This “Sad and Depressing” 1929 Bathroom Got a Cozy Farmhouse-Style Makeover
Design enthusiast and DIYer Christine Thielman (@cpowerthiel), her husband, and her three children (ages 15, 17, and 21) reside in a New England farmhouse featuring one and a half bathrooms.
With confidence boosted by ChatGPT and DIY YouTube videos, Christine decided to give her long-ignored powder bathroom a complete farmhouse-style makeover.
The space was in desperate need of an update. “This tiny half bath in our 1929 house was sad and depressing,” Christine recalls. “The walls were a yellow that I used to like but don’t anymore, and the floor was an ugly, small square tile. The electric baseboard heater was rusted and misshapen.” Moreover, the existing vanity was a boring model from The Home Depot.
The bathroom transformation was achieved through a mix of DIY effort and professional assistance.
Christine tackled the bulk of the work herself: She removed the old vanity and baseboards, covered the floor with visually arresting peel-and-stick tiles, and painted the walls in Benjamin Moore’s Grenadier Pond. She attempted to replace the electric heater herself but called in a professional after sustaining an injury.
For the sink, she originally chose a pedestal model, but had to send it back when her plumber and handyman advised that the current plumbing would make the installation too difficult.
Finally, she replaced the flooring, the sink and vanity, the switch plate and outlet cover, the faucet, the lighting fixture, the mirror, the artwork, the window treatments, and even added a sheer glass cabinet knob to her vanity.
The project wasn’t without its surprises, particularly concerning the labor. “I didn’t realize how much construction would be needed to reinstall the baseboards and make the beadboard match up behind the new vanity,” Christine explains.
“That ended up being the most expensive part because our handyman is meticulous and spent hours getting it to look just right!”
The total transformation cost reached $3,135, with the skilled labor being the largest expense.
The fixtures got a little extra love, elevating the farmhouse look.
The result is a welcoming half bathroom with functional, aesthetically pleasing interiors and a definite farmhouse-style vibe. The new flooring, walls, fittings, and accessories added a chic touch to the space.
Christine paid close attention to all the details, including the faucet, the knobs, and even the switch plates and outlet covers. And that made all the difference in the end.
“The bathroom functions about the same but makes me HAPPY,” Christine concludes. “It is so pretty, and I love the color!”
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