Well, the bathroom refresh for under $100 is well underway and, as the past year has gone, it has been filled with unexpected challenges. If you missed the first week of the challenge last week, you can read about it here…
For this refresh, I am working on my Master bathroom.
The first thing on my list of to-dos was to paint the walls… and this was the only part that has gone as planned so far LOL.
The walls had been a light beige colour that always looked a little bit dirty. Giving them a few coats of Sherman Williams Westhighland White has already made a huge change in this windowless room. It looks cleaner, brighter, and happier with the white.
Expect the Unexpected
As for the rest of the room, I had a few plans that had to do a 180.
I had planned to replace the counter with a wood one but now that we are locked down in Ontario, that will have to wait. I could do curbside pickup but I am really picky about wood so I will hold off until I can see the wood in person and pick out the one I want.
Also putting a glitch in my plan was the mirror. It was the original builder mirror and I had planned to take it down and replace it with this vintage one from our cottage…
Unfortuantely, I tried everything to get that darn builder mirror off of the wall. I tried knives, cake spatulas, you name it. It must have been attached with the most industrial two-sided tape you have ever seen. I couldn’t even get it to budge. The mirror won’t be going anywhere for the next 50 years. So… no vintage mirror for this space.
Next on the List
Not to be deterred though, there are still a lot of things I can do with the space to refresh it.
This old medicine cabinet that was in my grandparent’s 100-year-old house will be getting a makeover and going in the room.
I also have big plans for this vintage window.
The next step though will be to paint the cabinets and the counter. I have already started this by filling the hardware holes.
I am totally thrilled with the challenge so far and even though a few of the original plans have been sidelined, there are still fun things in the works. Don’t forget to check back in next Wednesday to see how the cupboards and counter turned out and then in two weeks for the room reveal.
Be sure to check out some other $100 Room Challenge makeovers below…
Oh no I am so sorry about the mirror removal not working out. We had a issue like that and I ended up just added some really good looking trim to the mirror and glueing it directly on to mirror edge to make it look like a frame, LOL! Hey you do what you gotta do right? Cheers to just making it your own!
That’s a great idea! I thought of trimming it out but the space in this bathroom is quite tight and there is no room for a frame around it but on it… now that is something to consider! Hmm. You have my wheels turning now LOL!
Ah, DIY certainly sends you its challenges but Covid takes the cake! The one good thing that comes out of doing 180’s is it makes you be more creative. I love the medicine cabinet from your grandparents. That’s really special. I look forward to seeing what you do with that.
It is so true Wendy and I just see it as the opportunity to think up something else 😉
I have had the same problem with a bathroom mirror. Your room is going to be great.
Oh no! I don’t wish that mirror problem on anyone! Thankfully I don’t hate what is there I was just hoping to replace it with a vintage one.
Such is life for a DIYer, right?! Last year I did this challenge in my cousin’s bathroom and there was one corner of her mirror that was SO stuck to the wall I ended up breaking the mirror and basically chiseling it off the wall in little pieces. I (for sure) have 7 years bad luck. Looks like you have some other great plans though… that medicine cabinet!
It is so true Erin… if you’re going to DIY you have to be open to whatever happens 🙂 To get the mirror off of the wall I would have had to do the same as you and basically break it and then chisel it off in pieces. I may in the future but for right now… Plan B LOL.
New white paint is always a great choice! Sorry, about the mirror. How frustrating. Looking forward to seeing how you upcycle the cabinet and window
Isn’t white paint wonderful and it makes it feel so fresh and clean 🙂
Wow, I can’t believe the mirror is not budging. Way to pivot though. Excited to se what you do with the medicine cabinet!
Oh gosh, it wouldn’t even budge an inch LOL. I don’t know what they used but it’s like it cemented in place 🙂
Aw, sorry to hear about the troubles! It stinks when we can’t do what we dreamed of doing. But it’s still going to be such a huge difference!
Thanks so much Christina. You are so right that it stinks but it just means there is an opportunity to figure out something else 😉
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