Before & After Home: Master (Mini) Bathroom

We have a "master bathroom" off our bedroom. I use the term "master" very loosely though, because it's a tiny little space (as in closet sized). I am so thankful that there's actually room for a shower, toilet, sink and storage space! Having two bathrooms is a must if you ask me. Having two showers/bathtubs is an extra bonus! Our house was originally built as a ranch style home, and the second floor was added later. They had to be creative when adding this handy little bathroom.

When we moved in, the "master bath" was blue. Navy blue. As in almost black, blue. Talk about trying to make a room feel smaller. Especially with a slanted ceiling. I guess the goal was to match the floor tiles? Interesting tactic. I couldn't stand the way it was. It felt so dark and gross.

The first step was to lighten up the place! This is the only room that I can take credit for painting. Primarily because it's only about 5x5 feet and I am not the best painter. We used Sherwin Williams paint in "practical beige," leftover from our kitchen. It's a nice beige that goes with everything.

If you notice in the "before" photo, the window trim was painted white but the original wood was left inside. The house has these beautiful dark wood windows, and the previous owners went around and painted them all white. Not cool. I attempted to strip the paint off but didn't get it all off completely. I think it looks better than it did half white and half wood. A project for another day. Or year.

The sink area before and after. Bye bye dark depressing navy blue! Switched out the switch plates and towel ring too.

The toilet area (or throne, whichever you prefer), with an over-the-toilet shelving unit added much needed storage and made use of wasted wall space.

There used to be a "closet" with handmade, unevenly and widely spaced shelves enclosed by a hideous pull screen. I think I got rid of that screen out the day we closed on the house. I ripped out the shelves shortly after. It wasn't worth having a door behind a door in such a small space. I purchased a tall metal shelving rack to put in its place. It's not the most sightly thing at times, but it keeps everything organized. A quick storage solution.

And a standup shower with a reversible shower curtain that I love. Flowers on one side, stripes on the other. There are two rods, one for the plastic liner and one for the decorative curtain. It was a height issue and I didn't have double-sided hooks like in our other bathroom. Gerbera daisies are my favorite flower. The farmed art was a long narrow poster that I cut into 4 pieces and framed. A metal rack from Marshalls holds towels and extra toilet paper. Gotta have extra TP!

That's a look at our master (mini) bathroom and how I turned it from dark and dreary to light and cheery. Anyone have a tiny room project they're proud of? Any tricks you'd like to share for making the most of a small space?

Creative Bathroom Storage for Small Spaces

If your bathroom is on the small side, storage options can be limited, so you need to be creative. When we remodeled our main bathroom (the biggest project of our lives), we chose to eliminate the former closet. This meant there would no longer be a door to hide untidy shelves and a massive pile of dirty laundry. This white shelving unit now serves as primary storage, with the addition of different baskets and containers. I bought the shelf at Christmas Tree Shops when we first moved into the house. It turned out to be a great purchase for not a lot of money.

The top portion has three shelves (four if you count the very top), and the bottom has three shelves, enclosed by an opaque door. Behind the opaque door, we stash not-so-sightly toiletries. 

When I was growing up, someone was always looking for tweezers. Eyebrow maintenance, sliver removal, jewelry repair - tweezers were a hot item in our house. And there was one really good pair. Anyone else run into this? I decided to put a set of grooming tools in each of our bathrooms. Scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, etc. I keep them in what used to be glass candle holders. Now they always have a home.

Did you know that you can re-use glass candles holders, like the Glade or Fabreze ones? They probably don't recommend doing this, but once the candle has burned as low as it will go, I just put it in the microwave for a few seconds. Then I loosen the remaining wax and wick with a craft stick, toothpick, or pencil, and throw the wax away. You might need to microwave it a couple of times to get everything out. Then wash it with dish soap and use it for something else! They come in handy for storing just about anything small - loose change, pens, that one earring without a mate. This one had stars on it from a Christmas scented candle, but the clear glass ones look great.

To store more unsightly items, this plastic basket fit perfectly on one shelf. It came from my husbands college days. He can just throw his razor charger, toothpaste, contacts and anything else in there.

Movin' on up...the first open shelf has items that I don't mind being out. Tissues, a candle and a small container. At first they were sitting right on the white shelf, but it looked a bit empty and clinical. So I added a shallow basket to contain them all. Such a small thing made a big difference. I think the basket looks much nicer, don't you?

The turquoise mini ceramic flower pot (found at Christmas Tree Shops) holds toothpicks, for easy access. I got this idea from my friend Morgan. She had them in a glass apothecary jar in her bathroom, and I thought it was a great idea. My husband lives for toothpicks. He had them all over the house. Now they are pretty much here whenever he needs one.

The next open shelf has another flower pot which holds Band-Aids (I know Band-Aid is the brand, not the product, but it sounds funny calling them "bandages"). For some reason, someone always needs a Band-Aid in our house. Someone who bites their nails until they bleed. I'll give you a clue: it's not me.

I found these cute little baskets at Wal-mart (a place I try to avoid at all costs, unless it's for stuff like this). They fit four Bath & Body Works bottles perfectly. "Free creams and lotions..." name that movie!

The top shelf is just wide enough to house a medium size basket with fabric lining (also from Christmas Tree Shops). This one acts as a catch-all for miscellaneous items, hair things, extra cotton balls, etc.

I put the matching larger basket on the very top of the shelving unit, because it didn't fit anywhere else. It keeps a hair dryer and the occasional curling iron.

I like how neatly tucked away everything looks.

Across from that, is another tall narrow wine-rack-turned-storage-unit, where the closet formerly was. I keep two baskets up there. I guess you could say I really like baskets.

One is for extra toilet paper (gotta have it), and the other is for over-the-counter medicines and ointments.

Does the Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and ankle bandage make us look old? Thought so.

One of the worst things that can ever happen is running out of toilet paper, so I made sure there was an extra roll stashed near le toilette, at all times. I put a roll in another one of those cute little baskets.

Along with a little bottle of room freshener spray. You know what it's for.

On the glass shelf above the toilet, sit my favorite little glass containers with silver lids, that hold cotton balls and Q-tips (again, Q-tip is a brand, but it sounds better than cotton swab!). I love these containers.

The vanity does have space behind it's double doors for stashing more stuff.

It's kind of awkward to keep fetching things from down there, so I reserve it for cleaning supplies and guest toiletries. Plus, that darn u-shaped sink drain is right in the way. I thought about putting in some type of shelf to maximize space, but decided it wasn't worth it. I did manage to fit a white plastic basket to hold spray bottles and such.

Speaking of cleaning products, my favorite bathroom cleaner is Method's Tub and Tile spray, in eucalyptus mint scent. It smells really nice and does a number on soap scum and all that gross stuff no one wants to clean.

One last storage tidbit. Tucked next to the guest towels, on the tower shelves, I placed one of my milk glass pedestal bowls. I filled it with guest shampoo, lotions and a shower cap, thanks to some nice hotel visits. I got the idea from Christy, who has one in her guest bedroom.

There you have it. Some creative bathroom storage ideas for small spaces. All you need are a few baskets, different containers, maybe some shelves and organization. Most of all, make sure it's functional and what works best for you. Don't let limited square footage stop you from making the most of your space!

DIY Shower Curtain

Some of you wonderful readers have been asking how to make a shower curtain. I'm delighted to share my do-it-yourself guide, because I love you guys. I really do. Get your supply lists and creative juices ready.

After shopping around for a shower curtain, I came to the conclusion that I didn't like any of them enough. Especially since it would be a focal point in my new bathroom. I was thinking about making one.

One day, while perusing the aisles of Marshalls (oh, how I love thee),  I stopped in my tracks when I saw this tablecloth. It was exactly what I was looking for! Unique pattern and the right colors. For $20, I knew I could make it work.

You will need some grommets, also known as eyelets. Joann Fabrics sells these little kits that come with little tools that you will need. I used extra-large rings. Just make sure they will fit over your shower curtain rings/hooks. Available in brass or silver, the kit comes with 10 grommets, but of course you need 12, so you will need to buy an extra pack of just grommets.

You will also need a hammer and a cement surface. No joke. I had to pound them together on my basement floor. 

Some type of medium weight interfacing and an iron.

I used these great dual shower curtain hooks that my Mom gave me from JCPenny. They are also available at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Make sure you have a shower curtain liner, which will act as your template. I found a white hotel style fabric shower curtain liner, also at Marshalls, for $6 (is there no end to your bountifulness Marshalls?). I don't know why I didn't think of a fabric liner years ago. Those plastic ones get so gross. Who wants to scrub that? I even tried those "Guaranteed to resist mildew" curtails. Fail. I'm giving this fabric one a chance, and when it needs cleaning, I'll throw it in the laundry and report back.

Start by selecting a piece of fabric that will be large enough to make a shower curtain. Standard size is 70 inches wide by 72 inches high. It can be a tablecloth, duvet cover, sheet, window curtain, whatever your little heart desires or finds in the clearance aisle.

Using the shower curtain liner as a guide, make sure it is the same length and height of your fabric. Hem the edges and adjust the size if needed. My tablecloth was too wide, so I had to shorten it and create a seam. Luckily, the border pattern made it appear seamless.

Cut a strip of interfacing, about two inches wide and as long as your curtain. Iron the interfacing strip to the BACK side of your soon-to-be-curtain at the very TOP. This will provide reinforcement for your grommets. (Don't you love my palm tree ironing board cover?)

I apologize, I didn't photograph this step. Clip your liner and fabric together temporarily with clothespins (or other clips), with the liner on top. Using a pencil, trace each hole onto the interfacing of your curtain fabric. Make sure top and sides are lined up. Mark all 12 holes.

Using an x-acto knife or sharp pair of scissors, cut out a small hole where you made each mark on your fabric. Don't cut it too big. Use the tube part of the grommet as a sizing guide. You want the grommet to fit SNUG. Even if you have to wedge the grommet into the fabric a little bit, it should be fine.  If the hole you cut is bigger than the grommet, it won't work.

Follow the directions on the back of the grommet kit for assembling the grommets. It takes some layering coordination. First, put the round little pedestal down on the cement floor. Then stack on top of it the grommet that has the tube. Then slip your fabric with pre-cut hole onto the grommet tube. Then put the flat grommet ring on top (make sure it is good side up). Then insert the long tool that came with the kit (short end in). Keeping everything centered and level, hold the tool in place and pound away with your hammer. This is where some elbow grease comes in. I would say try 15 to 20 drives with the hammer, then check to see if the ring has enclosed together. If not, hammer a couple more times. The tool may get stuck, but it can be wiggled out. If my directions sound confusing, the back of the box should help.

Repeat for all 12 rings. 
When you're done, it should look something like this.

You're ready to hang up your new shower curtain!

I am so happy with how this project turned out. It's not too difficult, right? If you decide to make one, I would love to see the results. Let me know if there's any part of the process that you have questions about.

Happy shower curtain making!

Bathroom Remodel Reveal

Welcome to our new bathroom!
We couldn't be happier to reveal our extreme bathroom makeover. DIY Ohl style. I'll be the first to admit, it was a lot more work than I expected. But now that we are on the other side of it, I'm glad we went for it. We learned skills that we did not have before we started, and it challenged us to work as a team on a huge project. A true test of marriage! We're very happy with how it turned out. After months of planning, serious demolition, weekly (sometimes daily) trips to Home Depot and Lowes, rebuilding, installing drywall, painting, tiling, running electrical, plumbing, and everything in between, here's a look at our new bathroom.

The wall color is "Cosmic Rays" by Olympic paint, a dusty light blue. I really wanted a relaxing spa-like feel. Since the room is so small, my goal was to keep it light and airy. All the fixtures are brushed nickel.

This sink/vanity from Lowes was the piece that started it all. I saw it one day while shopping and I liked the dark brown wood with black granite top and deep white sink. It was a good price and perfect size for the room. It is slightly smaller in width than the old vanity, which provides a little extra space left and right. The black framed mirror was a great find at Kirkland's. I got it for $16 because it was the last one and had a tiny nick in it.

This tall narrow white shelving unit is the one piece we kept from the old bathroom. I purchased it at Christmas Tree Shops three years ago, when we first moved in. I love that it fits perfectly behind the bathroom door. As you can see, we store toiletries and extra supplies in the frosted cupboard.

This is my favorite new piece, that I couldn't wait to put in. When we removed the old closet door and shelves, I wanted to keep it open but still have something to store towels and bathroom items. Because the space was so tall and narrow (24.5 inches wide by 90 inches high) I had to do an extensive search for something that would fit. This wine rack, measuring 20 inches by 72 inches, was just what I was looking for!

I ordered it from BedBathandBeyond.com around Christmas time. It was on clearance and almost sold out! I had to act fast. Here is a look at it's intended design. I just didn't install the wine glass holders.

Perfect shelves to hold my new Pottery Barn pale blue and white towels. I had a field day picking out new towels, thanks to some gift cards from my Uncle Bob.

Baskets on top for storing extra TP and other supplies. New lighting, keeping in the brushed nickel and frosted glass style.

Here's a closer look at my decorative bath supplies. Washcloths tucked neatly into a basket. Bath bubbles. A large glass jar with extra puffs (poofs?) for guests. And my special hands soap dish (sans soap).

We installed a combination exhaust fan light. Much more attractive than just a square fan. We previously did not have a fan, so this required running a vent outside through the ceiling.

I was looking for a brown bamboo type of shade for our very long window. I found this one at Christmas Tree Shops for $15.99. It was affordable and easy to install.

This is my tablecloth-turned-shower-curtain project, that turned out even better than I thought it would. I found a tablecloth at Marshall's for $19.99, in the colors and a pattern I loved. It was just too wide. So I did some measuring, sewing, added grommets and voila! I think there will be an upcoming post on how to make your own shower curtain...

Here's a look at the shower curtain border detail, baseboard trim and fluffy white rug. I also got the rug at Marshall's, years ago and had not been using it. I like being able to utilize things I already have.

Did I mention that the tile floor is heated? Talk about luxurious. This awesome feature was all my husband's idea. He made it happen by wiring floor coils, pouring cement and installing a thermostat, complete with timer. The only reason I'm looking forward to winter this year, is to test it out on a snowy day. How great will it be to step onto a nice toasty floor?

And now, the heart and soul of the bathroom: the tub. This is what I was looking most forward to. The old bathtub was pretty old and gross. I could not wait to enjoy this 19 inch high deep soak Kohler tub. Kohler even has "Ohl" in the name! It is every bit as relaxing and wonderful as I had imagined.

And the shower is just as great. Here is a look at the fruit of our labor, installing approximately 460, 3 inch by 6 inch white ceramic tiles. And one corner shelf. This was definitely the most challenging portion of the entire project, in my opinion. We had never tiled anything before. It was so time intensive, messy, and precise, with all of the cutting and measuring involved. I think it took a total of 5 nights after work, just to stick all of the tiles on. Then came the grouting and the sealing on the weekend. In the end, it was worth it, because it came out beautifully and looks really nice.

The brick pattern white tile inspiration came from Pottery Barn (see below) and the incredible bathroom makeover done by John and Sherry at Young House Love. I really like how clean and fresh it looks.

Here is the upper portion of the shower. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to elongate the area and reduce moisture. Jesse, our expert, suggested adding a shower light, and we're really glad we did.

The light switch for the light is conveniently located next to the shower, near the window. We had the toilet paper fixture and towel ring, so they went back into the room.

And last, but certainly not least, the new toilet. We selected the American Standard Mainstream FloWise WaterSense high-performance round complete toilet from Lowes. We liked that it came with everything needed for installation and is high-efficient and ultra-low on water consumption. It looks nice too.

One final detail... I have been waiting to use this decorative glass shelf for 5 years. Seriously. I got this pretty shelf 5 years ago when I worked for Chase-Pitkin, a local home and garden chain. But I never had any where to put it. It finally has a home. I love how it adds to the "spa" feel and is both functional and decorative. Right beneath two little art paintings I had, originally purchased at Marshall's for $5 each.

There it is, the finished product .

Shall we take a look back at the before?

This is how the bathroom looked when we walked through, before buying the house. It probably looks better than it did up close.

You can see the old white closet door, which collided with the room door when both were opened. Also, a look at the old tan colored plastic shower walls/shelves.

Here it is stripped down in all of it's plastic white-ness. White peel-n-stick floor tiles, white plastic wall-to-wall tile board, white tub, white closet, white sink and light wood vanity. Not my style.

This is how I tried to dress it up and live with it for 2 1/2 years. I couldn't even paint the walls though, because they were plastic tiles. The floor and the cracks drove me nuts because it just never looked clean, despite my rigorous cleaning efforts.

The vanity mirror and lights were something right out of Hollywood. You needed your sunglasses to get ready!

The sink seemed like it was below normal height and I could never get the drain completely clean either. I didn't care for the light wood either.

Besides being door-to-door, the closet was a mess.

When you opened it, this is what you saw. Hand-made-white-contact-paper-covered-uneven shelves.

And a hole in the ceiling.

And exposed pipes and deteriorating wood below. Lovely.

Here is what it looked like when we started taking up the floor, and realized we would need to replace the entire wood floor base. What did we get ourselves into?

It was quite a job, to say the least. We couldn't have done it without the help of our remodeling expert, Jesse, who guided us every step of the way. And our friend Aaron, who helped us with the floor.

Most of all, I want to thank my husband, my hero, for making this bathroom remodel possible and for putting up with me! I'll share a bit more of the process in another post, and show some pictures of our journey from before to after. Click here to read how the project began, check out my bathroom mood board, and an update along the way.

What do you think of the transformation? I simply love it.