For some time now, I’ve been patiently waiting for the main bathroom to be remodeled. It’s a smaller bathroom with a walk-in shower and a vanity fit for a powder room. Since my home serves double duty as our living space and as the design studio for Emmahlyn Living, I wanted to invest extra attention to the details, especially if customers would utilize it during my in-person floral workshops.
With my budget in mind, I decided to keep the original footprint, which thankfully saved me financially. That left me to replace all the cosmetic details, which included the following items:
- Bathroom tile
- Porcelain tub (converting from a walk-in shower to a tub)
- Shower set hardware
- Flooring
- Vanity with faucet
- Backsplash behind vanity
- Mirror
- All lighting – sconces and flushmount
- Exhaust fan
- Cabinet knobs
- Baseboards
- Drywall in needed areas
- Shower Rod & Curtain
As of today, the contractor is continuing on the tile work and I couldn’t be happier. I love seeing the details come to life and it fuels me to make the final decisions with the “jewelry” in the space (a.k.a hardware and lighting). Hopefully in a few short weeks, the bathroom will be complete and ready for a reveal.
Embarking on a remodel (small or large) can be quite overwhelming, with many details to work through. However, with a thoughtful plan and some design advice from yours truly, it can help make the process run smoother and be a pleasant experience all around.
Determine your Budget
When decorating any space, you want to first and foremost determine your budget, with the understanding that you may exceed that amount, in the event of unexpected repairs, additional materials needed, etc. Get the quote of a general contractor if possible and see if there are any parts of the project that you can do yourself, which will further save you money. For example, you may want to do the painting yourself.
Choose your Top Priorities
What is the most important part of the bathroom you’d like to upgrade? Is it the bathroom tile, the flooring or perhaps it’s adding the details that bring personality to the room, such as wallpaper or trimwork. Whatever they may be, put them in order from the most important to the least, and arrange your spending according to this list. This is a great visual to keep you on track and can help you from overspending on the project.
For my remodel, having marble tiles was always a dream of mine, so I ensured that a good part of the budget was set aside for marble in the shower and flooring. Lighting came second, so I searched high and low for gold sconces and a flushmount lighting fixture at an average price point to compliment the space.
Make Design Choices based on your Lifestyle
With the huge amount of inspiration at our fingertips from Pinterest and in catalogs from our favorite home stores, it can be confusing about which design choices to make. Will everything go together? Is it a good decision to go with these tiles? The best way to tackle this, is to think about your current lifestyle and what your preferences are in this space. If you are looking for more storage, search for a vanity with drawers. If you have a family with little one’s, consider ceramic or porcelain tiles for the shower and flooring. If there is a material that you love and don’t think it will fit well with your lifestyle, you can still use it, but possibly in a smaller dose.
When in Doubt, check out the Details in Person
I will admit that although I can image the details of the room in my mind, there’s nothing better than going in person to see your design ideas up close and personal. The colors and perception of an item in photos and online can be different, so if you have the opportunity to see the item or similar in person, I say it’s worth the trip … especially if the item is on the pricier side.
If ordering online is your only route, look at the reviews and photos posted by customers. This can give you a better idea on the quality and size/scale of an item.
Consider Production Time
If you are going custom, it can take weeks to months to receive them. With the pandemic, certain materials are also scarce and can also delay the process, including paint. So, please keep that in mind when you’re thinking about your time frame. You might need to compromise on some of the details. Consider different brands or check out your local hardware stores, such as: Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Floor & Decor, who have a good amount of in stock items and supplies.
Just know that any design choice that you make is the right one, if it makes you happy! It’s okay to change your mind from your initial thoughts, since remodeling can involve a good amount of compromising. I included my final design plan above, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the end result looked a little different in the end.
Please let me know if you have any design questions and I’d be happy to help. Best wishes to everyone who is thinking about or working on a home project of their own. I’m sure it’s going to turn out amazing! Until we chat again …