I Need More Color And Pattern In These Areas
Yesterday, the plumbers came to the house to look figure out what needs to be done in the studio bathroom in order to get that bathroom functional again. If you’ll remember, in that bathroom, we had to use an upflush system (ours is Saniflo) that pumps all of the water and waste up, over through the pipes in the attic, and down through the main sewer line on the other side of the house.
It’s a less than ideal setup, but the reason we had to do it that way is because the foundation in that bathroom, as well as the foundation in the neighboring room (i.e., the pantry and breakfast room) are both concrete foundations, while the rest of the house is a pier and beam foundation. So when I decided that I wanted a bathroom in my studio, it was both easier and a lot more cost effective to use this system rather than having to tunnel through concrete to run the sewer lines.
Anyway, with an upflush toilet, all of the waste water runs through this grinder pump that sits just behind the wall behind the toilet. And that one pump can handle the waste water from three different items — toilet, sink, and shower. So these are a great option for adding a bathroom to a basement or for a situation like mine where we didn’t want to go to the extra expense and hassle of breaking up concrete to run sewer lines.
Our grinder pump quite working well over a year ago (maybe two years now), and we never got it fixed because at that time, we weren’t planning on keeping that studio bathroom. That was back when I was still planning on turning that room into a walk-through pantry and relocating our kitchen to the pantry and breakfast room area. But now that plans have changed, the bathroom is staying and will actually become our main guest bathroom for an interim period of time.
All of that to say that when the plumbers came over yesterday and I opened up that bathroom door, I started getting really excited about working on that room. I still have a couple of projects left in the bedroom before that’s done, but as soon as I’m finished, I’ll be starting on this bathroom. I don’t expect it to be a big project. Other than fixing the upflush system, everything else is just cosmetic. I left this bathroom in complete disarray, closed the door, and pretty much forgot about it. So while it’s messy and obviously needs some work, all of the big stuff (drywall, crown molding, vanity, etc.) is done.
But when I opened the door, the first thing I saw was an unopened box sitting in the middle of the floor. So I opened it up, and it was several rolls of wallpaper. If you’ve been around for the last couple of years, you’ll recognize them. The first was the wallpaper that I originally designed and had printed for this bathroom.
I designed that wallpaper by taking colors directly from the floral wallpaper mural in the studio, so it coordinates perfectly.
When I was working on my closet, I tried to use some small pieces of that wallpaper on the sides of the drawers for my closet island (which didn’t work out), but I hadn’t really unrolled the wallpaper to get a good look at it. So it had been quite some time since I had seen the wallpaper completely unrolled. All I could envision of that wallpaper was the mockup I had done of it in the bathroom a while back, and the mockup looked kind of overwhelming to me.
So when we decided to use this bathroom as our main guest bathroom for the foreseeable future, I decided (based on that mockup) that I needed to come up with a different idea for the walls because that might be too overwhelming for guests.
But now, I’ve changed my mind…again. Now that I’ve seen the actual wallpaper and have unrolled a whole roll so that I can see the real thing it in my studio, next to my wallpaper mural, I think I just want to go for it. I love color, and I can’t seem to get enough of it, and I really want this tiny bathroom to show off all of those colors. I think my guests can handle it. 🙂 And I think the real thing will look a lot better, and possibly a little calmer, than the mockup. Plus, I don’t like the idea of wasting money. Wallpaper isn’t cheap. Even getting enough for a tiny bathroom can add up. So I want to use what I have.
All that to say that I’m back to my original plan for that bathroom. Rather than toning things down now that it will be our main guest bathroom for a while, instead, I’m going to embrace my love of color and pattern and fill that tiny bathroom to the brim with color. I no longer have plans to hold back.
In that same box, I also found this wallpaper that I had purchased a while back when I planned to do a makeover on the hallway bathroom.
I still love this wallpaper just as much as I did the day I bought it. And look how much orange is in it! I didn’t remember this wallpaper having that much orange in it, but it looks like it was made to go in our bedroom suite. So I want to find a way to use it in the storage closet. I don’t necessarily think that the walls in the storage closet need to be wallpapered. In fact, since I’ll be moving Matt’s equipment in and out of the room regularly, I think wallpapered walls might not be the best idea.
But what if I put it on the ceiling? I’ve never wallpapered a ceiling before, and it might be fun to have a colorful, floral ceiling. Right now, I have the dark stained plank ceiling in that room.
That will have to come down since it was installed around the built-in shelves and the bathtub area. Since both of those areas are coming out, the ceiling planks and crown molding in those areas will have to come down as well. So the new ceiling will be flat all through the room, with no obstructions on the ceiling, and I think it would be fun to put that wallpaper on the ceiling and then paint the rest of the room to coordinate with that wallpaper and the rest of our bedroom suite. And again, I like the idea of using what I already have. I hate the idea of having wasted money on wallpaper and never using it.
So that’s the direction I’m now heading with both of those areas. It’s funny because I’ve always assumed that the older I get, the more I’d be wanting to calm things down in our house until one day, I’d end up with a neutral palette in all of our rooms. But I find that the opposite is actually true. It seems like the older I get, the more I want to be surrounded with color and pattern. I can’t seem to get enough of it.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I love these ideas!!!! It is so fun to see previous plans with a fresh set of eyes…shows that your taste and colors are consistent so what pleased you then and now today will most likely continue to please you as long as you want it that way! Your home more than most is your personal laboratory of creativity. Looking forward to seeing these new projects as they evolve!!!
I try to keep my opinions to myself as I know it is your house…..but please use the floral wallpaper or something else in the bathroom…..the plaid wallpaper reminds me of 1970/1980 bedspread I had when I was a child…it may not be too overwhelming, but in my opinion the pattern is very juvenile and not suited for an adult space….maybe for the bottom of drawers or something like that, but please not on the walls……sorry, I’ll see myself out.
I’m not a fan of it either, but I know it isn’t my home, so I have no say in choices, just as she has no choice in what I do. I LOVE the floral paper, but for a tiny bathroom I think it would be claustrophobic on all four walls.
I love the floral paper, and think it should be an option for the guest bath. It won’t be as jarring as the multi colored blocks, and I think it would be beautiful in that space. I may not have the colors specifically designed to coordinate with your mural, but I think there will be enough separation between the spaces for it to flow. You could still use the color block paper on the storage area ceiling. That is just my thoughts, but I am sure whatever you do will be great.
I was thinking the same thing! I would prefer the floral wallpaper in the guest bathroom. The wallpaper with squares installed on the ceiling would be a fun way to liven up the utilitarian storage room.
I like the idea of using the floral paper on the ceiling similar to how the long ago pink closet inspiration photo you shared was. As to wallpapering walls that could be damaged by moving equipment, I once toured an Antebellum period house with hand painted wallpaper and they had installed thin acylic sheets over the areas where tourists pass to prevent damage to the paper.
That wallpaper for the ceiling is certainly a bold choice.
Love the flowered wallpaper! I wallpapered a bathroom ceiling in the 70’s, I was young, but I can still remember the sore neck I had because looking up and having to reposition, smooth out and make sure all is good, takes some time! It was worth it, but I never attempted to do it again. Good luck, just be patient, it will be a fun and beautiful gift each time you go into that closet.
Love hearing your thought process and I think your ideas are awesome!
Hey, could the floral wallpaper be used in your breakfast room?
I’d rather have really colorful drapery fabric and upholstered chair fabric in there. I think wallpaper with that might be overkill.
Wow…love both…the squares that coordinate with the workroom is lovely…I’m so glad you changed your mind. Those who know you well enough to be a guest will love and appreciate it too! LOVE it!
Have you considered using the bold plaid wallpaper below the chair rail and painting the wall above? I think that would calm down the room and still use your paper.
I love your idea Maribeth, good call!
Lately, I have been swooning over wallpaper panels inside box trim wall moldings. Framing wallpaper like that instantly turns it into art! Maybe something like that would keep the bold color/pattern from being overwhelming in your bathroom? And I really hope you go for it and try that gorgeous blue and orange wallpaper on the ceiling in your storage room!
As a virtual guest of your house, I am delighted by that wallpaper!
I adore the squares wallpaper and think it will feel very much like your existing painted rainbow color pattern. Go for it! We already know if you don’t like something when it’s done, you bite the bullet and change it. Onward!
Your guests will be in the bathroom for a minute or two once in a while. Make the bathroom a room you love. Loving the colorful wallpaper. I can’t wait to see the completed rooms. You’re such a color inspiration. ❤️
I’m a firm believer in fun and unique powder rooms! They can be treated like little jewel boxes or a pocket sized party😁
Make it something you enjoy seeing when you walk in!
Love, love, love the flower wallpaper. Love the idea of a fun ceiling but hate to waste that paper on a ceiling that no one will ever see. Any way to use that paper in the breakfast room/eventual dining room to add color, even on the back of built ins/bookcases.
Live your life out loud! Why not?!?
I love both ideas.
I love the colorful blocks for the upper wall. It doesn’t look juvenile at all. It is fun. The fact it coordinates with the studio colors will be lost on most all who go in there. It really won’t be a restroom to lounge in and gaze at much. People tend to the business at hand and exit. Kristi, you aren’t decorating for visitors. Powder rooms, ie. guest bathrooms, certainly can be fun surprises but it means nothing if someone doesn’t care for what you choose. It is all subjective, as our the varying comments here show.
That said, if you use the wallpaper, I will hope you would allow that pattern to dominate the space and not clutter it up with more wall decor. Snappy hand towels and other simple essentials would be quite enough.
As for the other paper on the ceiling? The jury is out. I don’t see the point. It will be a practical utilization of space. Roll equipment in and out. Wallpaper later, if you must. Why now? There are bigger fish to fry.
As others have said before, It’s NOT my house! And Usually, I like your decisionsi but in this case, I completely disagree with putting wall paper on the ceilings!
Heaven forbid, if you have a leak, or have to remove it, it’ll be a nightmare!!
Additionally, It’s dated look, but agree color can make it inviting to guests.
I do this “finding stuff I’ve bought” with my craft stuff…gelli printing supplies, sealing wax, calligraphy…🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Another vote for the colorful squares in the equipment room and the navy with flowers in the guest bath! I’m a fan of using what you already have and already like.
What about using the floral wallpaper, inside molding, to take the place of the two photos you took from breakfast room to use in your closet? You could still do the ceiling of the storage room.
Kristi,
You will never be calm!! I love the idea of the wallpaper on the ceiling. Also, I love the idea of your colorful squares in the other bathroom. You just keep on keeping on!