White shiplap walls and blue paint

May 09, 2013

I’m on a mission. A mission to complete the two bathrooms I’ve been putting off forever around here. EONS! I’m making great progress in the basement bathroom and showed you the floating shelves I built in there here.

At least that one is functional. The upstairs bathroom is only halfway so – it’s been a couple months since we’ve had a sink in there and that’s because of all of the parts of the room that needed to happen first.

I’ve gotten SO much done over the past couple of weeks – I’m so thrilled! But the room doesn’t look much better…yet. ;) I keep telling myself that it always seems to get worse before it gets better.

Let’s hope anyway.

I was laughing to myself in the car earlier this week thinking about this project because it is truly laughable how long it’s taken me. I am not kidding when I say it’s been in an unfinished state for about three years now. For awhile it was because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do…and then it was just because it’s been a really labor intensive space and there’s only one me and now…well, I’m just TIRED. :)

You may remember years back I had had enough of the brown walls and started painting over them, but only one coat. I figured why do all the walls when I knew I was going to do a wood treatment over most of them? 

You know…three years later?:

blue bathroom

Whatever. Who’s counting? :)

I actually started installing the wood on the back wall about a year ago. It’s sat like this – one wall done and a few pieces on another wall -- for all this time:

planked walls with pine

Then because we got the new hardwood floors put in, I had to get the wall behind the toilet and sink done fast, and I showed you how I did that here.

What I don’t think I’ve shown you is the wall color I tried out. Last summer I was playing around with the idea of using a red color above the wood treatment – and I actually did like it:

craftsman trim around door

(Ignore the halfway done door trim.)

But it was really bold and I’m just not feeling the red in this little space. And I used to have some red accents in the nearby family room and I’m phasing those out, so I didn’t feel like it will flow well:

planked walls

Good thing I only tried it out on a couple little walls, yes? ;)

See? I told you…it’s a hot mess. Yes, our visitors see this every time they come over. I aim to impress.

You can see there that I finally got all the wood up – it actually didn’t take long at all, maybe a couple hours total to finish it up.

What took FOREVER was the priming. I used an oil-based primer to make sure none of the knots come through later on. OH my goodness. Forever! Painting paneling or beadboard is no joke.

I seriously think I may hire out the next two coats of white paint. Did I mention I’m tired?? :)

I was so thrilled with my progress though! I showed my Sis when she came by, expecting a few props. But mostly she just gave it the stink eye and was all…but it’s not DONE, right?

No sister. It’s not. Thanks.

I can’t say I blame her for the stinky eyes thought – it really doesn’t look all that much better right now. The planks don’t match up on all the walls (when I’m done you’ll see why that won’t matter), the primer does the wood no favors, and I still have a bunch of boards to install to hide all the ugly parts.

But I power on!! I got the baseboards installed:

thick baseboards

And the new vanity about a third of the way assembled:

IKEA bathroom vanity

Dad is coming to help me hook the sink back up today and he doesn’t know yet that he’ll be helping me finish up that vanity too. ;) It would be the bees knees to have a working sink in there by the weekend!

It doesn’t look like much now, I know. OK…it still looks like a bit of a disaster. But I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, finally. It’s getting there:

planked walls

At a turtle’s pace…but it is. I’ll show you the wall color next week and hopefully plenty more progress too! I’m on a mission! WHOO!

I know most don’t take three years to do the tiniest of rooms, but please tell me I’m not the only one who doesn’t makeover a room in weeks? Or months? Years.

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Comments

  1. I actually like the red, I'm disappointed. I have the walls in my house, painted, sort of, some are "finished"(have two coats and are beautiful) some have only one coat (can see the paint from the previous owners peeking through the roller streaks), and some have none (just never got there yet) And I started this in January. I just don't feel like "doing it"... I am hoping for a fairy or elf to appear one night and tada! So you're not the only one.

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  2. Hi Sarah, no you are not the only one. I left my hallway with half of it striped and half not for about 5 yrs!! After I got started, we decided we would put in a pocket door on the bathroom door, so why would I go to the trouble of striping that area and then have to do it again? Well, the pocket door just go installed and by now, I had decided I didn't want the stripes after all and repainted the whole wall back to its original paint! You will get there...I like what you have done! You have so many irons in the fire....its no wonder you are tired!! Be patient, it all gets done eventually. You do have to enjoy the journey along the way too..... Blessings, Linda

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  3. Um, thank you, thank you for posting this! Loving the progress, but mostly love that I'm not the only one taking years to finish a bathroom! Yay! I'm going on 19 months of half-way-through-still-deciding-on-the-rest bathroom redo. Now I'm feeling a little motivated to get it finished up!

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  4. I can't wait to see the finished product!! I'm especially interested in the vanity...will you share where you found it? We recently got new floors in our main level and we removed the old vanity in the bathroom before they were installed because we knew we wanted to replace it....well that was a month ago and we've been using the kitchen sink to wash our hands after using the restroom because we have no sink. The vanity you are putting in looks perfect for our space!!!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, we got that at IKEA! It will get it's own post soon. :)

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  5. Hahahaha! I'm laughing because this is soooo my house! My hubby does all the big projects that involve paint and power tools and I do all the decorating/accessorizing. And this is how we both work! So thank you for posting because its good to know we're not the only ones! :-)

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  6. I've been working on my upstairs bathroom for 8 months... as long as I get it done before the 1 year mark, I'll call it a WIN! Haha

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  7. We bought our home two years ago and it was in need of a serious renovation. We've accomplished quite a bit, but currently we have a room with no furniture, primed walls and no purpose. We also have a half painted bathroom with wall paper border. So, what I'm saying is...you are not alone.

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  8. I have to laugh because I can relate to this. My hubby and I love the planning and the dreaming, but when it comes to the actual doing, not so much! We decided to paint our living room and dining room a year after we got married. We decided on a color and bought a 5 gallon bucket of it. We got the living room and dining room painted and as we stood back to admire our progress, we realized it dried pink. PINK! Not what we were going for. We hated it! Jump ahead 16 years (yes, I said 16!) and we have finally repainted those rooms in colors we love. We are slowly starting to do the remodeling in this house. It was supposed to be a "starter house" but we are reaching the realization that we will probably be here forever and we'd better make it what we love while we're still young enough to do it ourselves. I can't wait to see your finished bathroom. I'll need the inspiration for when we finally get to ours. =)

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  9. You, me both Sarah! I too need to finish up my son's bathroom already!!!!! Love what you did with this one, very unique, rustic and beautiful!!! Can't wait to see it all done! I'm thinking stripes for my boys Jack n' Jill bath, with some tiling around the tub and vanity. Hmmm, lot's of plans, hope I get to the doing part already! Advance Happy mother's day!!!!

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  10. Have taken up to one full year for a main bath in the house. That was crazy! (Contractor issues mostly). Think I may try the rustic wood in our lower level. Wish you luck on finishing!

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  11. Sarah,
    I think we forget that tv makeovers are done over time {or have tons and tons of professionals helping} So just keep at it girl!
    Sandra
    The Adored Home

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  12. I know your pain, girl! I lived without wood trim around my new entryway door for 3 years! LOL- We kept having issues with the framing of the door/sidelight unit, as well as dealing with a fading factory paint finish. The manufacturer replaced the unit three times before we finally got the problems rectified.
    I, too, "aimed to please" my guests! LOL- One of my sisters-in-laws drove me nuts asking if the foyer was EVER going to be completed. I just don't think she understood that dealing with a large company was going to take time & persistence to get the job done correctly and to my satisfaction. Good luck with the rest of your project!

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  13. My tiny master bath has been half paneled and primed since February. And I don't see it being finished any time soon!

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  14. Oh my goodness, no you are not alone! I think we need a 12 Step Program! I have a fireplace epic fail that stares at me every day, and my husband's office is a hot mess with wallpaper taken off the walls (that need repair thanks to the wallpaper). It's a disaster zone that everyone sees when they're here, and I'm tired of looking at it! So, I'm off to continue working on it!!

    Your bathroom will get there, and just think about how great you'll feel when it's done! I'm going to channel your energy right now! :-)

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    Replies
    1. a 12 step Program.... hahahahha yeah we all need one, will you be our leader?

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    2. I would join that in a heartbeat!

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  15. It always gets worse before better!! Cannot wait to see it come together.

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  16. I started peeling wallpaper in our 1/2 bath exactly a year ago and I'm only half way finished. I abhor wallpaper. Shortly after I started, we got a puppy, then 2 boys playing football, then Christmas and now it's spring and lacrosse and soccer are finally winding down .... well, I'm sure you know how it goes! My new goal is to finish it by September!

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  17. I like the wood idea. I don't know how you would like it but maybe a country blue would be a good paint to go above. Just a thought. Good luck and I'm excited to see the finish :)

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  18. No Sarah, I don't think so... You need to tell me !rightnow! what you are going to do which makes it not matter why the boards don't line up perfectly.

    Seriously, I love what you've done. If it makes you feel any better, I still have not caulked and painted the bookshelves in the office. I've figured out about myself that no project is ever 100% complete. Well not that I have never completed anything, but there are many things in various stages of completion. It's like people can't judge my work, since it is unfinished.

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  19. My parents bought a house about twenty years ago with a door that led to about a 10 foot drop (the house is built into the side of a hill). Twenty years later and several plans to install a wrap around porch have really just resulted in endless jokes that it is our "door to door salesman door". ha!

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  20. YES! You and me both. We will finish the bathrooms we started. #letsdothis

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  21. Oh goodness, it always looks worse before it looks better. I think you're to the part where it is going to come together quickly now!! Most of the really hard, annoying work is done! (We just went through this with our bathroom. We were on a rather tight schedule so we had to work on it quickly but oh, it looked bad...and then a couple days later it really came together and looked "done"!)

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  22. These things ALWAYS take longer to do than you think they will. Try not to stress...you'll get there...and you'll love them!

    http://simplymodernhome.com/

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  23. I totally feel your pain. I counted the other day and realized I have 15 projects in some state of unfinished... Maybe I'll follow your example and get something done! Love the planking!

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  24. I can totally relate. I started redoing my powder room a little over a year ago (nothing major either) and it's still not done.
    Good luck with your bathroom. I can see the progress.

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  25. Oh my goodness, I just posted about procrastinating on a room you're not "feeling" today! Yes, I totally get it! I know it will end up fabulous!

    houseofpemberley.blogspot.com

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  26. ALL our projects languish much longer than they should! I started a kitchen refresh in 2011. Still. Not. DONE!

    Congrats on making progress -- love the planks. Hang in there!

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  27. Ugh I love you. So glad I'm not the only one who puts off projects for... well, years. We have the best intentions, don't we?! And girl, that dang bathroom is going to be even more amazing once it's finally done. Heck, it looks great so far!

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  28. I ALWAYS repeat "It has to get worse before it gets better" to my husband when we do projects. Cause OH MAN, we are definitely in the "worse" stage around here.

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  29. I think my whole house is half done. ;) Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  30. Nope, you're not the only one. My laundry room is still waiting for the finer points of finished. It's been 17 months now. And with this weather, likely another 6. Time will tell. I love the gray walls. I think it's a good color to see first thing in the morning. :-)
    Cheers,
    Miss Ellie

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  31. Oh, I so know what you mean. I've been painting my stairs for months and decorating my office for a year. It's so easy to lose steam on a room and want to move on to something else. It will be great in the end!

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  32. Diy around here means it never EVER gets finished!
    Blessings, Joanne

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    1. When i wtite "here" I mean my house...not yours! LOL!
      Blessings Joanne

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    2. HA!! It could easily mean HERE too. ;)

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  33. don't feel bad...we had a total rehaul of our downstairs bath that began SIX yrs ago. We finally got it painted and functioning just last year, but now hubby is redoing the basement, and that bath is crammed full of junk again and no longer functional ;P Oy. I wish oh wish we could be one of those families to get projects done in a couple weeks. It's just not our lot in life though (unless we come across some amazing surprise inheritance or something and I can hire out all the work *LOL*)

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    1. Amber, but hiring out the work takes out all the FUN in it!

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  34. Well, no shame allowed. Maybe if you check
    out a few of your monthly reviews you'll
    remember why this isn't done. (Because so
    many other projects did get finished! Wow!)
    Being reminded of that *should* be encouraging!
    Wow!!
    I think the light color on the wall is very pretty.
    Curious to see what you go with--I know it will
    be lovely. Chrissy

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  35. I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one that buys the paint, gets started, then stuck! I LOVED the idea of taking your little man's artwork and doing powder room around color palette. I switched directions at Lowes paint counter with aqua/grey, but I kept thinking about that pop of color. Seeing this today confirms I did the right thing! Thanks for sharing...

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  36. Love to see the Galvanized steel trays go for a special price & love the jars for soap dispenser, trying to decide what I want to decorate new looking bathrooms.

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  37. Haha!1 NO, you are not the only one. We have lived here 16 years and I am just now finishing the painting and decor for the last room that gets it's construction white walls painted. It took company coming and I had to put her in this room. I have not seen her in 45 years! I could not put her in the junk room!! I have until Thursday to finish all the little touches, but I think it will happen!!

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  38. THANK GOODNESS for people like YOU! My husband promised me a renovated home in two weeks and our en suite bathroom still does NOT have a DOOR! Two and a half years later!!! I think it is comical at this point, but not so much when guests stat to ask questions...

    I love the paneling in your bathroom and just might use it somewhere in our home too!

    Bethany

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  39. I hear ya. We're going on two years with our guest bath torn apart. Like, unfinished shower tile, half done floor no sink type torn apart. It all started harmlessly enough...we had a leak in the plumbing behind our vanity and it ended up soaking through and ruining the wood. Took it out, and SURPRISE! There's no tile underneath. No matching tile, so we go looking for replacements, only to find they don't make them anymore. New floor tile doesn't work with the shower tile...you get the picture. GAH! We recently FINALLY decided to hire someone to finish it all, only to find out that A.)He needs to rip most of it out and start over, and B.) He can't start until the first week in July. SO feeling your pain right about now. The upside is, your bath is really looking amazing. I can't wait to see it all finished!!

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  40. PLEASE tell us about the door trim!! It looks awesome.

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    1. Here you go Liz! :)
      http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-craftsman-door-trim.html

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  41. I agree the mess gets worse before it gets better. We've been in our house for 3 years now and have been painting color swatches on the walls to find the right shade for the main interior walls - we finally found it almost a year ago and until a month ago only had painted two rooms in that color. My husband had also started a raised planter in the corner of our backyard that involved cinder blocks up against the fence - we literally had a cinder block garden in that corner until 3 months ago when he got them all installed. And over the last month we have finally tackled the painting on the interior - which means my house looks like a tornado hit it. We're talking beds and dressers in the middle of the master bedroom, a dresser in the hall and drop clothes EVERYWHERE! And the only reason we are finally completing these projects? To put our house on the market! I can't wait to be done and be able to come home after work and SIT.

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  42. Love those basebaords...what type of wood did you use for those?

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    1. Thank you! They are just the primed mdf boards at Lowe's.

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