Here’s a quick progress update on our basement bathroom makeover. As mentioned last week, we committed to a “makeover in a month” and we’re already halfway through the timeline. Because we started a week later than planned, this has effectively become a three-week sprint to refresh the space and give it a cleaner, more coastal feel that better suits our home.
Note: these are real-time progress photos taken at dusk with the room lights on, so they may look different than final, staged shots.
This week my husband repainted the walls and my daughter Courtney applied the first coat of paint to the vanity while I offered moral support. The previous walls were a dingy off-white and hadn’t been updated when we moved in. A fresh coat of Benjamin Moore Simply White already brightened the room and provided a clean backdrop for the stenciled accent we plan to add for pattern and visual interest.
The original vanity wasn’t my style, but I envisioned transforming it into something that reads like a painted vintage cabinet. We chose Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in the color Bergere, and already it’s giving the piece renewed character. Since we aren’t replacing the granite countertop right now, we pulled colors for the vanity, walls, and new plumbing fixtures from the existing stone to make the overall palette cohesive.
Even before finishing the paint or adding hardware, the vanity already reads so much better. Once we install the new faucets and the finishing touches—like the wall sconces and charming accessories—I think the room will feel both fresh and characterful.
To remind you of the starting point, here’s how the vanity looked a few days ago:
And here’s our current progress. Upcoming tasks include painting the stencil pattern on the wall, finishing the vanity paint and hardware, installing the faucets, hanging the new lights, and replacing towel bars and mirrors. After those items are in place we’ll add accessories and styling to complete the look.
We’ll share another progress update next Friday and will provide more detail later about the steps we took to paint and finish the vanity.
For reference, here is our mood board for this bathroom makeover:
Source items that inspired the mood board
- Comb art print
- Wall lights / sconces
- Paint stencil for the wall accent
- Round brass mirror
- Small planter for greenery
- Milk paint for the vanity
- Bath faucet
- Soft bath towels
- Laundry hamper
- Wood dip-dyed stool
- Bathroom hardware
Check back next week for another update as we move closer to finishing this coastal-inspired basement bathroom.