Half-Bathroom Before and After

I detailed the half-bathroom renovation drudgery in previous posts, so now it’s time for a whole bunch of before and after photos! All of the sources are linked at the end of this post.

Before:

After:

The moulding around the door was replaced with a simple Craftman style that is more appropriate for our 1913 bungalow. I used Metrie architrave (the part above the door) plus trim from Home Depot. The vintage five panel door is what would have been in the house originally – I picked it up for $20 at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore here in Chicago.

Before:

After:

The previous tile was overly high: it crowded the window and made the room feel short. I chose the beadboard height so that it was as tall as the faucet – that way when people turn off the handles, there’s little risk of water splashing on the wallpaper.

Before:

After:

Another choice that helps make the room feel taller is continuing the wallpaper up the sloped ceiling. The Cole & Sons wallpaper is so beautiful; it looks hand-stenciled.

There’s an odd wood stump up there from a staircase beam, so I put a vintage brass duck on it because why not.

I love the new matte white hex tile from EliteTile. Porcelain mosaic tile feels perfect for a bungalow bathroom, and the black grout will be easy to keep clean.

Before:

After:

The support post bump-out fits in with the room a lot better now that the beadboard and baseboard wraps around and continues down the rest of the wall.

Before:

After:

Another big change I’m very happy with is the window trim. The window previously looked really rough – you could see the brick around the edges. Now it looks like a feature of the room, not an afterthought.

Before:

After:

Jarrod is a birder, and he’s always admiring the John James Audubon Birds of America book on display at Northwestern University, where he works. I sent him a link to Joel Oppenheimer’s Audubon listings sorted by ascending price, so we could find an entry-level piece. Jarrod selected boat-tailed grackles, and I picked up the print at Oppenheimer’s beautiful gallery in Chicago. It’s a 1856 hand-colored lithograph.

Tip: All of Audubon’s Birds of America illustrations are available for free download as very high-resolution files (10,000 pixels!) via the Audubon Society’s website.

This print is the only art I have in here; I may eventually hang something over the toilet, but for now I’m letting the wallpaper do the work. I’m keeping the windowsill simple as well with a woven tray, tissue box, and plant.

One more photo just because I like this detail!

The bathroom finishes are a mix of matte black and antique brass. The Tolson toilet paper holder from Rejuvenation matches the vanity knobs.

I reused the bathroom’s existing sink: there are very few sink options available with such a shallow depth (14″), and this one was in perfectly fine shape. It looks so much better with a new black faucet and a new vanity.

Before:

After:

I customized an IKEA SILVERAN vanity with paint, tapered legs, and brass knobs. I also reduced the depth of the vanity to fit the sink. This was one aspect of the powder room that I thought might be a total fail, but I ended up being 100% pleased with it. So, I am super glad I did not waste money on an expensive custom vanity (all of the quotes I got came in around $1k). I’ll share details of this IKEA hack in a follow-up post.

Before:

After:

I purchased the rug, tissue box cover, and antique brass bird hook when I redid our apartment bathroom. There’s actually an identical bird on eBay right now – but she’s $175 and has a candleholder on her head! Looks like my $14 bird “hook” used to be a sconce before her hat fell off.

Going back in time, here’s what the bathroom looked like when we bought the house.

Before:

Interim:

After:

The light fixture was lowered and replaced with a Schoolhouse Electric sconce. I love those faceted shades. The switches and outlet were moved next to the door, which is the logical home for them.

When we bought the house:

Interim:

After:

When we bought the house:

And now:

I love this view:

Portrait of a Lady who is Relieved this Bathroom Renovation Wasn’t a Huge Mistake:

Sources

• MOEN Kingsley Centerset 2-Handle Faucet
• IKEA SILVERAN Vanity
• EliteTile EliteTile Retro Glazed Porcelain Hex Mosaic in Matte White
• Panasonic WhisperFit EZ Retrofit Fan/Light
• Cole & Son Dialytra Wallpaper
• Rejuvenation Tolson Cabinet Knob and Toilet Paper Holder
• Rejuvenation 24″ Metal Framed Round Mirror
• Schoolhouse Electric Davis Double Sconce and Faceted Turtle Shade
• Kohler 10″ Rough-in Cimarron Toilet from Ferguson
• Rug: vintage from Humboldt House
• Container Store White Lacquered Tissue Box Cover
• Crate & Barrel Sedona Honey Vanity Tray and Waste Basket
• Pottery Barn Heathered Hydrocotton Hand Towel
• Audubon print from Joel Oppenheimer
• Door: vintage from Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Schlage Greyson Collection Bowery Privacy Lock Knob Matte Black
• Metrie True Craft Scene 5″ MDF Architrave from Evanston Lumber
• Window and door trim: Alexandria Moulding 3.5″ Primed Pine Casing
• Baseboard: Alexandria Moulding Primed Base Moulding
• Beadboard: White V-Groove Decorative Paneling from Home Depot – not listed on their website but available at the North Avenue store (thanks to Yellow Brick Home for the tip!)

Previous posts

• Bathroom Decision Making
• Half-Bathroom Renovation is Underway!
• Half-Bathroom Renovation: Days 1 through 3
• Half-Bathroom Renovation: Day 4 and Beyond