I can’t believe it’s already been a month since we started this challenge! One month and $100 sure goes fast when you’re remodeling a bathroom! Although I didn’t get all the projects checked off my unrealistic optimistic list, I feel great about how much this room has changed in the last few weeks.
Be sure to check out the previous weeks if you’re just joining the party: Week 1 ~ Week 2 ~ Week 3
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Before we delve into the reveal, I just want to say a big Thank You to Erin of Lemons, Lavender, and Laundry for organizing this challenge and for inviting me. It’s been so fun participating, and I’m already thinking of what my next room will be…
But for now, let’s deal with one thing at a time. This bathroom was the epitome of “builder beige” when we moved in. It was stuck somewhere in the late seventies/early eighties and desperately needed a makeover. I had assumed it would be one of the last rooms we’d deal with, since bathroom remodels are expensive and this is just our guest bath. (Our master bath is even worse, but that’s a story for another day.) But when I realized I could make some real changes with $100, I decided to get down to business and make this a guest bath that I won’t have to apologize for every time I point someone down the hall.
Here’s a reminder of where we started:
This is what my to-do list looked like:
- Paint walls white – Done, for $35. I used Summer Gray by Valspar in a satin finish.
- Paint cabinets navy blue – Done, for about $6. I used DecoArt’s Satin Enamels, my new favorite furniture paint, in Dark Denim. I had a Hobby Lobby coupon that I was able to use on the paint, which usually costs around $9 for a jar. It only took about half the jar for these cabinets.
- Update countertops with concrete – Done, for free! I used Henry feather finish, which I had left over from a floor patching project in another room. You can read how I did it in last week’s post.
- New faucet – Done, for $44. I found this faucet at Lowe’s and was thrilled with the price!
- Curtains to hide shower – Done, for $20. I found these lovely white 96″ curtains at Tuesday Morning and they are perfect for hiding the yellow cultured marble without taking over the room visually.
- Add decor and accessories – Done, for free, by raiding the rest of my house for unused decor. I’m always surprised that old pieces can look new again when you put them in a new room!
- Frame mirror – Sadly, as you can see if you add up the “Done” amounts, I ran out of money before getting to this part. But it’s coming! I’ll update you in a later post about that project.
- Come up with a cool way to cover/hide the medicine cabinet – This one is still waiting too, mostly because I ran out of time to solve this little conundrum. Any ideas?
- Optional: New light over sink, and new hardware on cabinets. These definitely didn’t get done, thanks to the budget, but I expected that from the beginning and I plan to do them soon, once I have a little extra spending cash.
Bathroom Makeover Resources
DecoArt Satin Enamel paint in “Dark Denim”
Sink Faucet (similar to the one I used)
Curtains (96″ if you want floor to ceiling)
Towel Hooks and Hanging Shelf (similar to the ones I used)
Reveal week is my favorite, so make sure you check out all these other talented designers’ rooms!
Kaley
Monday 1st of January 2024
So the seashell shape of the bathroom sink just magically changed with the new paint?
Meredith
Friday 5th of January 2024
Yeah, If by magically you mean lots of hard work! You can see that process in this post: https://thepalettemuse.com/100-room-challenge-concrete-countertops/
Sophie
Friday 10th of February 2023
Hello. It's been a while since you posted this but thank you for it. My husband and I just purchased our first home. The bathroom sink is/was the same style. I'm on a budget and desperately wanted to get rid of that eyesore. Until finding this website I was at loss for a solution. I just finished the first layer of Feather Finish and it's remarkable how much it's changed already - I can't wait to see the final product! How did yours hold up over time, just curious? Thanks again, Sophie
Meredith
Friday 24th of February 2023
I'm so glad, it sure made a big difference in my bathroom! It held up well over time, but I do recommend resealing it about once a year. The concrete around the drain did get a little wear and tear after a while, but it was still better than the old sink!
Cameron McBride
Thursday 1st of September 2022
Meredith, blast to the future 5 years and concrete counters are super in! I am moving into a house with three of these clamshell sinks and want to try this out on them. I was wondering, how has the concrete held up after a few years of use? Thanks in advanced - hopefully you still check comments on these old posts!
Meredith
Friday 2nd of September 2022
Hi Cameron, yep I'm still checking comments! I loved my concrete countertops, but I did eventually redo them with quartz last year, once I could afford it. They worked great for several years before that and I'd say go for it! The only thing is, you might want to reseal the concrete about once or twice a year if they get heavy use. You can see more about how they held up in this post: https://thepalettemuse.com/diy-concrete-countertops-frequently-asked-questions/
Mona
Wednesday 6th of January 2021
I changed my mirrored recessed cabinet to one from concealedcabinet.com. They aren’t cheap but very good quality and the outside is a picture frame with glass. You can insert a photo or other picture. I love it.
Meredith
Thursday 7th of January 2021
Oh that's a cool idea, to use a photo or picture instead. Thanks!
$100 Room Makeover: Let's Change Plans... and a Vanity Makeover - Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry
Wednesday 8th of March 2017
[…] . So if I can do this, so can you. When we did the $100 Room Challenge in January, Meredith, from The Palette Muse, shared how she redid her vanity with satin enamel paint. It is cheap, and I’m thinkin’ […]