Last year, Lilly and her husband Markus spent Independence Day remodeling their tiny half bath, so we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of the makeover. Here’s Lilly’s account of the project:
After living in our 1952 house for three years, I was thrilled to finally remodel the small but quirky powder bathroom that connects to our bedroom. We handled the demo, painting, tiling, plumbing, beadboard and trim ourselves, and the whole project felt like a productive Fourth of July weekend.
One evening after work I tackled the old wallpaper. It had been stuck on stubbornly—much like the wallpaper in our previous bathroom—but after borrowing a neighbor’s steamer it began peeling away much more easily.
We dedicated a full day to mixing mortar and laying tile. We rented a wet saw from Home Depot for about $90 and used it to trim tiles to fit edges and corners. At one point we mixed a batch of mortar too thin and some tiles wouldn’t adhere, which was stressful enough to test our patience, but eventually the floor was completely tiled.
Grouting quickly became my favorite part. It’s satisfying to see everything come together; the process felt almost foolproof and was a surprisingly good upper-body workout. I chose grey grout to contrast with the white tile while maintaining a neutral look that would appeal to future owners. That said, after investing so much time into this bathroom, selling the house anytime soon seems unlikely—I can already picture George Banks meeting a wrecking ball in Father of the Bride II.
I wanted the room to feel midcentury-preppy with nautical touches, without leaning into a full-blown themed space. A rope-framed mirror, polished chrome hardware, and navy walls achieved the look I aimed for without being over the top (pun somewhat intended).
The artwork on the right wall has sentimental value: it was originally a gift to my grandfather, who proudly displayed it near his chair until he passed away. While family possessions have shifted since then, I’m glad to have a piece of that past with me in my current home.
My secret favorite detail is the built-in magazine rack. I rescued it from the bathroom’s original architecture, restored and painted it to match the beadboard and trim, and reinstalled it. It’s the perfect home for a few beloved magazine issues that I’ll never part with but still enjoy flipping through. – Lilly
Thanks to Lilly for sharing her makeover story. We love that she preserved family art and restored the original magazine rack, blending sentimental pieces with thoughtful, timeless design choices. Happy Fourth of July weekend to everyone celebrating!