The Bathroom : One Room Challenge – Week 5

Posted on November 1, 2017

We’re halfway into Week 5 of the One Room Challenge and we’re making pretty decent progress. The bulk of the construction is finished and now most of the stress is on me (rather than Emmett) to tie up loose ends. Click through for the latest update and to see what’s ahead. There’s also a good shower curtain DIY within the post for anyone looking to add height to their bathroom!

In case you missed the first four weeks, no worries… catch up here: Week 1 (before images and the design plan) // Week 2 (demo and prep) // Week 3 (tile) // Week 4 (bathtub resurfacing and electrical)

This week we focused on lots of smaller details… for starters, we put the first coat of paint on everything (we still have one coat to go) and began installing hardware.

The towel bars are up, but they’ll come back down for the last paint roll. I’m happy with the high contrast look against the Sherwin Williams Origami White walls.

Speaking of hardware, we started swapping out the hardware on the bathroom vanity and ran into an issue.

The size is slightly different. The existing chrome hardware had dummy screws at the bottom, meaning Emmett is having to router the shape and add two additional screw holes per piece of hardware. It’s time consuming and not as easy as it should’ve been, but it will be fine in the long rung! It’s just taking more time than anticipated.

I do like the black much better in this space. I’m all about mixing finishes and hardware, but we have so much happening in this small space, the last thing I wanted to do was throw in a touch of chrome. That would’ve been a surefire way to make it look busier than it needed to be.

Which do you guys prefer… the black or the chrome hardware? I really liked the shape of the hardware, it was only the color that was bothering me.

Last week we also addressing the lighting. I finished painting my ceiling medallion and Emmett installed it this week, so you’ll also notice that addition!

There’s something about ceiling medallions and pendants that really do it for me. This is the first time I’ve paired a medallion with a black ceiling and I have to say… I’m loving the drama it adds!

Also related to the ceiling, let’s talk about the shower curtain. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to mount the shower curtain to the ceiling on a sliding track. It makes the ceiling height look so much taller and elongates the space (the black ceiling also helps with that).

Emmett added a plain black valence that will hide the curtain track and make it look a bit more tidy. Right now we only have the shower curtain liner on the track, but we’ll be adding the outer curtain as soon as I get them hemmed and ironed. You’ll notice there are two tracks on the image below and one is missing a curtain… that’s why!

The ceiling track is from IKEA and was super inexpensive. I really like that you won’t ever see it because of the valence, and it works just fine. It didn’t need to be fancy, just functional! I toyed with the idea of spraying it black, but decided the valence was probably a better longterm / durable solution- especially in a shower setting.

So if you’re wondering what’s left on our to-do list, this is what we’re looking at:

~~demo~~
~~new sub floor~~
~~new plumbing~~
~~new electrical~~
~~new dry wall~~
~~new toilet~~
~~build shower niche~~
~~tile~~
add plumbing fixtures (faucet, shower trim, etc)
~~add new trim~~
~~install pendant light~~
~~install ceiling medallion~~
~~install flush mount fixture~~
~~apply first coat of paint~~
~~install towel bars~~
~~swap register cover… white to black~~
~~order & frame artwork~~
install toilet paper holder
swap vanity hardware
apply second coat of paint
trim out exterior bathroom door
install back of door hook
install artwork
clean
style space
shoot

We’re definitely on the home stretch, but we still have a good amount of items to cross of the list. If you have any questions about our process, design, or the overall project up to this point, drop us a comment below!

Click the logo below to see the other talented guest designers participating:

Sarah

Founder & Creative Director

Michelle @ And Then We Tried

November 1, 2017 at 3:19 pm

Could you spray paint the current vanity hardware instead of breaking out the router + drill?

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Along with the curtain track, I really wanted to avoid all spray paint in the bathroom. My main concern is durability and in a high traffic area, or with hardware that gets used a lot, I really want to make sure it holds up and withstands the test of time. I think using the router and spending the extra time will be well worth it! I was trying to think longterm instead of a quick fix.

Reply
Courtney
November 1, 2017 at 5:57 pm
Yes! I love that you are taking the extra time on this…I think in the long run you’ll be so glad you did :) I think we need to step away from quick fixes in the blog world, its encouraging to see you lead the way in this!

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:27 pm
Thanks Courtney! I totally agree. That’s usually always my goal. I’m so glad to hear you also appreciate that! xox

Jeanie

November 1, 2017 at 4:10 pm

I’m with you – I like the black hardware. And I love that your shower curtain goes all the way to that stunning black ceiling!

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:28 pm
Thanks so much, Jeanie!!

mary

November 1, 2017 at 4:37 pm

What a neat idea to install the track for the shower curtain! And I love the medallion light.

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:28 pm
Thanks, Mary! This is the first time I’ve installed a shower curtain on a track, but I have to say- I’ll be doing it more often. It’s really a clean look… I’m into it. Thank you! xox

Robyn

November 1, 2017 at 4:42 pm

I love the black hardware. And that ceiling and medallion – wowza! So pretty!

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Thanks so much, Robyn!!

Christina / The Water Tower Project

November 1, 2017 at 6:36 pm

I never would have thought that a black ceiling would elongate the ceiling but that with the vertical tiles it really does the trick. Looks fab! xx

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Thanks, Christina! The black ceiling definitely eludes to more space that isn’t actually there. So glad to hear you’re also into it. Tricks of the trade ;)

Susie

November 1, 2017 at 7:38 pm

Wow! Totally love your vision. The ceiling color! Swoon! And that light! So seriously awesome! And the shower curtain track…So happy to learn about this little gem. Thanks for sharing! Your bath looks great!!! XOXO ~~~Susie from The Chelsea Project

Reply
Sarah
November 1, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Thank you so much, Susie!! xox

Craig Kellmann

November 1, 2017 at 8:38 pm

I’m all for the black hardware! And I’m already so jealous of that space. Can’t wait to see the final shots.

Reply
Sarah
November 2, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Thanks so much Craig!

Tee @ Beauteeful Living

November 1, 2017 at 8:52 pm

This bathroom is looking so gorgeous already! Love the lighting and those tiles!

Nicki Parrish

November 2, 2017 at 1:56 am

That light against the black ceiling is a show stopper!

Reply
Sarah
November 2, 2017 at 2:53 pm
Thanks, Nicki!!

tim@designmaze

November 2, 2017 at 4:46 am

I vote on the black hardware … look so sophisticated against the white vanity. BRAVO on the shower curtain tracking solution! I have never seen it before and it think it’s a brilliant idea!

Reply
Sarah
November 2, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Thank you, Tim! The shower curtain track definitely helps to make the ceiling / room look taller.

Tash @ The Dreamhouse Project

November 2, 2017 at 5:14 am

Wow! This bathroom is going to be fantastic!! Drama and sophistication. LOVE the black hardware for sure. And the ceiling track is sheer brilliance! Can’t wait to see this one come together.

Reply
Sarah
November 2, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Thank you, Tash!!

melbajo

November 2, 2017 at 4:41 pm

Hi Sarah! I love how this room is coming together, so much drama! Would you mind sharing what the valence is made out of and how it’s attached to the curtain track. Thank you!

Reply
Sarah
November 3, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Thank you! Absolutely… the valence is made out of solid wood (poplar, I believe). We just primed and painted it. It’s attached to 4 little studs on the opposing side of the track. You can kind of see it in the image!

Kate

November 2, 2017 at 6:04 pm

I love the “hidden” shower curtain, but will the tracks get rusty from all of the steam?

I can’t wait to see the finished bathroom!

Reply
Sarah
November 3, 2017 at 2:18 am
Good question! Nope, it shouldn’t… because the majority of the track is plastic and the metal parts are powder coated. It’s really lightweight. Thanks, Kate!

Kim @ Yellow Brick Home

November 2, 2017 at 7:21 pm

That hidden shower curtain – and black ceiling and medallion and hardware – are a DREAM.

Reply
Sarah
November 3, 2017 at 2:18 am
Thanks so much, Kim!! xox

Libbie

November 3, 2017 at 12:13 am

Your lighting and hardware are all beautiful!!!

Reply
Sarah
November 3, 2017 at 2:20 am
Thank you, Libbie!! xo

Susanne

November 3, 2017 at 11:56 am

Sarah that ceiling and medallion are show stoppers!! I am loving everything about this bathroom and I love the black hardware for your vanity :) I can’t wait to see it all finished!!

Reply
Sarah
November 3, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Thanks so much, Susanne! xox

Tana - Your Marketingbff.com

November 4, 2017 at 2:54 pm

I really like the black hardware! The bathroom is looking amazing!!!

Reply
Sarah
November 5, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Thanks so much, Tana! xox

Julie Nichols

November 5, 2017 at 5:12 pm

I love the black hardware it looks great with your gorgeous black painted ceiling. I love the origami white paint too! it’s a funny thing it happens to be the same paint color I picked for my living-family room makeover. I am loving it all and can’t wait to see the reveal!