Welcome to the 854th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was fabulous! For this week’s Met Monday, I’m sharing a few updates I’ve made to the guest bath, along with some big changes that will be coming this summer, if not sooner. This small powder room is located on the main floor of the Dollhouse. Ever since moving in last June, I’ve been itching to make some changes in this room. I wasn’t too keen on the red walls, so I knew right away that I’d be changing those. Being such a small space, I felt this would be a great place to have a bit of fun with some playful wallpaper.
I knew I’d be adding plantation shutters throughout the house, so I wasn’t too worried about the window for now. I decided the first order of business needed to be choosing the wallpaper.
Another issue I wanted to address was the large, bulky towel rack visible on the left wall. It was a full-size towel holder, maybe even oversized.
It would have been great in a full bath where a bath towel or two would be needed, but it was definitely overkill for this tiny powder room. Plus, it stuck pretty far out into the room.
Since this bath is quite small, I felt removing it would open the space up a bit more and make it easier to move around.
The towel rack was easy to remove, and immediately the room felt more open without it.
The next change that I made was to remove these broken shutters. Some of the louvers were no longer attached to the pull rod, and one of the panels was missing a louver entirely. When I placed my shutter order for all the windows on the lower level, this window was included in that order. Unfortunately, on install day, the installers realized there had been a mix-up with their measurements, and the panels had to be remade.
Those were installed a few days ago, and I love how they look here. I did something very different with this window, something I’ve never done before in the Georgia house or this house. All the interior plantation shutters for this home will be 3.5-inch louvers—except for this one bathroom. Because this room is so small, I decided to go with 2.5-inch louvers for this window. I felt the 3.5-inch louver size would look too big in this space, and that the scale would be off for the size of the room. I knew if I hated how the 2.5-inch louver looked once installed, I could always place another order. So I decided to take that chance and go with my heart. I’m so glad that I did because I’m really happy with how the 2.5-inch louver looks in this small powder room. I was also worried that having a different size louver in this one room would look odd from outside, but it doesn’t! From the outside looking up, the shutters look great and fit the scale of this window beautifully! When the rest of the shutters go in upstairs in a few weeks, I’ll take a photo from outside to share how they all look together from outside.
When I first started thinking about updating this room, I was just thinking about paint and wallpaper, but as happens with a lot of projects, once you get into a room and start working, you inevitably start to notice other things that need updating. I’ve never been too happy with the wall lights/sconces in this room because the bulb protrudes partially out and below the shade, which means you get a lot of glare directly in your face when washing your hands. Notice how the bulb is physically visible along the bottom.
I changed out the bulb to a decorative chandelier-type bulb, and even that bulb stuck out past the shade. Argh! Since I’m too happy with these sconces, and they are starting to show some pitting in the base, I decided to replace them during this renovation. I knew I needed to make the change before the wallpaper was installed; I didn’t want the imprint of this square fixture’s base permanently imprinted into the new wallpaper.
It took me 4 tries to find sconces that I liked for this space. Two were a bit too large for the room, and the 3rd one, though the right size, just didn’t look right. It was too square and bulky…not elegant enough. I found this sconce online at Home Depot and was relieved to see the size looked just right in this room.
I love its curves, and thankfully, there are no bare bulbs sticking out anywhere! (Sconce is available here: Sconce.)
So, to recap: The overly large towel bar is gone, the shutters and sconces are in. Time to talk wallpaper!
This is the fanciful wallpaper I’ve chosen for this powder room. I’ve already purchased three rolls which is probably way more than I need. The wallpaper will go above the molding, and the wall area below will be painted white with possibly some pretty molding added later. That molding will be painted white, also.
Here’s another view of the wallpaper where it’s partially in bright light (before the shutters were installed) and partially in shade.
I love this silly wallpaper. The wallpaper hanger that I am planning to use suggested painting the wall beneath the molding in the blue color seen in the paper.
I thought about that, but I feel like it would change the whole feel of the room. I like the blue color, but not enough to have the whole bottom half of the room painted that color.
I love how this wallpaper looks when paired with a crisp, white wall below. So I’m going to stick with white paint below and the addition of some type of wainscoting.
So, try to envision this room with the wallpaper I’ve chosen and white paint below—and possibly some wainscoting.
I do have a fun idea for the blue color in this wallpaper, though! I want to have the ceiling of the powder room painted this shade of blue. I think that would be so pretty with this paper! Guests would enter the room, look up, and for just a moment, they would be whisked away under blue skies to Africa for an exotic safari. Dream with me, here!
Can you tell that I’m ready to go back? ❤️
What about that towel rack? Guests will need a way to dry their hands, right? I have two ideas for that.
Remember the towel holder that I purchased recently?
For now, I’ve placed it here on the back of the tank.
I found these fun, leopard-print, disposable hand towels that I thought would make guests feel like the cheetah from the wallpaper had entered the room. Told ya it was gonna be wild! Hahaha! I couldn’t find paper towels with a cheetah print, but I figured the leopard print was close enough. Shhh, don’t tell anybody!
Also, I have a spot where I think this towel ring (seen in the box below) will fit nicely over on the wall to the right of the sink and to the left of the door to this room. So guests will have both fabric and paper towels from which to choose when drying their hands. I’ll also be changing out the bulky white TP holder with the TP holder shown below the box. Towel Ring is available here: Delta Windemere Towel Ring. TP holder is available here: Single Post Toilet Paper Holder.
I’ve already gotten an estimate for the painting and wallpaper installation. Once that’s done, I’ll need to find someone to add the molding below. I should probably get the molding installed first, but I kinda want to see it without the molding to make sure it needs that. I’m really excited about that blue ceiling! lol What do ya think—can you envision it completed?
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I love the shutters, but the wallpaper is fabulous, and your idea of painting the ceiling the same pale blue shade in the wallpaper is perfect. Please tell me where you found the wallpaper.
Thanks so much, Lisa! I purchased it from Home Depot here: https://bit.ly/4jO0Fkd
It used to be available on Amazon, but I don’t see it there now.
Susan, years ago I toured homes around Little Five Points (I think haha) One of the homes had painted the ceiling that shade of blue but had added some clouds. Wouldn’t that be cool to look up and see clouds? Think about it….
That would be cool, I would love that!
The wallpaper is so cute! I would definitely consider using that in our guest bathroom when we redo it.
I bought some cute tropical fingertip towels for our powder room on Amazon. The storefront is Khalpera. I bought the embellished palm tree pattern and the regular terry fabric palm trees. I put the embellished out for parties but use the regular ones for everyday. I love them both but think the regular ones will hold up better to frequent washing.
Thanks, Janet! Oh, I will check out that store! I love pretty towels in a guest bathroom. I used to buy monogram ones from Neiman Marcus when they had a great sale.
The wallpaper makes such a statement, you could even dispense with the moulding altogether, and paper the walls from ceiling to floor. Will the floor in the powder room remain the same, or will you change that? Love this post, Susan. I can’t wait to see the results.
That’s true, although I would hate to remove the molding because it appears to be original to the home dating back to 1938. I’m not sure about the flooring. I don’t know if it’s original or newer…it kinda looks newer. For now, I’m going to leave it alone since I have other stuff that I need to work on in the house…like a new dishwasher/stove/microwave. Thanks, Lisa!
Susan, I love the wallpaper! It is perfectly whimsical and your guests will enjoy! Definitely paint the ceiling blue, I have a small bath with hand-painted walls and a blue ceiling and I love it!
That sounds so nice, Pam! I love that we can have a bit of fun in these smaller bathrooms.
I love the wallpaper…and a powder room is the perfect place to
“go wild”!!
It is! lol I feel that way about screen porches, too…a place to have some fun!
I can’t wait to see the finished room! I like the idea of the white below and paper above. Since you changed out the sconces and are considering a matching towel ring, have you considered matching a “silver” toilet paper holder too?
Oh, I should have made that part clearer. In that picture toward the end of the post…it shows the round ring towel holder that’s inside the box. And the silver thing below it is the toilet paper holder. It’s the kind that only puts hole in the wall.
They are both in the brushed nickel finish like the wall sconces. I just added that info to the post, so thanks for asking about that, Margaret!
I guess I am different and think the light bottom will make the paper look top-heavy. I would probably pick the dark green out of the wallpaper and use that on the bottom with white trim.
That sounds pretty, too!
The new bathroom will be gorgeous! And I love the leopard hand towels.
Wendy in Suwanee
Thanks, Wendy!
XXX
Can’t wait for the reveal! Have you considered adding a few light clouds on the ceiling?
That did cross my mind. 🙂 I’m tempted to try that. I would want them to be wispy looking.
I’ve seen it done Susan and it looks awesome.
That wallpaper is so fun! Just a heads up if you haven’t had experience with that type of TP holder, but I’ve had it in my house. After a while, the black rubber that provided the tension to keep the rack in the holder on the wall stopped working. Maybe it dried out, but the result is the rack is easily pulled out and it and your TP roll falls on the floor. Guests think they’ve broken something in your house. We’re doing a remodel right now and I won’t be buying that type again.
I was worried about that since I saw something in a review online that said they have a tendency to spin around. I may nix the idea of that style TP holder and go with a different one. I just loved that it only put one hole in the wall, but it may not be worth it. Thanks for letting me know, Heather.
I just love the idea that you’re changing the TP holder out!!! When I first began reading you didn’t mention it and I kept thinking surely she’s going to change it out! hahaha It’s all going to look awesome when finished.
That guest bathroom will be absolutely fantastic! It’s going to look like a totally different room once finished. I love the wallpaper! Best wallpaper ever! It’s exactly what I would have selected. Just perfect! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Thanks, Linda! I’m so glad you like the paper…it makes me smile every time I see it. 🙂
First, it’s hard to believe that you moved in a year ago already and also that you’ve accomplished so much in only a year. I would not have thought to coordinate the guest towels with the animal print—clever! Love those shutters so much. Resounding yes! to the wallpaper and blue ceiling. Cannot wait until the final reveal.
Thanks, Mia! I can’t wait to get it all done and share it! ♥
This may end up being my favorite room! My gf who moved last summer has a wild powder room with tropical, larger than life botanicals, and I just love it! She found a tropical bird sculpture at an estate sale we went to and it fits perfectly behind the toilet on the wall. Looks like the birds are in the flowers. Can’t wait to see this completed. Love the idea of blue ceiling, and the shutters look great. So do the fixtures.
Oh, that sounds like a powder room I would love to go inside! I will have to keep my eye out for some fun art for that room. Thanks so much, Rita!
I love the wallpaper and the powder room is going to be so pretty. I do have one comment which you can taker or leave, have you considered replacing the toilet paper holder? To my eye it is like the towel bar, too big and clunky. It is just an idea. Everything in the room will be beautiful!
Thanks, Linda! I agree. I was going to go with the TP holder that’s in a picture toward the end of the post, but I’m hearing those type of holders don’t hold up well, so I ordered a different one today.
This is the one that’s shown in the post toward the end of the post. https://amzn.to/4kBoBZb
This is the one that I just ordered today: https://amzn.to/4n1iLlx
It’s going to look amazing! Really like the idea of the wainscoting walls ~ Did you go on the African trip solo? If so, how brave and exciting !
Thanks! I hope I can find someone to do that molding. Yes, I did go alone. Cindy, if you are interested, you’ll find several posts about that trip here: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/category/wanderlust/africa/kenya/
I answered questions about the trip and why I wasn’t afraid to go alone here: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/answering-your-safari-travel-questions-what-i-brought-back-from-kenya/
Great plans! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your choice of wallpaper!!!!! Gives me an idea–just might copy that when we redo our powder room!!
Looking forward to the progress photos!
Please do! I would love to know this makeover provided some inspiration for other makeovers. If you use it, Kathleen, email me a photo!
This is going to look amazing Susan. I love the changes you have already made and the wall paper is so fun! The blue ceiling is a fabulous idea. I can’t wait to see it done. X- MaryJo
Thanks so much, MaryJo!
XXX
Love the wallpaper and the blue ceiling idea! It will be darling.
Thanks, Joy!
XXX
That wallpaper is fantastic! Looking forward to seeing the finished room.
Thanks, Ranger!
xxx
I have 3 of the single toilet paper holders. Have had them for 15 years with no problems whatsoever. They are so easy to use and are timeless.
Tricia, what brand is yours? Maybe the ones that are having issues weren’t installed correctly. The reviews online are mostly great, so apparently they are working for a lot of people.
Susan, they are Deltas too. I was just thinking, I raised three boys who used them too. I think that says something about their quality. Ha,ha!
That’s saying something if they passed the “boy” test. lol
Hi Susan! I absolutely love following along as you fix up your dollhouse! Your powder room will be fabulous. In mine, I too, used a “wild” wallpaper and painted the ceiling the background color of the paper. The trim is a bright white (Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace). I chose a sage green that is in the paper for the vanity. I also added a crystal chandelier. I am so very pleased with this little room. I think you’ll love yours, too. I can’t wait to see it. Have you uploaded a picture of your powder room to ChatGPT.com to get an AI image of how it will look with the moulding?
Thanks so much, Donna! Oh, I really like BM Chantilly Lace. I used that on my trim in the basement of the Georgia house. Your bathroom sounds beautiful…love sage green!
No, I never use AI because so often I’ve seen it give incorrect results when I do a Google search. Interesting that you can use it for that, though.
I think the blue ceiling is a fun idea. It reminds me of the haint blue ceilings you see on porches all over New Orleans. The superstition goes that it wards off the bad juju, lol. It’s going to be a super cute, fun bathroom!
I was thinking the same thing. I’ve never had a porch that seemed appropriate for haint blue, so I can finally get a blue ceiling in this bath. When a friend and I toured homes in Louisiana and Mississippi for a week, they told us that they believed the blue would confuse the haints/ghosts and cause them to fly up, thinking it was the sky, instead of going into the home. I love those fun superstitions/folklore!
Love it! Blue ceiling too!!
Thanks, Donna!
XXX
love wallpaper but I think you should use gold lamps and gold fixtures to make it rich looking silver is boring love the blue ceiling and the leopard towels I really wouldn’t put up another towel rack germs yuk just use the napkins that’s what I do what are you doing on the floor? becareful picking out the blue paint also your always buying everything did you hit the lottery its just your always on to new projects two house I don’t know how you do it you have an endless bank account your lucky
Oh, gold would have been great with the wallpaper. The faucet and sick stopper is silver so I didn’t want to have that changed out right now…just decided to stay in the same metal for now. Actually, all the bathrooms have the brushed nickel. Ha! That would be great. Oh the things I’d do immediately.
I may have to keep the fabric towel in there for now and put away the paper towels. I’m concerned my grandsons will forget and flush one of the paper towels down and create a blockage.
I actually like how the red looks with the wallpaper maybe see what it looks like when wallpapering is done.
I know, it’s kinda funny how it coordinates with that paper.
Hi Susan,
Love the rich color wallpaper choice. Really like the inspiration photo too with white paint below wainscoting. With white fixtures, it will all disappear and look larger. The shutters are fabulous. I like low maintenance and those last forever.
Thanks, Teresa! Me, too! I like to do something once and never have to think about it again. Love me some shutters!
It’s going to be gorgeous and so fun and whimsical, which I love. Only one caveat, I think the room is too small for the wainscoting and would be overkill. Of course, it’s just my opinion!
Thanks so much, Sheree! You could be right. I’m going to let the wallpaper hanger do the painting first, then I can think about whether I want to add the wainscoting. I do love how it looks in rooms, though. Maybe I should think about doing that in the dining room one day.
Since the big towel holder is gone, have you thought about putting the TP holder across from the toilet, so it’s not so visible from the door? It’s hard to tell from the pictures, if it would be too far of a reach from the “user” that’s sitting, but seeing it right as you come in would really drive me nuts. I bet you are going to have fun looking for a framed picture that has the wallpaper theme! I love how the shutters came out, good choice!
It would be nice to entirely hide it. I think it would be in the way directly across, but I’m sure I can place it lower down and further to the right so it’s not so prominent. Actually, this is making me wonder if I should look for a white TP holder that would just blend into the white wall or wainscoting…just one that’s not as big/bulky.
Thanks, Elena! That would be fun, looking for some art for that room, although the paper may be busy enough. lol
Susan, this is going to be one beautiful powder room when you are done! I love the wallpaper that you have chosen and the idea to paint the ceiling blue is just perfect! The new shutters look great and the towel rack and toilet paper holder will look awesome. I can’t wait to see the finished product and thanks for sharing all your wonderful creativity!
Thanks so much, Kim! Can’t wait to get it all done!
XXX
Love it all Susan!
The whimsy of the wallpaper and your idea of a blue ceiling are genius!
Can’t wait to see it completed ❤️
I have to add that I giggled as you were going back and forth about the different sizes of shutters, for some reason it made me think of Goldilocks! Ha!!
So now your shutters will forever be Goldilocks in my silly head.
Thanks, Catalynn! That’s a good way to describe it. Goldilocks…I like it! 🙂
Susan, I think that your powder room will be so fun. Who doesn’t like a little bit of whimsy? I see that you have changed your mind on the TP holder. I currently have to replace mine (same style as the original one that you chose) because of the problem others mentioned.I’d really give myself time to adjust to the room before deciding on the molding. My opinion is that the room may be too small and the scale of any molding could be difficult. You’ll see how it all works out when you get to that point.You really are making me want to start all over with a new (to me) house.
Yeah, you could be right about that. I think I’ll just go with paint for now and then decided if I think it needs wainscoting. I don’t want to shrink the room, so good idea to wait and see how the paint looks. This house needed a lot more than I realized, but I must admit, it has been so much fun working on it this past year. I can’t wait to replace the appliances in the kitchen. I think that may be the next big thing that I do after the bathroom is done.
So fun! Love all the colors in the wallpaper. Can’t wait to see the final result.
Thanks, Rosie! I’m looking forward to sharing it!
XXX
I would get a floor standing toilet paper holder. Just my thoughts