Exactly one week ago I shared my powder room makeover with you, and I’ve already made a few tweaks.
That was fast, huh?
I had given so little thought to the vanity and floor in the powder room because Scott and I knew we’d update the vanity and re-tile the floor at some point down the line. I got so caught up mooning over the beautiful new wallpaper and the dangly light fixture and the bright new wainscoting that I completely disregarded the brown elephant in the room.
It wasn’t until I was looking over my own post last week that the brown vanity just kind of jumped off the screen and slapped me across the face, with a resounding, “What are you thinking?! Paint me black and give me some new jewelry, woman!”
The quickest and easiest parts of this whole powder room makeover were just the touches it needed for me to really feel like it’s finished now. I still expect we’ll update the tile and purchase a new vanity eventually, but I am very okay with how things look, and will happily live with the powder room like this for as long as we need or want to.
I rolled a coat of semi-gloss black paint onto the existing vanity and replaced the knobs with these drop pulls, that I brightened with a little Rub-n-Buff.
The style of the pulls is really lovely and the gold against the black is so striking.
To disguise the tile floor, which is not offensive but a little outdated and ho-hum, I layered a simple black and white striped flat-weave rug from Home Goods. I really like how the classic geometric pattern plays against the very colorful and curvy wallpaper.
I also added a wall-mounted candle lantern above the toilet. I knew I wanted something simple on the wall – nothing that would take away from the wallpaper – and this lantern, which I already had, was the perfect solution.
Here’s a side-by-side of the one week difference.
And the beginning to end steps!
This definitely reminded me of the power of paint and also how much I like rooms that have some black in them. It always feels like a grounding force to me, and just instantly adds polish.
So with that I am putting my hands in the air and stepping away from the powder room. On to the next project!
Check out my tutorials for how to install a compound chair rail, how to install wainscoting, and how to hang paste-the-wall wallpaper for more steps on how I got from before to after!
Oh yes!!! So much better. It looks so so good!
It would be awesome if the black and white checker floors would extend into the powder room from your foyer ;)
Tell me about it. I have considered painting the tile!
You should try out the new Kilz Adhesion stuff ;))))
I love it!
Thank you! I really love it now :)
It looks so much better and I am in love with the hardware you used. It always takes a blog post to start changing things up. It happens to me all the time…I will be satisfied and then start reviewing my pictures and completely find a million other things I should have done.
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
So funny how that works, easier to see in photos sometimes than in person!
wow, the power of paint is right! Just that change of color on the vanity took that bathroom into high drive on the glam. Love it!
Thanks, Erin! I had considered painting it awhile ago and then dropped the idea, but so glad I revived it!
The black vanity really does complete the look!
Thanks, Sarah! I definitely think the room needed that little bit more of black.
Yes, Yes, Makes all the difference in the world!!!!
Thanks, Patty! I’m so glad I pulled out my paintbrush last weekend :)
That was a great choice to paint that vanity! Looks great and I love the hardware :)
The hardware is really pretty in person, and it’s super affordable too :)
That is just crazy good! Amazing what a little elbow grease can do.
I am all about the elbow grease :) Nice when it doesn’t take forever too!
Smart lady!!! The new vanity looks amazing! Good call;)
Thanks, Shavonda! So glad I did it, and WHY did I not realize it sooner?!
It’s amazing the difference a little paint can make! It blends in with the room so much better now.
Thanks, Bethany, I think it fits better now too.
I love the vanity black – room looks awesome – paint is truly and awesome tool to have in our design box!
Good thing I am kind of a paint hoarder ;)
Love it’s “jewelry”! Good call!
Every fancy girl needs some hot jewelry ;)
I agree much better with the dark cabinet. Ties in with the mirror and sconce over the toidy. It is amazing what a gallon of paint can do isn’t it! Did you use the self leveling paint from Sherwin Williams – that stuff is expensive but holy cow is it awesome! Thanks for sharing!
No, never tried that paint – I will have to check it out. What have you used it on?
I painted my kitchen cabinets with it. Self leveling no sanding!
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Question: Did you have to take off the doors and everything or just paint it all connected? I am not a DIY person by any means, but this looks so great I want to attempt it! Would it work just as well with a brush??? Any old black semi-gloss will work? I have an 11, 3, and 8 month old I am looking for the quickest way possible! LOL
This was super quick – I didn’t disassemble anything. Just taped off the edges where the cabinet met the wall and floor so the paint wouldn’t run there. You could definitely use a brush but a small foam roller makes it go even quicker and the finish is smoother than a brush. I did use a brush for the edges though. I like Benjamin Moore paint but any black semi-gloss would be fine. I also gave the cabinet a light sanding to make sure the paint would adhere! You can’t go directly over a glossy surface – need either primer or some sanding. Good luck! You can do it!! :)
I had wanted to write and suggest painting the vanity black but thought that would be rude since you had done so well with the rest of the powder room. So glad you did because now you don’t really need a new vanity. It all looks great!
Ha, well you are very sweet to have been careful of me feelings :) I’m glad I realized how much better it would be in black!
It looks SO good! Thinking our small powder room vanity needs a quick makeover with some glossy black paint too! Love the pulls too… Perfect touch :)
I’ve been on a little bit of a black painting kick lately – I have a couple other projects to share that I’ve finished but haven’t photographed yet!
Yes, so much better!!! It looks so fabulous now–really really beautiful.
Thank you! I’m so happy with the how the little black touches work with the rest of the room.
great call! love the black and touch of gold. and i agree the stripes in the rug work perfectly with the wallpaper!
Thanks so much, Meredith! So glad I pulled out that leftover quart of black paint :)
You were so right; the black cabinet makes a world of difference but so does the rug! I was surprised how much better the floor looked when you see the rooms from prior posts and the new posts. Those things really did finish off the room. I was just saying to someone the other day that it is a really good idea to go ver you room a week or two after you “finish” it to make sure it is , indeed finished. I have not always been good at that and later feel as if something is missing. Those last minute touches make such a difference.
I am with you – the rug really made a huge difference too. I pulled it up today to shake it out outside and kind of cringed at floor underneath!
yes, love the black! and I may be taking your pull idea for an upcoming dresser project, if you don’t mind. :) they’re perfect!
Yes, yes, do it! The pulls are great, really classically pretty but kind of different and interesting too.
This cracks me up because I can completely relate! Haha! LOVE it!!!!!
It’s so nice to have fellow design ADDs to connect with :)
It makes a HUGE difference! Love every ounce of it!
Thanks, sweets! So glad I acted on that whim to paint it black and add the rug!
Stun. Ning. LOVE love love this room!
Seriously keeps getting better & better. The vanity looks sleeker & compliments the wallpaper even more now! And those pulls are totally like pretty earrings on the vanity. Hey gimme that rug.
Clepto. Stop trying to steal my rug. And thank you :)
Love it! We have a very similar bathroom. It is SO tiny (used to be a closet). Pinning for ideas!