How’s that for a title? Haha. We’re about 20% there with this room, but we’re sharing these pics in the name of the work-in-progress reality that is our new house. We definitely think some paint on the walls (we’re flip-flopping between soft gray and mocha) will tie things together and better integrate items like the shower curtain and the bathmat along with the sweet vintage yellow tile. And of course bringing in better art, fun window treatments (maybe a bright roman shade?), changing out the light fixture, and implementing other tweaks down the road will hopefully take it from “meh” to “how you doin’?”
The good news is that it works and it’s clean. You can brush your teeth, take a shower, and use the “facilities” without issue. And thanks to the previous owners’ meticulous housecleaning skillz, there’s not a dot of crud or mildew to be scrubbed. Anyway, enough intro. Here she blows:
That’s right, I folded the toilet paper into a little triangle like they do at hotels. Because I’m crazy.
I apologize for the lack of sweeping see-everything photos, but it’s a tiny room. You can stand in front of the sink and touch all four walls – that’s how small it is. But as for our other little additions, I added a small acrylic trash can to the left of the toilet (you can see it peeking out in that top pic) and we used one of those suction cup shower caddies to store some little sample shampoo & conditioner bottles along with body wash in the shower. We also plopped a mini tube of toothpaste in a cup above the sink.
I thought offering bar soap and liquid soap would please anyone with a strong preference either way, and we hung some “placeholder art” above the toilet (three food related wedding pics – cupcakes, grapes, and lemons – that we already had framed) just to fight the Complete Bare Wall Syndrome that was going on. We figure they’re good for a bathroom because they’re just photos that we reprinted and framed ourselves, so if they get damaged from the moisture over time, we still have the originals and can easily reprint them. Although someday we’d love to hunt down or DIY something that ties into the printed shower curtain and deep teal walls in the adjoined bedroom for a little more pop.
We don’t have much by the way of “countertop” in our tiny bathroom, but we kept the lid of the toilet tank empty so people can drop their toiletry bags there if they’d like (since our sink doesn’t have any lip to speak of). And bringing in some plush white bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths completed the mom-and-Jack-ready makeover. It may not be done but it’s definitely grandparent worthy. Haha. And at least we’re not dealing with this awkward see-your-whole-body-while-sitting-on-the-toilet issue anymore:
Three cheers for a non-reflective door in front of the John. And by John I mean both the commode and my husband. That’s right, it’s a toilet-related double entendre.
Elaine says
I vote for light grey for the walls. I think it would be lovely with the yellow tiles, but don’t think it would go with the shower curtain…
Cynda says
Woo! I just realized that you have my sink twin, complete with tiled-into-the-wall toothbrush holder (with holes too little for the fat toothbrushes they make these days) and bar soap holder! Although my bathroom was originally a bright turquoise tile that was painted white by the last owners.
(Oh, and I am jealous that you got a house whose previous owner had housecleaning skillz! 8 months later, I’m still cleaning cat hair out of weird places.)
stephanie says
I have that same soap dispenser:) This bathroom is darling as is. and can i just say…you guys totally have me sucked in…i check your blog like 5 times a day to see what you have done next:) Have fun with your guests!
Susan says
Is there a light in that shower stall? I can’t use a dark shower curtain in our master bath (or really anything other than a clear liner) and still see my legs when I want to shave. Our master bath is quite similar in color to your guest room. I have shower curtain envy now, it would go so well…
Bathroom lighting drives me batty.
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, there’s a light in the shower- and we’re so glad about it! We didn’t even realize it was there til we moved. Talk about a lucky break!
xo,
s
Connie says
Why don’t you mix cocoa and soft gray to warm up the gray a little bit, but not go too ’70s with the color scheme?
Also, to combat the no counter space, you could put a shelf above the toilet that will give guests somewhere to set their toiletries, but can also be decorative. And you could still put a cool photo or piece of artwork above the shelf to tie the 2 rooms together.
I’m so impressed by these rooms! You guys are inspiring me!
YoungHouseLove says
Good ideas one and all!
xo,
s
Katy says
Desperate call for decor help!
So we have the same yellowish tiles in our bathroom. Rewind 50+ years and here the color picker saying “let’s add taupe to the mix! And throw in a pink counter!” (first thing we replaced was the counter. Yes, pink and taupe. I wish I could add pictures to a comment.) I then visualize me going back in time and convincing them otherwise by whatever means necessary in order to protect what would be our future bathroom. It was a nightmare and it still sort of is!
With no budget to really go on we painted the trim of our big ole mirror/vanity/medicine cabinet black along with our window and door trim. I have no idea what to do for a shower curtain or wall art. I have considered Black and White art with a solid black curtain. Pale Yellow, Taupe(aka barf), black trim and the random tile pattern on the floor like your current guest bath. I’m afraid to add another color for sake of putting a person in to a coma when they walk in.
Any thoughts?
Also the layout of our bathroom is extremely similar to your old house’s bathroom, even the same tile design.
Sincerely,
Your Bathroom Cousin
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds like a job for Facebook! Why not upload a pic and people can add suggestions? We’d love to see the photo.
xo,
s
Laura S. says
This is my personal opinion on wall color: mocha or soft gray will make the room look smaller. They’re too much of a contrast to the tile color.
I’d copy the tile color as closely as possible and it should make the room seem larger and brighter.
Bob says
Glad you are conscious of the moisture effects on your bathroom art. Cheap photos are a great solution. As you said, they aren’t worth anything in and of themselves and can be switched out easily. Good solution.
I do think the towels on the door might need to go elsewhere. The loose hanging appears to take up a lot of volume making the entrance into an already small bathroom even tighter. However, it might be your only option.
Amber says
What a cute a little bathroom. Is that liquid soap dispenser from Target? I have one in blue and one in white from Target and they stopped working after a couple weeks!?! They no longer suck up the soap (even after watering it down). Bummer. Sure is pretty though. Maybe I’ll put out some bar soap as an alternative for my guest bathroom too!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, it’s from Target. We have two and they’ve worked really well for over a year. But we’ve heard a commenter mention theirs stopped working and Target switched it out for a new one that works well (it was some defect with the pump).
xo,
s
Rosie says
My brother and his wife also have wedding photos in their guest bathroom. I can’t help but feel… exposed. :)
Glad to see things are coming together.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, to clarify they’re food pics from our wedding (a shot of our white cupcakes all lined up, a shot of grapes in a big fruit platter, and a detail shot of lemons in a bowl). No beady eyes looking atcha!
xo,
s
Funnelcloud Rachel says
I had to laugh at these comments about photos of people in the bathroom because that doesn’t really bother me, but food photos in the bathroom seem rather…unappetizing! Ha!
Love the bathroom and guest room though – my guest bath and guest room are still plain (and full of junk) after 2 1/2 years – I can’t believe you whipped these together so quickly!
Annalea says
Do you have to paint the bathroom? Right now it’s so bright and cheerful . . . it nearly glows against the teal bedroom walls. Won’t a gray or brown suck all of the light out of the room? That sure makes makeup and hair and shaving a lot harder . . .
Love what you’ve done so far, though!
YoungHouseLove says
Well nobody’s holding a gun to our heads, haha. But in person it just sort of feels disconnected since the adjoining room is so bold and colorful and the bathroom is so stark. But maybe just art and accessories and a bold window treatment could do the trick. I definitely have a love of white with pops of color so you never know…
xo,
s
Erika says
I am so glad you have not destroyed that lovely vintage tile! I LOVE that color. I have tile from the 60’s, but mine is a yuck shade of mauvish brown.
I vote for a mocha color on the walls.
This tiny bathroom and the guest bedroom are two of my favorite rooms you’ve done.
Sarah says
After I saw the toilet paper picture, all I could think about was the summer I worked as a housekeeper at a five star hotel. We called it “tipping the TP” ..thought you might like to know what the “pros” call it haha
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! I now feel like a pro TP folder.
xo,
s
Laura says
I have the same tile in my new house. I didn’t love mine at first, but with my new paint color (sharkey gray) I’m loving the way it looks now! The color I painted over was very close to mocha. Those little tan specks in the tile really came out and the yellow was hidden. I’d vote for gray paint.
Karissa says
In response to the people asking about the soap pump from Target…I have owned 2 of them for over a year and they work better than any others I have ever owned! The problem with needing to pump it 5 times must be a fluke :(
Kylia West says
You should think about maybe installing a pedestal facade to add a little to the vintage feel
Emily Anderson says
I really love this bathroom. It is so charming. And are you really getting rid of that lighting fixture? I will pay you to ship it to me! I need to replace ugly hollywood lights above the mirror in our vintage pink tiled bathroom. Your new guest suite is quite impressive. Be proud!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, someday we do wanna upgrade the fixture to something a bit more “special”, but we don’t mind it in the interim at all. It could be about 500 times worse, we know that for sure!
xo,
s
Morgan G says
I can’t believe how much progress you two have made with the guests ‘quarters’. Everything looks fresh and clean. And, the traingled TP roll is a nice touch. Mints on pillows, maybe?
YoungHouseLove says
Darn, how could I forget mints?! Next time.
xo,
s
Kathy says
Love the polka dot curtains in the bedroom! And the dark teal accents in the bathroom are a great way to bring it up to speed with the bedroom color. Your guests will LOVE it ;-)
brieanne says
ha! the triangle toilet paper cracks me up. occasionally my husband does it at our apartment just to make me laugh, or will redo it at a hotel after he uses the facilities. gives me a giggle every time.
Heather @ REOlisticRenovation says
I like the shower curtain and rug together! Totally cute!
Jenise says
Not that you asked my opinion, but I think that the bathroom, which I think is so charming, would tie in better with the guestroom if you brought the brown throw back in and lost the garden pillows. Those pillows, although lovely on their own, just aren’t doing it for me in your room.
Just discovered your blog from Apartment Therapy and you all are wonderful. Thank you for the inspiration.
Jane says
pretty! I know what you mean about liking the tile. We recently bought a 1946 house and it has the same tile only in blues and grey blues. I wasnt crazy about it at first, but it has totally grown on me. My cousin ripped hers out recently (it was pink) and she said it was horrible to remove because it was held in by cement. I went with a white shower curtain because I couldnt find anything to match. Do you have a suggestion for shower curtain if you had the same tile in blues/grey blues/whites?
YoungHouseLove says
We’d probably try a white waffle shower curtain or even a soft gray one. So soothing and serene.
xo,
s
Lisa says
I’m so glad you’re sticking with the original tile for awhile. I love it’s cheerfulness. I’ve loved watching your progress all week! It’s inspiring me to get some unfinished projects tackled
Anna says
Sorry, I tried to look through all the comments to see if this has already been asked, but it’s overwhelming! Great that so many folks weigh in. My question has to do with your great towel hooks: do they actually keep the towels on? It looks like the towels would just slide off. Or do the towels have a loop? Thanks! Beautiful job with the bath and bed rooms.
YoungHouseLove says
Interestingly enough they seem to stay up easily! The part that pokes out is really long (maybe 4-5″?) so they’re not short little nubs that things slide off.
xo,
s
Kate{Starr Family} says
Its cute as pie! I do like the new shower curtain, but in the event that you swap it out for something neutral and decided to add bold on the window (like you mentioned)… there are some fun, fun fabrics at Tonic Living.com (in the rare case you haven’t heard of them yet!)
Katie says
Swank Towels! Where pray-tell did you find those luscious things?
YoungHouseLove says
We got those from Target about a year ago. They probably still sell them since they’re so basic.
xo,
s
Richelle says
Hi Sherry! Love the guest room! I can’t tell you how much I love your blog. I spent the last couple of the years sitting in a hospital room because my little “bean” (13yrs old) had cancer. I came across your blog and was “hooked” right away. :) It put a little bit of happy in my day! Thank you!!! He passed away peacefully two days after Thanksgiving this year. I am ready to do some fun projects and remember the joy in life.
Here is my question:
Where did you get your clear acrylic trash can? I’ve searched high and low and can’t find any.
Thanks! Love, Richelle
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Richelle,
I’m so sorry for your loss. We can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through, but we’re so happy to hear that we were able to add a bit of happy to your days. Hearing that made our month. As for the acrylic trash can, that was from Target a while back. Here’s hoping they still have it!
xo,
s
Abby says
Not a big fan of the shower curtain, but love the bathroom. and the great blue room. Id love to see the shower curtain white, so that the room becomes a total opposite to the bedroomand the details and subtlety of the old tile come through…. If it were my house….;)
Anna says
I like this bathroom. Its funky, but cool! I would probably go with a soft grey paint color. Its very cute, though!
Heather says
I feel so weird asking…but where’s the acrylic trash can from? I’m on the lookout for some sort of acrylic canister to hold a collection of little globes in my sons room. Still looking for one that doesn’t screen “trash can” shape though!
ps. I LOVE all the bold punches of color in the guest room! Here’s to wishing I can try and be bold in design sometimes too!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s from Target a while back. Hope they’re still there!
xo,
s
Anne says
Love it! It is perfection! I love that paint color so much I think I might incorporate it into the nursery I will soon be decorating, thank you, as always you have delivered!
Becca says
dude, mad props for the triangle on the toilet paper. Nice. :)
Tricia says
I fold the toilet paper as well. It’s the little touches they’ll remember. The room looks amazing. I’m stunned at how quickly you can get a job done. I wish my husband and I were better with tackling jobs, rather than sitting and just thinking of what we want. Love your house and all that you are doing.
Ericka says
Looks good! I also vote for gray walls. I noticed a lot of people recommending mocha/brown. I have to say that yellow and brown in the bathroom *may* remind you of something else that’s in the bathroom. :) That’s all I’m sayin’!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha. True, it might be risky.
xo,
s
Nancy F says
I really love what you have done. It’s so fresh looking. I would copy it all with one exception. Food pictures in a bathroom always seem kind of eewwwww to me. Not criticizing, that’s just my own personal weirdness! Again, love the colors, the layout, and more. I really like how you shop at so many different places and manage to pull it all together so well. I don’t think I could do that. Do you travel with swatches and such to keep it all in mind? Can’t wait to see the magic you work with the rest of the house!
YoungHouseLove says
We should travel with swatches! It would probably make it easier. We mostly just remember the undertones of things (for example, we have greens with yellow undertones going on in the headboard and the luggage rack, so we went for a greeny-yellow lamp (as opposed to a greeny-blue one).
xo,
s
kelly says
i fold the tp too!
JessP says
Sherry: My 9-yr-old does the toilet paper triangles (without being asked) when guests come over because he has seen me do that little detail so many times! You and I are not crazy, my dear. I stand by that. Enjoy your first round of company in the new digs.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love it! Teach ’em young! I’ll start showing Clara how to do it in the morning.
xo,
s
Dana Hale says
Love the shower curtain! My mom made it into table runners for our square dining table. They cross in the middle and double as place mats.
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds so sweet!
xo,
s
MelissaOklahoma says
Your guests will feel right at home! Loving the glass soap dispenser, the shower curtain, and the bedroom curtains!
Pam says
Love what you’ve done with the bathroom. Hope you haven’t changed the showerhead because that shower has the best water pressure in town. The force of the water is incredible. Love seeing the progress of my best friend’s former home. I miss it so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, the pressure with the new showerhead is still amazing- it’s just a bit shinier and has three settings to choose from. It’s such a great guest room – we got so lucky.
xo,
s
Merry says
I do that with my tp too, in my own bathroom. We are sick.
teri says
Yellow and gray is so ‘in’ right now and there are tons of beautiful fabrics beautiful shades of yellow and light grays/whites. I would go with gray, but it may not go with the bedroom color very well. Looks nice and cheery though, enjoy your visit with family!
Jeanne says
The right color paint will really make everything pop and tie it all together.
haha, I just bought that soap dispenser at Target last weekend.
I think we need a photo with the actual “guests” in the room!! :-)
Kelly says
Um, I’m sorry, but a BROWN and YELLOW bathroom? Love the site, but I’d rethink that…
Anne says
Have you ever thought about painting the tile? Or does the 80% change in the bathroom include completely new tile? I just saw on one of the TV shows that someone had all of their tile painted (has to be some super special process). I had never heard of it before. Not that you need it – but obviously you are all about improving all that you have :)
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve had our tub reglazed in the last house and really loved the outcome, but for now we’re very happy to enjoy the sweet vintage yellow tile in the spirit of working with what we have!
xo,
s
Krista of Hopeless Chest says
SO CUTE! I love all the pops of different colours. It makes it such a fun cheery room, even with the darker wall paint.
Mary Ann says
I enjoy reading your blogs and in particular, the comment section. Here’s what I don’t get: 99% of the “commenters” love what you do and the 1% that don’t like a rug, curtain, blanket or color, are somehow disdained by the 99%.I.E. “negative comment overload”, “lot of negative comments”, you guys are saints for letting the criticism roll off your backs. If the purpose of the comment section is simply to say “I LOVE EVERYTHING”, why not have a poll instead-“I love it”,”I really love it”. I think the give and take is interesting – always room to learn from others. Just saying!
Steph H says
How come at the bottom of your posts you no longer have “Like this post? Then might we suggest these:” I really miss that part. It was so great to easily get back and forth to archives, and they were always so well chosen and organized!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We still have those! Just be sure you’re clicking into the actual post – you won’t see ’em when you scroll down the home page, but when you click on the title or the comment bubble of each post you’ll see those suggested archived boxes at the bottom of the write-up (where you can also “Like this post”). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ashley says
My bedroom walls are the same yellow color of your bathroom tile. I just painted my walls today a light grayish-mocha color above the chair rail. Several people told me to leave the bottom yellow, but I’m just not daring enough. After seeing this post, I’m having remorse on painting the bottom white! I think your bathroom will look fabulous with the yellow tile and mocha/gray walls! :-)