Master Bathroom Refresh

*this post is brought to you in partnership with PaintCare.

It’s been a few years that I’ve wanted to give this bathroom a refresh but finally got around to completing phase one! I started with a design plan two weeks ago, ordered all the materials and fixtures, then installed them all last week. I decided to break up this remodel into three phases, first tackling the vanities, then the flooring and bathtub, and finally the walk in shower. It was too expensive and inconvenient to loose use of the bathroom, so I’ll be redoing the rest of this space later this year.

I’ve linked to all the sources below including the paint color I used on the cabinets. Take a look at the dramatic difference I made in just a week!

Here’s a peek at what the right side sink vanities looked like before the changes. Swapping out the faucets, light fixtures, mirrors, and cabinet hardware made a huge difference!.

The old backsplash was replaced by a new vertical stack bond white tile from counter to ceiling which freshens the space. I also removed the decorative half legs on the vanity cabinet before priming and painting them deep green.

I went back and forth on replacing the vanity cabinets because they’re really good quality. I considered replacing the doors with a Shaker style, but then decided to simply paint them a beautiful shade of deep green and replace the old hardware. The home’s style is traditional so the raised routed panel design of the drawers and doors fits this home, and the new pulls help update the look.

Painting the walls and the cabinets required two kinds and colors of paint. The walls are painted with interior white and the cabinets with a waterborne alkyd paint, which is designed for trim and cabinets. Calculating how much paint you need can be challenging, thankfully there’s a comprehensive list of paint calculators by brand you can use to get the amount right. Thanks so much to PaintCare for creating a very helpful list!

I proudly partnered with PaintCare to bring this project to life! PaintCare is a non-profit that plans and operates industry-led paint recycling programs in states that pass paint stewardship laws. Their environmentally friendly program helps renovators, consumers, and businesses with paint management when their projects are final and complete.

Below is an image of what the left side looked like before I made all the changes. Those tall glass cabinets provided storage but they were so bulky and old fashioned and they blocked light to the mirror so I swapped them out for the floating shelves. I also have plans to add a modern wall cabinet like this one to the side wall to replace the storage I lost.

I chose a deep green and bright white palette because I wanted the bathroom to feel fresh and modern but also zen too! The tile, shelves, and plants give it a far lighter and more airy feel. I covered the blah tile (that I plan to replace) with a new washable rug.

The glossy white open shelves pair nicely with the glossy white tile. These shelves have sturdy brackets that were anchored with sheetrock screws to give them the greatest stability, then we cut the tile to go around the brackets.

I’ve always liked white tile in bathrooms, and you really can’t go wrong with any pattern of installation. I chose a simple vertical stack bond to elongate the space and I’ll repeat this pattern in the bathtub alcove. I followed the same steps I did a few years ago installing this backsplash using tile adhesive, 1/8” spacers, and grout.

I’ve written about the process for painting bathroom cabinets before so that you get the smoothest finish possible. The steps are the same! I use a deglosser to remove any dirt and grime, this product also acts as a sander too. Next, I spray paint the doors and drawer fronts with spray primer.

I brush prime the cabinet frames with a high quality brush, then add three super thin coats of paint to the surface. The thin coats are the key to ensuring a smooth coat on drawers and doors! Also these painting pyramids are essential, they prop up the doors so you can avoid drips along the sides of the cabinet doors.

Painting these bathroom cabinets and walls was a fun and fulfilling project, but cleaning up can be a chore. PaintCare makes it easy and convenient to recycle leftover paint! Visit PaintCare.org to find the nearest drop-off site to recycle your leftover paint from your home improvement projects.