Well, well, well. If it isn’t the whimsical, traditional bathroom that we all knew I was going to choose. Who guessed right?? Whose bummed I didn’t go with floor-to-ceiling checkered tile?! I tell you who isn’t, and that’s my wallet. Designing the bathroom of your dreams is one thing – pricing it out, sadly, is another.
Welcome back to the second installment of this bathroom makeover. If you missed yesterday’s post, you can go back and read it here, but I’m afraid some (all) of the mystery might be spoiled for you. Or maybe not, who knows! That in itself is a mystery enough.
Let’s quickly revisit the 4 design options. An astute blog reader might have guessed I wasn’t going to go with design #1 (top left) because I already repainted my primary bathroom this color. You got a peek of that in my bedroom reveal post! But, If you really know me, you know that in my soul of souls, I’m a green girl through and through. So something about design #4 (bottom right) really captured my heart. And I’d love to tell you why in this short, but dense blog post.
Wallpaper | Wall Tile | Floor Tile | Trim Tile | Paint | Vanity | Faucet | Mirror | Double Sconce | Toliet | Toilet Paper Holder | Brass Switch Plate | Towels | Soap Dispenser | Blue Vase (similar) | Art (vintage) | Picture Chain | Mini Footed Bowl (unavailable)
Whimsical tree wallpaper meets creamy organic tile, while an elegant white oak vanity sits upon timeless stone flooring. Who do I think I am?! Honestly though, I’m just really happy with how this bathroom turned out. And of course, it’s thanks to a few key people – The folks over at Rejuvenation who collaborated with me on all the bathroom hardware and furniture, my dad who did the entire renovation, and my husband for putting up with my insanity.
I’m traditionally a walnut wood kinda person, so this time I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and try something new. White oak perchance? We needed a smaller vanity to make the new floor plan work. And this sweet little vanity fit the bill. I customized the hardware and chose a pretty Carrera marble top. We installed the toilet paper holder right onto the side – the benefit of solid wood pieces! I paired the vanity with this white oak bentwood mirror, which I had my dad turn into a medicine cabinet front.
You can see the box he built out behind it here! Just another crazy idea I randomly had, which my dad made a reality.
Choosing the floor tile was the hardest part about designing this bathroom, and I probably had 20 different samples sitting on our dining table at one point. I ended up choosing to go with these green and white stone floors because they felt like a better fit for our home. I decided that anytime I tried to do something more modern or “trendy,” I didn’t like it long term. I really felt that choosing the more traditional option was going to make me happier, and I was right! Know thyself. It was also a much more cost-effective choice, since I picked this flooring up for about $20/sqft.
One place I did empty our wallet was the wall tile. I could have sourced a much more affordable, plain, white subway tile. And I did consider it several times. But I really wanted something warmer and more organic. I didn’t want the bathroom feeling sterile (or looking too much like our primary). So I stuck with my gut and got these creamy tiles which have a little more of a handmade look. I think they do a lot to keep the space feeling inviting. It also really complements the brushed brass shower and tub hardware from Rejuvenation. Gotta say, if you have the ability to add a hand shower to your set-up, it’s a game changer. I use it all the time!
Ceiling Light | Shower Curtain | Curtain Rod | Rug
Even with the toilet moved to the other side of the room, this bathroom is still a small space. So having a vanity with plenty of storage was key. Big cabinet space, plus a shelf for storing extra towels makes hiding kids’ stuff easy, keeping the bathroom guest ready. The mirror is so large as well, that it makes a decent-sized medicine cabinet. Room for both baby products and guest use.
A custom, two-shelf niche in the shower gives us a home for shampoo, conditioner, and soap. We even have a tiny window ledge for any overflow, like toothbrushes. And now that we have a bigger, brighter window, it’s the perfect home for a little plant.
The tub is a new cast iron piece that my dad installed. Since our primary bathroom has a shower only, I knew that this bathroom had to keep the tub. Elio loves bathtime and I can’t wait for him to use this tub. Listen, I know that soon this bathroom will be the domain of many primary-colored bath toys. But at least the rest of the room will still be aesthetic. Though, I do have to admit that since becoming a mom, my desire to keep everything “aesthetic” has really diminished. My priority now is really keeping things simple, clutter-free, and sentimental. And if it isn’t a choking hazard, that’s a bonus! Did anyone else experience this revolution once they became a parent?
Brass Dog Hooks | Brass Rabbit Hook | Wood Shelf | Brass Brackets | Triple Switch Plate | Art (vintage)
Now over on the other side of the bathroom, I did want to have a little design vignette. So we installed this white oak shelf from Rejuvenation, with simple brass brackets. Eventually, it might be a place to store extra toilet paper, but for right now we’ve got a little art and plant moment. I didn’t quite measure correctly when it came to picking the shelf size, but since these shelves are beautiful, solid wood, it was easy for my dad to cut the shelf down to size.
I found this sweet little paint-by-numbers piece from the 1950s on Etsy. And the combination of the trees that matched the wallpaper and the sweet little boy with his dog just felt perfect for a little boy’s bathroom. The mixed media collage is actually a piece that Macauley’s mom made for Elio when he was born!
When I saw these brass animal hooks on Rejuvenation’s website I knew they were the perfect whimsical touch for this bathroom. They have three different dogs, a rabbit, a stag, a moose, and a horse. They feel right for a kids space, but they could just as easily live in any adult space. We actually have the horse hook on our primary bedroom door for bathrobes. They feel just a little old world, and I think there’s something so special about little touches like these.
I wanted to keep these little moments going, so where I could I hid fun little details. Like this little rabbit and ceramic die. This cow painting is something I had been holding onto for ages, and it’s finally found a permanent home in this, now, nature-themed bathroom.
This is a great shot to take a closer look at the trim tile we used to bridge the gap between the wall tile and the wallpaper. The tile I chose didn’t come with any bullnose pieces, so we had to find something else, and I ended up finding these pretty green stone pieces while wandering around the tile store. This is one reason it’s always better to go looking in person when you can. You never know what you’ll find.
This might be my favorite shot from the whole bathroom. Something about the way the light is coming in and how you can see just about every element on a macro scale working together – the white oak, the wallpaper, the creamy tile, the brushed brass, the statement door, and the beautiful marble counter. That basket hanging on the door was a wedding gift, and now it’s a little laundry basket for Elio’s sweet tiny things.
Overall, I’m really pleased with how this all came together. Especially considering how fast I was making decisions! If you’ve read my posts before, you know I’m more of a jump first, pay the consequences later kinda designer. There are a lot of little moments that I really love, and I almost enjoy showering here better than in our primary. Especially in the mornings, when there’s sunlight coming in through the window!
This is the last big home project we’ll be doing for a while, and we’ve now officially renovated every single room in the house! We’ll still always be doing small projects (right now we’re hanging an art rail in the primary bedroom and the dining room) because I’m a plague unto myself and can’t sit still when there are rooms to be repainted or shelves to be restyled. But as far as demo and construction, we’re DONE.
You know, until we’re not.
BIG THANK YOU to Rejuvenation, without whom this bathroom wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful. I can confidently say that every single piece we have from Rejuvenation in our home – from the lighting, to the outlet plates, to the tiny cafe curtain bar in our kitchen – are still as beautiful as the day we installed them and feels so authentic to our home. Another thank you to my dad, as always. Best grandpa in the world. And finally, thanks to EHD and all you readers for taking the time to step into my home! Hopefully, even if this wasn’t the bathroom you wanted to see, it won you over.
*Design and Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
The green on the ceiling brings it all together. Pretty
Agree! I am curious though…do you have a fan in the bathroom? I love the idea of a painted ceiling but we have a light/fan combo that I would need to replace before I’d paint it. Any ideas? I’d think with the wallpaper you’d especially want the ventilation.
I believe the laws state that if there’s a window, there’s your ventilation, so the fan is not a requirement.
classic but whimsical, you hit ALL the boxes! Love it.
Exquisite! A little jewel box of a room – so many sweet touches. And I love the paint color you chose. Perfect!
I love a Sara post! This is so lovely- great choices! I love all the tiny details and the serene vibe. I am currently searching for my first home and I’m really hoping we find somewhere historic so I can embrace this type of style. Very inspiring!
Yay! That was my favorite of the 4 options! It came out amazing!
What an absolutely fabulous bathroom!! All the details sing!
It’s pretty perfect! I love the texture of the tiles and the green paint color. So beautiful.
Sara, congratulations on the baby. Yes, many perspectives change throughout motherhood.
The bath; it’s a perfect mix for a guest, kiddo bath in an older home, that houses a hip young family. I have a similar aged home and always find so much inspiration from your home posts. And would regardless of age of the house. I’m curious, did you paint the bathroom only side that pretty green color, or the whole door?
Whoops, sorry, read that wrong. The guest room/office closet and entry doors are wood. The door into the bathroom is painted white.
(The comment with the link to the post hasn’t been approved yet.) Search “Sara & Mac’s Office/Guest Room Reveal – LOTS Of Function + Even More Color and Style” to find the room reveal on the other side of this bathroom.
Yay!!! This is the one I would have picked, but I love seeing all the iterations you came up with. Great job. And in addition to your decorative skills, how lucky are you to have such a generous hard working dad, bringing the practical skills? Such a great spot for all the toddler baths that are coming (when my kids were babies I was given the advice that “when children are grumpy, but them in water” and it was really true!).
Did you install the wallpaper yourself? Did you put anything on it to protect it from steam? How do you like it close up and how did you decide between the green and light green color ways? I think I’m installing the Raphaël in my entry and interior hallway and would love your thoughts!
Congrats again on the baby and on finishing the last room in the house! You’ve had quite the journey!
Sara – it’s stunning!
How do you find the green ceiling in real life? It looks beautiful but I have avoided similar in my own bathroom because I thought it might make people look a little green, which seems like it wouldn’t be flattering
While I didn’t have a green ceiling, I did previously have a green bathroom, lighter than Sara’s ceiling, a minty sage, and I found it unflattering. It took 15 years for me to have it repainted, because I really loved the color, now it’s a beautiful blush, Benjamin Moore’s Odessa Pink at 50% strength. I did the walls and the ceiling and the room glows. It’s beautiful.
I am SO glad to read these comments because I was considering painting a small bathroom (but one I use frequently) in a similar sage green color and I wasn’t even thinking about how it would give me/guests a green color cast but of course it will! Pivoting to another color. THANK YOU.
My powder room is green – all the walls and ceiling too. It’s a bit lighter and brighter but not too different of a color than this one. I have never noticed a problem with looking green myself when in there, but the mirror is right next to a window so maybe the natural light makes a difference.
Absolutely beautiful room. Just beautiful. I love every detail! And that little rabbit and die on the picture frame almost made my heart explode with happiness. I will now be searching for a tiny animal to perch in a surprising spot.
Yes, both my powder room downstairs and my ensuite have a yellow-ish green paint color, and I’ve never noticed it affecting how I look in the room.
My bathroom was horrid – splatter painted pink and blue with an ugly vanity – and Im not ready for a full remodel so I painted it a creamy white thinking it would be hiply Scandi. Instead it was just depressing and blah until I drenched the bottom half in a deep olive green similar to Farrow and Ball’s Bancha.. Now the room pops with that deep green energy that gives a tile feeling. Keeping the green at hip level prevents the green cast, but it helps to have a nice big window too.
For the first 15 years of my kids life we had a sage green couch and apple green walls. ALL of the pictures taken there have a green tinge that is unflattering.
Depends on the tone for sure! Dark greens tend to be good backdrops for many skin tones.
This space is gorgeous!
You did such an amazing job incorporating fun into such a tiny space while keeping in them with the rest of your home. I love everything about it!
So lovely! Knowing your other home posts I can see how this fits perfectly into your home. Chef’s kiss. And I can’t believe what a huge difference getting light from that window makes! I am so curious how you decided how far up the wall to put the tile behind the toilet and vanity? Looking at the before and after, that makes such a difference in ramping up the style of the room (vs. stopping the tile in the tub area). Is there some sort of best practice for this, or was it just what felt right during the install?
I *love* this! Love love love. Look, I always enjoy EHD reveals, but I’m more of a traditional girl myself and this is one of the few that I’m like, “Oh, I would do exactly that in my house.” Everything comes together so perfectly. I usually don’t like ceiling-adjacent picture rail because, with light colors, it leaves that weird shadow – but with the dark color, the shadow gives it just enough emphasis. I liked the tile border as shown in the moodboard (placed 1 tile in from the edge), which is super classic, but I love it even more on the edge. The fact that it doesn’t exactly match the subway tile (and btw totally agree the cream, more hand-made subway tiles were worth it) makes it more like a “frame” for the wallpaper. Seriously, this whole room is perfection.
Every choice is so beautifully perfect! Just when I think I’m “okay” with my bathrooms that could use updating, I see a lovely one like yours… You will enjoy many, many hours in this little jewel. Chef’s kiss to the wallpaper, art touches and tile.
I love this SO MUCH!! Every detail, from the flooring, to the wall tile and wall paper, to the hooks and artwork, chef’s kiss! Thank you for sharing your home.
Beautiful. I want it all
So gorgeous!! Not to be greedy, but any chance you could do a reveal of your primary bathroom? I was one of many people who commented on your bedroom reveal post who was dyinggggg to see your primary bathroom based on the little slivers we could see from your bedroom!!
The main bathroom reveal is linked above, right before the comments start. Although it was painted green initially (Road to Todos Santos by Backdrop) and repainted Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink.
Love this bathroom, as I love your whole house. Great job! Agree that the organic tiles make all the difference. The wallpaper is gorgeous, as is the floor and the colour palette. Your dad is super talented as well. And congratulations on your baby!
Beautiful. I love every choice. God bless your dad moving the toilet is a big convoluted project.
Oh my gosh, Sara, it’s so beautiful and cheery and feels like it fits your home. Traditional but also a little quirky – lovely.
Also, once he is a toddler, you especially won’t give a s*** what the toys look like as long as they can keep his attention for more than 20 minutes, hah! TRUST that it becomes a “function over form” situation quickly.
This looks so great! This was probably my last pick of the 4 options but it looks so good. I think you made the right choice here. The wallpaper and the green are fantastic and I love all the little vintage touches and the look you created with the trim tile.
It’s funny to look at this post through an “influencer” lens. It’s great that you were able to work with a sponsor for it! But the prices of the Rejuvenation pieces contrasted with the comment about emptying your wallet for very reasonably priced tile are interesting. I certainly don’t think you “owe” a discussion about how that impacts the design, but it’s interesting to think about what different choices would have been made (or how different the budget would have been!) without a sponsorship.
Oh, I would love a post on how to do this room on a budget! Yes, she is very lucky to have the Rejuvenation partnership but I think she acknowledges that for sure!
Absolutely stunning! I love your whole house Sara! It’s such an inspiration. And great layout as well. I am about to renovate a small bathroom myself and would love to know the dimensions!!
The dimensions are listed in yesterday’s post.
Thanks Aida!!
Your bathroom turned out so pretty and perfect. I love it! I’m a little sad your house is finished now, so no more reveals. I have to say, yours are my absolute favorite!
I am SO happy that you went in this direction because this is the EXACT floor tile we are considering for our bathroom renovation. Can you tell me what grout color you went with?
Yes please on the grout color, Sara! I’m also going to be installing this same tile!!
Oh, this is fantastic. I’m so in love with your tile choices!
This is SO beautiful!! Hooray! Would it be possible to see a shot of the inside of the medicine cabinet your dad (amazingly!) built out? I’m envisioning doing exactly this in my bathroom which is a weird size for standard vanity mirrors and would LOVE to see how someone else tackled the door closure and framing/whether it’s inset at all etc. Dads are the best but Dads can who do THIS? Wow!!
Sara, you’ve done it again! I love how this came together and the perfect combination of traditional and whimsy! I love all the little surprise figurines. And you always have the best vintage art. Gorgeous!
Hooray! I love it.
This might be my favorite bathroom. I love all of it.
This is absolutely beautiful, Sara. What an homage to the house.
If anyone wants that little blue vase (originally from Target), there are a few of them for sale right now on Poshmark. Search under Home-Accents-Vases-Brand (Hearth & Hand) to find them.
Absolutely beautiful! And you quite literally brought to life something that I have been wishing for…a rounded corner, wood framed medicine cabinet. Please please please write a post on how your father made it a reality. I need to make one today!!
Yay, I was hoping for #4. It looks sooo pretty! Congrats on getting the whole house renovated over time, it has been a treat watching all the reveals.
It’s really lovely. I like it all. Two questions about cleaning: what color grout did you use on floor? And is it hard to clean under vanities with legs? Thanks
Our vanity has legs that are low to the ground and NEVER AGAIN. It is so tough to get in there so it is rarely cleaned. (gross to admit!) I would say if you are not doing a pedestal sink, make sure the vanity has about 6 inch high legs so you can easily clean under there, or no legs and it goes to the floor all of the way around. OR, just know that you are choosing design/looks over easy-to-clean and know going in that you have to deal with that (which for some people might be worth it!) I don’t have a cleaning person so it’s all on me, and the more little details like that I have to deal with the more time it takes out of my life if that makes sense.
Good advice. I myself will never go with anything lighter than gray grout again.
If you have a robot vacuum, make sure it fits under the vanity and you can use technology to clean it.
STUNNING! I love the green ceiling so much. Oh man, now I want to redo my kids’ bathroom. I just need a windfall/winning lottery ticket and then I’m all set.
So pretty! I was secretly hoping for #2 but I knew #3 or #4 were waaaay more likely, and totally fit better in a craftsman home 🙂 So pretty, I love how all the art supports the overall theme… definitely a skill I am still honing
It’s perfect! I love it all. Can you confirm which brass finish was used for the knobs and shelf bracket? There are many to choose from on the Rejuvenation product page.
It’s beautiful; all the more because of the whimsy and unexpected (but also perfect) accessories you added.
Agree! Sarah’s little details are all so carefully curated and put a lot of personality into the space. And not in a way that take over. It’s artful!
So true and so well said! 🙂
Were you nervous about the warm cream tile contrasting with the cooler marble and floor tiles? How were you sure it would work together?
I’m won over and didn’t have a favorite pick to start with. It seems ideal for your home, has fun moments and is utterly charming!
OBSESSED with everything, but especially that green stone trim tile. What a delightful, unexpected touch.
I just bought this wallpaper yesterday for my kids bathroom (1931 tudor) so this feels so serendipitous! It looks amazing and so inspirational.
Wow- What a thoughtfully designed small bathroom. I’m smitten with so many details, but especially the tile and all of the metal finishes. 3 questions: Is the overlap of the wood shelf into the shower done for a reason? 2. I would love more details on the medicine cabinet build, especially on how you decided on how much distance the mirror should protrude from the wall. (I did something similar by attaching a simple framed mirror to an existing medicine cabinet, but I did not have tile elevations to deal with. and 3. can you talk about the playing card on the vanity ledge? Is it ceramic? That and the mouse/die are just so sweet. This whole project must bring such joy each time you see it!
I picked #4 and am feeling mighty proud of myself. Okay, it was clearly the best, most everyone else was voting for it also. Honestly, it turned out even better than I expected. Kudos for designing not one but four adorable spaces.
It’s fabulous.. Love the floor tiles… Where did you get the head planter in the shower? And the ceramic playing card?
Sara, your posts are my favorite posts! (shhh!)
Sara, this room turned out beautiful! That wallpaper is the star of the show and you are right, holding firm to those creamy tiles really does make a huge difference. And yes, I agree, I definitely relaxed my decorating once I had kids and needed function. But guess what? Now I am an empty nester and it has coincided with a huge burst of creativity. Enjoy this phase of your life. There will be a time again for glass topped tables and white upholstery. 😉
So so beautiful and restorative while being fun!
I’m wondering if maybe someone at EHD would consider adding up all of the gifted rejuvenation pieces. I started to and there were too many to count, but it would be so helpful to have a full list of the stuff one must replace to do a full bathroom reno and the cost of going high end (rejuvenation is high end/high quality, right??). I’m clueless! Thanks for considering!
Sara, this is stunning!! Every element is perfection!
Gorgeous! Love the green ceiling. Please tell us more details on how your dad turned a great mirror into an awesome medicine cabinet!