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Fall 2018 One Room Challenge: Week 1

Last Friday, I was not sure if we would participate in this round of the One Room Challenge. Our spring project went from bad to worse, and I just wasn’t sure I had it in me to tackle another project right now. After a  lot of soul-searching, I decided that I like the punishment of stressing myself out for six weeks at a time. Knowing that a couple of hundred other people are in the same boat makes it all the better. The featured designers discussed their projects yesterday, and you can immerse yourself in guest participant posts starting today.

If you are visiting Blake Hill House for the first time, I’m thrilled. As much as I like Instagram, I am team #blogsforever. I still love reading other bloggers’ meaty posts full of content, and I enjoy writing too. I hope you’ll subscribe for the long haul. If you adore big old houses, podcasts, and women who pretty much wear the same sweatshirt in every DIY Instagram story, you found your kindred spirit here at BHH.  (note: Ever since we visited Prince Edward Island over the summer, I cannot stop using the phrase kindred spirit.)

Blake Hill House – Built circa 1882

Which Room Did We Choose?

I’ve been teasing a bit over on Instagram. Even though all of the rooms I mentioned (sleeping porch, halls, college student bedroom) could use a good makeover, the room we chose for this round is our main bathroom upstairs. If you have been reading here for some time, this is probably not a surprise.

I’ve dubbed this project the scary bathroom. If there were any ghosts trapped in this room, we let them out already. Andy and I have grand plans for this room, but we don’t have the $20,000 to make it happen. So, I convinced Andy that we can spend a little now and have a bathroom that is both beautiful and functional while we save the money for our dream remodel.

The good news is that last year, we discovered original wainscoting hiding underneath the pink paneling.

We also have the most beautiful marble sink that stays for sure.

Since we thought we were going to be getting an entirely new bathroom this year, we pre-demoed the walls and wallpaper which left us with this unfortunate situation.

There is also a layer of faux wood vinyl on the floor. Is this print fooling anyone? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.

The Plan

Most of the plan involves cosmetic changes, but our chief complaint is that there is almost no storage in this room. This dresser serves as primary storage.

There is also a tiny little cabinet.

For all you list-makers, this next part will make your heart go pitter-patter.

To-do (in no particular order):

  • add some storage (maybe a built-in?)
  • pull up the vinyl flooring
  • paint the wood floor
  • restore the original wainscoting
  • repair and paint the walls
  • restore the marble sink
  • restore the clawfoot tub

To buy:

  • shower curtains
  • rug
  • frame an original piece of art by my father-in-law
  • new lights
  • storage cabinet
  • storage solutions (bins & containers)
  • towels

Inspiration

I posted this photo a couple of weeks ago, and it will serve as the transformation inspiration:


photo credit

Green is finally back, and we are embracing it in more subtle ways this time around. Fun fact: Green was my favorite color for forever until we moved to BHH. Then, I got very tired of it, but I’m starting to feel it again.

I put together this crappy-looking mood board because it’s what we do as challenge participants even if we are no good at it.

The wainscoting will stay unpainted, but the walls above will be white. The floor will be green. Although I love the glass shelves in the Fabrikör metal cabinet by IKEA, I may swap them for wood. It feels like a safer option since this cabinet will get used on a daily basis instead of just holding curios. Wood vs. glass will be a game-time decision.

Let’s do this! Are you with me? Let me know what you think about the plan, and be sure to check out all of the One Room Challenge projects from the featured designers and the other guest participants too.

PS: If you are interested in our past projects, here are the links:

Kitchen Pantry | Street Side Front Porch | Library | Breakfast Nook (featured in This Old House magazine! | Dining Room

38 Comments

  • Samantha Spiegel
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 6:55 am

    Love your house and your humor. I am and am excited to watch your progress. I can’t believe there was wainscoting under the vinyl! I imagine that would make you want to tear up everything else to see what treasures lie beneath. Dangerous though.
    Sammy

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:59 am

      Thank you, Samantha. 🙂 In answer to your comment, I DO often want to start tearing things up to see what is underneath. LOL

      I’m looking forward to following your project!

  • Emy
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:43 am

    That sink is so cute! I always love your makeovers so much. Looking forward to following along.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:56 am

      Thank you! I’m so excited for your dining room makeover!

  • Lynn R
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:45 am

    The ORC links in your post are to the Spring 2018 challenge, not the current one. Looking forward to your bathroom adventures!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:50 am

      Omgosh! Thank you for spotting this! I’ll fix them right away.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:55 am

      Fixed.

  • Erin Burke
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:57 am

    LMAO. Wow, this room is speccccial. Amazing, I can’t wait to see what you do in here! It’s going to be so good. The green floor and marble sink will be gorgeous.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 9:00 am

      Scary, right? 🙂 I’m aiming for a less creepy vibe.

  • SH
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 9:10 am

    I have been following for some time and I am still surprised you are tackling the main bathroom. But oh does it need it. May any awful surprises be tiny, and any wonderful surprises be grand!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 9:14 am

      Amen to that! 🙂 Thanks, SH.

  • mkcubed
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 10:29 am

    I’m here and ready for the ride. Your plan sounds solid and I know the outcome will be amazing. Can’t wait to follow along each week.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 4, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      I am so glad you are following along again.

  • Alisha Argo
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    I love the color palette and that you’ll be keeping the wood tones in the wainscoting. That sink will sing with your changes! Eager to follow along- good luck!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 5, 2018 at 12:03 pm

      Thanks, Alisha. Restoring the sink is probably the task I most look forward to completing.

  • Marti
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    Hooray! Super excited you’re doing a make-it-work makeover of this space.

    Forget diamonds – blogs are forever, and a girl’s best friend. #blogsforever!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 5, 2018 at 12:03 pm

      Yes! You’re my kindred spirit. (offered for the comedic benefit only)

      Let’s stick together and never stop blogging.

  • Emily @ The Sweet Beast
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:07 pm

    Omg that sink is gooooorgeous! And I’ve never seen faux wood flooring quite like that. Your plan sounds great and I’m a huge fan of making space more livable and functional while you wait for a big remodel – it’s always worth it!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 5, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      I’m warming up to the idea of interim fixes the longer I live in this fixer-upper. 🙂

  • Susanne
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 9:46 pm

    The more I see of green the more I am loving it and your inspiration photo makes me love it even more. That sink is amazing and your original wainscoting…well I am super jealous 😉 I am excited to follow along and will be cheering you from the sidelines this go around!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 5, 2018 at 12:00 pm

      Thank you, Susanne! Green is the new navy which was the new green. 😀

  • Jenny
    Posted October 5, 2018 at 9:16 am

    I’m excited to see this bathroom get updated! It must have been super disappointing to have to put the brakes on the total reno, but a cosmetic update will surely be awesome in the meantime. I love the inspiration pic and mood board. 🙂

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 9, 2018 at 9:57 am

      Thanks, Jenny. It was disappointing, but we are pretty go-with-the-flow around here. Thanks for following. 🙂 If you ever need a mood board, I’ll make one for you. (kidding!)

  • Devyn
    Posted October 5, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Sometimes lipstick on a pig is the best option, although this pig has great bones. ??

    Looking forward to seeing the cartoon wood floor being sent back to the 70s. I think a painted wood floor will look great, we plan do do that in our guest bath. That green….. There is something about that particular shade that I find very appealing. It looks similar to Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.

    I look forward to seeing you through this project and I am confident you will get it done on time.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 8, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      It’s not a bad pig at all. 🙂

      That “wood” floor takes the cake.

  • Jeri
    Posted October 5, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    The reason I DIDN’T vote for the main bath was because I thought you might not be up for tackling a project that had so much potential to go awry. But after reading your plans to make cosmetic changes instead of the full redo, it made perfect sense. I’m excited to watch the progress!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 8, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Thanks, Jeri. I’m crossing my fingers it all goes as planned.

  • Ame
    Posted October 5, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    I’m with you! That wainscoting makes me feel things, and I’m so excited to see it restored.

  • Downraspberrylane
    Posted October 7, 2018 at 11:03 pm

    This is gonna be good!!!

  • Downraspberrylane
    Posted October 7, 2018 at 11:08 pm

    Forgot to say “blogs forever!” Although I have to say, too many have become too “slick” for me. I like the nitty gritty and all the gory details!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 8, 2018 at 4:50 pm

      I’ll provide plenty of gory details. LOL

  • Em
    Posted October 10, 2018 at 10:54 pm

    I love your plans, Stacy! As I learned in Spring, bathroom remodels are fun yet stressful (and we didn’t even DIY the hardest parts!)…I’ll be cheering you on and hoping yours is way more on the fun side of the spectrum! The dark green is delicious, and exciting that you’re keeping and restoring your sink!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 11, 2018 at 11:08 am

      Thank you! So far, so good. 🙂

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