Pintervention: A Bathroom Redo Success Story
Pick it, click it and stick it to a Pinterest board full of ideas. Today, follow a bath renovation that actually puts those pins to work!
SB friend and local writer Connie Forestner lends her voice to us once again to share her recent decorating project, a stunning master bath renovation that brought her Pinterest boards to life! She shares her experience today to offer her own Pinspiration to you! Welcome, Connie.
My 1980s master bathroom recently received a Pintervention, and it was long overdue. The colossal marblesque garden tub, stained carpet (yes, carpet in the bathroom!) and the tiny closet-sized shower were crying for help. At least that’s how I like to think about the leaky shower pan that made its appearance known through my family room ceiling. A tiny drip turned into a stream of tears, which turned into a massive renovation.
Finally, all those hours on Pinterest were about to pay off! Time to set up new boards and enlist the help of my long-distance friend, space planner and designer extraordinaire Silvia Dipman. Silvia’s moved almost every two years for at least the last 20, giving her more practice reimagining spaces than anyone I know. She’s an expert in breathing new life into old spaces. And although she currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, we were able to collaborate on ideas through shared boards on Pinterest and more texts than our children have ever dreamed of sending.
Floors j’adore
French style has been the inspiration for my ever-evolving interior. Light and airy spaces (where possible with a messy family of five), rustic touches, heirloom pieces and flea market finds wander their way into my home. The answer to how to bring that style I love into the master bathroom was hiding in my Pinterest boards.
One of the hallmarks of French interiors, the gorgeous herringbone hardwood floors that grace French apartments, have truly captivated my imagination. Pin after pin of these floors evolved into pinning herringbone-patterned floors out of other materials. Soon there was a pattern and a solution for how I could bring that classic French look to my bathroom and have it make sense. Not that carpet in a bathroom makes sense … I mean what were these builders thinking? The solution: porcelain “wood” tiles laid in the herringbone pattern, setting the tone and establishing the foundation for the entire master bath.
Shower on the charm
The original shower was smaller than a coat closet and entry was from the toilet area. Borrowing space from the adjacent master closet created a shower with room to spare. My friend Silvia found this fabulous shower on Pinterest and shared her pin to serve as the inspiration for our new shower. We took a risk in designing the shower without a door. Naysayers abounded: “You’ll get cold!” Water will go everywhere.” “Showers are supposed to have doors.” Not true. We’ve enjoyed warm, toasty showers, water goes right down the drain, no need for a door. We did alter the design to include a handheld shower for ease of cleaning and potential dog washing! The timeless appeal of subway tile complements the herringbone floors and provides a fresh feel.
Sourcing from the virtual marketplace
In keeping with the Internet influence, all fixtures were found online. No traipsing from store to store when the virtual shopping world stays open 24 hours a day. Pin it on Pinterest, find it locally in a store — best of both worlds. I scrolled around to narrow down options and then used that list for targeted shopping trips around town. Silvia’s brilliant sourcing uncovered the vintage-look oil-rubbed bronze fixtures on Wayfair.com for a fraction of the prices I’d spotted.
Custom cabinets were created from pins, reimagined to fit our space. My cabinetmaker, a talented local craftsman, took the photographs and designed the cabinets accordingly. The countertops are quartz, Caesarstone organic white, which gives the beauty of natural stone without the upkeep. The medicine cabinets and sconces are from Restoration Hardware. The color palette (or lack thereof) evolved as the bathroom did. Painting the cabinets “greige” was a consideration, but once the floors were installed, we decided they would provide the color in the room. The white palette keeps it clean and simple and creates a soothing oasis. Should my exercise in restraint cave, we can always paint the walls and/or cabinets later.
Soak up the rewards
The pièce de résistance? Winifred, our freestanding tub found online at Signature Hardware (and yes, that is her given name by the manufacturer). Framed by two picture windows, she enjoys the spotlight and space that her ’80s counterpart once occupied. Made from a resin material, the finish has a stone-like quality and holds heat well. She and I are already quite close … I so enjoy having Winifred draw my bath, very Downton.
While Pinterest can often be the source of anxiety and leave one feeling inadequate (who really has time to make all those fabulous bento box lunches for their kids?!), it proved to be an invaluable resource for our master bath renovation. Now … which room will be the next?
Connie, thanks so much for the virtual soak in your tub. We’re all in love with Pinterest, and finding new ways to actually use all those fantasy idea boards ignites major motivation. Visit all our StyleBlueprint Pinterest Boards to see what we’re dreaming up!
