#HDBlogSquad ~ Bathroom Makeover (The Progress + DIY)

Hello Monday! Welcome back to round two of my bathroom makeover, transforming a practical, yet ho-hum bathroom into a timeless, tranquil space to enjoy for years to come (especially during the winter months!).  I walked you through the Before, my To-Do list, and my must-have items from The Home Depot for the transformation a couple of weeks ago, and now we are ready to check out the progress!

Here is a quick refresh of the Before:

And here is the beautiful blank slate after demolition:

My awesome contractor did an amazing job preparing the walls and levelling the floor to ensure the room is ready for its new look.  That means I have to get all my key components (tub, vanity, faucet, tiles) on site FAST to keep the project moving. 

And that's why I love shopping at The Home Depot: all my major components are in-stock in store or online!  If you are nervous about ordering your items online, The Home Depot has made online purchasing so simple and consumer-friendly that you can either pick up your order in a store nears you or simply have it delivered to you.  Check out our fantastic progress:

One thing I enjoy the most in renovation is to incorporate DIY elements and custom touches to make the space that much more special.  In this bathroom makeover, I will share with you three of my favourite design tricks to make fabulous in-stock products shine like showstoppers.

1.  "Custom" Vanity

There are many vanities available at The Home Depot, and yes I would have picked up this elegant one in a heartbeat, especially with the unbeatable price.  However, I have a specific dimension in mind (54" wide and 22" deep to be exact) and it's hard to find one that fits the bill.  A fully custom vanity is not in the cards as it generally has a long lead time PLUS a hefty price tag.  So here is my compromise: a semi-custom vanity with kitchen cabinets.

Armed with my measurement and specifications, I headed to the kitchen department at The Home Depot.  The super knowledgeable kitchen designer showed me various options in terms of design and price point that fit my requirement and in a few short minutes, my dream vanity from Fabritec was printed on paper!

Standard base kitchen cabinetry generally comes with short black feet and an apron that covers them.  I knew from Day 1 that I want this vanity to look like a piece of furniture, which means my vanity will have elegant exposed feet! So I opted out of the standard apron in my order (to save a few extra bucks) and after a couple of chats with my contractor, a base is custom built with lumber from The Home Depot and painted a fresh coat of dreamy white! 

2.  Incorporate Arts

I don't know anyone who doesn't love a medicine cabinet in the bathroom (I am still dreaming one in  my own condo) and instead of the typical mirrored door, why not use a piece of framed art as your "door"?  Here is my step-by-step guide for you to try at home:

Step 1: measure the existing wall opening and frame your art accordingly

Make sure the framed art is a few inches wider and taller than the wall opening to ensure you are well covered.  In my case, the wall opening is 12" wide and 24" tall, and my framed art is 16" wide and 28" tall.  Also select a frame profile you that is wide enough to cover a hinge on its back side. 

Step 2: determine what you need to hang the "door"
 
Depending on the size and the weight of the art, you will want to make sure your wall can support the weight and select the appropriate hinge for the task, especially when you are going to be opening and closing it as door.  With that in mind, I have made sure my art is light on weight (so the hinges I need to use is smaller in size) and that my contractor has put in a solid frame ready to support the door when preparing the "hole" for my medicine cabinet. 

Step 3: measure twice and drill once

I don't know about you but I tend to make a few holes on the walls before my art is hung right.  Well that won't work in this case as I really only have one shot to install the hinges on the art frame.  For that, I enlisted my beloved German engineer for a simple task from 1 to 4.

3.  Designer Floor

Ceramic and marble tiles are the typical go to options for bathroom floor.  Marble mosaics have come a long way for a high-end designer look.  As you all know, "designer look" generally equals to "designer price" and today, I am showing you how to "customize" readily available tiles at The Home Depot for a stunning floor pattern at fractions of a custom designer floor.

Pattern-mix is what I love most in the design process and I am determined to add wow factor to my serene bathroom with a truly unique tile pattern.  Here is my game plan incorporating ceramic tiles (12"x 24"), glass and stone mosaics, marble shower jambs, and metal trims:

Key notes if you are tackling this project at home:

• Make sure the floor is level: some tiles are more forgiving than others with uneven floor and since we are mixing tiles, make sure you get the OK from your tile guy  

• Sketch out the pattern on paper with reference to exact measurement: so you can visualize exactly how the floor will look like and determine the material requirement to avoid wastage 

• Double check all your tiles share the same thickness: we all want a smooth floor to walk on I assume?

Are you excited to see the final reveal? Come back next Monday to check out my tranquil, sumptuous, spa-inspired retreat!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Home Depot Canada. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words.