• Blog
  • Portfolio
  • House Tour
    • About Meg
    • Follow
    • Services
    • Contact
Menu

M Pettipoole

Interior Decorator & Stylist
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
  • House Tour
  • About
    • About Meg
    • Follow
    • Services
    • Contact
Blog Banner Images-1.jpg
Blog Banner Images-3.jpg
Blog Banner Images-5.jpg
Blog Banner Images-6.jpg
Blog Banner Images-7.jpg
Blog Banner Images-8.jpg
Blog Banner Images-9.jpg
Blog Banner Images-10.jpg
Blog Banner Images-11.jpg

Move-in PIctures - 22.jpg

Making the Most of a Bad Rental Bathroom – Part I

April 28, 2017

Four years ago, this was the first room I attempted to update upon moving in to our rental duplex. Having previously occupied a slew of apartments – all boasting charming vintage bathrooms, each cuter than the last – our good-fortune finally ran out. It's not completely horrific, and we're graced with a downstairs bathroom, so no one but Luke and I really have to see this one. But the reality is we use it all the time and the small cluster of sad design choices make it a big bummer.  

Move-in PIctures - 23.jpg
Move-in PIctures - 26.jpg

It was the only room not already painted a bland buttercream when we moved in; instead, it touted an equally questionable homely brown and dusty lavender color scheme. The layout is fairly inoffensive, filled with run of the mill fixtures including a basic pedestal sink with that ubiquitous (i.e. cheap) faucet landlords just love throwing in all their properties. I do like the vintage medicine cabinet, though sadly it's not centered above the sink or inset in the wall. In fact neither sink, mirror, light, or vent are centered above one another.

On the other side is an ad hoc vanity and storage solution (if you don't look too closely the two-by-fours and scrap lumber holding up a 50s formica top almost pass for proper cabinetry). The vanity itself is a great detail and super useful, though the dorm room mirror and off-centered light fixture weren't doing it any favors. Oh yeah and that weird faux marble piece of laminate below... what is happening??? 

But I really am so into that pink speckled formica. It's completely wrong for the era of the house, but Eeeek! It's just so cute!

Move-in PIctures - 31.jpg

So right after moving in, awash with that new-home makeover zeal, I decided this was the room to focus my efforts. Figuring paint was the most important step, I spotted this image on sfgirlbybay and was all, two tone black and white walls, yes please. And actually, to this day I still find myself frequently referencing this image. There's something so classic about the black and white, and so clean and modern with the lack of a chair rail. 

Then why did it take me four years to finally post about it?

It's all because of that infuriating beige floor. Despite my new paint job, actually probably because of it, those preexisting tiles made the room seem even more dingy and uninspired than it did to begin with. Something about the crisp/clean black and white just made them feel really dirty in contrast. Instead of receding into the background, they now became an unintended bland punctuation mark on an otherwise fresh and semi pulled-together room.

Move-in PIctures - 22.jpg

I spent so much time (read: years) trying to come up with affordable/reversible solutions for that floor. The rubber flooring in Daniel Kanter's Brooklyn rental kitchen was a strong contender. I just couldn't get beyond the $250 price tag. I thought about laying a sheet of laminate (using double sided carpet tape to temporarily affix it), or slapping some peel and stick tiles down and dealing with the consequences of resorting to a more permanent solution. But none of the available options felt appropriate for a late 1800s victorian bath (although most of the design decisions in here already don't, so I probably could've gotten away with it). 

In the end I did nothing. 

But recently, after years of frustration and avoidance, I decided to quit fixating on it, throw some rugs down, and just deal. This won't be a grand aspirational makeover – it's simply making the most of a bad rental bathroom – but despite the room's many remaining shortcomings I think I've incorporated a few ways to temporarily spruce up the lackluster space. Check back soon for the "after" photos.      

In The Duplex Tags Bathroom
← Making the Most of a Bad Rental Bathroom Part IILuke's Studio Tour →
Megan Pettipoole

Hi! I'm Megan, an interior design enthusiast crazy for bold color + pattern. I document my inspiration, ideas, and experiments here.


Pretty pictures And moderately witty narratives!

Town & Country Mod Entryway - M Pettipoole

Sign up to receive M Pettipoole blogposts delivered directly to your inbox!

Thank you!

  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • December 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Featured Posts

Featured
Before & After – A Pretty in Peach Dresser for the Nursery
Mar 29, 2018
Before & After – A Pretty in Peach Dresser for the Nursery
Mar 29, 2018
Mar 29, 2018
A Valentine Tea Time
Feb 11, 2016
A Valentine Tea Time
Feb 11, 2016
Feb 11, 2016
Songs for Lovers (Cynics Too)
Feb 5, 2016
Songs for Lovers (Cynics Too)
Feb 5, 2016
Feb 5, 2016

Instagram @mpettipoole

When the light is right. Again. #pettipooleplace
❤️
I didn’t plan on any valentine’s crafts this year, but then I found these paper plates in the @homegoods aisle. 💗 Probably still not gonna get anything thrown together for tomorrow, but a Sweetheart themed 1st birthday might be in order. Because pink and red and hearts forever!!
My favorite holiday approacheth! ❤️ Here’s a throwback to a scene I once set for the occasion.
I’m so glad that she’s my little girl #pettipooleplace
A tisket a tasket I added poms to this basket. and other nursery details...