Bathroom Remodel: Phase 1
Image via Sophie Carpenter
You may have seen bits & pieces of my initial thoughts to remodel our bathroom on Instagram. Since then we’ve solidified our plan a lot more. We’ve talked about remodeling our bathroom for like 3 years! When I found the image above of Sophie Carpenter’s bathroom, I knew immediately the black tile floor was that ish I was looking for. It was also one of the few photos with a small floor plan in the same layout as our bath. It made me feel like, “We can totally turn our ugly bath into something beautiful. It does exist!”
A box of mermaid matches is our inspiration. I found these in Frankfort, Michigan.
Moon Lodge Bathroom Remodel
Deadline
April 2020
Phases
Design plan
Budget & materials
Schedule installs
Final touches
Inspiration
Mermaid matchbox from Northern Michigan
Phase 1: Design Plan
After a few weeks observing how we use our bathroom, taking measurements, & some initial research, the vibe has been set! The Scandinavian trend of clean lines, light elements, & minimalism is my starting point due to our small floor plan. It’s only 35 square feet (7’ L x 5’ W). I want our bath to feel warm & relaxing. It also needs to be durable — our little cottage tracks in a lot of sand, snow, dirt, bonfire smell, you name it. I focused on materials that will handle our messy lifestyle instead of trying to tame our mess.
Capiz Seashell Mirror via Hayneedle
Natural Textures
Textures like walnut, matte glaze, and seashell inspirations will mix to create warm layers. I want a walnut wall-hung cabinet with an under-mount sink. The floor tiles will be hexagon-shaped in a matte black glaze with subtle seashell influences throughout the space. Often a bath is decorated with water motifs but I want to push past that. I won’t be putting literal seashells everywhere but will focus on textural influences.
I’m surprised I’m leaning towards a traditional walnut stain vs. lighter wood tones that are popular right now. We have warmer wood floors throughout the house so the walnut will complement the rest of the house.
The hexagon floor tiles will be the star of the show and that’s the perfect amount with limited square footage.
Image via Pinterest
Shower & Tub
The shower & tub take up 1/3 of the space so it’s important we update this right. We went back & forth on just doing a standing shower to create more storage space or to keep the tub. We ultimately decided to get a new tub, remove cumbersome-to-clean glass panels, and update shower fixtures. Our bigger goal is to rent out the Moon Lodge to vacationers someday. When traveling, I love the little touches of luxury that allow me to unwind & relax. So, there was our answer.
I haven’t selected shower tiles yet. I know that I don’t want white subway tiles. However, I like the simplicity of rectangular tiles placed vertically. Whatever I choose they need to be at a great price point (lot of square footage to cover) and in a warm-toned, imperfect glaze. My dream would be to have zellige tile as we saw everywhere in Morocco but it isn’t in the budget (I’m still searching for a steal!).
Delta Tub & Shower Faucet via Home Depot
Fixtures
I LOVE this champagne bronze faucet from Delta but I’m going to play it safe — & budget-friendly — with the shower & sink faucets in matte black. It also matches other finishes throughout our space. I still want brass or bronze to warm up the space though, especially with the dark floors & one window. I want the vanity light in brass or bronze, which will match our brass-rimmed light in the adjacent hallway. Love when solutions click into place like that!
Walls
We know we’re going to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls but I haven’t decided if I want wainscoting or not. Pros would be: cabin vibes big time, can make a wider ledge the length of the wall for shelf storage, & less maintenance in the long run (?). Cons: Is the space too small to fit another texture layer? At 5’ wide, the width doesn’t have much wiggle room & I wonder if it will feel too cramped. I also really want to do moody, deep green walls but. However, with dark floors, finishes, & cabinet I think it could feel too small. Or it could feel super luxurious & comfy. I’m torn! There’s time to work through this as we go.
Palette
The palette is deep greens, mint, & nude tones. I’m trying to consider how all of these elements will be throughout the seasons. My first mood board for the bath was this Summer. It was an explosion of soft, sandy neutrals. The last time I painted the bathroom was a few winters ago. I chose a light blue because of a Robert Frost book cover I loved. Basically, I change my mind a lot. So I want to make sure my decisions have longevity since this is an overhaul. Paint color is easy to change.
Sarah Sherman Samuel puts monstera plants in the bathroom because they love humidity. I love how large Monstera are & their leaf shape so I plan to squeeze one in near the chimney (yes, our chimney is in the bathroom!) or the toilet.
Next Steps
There might be a few changes from this but I’m set on direction now. We’re 25% of the way there. The floor tiles will be on order early next week. I’m going to participate in Black Friday/Cyber Monday this year to scour deals on the larger items we’ll need.
After chatting with my dad & father-in-law, we’re going to gut the room to the studs & start fresh. We have a lot of updates we’re excited to make like dimmable lights in the shower & a heater for when you step out of the shower.
My Mom & Dad remodeled their bathroom so they’re familiar with the process. My dad & I are similar in our approach to projects. We’ve started planning electrical adds, tile work, & the install schedule. My father-in-law has built houses his entire life. He helps us with a lot of projects, including this one. It’s a family affair!
I didn’t show any Before pictures this time because it’s still so early in planning but maybe I’ll do some overlays to start filling in things we know? I’ll check-in here if you have any questions. Just ask! You can also ask in the comments & I’ll respond.
I’m excited to take you with us through this process as we go – I learn so much from following renovators; all the good, bad, & ugly! Hopefully this can help or inspire you if you’re planning a small bath reno soon.
