The infamous " to paint or not to paint"? 2 part question.

11 years ago

Hoping some houzzers can help me out. I recently retiled the shower in the main bathroom. The colors in the shower tie into the colors in the guest room which adjoins said bathroom. We recently gutted our master so there wasn't a lot of $$ left in the budget for this room. I'm going to paint the walls a very light sea green (think sea salt) color. For now the countertop and sink need to stay. I wanted to know if I should paint the wood vanity off white to match the mirror ( came from my old house). The other thing I'm thinking of doing is tearing out the deep tower on the countertop, to the right. It makes the room look even smaller. It's great storage, but a pain, every time you open the door it knocks stuff off the counter. Thanks for any ideas, love Houzz!!

Featured Answer

PRO

Design Intervention

11 years ago

By all means do get rid of the tower counter. It makes for awkward counter arrangement. Since you have nice white tiles in your tub, the white theme is already present so white cabinets would be great. The bathroom will have a much more spacious appearance. You have great ideas. Follow your gut!

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Comments (10)

PRO
Joyce Yin Architect
11 years ago
I'm with you on taking out the cabinet above the countertop. You can add back white floating shelves, larger mirror, or hang a couple small pictures. I'd also go ahead and paint the vanity white. Not necessary, but I like the idea.
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PRO
Design Intervention
11 years ago
One more idea.....for very little cost (because the area is so small) would be to add an interesting glass mosaic backsplash. It would truly give this bathroom big "wow" appeal.

I've attached a photo of a bathroom I did recently in one of my projects that has a great backsplash. You can get the sense of how much bang for the buck that small detail added to the bathroom.
Bathroom Remodel · More Info
sharlowm
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Kirk, love that idea, could tie in some of the sea green tiles in shower with some other colors. Question tho-if I tile now and then rip out laminate counter when I have the budget to replace counter, sink and faucet, won't it mess up tile job? Maybe that should be phase 2 instead of doing now? Thx for idea!
Miranda Rose
11 years ago
I like to tower for towel storage. Mostly I don't like them but you have such clean lines it works! You could always make the shelves with rolled towels for a more spa like feel as well. I would paint the walls white and the vanity that great sea green color you were talking about. It will add more personality to the room.
PRO
Design Intervention
11 years ago
Yes, you are correct it would mess up the backsplash. Save for phase2.

Best of luck with your project! You are under way!
Gloria H.
11 years ago
That looks like a custom tower. Storage is hard to come by. I would keep the tower. Who knows what your counter top looks like when it take it off. Change your hardware. Keep the mirror and paint it to match your new hardware (i.e., if you change to oil rub bronze paint the mirror trim similar in color, silver hardware, paint the mirror trim silver). Or go to Home Goods and purchase an inexpensive mirror. They have really nice ones with a budget in mind. Quick, inexpensive solution.
PRO
Steveworks LLC
11 years ago
I'm going to split the difference on this. Remove the door to the cab and store stuff in the cab that's looks nice, maybe towels or some nice opaque glass jars that you can put stuff in. Save the door just in case

Another thing I often do is to cut into the wall space between the studs if possible and make the 3 1/2 deep storage, or you can extend the cab a bit and make it deeper. Reuse the doors. A good carpenter can do this for you. Again something we do for our clients often.

Good luck
sharlowm
Original Author
11 years ago
update: I painted the cabinets pure white using Annie Sloan chalk paint. for now am keeping the custom storage tower but as soon as I have the budget to replace countertop and faucets it's going. I'd rather have a nice cabinet on the wall over the toilet. ps I was not in love with Annie Sloan paint! after all the hype was disappointed. lots of work, 3 coats plus clear wax. in my last house I painted a vanity with regular semi gloss paint and it looked better with less effort.
Brandi Nash Hicks
11 years ago
Annie Sloan is the easiest way and no prep ,won't peel of,but it does have a distressed feel to it no matter how you use it,I have never had to use three coats though...