We wish we had a giant bathroom update to share, but we’re at that phase of the project where some of the bigger things have been checked off (building a shelf, painting the walls) and a few little mid-point upgrades are on the agenda since we’ve been flying around a lot lately (10 flights in 11 days!!). But now that we’re back home, the next bathroom installment will be bigger (either framing out the mirror and making a shade from some amazingly bold fabric that I’m obsessed with) so hopefully this tides you guys over. And since I hate to mention “amazingly bold fabric that I’m obsessed with” without showing it to you… behold:
Remember it from back here? I snatched it up for $16 a yard at Mary Jos (it’s called Ubud by Iman Home/Waverly and it can sell for up to $27 in other places). I think it’s going to be the perfect punch-in-the-face-of-color that the mostly white (and slightly plummy-gray) bathroom needs. But since that has yet to jump off the counter and make itself into a window shade (boo inanimate fabric!) while we hit up seven cities in the past week, I’ll get back to the completed updates at hand. The first one is new knobs… because these country looking painted wood ones just weren’t doing it for us…
These new guys hail from Hobby Lobby and were just $2.49 thanks to a 50% off knob sale. Quick tip:never buy anything there that’s not 50% off there since the sales just seem to alternate by a week- so if the item you want isn’t on sale, wait a week and try again.
I love that they’re irregular, sort of like green jade or even some sort of dyed bone. And the gem-like shape is faceted and pretty without being too long and pointy (the counter’s edge extends nearly the same distance as the knobs – and they’re about the same depth as the previous white painted wood ones – so there are no worries of knocking knees).
I love how they mimic the little pops of dark tone in the floor tile and carry them up to the vanity. And I totally want to get one more for the false drawer over the sink – they just didn’t have anymore the day I picked them up, so I’ll have to check again the next time we’re there.
We’ve been asked by more than a few folks if we’re thinking about painting the vanity a darker color (charcoal, black, etc) and we’re definitely thinking about it but not 100% sold yet, so we’re waiting for more of the room to come together (we’ll revisit the possibility after we add the shade, frame out the mirror, etc). Our reason for not immediately painting the vanity darker (which we think could look awesome with the dark tile that we’re working with) is because the room is smaller than it looks in photos, so we like how the white wall tile, vanity, and tub all feel balanced and light- and we worry that one dark object on one side of the room might feel side-heavy and cramped). But either way, we’ll just wait it out and see where we end up. You know we’ll keep you posted!
Oh and in keeping it real news, guess who popped up when I was shooting the pic above? #Clarabomb
The other upgrade we squeezed in there between all of our flights and marathon Clara and Burger smooching when we were reunited (yeah, we overdid it but we couldn’t help ourselves) was that we frosted the window. Buh-bye old paper-ish accordion shade (which we always had to keep closed to maintain privacy since this room can be viewed from the deck)…
… and hello modern frosted window that’s crisp and private (even with the lights on in the bathroom on a dark night you can’t see anything from the deck except for vague shadows – nothing graphic at all). Here I am in my pajama pants getting my frost on. #morekeepingitreal
As for how we applied it, we took the process pic above, but this post and this post have the best specific instructions for applying it, so hopefully those help. And since we’ve never posted a video, here’s that for ya below – or you can watch it on YouTube. We thought maybe seeing it “in 3-D” (well not really but you know what I mean) might help:
So that’s where we are. Don’t mind that brassy old knob. Haha. Just added that to the list!
Speaking of the hall bathroom list, here it is:
rehang a shower curtain at ceiling height
trim out the unbalanced window(more on that here)switch out the light fixture(more on that here)add some meaningful art(more on that here)build in a shelf over the toilet for some leaning art(more on that here)paint the walls a fresher color to help the original tile pop(more on that here)upgrade the vanity hardwarefrost the window- frame out the mirror over the vanity for a less builder-basic look
- ORB/upgrade that brassy gold doorknob
- make a bold fabric shade for the window
- possibly paint the vanity (we’re still mulling it over – but we promise we’ll keep you posted)
- add finishing touches/accessories and dish out a budget breakdown for you guys
Can’t wait to cross more off! And in the meantime let’s circle back to my fabric obsession. Doesn’t it look great with the new knobs and the fish canvas? #everybathroomneedsafishcanvas
What were you guys up to this weekend? Any small mid-point upgrades or bigger fun ones that made all the difference? It’s so funny how sometimes giant things like hanging curtains or painting the walls can make for a giant change and sometimes it really is the details (like hardware) that finally make a room feel special, like it’s all yours.
Psst- We’re finally sharing Clara’s hidden talent with the world over on Young House Life. Does Name That Tune have a toddler edition?
Stacy says
This weekend we bagged about 1.1 million leaves. I was also able to get the man to put up some shelves for my shoes! I’m in love!!!! With the man & the shoe shelves. Hehehe. We were supposed to ahve our pics taken for our Christmas cards, but we haven’t really picked out a perfect spot yet. Debating places around town like the rocks on the James River or Tredegar. I’d really like to have some body of water in the background. Wish us luck! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of luck!
xo
s
Sally says
Did you get a rain check for the remaining knob? You can also special order anything they carry. Sometimes when the next shipment comes in the color is a little bit different. Next time when you need more than they have in stock just special order (you will get the sale price) the exact amount you need. Then you will know for sure they will be the same shade of color.
YoungHouseLove says
Snatched it up today! Wahoo!!
xo
s
Heather @ What Does She Do All Day? says
I have the opposite problem of you. I have an oak vanity in the half bath and I’m thinking of painting it white. It’s an interior room with no windows and wood floors, so I’m hoping a light vanity will allow me to put a little bit of color on the walls without feeling like you’re in a closet.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, that’ll be awesome! Good luck!
xo
Samantha says
For those who, like me, shudder at the idea of installing window film. (possibly scarred from past experience) A great cheap alternative is a foam roller and small jar of Matte Medium. You can find it in the painting section of any craft/hobby store (I picked up mine at Hobby Lobby) and it rolls or sponges on really easily for a nice textured frosted look. Just as effective, easy to apply, and easily removed with a razor blade.
It’s how I treated the bathroom windows at our “new” house and 3 years in I still love it.
Lacey Vander Plaats says
Ok, maybe you answereed this already but how do you get the frosting off. A couple months back we attempted it and we ended up with a tear and instead of removing the sheet and starting over we left it to. Everyday I look at it and it drives me crazy. Any suggestions? I would like to redo it.
YoungHouseLove says
If you spray it down the with wetting film (or maybe just with soapy water) you should be able to peel it off. You might have some sticky stuff on the window but you can scrub that off with a straight razor.
xo
s
Kim says
I need someone’s opinion – I was planning on frosting my bathroom windows that also have mullions, but they’re actually on the outside of the window (just for the grid appearance I suppose). So the inside of the window is a piece of solid glass. When frosting, would you still make 4 separate sqaures so you can see the mullions or would you just frost the solid pane as one piece even though you’ll probably see the shadow of the mullions?
YoungHouseLove says
I would definitely frost the whole pane! The mullions will show through! We did that for our master bathroom (it had the mullions inside the pane but they showed through and it was easier with one piece of frosting film to apply!).
xo
s
Joanna says
have you ever tried removing the frosting, or do you know if it would come off cleanly? i just bought an ikea bookshelf with glass doors to use as a pantry in my kitchen (it matched the cabinets close enough until we gut the kitchen). I was considering frosting the doors so you don’t see all of our food, but i may want to actually use it as a bookshelf some day.
YoungHouseLove says
We hear it’s removable by spraying it down with the solution you use to apply it and peeling it at the corners. Might leave some sticky stuff behind on the glass, but Goo Gone or a straight razor should get it off! It just sits in front/on top of the glass, so it shouldn’t damage it!
xo
s
Jess Kamal says
A much easier way of frosting windows is using matte spray varnish. I’ve been using it for years & it works great! I used it on our front door that was all glass – I placed blue painters tape horizontally so we’d have different widths of frost & clear glass. Then I just sprayed back & forth 3-4 light coats of the matte spray varnish & I was done. Tip: get a “trigger” attachment for spray paint cans. It makes for easier & more even spraying. I’ve even frosted a huge picture window that was inside the master shower of our previous home for privacy. It faced the rear garden to the pool! What were they thinking? I frosted the outside part of the window & it weathered very well!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! I always worry spray could be uneven. You don’t have that issue?
xo,
s
Erica Key says
Got your book for Christmas and am hooked on the blog now too! Loved this tutorial. We frosted the window in our shower with the spray and its held up poorly. Is the film waterproof as well as “burn me hot” proof? :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, it seems to hold up to hot and cold and steam and all that good stuff. So glad you got our book for Christmas :)
xo
s
Peggy says
I vote for not painting the vanity. Looks great! And I will add some of these things when I move into my new place. Thanks!
Julie says
I *love* the fabric and have a sample sitting in my office. I’m trying to decide on a paint color. I found your site while searching for pics of the fabric! Beautiful site! Do you have the valance yet? I would love to see pics!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, here it is for you: https://www.younghouselove.com/2012/11/pink-orange-for-da-bean/
xo
s
Julie says
I found the pics! Love it!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad!
xo
s
Karen says
I love those knobs. I watched your video on frosting a window and loved it. I have (had) a kitchen window, I called the STALKER WINDOW that desperately needed to be frosted also. I was going to try the film but then I remembered there is a spray paint that does the same thing. So I gave it a try…and wow it was EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY!! I just posted it on my blog. They turned out AMAZING! Thanks for the inspiration!! Problem fixed.