Revisiting The Studio Half Bathroom (The Current State Of Things And A New Vision)
Yesterday, I shared my new plan for our future new kitchen. It’s a pretty drastic change of plans, but the more I think about it, the more excited I get about it. If you missed that, you can read about it here. The new plan seems so much more manageable than the previous larger, grander plan.
But one of the best things about this new plan is that it means I will keep the studio half bathroom. With the previous plan, this room had been slated for demolition in the future. When that decision was made, I closed the door on this room (literally) and never looked back. The door on this room has been closed and the room forgotten for well over a year now. In fact, I just looked back on the blog, and I can’t see where I’ve posted anything about the bathroom after November 2023. That’s pushing two years.
I know some of you might be wondering why I’d close the door and not look back on a half bathroom. After all, even a half bathroom that isn’t fully decorated and finished can be useful, right? Well, no. This bathroom requires a pump for the toilet and sink, and that pump stopped working long ago. And since this bathroom was on the chopping block, and I had planned to turn it into a walk-through pantry from the future new kitchen to the back doors of the studio that lead to the carport, I had no intention of spending the money required to repair or replace the pump. So I closed the door to the room and planned to never go back until I was ready to get started on the new kitchen and walk-through pantry.
So yesterday, for the first time in at least 18 months, I decided to open the door and see exactly how I had left it. It wasn’t quite as bad as I had remembered it, but it’s not great, either.
Since this bathroom is in my studio, I’ve always thought I could be a bit crazier with the colors and decorating in here than I am in the rest of our house. So I initially did these crazy, colorful walls. You can see what the bathroom looked like in its original finished state here.
But after a while, I grew tired of the walls. And when I started working on my studio in 2023, I decided that the bathroom needed a makeover as well. That’s when I started taking off the wall tile and coming up with a new plan for the walls.
And this is as far as I got before I decided to go a different direction with the function of this room altogether.
But now, the plan is to keep the function of the room the same and finish it. And I have to say, I’m kind of relieved about that. I really liked having a working, usable bathroom on this side of the house.
The room is a mess, and it’s been forgotten so long that there are cobwebs in here. But I don’t think it would take long at all to finish it. The hardest parts — the crown molding, door trim, window trim, wainscoting, and vanity — are all already in place.
So at this point, I’m looking at a very basic makeover, not a remodel.
Obviously, the first order of business has to be getting this pump fixed or replaced. Without a working pump, this bathroom isn’t functional at all.
And then I can finish up with the walls and few decorative touches. I think it will be a relative quick project as soon as I get a plan in place.
When I started working on the studio, I had a plan to keep this bathroom really colorful and fun in keeping with the colors in the studio. I even designed a wallpaper for the walls.
But with the new plan, I don’t think I’ll be using this wallpaper anymore. The new plan is to make this bathroom the official guest bathroom. That will allow me to completely finish the bedroom suite, including turning the hallway bathroom into a much-needed storage room for Matt’s equipment. And it will allow us to get a new hot water heater which will go in that storage closet as well. The hot water heater is the last remaining fixed item in the sunroom that is preventing us from tearing down the sunroom.
So with this bathroom turning into our official guest bathroom (and the only guest bathroom we’ll have for a long while), I don’t really want it to be a crazy, psychedelic, seizure-inducing room. As long as we had that hallway bathroom available for guests, I was pretty much the only person who ever used this half bathroom. So I could make it as crazy and colorful as I wanted to. But now that it will have a larger “audience”, I want it to be a more generally pleasing room that isn’t covered in crazy color.
Don’t get me wrong. There will be color. And, after all, it is still located inside my studio, which is a colorful feast for the eyes. Lest you forget…
So guests will have to walk through this to get to the bathroom. But I’m okay with that. This room, more than any other in our house, is my color-loving personality in room form.
And everyone who has seen my studio in person has been very complimentary about it. Even if they wouldn’t want it in their own homes, people seem to enjoy looking at it in our house.
And I’m pleased to report that so far, my studio hasn’t induced a seizure in one single guest. So that’s good. I think people can handle walking through my studio to get to a bathroom.
But I would like to come up with a calmer and more generally pleasing plan for the bathroom. I could even carry the green from the back entry walls onto the top portions of the bathroom walls.
Green is a generally pleasing color. It would give me color, and obviously, it’s a color I like since I chose it for the walls of the back entry. I already know that it works well with the studio. And it would be relatively quick and easy to do some drywall repair, paint the walls, add some decorative touches, and be done with it.
So right now, the plan of action is this. I’m going to finish up the foyer and bedroom. Those areas are priority #1 right now. (I’m still working on the walls in the foyer.) As soon as those two areas are done, I’m going to finish this studio half bathroom. When it’s finished, I’m going to go back and turn the hallway bathroom into a storage closet so that I can get our bedroom suite completely finished with no projects left undone. And then, once the bedroom suite is 100% finished, I’ll start on my workshop.
It’s a slight change of plan from before, but not too big. And this way, we’ll have a completely finished bedroom suite with no awkward “middle stage” of having a guest bathroom inside our master bedroom suite. I’m very excited about the idea of it being completely finished with no awkward in between stages, and no projects left hanging over my head that I have to go back and address at some point in the future.
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.
Love the idea of using green in the guest bathroom. You are inspiring.
I think the plan to keep the half bathroom off the studio makes a lot of sense. It would be closer to your workshop and garden than the current guest bathroom. Replacing the pump and painting the walls for a quick fix and update is the best part!
A friend once told me that a little practicality goes a long way … but this/these practical solution(s) are marvelous. And besides being smart and practical, way way way fun and beautiful.
Amazing, how marinating on ideas creates space for excellence!
One item you have not addressed is what are the chances you would have overnight guests that might need a tub or shower? If I remember correctly those are not in your bathroom off your studio?
They have no guest bedroom for anyone to stay overnight right now. I believe that’ll all be in the new addition.
If we have a need for that before our addition with the guest bedroom and guest bathroom is built, I’ll just have to let them use our bathroom. 🙂 We haven’t had overnight guests in years with the exception of my mom who stayed with Matt while I was gone. I think that’s the only reason anyone would stay overnight in our house, and since I wouldn’t be here, that person would be free to use our bathroom as much as needed.
I think your change in plans decision is a great idea. I know it will be beautiful.
Are you thinking of a tankless water heater when you turn the bathroom into a storage unit
It will save lots of space
I am! In fact, I just talked to my contractor about my plans and he’s going to give me an estimate for the work to include a tankless hot water heater. It will have to be electric since it will be on an interior wall, but I’ve heard good things about the electric ones, so I’m fine with that.
I really wanted a tankless hot water heater (I have had propane ones in prior homes and they are great). In my current home HW location is an interior wall like yours and I learned that electric tankless water heaters often require electrical upgrades, such as higher-amperage dedicated circuits and potentially a new electrical panel. Hopefully your contractor is familiar with your current electric panel size and utilization.
He is. That was the first thing he asked about, and wanted to look at our electric panel to make sure it would work. But now I’m having second thoughts about it. I might just go with a standard hot water heater and have it moved into that room instead of doing a tankless. We already have the gas line run to the existing hot water heater, and it’s just on the other side of the bathroom wall. Ugh. I hate making these decisions. But as of this moment, I’m leaning towards a standard hot water heater.
I changed from a 60 gal electric water heater to a gas tankless and was surprised that it didn’t make much difference in my electric bill at all. Plus a gas water heater is going to be cheaper to run than the electric tankless. Also, it takes twice as long to get hot water to the tap. Not sure I would do it again, if I had the chance.
I was going to suggest the same thing! I love mine and we’ve had the dishwasher running along with the washer and someone taking a shower and never once have we run out of hot water. The warranties on tankless are for much longer than one with a tank and they handle hard water better which if ours got any harder the faucets would be pouring rocks, LOL Kristi, I love your new vision and can’t wait to see what you do!
“if ours got any harder the faucets would be pouring rocks” laughed out loud at this:) Ours too.
It’d be cool if you could squeeze a shower into the half bath – then it would be a full bath! Wait…..aren’t there really only 3 major components to a bathroom (sink, toilet, and shower/bathtub)? So……arent half baths more like 2/3rds baths? Hmmm…..the math isn’t mathing here!
Sorry, just feeling silly this morning.
Ha! Technically, you’re correct! 😀
Just chiming in for clarification: a half bath is just a toilet and a sink. A 3/4 (“three quarters”) bath has the toilet and sink PLUS either a shower OR a tub (with no shower). A full bath has toilet, sink, tub and shower (even a tub/shower combo as opposed to a separate tub and shower). 🙂
Ahhh, okay. That math checks out. 😀
The only problem I see in using green on the upper walls is that it gives a ghastly tint to anyone’s complexion. Ask me how I know. Bringing in the coral on the studio cabinets, or another color from the floral wallpaper, would work. There are so many colors to choose from in that wallpaper. What do you think of the idea of using your color blocks for the tiled area? The lower walls will stay white, right?
That’s an interesting idea! I like the idea of bringing in more color like that. Yes, the lower walls will stay white.
I have a lovely shade of green (SW Leaflet) in my master bath and notice no impact on my complexion in the mirror. Perhaps it is because the room is large and the lighting is good.
Regardless, it’s a powder room and not a place where someone would be doing their makeup.
Agree. This is a room for “business” only, not glam. As for color choice in general, I once read that peachy or pink shades in soft hues are the best for bathrooms, but I couldn’t get away with either if my husband had an opinion (and boy does he!) so we have a soft, creamy white. (SNORE! )
This sounds like a very good plan! Very doable and far less stress inducing – for you, and for us! LOL
Not sure which is my favorite following your actual project or reading how they come together in your head. Either way you keep doing you.
Smart idea and so time saving as well as cost saving! I wonder why you have to have a pump for this bath, and not have it tied in to house plumbing? Is it because it’ is an add on space? As far as decor, I love the idea of bringing the green in this space as well, and I was thinking for decor, could you bring the leaf pattern from your desk into there, maybe in a framed print? You could snap a photo of it, enlarge it, trace it onto a canvas or art paper, and put it in a frame for the wall! I love that leaf so much!
If I remember correctly, it’s because the stool drain goes up instead of down. So everything has to be “pumped up when it’s flushed”. I think it’s because it sits on a concrete floor with no downward drain. Or something like that. 😁
Love the leaf idea! Linda is correct about the plumbing. This bathroom sits on the other side of the pantry/breakfast room, which is the only part of our house that has a solid concrete foundation. There rest of the house is a pier and beam foundation. So there was no way to get plumbing through that concrete foundation and over to the other side of the house without completely tearing up the concrete foundation of the pantry/breakfast room. So instead, it flushes up instead of down. The pump makes any waste water (toilet and sink) go up inside the wall, across the house through the attic, and then down into the drainpipe in the hallway bathroom and out the main sewer line.
I forgot about the concrete part! So it is similar to our house, though not exactly. Our house sits below the sewers in our area, so we had to have a “pump grinder” installed that carries our plumbing out to the grinder (buried in our yard) where it is “ground up” and then by force, is moved up our lot to the sewers. I had never heard of this until we started building the house, so I got a detailed education on ‘waste’ that baffled me! We were warned by a neighbor to pray that the pump never goes out as his did…I’ll spare you the details!
Get that pump fixed while you’re working on the primary so it’s ready for you when you’re ready to tackle it.
Hmm at first I thought good idea, eliminating a bathroom seems wrong, but then I thought there’s no shower for guests, so really it’s a powder room, and I had to go back to yesterdays post and look at your floorpan. You don’t have a guest room anyway, you have a 1 bedroom home and have eliminated both a bedroom and a full bath. I get it, you likely don’t have overnight guests now so this works but…maybe you have already addressed this and I missed it? I feel like maybe you need to think about your addition before a new kitchen or workshop or landscaping? I’m a nurse and a realist, and I can see a day when both Matt and you require some extra help-you have made your home beautiful and comfortable and I hope you can enjoy it as long as possible.
Matt and I were discussing this just the other day. I asked him which order he preferred — the kitchen/dining room first, or the addition first. I think he really wants the kitchen/dining room first, but we still have time to discuss and change our minds before any of that starts. I still have a bedroom suite to finish, a half bathroom to finish, and then a workshop to get into working order before then.
Looking forward to it all, even if that mind of your’s make a change!
I had to giggle at your comment Francine! I’m with you!
Every time I see your studio a big smile automagically appears across my face! I love it so much!
For the half bath, I think bringing in the green from the foyer area is a perfect idea and you could maybe add some colorful small tile above the wainscoting to give it a boost and nod to the studio. It would be just enough without being overwhelming.
Sounds like a plan that would work. Less fussy and calmer. I offer a different perspective for the long term, although it sounds like your mind is made up (as is your prerogative.)
When you have a large number of guests in the house, are you comfortable having some of them walking through your studio to get to the powder room? I would imagine you will have projects out in the open because it is the way you work. I assume the room doesn’t look always pristine in the way you photograph it for us to see. Will curious eyes look more closely at what you are doing in there? Even opening cabinets and drawers? Picking up tools or whatnot. Especially kids who are not supervised? You’ll be busy in the kitchen or chatting with guests.
Or are you willing to constantly restore perfect order to the studio each week before your regular guests come because you want them to see it?
It seems to me that hallway full bathroom is a valuable piece of real estate to keep instead of being a storage spot. Even if Matt’s equipment is targeted to be there, couldn’t it have a home elsewhere?
Guests always want to see my studio anyway, so I’m okay with people walking through to get to the bathroom. 🙂 The studio bathroom being our main guest bathroom will only be a temporary solution.
We used a lift when my mom was in hospice. They are large with wide set legs that can trip you. They are bulky. A place that you can easily use it and move it asap so you can attend your person is wonderful to have! The new storage space is perfect I think.
If it were my powder room I think I might use that green on the borrow part of the walls and get more of the wallpaper from your studio printed (in a smaller version) and put that on the uppers. That would tie in with your studio nicely and not be overly punchy.
On the BOTTOM part of the walls. Ack – I hate autocorrect.
I like that idea! And it would certainly be more “me” without being too overwhelming for guests.
Love that you are thoughtful and flexible with your plans and that you don’t worry about resale. You live in your home now so it should fit your life now; not some imaginary future buyer.
When you were choosing paint colors for the entry I think you had looked at some purples. The powder room might be a good spot for some purple.
Cheers
I love it. I can’t wait to see the new details. I love your style, and I too have never had any seizures induced while reading and dreaming about all that color. Rock on!
Cheers!
I think your plan to work with the kitchen you have is a great idea. The only item on your agenda that I think might be a mistake is demilishing the other bathroom. First, better located for guests than having to go thru your studio, and surely with all the space in other areas of your home, you can find space for Matt’s equipment. You did such a nice job on that bathroom as well. Concerning the pantry, I vote for keeping it. It is lovely, functional and you will never regret the extra space.
Another 2 cents: Consider a quick fix on the studio bathroom, to keep your friends from trampling through your bedroom suite to use the hall bathroom.
I personally love the geometric rainbow wall treatment you have. I was not as keen on the yellow backsplash tile.
How about installing a white tile backsplash with a double pencil liner in a color from the wall treatment? The repair the existing wall damage, repaint the missing parts, and start using it as your guest bathroom?
Fixing the sewage pump is obviously first on the list, but this would allow you to get on with your big end of the year project, finishing off your entire bedroom suite.
I will miss your beautiful teal cabinets in the kitchen.
My new kitchen will be teal. 🙂
If you’re getting rid of the fabulous bathroom can you swap out the toilet in there and install it in the guest bathroom?
Re: keeping the current kitchen, I recall you saying you were going to get rid of your dishwasher because you never use it. But in your last post, you said you were going to move it over so it can’t be seen from the entry. Also wondering if you can make your own panels for the fridge/dw.
No, those toilets aren’t interchangeable. For the half bathroom, I can only use a Saniflo toilet made to work with the Saniflo pump. Unfortunately, they don’t have a wide selection of toilets.
When we started having groups over for dinner, I decided that I might want a dishwasher after all. If I build my own cabinets, including the doors and drawer fronts (I’m still not decided on if I’ll be doing that or not), then I can build my own panel for a dishwasher as well.
I vote yes for bringing that green into the bathroom area. Very pleasing with the colorful studio, and yet calm and pleasant for guests.
Kristi, I admire you so much, and I just wanted you to know. You have such a full plate and you just keep on plugging along. Good on you.
I forgot why you needed a pump for the studio bath. Sounds like a great plan.
Excellent plan.