When we first moved into our home, the kids’ bathroom was your typical builder grade bathroom. It had the basic light grey tiles, the white counter and no exciting finishes. As soon as I saw it I knew it had the potential to be so much more.
Vision of a French Blue Bathroom
The vision for this project was to create a French provincial inspired bathroom. The soft elegance of the French provincial design always brings about a feeling of calmness. I wanted to incorporate details such as molding, a console sink and a soft blue-grey color palette, to achieve the French country style. Think South of France, but make it a child’s bathroom.
I also knew patterns, brass details and vintage artwork would help tie the room together to give it a luxurious look!
Before: A bornig builder grade bathroom
The first order of business was to get rid of all the old fixtures. This included removing the towel bar with a hammer and chisel and the old builder grade mirror. And lastly I removed the old, bulky vanity for a new console sink. I thought removing the vanity would be an easy task, but unfortunately that was not the case.
I called a contractor to help me with the bigger changes I wasn’t equipped for, such as replacing the toilet. He also helped me remove the heavy vanity. During the removal we came across a tiling issue.
Removing the Vanity
I hired a contractor to help me with this step of the renovation. When we removed the old vanity to install the new console sink, I discovered something unexpected. The original tiles of the bathroom did not extend underneath the sink. They were only tiled to the width of the original vanity. That left a big, bare patch without tiles. This meant I had to add an additional step to this whole process.
I learned that you should NEVER buy a vanity before removing the old one. Sadly I had the new one waiting for me in my garage and it was past the point of returning it (not to mention how heavy it would be!) The issue is that I had picked a console sink that you can see underneath. Meaning you could see the lack of tiles!!
As I continued with the makeover I ran into another issue. The current waterlines came out the floor, but the floating vanity plumbing vanity needs to come out the wall. Otherwise you would be able to see the pipes, due to it being a floating vanity. My contractor came by again and completely saved the day. He was able to reroute the pipes for the floating vanity. This meant I need to now close up the floor and wall, so that nothing would be visible from the floating vanity.
Peel and Stick Floor Tiles for a Quick Fix!
Originally, I had no intentions of replacing the floor tiles. They were neutral, clean and would work well with the French provincial theme. However, now I had to fix this dilemma.
When I became aware of the bare patch without tiles, I weighed my options:
- I could re-tile the whole bathroom
- I could replace the flooring
- I could just go with the peel and stick
I landed on peel and stick tiles because it was the quickest and most efficient option for the time crunch I was in with this bathroom remodel. With three kids, efficiency and effectiveness usually end up informing my decisions. Plus, the cost was so minimal for peel and stick tiles ($120)
And I figured down the road, when I do a major renovation of the whole bathroom, the floor would be replace.
The first step was a thorough cleaning of the floors to ensure no debris sticks to the tile adhesive. Have a vision in your mind of how you want the tiles to look. And with a very steady hand begin to lay down the tiles. Then make sure to grout the tiles and as a last step seal them in with a tile sealant. Looking for more details on how to lay peel and stick tiles? Check here
Gorgeous Blue Wall Paint
The next step I call the “protect and paint”. This meant I had to cover up the new toilet and tiles before I began painting the bathroom. I just threw a garbage bag on top of it. I was not going through the effort of removing the newly installed toilet.
The perfect paint color for this French provincial inspired bathroom had to be gentle and welcoming for the daily routines of my children. With this color scheme in mind I decided on Mount Saint Ann by Benjamin Moore. A beautiful soft blue-grey color that is very serene. It contrasts well with the gold hardware and the classic accessories in the bathroom.
I decided to “color drench” this bathroom. This means that the ceiling and the door is painted the same color as the walls. I even went the extra mile and painted the exhaust fan cover. The result was this beautiful grey-blue color, very reminiscent of the French countryside.
Installing the new Vanity
The most anticipated step of this process was setting up this new vanity. It was the focal point of the entire makeover, so I really had to nail it. The installation was fairly easy as opposed to everything that came before it. I assembled all the parts of the vanity, attached the faucet to the pipes and was done before I knew it. The modern French country vibe I was going for really was starting to come together so well.
The vanity itself is a porcelain dream with an open base with a console sink and lots of drawer storage. And the slender legs add a vintage European touch. The entire thing came together so beautifully and creates the illusion of a wider space.
Trim Wall Molding Elevated the Bathroom
The trim molding was one of my favorite parts to the whole bathroom. It added so much character and beauty to the whole bathroom. I waited until the vanity and sink was installed to start the molding. This ensured it was perfectly framed and centered.
I used PVC molding for this remodel. There is less risk of mold in a humid environment like a bathroom. Using a level and my small pain nailer I ensured the molding was straight and uniform throughout the whole bathroom. This also makes it easier to plan around the outlets. When accounting for the outlets, make sure you take into consideration the size of the wall plate. Any miscalculation of that could make you start over.
I have a detailed breakdown on how to calculate, cut and attach molding to the wall.
Caulk and Paint Molding for the Finishing Touch
Usually the last step after molding is to caulk. However I decided not to caulk this time. Because for one it’s a bathroom, I didn’t think it was necessary. And secondly, because I used the pin nail gun for the molding, I didn’t need to fill any holes.
Using a standard paintbrush I painted the trim molding the same color as the rest of the walls. The holes that were made by the pin nailer were so tiny that the paint covered it right up.
New Brass Fixtures Make the Bathroom Shine
We are really in the home stretch of the makeover! The last few steps were to install the new hardware in the bathroom. The new light fixture I installed after the molding and wooden framed mirror was installed, to make sure it’s centered perfectly within the trim.
The American Standard hooks, toilet paper holder, towel rings and shower curtain rod, were the perfect choice for this makeover. The muted gold color gives the bathroom a rustic charm and screams luxury.
Reveal of my French Inspired Bathroom
The final result was the most elegant French provincial bathroom. This project was the definition of expect the unexpected with the rerouting plumbing and redo-ing the tiles. I was definitely kept on my toes. But like any DIY project it teaches you patience, flexibility and gives you a chance to flex your creative muscles.
I added a lovely white vase with minimal flowers, French country-side inspired shower curtains and hand towels as well as some framed photographs to complete the French country bathroom. This bathroom is too pretty for my kids.. haha. I am a little jealous of them, but will happy be using this space too!
I hope as my kids get older they will appreciate the time and love their mother put into perfecting their rooms and spaces, even if it is only a bathroom to them right now.
Follow along on my journey as I continue to remodel my home one DIY at a time.
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