Brady Gives a Refresh to His Vintage Bathroom

Hey Folks, Brady here, and today on the blog Emily has given me full liberty to talk about a very important issue, her morning routine. I kid, but everyone has one: Kesha “brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack,” Gweneth probably steams her _______ (you know what) before applying edible face cream which saves the environment and baby pandas, and well… then there is mine. It used to be pretty dismal until just a few weeks ago when my rather drab rental bathroom got a major facelift.

As you can see on the left in the before pic, it wasn't great, but it did have some majorly great aspects that I loved and allowed me to look past the disgustingly dirty floors, the unusually low sink, and the small size of the room. The vintage basketweave tile, the cast iron tub, and the tall ceilings all meant it had major potential to go from 2012 Kylie Jenner to 2016 Kylie Jenner, for those of you that might not fully get that reference call me as we have a lot to catch up on.

Let's start with the major fixes. The toilet and sink. These may seem like HUGE projects but are relatively easy and can make a big difference in your space. 5 years ago if you wanted an affordable toilet or sink, you had very few options and got the look of a budget toilet or sink. But, nowadays there are some very good looking toilets and sinks that are definitely rental and pocket-book friendly (and don't worry we have a huge roundup of those coming very soon).

For those of you that are renters, I would definitely check with your landlord before you go in and start ripping things apart and replacing hard finishes in your place. But if they are open to it and it is something that you want to do then I would definitely recommend swapping them out. There are just some things that 20 thorough cleanings of clorox can't wash away on a 15-year-old toilet and sink. Needless to say, my new toilet, new sink, and faucet make me so much happier than those sad dated ones that lived in there previously.

As the apartment is vintage, I wanted to find something that would echo the charm and character of the place so I ended up going with this toilet, this sink, and this faucet which I could not be more happy with. They both work so well together and, even just having those three new pieces in the space, made a world of difference.

I also added a new brass shelf above the toilet to fill that huge empty space, as well as a new towel ring because well…. the one on the left just wasn't working for me and all of those pretty new pieces that were going to live next to it.

We all know that good light is important in a bathroom, and as I only have one small window and previously a one-light-flush-mount, it was time to upgrade to something more useful and more pleasant to look at. I went with this chandelier which I love. I had it made to come down 28″ inches from the ceiling, which you would think would make the space feel smaller but in fact having that depth to the light extends your eye line up to the tall ceilings. It also hides your wrinkles, diminishes hair loss, and makes your muscles look bigger. (I swear).

Now that we have talked about what I did to some of the hard surfaces in the space (light, sink, faucet, toilet, shelf), let's talk about how you can bring some life into a rather bland bathroom with some very quick and easy fixes. I am no professional stylist, nor will I claim to be, but there are a few things to help your space feel more lived in, more you, and more comfortable.

Scent: This one is big in a bathroom (DUH… cue potty humor jokes). This candle has been my go-to for a long time both in and out of the bathroom. The scent is amazing (Gramercy Park Hotel actually uses it for all their products and burns it in all public spaces) and it doesn't burn too fast like other candles. Basically, if you have a clean surface to create an area for a candle and a few matches, then you should do it. You and your guests will appreciate it.

Mirror: Depending on your bathroom this is one of the easiest and most impactful fixes. My bathroom previously had a built in medicine cabinet with layers and layers of paint on it. I knew that I couldn't rip out the medicine cabinet so instead I just popped the mirrored door off by the hinges which left me with a flat surface which allowed me to mount this brass beauty from Restoration Hardware on top of the old medicine cabinet recess.

Be Your Own Guest: Trust me when I say I don't live a life of luxurious bubble baths and champagne toasts everyday. But that doesn't mean you can't fantasize about it and create your own little bathroom oasis. My bathroom is SMALL and when I say small, I really do mean small. It is about 5'x5′, so I didn't have room for a cute curio cabinet with bath salts and all my “lotions and potions”, as my dad likes to call them. But I was able to add a little side table stump, a small bud vase, and a sponge and face cloth (for all those days that I use a face cloth and sponge)… who am I kidding, throw that shit off of there and bring in a bottle of wine, while you have the Kardashians on your laptop which is cantilevered on your toilet. Isn't that what all good side tables and toilets are for?

Make it Personal: No matter where the space may be in your house/apartment, if you just fill it with pretty things, it will just be a room filled with pretty things. Always bring in something to really make it your own. Mine happen to be a few polaroids of some of my best friends and family I have tucked into the edges of my mirror – and they're doing a damn good job of getting my butt to the gym every morning. Just a bunch of skinny minis and my little sister, sporting a full six-pack only a few months after popping a baby out. If that isn't motivation to do some planks every day I don't know what is.

All in all, I could not be more happy with my little bathroom oasis, what do you think? If you are ready to create the look yourself, head on down below where I have pulled together a get the look with everything I used.

1.Magical Thinking Pompom Shower Curtain | 2. Le Labo Santal 26 Candle | 3. Jacquard Bath Towel | 4. Newport Brass Bathroom Faucet | 5. Kohler Pedestal Sink | 6. Satellite 6 Chandelier in Natural Brass | 7. Brake Angle Brass Shelf | 8. Astoria Pivot Mirror in Antique Brass | 9. Kohler Two Piece Toilet | 10.Coyuchi Mediterranean Towel | 11.Two Men Collage by Scott Bergey | 12. Irvine Modern White Frame | 13. West Emory Ring Holder | 14. Diamond Dot Ceramic Bath Tray | 15. Warm Metal Waste Basket (similar) | 16. Morgan's Toothpaste | 17. Morgan's Wood Toothbrush | 18. Courtesi Wood End Table

Enjoyed this makeover post? Check out these: A DIY Kitchen Redo Under $400, Scott's Bedroom Makeover With Leesa, A Rustic Mid-Century Family Room, Sara Updates Her Childhood Bedroom – The Reveal, The Easiest Guest Room Makeover Ever, Brady's DIY Peel and Stick Kitchen Flooring (For Under $50), How To Layout A Narrow Living Room, New Kitchen Project and Design Plan.

***After photos by always lovely and handsome, Zeke Ruelas

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