One of the first projects tackled is the guest bath that adjoins one of the bedrooms in the basement. It’s the largest guest bath in the home and it also connects to the basement family entertainment room. The beige box before:

Typically my first rule of thumb is to NOT choose the paint color first. However, in this case I did which I realize goes against my regular design advice. This room is an exception. It’s a bathroom, nothing too dominant is going to change. The tile, cabinets, even the mirrors and fixtures are definitely nice and will remain in the room.

Historically my preference is for Benjamin Moore paint but there isn’t a retailer nearby so I thought I would try one of Martha’s new colors now found at Home Depot. I’m a fan of Martha and thought this would be a good test. Looking for something a little bit in the gray family but still warm I landed on the color ”Brook Trout”. It’s a warm gray-brown or brown-gray, not far from the beige family but with much more depth. What I love about the color is that it really made the trim pop and the hickory cabinets standout. The beige box after:

The space is large and comfortable for a guest bath but very square. This results in what feels like wasted space therefore I chose to put a 3×5 area rug in the center of the floor. It gives visual texture, depth, and interest where it is difficult to create given that there is little open wall space for art. It also keeps a cold tile floor feeling warm under foot.

Keeping with a more natural theme I opted for a few dried flowers and a burl wood bowl on the counter top. The height and accessories that are a little bit masculine were needed. I found the vases and the burl wood bowl in an unlikely place… Kohls. With the desire to remain budget conscious I stumbled upon these items while I was shopping for the decorative towels. The splurge were the dried flowers from Michael’s, I spent more on them than the two ceramic vases combined! But I do love the texture…

Other details that I added were new guest towels and shower curtain in white, of course, because that always reminds me of staying in a hotel. I want guests to feel a little bit like they are on vacation. Hardware was also added to the drawers and cabinet doors. They are like jewelry, it’s a little added touch that creates a finished look.

I’m still looking for the right vintage or antique piece for the wall opposite the vanity, but that takes time and is something that you just stumble upon when you are least expecting it. In the end I’m pleased with the non-beige box and the fact that it no longer feels like a cold basement bathroom. All in all, not a bad transformation in one weekend!

You can find this post and other decorating transformations on:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch!