Several months ago I shared my plans for a modern vintage bathroom makeover in my kids’ / hall bathroom. I totally dragged my heels on sharing the finished space. Why? Because my kids are messy little creatures who cannot keep this bathroom tidy. I had to clean it and photograph it in the same chunk of time, which wasn’t easy to do!

But now it’s done and I’m happy to show you how I overhauled this once boring and bland bathroom, primarily with paint and new fixtures.

Before the Bathroom Makeover

To see all of the bathroom photos before the makeover, check out the Modern Vintage Bathroom Makeover post linked above. In that post I also share the plans for the space, and you can see what I stuck with and what I strayed from.

It’s always been hard for me to make a design plan ahead of time and stick with it. That was definitely the case here, too. I like to make decisions as I go along rather than stick to a plan.

The Finished Vintage Modern Bathroom

When all was said and done, this bathroom leaned a little more boho/eclectic than vintage modern, in my opinion. The biggest reason for that is the rug I wanted for the space actually was much too small. It gave all of the vintage vibes I hoped for, but it just wasn’t right. So the project took on a different direction.

Here’s the rundown of what I did to update this bathroom. All of the products are linked at the end of this post, in case you want to learn more about them.

• Painted the vanity Irish Garden by Heirloom Traditions Paint: this blue green bathroom vanity paint is my favorite part of this bathroom. It took a boring vanity and brought it to life.
• Swapped and added additional matte black vanity hardware
• Changed the sink faucets for modern matte black faucets
• Painted the walls Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore
• Painted a Polka Dot Accent Wall (with leftover White Dove by Benjamin Moore)
• Painted the mirror frame with black chalk paint, which I sealed with matte polycrylic
• Cleaned the tile grout (this tile grout cleaner worked awesome!)
• Added a new 5-light black and brass vanity light fixture and a new brass and black ceiling fixture
• Had a new toilet installed (the old toilet was miniature and did not work well. I’ll spare you the details. You’re welcome.)
• Painted the bath tub with the Rustoleum Tub and Tile Kit
• Spray painted the bath tub faucet and fixtures matte black to match the new sink faucets
• Added decor and accessories to liven up the space

One mishap that occurred during this part of the project is that I sprayed the mirror frame with KrudKutter to clean it before painting. Now don’t get me wrong, KrudKutter is the BEST pre-paint cleaner around. However, it’s not good for mirrors.

You can sort of see in this photo that there’s now a film on the mirror left from the KrudKutter that I can’t get off! It’s only visible in certain lights and angles, but it’s definitely there. Moral of the story: don’t spray mirrors / mirror frames with KrudKutter.

For over the toilet, I added a rattan round shelf, which I filled with decorative accents from the kids’ bathroom at our old home. It was fun to unpack that moving box and see items we hadn’t since we remodeled that 1920s bathroom / moved.

On this side, I painted the oak window trim White Dove by Benjamin Moore. I left the window “oak” because it’s actually vinyl and I don’t want to void the warranty by painting it! (Painting vinyl windows can cause them to warp, so manufacturers typically include that info in the warranty materials.)

This little bench next to the bath tub that I painted has been a great spot for my kids to store extra bath items and their jammies.

And adding towel hooks here was essential. My kids just kept throwing towels on the floor. I also love how the black and brass hooks complement the black and brass light fixtures.

A nice, large rattan hamper at the entrance to the bathroom has also been amazing for keeping dirty towels and washcloths separate until I get them in the washing machine. Bonus that it is super cute, too.

Bathroom Makeover Products Used

As promised above, here are links to the products I used to transform this bathroom with a modern vintage feel. Note that some are affiliate links, and you can read my full disclosure policy at that link.

• Bathroom Vanity Paint: Irish Garden by Heirloom Traditions
• Bathroom Vanity Pulls: Matte Black Drawer Handles
• Bathroom Sink Faucets: Matte Black Modern Faucets
• Bathroom Mirror Paint: Soft Black chalk paint by Folk Art
• Bathroom Vanity Fixture: Black and brass 5-light vanity light
• Bathroom Flushmount Fixture: Black and brass dome enameled light
• Round Rattan Shelf: this is a similar product. I purchased this shelf at TJMaxx
• Wood Bathroom Bench
• Black and Brass Towel Hooks
• Bath Tub Paint: Rustoleum Tub and Tile Kit
• Black and White Flatweave Rug
• White Polka Dot Shower Curtain
• Toilet

So what do you think? Did I succeed in updating this bathroom with a modern vintage feel despite renovating it? Let me know in the comments, or find me on social media!

I just finished my DIY kitchen makeover, so it only makes sense that I would jump right in to another large makeover project.  Ha!  Truthfully, I am feeling the push to make over my kids’ bathroom because it’s also our guest bathroom . . . and we actually have guests coming to visit this summer!  So naturally, I want them to have a nice bathroom to use (forget my kids – lol!).

My kids’ bathroom is in pretty darn good shape, so we have no renovation plans.  It’s a little bland and worn in spots, so a makeover will do wonders for it!  I have big plans for a vintage bathroom look that flows with the rest of the house vibe, and I’m super pumped to share my modern vintage bathroom plans with you!

Current State of the Bathroom

Alright, let me take you on a little tour of the bathroom in its current form.  Please know that I did not decorate in here at all after we moved in: I just used a rug from my master bathroom at my old house, a shower curtain from my basement bath, and wall baskets left from this home’s stagers before we moved in.  So it’s kind of a random mix of stuff currently.

Not sure if you can tell, but it’s a very large bathroom.  We joke that it’s “stupid big.”  Lots of wasted space.  This is a big change from the kids’ tiny bathroom at our house in Illinois, which we renovated right before we moved.  You can see that 1920s bathroom remodel at that link.

The flooring, vanity and countertop in here are in great shape.  Lucky for us, I love the hexagon tile!  I know some think it’s a yucky relic of the 1970s, but I have always loved hexagon tile.  I even used hexagon tile as the backsplash in my old kitchen.

The bath tub was reglazed at some point and has signs of its avocado green past peeking through.

The toilet hardly functions and needs to be replaced.

Bathroom Makeover Plan of Attack

So,  my plan is to do all of the makeover myself, EXCEPT for replacing the toilet.  I will hire a plumber to do that because . . . toilet . . . eeeew.

Here’s what’s on the to-do list:

• Paint the walls (they lean too purple for my liking) (I did it! Check out the new paint and the DIY Polka Dot Accent Wall here!)
• Paint the vanity and replace the hardware
• Possibly paint the mirror
• Replace the sink faucets
• Replace the lighting
• Clean floor grout and re-seal
• Paint the tub (I did it! Click that link to see the process and how good it looks now!)
• Paint the tub faucet/hardware (This is finished! Click that link to learn how I spray painted the faucet and fixtures)
• Replace the toilet
• Decorate!

How long will this take me?  The truth is, I don’t know!  I can’t put myself on any timelines, but I hope to have it finished before August when our guests come.  (Check out the Office / Guest Room Combo Makeover I recently completed in anticipation of their arrival!)

Update: you can see the completed bathroom makeover at that link!

Modern Vintage Bathroom Design Plan

Now, it’s VERY unlike me to put together a design plan before I tackle a space.  I usually just see where things take me and design as I go along.

In this case, I was really struggling with a direction, and putting together a plan helped me get myself organized.  I didn’t have a vision for this room like I usually do with others, but seeing this all come together on a digital mood board gave me the clarity I need to make this bathroom look updated with a modern vintage feel.

So this is the direction this bathroom is heading, and I’m really excited about it!  The blue/green paint for the vanity is beautiful, and I love that it’s staying true to all of the green accents throughout my home, while bringing in some blues that I love, too.

Here are the sources for these modern vintage bathroom decor pieces, in case you’re interested (some of these are affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here):

• Matte black faucet
• Wood shower bench
• 5-light vintage vanity light
• Black dot artwork
• Vanity paint
• Machine washable vintage-look rug
• Dome ceiling fixture
• White hexagon floor tile
• Round wood wall shelf

So, there you have it!  I hope you’ll be excited to follow along as I update this bathroom over the next few months.  I’ll make sure to share updates here, as well as on Instagram and TikTok!

Our ‘new’ home has one more bedroom than at our last house, and because of that, we had no furniture for it.  It’s pretty tiny, but with some creative planning I turned it into an office and guest room combo space that easily pulls double-duty, making it a totally functional WIN for my family!  

With more of us working from home these days, we’re all looking for ways to get more mileage out of our spaces.  Using one room as both a guest room and office is a perfect way to do that!  

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Before the Makeover: The Extra Bedroom

I’m embarrassed to even post these photos, but of course you want to see what this now office and guest room looked like before I made it over.  The prior owners used it as a dance studio- hence the wood floors and floor-to-ceiling mirror wall.

We just threw some random things in there, and when my husband started working from home last spring, we added a desk space (and he added the dart board for his own amusement).  It was a really sad work environment!  I didn’t even like going in there.

When I decided it was time to overhaul this space, my 10 year-old daughter insisted that we paint the walls a bold color. She’s a budding designer and decided we needed something other than white. 

We sampled some deep green shades that complemented the oak trim and woodwork.  

We ended up choosing the one in the middle – Benjamin Moore’s Night Train (aka Smoky Mountain).

After: The Office and Guest Room Combo

After I painted the room over the course of a weekend, I got to work updating it (especially the mirror wall – more on that mirrored wall makeover here!), furnishing it, and decorating it.  It looks and functions like a whole new space, and I’m excited to share my tips for creating an office and guest room combo!

1. Use a daybed, murphy bed, or convertible couch for overnight guests

Since this guest room and office combination room is very small, and since we don’t have overnight guests regularly, I chose convertible chairs that easily morph from chair to bed for sleeping.

I pushed two together to create the look of a couch, and this is a lounge space that we use regularly.

These chairs unfold so easily to become twin beds, or a full bed when pushed together as I have them.  You can see just how quickly they convert in the video I uploaded as part of this post.  I will pop a foam mattress topper on there for extra comfort for guests, and I think this will work great!

If space and budget allow for it, a murphy bed is a great option for an office and guest room combo.  

Daybeds also work nicely in combination rooms, however those can be taste specific and tend to look more like beds than seating, so they may not be the look you’re going for.

2. Add window coverings for privacy

I wish I had a picture of the hilarious temporary shades my husband tacked up on the windows.  They were way too small and only fit part of the window.

Since guests will be staying in here at some point, I knew we had to get real window coverings up in the room to give guests the privacy they need.  Privacy is a must in any office and guest room combination!

I chose these cordless woven wood shades in Sarasota Camel, which are the same color as the oak trim, and then these inexpensive light-filtering curtains to add some softness and brightness.  The shades pull down easily for privacy, and the curtains can also be closed to block some of the harsh sunlight that floods in late in the day.

I hung these window treatments high (higher than the window) and wide (wider than the window), which I learned to do from reading Young House Love.  I’m so glad I did because this makes the windows look so much larger!  

3. Use a small desk for the office space

To keep guests from feeling like they’re an afterthought and sleeping in an office, use a small-scale desk instead of an overpowering one. 

Flexispot gifted me this amazing electric sit-to-stand desk, which my husband loves and which fits this office and guest room perfectly!

4. Layer the lighting for all of the room’s purposes

To ensure maximum productivity and relaxation, make sure to layer the room’s lighting.  Include task lights in the office area (like the beautiful brass task lamp I used), so that you can see what you’re doing, but choose soft white lightbulbs as opposed to harsh, bright white light.

Also have lighting available in the guest room area of the space so that visitors can relax and read in comfort.  I found this lamp at a thrift store and made it over with a can of spray paint and a new lampshade.  I love that it has a table attached to it so that guests have a spot to set their phones, water, etc.  Remember: it’s all about their comfort!

5.  Include storage for office items as well as guests’ items

Finally, make sure to have a spot (or two) to stash all the “stuff” that goes along with an office and guest room combination!

In this room I placed open shelving with lots of baskets to help contain and hide the typical office things, like printer paper, notebooks, etc. (And PS if you like the basket wall decor, check out what they used to look like in my old home!)

When guests come, I can empty or swap those baskets to give them space to put their things.  There is also a closet in this room, but if you don’t have a closet, make sure to find somewhere for guests to hang their clothes or at least set their suitcases.

With those things in mind, I really believe that you can create a guest room and office in just about any space!  (Oh, and if you do have guests coming, make sure to read my post on 5 Tips for Getting Your Bathroom Guest-Ready!)

Have you created a double-duty office space in your home?  Let me know if you have any tips to add!  And let me know what you think of my room makeover! 

Is anyone else shocked at how expensive large art is?  Of course “real” art has a hefty price tag, but even large artwork from Target isn’t cheap!  

I needed large art for a wall in my living room, and decided to save some money by doing a modern thrift store art makeover instead of buying “real” or new artwork at the store.

It was the PERFECT way to get that fancy-pants look of original artwork without the expensive price.  Love that!

I know some of you want original artwork in your homes, too, so I figured it would be helpful for me to show the process of this thrift store painting makeover.  You may be saddened to learn that you need ZERO artistic talent to pull this off.  So really, anybody can do this!

Supplies Needed for a Thrift Store Art Makeover

This post contains affiliate links.  Click to read my full disclosure policy.

• Thrifted painting – it doesn’t really even matter what it looks like!  Just find a painting on canvas and you’re good to go.
• Large-scale stencil (I used this FolkArt Delicate Lace Stencil)
• Iridescent paint
• Acrylic craft paints in desired colors
• Paintbrushes

Also, if you’re new to buying thrifted home decor, check out my blog post on 8 Home Decor Essentials to Buy at the Thrift Store.  It will really help you!

How to Give a Thrift Store Painting a Modern Makeover

Before we start, I have to reiterate that I am not an artist and certainly am not a painter!  So if you’re an artist, please don’t judge my work too harshly.  Understand that this tutorial is for people who just want to modernize a thrift store painting and not create a world-renowned work of art!

Now that I’ve got that disclaimer out of the way, let’s jump in and update this painting!

Step One: Tape Off the Frame and Place the Stencil

Because I wanted to keep the frame that came with the artwork, I taped it off to protect it from getting paint on it.

Next, I set down a lace pattern stencil in the center of the artwork.

I started with the stencil in the middle of the painting because that made the most sense to me.  I don’t think it really matters if you put the stencil elsewhere.

Step Two: Stencil Over the Painting with Iridescent Paint

My goal for this next step was to dull-down or mute the original painted image.  I didn’t want to totally cover it; I just wanted to obscure it.

To accomplish that look, I used an iridescent paint in a pearly white color.  It was a little translucent so the cityscape painting could show through a bit.

I repeated the stenciling process until the entire canvas was covered with the lace pattern.

Step Three: Blend the Painted Stencil Edges

As you can see in the photo above, there is a line where the stencil edges meet.  That doesn’t look great, so I dipped my brush in the same iridescent paint and then wiped most of it off.  Then I gently brushed at each of the stencil seams to soften that edge.

I also did this along the border of the painting and the frame.

When this part of the thrifted art makeover was complete, the painting looked like this:

It was okay, but not the exact look I was hoping for.  The underlying landscape image was still too visible for my taste, so I got back to work.

Step Four: Add Brushstrokes of Different Color

To really take this thrift store art in a modern direction, the next step was key!

Here I chose three additional acrylic paint colors to add to the canvas.  They were all in the same general color family, but different enough to stand out from the iridescent painted stencil pattern.

I added a little bit of each color to a paint brush and added lines across the canvas.

I also finished things off by painting the frame.  The original gold had a lot of dings and damage, so painting it was a good option.

The Completed Thrift Store Painting Makeover

Once I finished, I was so happy with my thrifted artwork update!

Notice how the stenciled pattern shows through in certain places, as does some of the original painted artwork on the bottom layer.

A thrift store art makeover done the way I did it lets you keep some of the original look while giving it a fresh spin!

It took me almost three months, but I’ve finally finished putting together the dining room in our new house!  It is no longer being used as our virtual learning classroom (thank goodness!), but instead is a beautiful modern vintage dining room that we love!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Before I show you the new look, here’s the obligatory “before” photo.  We left all of our dining room furniture at our old house with the new owners, so we set up folding tables in here temporarily for the kids to do their schoolwork during virtual learning.  It was great to have the space, but it was such a mess in there and SO BROWN.

Once the kids got the boot, I refinished the dated oak built-in china cabinet in a green that’s almost black, and then I got to work furnishing and decorating the space!

I carefully followed Emily Henderson’s Dining Room Rules to make sure that I got size and placement of everything just right, and I’m so glad I did!  Her blog post helped me pick the right size rug, table, and chandelier for this narrow room, and I didn’t have to return a thing.  If you have design questions, her blog is an amazing resource.

I felt like the dining room was a space where I could have a little fun and be dramatic, so I went bold on the wall opposite the china cabinet and installed this vintage-look wall mural (this linked wall mural is similar as the shop from which I purchased is now out of business), which I framed out in trim I spray painted in gloss black.  I got this idea from Aniko at Place of My Taste who inspired me with her framed wall mural.

This wall mural (similar product linked here) was the perfect solution for this wall because the thermostat is placed in a very inconvenient spot.  That thermostat, plus the fact that there are pocket doors in the wall, meant that I couldn’t nail into the wall or hang artwork in a way that made sense here.  So, I cut the mural around the thermostat and then painted the thermostat black to blend in.

My peel and stick mural gave me the look of artwork without disturbing the thermostat or the pocket doors.

On the adjacent wall, I also had to contend with another set of pocket doors in the wall and a strangely placed light switch.  I chose to hang a mix of vintage acacia bowls and new acacia bowls on this wall.  I fastened them with Command picture hanging strips so I didn’t have to nail through and potentially hit the doors or the framing.

For furniture, I chose a slim mid-century look dining table that has built-in leaves to expand.  The end chairs are also slim, and the other chairs are vintage cantilever chairs I got at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and had reupholstered.  I also spray painted the legs a vintage brass color to coordinate with the new light fixture and the hardware on the refinished china cabinet.

This room was so much fun to put together and I just love the finished result. To me, it feels like a dining room you’d like to linger in; enjoying a glass of wine and nice meal with friends or family.  It feels special but not too fancy, and that was my exact goal: to create a space that was welcoming and warm but a little elevated from the rest of the house.

I hope you like my modern vintage dining room!  If you do, you may also enjoy checking out some of my other home decor posts.

-Bre