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wl606

Cheap facelift?

11 years ago
I will eventually get around to fully remodeling this powder room, but assuming I don't replace the hideous pink sink and toilet in the near term, can you think of anything I could do to this room to make it look like I don't actually hate the sink and toilet?

Comments (95)

  • 11 years ago
    Black fixtures? Are you going to be staying in this home a good long while?
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Here is the vanity after I painted it black and changed the handle, hinges and knobs
    wl606 thanked Geneviève
  • 11 years ago

    I am probably going to be staying in this home until I am too old to keep it up. My house is my house, not some future buyer's house.

  • 11 years ago
    ok...just didn't want you to go from a pink toilet to a black one and end up with a resale issue...:D
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Here is a wall paper
    Athena Floral Wallpaper, Black and White · More Info

    Ruffle Shower Curtain · More Info
  • 11 years ago

    Black is quite dramatic. May I suggest that (if you have hard water) you pick up a sample 4 by 4 inch black tile and sprinkle water on it for a few days to see if any spots are okay with you?


  • 11 years ago
    Lol. I think by "fixtures" she meant faucet? Hardware? Not toilet, for sure.
  • 11 years ago
    With pink toilet and sink, I had to ask. :D
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Embrace the pink!! Paint the vanity dark gray, add white marble counters, new hardware and a wonderful pink and gray wallpaper! Live it up!
  • 11 years ago
    You asked for CHEAP temporary up-date. Here goes. 1) Strip the wallpaper and paint the walls a medium gray. Wallpaper is a nice idea, but too expensive for a temporary fix. 2) Paint the vanity a deep charcoal or black. 3) Place a large piece of artwork on the back wall....something contemporary in the gray, pink, black range to add drama. Don't spend a lot on the art. Go to Home Goods, Ross, Target or a similar store. 4) Get towels to co-ordinate...maybe gray and charcoal.. 5) You can get a inexpensive fashionable faucet for under $35. at Lowe's or Home Depot. Get one in brushed nickel and change hardware in the same finish. 6) Lastly, change out the large mirror and replace with a black framed wall hung one. Find a large carpet and accessories to co-ordinate to make this room more pleasant to be in. Shop wisely and I'll bet you can do all of this for under $250. and a bit of your labor. Good Luck and have fun.
    wl606 thanked judygilpin
  • 11 years ago
    I feel your pain...LOL...my master bath has pink toilet, double sinks, and tub, SAME light grey floor tiles with darker gray grout and rubber molding around the flooring, and SAME "Golden Oak" style vanity...LOL...previous owners had painted my walls a DARK ROSE color, and I was on "pink overload"...LOL...I am thinking that MAY be also your problem..............not the color pink in toilet and sink, but WHOLE ROOM is on "pink overload"................
    You have asked for CHEAP and temporary..............if this were MY bath, here's what I would do....

    1.) Remove those towel rings and the toilet paper holder....towels and toilet paper are NOT considered "focal points" in ANY room..........install a towel ROD or BAR on the right hand side of the vanity...towels out of sight but handy for use...can still use pink towels as they will coordinate with toilet and sink.....place toilet paper roll on free-standing unit between end of vanity and toilet...again, OUT OF SIGHT, but handy to reach !! Of course extra towels and rolls of toilet paper can be stored in the vanity.

    2.) Remove that wallpaper!! PAINT the walls a light shade of "greige" ( yes, it's a real color-a neutral gray/ beige that works with the gray floor tiles nicely ).....

    3.) The "porthole window" appears to have a very dark brown color stain on the woodwork??? If so, then coordinate your vanity by staining or painting it the same color!! Now the "look" is becoming more unified....

    4.) Finishing touches to the décor would have ME putting up a large print or picture on the previous "toilet paper wall"...THAT would be your focal point of the whole room...it should be perhaps something abstract, but WITH just a touch of pink here and there ( further unifying it all )......I believe I see an electrical outlet to the left of the vanity? You could put a small lamp in that corner, which would "soften" the ambiance of the room.......I would use a floor plant in right hand corner of room ( in front of toilet ) to further "soften" the room......also invest in an automatic soap dispenser that stands on the counter and looks waaaay better than a jar with a pump......

    5.) Find a runner to go in front of the vanity area ( which will hide most of the floor tiles ) that has touches of pink and grays in it....again unifying the room.....

    6.) Change out the sink faucet to something in an ORB ( oil rubbed bronze ) which will look better with the darker vanity cabinet.....

    7.) If you DO NOT place a lamp on the vanity in the corner, then think about a floral arrangement with burgundy/ deep rose/ light pink/ white flowers.....yeah, I know, it MORE PINK...LOL...but the idea is to EMBRACE what you have, but make changes to other things so the pink doesn't SCREAM OUT at you!!

    ALL OF THESE ideas are given because it's what I DID in MY "pink overloaded bath"...LOL...and believe me, they work!! I no longer "see" my pink fixtures when I walk in my bath....I know they are THERE, but they don't SCREAM at me anymore, which is the whole idea....LOL.......

    Good luck to you and we'd all love some "after" pics of whatever you have decided to do !!!
  • 11 years ago
    Leave your pink sink and toilet as a pink accent, but paint your wooden cabinets white with a nice warm glaze on them, then definitely remove this dated wall paper and find something with a white background and perhaps a geometric pattern with grey or brown open design about 10-14" in scale.
  • 11 years ago
    I found two great products for painting the counter top: 1) rustoleum counter top paint which is in the big box stores and 2) http://gianigranite.com. I went with the latter.
  • 11 years ago

    Yeah, I liked the idea of the drama of the towel rack, TP holder, et. al. being black if I painted the vanity black.


  • 11 years ago

    Good thing I misunderstood: no new black toilet or sink. Black accents would be easy and inexpensive.


  • 11 years ago

    I have a much-hated, inherited pink bathroom I, too, will eventually renovate but just not yet. Toilet was pink, which we replaced with white. Toilets are an inexpensive replacement and relatively easy to install. The tub is a very pale pink, so doesn't stand out so much without the pink toilet to amplify it. Vanity counter/sink is a pink & cream cultured marble over a white pickled oak cabinet. The real problem is the garish pink TILE in the tub/shower. It is VERY pink with burgundy borders and gray flowers in the center of some accent tiles. Floors were originally mauve carpet. A real horror, huh? We replaced the carpet with grouted charcoal gray, slate-look luxury vinyl and painted the walls gray. Towels and rugs are gray. I experimented with shower curtains until I found one that actually seemed to work. It is a pink design with gray lettering that says "Dream." Strangely, it brings everything together without looking busy. I used it as my inspiration and decided my bathroom theme would be "whimsy." Found the fun animal prints from FabFunky below, matted them in pink and silver and framed in silver. A cut glass, pedestal cake plate sits on the vanity and holds some decorative and functional bathroom items. Eventually we'll replace the tile with something neutral, as well as changing out the cabinet, sink and mirror. But I like the decorative items I found so well that I think I'll keep them even when the tile is gone, pink or not.



  • 11 years ago
    I have a similar problem and am doing this right now! Have peach countertop and pink floor and limited budget. Paint the vanity! It's easy, fun, and helps. I'm also going to paint walls. Replace toliet - they're cheap and easy to replace.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Get in fifty shades of gray and you can tell everyone this is what inspired you! The place seems big enough to handle solid gray walls, cabinet white with a drop of gray, some big mirrors in charcoal frames to get more light or one or two Toulouse Lautrec prints framed in charcoal for drama, like this one http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iFBFXAco_B4/S50Gy7gsWtI/AAAAAAAANwU/qNLbgY6Lld0/s640/431.jpg
    It will be awesome place!
  • 11 years ago
    Seems strange that no one has suggested that you replace the water hog of a toilet with a low flow version. Maybe your husband could get behind the change then. The same is true for faucets. If this powder room gets a lot of use, you could realize savings pretty quickly.
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Unless a toilet is broken I would NOT replace it!!!
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Embrace the sink and toilet color - add pink cabinet hardware that says, "This is how I planned it!" A framed picture of a pink flamingo would add another seriously pink element and break up that wallpaper


  • 11 years ago
    A brick in the tank will reduce h2o waste
  • 11 years ago
    If you plan on doing a full remodel at a later date that includes vanity removal, I suggest painting the vanity with chalk paint to give it a distressed look (Anne Sloan or CeCe Caldwell paints) then furniture wax to protect.
    Remove wall paper with WallWick (can be found on internet or Amazon) and is by far the very easiest method of removal with less effort and without damaging the sheetrock. Prime then paint walls. Another savings is to use a countertop kit that is painted on and will last for a couple of years.
  • 11 years ago
    Why not just replace the toilet and sink? That's cheaper than anything else you could do and will solve your problem.
  • 11 years ago
    Gray & Walter, why? Many areas offer rebates for water saving toilets that reduce the cost.
  • 11 years ago
    See Benjamin Moore article abt painting over wallpaper. I've done 2 rooms with lotsa wallpaper, and professionally had borders in 2 other room painted over. No shadows, no bleeding and saves damaged to dry wall when you steam/scrape. BM article explains abt caulking seams, sanding seams, oil primer, then paint. Agree with others abt keeping toilet and sink, painting vanity is simple and successful. Try the black towels and and maybe art in black/white with a touch of pink. No comment on the brass. Show us how it turns out.
  • 11 years ago
    No one suggested placing a white toilet-plus-bidet set at the far wall... Apart from hygiene considerations, you could then follow any of the suggestions to slide to a more whitish ambiance. Apart from an obvious wow factor...
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    In my opinion, remove the wallpaper and paint, paint the cabinet, Go to a granite remnant place or use laminate and replace the toilet. Then accessorize. Those simple and inexpensive (like $500 if you do the work) will make you a lot happier. Obviously, this bathroom is really bothering you whether you see it or not.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Would help if we had a better idea of your home's style. You can get a new, decent quality toilet and sink for less than $200 total. Pick a toilet you want to keep so when you're ready to renovate, you'll already have that piece. Strip off the wallpaper and you'll have a fresh palette for now. If you hate the floor, for now you can cover the tile with a floating vinyl floor which can easily be removed later. If you can live with the tile for now, use a grout recolor product and change the grout color to a lighter one. Those dark grout lines really chop up the space and make it appear smaller. Paint or stain the vanity cabinet and use new hardware and a nice light fixture. Please mount the toilet roll holder on the side of the cabinet, out of view from the doorway. That wall is a great opportunity for a statement piece of art. Remember, a powder room is usually the one your guests will visit so leave them with a good impression. Why embrace the pink if you hate it? Let the flamingos wade elsewhere.

  • 11 years ago

    I heard that if you have brown towels with the pink sink/toilet the sink/toilet will look not look pink. Saw this combination and it worked.

  • 11 years ago

    I've redone an entire 63 house this year with four dated bathrooms, all carpeted (YUCK). I kept two retro, gutted one and updated one. I agree with ravensmom and judygilpin...and REALLY like the pink flamingo idea!!! One other thing I did was put a white shelf over the toilet and under two pictures and set out cotton balls, a candle and q tips in cut glass thingies from my china cabinet...might as well use the things! :) (your shelf could also match your vanity (like the chalk paint idea...really cool!) if you would like, or you could put up (three?) glass shelves, either with decorator stuff on them or narrow basket that you could store stuff in. I don't know what the rest of your house is like, but the updated bath I painted "hot chocolate" and put up beadboard....LOVED the way it turned out! Have fun with it! My budget was tiny as HAD to gut the kitchen, so had to use more creativity than cash!!

  • 11 years ago

    Lots of cheaper temporary things you can do. Rustoleum makes an Oil Rubbed bronze paint to refinish your faucet. And there are also paints/epoxys out there that mimic marble and stuff that you could use on your sink countertop. And I think you could trim out the builder mirror for cheap Also re-grout the tile for cheap to something not so dark-that grout is one of those colors that never looks clean and IMHO I think it makes the tiles look less so also- And as others have suggested a rug covering most of it...I liked the suggestion that someone had for painting over the wallpaper with careful prep and the Benjamin Moore site. And I liked the suggestion of grey walls with white trim and repainting the vanity black with pink knobs. And personally I always check craigslist for ideas for stuff & the oops cans at the paint store

  • 11 years ago

    Light could also help. Cannot get an idea of the fixtures. Dig out the old grout on the floor and change it to white/off-white. White wash or paint cabinet. Big bath mat on floor to take emphasis off it. And had some pictures or large painting on back wall depending on what you do about wallpaper. Figure out a eye focus point.

  • 11 years ago

    ...also, on the bath I updated, I replaced the vanity (which you may or may not do later....painting them is great...will last a LONG time if you do with oil paint...and I have used the Rustoleum metal paint with great success on light fixtures and frames...have not tried faucets) and just a suggestion...if you DO replace at a later date, I found one with NINE drawers (46 inch) and LOVE it, as it is the bath I use. Makeup etc is all contained!!!

  • 11 years ago
    I would paint the cabinet black for sure. Then strip the wallpaper and put up a black and white damask paper, change out the fixtures to brushed nickel and frame out the mirror in black. Small chandeliers are very inexpensive, check out gallery803.com. Pink is great with the black and white damask, has that old Hollywood glam! Add a big fluffy black rug and good quality towels in pink. I'd do some Chanel print artwork. You will have a statement half bath!
  • 11 years ago
    You can also check your local Habitat for Humanity; many affiliates now have a Re-Store, where they sell used but good condition fixtures for much less than hardware stores. I'm sure you could pick up a new-to-you white toilet and possibly a vanity for cheap.
  • 11 years ago

    Nothing in this bathroom coordinates well. You can cover over the tile floor with LVT flooring (Luxury Vinyl Flooring). It's click ad lock...easy to install. Paint the cabinet and get rid of that awful wallpaper. If you don't want to go to the trouble of stripping the wallpaper, think of using a paneling product such as beadboard for the lower half and paint over the wallpaper upper half and using lots of artwork to cover the painted wallpaper. I agree the brass fixtures are dated and really should go. You can try painting them; I don't know how well the products for painting metal fixtures hold up. You could get and inexpensive set to replace it. For the countertop, look into some of the alternative materials to granite and other high end tops. Look at some of the laminate products available or cultured marble. They are inexpensive and if you think conservative when picking them out could be an answer

  • 11 years ago

    shabby chic would be nice ....www.shabbychic.com


  • 11 years ago

    I think many of you don't understand. wl606 only wants to make this bathroom more attractive for a short period of time until they do a complete renovation. Paint and accessories will do it for now. Appling wall paper, new floor tile, new countertops, sinks, toilets, vanities, beadboard, etc. are NOT cheap temporary fixes. If all of the advise given were followed, they may as well do the complete reno now.

    wl606 thanked judygilpin
  • 11 years ago
    I'm a little late here but I'll toss in my two cents. Remove the wallpaper, paint walls black and ceiling teal. Its a small room, make it somewhere people smile and talk about after coming out.
  • 11 years ago
    You can often get used items that are not as dated in colour and they would have faucets with usually.
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Whatever you do, channel the 1950s. That's when pink fixtures were all the rage, and there's nothing awful or shameful about a lot of 1950s retro looks now.


  • 11 years ago

    Flamingos are often associated with birthday celebrations and while it's true that you often parade around a bathroom in your birthday suit, this is not normally the case in a powder room. Just saying ...


  • 11 years ago

    Yes, I think I'll skip the flamingo. It's got too kitchy of a reference, even if it's a beautiful print. I take photos, so I really think the artwork will be some b&ws of my gorgeous golden retrievers. Maybe with their tongues photoshopped pink. ;-)


  • 11 years ago
    Right on! If you could go buy new, u would not be asking for advice. Some of us have to wait for the things we want and work with what we have know!!
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Lowes and HD sell prefabbed laminate tops that look like granite right down to the texture. For that size it is about $40. You can get a sink an faucet for under another $60. DO NOT paint the top or sink you are wasting your time and probably still spending half of the above.


    If that is a standard size vanity you can even get a sink and top for about $100. Sometimes it is cheaper then the quick fixes.

  • 11 years ago

    Ditto to wannabath and the others who suggested you go to Lowes, HD, Jerry's, Fred Meyer's or whatever is in your area and get a new sink/counter/toilet. Or replace the counter/sink and a new toilet seat.

  • 11 years ago

    I would love to have this challenge (have had many over the years). If this were mine to work with on a little to no budget, I would cover the walls with white bead board, paint the vanity cupboards white/silver handles and then add in a cool poster, nice towels (white) and lots of silver accents ie: silver poster frame and a large silver famed mirror! PS Not a designer here just a home reno/repurpose/decor junkie. Good luck with whatever you decide, what fun!


  • 11 years ago
    What you want to do is to buy things you can reuse when you eventually do the toilet, so I'll sugestion buying open selves or open cabinet and hang on the biggest wall to cover most of it, fill it in with jars and towels , for the sink , also get jars and pretty looking bottles and arrange on the counter add a bath rug in font of the toilet and sink and you have a new space. The beauty of it is that every thing can be reused.
  • 11 years ago

    I think you've gathered some great ideas from many contributors. Many are low-cost solutions that can be gradually undertaken while others seem "angry" about the fact that these changes will cost some money. Let me repeat the original query:

    "I will eventually get around to fully remodeling this powder room, but assuming I don't replace the hideous pink sink and toilet in the near term, can you think of anything I could do to this room to make it look like I don't actually hate the sink and toilet?"

    No where does it say she is not willing to spend some money. Many of these suggestions are low cost and sensible. However for those looking for a no cost transformation, there's a simple fix. Just keep the door closed!

    wl606 thanked Lorri Baranyai