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home decor

How to Wallpaper a Bookcase with Peel and Stick Wallpaper

February 12, 2020 by Bre 16 Comments

Learn how to use peel and stick wallpaper on the back of any built-in or bookcase for an easy update!

I thought I was excited about the limewash fireplace makeover I completed on my 1970s stone fireplace. But then I finished this project, and I was even more excited

Updating the mirrored built-ins on either side of the fireplace was a game changer. Painting the orange oak and adding wallpaper behind the shelves (to cover the mirrors that were there) transformed my living room instantly!  

And . . bonus . . it was very budget friendly.

Amazing! Previously dated 1970s mirror-backed built-in bookcases got a fresh new look with paint and removable wallpaper. See how she used grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrors, and Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray to paint these bookcases pretty!

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

In case you haven’t been following my progress on Instagram, here is what one of the mirrored built-ins looked like after the fireplace makeover but before I got to work. 

So reflective.

Before these dated 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a makeover, they were an eyesore with thin trim and mirrored backs!

Built-In Makeover Part 1: Bulk Up the Trim

I started by ripping off the top piece of trim on each built-in, simply because I thought it was a little flimsy and I wanted it to be a bit more substantial.  

To updated 1970s built-ins, she removed the top piece of trim, which was too thin.

Once that trim was down, I built craftsman-style headers with two 1×2 pieces of lumber and one 1×4 piece of lumber per header. 

I used this tutorial for building craftsman window trim as a guide, but modified the tutorial to just use my trusty Ryobi brad nailer instead of screws.  Much easier, in my humble opinion.

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a new craftsman-style header.

And yes, I did all of the building myself.  I also installed them myself, though my husband held them in place while I nailed them up so they wouldn’t move out of place.  (If you do this please make sure to find studs to nail into!)

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a craftsman-style header and attached it to the top of the built-ins.

Once I had the new headers on the built-ins, they already looked nicer!  

To update 1970's mirrored built-ins, she built a new craftsman-style header for the built-ins.

Bookcase Makeover Part 2: Prime and Paint

Next, I removed the shelves from the built-ins and admired myself in the mirrors.  It was wonderful. (ha! Just kidding.) 

I cleaned all of the woodwork, including the shelves. I used TSP but another great pre-paint cleaner is Krud Kutter.

Then I primed the built-ins and the shelves.  I used the same Multi-Surface Primer that I used on my painted marble fireplace hearth, and I’m so glad I did because the shelves had A LOT of stains. That primer is amazing because it sticks to almost any surface AND it blocks stains.

To prime 1970s oak built-ins, she used Behr Multi-Surface primer.

I set up folding tables all over my house and painted away.  My family wasn’t really thrilled but I told them sometimes you have to suffer for beauty.

When priming built-in shelves, she set out folding tables to have plenty of space for painting.

After priming, I painted with Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel paint in Manchester Gray.       

Behr's Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray was used to update these 1970s built-in bookcases.

The Cabinet & Trim Enamel was a great paint to work with.  It had very little odor, covered well, and self-leveled nicely (meaning fewer brush strokes).    

As part of a makeover of these 1970s mirrored built-ins, she painted the wood portions with Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray.

I used a synthetic brush to paint it on, as well as a 1/4″ nap foam roller to roll it on wider swaths of the built-ins as well as the shelves.  To efficiently paint built-in bookcase shelves, she set out numerous folding tables as painting stations.

It took two coats of paint (plus the primer) to cover the old oak bookcases. But they looked soooooooo nice.

Built-Ins Makeover Part Three: Wallpaper Behind the Shelves

I let the paint cure for a few days, and then I got to work covering the backs of the bookcases (Mirrors! Why????) with peel and stick wallpaper.

My original plan was to cover large foam boards with fabric and rest those foam boards in the backs of the shelves, but I changed my mind and chose to use this peel and stick grasscloth wallpaper instead. 

Now, I somehow deleted all of the photos showing the process. I wish I could SHOW you how I did this, but I will do my best to explain it without pictures.

To hang peel and stick wallpaper in a bookcase, behind shelves, I gathered these supplies:

  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • Wallpaper smoother and knife kit
  • White crayon (specific to hanging peel and stick wallpaper on a mirror); Sharpie marker will work for non-mirrored surfaces.

I started by measuring the length of the back of the bookcase and cutting a piece of wallpaper a little longer than that.

Because my peel and stick wallpaper wasn’t wide enough to cover the whole back of the built-in, I measured the width of the wallpaper and marked that width on the back of the bookcase. I did that all the way down the bookcase, and then connected those dots with the level to make a straight, vertical line going down the back of the boockase.

This line gave me a visual reference of where the right edge of the wallpaper should go in the bookcase, so that it would remain straight.

Because I was writing on a mirror, a white crayon worked perfectly. If you’re going this on a painted surface (or wood), you can use a Sharpie marker.

I peeled back about 6 inches of the wallpaper backing paper and pressed the first part of the wallpaper into place, starting at the top – making sure to keep it aligned with that line I drew down the bookcase.

I used the wallpaper smoother to remove air bubbles as I went along. This was really tricky on the mirror, but it was doable. If you’re putting wallpaper onto a painted or wood bookcase, this will be much easier!

I repeated this process all the way down to the bottom of the built-in, and then cut the excess wallpaper with the utility knife.

Then, I measured the remaining width of bookshelf back to be covered with paper, and cut the next strip of wallpaper to a little wider than that. And again, I cut the length just a little longer than the length of the bookcase.

This time I used the edge of the wallpaper I’d already placed as my guide, and worked all the way down the bookcase.

Once the paper was smoothed and in place, I cut any excess at the side and bottom with the utility knife.

I really wish I had photos of the process, but all I can show you is how that peel and stick grasscloth wallpaper looks in my newly re-finished built-ins! 

These 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a gorgeous makeover with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper! Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper is a beautiful way to cover mirrors.

P.S. you may notice we removed the carpet and had luxury vinyl plank floors installed. That’s part of the reason I decided to paint the built-ins – I think there would’ve been too many wood tones happening.

Outdated 1970s built-ins got a new look with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper. You won't believe the transformation.

And no, we don’t have the baseboards in yet. 🙂

Dated 1970s mirrored built-ins got a gorgeous update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.

Do you need a BEFORE photo to remind you where I started?  (I think you do!)  

This is the before of this blogger's stone fireplace and mirrored built-ins. See the after - you won't believe it!

Totally different, huh?  So much less shiny!  

Dated 1970s bookcases got a beautiful update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.

Instead of being an eyesore, these built-ins are now a perfect place for me to display my thrifted and vintage finds, family photos, and other little decor items I love.

Peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs of built-ins from the 1970s.

Formerly an eyesore, these built-ins are now beautiful with a fresh coat of paint and peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrored backs.

The baskets on the bottom are also a perfect place to store blankets and other random junk I don’t want out on display!

Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs in these 1970s built-ins.

I’m proud to say that those two baskets are the only new things I bought to style these shelves, as I had everything else already.  Yay for being fiscally responsible! 🙂

If you have dated built-ins that could use some new personality, give this a try!  Painting the bookcases and adding wallpaper to the backs can give them a whole new life!

Filed Under: DIY, home decor

Life Takes You Unexpected Places, Love Brings You Home

September 23, 2019 by Bre 14 Comments

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As I sit down to write this post, I can’t help but feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience.  Is it really me writing this?  Is this actually happening?  

The news is still fresh as I share it with all of you, so it hasn’t completely sunk in yet; hence the strange feelings accompanying me as I click away at the keyboard.

My family is moving from the only home we’ve known.

We’re leaving our beloved home in Illinois to move to the Milwaukee area.  My husband accepted a new position there and we’re going to be closer to some of our family, so it’s a positive change.  blank

But it’s really freaking sad, too.

Sorry, there’s just no other way to put it.

My husband and I bought this 92-year-old home back in 2009 when we were practically still babies.  The day after we closed, we found out we were having a baby of our own.  So much excitement at once, and the timing could not have been better.

The house had good bones, as they say, but was in really, really rough shape. (Did the double “really” drive it home enough?)  Throughout the ten years we’ve been here, we’ve renovated, remodeled, and redone every single room – including the outdoor spaces and all of the mechanicals.  

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Living room before and after

We brought both of our babies home to this house, and our home became the setting for many special occasions and memories, like baptism parties, holiday gatherings, and most recently, a pre-party for my sister’s wedding.  

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Kitchen before and after

But the life that happened here on a regular basis is, perhaps, even more memorable.  Watching the kids learn to ride their bikes on the driveway, blowing out candles on birthday cakes at the kitchen table, and reading stories before bedtime – that’s the good stuff.

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Basement before and after

Along the way we made wonderful friends that are going to be so difficult to leave behind.  Their friendship is part of the fabric of this home.  Their laughter and presence within helped make it such a happy place. 

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Backyard before and after

My children are so upset – they can’t believe we’re making them leave their house and their school.  (If any of you have tips on transitioning kids to a new school, especially in the middle of the year, please share them with me!  Comment below or email me – averagebutinspired@gmail.com)  Their sadness is making me have an even more difficult time coming to terms with all of this. 

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Hall bathroom before and after

In my heart, I really felt like we’d live here forever.  At the risk of sounding like a total freak, I actually envisioned grandkids visiting me in this house a long, long time from now! 

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Dining room before and after

But, truthfully, nestled amongst all of those heavy feelings is a small seed of excitement for a change and some more projects.  I can never sit still for long, so a new fixer upper is appealing to me and getting my mind thinking happy thoughts.  

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Master bathroom before and after

Of course we don’t have a house in Wisconsin yet, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted on where we land.  Until then, please send good house selling vibes my way.  It’s a really tough market right now and we need all the help we can get!

Plus . . . I really don’t want to have to clean my house every single day for the foreseeable future.  🙂  

So, here’s to hoping that love brings us home to a new space that we can make our own, and that love brings a wonderful new family to the one we’ve worked so hard to fill with joy over the last ten.

-Bre

Filed Under: home decor

Rattan Basket Wall Art: A Thrift Store DIY

May 28, 2019 by Bre 2 Comments

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As part of our master bathroom renovation (reveal coming soon!), we made some improvements to our master bedroom, too.  New paint, new moulding, and moving the ceiling light to the center of the room were the “big” fixes.  Of course I had to seize the opportunity to mix up the decor a bit, too, and that required some wall art swaps.  Over the bed I hung some rattan basket wall art, which is a super inexpensive thrift store DIY project!  

Thrifted flat rattan basket wall art is such an inexpensive way to decorate a blank wall! Learn how to hang baskets on the wall in this post.

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

Except for in a post on DIY Wrapping Paper Wall Art, I never shared much about our master bedroom because it was totally neglected.  You know how it is – you put everything else first and your own space gets lowest priority.  While our tiny master bedroom isn’t totally finished yet, it is already so much better and feeling like a comfortable space we love to be in!

These rattan baskets hanging on the wall help create a comfortable, cottage feel we wanted.  We started with $4 worth of rattan chargers from Goodwill.  My local Goodwill is always overflowing with these things!  (I also use one on my basement coffee table as a tray of sorts!)  Flat baskets from the thrift store are such a versatile home decor piece! Learn how to hang baskets on the wall and use them as wall decor in this post.

I got out my trusty Pop Up Spray Shelter, which is a total project saver for spray paint projects (my projects were always being ruined by debris flying onto them!) . . . 

Spray paint flat rattan baskets to create beautiful wall art for your home.

and a can of chalky finish spray paint in Coastal Blue (if you’re curious about chalk paint in spray form, read my review of chalky finish spray paint!), and got to work!  

Chalky finish spray paint is perfect for painting baskets! This chalk spray paint works on baskets and other items.

Once I spray painted two coats on each of the baskets and let them dry, I strung pipe cleaners through the backs of each to serve as hangers for the baskets.  

It's so easy to hang baskets on the wall to serve as decor. Learn how to hang a basket on the wall with this trick!

Then I used my favorite product ever – 3M Command Hooks – to place and hang the painted baskets on the wall above our bed.  

Use this trick to hang baskets on the wall.

These are so much better than nails because I can take them down with no damage to the wall whenever I want!  Flat baskets from the thrift store can be spray painted and used as beautiful wall decor.

I wasn’t sure if my husband would like these (he’d much prefer to have nothing hanging on any wall!), so I figured the Command Strips were the way to go.  🙂  A trio of painted baskets used as wall art adds a pretty, cottage touch to this master bedroom.

Thankfully he really likes them and the basket wall art will stay.  At least for now.  You know I can’t leave something as it is for too long!  (Especially when it cost under $10 for the entire look.)  Chalk painted rattan baskets hanging on the wall are wonderful wall decor for over a bed. This budget-friendly project is super easy, too!

P.S. see that embroidered pillow behind Jasper?  My husband’s grandmother made that for our wedding present.  I love having this personal gift on display!  (See how we used other other pillows she made as wall art in my daughter’s tween girl bedroom.)  

Next time you see flat rattan baskets at the thrift store, scoop them up!  They’re super versatile as functional items or as decorative wall art.

-Bre

You May Also Like This Post on 8 Home Decor Essentials to Buy at the Thrift Store

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Filed Under: home decor

1920s Bathroom Renovation – Our True-to-Period Remodel

May 14, 2019 by Bre 30 Comments

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Just about eight weeks ago we started the gut renovation of our upstairs hallway bathroom.  This 1920s bathroom renovation is our attempt at a true-to-period remodel, and I am so excited to share it with you!  It came out better than I envisioned, and my family is so happy with it!

Before and During the Bathroom Renovation

This BEFORE photo of an original 1920s bathroom shows the poor condition of the space. Cracked tile and failing plumbing were among the problems.

You can see all of the before photos of this bathroom in this blog post (with everything in it being original, except for the yellow paint a previous owner covered the wall tile with), and here’s a picture of the space before it was gutted just to give you an idea of the dramatic improvement! 

Because this bathroom backs up to our master bathroom, and because the master bathroom also needed to be re-done due to shoddy construction in the past, we decided to renovate both of these bathrooms at the same time.  (More on the master bathroom renovation in the future.)

This was pretty darn hectic for me, at first especially.  I had to pick out all of the finishes for two bathrooms really quickly (our contractor was able to start sooner than we had expected), order everything, and manage the chaos of construction, family, and work.  I definitely had one mega breakdown during the process, but in the end, it was all worth it!  (If you’re going through a bathroom renovation anytime soon, check out my post on 5 Tips for How to Survive a Bathroom Renovation!)

Photos from the renovation of a 1920s bathroom that was given a look that is true to period.

The True-to-Period 1920s Bathroom Renovation All Finished!

This 1920s bathroom renovation turned out amazing! The homeowners worked to keep charm and features of the home's period in tact, to create a space that is both vintage and modern.

Did I mention how happy we are with this bathroom?  🙂 

Bright, fresh, clean, and (most importantly to me), characteristic of the old home we live in.  Let me show you around.  I’ve linked to the products you’ll see in this post, and many of them are affiliate links (you can read my full disclosure policy here).

This vintage look milk glass schoolhouse bathroom sconce paired with moody blue paint (Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore) make a beautiful statement in a small bathroom.

Light Fixture | Floating Wall Shelves

White subway tile, white and black hexagon mosaic floor tile, and a console sink with chrome legs make for a gorgeous 1920s inspired bathroom.

Porcelain Sink with Chrome Console | Faucet | Towel Bar

My husband really didn’t want to install a sink that looked just like the original sink, but I forced him to let us do it.  It was really important to me to have this space look as close to original as it could.  While this sink is gorgeous to me, it, of course, has its drawback – there is NO storage space!  And with two kiddos who come with a lot of “stuff,” storage space is important.

Because of that, we “hacked” an IKEA Silveran Sink Cabinet (adding legs and a quartz countertop, among other things), and turned it into a vanity of-sorts right next to the console sink.  The Silveran Sink Cabinet is extremely shallow depth at just 9″, so it was the perfect solution for this tight space!

This shallow depth bathroom vanity is an IKEA Silveran hack!

The period-style faucet also looks so close to original.  It’s weird, but using this sink makes me so happy.

This gorgeous vintage sink faucet makes this 1920s bathroom renovation feel authentic to the time period.

We managed to save the original medicine cabinet, which is so special to me because it was restored at some point and bears a photograph of the date stamp inside.  I cleaned up the inside of it with spray paint and it’s good as new!  Look at that etching and beveled edges – I swoon!

This original 1927 mirrored medicine cabinet is one of the features saved in this bathroom renovation.

Can you believe this mirror is 92 years old?  Incredible.  It’s an actual treasure and I’m thankful we were able to keep it in its home.

This date stamp shows the age of the mirrored medicine cabinet that was saved as part of this bathroom renovation.

Over the toilet is where I got to have some fun.  Floating shelves add functionality, but are also a place to display fun pops of personality.  This is, after all, a kids bathroom, so there has to be some levity in the space.

Floating shelves above the toilet are a place to display artwork, useful items for the bathroom like cotton swabs and cotton balls, and a nice candle. Wall color is Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore.

Floating Wall Shelves

Notice the jar on the far left of the top shelf?  Those are the original knobs from the bathtub!  Like a crazy lady, I asked the contractor to save them for me.  I didn’t know what I was going to do with them, but I think this is a great way to display yet another piece of the original bathroom in this new space.

The original bath tub faucet handles were saved in this bathroom renovation and put on display to add some authenticity to the bathroom.
Floating shelves above the toilet are a place to display art and other decorative items, as well as functional items for the bathroom.

I made the faux roman shade for the window by mixing a few tutorials I found online (like this one from Home Stories A to Z and this one from Lantern Lane Designs).  I should have made the no-sew version, but I got cocky and thought it would be no problem to sew.  I was wrong; I am not a seamstress.  But, the shade turned out cute anyway and I adore the Rifle Paper Co. fabric with little jungle animals mixed throughout that I found in this awesome Etsy shop.

This bathroom features beautiful white subway tile with chair rail and light gray grout. Wall color is Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore.
A faux roman shade with pretty fabric and a white shower curtain complement the white subway tile and light gray grout.

This fabric adds a nice bit of color to the space, and that’s why I went ultra-white on the shower curtain (but with a little texture for some playfulness). 

Fabric | Shower Curtain | Toilet Paper Holder

The shower faucet is the one place where my plan for 1920s originality was foiled.  We purchased an authentic-looking three handle set and had the plumbing done for that, but the inspector said that type of fixture is not allowed (why???) and we had to get a single handle set.  It made no sense to me and made me really upset, but I got over it in the end and tried to find one that looked sort of authentic with its cross-handle styling.

Vintage inspired bath fixtures help make this white subway tile shower surround feel true to the 1920s period of the home.

Valve Trim | Tub Spout | Shower Head

Finally, rounding the corner is where the kids’ towels hang, from the most adorable painted towel hooks. I got them at Anthropologie, but they’re not longer available. They have lots of other cute alternatives, however!

Painted ceramic towel hooks look gorgeous paired with Charlotte Slate walls.

We purchased all of the tile at Floor & Decor, and I cannot say enough about their great pricing on ceramic tile.  This white subway tile (and accompanying pieces, like bullnose tile, chair rail, and cove base tile) is bargain priced, and the mini-hex floor tile was significantly cheaper than I found it elsewhere.

Black and white hexagon mosaic tile with light gray grout looks vintage and fresh at the same time.

They also have a wonderful return policy, so I felt just fine over-buying, knowing that I could return what I didn’t need.  And no, this is not an ad for Floor & Decor at all – I was just really pleased with the tile we purchased for this bathroom!  It gave us the 1920s look we wanted at a really amazing price.

So there you have it – our 1920s bathroom renovation is now complete!  I hope you like it as much as we do.  I can only hope that this new version of the bathroom lasts as long as the original version! (And PS we’ve subsequently moved from this home, so you can also check out my plans for a vintage modern bathroom makeover at my new home!)

This 1920s bathroom renovation is amazing! See how the owners transformed this bathroom while keeping the vintage charm and period detailing alive. Wall color is Charlotte Slate.

1920s Bathroom Source List and Shopping

If you are curious about any of the products we used in our 1920s bathroom renovation, click on any of the links below for more info or to purchase!

TILE

Black and white hexagon mosaic flooring

White subway tile

White subway bullnose tile

White chair rail tile

White cove base tile

Light gray grout (Cobblestone)

THE BIG STUFF

Cast iron bathtub

Toilet

Sink with chrome console legs

FIXTURES

Sink faucet

Shower head

Tub faucet

Valve trim / tub handle

Toilet paper holder

Towel bar

Vanity light fixture

DECORATIVE ITEMS

White shower curtain with white polka dots

Floating wood shelves

PAINT

Wall paint color

Filed Under: home decor

How to Make a Gorgeous Grocery Store Greenery Centerpiece

May 7, 2019 by Bre Leave a Comment

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Since the beginning of March, my dining room has been filled with products for our bathroom renovations – a total mess!  Because those are wrapping up now, the dining room is clearing out and it needed a little love (and a lot less dust).  So, I grabbed $11 worth of greenery and foliage from Trader Joe’s and made a beautiful centerpiece for my dining room table.  With around $10 of grocery store greenery, you can create a gorgeous centerpiece for your home or any event! Using different shades of foliage and a special trick, you'll make a greenery centerpiece that is beautiful and budget-friendly.

This greenery centerpiece is so lush and full of life, and because it isn’t filled with flowers, it’s going to last a L-O-N-G time!  With around $10 of grocery store greenery, you can create a gorgeous centerpiece for your home or any event! Using different shades of foliage and a special trick, you'll make a greenery centerpiece that is beautiful and budget-friendly.

I also added some thrifted brass candlesticks to my greenery arrangement, and I just love how this came together. 

  With around $10 of grocery store greenery, you can create a gorgeous centerpiece for your home or any event! Using different shades of foliage and a special trick, you'll make a greenery centerpiece that is beautiful and budget-friendly.

Plus, with a special trick, I know these green stems will look amazing for weeks.  The $11 I spent will go a long way in these upcycled florist vases.

Watch the video I made to see the trick for making your flowers and greenery last longer and to see just how I put this centerpiece together!

Watch the Video Tutorial of How to Create a Grocery Store Greenery Centerpiece Here!

I bet you won’t look at those $2 floral fillers in the grocery store flower aisle the same way again!  Put some in your cart during your next trip and whip up a long-lasting arrangement for yourself.  Having some greenery and life in your house will make you so happy!  With around $10 of grocery store greenery and thrifted brass candlesticks, you can create a gorgeous centerpiece for your home or any event! Using different shades of foliage and a special trick, you'll make a greenery centerpiece that is beautiful and budget-friendly.

P.S. If you enjoyed this video tutorial, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel! I finally decided to commit to it and make videos on a regular basis – including for projects I won’t be posting here.  I’d love to see you over there!

-Bre

Filed Under: home decor

1920s Bathroom Renovation – Where We Started

April 30, 2019 by Bre 5 Comments

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It’s been almost ten years since we purchased our 1920’s home, and during this time I dreamed of renovating our upstairs hall bathroom into something, well, nicer.  The bright yellow painted tile (whyyyy did someone paint it this color?), cracked floor tile, cracked plaster, and cramped space combined to make this bathroom my least favorite spot in our house.  I never even painted the walls because I disliked it so much.This vintage 1920s bathroom features bright yellow tile and original fixtures.

For years I dutifully knelt at the tub, bathing my babies . . . This vintage yellow bathroom is getting a gut renovation!

helped brush teeth at the sink with marred console legs . . . This vintage 1920s bathroom features an original sink on chrome console legs.

and potty trained at the toilet with a wall-mounted tank.  This vintage 1920s bathroom features an original wall-mounted tank toilet.

I did my best to overlook the poor aesthetics over the years, but in addition to the cracks and plethora of yellow tile, the plumbing started failing in here.  Multiple plumbers told us we should plan to remodel “soon” (meaning, before we were forced to do so in a state of emergency).These vintage knobs were failing, but will be re-used in a creative way in this 1920s bathroom renovation.

So we started planning, and saving, and planning some more.  And we decided that the time was right to say goodbye to our vintage yellow bathroom.  We got our plans, got our permits, got to work (well, got to work picking finishes.  We hired a contractor to do all the hard stuff!).

Being the “old home meets modern living” lover that I am, however, the plan for the new bathroom had it looking very similar to this bathroom – just updated for 2019 – with important items being salvaged and re-used (hint hint: this 1927 date stamped mirror will probably look familiar).

This vintage medicine cabinet is date stamped 1927 and will be salvaged and re-used in this bathroom renovation project.

But, before we said goodbye to our 1920’s yellow bathroom, we had a little fun.  We pulled out the Sharpies and let the kids write all over the walls.  They were beside themselves.  If you ever do a gut renovation on a bathroom, I highly recommend that you give your kids a Sharpie and let them go to town.  So fun! Before this 1920s bathroom remodel, the kids drew on the walls with Sharpies.

Their joy over writing on the walls made our last night with the yellow bathroom bittersweet.  Lots of memories with little kiddos in this space, but hopefully the new hall bathroom will serve us better (and look much better)!

I cannot wait to show you the fully remodeled bathroom!

-Bre

Filed Under: home decor

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