This post has been a loooooong time in coming. Although i’ve NEVER shared this darling space before on Craven Haven, it was the very first bathroom I designed at our #FiveAcreFixer. The square footage was literally carved out what was previously a long, dark storage closet tucked against the attic access. With it’s unconventional footprint, I just knew that I had to rely on finishes to level up this dime-sized (but darling!) bathroom. But… it’s also for my dime-sized daughter… so “custom” wasn’t really an option. I was able to design the bathroom of my little-girl-dream vanities AND keep things pretty straight-forward, out of the box and low-maintenance by shopping on Wayfair to finish the space! Scroll on for my tried and true bathroom renovation tips and the Wayfair pieces I’d recommend to transform your space!
Small-scale + large format = the winning tile combo
I typically stay neutral with my tile, but that DOESN’T mean the execution has to be boring! I love pairing a smaller-scale tile with a large-format tile to keep things interesting, but still easy on the eye. Plus anything on mosaic sheets or larger than 12×12 tends to be faster (therefore cheaper!) to install since there is less cutting and spacers required. I went with a marble-look porcelain large format with heavy veining in the shower surround and a triangle penny tile on the floor in Merritt’s bathroom, but you could easily interchange the usage of those tiles to suit your design. Prying the hearts out to create a special, girly border was a key element of the design that REALLY makes it feel special but added virtually no extra cost! (I planned and pried the black tiles out myself and replaced them with white hearts when the tile was setting on the floor before I had it grouted!) I put together some fun tile combinations for you to shop at the post below!
Pre-Fab Vanities Save the Day
Seriously – This has to be my number one tip when people ask me how to save money on bathroom renovations (especially in guest or kid spaces): Plan ahead of time so your new bathroom footprint utilizes a standard size vanity, and buy one on Wayfair! Gosh there are SO MANY AMAZING OPTIONS ready to be delivered to your home, that include the slab and everything! This route will not only save you lead time, but upwards of thousands of dollars on your renovation not going the custom cabinet / slab fabrication route. In Merritt’s bathroom I opted for the 42″ Alsup Vanity with a solid wood base and Calacatta Gold Quartz top. The off-centered sink worked perfectly for mirror and lighting placement with the sloped ceiling for me – but this vanity comes in many other sizes and orientations if you love the look but need a slightly different functionality!
Mix Metals like a Pro
I know it can’t feel overwhelming, but just picture it this way: you have FOUR metal finish areas in your bathroom. 1. Plumbing, 2. Lighting, 3. Hardware (drawer pulls, shower curtain rod, towel hooks, etc) 4. Mirrors. Pick TWO finishes, then assign each finish to TWO of the four groups. It’s that easy. Matte black Plumbing and Lighting? Okay, chrome Hardware and Mirrors. Brass Lighting and Hardware? Go for polished Nickel Plumbing Fixtures and Mirrors! Brass plumbing and hardware? Pair with matte black lighting and mirrors. You really can’t go wrong, so long as you keep the total number of metals to two and each metal shows up in at least two of the four areas outlined. In Merritt’s bathroom I paired these gorgeous polished nickel plumbing fixtures and mirror with brushed brass lighting and hardware for a look that feels curated but cohesive.
Seriously, I’ve pulled together a lot of turn-key bathroom renovations, and when I’m in the design and planning phase, my first stop is Wayfair – I always find the BEST vanities, plumbing fixtures and tile to create unique spaces that still come together very quickly! I have accepted monetary compensation and free product or services from Wayfair in exchange for my endorsement of Wayfair. All thoughts, opinions and product selections are my own.
