The First Part Of Our Bathroom Makeover…for FREE!

So for those of you that are new to the blog, we have been planning to update our huge old bathroom…and those that have been reading for a while will know how frustrated I am with this room and that I have been hanging to re-do it.
Small, actually huge problem. Because of the size of the space and the fact we have to cut it into 2 rooms means that it is going to cost us way more than originally thought…so, I have devised a no cost plan to makeover this space. It is going to take me a while because I have lots of other projects going on, so bear with me if you will.
This first image is to soften you into the hideousness of this room. It is a little table in front of the window…but more of that at a later post.
Lets get into it.
BEFORE
Ahhhh! U.G.L.Y!! Yep, I am totally embarrassed to show you these before shots. just think, we have lived like this for nearly 7 years! I know.
The bath used to black and I painted it white and the walls were the old fake ranch board stuff (faux wood, you can see it above the white paint at the top) that I also painted white a few years back as I couldn’t stand it and we have been so busy doing the rest of the house, that this room was last on the list as we knew it was going to cost a lot. It has been a nightmare keeping the water away from the back of the bath, hence the tacked shower curtain to the wood!
First things first, get rid of the wood wall behind the bath and make it friendly to a little water here and there for the time being..and a thorough cleaning of the wall ready to paint. I used an organic orange oil cleaner designed for bathrooms and the like and made sure to get every speck of it off. Then a light sand as this wall had the orangey glow that only poly coated pine can offer!
Here is the beloved B.I.N that I talked about in the kitchen re-do post. I love this stuff and had some left so I thought I would use it over the pine to stop it bleeding through.
*First free part of the room makeover*
This was actually quite enjoyable as I knew the dreaded orange wood would be gone!

Here is the first coat of B.I.N on and what a difference already! It only took about half an hour to dry…time for a coffee!
This is the paint I used on the kitchen doors. I still had over half a can left, so I thought it is a gloss enamel, I can use this on the wall to help with the water. The colour that I used in the paint is Dulux Chalk USA and is a wonderful warm white, but not a cream. It is also the colour that we have under our chair rail and above our picture rail in the kitchen, living space and hallway.

*This is the second free part of the makeover*

TA DA!!
Second coat of paint went on the next day, as I had other things to do.
SO much better, don’t you think?

I had to use the old shower curtain rail for the time being while I hunt down something else for it. I did find a cut work cotton shower curtain on Ebay and I think I have one here I could re fashion into one.

Now, obviously I still have a long way to go and especially when I am spending no money (if I can help it) in this room as we will eventually be doing it properly. I plan to do a little bit every few days to make it a brighter, lighter, nicer looking space.

The next dilemma is what to do with this floor! I want to rip up this linoleum and the cement sheeting underneath to reveal the wide Tasmanian Oak floorboards underneath and paint with the same paint that we have on our floors in the master bedroom, but I will have to get more paint for that and I have some other painting to do first, so I think I will wait until last to do this…and I have to convince Mic to let me do it!!

So, what do you think so far? Do you think I can do this room on virtually no budget using found pieces and things we already have and make it look nice? I may need your help along the way, ok?

Have a wonderful weekend wont you?

Ness xx

Comments

comments

Comments (52)

  • Wow, what a difference and all you did was paint the walls… can’t wait to see the end result.
    Michelle

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  • Well Ness you really can work miracles it looks fantastic and the floor well if you go out to Rosetto tiling they sometimes have half pallets for a mere fraction of the cost we got ours for 300 for the kitchen and bathroom cheap Manda x

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  • Thanks Michelle. Got to love that white paint.
    Ness xx

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  • Thanks for the tip Manda. Not ready yet to do the tiling. there is So much wrong with this room. That we wont be spending big until we have to re do the room for real…oh and with the boards being so old and wide we will have to have a flexible tile adhesive and grout as there is some movement when you walk on them.
    maybe we could go have a look and just by them for when the time comes.
    Ness xx

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  • What a difference a coat of white paint makes. We had a very unpleasant floor in a place we had in Hobart some years ago. To get rid of it I got enough canvas to cover it and painted a blue and white check floor cloth that went wall to wall. It made a huge difference came up for a deep clean but could be wiped over with a mop. Good luck wish ours was as easy to improve Julienne

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  • Go Girl “what a difference” You know renovations really can be done on the cheap and paint is the best thing money could buy. I would get those tiles up in time and paint the floors – good luck and great job. Sandy x

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  • Just realised it was lino “oh my god” what are you waiting for Ness. You are so good to have put up with it for seven years. I am hopless and rip things up after 7 days. Sandy again

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  • Wow Ness, what a great start you have made! I certainly think you’ll be able to work wonders with little or no budget, just takes a bit of creativity, which you obviously have no shortage of!
    I have so many projects swirling around in my head, I don’t know which to tackle first,argh.
    Angex

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  • I love it Ness! Fantastic job and even better on a near zero budget – well done to you 🙂 I love your paint colour, we have used Chalk USA throughout our whole house. Looking forward to watching the bathroom’s progress. – Tx

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  • You have a great blog here. I like reading unique blogs like yours. I have a site myself which provides information on popular vacation destinations. I want my site to be a place where anyone from around the world can come and have that vacation spirit or “vacation feeling” as you can tell from my domain name.

    I’d like to exchange links with you to help spread some traffic around between each other. Please let me know if this is possible.

    Jason
    ThatVACATIONfeeling.com

    Reply
  • I would have the beautiful wide oak floor boards showing, please don’t tile over them.

    So until you are ready, try and live with the lino for a while longer. Also the wooden floor will be in keeping with the rest of the home decor.

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  • Ness, you clever girl, it looks fantastic, even at the ‘BIN’ stage. Amazing what a coat of paint has done! I bet you feels fresher and cleaner when you hop out of the shower now. Have a great weekend enjoying your new room.

    Rachael

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  • Wow, this is great! I’m really happy to have found your blog. I’m about to start a major house renovation and I’m on a very tight budget. You’ve shown me it’s possible to make a big difference with very little cost. Thank you xx

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  • Amazing what a coat(or a few)of paint does. Can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the room. Danielle x

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  • Hey Ness,

    great work!! I know this has been a bug bear of yours for a while now.

    If i were you i’d rip up the lino/sheeting and just have the bare timber for a while. If it isn’t polished/sealed it will have a lovely rustic softness to it – and it costs nothing to rip out the bad bits!

    julesxx

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  • You’ve certainly been hard at work and I’d say your efforts paid off! Beautiful job; so much more peaceful.
    Have a great day!

    Love
    Vanessa

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  • It is going to be beautiful. The white paint really made a huge difference! I’m also making over a bathroom too on a tight budget. It looks awful now but I’m doing a little bit at a time. This week- end I am having to have some of the floor boards replaced. That is where I am having to spend the most money. I might even paint the floor instead of tiling. I’m having to do it in stages. Can’t wait to see how yours comes along! You have really inspired me!

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

    P.S. I really enjoy your blog!

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  • love that white !!
    Mary from Italy

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  • Wow, what a difference, Ness. I bet you wish that you had done that ages ago. XXXX

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  • amazing difference, Ness! go on, it’s hard work but is worth it!
    hope you have a wonderful weekend, darling! I’m leaving for vacation tomorrow… I’ll miss you! xo

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  • Wow…it looks so lovely…only a little bit white colour…but what a difference…

    With love
    Tanja

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  • What a difference a coat of paint can make. The white is a big improvement. I am dying to see those wooden floors, I think you could tear up that floor in a day…

    The room has come a long way already. Can’t wait to see the progress.

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  • It looks like a totally different bathroom already! I really like the warm shade of white you chose to paint the walls.

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  • i KNOW it will be a knockout.
    it is amazing what a simple thing like paint will do to paneling.

    you are uber talented.
    i just can’t wait.

    xxx

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  • With the wide oak floors it will be simply stunning! There is nothing better in decorating than old wooden floors! Once painted entire downstairs which was knotty pine trim, wainscoting, and overhead beams – never regretted the decision.

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  • Ness amor, amazing what some paint & elbow grease can do 🙂 It looks amazing so far…I love the size of your bathroom and you have given me hope for our own bathroom redo, ours looks like it was from when the house was built in 1916 minus the fab claw tub and vintage sink…we have to replace 80’s fixtures that are here now with the claw tub & beautiful vanity out in the shed 🙂 Hoping one day to get this done. Thank you for the inspiration! Besos, Rose

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  • Julienne and sandy,
    I am committed to painting over the floors. Once i show you the floor stage you will see why this makes sense…they are very old!
    Thanks,
    Ness xx

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  • Ange,
    Thank you…just jump in and get started. Thats what I do!
    Ness xx

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  • Tina,
    chalk USA has become most designers go-to colour because it is such a lovely white as you would know.
    Thanks Ness xx

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  • Patricia,
    Dont worry. I have no thought about tiling those boards…I much rather wood than tile.
    Ness xx

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  • Rachael,
    You have no idea how much nicer it is to walk in there. Cant wait to do the rest.
    ness xx

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  • Sarah Elizabeth,
    thankyou. I really believe that you dont have to have high end price fixtures and features to have a beautiful house. glad you stopped by.
    Ness xx

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  • Jules,
    Good Idea. I have to convince Mic first.
    xx

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  • Lee Laurie,
    Maybe we can do it together. The painted floor is SO good.
    Ness xx

    Reply
  • I do Jacqueline…trust me!
    Ness xx

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  • Have fun Caroline! hopefully i will have more to show you when you get back.
    ness xx

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  • Splendid market,
    So am I and I know it will only take about an hour to do. Similar product was on our bedroom floor before we painted.
    xx

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  • cottage dreamers
    Thank you so much. I need to be sponsered by a paint company…maybe Dulux or Benjamin Moore I think! =0)
    Ness xx

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  • Rose,
    I know what you mean. I have someold pieces that will eventually go in the room. Hope you watch and thanks for your comment.
    Ness xx

    Reply
  • With your eye for style this room is destined for elegant glory! Love what you have done so far and can’t wait to see the end masterpiece – just shows that you don’t need a blank cheque to produce stylish results xxx

    Reply
  • I laughed at Sandy and her “pull it up after 7 days”…I am the same! I think the paint colour has been an amazing transformation! Go you!!!

    Reply
  • Hi Ness,
    Wow what a great job the bath is taking shape. I love the beadboard look. I want that in my bath, love the tub also. Good job Ness.

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  • I have stopped by here often and enjoy it every time, so now I am just going to add you to my favorites so I can get here sooner:) I love this sort of update…what seems hopeless…can be transformed with mostly creativity. I feel your pain about living with “it” for so long…we have an embarrassing “it” too.

    Reply
  • Go to it! You carn’t stop now looking forward to the end result 🙂

    Reply
  • I like what you are doing in there, I am now following your blog, and would love it if you would do the same. Please forgive my ignorance of your country, there really is a Tasmania??? lol The best to you!
    Carol

    http://wwwbeenblogged.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  • me, back again, I think painted wood floors are the “bomb”, I took up all the carpeting in my house after I bought the house and re did all the hard wood floors, was it a job??? Oh yeah, but the result is beautiful. Will keep checking in to see your progress.

    Reply
  • It’s definitely starting to look more like you, Ness.
    The floor sounds like a huge project, but it’s definitely going to be worth it.
    Hope you are taking the weekend off!
    xo
    Brooke

    Reply
  • Hello!
    It’s my first visit on your site, and I really like it!

    Your bathroom is getting really nice!

    Have a nice day!

    Reply
  • Oh yes!!! that is so much better, well done you. The existing floor even looks OK for now. Dont you just love what a coat of white paint can do. Now you can get on with your other busy stuff, and relax a little until you get time for the next step.

    Reply
  • Hi Ness,

    Thanks so much for adding me to your blog roll…. I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered you and your beautiful, beautiful blog! I’ve added you to mine too…

    Have a wonderful week.

    Angela x

    Reply
  • It looks very fresh and neat. I love what you did to the walls very clean.

    Reply
  • I think this is a brilliant make over. I love it. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the bath room floors.

    Reply

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