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Cottage

Cozy Cottage Bathroom with Vintage Charm

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A dated lake cottage bathroom gets a cozy makeover with vintage charm.

Although our lake cottage is teeny tiny (around 700 square feet), one of the reasons we chose it is because it has two bathrooms.

Neither is luxurious, but the good thing is that neither was in bad shape or terribly ugly, either!

With some elbow grease, paint, and new accessories, I was able to infuse the main bathroom with some personality and a bit more functionality, too! And it was all on a pretty low budget, which makes it even more impressive (I think).

I’m excited to show to to you and hear what you think!

The Cottage Bathroom Before The Makeover

This main bathroom is right off the living area, and it’s visible from that room.

This is the main bathroom in the lake cottage. It was dated and needed a refresh to make it feel like a pretty but cozy cottage bath.

Its main features were an interesting tile pattern in the shower, a medicine cabinet that was held together with duct tape, and a laminate vanity and over-the-toilet cabinet.

This dated bathroom in a cozy lake cottage needed a makeover with vintage charm.

Painting the Builder-Grade Vanity

The vanity was in great shape, but it was not the nicest vanity in the world. The sides were like a sticker – they were not wood veneer like the cabinet fronts.

Painting the builder-grade vanity with Heirloom Traditions paint in the color Spruce.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy. In addition, some items were generously gifted to me by Lowe’s and Moen. Thank you to those companies for their support!

I cleaned the vanity with Krud Kutter (my favorite pre-paint cleaner), scuff sanded it, and then painted with two coats of my favorite one-step paint.

(In between coats I started to disassemble the medicine cabinet, too!)

I used Heirloom Traditions in Spruce for this vanity, and I LOVE it. It’s a deep blue green shade that looks really sophisticated.

This bathroom vanity was getting a fresh coat of paint in the color Spruce by Heirloom Traditions Paint.

Because the paint is fast drying and doesn’t require a topcoat, I was able to finish the vanity in just a few hours.

Color Drenching the Walls, Ceiling, and Trim

Once my husband was able to come down here with me, he finished up the medicine cabinet and vanity light removal.

When he got that down, we found that the light wiring wasn’t actually centered over the vanity. Great. Another project. Womp womp.

Once the medicine cabinet was removed, it was revealed that the cottage light was not centered over the vanity.

I filled the holes left behind by the medicine cabinet, washed the walls, and got to painting.

Color drenching a small bathroom in Wedgewood Gray by Benjamin Moore.

I chose Wedgewood Gray by Benjamin Moore, but I had it mixed in Behr paint to save some cash.

I painted the walls, ceiling, trim, and over-the-toilet cabinet all the same color to make it feel extra cozy in here. The designer-types call this color drenching. And apparently it’s great in a small bathroom- from what they tell me.

At this point I was sick of painting and my neck hurt from painting the ceiling, so I decided to put up the new mirror to make me feel better about this bathroom.

Adding a wood mirror to a blue bathroom adds some warmth to the space.

Although we need all the storage we can get in here, I couldn’t find a medicine cabinet I love, so I chose a pretty wood mirror instead. I liked the soft wood tone and scalloped corners of this mirror, and when I hung it up I felt so much better about this space!

Changing the Vanity Light and Adding Cottage-Style Details

We came back another day for my husband to move that light box. We also swapped the shower head and added a towel bar under the over-the-toilet cabinet so we’d have a place to hang hand towels.

We moved the light box so that the vanity light could be centered over the vanity.

Then I decided to add the CUTEST scalloped wood trim to the bottom of the cabinet over the toilet.

Adding scalloped wood trim to the face of a cabinet gives instant cottage-style charm to this bathroom.

I really prefer shelves over a toilet, but we had to keep this cabinet. We need the storage! So I figured I’d at least infuse a little of my love for scallops in here! (Check out the adorable DIY scallop shelf I built for our primary bedroom at the cottage!)

My husband walked me through how to hang the vanity light (spoiler alert: it was much easier than I thought it would be), and it only took me buying three lights to finally settle on this brass two-bulb vanity light.

I hung a brass light or gold light above the wood mirror to add even more warmth to the cottage bathroom.

I love how the brass/gold adds more warmth to contrast the cool paint colors and the chrome fixtures.

Then I did a bunch of little things like adding new mother of pearl cabinet knobs, hanging a pretty plaid shower curtain, displaying thrifted art that I’ve been stockpiling, and hanging up cute gingham hand towels (that will only be used for pictures and when we have guests – IYKYK!).

Changing the Faucet

Finally, I had the privilege of partnering with Moen for a video on Instagram, and I changed a faucet for the very first time!

I changed the sink faucet to add a more sophisticated look.

It wasn’t the easiest project, but it wasn’t too awful either. I needed some help from my husband to get the supply lines loosened and then also reconnected at the end. I made a lot of weird faces during the process.

But the swap from that builder-grade faucet to this high-arc chrome stunner actually made a huge difference in here!

A new chrome faucet from Moen made a huge style impact in this small cozy cottage bathroom.

The Cozy Cottage Bathroom is Complete

In the end, I’m super happy with how this budget bathroom refresh turned out!

A cottage bathroom got a facelift in shades of blue, and pops of warmth from a wood mirror and gold vanity light.

I think I succeeded in giving it some style without going overboard.

This cozy cottage bathroom makeover features Wedgewood Gray walls, a blue vanity, thrifted artwork, and pops of gold and rust for warmth.

Even though all of the “bones” in here are exactly the same, it feels totally different.

A plaid shower curtain adds a masculine touch to this cottage bathroom.

Thank you for checking it out and seeing how my hard work came together!

Scalloped trim added to an over-the-toilet cabinet was an adorable cottage-style detail.

Shop the Bathroom | Items I Used Here

In case it’s helpful, here’s a list of the products I used to bring together this cozy cottage bathroom style.

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to let me know what you think of this makeover or ask me any questions in the comments!

Vintage-Look Green Painted Table for a Cottage Bunk Room

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A hand-me-down table got a new, old look with kelly green paint and distressing.

I love having friends who think of me for their furniture castoffs. I am the designated collector of junk, after all.

Recently my friend, Megan, passed along this little vanity that her daughter no longer used.

BEFORE: a mint green painted vanity table was given to Bre to refinish.
BEFORE: the vanity table was painted with mint green gloss paint.

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

While I have no need for a vanity (let’s just say I’m pretty low maintenance), I did have a need for a small desk at the lake cottage.

Although I really don’t want people working there, I know there will be times someone needs to do homework or send an email. So I decided this piece would become the designated work spot.

And while it was cute with its glossy mint green paint, it wasn’t exactly the look I needed. I felt that a distressed painted finish in a vintage kelly green color was the direction we needed to go.

The Vintage Table Makeover

I started by stripping the gloss paint off with this low-odor paint stripper. Within thirty minutes most of the paint on top was bubbled and ready ready to come right off.

Low odor furniture paint stripper worked quickly to soften the paint for removal.

The paint scraped off very easily on the top, but on the legs it was as if the paint stripper had started to freeze!

The mint green paint removed easily from the top of this vanity.

I brought the table inside and wiped it down with mineral spirits to get the remaining paint stripper off, and then I took the table to the garage to sand it.

Check Out More Of My Furniture Makeovers!

Since I wanted a vintage look, I wasn’t concerned about removing all of the paint. I didn’t expect the table legs to look so awful though! They were definitely paint-grade wood and not meant to be stripped and re-stained.

Oops.

This table looked terrible once all of the paint was removed! The paint-grade wood on the legs was in very rough shape.

Oh well. I carried on and found the most perfect shade of vintage kelly green chalk paint at Michaels.

I applied a coat with a round paintbrush and then used my orbital sander with 220-grit sandpaper to remove some of that first coat of paint.

Using an orbital sander to remove some of the kelly green paint on the table helped to give it a distressed or vintage look.

I took off a little too much paint, so I dry brushed on another coat of green. Once I that second coat of paint dried, I applied a thin layer of clear wax to the table to help protect the new paint job.

This wax isn’t my favorite furniture wax, but it’s pretty good. I like to use it when I’m working indoors because it has no odor at all.

This clear wax was used to help seal the painted table.

I then added new hardware to the drawer (it was actually the hardware from a 1927 window in our old home), and blue gingham cardstock to line the drawer.

Blue gingham paper lined the drawers of the newly-refinished vintage green desk.

The Vintage-Look Green Painted Table

This newly-made over desk or table fit perfectly in front of the window in one of the cottage bedrooms.

A lake cottage bedroom with bunk beds and a vintage-look green painted table desk.

The distressing on the finish is just what this piece needed.

This table or desk has a vintage look with kelly green paint in a distressed finish, blue gingham drawer liner, an antique brass window pull as the drawer pull, and overall charm.

And the kelly green reminds me of a color you’d see used in an old cabin. I think it’s so charming!

A small vintage green desk in a cottage bunkroom.

I love how it turned out and I’m thankful it was the perfect size for this cozy cottage bedroom.

This new table was distressed and painted in a vintage green paint to make it look old for this lake cottage.

What do you think of it’s new look? Can it pass for an old table?

DIY Headboard: Repurpose Cabinet Doors

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If you’re looking for a creative way to upcycle cabinet doors, look no further! This DIY headboard is a great way to repurpose cabinet doors in a stylish way.

The stack of cabinet doors sat in my basement for almost five years.

And about every six months my husband would ask, “do we really need to hang onto these doors?”

Old cabinet doors are upcycled into a beautiful wall-mounted headboard. Learn how to repurpose cabinet doors in this post.

I had removed them back in 2020 when I refinished our built-in china cabinet and replaced them with an updated style. But I hung onto them “just in case.”

I promised him I’d think of something to use those old doors for . . . I just didn’t say when.

Well . . . finally . . . at the end of 2024 I had an idea for two of them. I would turn them into a wall-mounted twin headboard for the loft space at our cottage!

I loved this idea because it would help “furnish” a really tricky spot in the cottage (low and slanted ceiling), and hardly cost a thing!

Supplies Used to Create an Upcycled Cabinet Door Headboard

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

How I Made a DIY Headboard from Cabinet Doors

I started by cleaning and lightly sanding the cabinet doors with my electric sander and 220-grit sandpaper. I did this to scuff up the existing finish so that the doors would be better prepared for paint.

Next, I figured out that a standard twin-sized headboard is 41″ wide. Two of my cabinet doors together were a little over 39″ wide. So, I put a scrap 1×2 in between them and cut it down to the same height as the doors.

See how she repurposed cabinet doors and turned them into an adorable twin-sized headboard.

Since I only had this one piece of wood and I was nervous about making a jagged cut with my circular saw, I went the old-fashioned route and cut it by hand with a saw and miter box. It wasn’t the most efficient, but I got a clean cut!

Next, I ran a thin line of wood glue on each side of the 1×2, and pressed it between the cabinet doors. I then clamped it all together in two places.

I also put wood filler in the hardware holes.

These cabinet doors are being transformed into a wall-mount headboard.

Once everything was dry, I flipped it over and attached five-inch mending braces to the back. I’m not sure if this was truly necessary, but I figured it couldn’t hurt in holding everything together.

I should have bought longer braces so that they could be screwed into both sides of the cabinet and the 1×2. Because these were too short to do that, I staggered them, with each being fastened into one cabinet door and the 1×2.

Mending braces gave extra support for a headboard made from cabinet doors.

I also attached two large D-ring hangers on the upper back corners. This would allow me to hang the headboard on the wall.

Attaching d-ring hangers to the backs of cabinet doors lets them serve as a wall-mounted headboard.

Finally, I flipped the piece back over and painted it with one-step paint that was left over from my kids’ bathroom vanity makeover. With two coats of paint, it was ready to go.

These cabinet doors are being painted and transformed into a wall-mount headboard.

The Finished Cabinet Doors Headboard

I installed anchors in the wall and hung the headboard at the perfect height for this loft bed that rests on a 3″ bed frame. (Can you believe they make bed frames that are so low to the ground?)

This loft with low angled ceilings features a twin-size bed on a 3 inch bed frame, and an adorable headboard made from old cabinet doors.

I mean, come on! Tell me that is not cute!

I am so glad I saved those cabinet doors all those years. It was definitely worth it (to me, at least – ha!).

Watch Me Build This Headboard! See The DIY Cabinet Doors Headboard Video on YouTube.

See how she transformed old cabinet doors into a bed headboard!
Yes, I know I need to straighten those pictures. It is such a tiny space I couldn’t really see how crooked they were when I was taking this photo!

This DIY headboard project could easily be modified to accommodate any size bed: with the addition of more cabinet doors and/or wider wood pieces, you could make even a King-size headboard!

Alright, so the big question now is what should I make with the four remaining cabinet doors? Tell me in the comments!

DIY Scalloped Shelf with Hooks

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Learn how to make the cutest wall shelf with hooks! This DIY scalloped shelf with hooks is functional and adorable.

When it comes to home decor, nothing is as sweet as scallops! While I, personally, love scalloped detailing on any piece, I have to use it sparingly. My husband is less of a fan – lol!

That didn’t stop me from making this totally adorable scalloped shelf with hooks for our lake cottage, however.

A DIY scalloped shelf with hooks makes an adorable and functional piece of room decor for any space.

I knew that this was going to add a much-needed place to hang bags, hats, etc., and it would look perfect in our bedroom.

So I got to work making this piece from scrap wood, and I’m happy to fill you in on how to do it, too!

DIY Scalloped Shelf Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

How to Make a DIY Scalloped Shelf with Hooks

You can put together this scalloped wall shelf with hooks in an afternoon! It’s a quick project that goes together easily.

Cut Boards to Size

I wanted this shelf to be 30″ long, so I cut a 1×8 pine board to size with my circular saw.

This board was left over from the DIY floating shelves I hung over the basement dry bar I built earlier this year! I stained it at that time with water-based walnut stain.

Then, I cut down the 1×4 pine board to the same length with the circular saw.

Create the Scallop Edge Detail

On the 1×8 pine board, I used a 6″ round wood cutout to trace semi-circles at the bottom of the board.

I found the center of the board (in this case, 15″) and aligned the left edge of the circle at that 15″ mark. Doing this meant that the center of the board had the upper edge of a scallop.

I then traced to the right of that semi-circle. That gave me another full scallop. And then one more time, which gave me a partial scallop at the end of the board.

Learn how to make a scalloped wall shelf with this easy tutorial.

I repeated this to the left of center, too.

Once I had the scallops drawn on the board, I set the jigsaw to the maximum depth and cut along that edge to create the scallops on the shelf board.

Use a jigsaw to cut out scallop edge detailing on a DIY wood shelf.

This looked totally awesome (go me!), but to smooth out the scallops a bit, I used my small electric sander with 80-grit sandpaper to make them even more rounded.

Attach Hanging Hardware (if Using)

I decided to attach d-ring hangers to the back of the wall hook board so that I could hang this on the wall without removing any of the wall hooks (more on that below).

D-ring hangers were used to hang this DIY scallop shelf.

BUT . . . I feel like the d-ring hangers aren’t the ideal method of hanging. When hanging objects on the hooks, the backer board moves around more on the wall than I’d like it to. And since I display things on the top shelf, that’s not ideal.

So, I’m going to re-hang this by removing two hooks, putting wall anchors into the wall where two of the hooks go, and attaching the hooks through the wood backer board into the wall.

If that sounds like too much work, then you could use picture hanging hardware like I did.

Attach the Shelf to the Wall Hooks Board

Next up, attaching the shelf to that hook backer board was easy!

I ran a line of wood glue along the top edge of the hook backer board and I put the 1×4 onto that.

Putting together the DIY scalloped shelf involved wood glue and brad nails.

I clamped the pieces together to get that glue to bond well, and then I put about six 1″ brad nails in for extra hold.

Brad nails were used to secure the top shelf part of the scalloped wall hook board.

Put the Hooks Onto the Backer Board

Finally, I measured where I wanted each of the hooks and drilled pilot holes into the wood.

The adorable gold flower coat hooks I used did not come with mounting hardware, so I found screws that fit their openings and screwed those into the pilot holes.

Fastening beautiful MacKenzie-Childs gold flower wall hooks.

Then I attached the hooks (kind of like how you attach curtain rod hardware to the wall) and finished this project!

The Finished Scalloped Wall Hooks Shelf

I hung up this shelf in one of the cottage bedrooms and I am in love!

This lake cottage bedroom features airy linens and paint, and rustic cottage elements like an antique ship painting and a wood scalloped shelf.

The shelf is the perfect spot to display some decor, and the hooks are a wonderful extra bit of storage for this small room!

Gold flower petal wall hooks by MacKenzie-Childs look beautiful on this DIY scalloped shelf.

Even though it has a lot of femininity to it, I think the stained wood finish helps give it a tiny bit of masculinity, too. (Maybe. Maybe not.)

Learn how to make a DIY scalloped wall shelf with hooks in this easy tutorial.

Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think of it! And, don’t hesitate to ask any questions, too!