Before we get to the Reader Redesign content, a quick Burger story. Yesterday was a terrifying day for us. Burger was sitting on Sherry’s lap when Clara and I came home. He got excited, jumped off her lap as he’s done countless times, but this time he lost his footing, flipped in the air, and landed awkwardly on his back and neck. He yelped. Sherry scooped him up and checked him over — at first he seemed okay, so we put him on the floor. He couldn’t walk. He had no balance, staggered into the walls, wouldn’t put weight on either hind leg, and kept collapsing.
As we rushed everyone into the car to head to the vet, Sherry called ahead to let them know we were coming. While she was on the phone, Burger appeared to have a brief seizure: he went rigid, his eyes were open but unfocused, and his body shook violently. It lasted about twenty seconds. By the time we arrived at the vet he was acting normally again. He was able to walk and all his vitals looked fine. The vets think the stumbling, loss of balance, and the brief seizure were likely a reaction to the shock of the impact. He recovered function and passed a series of tests, so we are incredibly grateful he’s okay. They asked us to monitor him for the next 24 hours for any sign of trouble, and although we’re still a few hours shy of that window, he’s acting like his old self — jumping and running around, hyper as ever. Whew. He scared us, but we’re so thankful he’s fine.
Back to the reader redesign! As we shift our focus from kitchen to bathroom projects, it’s no surprise that the inbox is filling with bathroom makeovers. Michelle’s powder room caught our eye because it’s not a full gut renovation — just a few well-chosen updates that make a big difference. For her, the high-impact changes were paint, pattern, and molding. Check out her note below.
As fellow stenciling survivors, I thought you might enjoy our powder room makeover!
We added molding and used the Nova Trellis stencil from Royal Design Studios to transform a boring powder room into a quirky, stylish space.
The white is Ultra White by Valspar. The black is Black Leather by Dutch Boy.
We still need to add crown molding and wall art. I may also switch out the mirror and window treatment. This room is bolder than my usual conservative style, but I’m loving it! — Michelle
We love it too, Michelle. A bold pattern in a small room like a bathroom is a brilliant move — these spaces rarely feel huge, so leaning into a distinctive look and making them special works beautifully. The stencil pattern energizes the room, and the added molding and trim bring instant polish and character. The result is dramatic without being overpowering.
We’d love to hear which elements stand out to you: the crisp white molding, the rich wood floors, the pedestal sink, or the daring stencil treatment? Share what you like best from Michelle’s makeover.