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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Simple and Affordable Updates to Our Vintage Modern Bathroom

A vintage modern bathroom decorated in white and gray with beautiful mosaic tile and brass accents.



When you feel like your home is falling apart around you the only cure is to redecorate, right? 

For the past 6 months, we have been living with only one of our three bathrooms fully functioning.  The plumber was here last week installing new pipes and fixtures in our hall bathroom,  which resulted in a big gapping hole in our master bathroom.   He didn't have time to fix our basement bathroom, so I had my husband lug the sink back into the space and I decorated and pretended everything was perfect.  Sounds normal, right?
Vintage modern bathroom


A few months ago, I participated in the ORC (One Room Challenge) and completely redid our basement bathroom.  I painted, added board and batten and installed beautiful ceramic tile.  Everything was going great until we went to hook up the sink and a pipe broke off in my dad's hands.   Being on a deadline, I brought the sink in, took pictures and didn't think twice about the sink not being hooked up.  

Fast forward a few months....
black mirror and faucet in vintage modern bathroom
Our laundry tub backed up forcing water to travel through and out of broken pipe in the bathroom.  I'm not talking about a sprinkle of water.  I'm talking full on downpour that traveled out of the bathroom,  under the steps and into my husband's office.

This isn't the first time we have experienced water issues in our basement.  You may remember a few years ago when I accidentally flooded the basement.  Clearly, water is not my best friend.
How to mix metals in a vintage modern bathroom
In an effort to make myself feel better until the plumber comes back, we capped the pipe, pushed the sink back in place, and I redecorated the bathroom.

I added a coat of gold leaf Rub 'n Buff to the guide to bathroom procedures sign that I purchased from Hobby Lobby last year.  It had been hanging in our master bathroom, but I thought it worked much better in the basement bathroom.
Guide to bathroom procedures artwork
I also swapped out the round wood mirror for a new black metal frame mirror.   It's a little small for the space, but it's going to have to work until I can justify spending $299 for the one I REALLY want.
rectangular black metal mirror
I was really missing the medicine cabinet that I bought from a local vintage market, so I moved the "Work Hard and be Nice to People" artwork to my office and hung the cabinet back up on the wall.  I wasn't ready to get rid of it, so back up on the wall it went.
vintage modern bathroom

Black vintage medicine cabinet

Beekman goat milk bar soap

Vintage modern bathroom makeover in black and gray

vintage modern bathroom makeover with brass accents
Using decor I had around our home and less than $50 (for the new mirror and soap dish) I was able to finally complete the bathroom and make it feel more like my style.  Now I just need the plumber to come back and we just might have all three bathrooms in working order. 

STYLE TIP: HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MIX METAL FINISHES 
There's no need to stick to one particular metal or material when decorating.  Pick 2-3 finishes that work well together and balance them throughout your space.  Keep it intentional by choosing one finish as the dominant material then accent with the others.   


If you are interested in any of the sources in our bathroom you can find them here:  Affiliate links have been used.

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How to effectively mix metals and materials



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Would you like to comment?

  1. Katie, I actually like the mirror and think the shape and frame work great in your bath. What if.....you made a wood frame to go around it...you could stay or paint...and leave a little space between it and the mirror or not, depending on how you like it. This would make the mirror more substantial in the space. Just a thought so that you can save that $299 for more fun DT stuff 😃 Cindy

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  2. I love everything about that room! The tiles, the grey door! Beautiful!

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  3. In love with your floor!!!! Gorgeous powder room! Christine from Little Brags

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  4. I think you just solved a huge problem of mine. My bathroom didn't come with a medicine cabinet. I actually like the mirror the house came with but we need that storage! I think I am going to investigate a cabinet for over the toilet. That actually would solve a lot of problems in my household. Thank you!

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  5. Really beautiful, Katie. I like the mirror, too... unless you want something to hang lower to see more? (Couldn't you DIY a similar mirror to work?) Love the medicine cabinet!

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  6. Love how you made lemonade out of lemons. I am looking to update our powder room and I'm studying all the redo's very carefully. I like the modern, clean, farmhouse look that you have achieved. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Love the whole bathroom Katie, it's beautiful. Sometimes we have to just accept how well we can decorate and then just move on .) I love the door color, the soap dish, the tiles, the towels,the mirror, the medicine cabinet, the Beekman bros.soap, the light fixtures and both pieces of artwork. This might seem like a silly question but is there tiles on your ceiling or is that some new kind of drop down ceiling treatment ? Thanks for sharing your home.

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    1. Thanks so much, Diena! This bathroom is in our basement, so it's just a regular drop ceiling.

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  8. I really love that little cabinet. I'm glad it's back up! :-)

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