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Bathroom Makeover

Whenever my mom visits the two of us get a ridiculous amount of stuff done together. In less than a week, we cleaned out my grandparent’s attic, painted my home office (twice…oops), painted my bathroom, cleaned everything we found in the attic, rearranged pictures and furniture, shopped, priced items for the shop, and took care of my boys. It was a whirlwind week. My parents left early this afternoon and I took a much needed nap. Now, it’s time to start sharing what we’ve accomplished.

The picture above is what my bathroom looks like now and below is the before. I inherited this green color and it’s the only room I hadn’t painted in my home. I just didn’t know what to do with it. I wouldn’t choose to have an almond tub and toilet, a pinkish beige floor, or an oak cabinet & mirror. At this point new white fixtures, tile or stone floors, subway tile, bead board, and an antique buffet to drop a sink into are not in my budget, so I needed to do what I could with paint. I chose a creamy beige made by Sherwin Williams called Irish Cream. It worked with everything that was already in the room and once the paint was up, I realized it even made everything look better.

 This bathroom was pretty neglected. I would just set things out, not really trying to make it look good. Nothing was on the wall except an old oil painting and a towel bar that kept falling down.
Here’s my test swatch. It had been hanging out on the wall for about 2 months.
 So, this is how the bathroom looks now. I love it! It is not my dream bathroom, but with a can of paint, a $25 rug, stuff rummaged from my grandparent’s attic and the rest of my house, and a thrift store find or two, we made this look like an entirely different room.

My grandmother love the beach and shells. In fact, we found several 5 gallon buckets and some garbage bags full of shells and coral. We picked out our favorites, cleaned them up, and used them in this bathroom.

 (Sorry, the color is strange in this picture.) We hung ironstone and brown & cream transferware over the toilet. A hurricane filled with shells, cotton balls in an apothecary, and my white scale make a simple arrangement on the vanity.

 We found this sepia toned photograph in a beautiful wood frame in the attic. Once we cleaned it up, we saw it would look perfect in this bathroom.

 This cast iron fish was found in the attic as well and the box belonged to mom when she was a little girl. I decided to store our soap in a glass canister.

 Normally pictures make a room look better than it is, but this is an occasion when the room looks better in person. I still have some things I would like to do (buy brown & light blue towels, dye the shower curtain brown, and paint the mirror and the vanity cabinet. Hopefully I’ll get to those things soon.

I have some before & afters to show you, more attic finds, and some new projects, so make sure you check back! I’ll also be announcing my FFF favorites and a winner either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Miss Mustard Seed

I’m posting this to Bloggeritaville’s Thrifty Thursday.

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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27 Responses

  5. wow, wish I had your attic! Love what you did, it all looks wonderful. Aren't mom's great? Mine still wears me out and she is 76. I usually need a day or tow to recoop after she leaves.

  7. Yay! What a great, simple transformation. Aren't you itching to paint that oak vanity, though? I have three of them that are going to see the business end of a paintbrush as soon as Christmas is over.

    Again, it looks great. Amazing what paint and some thoughtful accessorizing can do!

  9. I LOVE what you and your mom did with your pretty bath. Ya'll did great!!
    I, too, have to budget and most of the time, have to "make do"…I just love it when it all turns out good, tho.
    You are so talented and everything you touch seems perfect!!
    hugs, bj

  14. Wow! I bet your mother took a nap in the car too 🙂 What fun to share such fun and productive time together! Your bathroom makeover turned out great! Love the accessories. I have that carved wooden box too. I've had it for so long I can't remember where it came from…I think from one of my inlaw's trips…do you know? Great transformation!

  19. Hello my friend,

    Oooh…I need your mama to come and visit me! Hehe! I have sooo many things that need done and way too little energy to do them! What a sweet mama to help you out!!!

    I just love your new wall color…it always amazes me what a difference that a little paint can make! Ohhh…and I love all of your beautiful accessories…simply gorgeous, my friend!!!

    Warmest wishes and Christmas blessings to you and your family!

    Chari @Happy To Design

  20. Anyone that starts out with a killer wreath KNOWS what they are doing imo. 🙂

    Love the new neutral colour! And your new/old accessories! Must feel like a new home with your ever changing vignettes lately.

    Thanks for linking up to SNS!

    FJ Donna

  24. Wow…your bathroom looks beautiful! Are those shells and coral from you Grandmother's collection? Thanks for sharing and for linkin' up to FF!

    Jane @ Finding Fabulous

  26. Love the makeover. I think it's fantastic that you and your mom kick into high gear together.
    I've been staying 2-3 days/wk w/my Mom for 9 months. We actually starting a blog together. She doesn't like to write, but has great stories. Plus, she's 81 and teaches stepaerobics 3x a week – and NOT senior aerobics. We have gals in their 20's. She's amazing!

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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