Software
Houzz Logo Print
susanwrites_gw

mini bathroom makeover help please - pics

16 years ago

okay, so I'm insane because we're having so many things done to the house at once. Right off the dining room/kitchen that I am struggling with in another thread is this bathroom. I want to give it a facelift but without a lot of dollars because eventually this will be part of the remodel. So the cabinet and counter stay. Floor stays. And the hideous shower door stays. No one showers in here but it is the bathroom we use all the time. (The only one downstairs.)

So paint, for sure. Pictures below show my current favorites. I got rid of the brass recessed lights and will be getting a new faucet and new cabinet hardware. There are duet blinds up there on the window and we just put some window molding up to dress it up. I love my towels in there and the picture on the wall (another one on the opposite wall) so I'm trying to pick a paint that works with them.

I'm wondering if I have enough space to put a pretty shower curtain up to hide the shower door? What do you think?

And I worry about how dark it might all be if I do something like Olive Branch?

Olive Branch

Georgian Green

Dried Parsley

Flowering Herbs

Olive Branch up top and Dry Sage down below

Room for a shower curtain on a tension rod?

Comments (23)

  • 16 years ago

    I like the lightest shade personally. Can you change the towel and the rug?? That would help brighten the place up :)

  • 16 years ago

    I like the Georgian Green. Any chance you would paint your vanity cupboard? It looks a little pink next to the green. Black would look sharp. Is that countertop white?

  • 16 years ago

    I'm drawn to the Olive Branch. Since the cabinets are light, it seems to give the room a little more life.

  • 16 years ago

    sasafras - I'm not married to the rug but I do love the color of the towels as it picks up the colors in the pictures on the wall perfectly.

    elsa42 - no, we're painting just about every room in the house right now and since there's a remodel of this bath in the future, I'm not going to put the $ into painting the cabinets. (can't do them myself) They are pink...maple. Blech!

    homersmom - thanks. I'm drawn to Olive Branch too though I do worry about it being too dark. Maybe I should look at some lighter colors too but I really want some color in here if possible.

    Anyone have any thoughts on putting a shower curtain over that shower door?

  • 16 years ago

    I like the Olive Branch. Sheesharee has used this color, I think in the kitchen, but could be bath. Greens are tricky and I do think some of them make the vanity look pink. Not sure why you think you cannot paint your vanity yourself. It doesn't look to be a big job. Sheesharee painted her vanity also. See the following and scroll down and you'll see her bathroom where she did some of the things you are thinking of. Regarding the shower curtain in front of the door, I think it's a great idea--esp. as you say you do not use the shower much.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Bathroom thread

  • 16 years ago

    valinsv - thanks. The reason I can't paint the vanity is that I am physically unable to due to a bum shoulder/arm. :( In my younger days I would have jumped on it but now I need to hire folks for that kind of stuff. And since we just had $10K worth of electrical stuff done, plus in the midst of getting drywall repairs all over the house, plus hiring someone to paint 9 other rooms in the house, well, this bathroom gets less of my dollars at the moment. :)

    I'll go peruse the bathroom thread. Thanks so much for the link.

  • 16 years ago

    I think you could certainly put a shower curtain up to camouflage the door. You may want to remove the handle so that it doesn't stick out, but that shouldn't be difficult. Maybe use something solid, since you have the patterned floor and floral rug. I would probably use something simple so as not to have too many things going on (in regards to patterns.) I have always loved pink & green and if you're happy with the Olive Branch, go for it. The room doesn't seem that big so I wouldn't think the color would be overbearing. Just my .02 worth.

  • 16 years ago

    I'd choose the Flowering Herbs. The Olive Branch looks too close to the color of the towels and depending on how close the colors are, it might look like you tried to match the towel to the wall color but didn't quite. I don't know if that makes sense.

    Another point, though... I haven't looked at your other thread about the other rooms lately, but I think last time I checked, you were planning to paint the kitchen, dining room, and living room all green. Do you really want the bathroom to be green too? Seems like a lot of green to me!

  • 16 years ago

    I like that Olive Branch and think your towels are a great color. You could offset them with a layered cream colored towel to break up the two greens and maybe highlight with some burgundy.

    Here is a link that might be useful: shower curtain

  • 16 years ago

    Yes, go with the darker color as you have a light vanity, window and big mirror. You could remove the shower door altogether when you put up a light-colored curtain to give you a bit of backing up space. Move the rug to in front of the vanity instead of in front of the shower. It should work together nicely.

  • 16 years ago

    O.K. -- using a green shade on the walls will simply make the pink tones in the cabinet just pop right out! But I do vote for a deeper richer color on the walls.

    Therefore -- would you consider switching to a neutral basic taupe color (check out Laura Ashley shades in their Taupe line -- maybe Taupe #2 or Taupe #3? Your dark green towels would still work in there ...

    To hold all of the guest goodies on the counter-top -- check out thrift stores for dark woven tray or a silverplate one.

    Yes -- do consider hanging a shower curtain OR for a fuller look (since you do not use the shower on this level of your home) -- try two shower curtains on the rail.

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

  • 16 years ago

    Hello,
    Might I ask why the door has to stay? With about 30 minutes and a screwdriver that sucker could be gone. Also, if you can paint the walls, you could as easily paint either the counter top or cabinets. Do you like traditional or modern look? If tradional , I'd suggest a regular curtain vs the shower curtain since it's longer and fuller(also cheaper normally). You could go slightly darker on the cabinets, lighter on the walls and with the faucets and hardward , easily and cheaply change the entire look of your space.

  • 16 years ago

    homersmom - Good idea about removing the handle. I'll go check.

    sueb20 - another good point. I'm just not sure. Having a really hard time finding colors that I like that also look good in the wide open layout. The library is Raspberry Truffle and that's visible from the entry/dining. My office is a yellow but that will get changed down the road (not until I get new bookcases but there's way too much to take out of that room twice!) I am tempted to just use the Flowering Herb.

    vampiressrn - love the idea of the cream towels to offset things! thank you. and thanks for the link to that shower curtain.

    andee - interesting thought to remove the door completely. Hmm...will ponder. I have two of those rugs, one in front of the sink and one in front of the shower. But they were inexpensive throw rugs that I can replace. I was even thinking of getting a large rug to fill most of the floor (and cover the ugly, white tile.)

    Jan - I love it when you pipe in. Thank you! I confess to really being anti-neutrals right now because this entire house was painted this beige/taupe/oatmeal when we bought it a few years ago and it feels like it sucks the energy right out of me. The library with my Raspberry Truffle has the very best energy. Hmmm...maybe I should do that bathroom in Raspberry Truffle? Two shower curtains on a rail sound nice too!

    I can't wait to get to the tablescaping part of this. That's the fun stuff!

  • 16 years ago

    Yes -- a vote for the Raspberry Truffle -- good energy is always a great benefit! :)

    And -- more importantly -- the RP on the walls will indeed make the pinky cabinets appear to blend in a bit more ...

    Of course -- all colors depend on the shower curtain(s) -- you may find one at T.J. Maxx, Target, Marshalls etc.

  • 16 years ago

    Just for ideas .... shower curtain from Pottery Barn -- which I believe may work with RP ....

    Here is a link that might be useful: PB -- shower curtain

  • 16 years ago

    Here is another shower curtain which would look great with Raspberry Truffles, as well as your towels.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Optional Shower curtain

  • 16 years ago

    Meant to also encourage you to put up the shower curtain. I did just that over an ugly glass door and have not regretted it. In fact, I am very pleased.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks walnutcreek. (Are you in CA? I grew up in Concord.)

    Glad to know the shower curtain over the door will work.

    I think I've decided to go with Baby Turtle in that room, walls and ceiling. I've been dying to use that color and I think it will be a good place for it plus it will flow from the Flowering Herbs in the dining area.

  • 16 years ago

    Glad you decided to use a shower curtain. I think that will add a nice touch.

    You're using the Baby Turtle in this room?

    I really like the Olive Branch. Val's right, that's the color of my kitchen area. My bathroom is Laura Ashley Olive 4 and the 2nd pic in the link is a more accurate photo. The Olive Branch has a good bit of brown in it. I believe Baby Turtle does also which I think will look nice in your bathroom.

  • 16 years ago

    bellashere - I missed your note yesterday. I'm so sorry. I'd take the shower door out completely but then I'd have the lip of about 6 inches of tile off the ground for someone to trip over. And on the off chance we need to actually shower there (like there is something wrong with the upstairs shower) I don't think a curtain would be enough to keep the water in. (Though I could be wrong.)

    As for painting, it's not that I don't know how, but I am not physically able. I'm having to hire someone to paint the other rooms as well so I'm trying to keep it on the low side. Last bid for painting all the rooms was $4K which is about $2K more than I want to spend.

    Good idea on using a regular curtain. I think I'll have a lot more options. Handyman took the handles off the door today and took off the ugly brass towel rack and the weird block of wood behind it. Dry wall guy is fixing all the holes.

    sheesharee - I liked the Olive Branch too. Love it in your room. I think my thing is that I have had a hankering for Baby Turtle ever since I first saw it, I think it was in Red's room. And since I'm using Flowering Herb in the nearby rooms and they are right next to each other, I think they will blend well. Baby Turtle can go brown or green and I'm happy with both. The color makes me think of my garden, which is always a good thing. :)

  • 16 years ago

    I am looking forward to seeing your finished bath...the colors sound wonderful. I may have to do a Baby Turtle something somewhere just so I can say I have it...LOL. It looks so lovely in pictures.

  • 16 years ago

    No offense but I do not like green on the walls especially in a bathroom where it is unflattering to many skins tones. Plus your cabinets look way too pink to be next to the green paint. Also take off the brass glass doors and add a 7' long shower curtain or drape with a separate 7' long shower curtain liner (available at BB & B). I have 2 matching adjustable tension rods from Target with a beige/ gold shower curtain upon which I sewed a 1' height black border on one rod with the inner rod having the clear 7' long liner.

    Good luck.

  • 16 years ago

    No offense taken, threedgrad! We all have our likes and dislikes and so many wonderful opinions. That's one thing I love about this board, just hearing/seeing everyone's great ideas. Even if their ideas don't work for me they often help me get my own ideas churning.

    I know a lot of people don't like greens and while Baby Turtle can throw green, it also has a lot of brown in it. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the room. We rarely have company so the only people I have to worry about how they see themselves are us. :)

    As I said above, I will put a curtain up to hide the shower door but I can't take it off because there is a chance we might have to actually use the shower if there's a problem with the one upstairs. It's a funky, narrow shape and I don't think a shower curtain would keep the water in. Plus, if I take the door off there's a 6" lip of tile that I would worry people would back into.