
Continuing on in the house tour, is our powder room, which is just a few steps from our entry way. It isn’t exactly how I want it, but it’s a small improvement from what it was and helps me visualize what I’d like to do.
This area was calling out for some sort of separation from the powder room.
We added a simple Billy bookcase with glass doors and height extension from Ikea and hacked it a bit: raised it a few inches off the floor and trimmed it along the top and sides so it would reach the ceiling and look like a built-in. It left the perfect amount of space for this cute little olive tree!! And these are my painted interior doors! BM Balboa Mist.

wooden mirror – Homesense find similar
When we moved in, this was a builder grade, boring bathroom. The classic panel mirror, builder lighting, and builder cabinet and countertop. Not completely offensive, but just kind of meh.
I painted the yellowy wood vanity dark charcoal grey (Pencil Point by Behr), which tied in the countertop instead of it sticking out like a sore thumb. I still don’t love it, but it kind of just blends in. We may go back and paint the cabinet black soon, still thinking about that.
The walls were a bright cornflower blue, just not my vibe, so I painted them Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. For a special touch, I painted the ceiling a light, airy blue (kind of like you see on vintage porches). The colour is Soar by Behr and it really creates an airy vibe in here. My husband’s photography is in the art above the toilet. The architectural piece is one my sister gave me as a housewarming gift and I’ve had it in a few places around the house. I think it’s found it’s home here.

We left it at that for a few months and then inspiration hit to create the look of panelling. I used 1x2s that we had in the garage to add the detail, and painted the “panelling” and baseboards the same colour – Balboa mist by Benjamin Moore. I LOVE the colour and also used it on the interior main floor doors to add a bit of contrast. It is a nice neutral colour that doesn’t read too yellow, kind of like a mushroom colour.

Eventually I’d like to add vertical boards for more of a board-and-batten look. I carried the trim around the mirror to make it look more like an actual mirror and less like a panel of glass, but I’d like to look for a really nice accent mirror for in here. I kind of hate the sink and faucet (which are used all through our bathrooms) but I’m not up to replacing them yet, and I’d like to change the light fixture, too.
All in all, for a simple update to a builder bathroom, I really love it.
Next up, our living room!
xo
Kristen
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