and often ugly. Either go all the way up with tile or do something completely different. A short 4 or 5″ strip of countertop or tile just looks odd to me. Plus I think I found something really fun to replace the backsplash. what a tease, huh.

Bought a new navy and white striped shower curtain. It was only $14 at Target!

Cleaned out & organized the small linen closet in the bathroom. This was not a fun job but it looks so much cleaner now.

I even made a few labels to help keep things organized.

Made a fun typography art print. Check out that post here. All you need is some paper and an old frame.

Next up:

• Lightly sand the walls – they’re a little rough from some old glue and paint.
• Paint the walls. Which I love to do. I just need to decide on a color. I originally thought gray but I found something fun that may have me changing to more of a beige or taupe. Stay tuned!
• Touch up lighting. I can’t justify buying anything new so I need to be creative. Maybe some spray paint? 
• Rethink the vanity storage. I like the look and color of the vanity and it has a lot of storage but it’s not being utilized very well. I plan on taking out the middle drawers and putting a clothes hamper in that space – something they desperately need. Then I have to organize the cabinets under the sinks to make up for losing the drawers and make them more useful for the kids.
• Find more hooks and hanging options. I made a hook rack last month and used two fun whale’s tail hooks. Check out that post here. This piece will go back on the wall when I’m done but maybe I’ll add more of these adorable single hooks.
• Need a few more pieces like a window curtain {maybe}, a new rug, towels, storage containers, shelves, trays… all the fun finishing touches. 

So that’s my progress on our kids’ bathroom – slow but steady. What I’ve realized when doing a project like this is that it never goes according to plan. Which can be a good thing. Sometimes you get a lot accomplished, and sometimes you don’t. Maybe you get a new idea or see something in a store or online that you fall in love with and would look better or be more useful for your space. Or, a lot of times, you run into budget issues. Sometimes that really cool idea isn’t really reasonable. But sometimes a different solution ends up being an even better one. And if things don’t look so pretty for a while that’s ok too. Just remember to keep going – it will all come together. Enjoy!