Powder Room Makeover

While reading my daily rounds of decor blogs, I saw a small project that I wanted to share because it successfully addresses the ever-present dilemma of how to do some serious decorating while keeping serious budgets in mind. I think this mini makeover is the perfect example of pleasing your champagne tastes on a beer budget.

Bryn Alexandra is a Charlotte, North Carolina based interior decorator and in her latest project, she tackled her own powder room. With a budget of $1,000, she transformed this space and even came in under budget. I like how she splurged on some items, like the grasscloth wallpaper (and the labour to put it up!), but kept her numbers down with affordable hardware and accessories from a big box store.

Here’s the before shot and a progress shot. I don’t know which is worse, the wallpaper border or the brass toilet paper holder. Yikes. I actually don’t mind the faucet though! I believe I even put a polished brass faucet in the most recent Kitchens & Baths special issue that hit newsstands a few weeks ago.

This is such a great after shot. All for a grand total of $897.50! Keep in mind that Bryn lives in the U.S., so she used a few suppliers that we don’t have access to up here in the Great White North, but I’m sure we could find similar deals here. Bryn broke down the costs, but for specifics, be sure to check out her blog post:

Mirror – $209.50
Grasscloth wallpaper – $230
Labour to hang grasscloth – $220
Light fixture – $99
Faucet – $70
Glass knobs – $25
Toilet handle – $17
Towel ring – $13
Toilet paper holder – $14
Art – free

Sometimes it’s the smallest details that can have the biggest impact on spaces. The best part is that it’s all completely affordable and easily doable! It takes minutes to switch out knobs or hang some art. Takes cues from projects like these when it comes to sprucing up your own spaces on the cheap. Although it was a big overhaul here, pay attention to the small touches and you’ll be surprisingly pleased with the results.

So now you don’t really have an excuse to keep putting off that powder room makeover of yours that everyone means to do but never really gets around to. Right?

Right.

For more bathroom design ideas, see our small bathrooms photo gallery.

Photo credits:
1-4. Bryn Alexandra Interiors