A Basement Bathroom E-Design Project: Before-and-After

I’m excited to share this lovely example of how impactful an e-design project can be! It’s so fun to showcase what my clients can accomplish with a solid design plan in place. Truly, even if you don’t think you have a single interior design bone in your body, with the right guidance, you can pull together a complete, cohesive space following your budget and timeline. A space you’ll love and can feel proud of. Just wait ‘til you see the pictures my client provided before and after their basement bathroom transformation!

My most-booked e-design package is the Classic package, which covers a design concept, floor plan, and shopping list. The design process also involves a questionnaire and style analysis so that I have everything I need to provide a plan that suits your design goals and preferences. This particular project is a little spin on that; because it’s a bathroom makeover without any layout changes, I provided a personalized package with simply a concept board and shopping list and just asked for some key measurements in the space. Read: I’m not going to charge you extra for work that isn’t necessary — I’ll fine-tune your quote to fit your precise project needs. (Spend the extra cash on that mirror you really love!)

This project is one of many I’ve taken on with this particular client over the past several years, and it showcases just how lively and warm their home (and family) is. I’ve absolutely loved the flow of creativity that’s been inspired by their fun and funky style preferences, and this project is no exception. I’ve designed their basement with an “old British pub meets modern” vibe as my muse, and this bathroom update showcases that beautifully. You ready to see this transformation!?

Basement Bathroom: Before

So here’s the “before.” Not bad, just your basic basement bathroom. Now close your eyes and imagine you’ve stepped into a funky old British pub that’s full of laughter and camaraderie among family, friends, and strangers alike…

You feel warm, welcome, alive…

The space is vibrant, witty, and bold…

(Okay and maybe the walls and flooring are ancient and peeling, but erase that image and replace it with a clean, modern home…)

And…Voila! Open your eyes!

Basement Bathroom: The Design

And here you have it, a funky, fun basement bathroom design concept inspired by old British pub vibes!

This design concept (above) showcases the overall look of the space (colors, finishes, style elements…), and it sets the stage for all design decisions thereafter. While the design concept only features some of the actual products sourced for this design, the shopping list provided to my client included quick links to all furnishings, fixtures, paint colors, and accessories recommended for the complete project. It’s like receiving a fully personalized bathroom upgrade kit! They used these design deliverables to execute their bathroom update all on their own, and just look at how beautiful it is!

After! *Magic dust shimmers*

Can’t you just feel the difference? This space simply breathes new life, it’s so fun and vibrant, and can we talk about the flooring!? Yes — that’s the same flooring! It’s like it was meant to be here all along, and now the blues, greens, and orange tones are free to shine. (What, you thought it was gray and brown before? Design magic!) Check out the side-by-side below for comparison.

Comparison: Before and After

And now it’s time for a quick quiz:

1. Was the flooring replaced? (Okay, okay, we covered this already, but let’s revel in it for a moment longer…)

   A: No!

2. Was the vanity replaced?

   A: Surprise! Also no…

3. So how did this magic happen!?

   A: Adding a fresh coat of paint; replacing the vanity light fixture, sink faucet, mirror; swapping out accessory hardware; buying a rug, decorative wall shelf, wall art, and a few decorative accessories.

A major transformation is that doable.

Everything came together so beautifully in this space because there was a complete, cohesive plan put in place before any commitments were made. Zero regrets, zero money lost on major returns, zero hours spent undoing and redoing…the proof is in the pub-inspired-pudding: Booking a design plan upfront is absolutely a worthwhile investment. You might even claim that it pays for itself after all is said and done.

A complete look doesn’t have to mean a finished look, but it does mean you can keep living life while loving where you live.

Naturally, over time, my client’s family can build on this beautiful new canvas. Let’s say they begin collecting funky art pieces on each of their vacations — they could build up a full gallery of art on these walls if they wish! A complete look doesn’t have to mean a finished look, but it does mean you can keep living life while loving where you live.

I just love this transformation. Thank you to my lovely client for sharing these images with me (and for granting permission for me to share them with all of you)! I rarely get to be on-site to photograph the outcome of my design work, so when I receive progress photos in my inbox, I get so. dang. excited. Happy dance? Yes, literally.

Even though I don’t usually get to photograph the outcome of remote e-design projects (and wish I could capture them all with my trusty professional photographer), it’s a small sacrifice for the many benefits my business model offers:

• my clients don’t need to have the budget and capacity for all-in, full-service interior design (i.e. my approach to interior design is more affordable and more flexible than traditional services)

• my clients receive personalized design deliverables catered to their specific needs, lifestyle, and budget

• with a thorough design plan in hand, my clients are empowered to fulfill major design transformations themselves or with the help of a contractor

Pretty sweet deal, right?

Wanna see more from this client’s home? Stay tuned! Until then, check out our design services or read more from the blog.

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