From Fishy to Beachy, the Boys’ Bathroom Reveal
When I last showed you my boy’s bathroom, it looked like this:
Nemo and Dory would have enjoyed life living in the kids’ bathroom. But, alas, I was serenaded by a beautiful new mirror (actually a new MirrorMate frame.) And so I set to work helping this bathroom grow up.
Here is that beautiful temptress, Ms. Gramercy Martini. Isn’t she lovely.
With curves and details like that, I had to build board and batten moulding that would match her beauty.
And, what bathroom couldn’t use a sweet spot to display some beautiful flowers? I really like this built in shelf, it was really easy to construct it.
The wall color is Blue Slate by Benjamin Moore. And I used the new bath & spa Aura paint which has a matte finish! I have yet to clean it yet, but I’ll let you know how it does.
These two starfish friends are happy to perch on the 3″ deep moulding ledge. Yes, I expect them to make a suicidal dive one day, but my boys haven’t bothered them yet.
Finding just the “right” shower curtain was a little challenging. I would have loved to put in a floral or feminine curtain, but I have to respect that there are two little men that will be using this bathroom 95% of the time.
I am sooo glad I ditched the hollywood strip light for these beauties:
Just a close up view of the battens where they meet the floor. Now wouldn’t that have looked weird if I had left the baseboard tiles there?
Here is a better view of the vanity, new light fixture and the MirrorMate frame.
I have one more project for the empty wall. I took down the old chrome towel bar, but I have a fantastic idea for a new one. You’ll just have to wait and see what I came up with. In the meantime, the hooks on the door work well for hanging towels up.
So, go ahead let me know what you think! Do you miss the Nemo room? Or are you loving the grown up beach retreat? And am I crazy for making this bathroom look this good for my 5 & 7 year old boys? By the way, Pretty Handsome Son #1 tried to convince me that the bathroom would look better with black and pink stripes! I am seriously going to have to paint his closet like that because he has been asking for the same color scheme for 2 years now!
absolutely stunning!
really lovely space – and so so so much better than the aquarium!!
cheryl xox.
It really looks pretty – I like all the little touches like the shelf (maybe not-so-little).
Honestly, Brittany, I don’t think it could be any better. Your board and batten treatments looks beautiful–you did an amazing job of combining the different kinds of trim for a truly custom look. And blue color you chose for the walls is just right!
No, I don’t think you’re crazy for doing this for your 5- and 7- year-olds. This bathroom looks like it’ll be easy to clean, and it has a nice masculine look. But if your son is really pushing for pink and black stripes, I’d say his closet is a good place for them!
Richella, thank you for your sweet comments on my boys’ bathroom. I hope it is easier to keep clean. And, I think I’m going to wait another year before painting his closet. Still hoping he’ll grow out of it 😉
Brittany
Yay the reveal is here. It looks absolutely gorgeous. Although I love Nemo, the new look is even better. 🙂 Thanks for the tutorial. I will definitely use this in my upcoming bathroom makeover.
Question for ya! If you had a wall that leads to the stairs, would you put B&B on just that wall and that side of the stairs? I was wondering if it would look weird if I only do that wall or if I need to do the entire living room as well.
Thanks! 🙂
Kas3doto,
I’m having a hard time picturing your dilemma. (But that might because I still haven’t had my coffee yet.) Can you send me a quick picture? I’m guessing that there are several ways to handle it.
Brittany (email: PrettyHandyGirl (at) gmail.com)
Thanks for the pictures. I think you can do either. If you want to stop it right before the stairs, “cap” off the end with a board that is slightly taller and deeper than the others. Then add some decorative moulding on top. Make it look like a newel post that is built into the wall. Not sure if that makes sense or not. Here is a picture to give you an idea, but not exactly what I was thinking: http://pinterest.com/pin/107531414/
Thanks for replying so quickly. I think I know what you are talking about. That might be a good idea too since we are thinking of putting bookcases back on that wall. Then we could start at the bottom of the stairs and up with the b&b.
🙂
Beautiful transformation!
Uvijek sve odradiš do savršenstva. Upravo tvoj perfekcionizam je ono što me oduševljava.
Karmen,
Hvala vam na umu. Uvijek sam uživati gledajući prijevode iz vas. ; -)
Brittany (who may someday learn Croatian)
Beautiful makeover! Love the wall color and trim, and the updated mirror and lights. Perfect!
I love it! Your finished projects always look so professional. Great job.
Fabulous! If I had even a pinky finger’s worth of your talent! Love the colors. Now I’m considering doing the board and batten in our upstairs hallway. You made it look uber simple! Fantastic job!
Laura, I bet you have more skills than you realize. I hope you go for it. Or start with a trial board to see how it works ;0) Thanks for your comment.
Brittany
Wow that looks awesome! I have used Aura paint throughout my home. It truly is amazing!! So my master bath looks very similar to yours. Lt blue walls, SAME shower curtain, and lt tan floors. But I wish I had your board and batten!! Beautiful!!
Vicki, well get busy 😉 Now you know how to do it. It isn’t too hard, just takes time and patience.
Brittany
LOVE it. I think that is the color I am going with in my master bathroom! Great minds 😉
Ooooh, it is a very cool color. Be sure you don’t use cold CFL light bulbs in the room though. Bleck!
I LOVE it! The blue paint makes the white look so clean and beautiful! Great work!
Looks great! Definitely a more grown-up room. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for the towel bar (even though I’m a hook person myself)
Ha, ha. You will just have to wait and see. I’m going to keep you hanging from a limb. LOL! Yes, that was a clue 😉
Brittany
So grown up! Love all the hooks on the door, too.
Brittany – you are the master of board and batten – the bathroom looks incredible – love blue against the white and the little touches you added, too. Had to laugh at your son’s request. My oldest daughter wanted fluorescent green and orange in her room when she was a teenager. I know I am going to have to tackle undoing that someday soon.
My best- Diane
Diane, good for you for indulging your daughter’s request. Hopefully she’ll want to change it herself one day and then she can undo it 😉
Brittany
I love it!! I love fish ocean scenes and all that, but if they are growing up, their space should too. I think if you show that they have a nice space, hopefully they will feel very grown up and take slightly better care of it. Great job Brittany!
xoox
Kristina
@PearlGateway
Ha, ha. Well, I can only wish they will keep it clean 😉
It looks fantastic! I’m so glad to see it finished up! You are truly inspiring!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
Nothing is worse in a bathroom than that hollywood strip lighting and a plain mirror (I know because we had that too!). You’re transformation is so nicely done and adds value to the bathroom. I really like it…much more grown up for the boys. You are so so “handy”. The only thing I was wondering, is if you’d thought of changing the color of the vanity?
Nanci, ha! You caught me. Yes, I might paint it a deep gray color. But, that will have to come at a later date. I had to finish up the bathroom before our friends came to visit.
Brittany
LOVE the way it turned out!
This looks greeaaat! I love the paint color- I need to check out a swatch to see if it would work for me, always on the lookout for the ‘perfect’ blue.
Blues are tricky. So far, these are some good ones to try:
Blue Slate by Benjamin Moore
Nantucket Fog by Ben Moore
Brittany Blue by Ben Moore
-Brittany
BEAUTIFUL!!!! I was SO happy when my kids got tired of the baby bathroom, too, and I could make it into a true guest bath. Although it’s sad too. I just look at them growing up as a chance to redecorate!
Stacy
Awesome, Brittany – gorgeous! I love all the details that you added to the B&B. I also like the striped shower curtain – it adds to the beachy feel. I absolutely can’t wait to see what you’ll be doing for the towel bar! I don’t know if the pictures I sent you of my bathroom show it, but I have the ugly builder’s towel bar and toilet paper holder – the ceramic kind that will leave a big ugly hole when removed?! I want so badly to replace it but I’m not yet up to tackling that; maybe you will once again inspire me… 😉
Tati, oh I was thinking, geez I can’t believe she didn’t change out her towel bar! LOL! No, I didn’t even notice. I just looked again. I think they look fine. If you wanted to replace them you’d end up ripping up the wall and having to patch it. Not that you can’t do that. But, I think they look great and much more durable than the screw in kind.
Brittany
Exactly! They’re definitely in there and durable, but eventually I will replace them because they are ugly – at least the towel bar is above my B&B so no fixing up will have to be done to the B&B. The hesitation is in matching the current paint – we inherited it with the house, so matching it is next to impossible. I’ll probably wait to do the towel bar until I’m ready to repaint a new color!
Waiting to patch until just before you paint is a great idea ;-). It is tricky to get the paint to look like the original. Even if you have the orginal paint.
Love it! Perfect balance between soft and . . . um, just right for little men 😉 But, yes, mine would’ve tried boomeranging the starfish (probably at each other) and the lovely soap on the sink would’ve made it about a day. Maybe. But then, I had 3 and I was a new-to-the-game stepmother.
Dying to know how the matte finish washes. I’ve always disliked high gloss walls in bathrooms. Too much shine!
Gorgeous, Brittany!
Colleen, thanks. I’ll let you know when I have to wipe down after the next bath. They tend to fling that soapy water everywhere!
I’m so impressed! It’s amazing!
Your bathroom looks incredible. It’s amazing what a new look does for your home.
I really love the change Brittany! I think the striped shower curtain looks great in there. I have 3 boys and I would love to throw some bright flowers in mine but you do what you gotta do! Luckily I like stripes too!
I love the new look. You always do a great job and make it look so easy to do it yourself. I absolutely love your beach theme.
Your detail is stunning!
Wow! Gorgeous bathroom! The curtain, the mirror, and the sconce made it elegant. I felt bad for the fishes though 😉 Great job!
did you glue the coat/towel hanger on the back on the door?
Can you tell me where you got the shower curtain or what the name of it is?
Can you tell me where you got the blue stripe shower curtain or what the name of it is?
Cindy, I got it at TJMaxx or HomeGoods. Can’t remember which or the name of it. I’m sorry.
Hi Brittany! I have run across you a few times on Pinterest, and finally had the time tonight to check out your blog. Love what you did in this bathroom. I just posted a bathroom project on my blog this week. Check it out if you get time. diysisters.com. I’m enjoying looking at all your fun projects!
Beautiful……but the cabinets need to be loved….what are you planning?
beautiful…but the cabinets in the bathroom need some attention…what do you have in mind?
I’ll probably paint it gray at some point. But for now it is at the bottom of my to do list. I have to finish our kitchen first 😉
Great work. One small nit: instead of cutting into the batten and being flush with the board, the switch should have been pulled out so that it is even with the batten. For part that sticks out over the board, you’d build a small frame around it for the cover to “rest” on. See how it was done here:
http://sawdustgirl.com/2013/06/25/board-and-batten-outlet-tutorial/
I’m really surprised that you didn’t replace the outdated sink and cabinet. I was looking forward to seeing a beautiful blue colored sink and countertop with white or dark wood. Maybe you did, but I don’t see it in the pictures. Don’t get me wrong-yours is in GREAT condition, but I think it doesn’t match the updated serene look of the rest of the bathroom. Your theme is exactly what I’m considering in the bathroom that my sophomore son uses. It will coordinate with the bedrooms on that floor of blue and gray with a calming feeling of being at the lake. Living here in the midwest far from any major bodies of water is something we dream of.
Ahhh, good catch Julie! Yes, I always meant to paint that cabinet…. and lucky for you, I did! This past year I painted the cabinets and updated the knobs. Let me know if you think it goes better now 😉 http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/bath-refresh-lowes-creative-ideas/
Is there any chance you remember what color white you used? I am stumped on the white we should use in our new master with the Slate Blue.
Scoured your blog and found it must be Oxford white or possibly white from the Impervo line
Sarah, this was the Impervo white. But, I really like the Oxford White too by Benjamin Moore. Good luck.
This is great! I’ve been doing a little research on board and batten with furring strips, as I am about to complete this little project for my “mudroom” Your blog will be of help, so thank you!
Lindsey