We worked with professional contractors (this is not a DIY). However, I thought it would still be helpful to explain in depth the process of designing and building this room.

As with any project that is uncommon, there was a good amount of planning and problem solving that went into creating this magical space.

Related: You can find all of my room tours here.

When we purchased our home, it had a two-story entryway which is sometimes referred to as a “lawyer foyer.” It’s a hallmark of a 1990s McMansion.

You can see in image one above the way the entry looked as you were standing in the front door. In image two, you can see how it looked facing the front door (looking up).

The entryway was the only part of our home with a two-story ceiling (except the stairs, I guess) and in the third photo you can see how it looked from the second floor.

If you are looking at these photos thinking, “Why would you ever change this,” I completely understand. The first time we viewed the home I remember liking these details—it was not something I anticipated changing at first.

After living in the home for about six months and I was planning the renovations for the living spaces, I began to consider closing off the two-story entryway. The main reason was that the entryway had a weird vibe that did not appeal to me and it was difficult to decorate.

The downstairs ceilings are really high, so I was not concerned about the entry feeling low (it still feels great). Also, our home gets a lot of natural light from our many sliding doors in the living spaces, so I was willing to part with some natural light.

Here’s how it looked on construction day. I remember being so nervous and having that “no turning back” feeling. It was so surreal walking on the new floor for the first time.

After the floor was added, we drywalled the ceiling and added electrical. Then, we had wood floors added in the new room upstairs. The new room upstairs did not connect to any other rooms—it connects to a foyer at the top of our stairs.

I had a lot of fun planning what we could use the hidden room for. It is the size of a walk-in closet, so I had to find a use for it that worked for that size.

We could have left it open with an arched opening or something, but I decided that hiding the door with an armoire (like Narnia) was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up. I loved the idea of having a unique room that is a complete surprise.

Next, I went shopping for an armoire. I shopped vintage armoires for several months. I wanted the biggest size that could fit well in our space, so I shopped based on those measurements.

Most vintage armoires have a lot of drawers and stuff inside, so I looked for one that was a simple boring closet inside. I found one on Etsy.

After the armoire arrived to our home, we started the process of building it into the space. We decided to build it into the wall so that it didn’t have so much depth and would not obstruct the landing room door.

We also had to remove the legs (this was heartbreaking) because of the constrains of making it fit into this nook with a roofline that was not flexible.

In the end, I am thrilled with how it looks! You can see the full hidden library tour here. To make it look more integrated, we added a busy floral wallpaper. Lastly, we cut a functioning door into the back of the armoire and added a handle on the inside.

Now when people walk into this room for the first time, I can tell they have NO idea that the armoire is a doorway and it’s my children’s favorite party trick to show people for the first time.

Sources: Similar Wallpaper / Augustine Evans Art Print / William Cleary Art Print (both art prints are by Janet Hill) / Arched Mirror / Rattan Lamp

Budget Sources: Wallpaper / Arched Mirror / Rattan Lamp

Please step inside!

Here’s what the inside looks like. We added built-in shelves on both sides and then painted the entire room the color “Silent Film” by Behr.

My older daughter is learning to read, and it’s been the happiest year making memories in this space and collecting books for them to enjoy now and in years to come.

Sources: Star Chart Art / Harry Potter Custom Art / Handful of Stars Print, Moon and Stars Print, Shadow Puppets Print / Chair

The rug and chandelier are both vintage from Etsy.

If you have any additional comments, I’m happy to answer them.

In the end, it was so worth it because I absolutely love our living room and our family enjoys it every day—from reading books by the fireplace to listening to our favorite records and doing puzzles.

I struggled with our living space’s open floor plan and sought out solutions to make each space feel distinct and individual. In addition to adding arched openings, we did a floor-to-ceiling mid-tone green in the living room to give the space its own personality.

Related posts: How to Draw a Floor Plan, How to Hang Curtains, Entryway Decor and Wallpapered Ceiling, Library Dining Room.

This space is one of the biggest transformations I have ever been a part of. Please feel free to audibly gasp when you see the before photo below.

If you look closely, you will spot dozens of small changes, but at a glance it appears that the glow-up is 90% “the power of paint.”

Here’s a quick overview of the remodels we did: Replaced tile floors for hardwoods, rebuilt the fireplace from scratch, reconfigured lighting (and added a chandelier), and moved the air vent to make room for our giant wall of built-ins.

Green Built-in Shelves:

The green built-in shelves add storage and do so much for the room, visually. We store a large percentage of our children’s toys in the cabinets as well as our record collection.

I opted for shelves that are not adjustable, so I spent a lot of time thinking about how we would use them and made sure they were big enough to display our largest art, records, books and decor.

This was my first experience with custom cabinetry and it was worth the extra money and effort to me. I love how they reach the ceiling and look like they were always a part of the home.

Custom Tiled Fireplace:

We designed our fireplace from scratch after the original fireplace got (accidentally) destroyed during floor renovation. I took the opportunity to dive DEEP into Pinterest for a style that matched our home and felt classic and traditional.

The elements of the fireplace I love most as the addition of the bench to the front (or as my 4-year-old calls it “the stage,” haha) as well as the herringbone brick firebox. This is a working gas fireplace that you can turn on with a remote control.

I first chose the subway tile from Fireclay Tile in the color “Rosemary.” Next, I found a paint color (Meadow Sage by HGTV Sherwin Williams) that matched the tile as closely as I could find. I am really happy with the match, and most of all, how it all feels very intentional and cohesive.

Shop My Living Room:

Sources: Pink Velvet Sofa / Maze Rug / Coffee Table / Boucle Chairs / Chandelier / Tile / Rattan Sconces

More Living Room Tours:

• ’70s Pink Living Room Makeover
• Emma’s Main Living Room Tour
• Cozy Living Room Makeover
• Elsie’s Living Room Tour (Before + After)

The first impression I had of the two-story entryway was very positive, but after living in the home through our first Halloween and Christmas, I realized I would strongly prefer a one-story entry. Way more cozy and easier to decorate.

We closed in the second story (the new space we gained in the second floor became this children’s library) and we added cozy decor, like herringbone wood floors, molding details, and a wallpapered ceiling. It is truly my dream room!

Related Posts:

• Green Living Room
• 10 Decor Books That Will Inspire You
• Elsie’s Art Studio
• Elsie’s Library Dining Room
• Where to Buy Affordable Art Online

This room underwent a big transformation. Below, you can see how it looked the day we moved in. I remember it having a feeling of it being “big” and “nice,” but it lacked personality and style. It took two full years to complete, but I am very proud of the room we created.

I love herringbone wood floors. We added them in the entryway as well as in our main bedroom. The rest of the house is plain white oak that matches. We kept the original front doors and painted them.

I love having a double front door because I keep two matching wreaths on them, swapping them out throughout the seasons.

Our transformation process was slow. I didn’t have a vision for the best way to update this space until living in the home for a full year. I think that for trickier spaces, it is good to give yourself time to think of every possible idea.

If I would have renovated the home before moving in, there is no way we would have closed in the second story, or added the arches to define the three attached living spaces. Some ideas come slowly and it’s worth the extra time.

Here is the view when you walk into our home. I love how the colors play together and the arch gives you a peek into the next room. We splurged for the wood moldings, and I think they make the room much more interesting.

Paint Color Sources:

• Interior – Marshmallow by Sherwin Williams (my go-to clean, bright white)
• Outside of Door – Meadow Sage by Sherwin Williams
• Inside of Door – Pinky Beige by Behr

Our floors are white oak with a soft white wash stain.

Decor Links:

Wreaths / Wallpaper / Console Table / Mirror / Floor Lamp / Rug (Vintage) Chinatown Art Print / Chandelier /

My Favorite Etsy Shops For Vintage Rugs:

• Oushak Rugs
• Turkish Ruggram
• Jewel Rugs Collection

More Wallpaper Rooms in My Home:

• Elsie’s Office
• Narnia Wardrobe – Hidden Children’s Library
• Elsie’s Guest Bedroom
• Kids’ Shared Bedroom

My Number One Design Tip:

My number one design tip is to add something vintage to every room, and add something deeply personal. For this room, my personal item is this bowl of photo booth images we’ve collected with our children.

Other ideas are photo books, framed kids art or framed family photos. I prefer weird photos like Halloween costumes or candids over professional portraits. xo, Elsie

See my other rooms here:

• Hidden Children’s Library
• My Movie Room Tour
• Kids Shared Bedroom Reveal
• Elsie’s Guest Room Tour
• Library Dining Room

This room brings me incredible joy! Ever since I was young and broke, living in a loft apartment, I have always found a way to work an art studio into my space. In some of my first apartments, I went without a living room to to fit in all my art supplies. Priorities, right?

Now that I have two young kids who love art, I am thrilled to share this space and make memories together.

Before + After

Here’s a photo of what the room looked like when we purchased our home … and how it looks today! We were able to use the base of the existing cabinets and build on to them to bring the shelves all the way to the ceiling.

We removed the trim and reinstalled it for a professional built-in look. After that, we painted the cabinets using this method and then painted the walls to match.

I found this little easel at an estate sale and I found the chandelier on Amazon. In this room, I keep all our acrylic paints, painting supplies and all my ceramic supplies.

In the photo above, you can spy my bags of clay hiding under the desk. It’s a magical creative space. The best part is that my children and I use the space equally. It creates a lot of messes, but it’s absolutely worth it. (Resisting the urge to insert an “It’s a Beautiful Mess” haha).

I spent a lot of time mixing and rebottling paints into squeeze bottles. A lot of people have asked me if it’s for aesthetic or functional reasons. Honestly, it’s so much of both. I do find them so practical to use, and they are also much more beautiful than bottles of craft paint.

I collect nicer acrylic paints (and also oil paints) as well. My favorite brand for fancy acrylics are Golden and Nova Color.

Looking for budget-friendly art and drawing supplies? Click here!

They are expensive, though, and I genuinely like using craft paint for a large amount of the projects we use like stuff for Childhood Magic and art with my kids.

My wrapping station is truly my pride and joy! I have spent my ENTIRE adult life wishing for just such a perfect little gift wrap station. I love it so much. You can also see that my pottery glazes and half-done pottery is stored here.

This is all my old leftover wallpaper. Honestly, I just love it as a decoration. The patterns together make my eyes very happy!

If you have any questions about making your own art studio or the supplies I use, I’d love to chat in the comments. xx- Elsie

When we first moved in, our home was bare, beige and sterile (see before photos here). Adding built-ins made a huge positive difference in the feel of our rooms, as well as how we use our home on a daily basis!

The best compliment we receive on our remodel is that it looks like it was built this way. I love that we took it back in time by imitating historic homes rather than reaching for newer trends. Built-ins add instant coziness!

Related: 10 Inspiring Home Decor Books and My Used Book Collection.

When deciding how to decorate our dining room, I was torn between built-in bookshelves and wallpaper. Both had the potential to add a lot of personality to the room. I chose built-ins because I love to collect books, and I knew it could be styled endless ways.

Here’s a link to my dress. It comes in lots of colors. I recommend sizing down one size.

The light fixture is one of my favorite details in the room. It is called the Meme Tulip Drop Chandelier, and it was gifted to me from Stray Dog Designs. It is a true work of art, as it is hand sculpted.

Room sources: Table and Chairs / Article, Chandelier / Stray Dog Designs, Sconce Lights / Etsy, Tablecloth / Amazon, Rug / Apple & Oak Nashville.

The jade pottery is a DIY (I thrifted glass and ceramic vases and painted them).

When it came to filling the shelves, I wrote a post about my used book collection. The majority of the books filling these shelves are books I purchased used.

I am very proud of my spooky book collection. Whatever type of books you are passionate about, a home full of books is my favorite type of home.

Let’s talk about the fireplace for a moment. I had a fixation on adding as many fireplaces to our home as possible (we started with one and ended with three).

We added this non-functional fireplace (also called a “candle fireplace”) to the dining room. I love that you can add some glow and twinkle to the space.

I found an antique mantle at the flea market and we used it as the base for this fireplace. I had to source more corbels and design around it. I love how it makes the whole room feel more antique.

Thank you so much for reading. If you’re interested in more room tours and home content, here are a few of my personal favorites from this home:

• When an Open Floor Plan is Too Open
• My Movie Room Tour
• Art Studio Tour
• Narnia Hidden Library
• Green Living Room

The room did not attach to any other rooms, and we spent some time thinking of what we could use this small space for. One day it dawned on me—we could build a hidden children’s library with a Narnia closet entrance!

Obviously, this room is a showstopper and the most unique room in our home, but the biggest benefit has been a huge increase in reading interest for both my children (ages 7 and 4).

Today, I’ll give you a tour of our secret library and explain how we created it. By the way, if you’d like to see how our two-story entry looked before converting it, you can see a photo here.

Related: How We Built a Hidden Room

When we added the ceiling above the entryway (converting it from two stories to one), we were left with this space that connects to a landing at the top of our stairs. We decided to turn it into a Narnia closet with a hidden library for our children.

First, I sourced an antique armoire from Etsy. Next, we had it integrated into the wall and the drywall patched. After that, we cut a door into the back part of the armoire to create an access point.

You can see in the photos below how it looks closed and opened. The new door is 5 feet tall, so adults have to duck to enter, but it is accessible for children and adults.

Anytime we can’t find our kids they can be found in this room reading and playing. It makes us so happy!

Let’s talk a little about the foyer. This is a small landing space at the top of our stairs. It has wall and ceiling wallpaper that creates a big look. From this space, there are doors to the stairway, our main bedroom, the hallway where more bedrooms are and this armoire.

Many times I have shown guests the armoire and no one ever notices anything special about it until we push open the hidden door inside. It is true magic!

Speaking of true magic, here’s a video tour of our hidden library:

Sources: Wallpaper / Augustine Evans Art Print / William Cleary Art Print (both art prints are by Janet Hill).

The dark green paint color is a custom match. We took a swatch of the wallpaper into the paint store and they matched the deepest color for us to paint the doors and trim.

Wallpapering a ceiling is a good way to make a room feel smaller, cozier and more dramatic. This space had little to do vibe before we added the wallpaper, and now it is one of the most designed spaces in our home.

Art sources: Star Chart Art / Harry Potter Custom Art / Handful of Stars Print, Moon and Stars Print, Shadow Puppets Print. The rose painting and the mirror are vintage finds.

I found an Etsy shop that makes these customized wizard prints and my kids think they are hilarious.

When it came to collecting books for my children’s library, this was the fun part! Let me know if you’d be interested in an expanded post on this subject. I collected hundreds of used books locally.

For new books, I focused mostly on series for early readers since our 7-year-old is currently learning to read. I collected all the series I loved most as a young child as well as new series that friends recommended.

So far, my 7-year-old is loving the Elephant and Piggie series (which she can read on her own), The Magic Treehouse and The Ramona series. It’s been so inspiring watching both my girls take a larger interest in reading this year.

Being the vintage lover that I am, I have also been collecting Nancy Drew and I am currently working on the full set of Goosebumps books.

Want to see more room tours?

• Elsie’s Low-Waste Closet Renovation
• My Movie Room Tour
• Kids Shared Bedroom Reveal
• Elsie’s Guest Room Tour
• Library Dining Room

I worked with Spoonflower on this post and got to try out their newly reformulated peel and stick wallpaper. It’s the best peel and stick wallpaper I’ve ever used! The design I went with is Wildflowers by writtenbykristen.

It’s really high quality, and it doesn’t feel like a “disposable” wallpaper by any means, even though you can easily remove it.

I did the accent pieces, but had a professional hang the wallpaper on the wall, and she also told me that she thought this peel and stick was much easier to use than others she has worked with—what a great review!

What’s new/different about Spoonflower peel and stick removable woven wallpaper?

• Thick, high quality wallpaper. This is not a cheap, crappy alternative to traditional wallpaper like some peel and sticks can be.

• The Spoonflower Peel and Stick wallpaper is a high quality paper with a subtle linen texture that is thick and tear resistant. They digitally print the design you select (or create!) in the quantity you need when you order it.

• Although it’s a peel and stick (no glue or paste required/needed), there is some give while you adhere the paper to your project, making it much easier to work with. If you need to line up two panels, this is super helpful.

• No need for messy glues or paste. Peel the backing off of the paper, press the sticky side onto the surface and smooth. Stand back and admire.

• All Spoonflower wallpaper is made in the US and is free from formaldehyde, phthalates, VOCs and PVC, providing a safe product for your home.

Why use peel and stick wallpaper over traditional wallpaper?

• If you think (or know) you will want to remove the paper within a few years or less, it’s a great option. Most often, this is recommended for folks renting their home/apartment and looking for a damage-free option. But, if you are someone who likes to change up your space fairly often, even if you don’t rent, this may be a better choice.

• You can use the paper on small accents or things other than walls. I used the same peel and stick wallpaper on a wall in my office, as well my bulletin board and a few storage bins. Other ideas might include: cabinets or dressers, stairs, interior doors, backs of chairs, or really any smooth non-porous surface that isn’t super high traffic.

I really liked adding these accent pieces to the room in addition to the office accent wall. It really made the room feel pulled together but not necessarily too matchy.

I also LOVE this wallpaper design! It’s so subtle and goes perfectly with the vibe of our house. That’s one thing I love about shopping from Spoonflower is there are so many independent artists to choose from.

Not only do I get to support their work, but there are lots of different style options and colors to choose from.

If you are working with accent pieces (things other than walls), I recommend creating a template for the area from scrap paper (like old wrapping paper, or even packing paper you saved to reuse).

Next, cut the peel and stick wallpaper using the template.

Then, if possible, cut a line down the center of just the backing. This way you can add the paper from the center rather than a corner. This may not be possible for any/all accent items.

How long will peel and stick wallpaper last?

Peel and stick wallpaper lasts just as long as traditional wallpaper. This is one of those things I feel like people forget, as we get really focused on how easy it is to remove the paper without damaging your walls.

But as long as your paper doesn’t get damaged by outside forces (like a water leak or something like that), it can last just as long as any traditional wallpaper does.

I love my office wallpaper! It adds just a little color, texture, and interest to my space but isn’t so wild that it distracts me while I work. Lol. Thanks for letting me share. -Emma

P.S. Elsie also used Spoonflower peel and stick wallpaper in her daughters’ room (so cute). Here’s the retro pattern she chose!

When I saw the listing photos of the kitchen before we bought it, we fell in love with the huge windows to the backyard, but I could tell the actual kitchen was not my aesthetic.

From the pictures, it looked like it was in decent shape, but once we drove up to see the house in person (after buying over Skype) it was apparent that the photos really didn’t show the actual state of the room.

Besides the tile floors that had been installed incorrectly (the spacing was all over the place and tiles were popping out all over the house), there were parts of the laminated countertop that were attached with Scotch tape and the dishwasher was installed so close to the oven that it hit the oven door every time you opened it.

A lot of the faux wood cabinets were warped/peeling/water damaged, the “tile” backsplash was simply stick on plastic sheets, it had a dropped acoustic paneled ceiling (like in an office building), and the pantry was small (and wasted half the space because of how the shelves were laid out).

Oh, and the baseboards/wood trim came together in a way that looked like an M.C. Escher staircase. You can see more in my “NotHowYouDoThat” highlight on my Instagram. It was a hot mess. It also had a plastic stained glass window of a sailboat in the kitchen wall, so that needed to go as well.

We knew we would want to totally gut the kitchen and start from scratch, but we waited until we worked on all the flooring that run throughout the main floor so we could demo the kitchen, have all the white oak flooring run throughout, and then put the kitchen back together on top.

In redoing the kitchen, the only thing we kept were the windows and the marble window sill underneath. The ceiling was removed to show an orange metal ceiling underneath (!!), but we took that out as well and drywalled instead to gain a lot more height in the space.

I got white shaker-style cabinet doors mixed with flat front drawers for a trendy-yet-timeless look, and used these drawer handles and pulls to add a touch of gold. I don’t usually splurge on hardware for every spot in the house, but I usually do for kitchens.

The handles get used the most, and when I buy cheaper gold/brass options they always start to tarnish after just a year or so. I’d rather start with something good quality and use them for a long time.

We also added in a double sink that has a 60/40 split so we have a bigger area to wash dishes and a space for drying what we wash by hand throughout the day. I also got this faucet to keep the gold colors going, and I like that it has a pull down feature as well.

I used quartz in our last kitchen and was really happy with it, so I chose that again in this pattern.

For the “real” tile backsplash, I picked this gorgeous star and cross pattern from Fireclay (Elsie has the same pattern in her office coffee bar) and I love how it adds a subtle pattern to the space without being overwhelming.

The tiles are handmade, so they are all a tiny bit different, which gives the backsplash an organic feel as well.

For our appliances, I’ve been dreaming of getting Café appliances since I saw them hit the market a few years ago, and I’m so glad we decided to use them for our kitchen.

This is the fourth house we’ve lived in, and I’ve actually never had a new kitchen appliance in any previous home, so I was thrilled to actually pick out something I would want.

Not only is our Café dishwasher, French-door fridge, and gas stove beautiful, but we love using them—you can connect them to your phone, so we’ve been able to preheat the oven when on the way home, and little things like that make it feel like an extra luxury.

My husband got me the matching Cafe toaster last year for Mother’s Day and their beautiful coffee maker completes the set.

We also replaced the pantry cabinet with one that was a little taller, and had deep drawers and shelves put in throughout to really maximize the pantry space, which has also helped a lot in everyday life.

I bought the same light fixture from our last kitchen and I feel like it fits this room really well, too.

It took me almost a year to get this pink velvet banquette built into the space, and while it’s one of the trickier DIYs I’ve completed, I really love it and it makes the area feel extra special.

I hung this whimsical print by one of my favorite artists above the seating and added these gorgeous sconces to either side. The kitchen really didn’t have much lighting at all besides giant can lights in the dropped ceiling, so I really wanted to add layers of light through the room.

You can find more cute & affordable wall art for a kitchen in this post!

I added under mount cabinet lights, task lighting in the ceiling, a flush mount in the middle of the room, and sconces on the wall so we can turn on/dim areas of light as needed. So. Much. Better.

I changed the twine on that cute hanging plant to a white rope to match the kitchen better, but I love having some permanent greenery in the space. And since it’s faux, I don’t have to water it (which is a plus with its location).

I got a small bistro table (similar here) and it’s the perfect size for having a snack or breakfast. It gets used a lot by my daughter to color while I’m making dinner when she wants to be nearby.

To keep our little family life organized, I got this customized calendar to hang in the kitchen and I love it. It’s a great way to keep track of appointments and events and the central location of it means that I see it often so I don’t forget what’s coming up for everyone.

I also like that even though it’s large, I got it in a lighter color and use lighter color chalk markers—so even when it’s full of writing, it doesn’t stand out in the space in a negative way.

I also added some black and white family photos to the top of the stairs since you can see it from the kitchen as well (similar gold frames here). These are three of my favorite photos.

I had the hardest time finding a rug that worked for this room. Originally, I wanted to get something with color to add another pop to the space, but most flat weave rugs just aren’t my style (a lot of traditional or oriental prints). I was pretty stuck for about nine months until I found this neutral star pattern rug.

While it doesn’t have the pop of color I was hoping for, the neutral colors fit perfectly in the room and the star/constellation pattern fits with the backsplash (and makes it a little fun, too).

Coffee Maker / Gas Range / Brass Pulls / Brass Knobs / Family Calendar / Refrigerator / Star Rug / Toaster / Globe Sconce / Dishwasher /Brass Faucet

The overall feeling in this kitchen is overwhelmingly different from when we first moved in. The new white oak floors, higher ceiling, bright and open feeling with the light cabinets and countertop, and the pop of pink in the corner make it all feel so modern, yet homey. And, the giant windows really stand out as a feature.

It feels like I finally got a dream kitchen on our fourth home since we’ve been married, and if you ask me, it was totally worth the wait! xo. Laura

Want to see other room makeovers in my house? Check out …

• ’70s Pink Living Room Makeover (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Pink Tile Bathroom Makeover (Before + After)
• Laura’s Dining Room Tour (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Organization-Focused Entryway (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Pink Star Bedroom (Before + After!)
• Lola’s Room Tour (Before + After!)

Café appliances c/o Café

While our current 1960s-era home is FULL of weird decisions and quirky spots throughout, the main (and only) bathroom on the main floor of the home was just a lot to take in.

Originally, the walls were some sort of green glass tile that was stuccoed over decades ago (!!!) and painted purple.

There was glass block everywhere, the ceiling was half green glass tile and half pink glass tile, and the floor was grey wood-look tile that was one of the worst installation jobs we’ve ever seen.

The grout lines ranged from 1/4″ wide to up to 2″ wide in spots and you could stub your toe on the unevenness) and the shower was made of four different white tiles.

There was a full-on Broadway-style makeup desk with exposed light bulbs flanking both sides, and the only light for the room was a old vanity light attached to a board.

It loosely hung on the wall like a picture frame over the sink with wires everywhere. Oh, and there was just a big hole in the wall where an old medicine cabinet used to be, so they just hung a mirror up to cover it. It was a lot.

Bathroom makeovers are expensive, and this one needed everything and more done in order to do it right, so I wasn’t sure if we would ever get around to doing this space anytime soon after moving in.

The first year, we focused on the rest of the upstairs, but as we neared the end of that major overhaul, it became apparent that the upstairs was looking so nice now that we really needed to do the bathroom in order for it to match the rest of the house.

Since this gut job was way beyond my DIY skills, we used our contractor to get it done this winter and the result is simply amazing.

Probably the best decision I made in the reno was to move the location of the tiny sink cabinet to the wider alcove on the right side of the room so that we could put in a vanity and countertop that spanned the whole width of the alcove.

The previous sink was in the way of getting to the toilet and the “countertop space” wasn’t wide enough to keep my curling iron from falling off constantly. It also didn’t help the one outlet in the space was on the opposite side of the room, haha.

Now we have a much bigger countertop area (it feels huge!) and I got a white quartz countertop to hold up to the traffic of the main bathroom in the house.

Oh, and there are two outlets above the vanity now, so I can actually get close enough to the mirror to see and curl my hair, haha. That gold faucet is really pretty, and I feel like single handle faucets are easier for kids to use as well.

There was almost zero storage in the old bathroom (previous owners seemed to all put a huge cabinet in the room just to have a place to put things), so it’s amazing to have this vanity (similar here) with all the drawers as well (they slide out under the sink for taller items).

I switched out the pulls on the vanity for these that were a brighter gold with rounded edges to match the other finishings better, and they are so pretty. I also added this soap dispenser and toothbrush holder that are rounded to continue the curve feel here and there.

The light in the bathroom is also very one-directional since all the windows are on one wall, so I used these 70s feel globe lights to flank the mirror and chose a mirror that also has its own built-in ring light (similar here) to evenly light the face for makeup application, etc.

I also love that the mirror light dims to a soft glow, and we use that as our bathroom nightlight so we and our kiddo can see in the middle of the night.

While I did have a bit of a soft spot for the vintage pink tub that was in the old bathroom, it wasn’t in the best of shape close up. But I made sure to keep some pink with these gorgeous glass tiles by Fireclay in the Rosy Finch Gloss.

I love that they are definitely pink but still kind of feel like a neutral as well, and the stacked bond pattern and size makes it feel very modern and fresh. Lola was so sad to get rid of the pink tub, but I kept telling her she was getting a pink shower, so she was OK with that.

There’s something about glass tile in a shower that feels so luxurious, and I love it.

The pink also looks so pretty with the gold shower kit that I picked out, and it’s just such a happy combo to look at while we shower or bathe. Speaking of bathing, switching out the old tub with this clean-line beauty was also a great decision.

It’s an amazing soaking tub for baths and the sides are a lot higher so Lola can splash around a lot more, and very little comes over the sides of the tub now versus the tsunami we had before at every bath.

To match the gold shower kit, I got this shower rod and I love this checkerboard curtain that adds a trendy pattern to the space.

I knew I wanted the rose tile for the shower, but I wasn’t sure what to do with the floors for a long time. I do love a clean look of white on white on white (sue me, but I do), so I wanted to do something bright, but with a little twist.

I settled on this beautiful Fireclay tile in Calcite and decided to have it laid out in a herringbone pattern. I feel like the herringbone was a little nod to my love of all things Parisian, but since it has white grout as well, it’s not crazy and doesn’t compete too much with the pink and white pattern that the shower creates.

We also decided to add a heated floor system under the tile which wasn’t that much more since it’s a comparatively small space. Worth. Every. Penny.

My husband has already fallen asleep on the floor and the cats go in there to lay on the pre-warmed bathmat at night. I like that the arch in the rug mirrors the custom trim I added to the doors upstairs as well.

My brother was the one that introduced us to this fancy toilet that he installed when he redid his own bathroom himself, and while it feels a little nuts to geek out about a toilet, let me first tell you that it has programmable bidet settings (with adjustable temperature warmth), a dryer for post-bidet sessions (with adjustable warmth), automatic flush, and a heated seat.

It actually needs its own outlet as it runs on electricity (we still have a “regular” basement toilet in case the power is ever out, if you were wondering), but it’s a pretty amazing toilet overall.

It’s hard to find a “pretty” toilet brush, but I found this one to complete the set. There’s not a lot of space in the area, but this slim trash can fits perfectly.

I also asked my contractor to add a cabinet above the toilet so we could have more precious storage space. It looks like that area used to be a laundry chute, but now it’s kind of above the basement shower, so we closed it off and made it storage instead.

My husband grew up with a laundry chute though, and he swears it’s the best thing ever and we need to find a way to add another one …

The previous bathroom didn’t have any towel racks since the stucco/glass tile combination was so hard to mount anything to, but I chose this towel rack, hand towel holder, and toilet paper holder to match the look and added this Matisse print above the towel rack to compliment it.

To add some color for the main art in the room, I hung this print by one of my favorite artists that we had in our last home.

You can find more cute & affordable wall art for a bathroom in this post!

I also wanted a shelf to keep my most used Leahlani skincare items out since I use them multiple times a day (and they are pretty enough to keep out too).

I also got this gold floating shelf to hold them and added some greenery and these super cute matches from our friend Sarah’s shop (she used to be the A Beautiful Mess photographer back in the day!).

Gold Hardware / Towel Holder / Girl Print / Gold Shelf / Toilet / Gold Shower Kit / Soap Dispenser / Lit Mirror / Bathtub / Gold Faucet / Globe Sconce / Matisse Print

Want to see other room makeovers in my house? Check out…

• 70s Pink Living Room Makeover (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Dining Room Tour (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Organization-Focused Entryway (Before + After!)
• Laura’s Pink Star Bedroom (Before + After!)
• Lola’s Room Tour (Before + After!)

I can’t tell you how much we love the new bathroom and how it’s SO much more functional than it was before. Taking a soak in the tub for the first time when it was all done felt like I was at a spa and it was just magical.

Someday, I may do something a little more colorful or add some pattern to the walls, but for now I’m just enjoying it all looking so fresh and bright. What’s your favorite part? xo. Laura

In our last home, we added a projector and remote controlled screen. We loved watching movies and TV on the big screen. Then, after adopting our children who have low vision, we felt it was an even bigger priority as the larger screens are the easiest for them to see.

We use our theater room every single day. It is one of the rooms in our home we spend the most time in. We love family movie nights and, of course, watching TV after our kiddos go to bed.

When it came to decorating this room, I searched endlessly for home theater inspiration, but so much that was out there felt very sterile and I wanted a cozy, comfortable room.

We designed this room to be practical, kid-friendly, and pet-friendly as well.

U-Shaped Sectional

We had a challenging time finding the right sofa for this space. I liked the idea of one large U-shaped sofa instead of a sofa and two chairs or love seats. I bought and returned two different sofas before landing on this one that is truly perfect for the space.

After returning two different types of fabric sofas, I decided leather was the most practical choice for our family with has two young children and two elderly dogs (in other words, frequent messes).

I nearly purchased this sectional from Pottery Barn, but the price tag made me pause and the style wasn’t quite right. A U-shaped leather sectional is a big investment, as they are very often over $10,000.

Then, I saw this U-shaped sectional and I knew it could be perfect, and the price was much more affordable. It’s still a big investment, but I felt great about it after comparison shopping.

The style of it is the perfect mixture of what my husband and I both like. We chose the camel colored leather and the brass colored legs.

The huge pro about this sofa is that it came pretty quickly (within a few months). A lot of sofas I was looking at had more than a six-month timeline, which is hard to do when you have no sofa like we did.

We’ve used it more than a month now and I can see that it is going to age nicely, as our other leather sofas have in the past. There is plenty of space and it’s large enough for two families to sit on comfortably.

And a random feature it comes with is a phone charger, which I use a lot more than I thought I would.

Here’s a link to our sectional (pictured above). It’s hard to tell, but we have the brass legs. Here’s a link to our round white coffee table (it’s very kid-friendly).

My husband insisted on keeping carpet in this room (it came with this carpet) because he says it’s better for the sound of our theater experience.

Movie Room Decor

When it came to decor, I knew we wanted to decorate pretty simply, but stay on the movie theme. I love a theme!

For art, we collected all kinds of art inspired by our favorite movies. My husband and I have a shared love for 1970s horror movies, so there’s a lot of that as well as nostalgic favorites. The matching art prints shown here are from Prints And Giggles.

You can find more cute & affordable wall art for a TV/movie room in this post!

The paint color is Conifer Green by Behr. The green curtains are this velvet pair from Amazon. They match the paint color really well. I found the moroccan pillows locally, in Nashville, at Lucky Collective.

This wall is almost exclusively Etsy art. I love to purchase art from Etsy because it’s unique, special, and each purchase supports an aspiring artist!

Art links: Hocus Pocus House Print / Gremlins Print / The Office Print / The Shining Print / Rushmore Print / The Sound Of Music Print / Jurassic Park Print / Twin Peaks Diane Print / Twin Peaks Comic Print / Rosemary’s Baby Print / Peggy Olson Print / The French Dispatch Print / All Of Them Witches Print / The Shining Bathroom Print / Eternal Sunshine Print

*Note: Etsy artists don’t always keep their work up for a long time, so I replaced a few of these with similar pieces.

Popcorn Machine

We received our Great Northern Popcorn machine as a gift and it is one of our most loved and used gifts of all time. We love making popcorn for our family movie nights.

You can read more about my popcorn machine in this blog post I wrote.

Tips For Planning a Home Theatre Room

The only items we splurged on for this space were the projector and the sofa. The projector directly affects the quality of your movies and TV, so I recommend getting the nicest one your can budget for.

• We had a less expensive one at our last home and then upgraded here since we want it to last a long time. I recommend checking out Epson projectors—both of ours have been from them. You will also need a ceiling mount if you plan to mount it to the ceiling.
• Screens are very inexpensive. I recommend a 100-inch screen, and you can go bigger if your room will allow it.
• Choose a dark wall color. It adds to the theater experience.
• Keep a hidden stash of movie candy. I always keep these gummy bears, Reese’s Pieces and I “collect” Haribo at all times. It’s a revolving collection, but if I ever see one we haven’t tried I buy it (my personal favorites are the watermelon and the happy cola).
• Keep it casual. I love the simplicity of this room. It’s easy to clean, there’s nothing fussy about it and I don’t worry about little things like a spill.

Movie Room Ideas (Without a Room)

Of course, not everyone has a devoted movie room! In our last house, we added a remote control screen and projector to our living room in exchange for a big TV. You can see all the links to that room here.

More of Elsie’s home

1. Green Living Room
2. Library Dining Room
3. Elsie’s Office Tour
4. See what What Inspired My New Home Decor Style

Here’s a photo of the movie room in use and how it looks to us every night when we use it! Thank you so much for following along. I’m here if you have any questions! xx- Elsie