I really had to laugh when someone left me the comment about how effortlessly my makeovers are and how easy I make it look. Well, maybe I only show you the good stuff, but it is never easy and I have had more than my share of fails. One that really comes to mind is my Hall Bathroom Makeover from my previous home. I thought it would be fun for you to see how things really don’t always go so easy.
(2015)
Ok, I am still struggling with this hall bathroom. How can one simple little bathroom be such a pain. First off, the first coat of white didn’t cover the gold color that was on the walls, so I needed to do a second coat. Off to the store for a gallon of paint (which by the way is really expensive anymore). I bought the same white that I have been using in the rest of the house – SW Reliable White. Painted it the second time and it looked pink, even changing the light bulbs it was pink. Not a good thing, so back to find a different color. This time we matched the white to the white background color of the black and white fabric I wanted to use. Another day of painting and the room was a yellow/green color. Not pretty. Back for the next go around to the paint store. I took a piece of molding that I had and had them match the color. Now my room is white, but boy is it white. (really, really white). Actually it is really a nice white, I am just not use to such a white room. Now this is 4 days of painting this bathroom 4 times. Ughhh!!!!!!
Here is what the bathroom looked like before I started this project. I wanted it to have a cleaner less fussy vibe, so time for a change.
Oh, to backtrack a minute. Remember I wanted to use this stencil in here on one wall – –
Hall Bathroom Inspiration Board
I did a sample since my walls are so heavily textured and this is what it looks like
not going to work at all, so no stencil. We have what is called a “knock down” finish on our walls that the builder always uses, so this is not a good thing to try and stencil over.
You can see the texture on the left side of this picture in our master bedroom closet. My dabs of black that I did in the closet for a “dot-dash” look worked fine since it is such a random thing. A regular all over pattern just isn’t going to work.
With that all said, back to the issue at hand. I have been looking at tons of different fabric combinations and I can’t seem to get a handle on anything. The black and white doesn’t look white, it looks sort of yellow/green in here.
The brown and white fabric does show up as white, just not necessarily my favorite. The gold that I had in here works, and so does the black and white check laying on the tub, I just don’t think either is what I am wanting to go with.
The antique gold frame on the floor looks muddy on the wall, the shiny gold like the frame laying on the counter looks better. This art isn’t staying, I am just testing finishes.
Ok, I couldn’t tell anything with so many distractions and such a mess, so I cleaned everything up and sewed a few quick seams on this Ikat fabric that I had. This could work, but again what in the world do I do about art for the walls, and is this stunning or just so-so. I thought I wanted to go with brown and white or black and white, but neither one looks right.
I do like the white crystal tassel that I found in my stash.
I still haven’t found a mirror I really like at a price I am willing to pay, so for now I put the old one back up. Ok, just not a wow factor. The mirror’s only saving grace is the outside of the frame is walnut that matches my newly stained vanity.
I think I need to get a grip and regroup. This is not rocket science and definitely will not affect world peace, so surely I can figure this thing out.
Here is a picture of it finally done with something that I could live with. Nothing earth-shattering, just a simple fresh looking bathroom. If at first you don’t succeed, just keep plugging away, eventually, you will find something you can live with.
Marty, can appreciate your sharing a project that didn’t go as planned! No doubt your peers do not show what grief/stress/expense they go through which leads us readers to think my goodness, this is first time perfect! NOT ALWAYS! What a blessing to now know you are human like the rest of us! ha ox