Art Deco Bathroom Remodel
My home was built in 1972, it’s unique and big and has many original features. The previous owners (the couple that built the house) remodeled some things here and there. Unfortunately, unique and original also means carpet in the bathrooms, closed-off rooms, and lots of problems from systems that are 50+ years old.
We have a bunch of kids and busy lives, and our home is often used as a gathering place for extended family. Even if the budget wasn’t a consideration, remodeling everything would not be possible. So I am tackling things as they present themselves, when budgeting allows, AND when I have a solid vision for what I want to create. That is a lot of things that need to align to embark on any venture.
This small half-bathroom had been untouched for 50 years. It had the original builder’s bathroom cabinet, laminate countertops, and horrendous carpet. I have all boys, so even though the carpet was reasonably pristine when we moved, it was atrocious after being here for four years. Then, the sewer backed up while I was out of town. It was just the inspiration I needed!
The bathroom had unique pink snakeskin textured wallpaper! When we moved in, I vowed to keep it forever. However, the water caused mold and ruined a large portion of it on the back wall. I set out to recreate the Art Deco vibe and wanted to find similar wallpaper. However, I went down a rabbit hole of wallpaper options. There are so many great varieties, textures, patterns, and colors. I kept being pulled to darker colors. I found a company on Etsy, Xwallcolors, and wanted every design! They offer a sample batch, and I highly recommend spending the money on samples when buying online. The wallpaper for this small space was just over $1000; the coloring and texture on the one I thought I wanted differed when I got the sample. I hate returning things, especially when buying online. Thankfully, at only $7 a sample, I had ordered several. The company also sends different textures and material options. I had requested 4, and it was tough to choose from the three I got just in case. Each one had a completely different vibe.
I scoured Pinterest for ideas. I am not a design queen, but tons are out there. I wanted to keep the Art Deco flare, so I searched for Art Deco bathrooms. As much as I loved the pink snakeskin, every bathroom I loved was deep blues, black and gold, or emerald green. I changed the direction and leaned in hard.
With the wallpaper picked, I headed for the tile. There wasn’t a considerable thought process besides Art Deco and something with a wow factor. The space is so tiny that the wallpaper and tile needed were minimal. I could spend a little more on something that made a huge statement and then add touches to the space as the budget allowed.
Renovations can be intimidating; it feels like everything has to be redone to count. But this bathroom took months, from the start to when I finally found the glass for the shelves. However, the initial wallpaper, painting, cabinet, and tile only took a few days. Once I found the right pieces, changing out the faucet and light fixtures was easy. Then, as I came across finishing touches, I would add them. It is okay if everything does look perfect right away. And it is better on your budget if you don’t rush to buy everything, even though you don’t love something. Chances are that you will end up dissatisfied with that piece, but it will make it feel like you don’t like the whole transformation. Then, you will end up redoing it later.
I encourage everyone to take their time, save the budget for those elements that make the most impact, and enjoy the pieces you fill your home with. I’ll share more about the finishes in part 2.