Just after Thanksgiving, I started on a major home improvement project – remodeling the downstairs guest bathroom!  If you didn’t see the start of the project, you can catch up {here}.  While the handyman completed construction before Christmas, I hadn’t yet shared the final result with you because I wasn’t quite done decorating.  But I am now and can’t wait to show you how it turned out! Are you ready for an amazing bathroom remodel with BEFORE and AFTER pictures?

1980’s Bathroom Before

You might recall, the bathroom started out as a builder-grade creation straight out of the ’80s, complete with cultured marble countertops and shower walls, brass everything, fluorescent lighting, and a mismatched patched flooring.

1980s bathroom with cultured marble countertop and gold fixtures - Before Makeover

My inspiration piece was an old dresser that I found at the antique fair that I wanted to use as a vanity.  The overall look that I wanted to achieve was a mixture of warm and cool tones paired with contemporary finishes and antique accents.

Bathroom Remodel AFTER

Here’s what it looks like now!

small bathroom with antique dresser used as a vanity and trellis wallpaper

It is *so* much brighter and as a result, feels so much bigger!  We removed the old vanity and countertop, along with the wall mirror, fluorescent lighting soffit, and toilet.  The new vanity isn’t quite as long as the old but actually offers more storage since it’s a bit taller and the drawers are deep.

Antique Dresser as a Vanity

bathroom with dresser as a vanity wainscotting and wallpaper

The old floor was replaced with 12×12 marble and we added matching subway tile in the shower.  I also asked my handyman to add a decorative panel that drops down from the crown moulding to hide the shower curtain tension rod.

Marble Subway Tile in Tub/Shower Combo

tub shower combo with marble subway tile and white ruffle shower curtain

Inside the shower there is a shampoo and soap recess and while it took forever to figure out how to align it properly with the wall, I love the end result.

Shower Shampoo Niche

shower shampoo niche made from marble subway tile

The shower curtain itself hides behind this decorative, ruffled panel.  The panel is actually an 84″ curtain panel that my mom lengthened for me over the holidays.

DIY Ruffle Shower Curtain Panel

diy white ruffle shower curtain panel for tub shower combo with silver table next to it

Next to it is a small table that holds extra soaps and Q-tips, but all of that decor can easily be moved and stored in the vanity if guests would prefer to keep extra towels or a change of clothes on the table.

Silver Butler Tray Bathroom Decor

silver butler tray in bathroom holding soaps and q-tips for bathroom decor

I have even more spare toiletries in a vintage sewing drawer on the back of the toilet.  The drawer holds a wash cloth, extra hand soap, travel sized shampoo and conditioner, room spray, nail files, and even a small sewing kit.

Guest Bathroom Essentials in a Sewing Drawer

vintage sewing drawer holding bathroom essentials for guests

Above the toilet is a small vintage hand mirror and compact that I have framed and placed a vintage comb from the late 1800’s above.

Bathroom Decor Ideas

Framed silver mirror and comb hanging on wall above toilet with sewing drawer holding essentials

The wall art on the back wall is a large gold and silver vintage hand mirror and I love the juxtaposition of it against the bright, contemporary wallpaper.

vintage silver hand mirror framed and hanging on bathroom wall

The vanity itself is still my favorite part.

Turn a Dresser into a Vanity!

French wooden dresser turned into a bathroom vanity with marble floors

I love that the paint looks like a warm, weathered patina with its mix of warm and cool tones and I love all of the carved details.

closeup of details on a chalk painted french dresser

The old faucet was replaced with this vintage-inspired one.

Vintage Style Faucet

closeup of a chrome vintage style faucet

Separate soap and lotion dispenser sit on a small tray on one side…

Beautiful Vintage Style Soap Dispensers

closeup of vintage inspired soap dispensers in a bathroom remodel

…while a boxwood sphere in a mercury compote dish sits on the other along with a small container that can be used to hold guest items such as tooth brushes, toothpaste, jewelry, watches, etc.

Cute Bathroom Decor

French bathroom container holding q-tips and mercury glass compote with preserved boxwood bathroom decor

Above the vanity, two sconces offer additional lighting.  The sconces are on a separate switch from the overhead lights and the overhead lights are on a dimmer, so all of the lighting can be customized to each person’s comfort level.  The mirror is actually the front of what used to be a medicine cabinet.  I love that its shape repeats the pattern in the wallpaper.

Sconces Flanking a Mirror

sconces with shades flank a wooden mirror in bathroom with dresser vanity wallpaper wainscotting and beadboard ceiling

From builder-grade…

Downstairs-Bath-Before

…to beautiful!

bathroom makeover with dresser vanity trellis wallpaper beadboard ceiling and carrara marble

It is so nice to have a bathroom where the sink doesn’t drip, the toilet doesn’t leak, and the shower actually works!  This is now our favorite room in the house and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

For a full list of sources, please click {here}.
Signature Favorite Things 2014 {and a Gift for You!}

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Want to see another bathroom remodel? Click see how our master bathroom turned out!

French master bathroom with carrara shower pony wall next to freestanding tub

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137 Comments

  1. Absolutely beautiful. It looks lovely it’s from a high end bed and breakfast. The transformation is incredible.

  2. Jan Mitchell says:

    I am using an old dresser for a vanity too. I notice your’s doesn’t have a backsplash to it either. What did you use to seal the top against water and the backsplash area?
    Looks beautiful!

    1. Hi Jan!

      I wish I remembered the exact brand that I used, but it was a water-based topcoat and I applied three coats. The backsplash is wood, not MDF, and it just has regular semi-gloss paint. This is a guest bathroom so it doesn’t get a lot of use.

      Good luck with your remodel!

      :) Kim

  3. Like most of us here I’m sure I’ve seen hundreds of makeovers, but YOURS! It just takes the cake in every way! Complete jaw dropper stunning! The vanity is the heart & soul of the room for sure, but you put just as much thought into every detail so that the entire room really supports such a beautiful piece! Every part of the makeover makes every other part just that much more beautiful. (Can you tell I’m in love w/ your bathroom?! Lol. Just a bit!)
    Really awesome job! And the descriptions were so great as well!
    Beautiful & one I’ll come back to for inspiration!

  4. North East Factory Direct says:

    Wow! What a stunning bathroom. you did a great job!

  5. How do I get the color of the vanity? I love it. Is it a certain stain or several different colors? Love love love

  6. Lyndsey Bush says:

    I just love the way your bathroom renovation turned out!!! I’m about to start the same project with an antique dresser I found recently. I would love to know what you used to get that finish on your dresser? Thanks!

  7. Alison Alfredson says:

    Beautiful! I’m in the process of remodeling my bathroom and have a dresser I plan to turn into a vanity also. If you don’t mind me asking, how tall is your dresser? I was reading about the typical height for a bathroom vanity falls between 30″-34″ where 35-36″ are okay but usually on the high side. And did you do anything to resurface or varnish the top? I’ve read a few blogs who have also re-purposed a dresser and there is a large range of what people do. Thanks!

  8. PLEASE tell me where I can purchase that or like vanity !! I LOVE IT

  9. Love the bathroom!!!! Amazing..

    How did you stencil the wall? Looking to do something similar
    Thank :)

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Mayra – I didn’t stencil it, I wallpapered it. I debated for a long time about doing so, but since it is a neutral wallpaper I decided to go for it! :)

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Ashley,

      Thank you *so* much for including my guest bathroom in your board and blog post! I’m thrilled!! :) Kim

  10. Kim – This bathroom is so so beautiful! I can’t believe the difference! You have amazing style! Pinned for inspiration!

    Cat

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Cat – Thank you so much!!! :) Kim

  11. Kim,

    This is just beautiful! The vanity is so special, and I also love your little details. The framed hand mirror and using the vanity pieces as art is quite wonderful. Beautiful marble and lovely shower curtain panel. Love it all!!

    Lory

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Lory – Thank you for your kind comments! :) Kim

  12. So in love with this makeover. Absolutely gorgeous!

  13. I should have gone to the source post before asking about the mirrors, so no need to answer. Thanks, Bambi

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      No worries! Good luck with your project! :) Kim

  14. What an amazing and inspiring transformation. Could you share how you attached the hand mirrors to the backing? I collect them and would love to display a couple of them in that manner.
    Thanks!

  15. Love everything about this space! Gorgeous. Did you share your source for the side table in another post perchance? Also, would you please PLEASE please give a tutorial on how you transformed the dresser top into a sink? That’s a project I’ve been dying to try and I have the piece ready and waiting! Thanks!

    1. User Avatar Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Sara! Thank you so much! I shared all of the sources in a separate post that you can find here: https://www.tidbitsandtwine.com/guest-bathroom-details-sources/. I haven’t yet done a tutorial for turning the dresser into a vanity but surprisingly, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. The basic idea, though, was to take the sink template and lay it on top of the dresser top. We used a chalk pen to trace the outline. We DID NOT center the sink but rather put it slightly more toward the front so that you don’t have to reach or lean in order to wash your hands. The handyman used a jigsaw to cut around the chalk line and once he dropped the sink in, he sealed it with caulking. In the Source post I provided above, you can see a picture of the inside of one of the drawers to see the U-shape that we added so that the drawers were still functional. Keep in mind that my dresser had the drawer glides on the sides, not the middle, which allowed us to cut out a portion of the center.

      Good luck with your project and I’m sure it will turn out beautifully! :) Kim

  16. Love, love, love your bathroom transformation! We are downsizing and permanently moving into our vacation home this summer. I plan to redo the dated bathroom that is similar to your ‘before’ BR. How did you remove the old track and glass slider on your bathtub? Did you have to have the tub refinished? Thank you?

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