Dear Joe,
I just moved into my first condo in Edgewater. The view is great and I really like the space, but the bathroom is terrible. I has a very outdated yellow tile, ugly wallpaper and sort of French style vanity in white and gold. I plan to remodel eventually, but can’t do it now. With all the moving costs I can’t put a lot into it. Any inexpensive ideas to make the bath bearable?
— Doug
Dear Doug,
Congratulations on your new space!
Having to wait to remodel the bath can be aggravating, but here are some thoughts on what you can do.
The walls: Can you strip the wallpaper and paint the walls in a compatible color? Could you select a more up to date wall covering (preferably a durable vinyl) ?
The vanity: Can you afford to replace it with an inexpensive unit? If not, maybe you could paint it one solid color; say, all white. The solid color will play down the frilly details. You may also consider replacing the hardware on the existing vanity with something more simple.
Faucets and handles for the sink and shower: If they look old and worn, maybe you could replace them at a low cost.
Medicine cabinet or mirror: Are there options to replace this? One inexpensive and space-expanding answer is to use a large plate glass mirror.
Wall and ceiling light fixtures: These can usually be replaced easily and very inexpensively. There are some very nice selections in all finishes available.
Other touches that can help, too. New towels, a toothbrush holder, an unusual glass, new towel bars, a cotton bath mat, a new shower curtain, interesting framed prints, baskets, and any number of other accessories can go a long way to make the space look better.
The trick to living with the bathroom ‘as is’ is to replace what you can and work with what you have to keep. For example, try to play up the existing yellow tile; don’t try to mask it. Work with it by using a complimentary color wall covering or paint color; maybe a color from another room in your unit. Combine towels of this color and yellow. Or add some artwork with yellow in it.
A few dollars and some imagination can carry you through until remodeling time!
Joseph Rice is an interior decorator who offers full services. With 24 years of experience, he specializes in hard-to-treat windows. You can e-mail jos.riceinteriors@att.net, call 773-271-2361 or see www.josephriceinteriors.com.