Check out our finished vintage modern bathroom renovation! Read about our earlier progress here and here.
We officially have a bathroom on our first floor again! This project has been so fun to see come together. While the space is small, it has brought such a bright and clean feel to our downstairs. Having a bathroom to use while on the first floor is also so much more convenient! I want to share how everything came together and show the final look.
the shower and toilet
Starting with the shower-we chose to keep the original cast iron tub. I purchased a Rustoleum Tub and Tile refinishing kit and used it to give the tub a new life. It turned out so good! If you are on the fence about using a product like this, I would definitely recommend it. The process was easy to follow, and the results turned out great, especially for the price. I cannot speak to it’s durability yet, but so far it seems like a very nice quality.
I chose some textured white 3×12 subway tiles for the shower. They were a bright, clean white to match the tub, but the texture and variation gave it such an interesting look. I arranged them in a vertical stacked pattern, and finished it off with a white grout. I made sure to seal the grout so that we have an easier time keeping it clean. The bright tile brought the modern to the vintage modern design of the room.
As for the fixtures, I found a brass, vintage inspired set that featured a large, waterfall head, hand sprayer, and super cute knobs. This shower fixture might be my favorite part of this entire bathroom. I love that it’s very practical for what we need, but the large shower head is so comfy. We mainly use this tub for dog baths, so the sprayer handle was essential.
Some finishing touches to this beautiful shower were a brass shower curtain rod, some brighter gold clips for some contrast, and a cozy taupe linen shower curtain. I think these warmer elements really help to give contrast and make the space feel inviting. Here is the shower:
We utilized the same toilet that was previously in the bathroom since it was working properly. We changed out the guts and switched the handle out for this adorable gold lever. This little touch made such a big difference! Changing your toilet handle is an inexpensive way to make a big impact on smaller spaces like bathrooms.
the vanity
As for the vanity, I wanted it to be a statement piece. I saw a picture on Pinterest that showed an old vintage wash stand converted into a sink vanity and immediately knew that was what I wanted for this room. I stalked Facebook Marketplace and found this one for $35. The finish was in great shape, except for the door on the bottom had a chip in it. I ended up just taking this door off so that I could put a basket for towels in it. The drawers were already lined with a cute vintage contact paper, so all I had to do was wash it up and take the door off. We used a jigsaw to cut a hole in the top of the stand for the drain. I found a simple white square vessel sink on Amazon that we put on top. We did need to trim a bit of the top drawer and cut a hole in the back for the drain. Overall this was so much easier than I thought it would be. The best part is that the vanity and sink only cost about $85!
I wanted the faucet to match the vibe of the shower fixture, so I found a brass faucet with similar knobs. We mounted the faucet on the wall to work with the vessel sink. There ended up being a gap between the face plates and the wall, so we cut and stained a piece of wood to match the vanity. This ended up working so well!
The mirror is another Amazon find. The brighter tone of gold adds some variation and brightness. I liked that it had curves to break up all of the straight edges in the room. On either side we put up some simple brass sconces with white shades. These give off a really cozy vibe compared to the overhead bathroom fan’s built in light.
the floor
The floor tile is a neutral matte brick that we laid in a chevron pattern. I absolutely love how this turned out. The floor has a great texture to it that makes it feel so homey and really hits that vintage modern feel. The tiles are a similar shape to the shower, but the color and pattern difference gives it a good amount of variety. The grout is a cream color, which I made sure to seal as well.
the final details
One of the last things I needed were the towel racks and toilet paper stands. The toilet paper stand is a brighter gold tone that I think matches the room really well, and it provides a place to put extra rolls as the bathroom is really small. The hand towel holder was from Amazon, and matches the pretty ornate bronze look. For the larger towel rack, I had the idea to find one of those metal racks with hooks on it that people hang their pots and pans on. I thought I could hang towels and some decor on it. The one I got ended up being a total flop, so I plan to look for another one. The finish ended up looking greenish in the bathroom light.
I also want to find some towels, a bath rug, and put up some other decor. But overall, I love how it turned out! We now have a beautiful place for guests to shower and get ready. I think the design really matches our vintage modern style and fits into the rest of the house well. Stop back to check out the other rooms we finished-the back entryway and pellet stove area!
