Bathroom Decorating Ideas
Paint your vanity!
My projects take on average about 50.34323 times longer than other blogger’s projects do to complete. This is now a scientific fact. I almost called this post DIMS: Powder Room Vanity Before & After. DIMS would stand for “Did It My Self” instead of DIY. (OK, that DIMS thing sounded funnier earlier to me for some reason and now that I am about to post it, I don’t even get it. DIMS? Whatever. Nevermind). I just have to fit these projects in around all the other things I do, or it will never get done! And yay! I fit it in because friends came over to help me!
I am always happy to report my progress because it just makes me feel like I am in fact heading somewhere with my house, even if I meander around like a crazed snail. So today I present to you a piece of the powder room project: the vanity BEFORE.
Remember, I am not a wood hater. I love beautiful wood. But I am an ugly faux wood hater. There is definitely a distinction there.
This wood cabinet was, in fact, an impostor — it was simply faux painted wood. Which means I was released from all guilt or blame and could wreck it all up with paint to my heart’s content. Not sure what it is actually made of … maybe a laminate over particle board or something (but it feels very solid and not fake). But, you’d never know it wasn’t really wood now! It has been born again….it has new life as an old antique wood cabinet turned vanity.
It was easy peasy to change!
It is hard to show pictures of this because the powder room is so dark and has no windows! I am feeling pretty brave to show you my close ups because you can see the paint drips and so not amazing antiquing job (that I am going to paint over with one final coat of paint).
My imperfect painting also goes to show you can let go of perfection if you allow yourself a little shabby chic! It is the perfect style for imperfect painters like me. You could embellish a plain cabinet, by the way, by getting some of those fancy flourish things at the hardware store. This was already a highly embellished fake carved cabinet so I didn’t have to do much at all.
A coat of Zinsser water based primer will stick to anything, no sanding was required. SCORE! Love no sanding.
And a quick coat of white paint (and a final coat which I will do later this week) and you have your reborn cabinet.
I was envisioning a new green glass knob which would have been very pretty and appropriate, but then we remembered we already had this checkered Anthropologie knob sitting around and decided it would be fun, quirky and unexpected. And free.
Here is another angle…cause all the cool bloggers show you every possible angle of the same thing. I almost took one at an extreme sideways angle so you could get the full blogger “after” effect (it always makes your project look way better than it is if you have that angle, doesn’t it? I kid!!) but those kind of make me seasick.
More updates to come on this tiny bathroom cosmetic makeover! One step at a time!
I heart you for coming by to see my little project! HEART.
I’m sharing this DIY post with DIY day at Kimba‘s.
Twitter: missmustardseed
says:
The vanity cabinet looks lovely in the white. It looks custom and chic. It was well worth the extra time.
.-= Miss Mustard Seed´s last blog ..A Rocker & A Caddy =-.
I heart you no matter what – DIY project or not!
It turned out awesome!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Too Busy for Strawberry Shortcake? No Way! =-.
I love it Melissa!!!! It is gorgeous!
xo,
Kim
Melissa so sweet! Love it. It makes me want to change my brown one to white. =)
Sweet idea
I love everything, except for the knob. Go out and get that green glass one!
Love it. I am getting ready to redo my bath — I also want to go lighter with my cabinets. Awesome job!
XOOX
Jen
Love it!!
OMG! That came out fantastically beautiful! J’adore.
I saw that black and white checked knob and knew right away it was from Anthro before I even read your post. I think that means I go into Anthropologie a little too often.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Make a Compost Bin Out of a Plastic Storage Tub =-.
I know what you mean about a GOOD piece of wood. I have a few of those pieces. But I never feel bad to paint up an old beat up piece, and just cheer you on for slappin that white all over anything that is faux painted wood. it looks fabulous!
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That sink – WOW it’s gorgeous!
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Melissa, I adore your half bath, especially your white cabinet and the mix of wood tones on the floor. My husband and I would like to change the floor in our master bath but we’re having a hard time deciding between tile(chilly for my feet) and laminate. I would love more info about your floors if you have time. We also like the wood-look tile, but not sure if that’s going to be affordable.
I believe they are Mohawk natural hickory floors, I got a sample from Lowe’s that looks exactly like them! Hope that helps!
Hi Melissa
I love the powder room can you share with me the color name and the brand. I LOVE the color. Soo this weekend I printed your photo. Went into our powder room and strip all the wallpaper what a job that was. We move into our house 1 yr ago and now its time to claim this house and make it our home. I LOVE your ideas!! Excellent choices!!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for sharing!
The walls are Snail shell by Martha Stewart!
Thanks Melissa
Strip the U G L Y wallpaper!
Painted
Hardwood is going down in the morning! Yes & hubby agrees to angle the wood and we have move out into the mudroom……….started with redoing the shelves than the closet the mudroom was painted he thought he could keep the design BUT…once he saw what it looked like with the shelves newly painted he agree with new color and today the closet was taken apart & yup you guess it NEW PAINT COLOR!! What a week its been!! WOW lots of late nights but in the morning we will have new floors!! Oh I can’t wait!
Thanks again!
PS we painted doors & trim poor hubby is a dish rag snoring in the chair while I am braging him up!