Part 2: Half bath redo

My first floor full bath converted to a half bath is almost done!  For a reminder of how it looked when we purchased the house, go here.
It's a small bathroom, so here's my best attempt at getting "after" pictures.

We bought the home as a foreclosure and the mirror was left hanging in the front foyer.  It was a shabby-sad gold-ish color which I repainted in the same color as the board and batten (Benjamin Moore Navajo White).  The brackets holding the shelf are from the local hardware store ($8 each - originally black, which I repainted in the same Navajo White) and I had the glass shelf made at the local paint and glass store  (also $8).

 

The pedestal sink, toilet and tile floor are from the previous owners.  I had a new faucet ($100 from Home Depot) and toilet level ($14 from Home Depot) put on to replace the 1980's gold ones that were on them! 

The hand towels and rolls of toilet paper are in the shelf basket.  The table is one I purchased many years ago in Upstate New York.

I LOVE this wallpaper!!  I wish I had a better camera -- the background looks light blue, but is actually a beautiful robin's egg blue color.  SOOO pretty! The board and batten was something I saw on a blog (I can't remember which one) a few years ago.  After removing the subway tiles from this bath, I knew this treatment would be the perfect replacement.  It was the first time my contractor had ever tried anything like it.  He loved it when he was finished.  I'm pretty sure he'll be offering it to other clients.  You are welcome!

The chandelier is from Lowe's.  Unfortunately, by the time I was ready to purchase, they no longer carried it:)  Gotta love Ebay!  Found it for less than the original price. Whew!

Just waiting for the Dash and Albert Sienna Rose throw rug.  It took me 2 months to decide on one.  I scoured antique stores, Etsy,  Ebay,  and a large number of Internet stores.  THIS is the one.  Finally. It's a Christmas gift from my mom.  And it's on back order....

I originally plamned to do this with all my antique hand-towels (beats leaving them in a drawer to rot!); however, after I fell in love with the wallpaper, I worry it may be too much...  Time will tell. 

Full bath to half bath redo

When we bought the house it had 4 full baths. Great, right?  Not so much for me.  I'm probably one of very few people that thought it was overkill for this house.  I just thought, with no bedrooms on the first floor, why have a full bath (with a claw foot tub, nonetheless).  Sooo,  I remade it into a half bath. I kept the other three baths as full baths, but completely remodeled them - I'll save those for another post.  

Here it was the day we purchased it:

The wallpaper is actually a Currier and Ives-type print from a book.  Each one individual. Glued on.  With liquid-nails.  Seriously.  We had to take all four walls down completely and re-drywall.  No joke.  That should've been our first sign with this house.  Anyway, after pictures coming soon:)

Where to put the laundry room?

I have SO many ideas for the old house we are buying (2 weeks until closing....)!  The biggest challenge?  Well, money of course, but that's boring!  I'd prefer to live in my unlimited-budget-fantasy-until-the-ranch-home-sells-and-reality-hits-world.  No, the real question is:  Where to put the laundry room?  The previous owners had it in what is going to be my children's bathroom on the second floor.  THAT will never work, not with my kids.... Soooo.....where to put it?  Maybe on the main floor in or by the bathroom?  Hmm.....

Maybe in the basement?

Umm, no probably not.  Too damp and far away from the bedrooms.  Not to mention, my kids will use the "I'd love to help with the laundry; however, it's waaay too creepy down there Mom!"  Or the fall back and ever popular "No, waaaay!"  Have to give that more thought..... on to the fun stuff - the decorating ideas!

 Love the idea of having a sink in the laundry room.

 Great crafting/wrapping/folding area!

We're closing in the back porch for a mud room.  Wonder if we could make it a laundry room too?

I really like this for a basement laundry room....not sure ours would work this well....

I LOVE wallpaper!  I'm going to have to use it somewhere...