One Room Challenge: Week 1

I don't know why I do these things to myself.  I kept saying that I was not going to be a guest participant in Linda's Calling It Home One Room Challenge, but here I am...jumping in with both feet, straight up to my eyeballs!

Why did I decide to take on this challenge, you might ask?  One reason:  my mum is still alive!  For most of you, that's not really a big deal OR a reason.  But for me, the killer of all living plants, it is a really big deal and it has encouraged me to go ahead and tackle this project.  I've never participated in a "challenge" like this, so I'm hoping it will be pretty exciting and, well...challenging! ;-)

 Before we even closed on this house, I talked to you all about redoing the guest half-bath downstairs, and it would make sense that it would be the room I would choose for the One Room Challenge.  I teetered between the half-bath and the second guest bedroom, but decided to go ahead and get started on the half-bath.  While it is a small space, it will involve more than just pulling some furniture into a room. 

To refresh your memory, here is what I'm starting with...


And this...

This bathroom is very tiny, only about 22 square feet.  One of our main challenges will be fitting two people inside this room so that we can work!

This is the inspiration board I pulled together for this project.


I would love to find a vintage piece of furniture to use as the vanity, but the space is so narrow, I don't know if I can find one thin enough at a reasonable price.  We are going to be on a tight budget for this room.

I am still torn on the paint color for the wall above the board and batten....


I suppose I will decide right when it's time to paint it.  Having a gallery wall in this space (similar to the one below) is still appealing to me, but that will be quite a few nails in a brand new wall....I'll be sweating it!


Keep your fingers crossed that I don't fall flat on my face and that 6 weeks from now this little half-bath doesn't look exactly the same as it does today AND that the hubster likes the chandelier I will be choosing for this room! ;-)

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40 comments

  1. My thrift store addictionOctober 9, 2015 at 8:57 AM

    Benita, I love your inspiration! I painted my living and dining rooms a soft gray a few years ago and couldn't get over how much brighter and larger it made the space feel. You got this! Can't wait to see your results!

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 4:52 PM

      Thank you so much Cecilia! I love the softer grays and think they are just so pretty! But I also like the really dark grays…that’s why I’m so torn. We did some projects at our house in Texas, but never this much of an undertaking! I’m looking forward to it and thank you again so much!! Hugs!!

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  2. Teresa POctober 9, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I cant wait to see how it all comes together! We have our master bathroom painted in SW Sea Salt and its a gorgeous soft green/blue gray.

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 4:53 PM

      I can't wait either and hope it turns out like it is going to in my mind...LOL. I envision so many things and sometimes, the reality just never turns out right...LOL. That Sea Salt is such a gorgeous color!! I may just have to throw a dart at some color cards to make this color decision! :-)

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  3. At Rivercrest CottageOctober 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    Will be cheering you on and waiting to see what color to choose. I love the dark wall look, but fear it is too dark for my home.

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 4:57 PM

      Thank you so much! I was really leaning towards that dark color and thought it would look very dramatic in the space, but after standing in there with the hubster taking measurements this morning, I may be going with something light!

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  4. Stephanie @ Casa Watkins LivingOctober 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    Alright Benita!!!!!!! So happy you are dong the challenge too! This will be great to kickstart the decorating in your new home. I love your mood board! Looking forward to this experience with you. We will cheer each other on. :)

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 4:55 PM

      Thank you so much Stephanie…it was truly a last minute decision! I cannot wait to see how your living room turns out…I love the board with all of your choices also and YES, we will encourage each other along! I’m getting excited about it and having a room project done! :-)

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  5. Tessa~ Here there be musingOctober 9, 2015 at 10:08 AM

    Taking this challenge makes perfect sense. You want to do this room. The challenge will keep you on target. There, that point is settled. :-)

    As to the nails in wall to hang things, have you ever used those put/on/peel/off things? No nails. No sweat. Just sayin'....

    Decorating Inspiration hugs,
    Tessa

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 4:59 PM

      Thank you so much Tessa! I'm looking forward to getting this little room taken care so that it has some character like the rest of the house. I don't know if the hubster is looking forward to it also, since he will be the manual labor guy! :-)

      I love your terminology....sounds just like mine! :-) And we have discussed those for some of the photos. If I end up doing a small gallery area in this room, that will be what I use...I just cringe at all the thought of all those nail holes to hang all the photos.

      Much love and hugs to you sweet friend!

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  6. AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNaOctober 9, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    I am interested to see how the board and battan is all gonna fit in there to get it up!! I think it will be gorgeous.

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:02 PM

      Well, that was a point of interest to the hubster as well. The sink will come out first and he’s already determined the spacing. We will not be taking the baseboards off, but will sit the wood on the top of the baseboard. The commode has enough room behind it to slide a piece of the molding down behind it, so we don’t have to remove the commode. That was going to be a big deal and we dodged a bullet. That’s as far as we’ve gotten in the planning. :-) Thank you so much! My favorite part is going to be the chandelier! :-)

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  7. StaceyOctober 9, 2015 at 11:43 AM

    You will not fall flat on your face! You've got the perfect room to work with. :)

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:02 PM

      Thank you so much Stacey....we will be cohorts in this adventure!! :-)

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  8. UnknownOctober 9, 2015 at 12:01 PM

    Yay, Benita! I was hoping you'd change your mind! =) I love the SW Sea Salt color, but excited to not only see which color you choose, but to be following along and cheering each other on! hugs, Christine

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:04 PM

      Thank you so much Christine! I'm excited also...there are 4 of us that I know doing this challenge...me, you, Stacey (Poofing the Pillows) and Stephanie (Casa Watkins). I can't wait to see the progress and the final result! And YES...cheering each other along...it's exciting!! Hugs!!

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  9. tammy jOctober 9, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    oh my.
    i have ALWAYS loved board and batten.
    very cape cod new england to me... both of which i adore.
    good luck!
    XO

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:07 PM

      Thank you so much! I have always loved it also. It is one of those design elements that remains timeless and works in any decorating scheme.

      I adore both of them also…I fell in love with Maine and Rhode Island when we traveled there this summer! I could have stayed forever! Much love and hugs!!

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  10. JulieOctober 9, 2015 at 2:08 PM

    It looks gorgeous, Benita. I'll be following along with your progress :) You go, Girl! (Haha, yes, I am aware that people don't really say that anymore...)

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:08 PM

      Thank you so much Julie...I will definitely appreciate all of the encouragement and may have to have help in the decision making process along the way! :-) LOL @ you go girl.... I say it all the time....it works for me!! :-) Hugs!!

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  11. JunkchiccottageOctober 9, 2015 at 2:51 PM

    You got this girl. I know it will be beautiful.
    Kris

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    1. BenitaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:09 PM

      Thanks so much Kris…you know, you guys could always visit Gallatin and you could come help me! ;-) Hugs!!

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  12. Blondie's JournalOctober 9, 2015 at 9:25 PM

    I love doing bathrooms---I am the queen of shower curtains and rugs...I love to switch them out according to my mood and I get a whole new feel. But power rooms are a little more difficult because when it's done...it's done! Well, new artwork and accessories can give it a little punch when you're bored!!

    I love your design board. The board and batten is something I may do in the new reno at the lake. We had bead board before. And we also had the vanity and sink similar to the one you show---check the height. I'm 5'2 and it was too high for me to wash my face in. <3

    Can't wait to see what you do!!!

    Jane x

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 3:40 PM

      I love redoing bathrooms also...they are such a small space and need all the boosting they can get. Changing out a few things does help. And you are so right on the powder rooms...one and done. It's hard to find artwork for a powder room, at least it is for me. I never know what sort of feel I want it to have and change it up frequently.

      Thank you so much! I do love the board and batten because it is timeless and requires no updating for a while. I'm short also...5'2"...the hubster is 6'2", so we have to find a happy medium. We think 36" tall will work for both of us...I definitely don't want to have to stand on a stool to wash my hands...LOL Hugs!!

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  13. AnonymousOctober 10, 2015 at 6:39 AM

    a friend of mine painted her toilet walls golden, put a chandelier up and called it Versailles. it definitely has personality :)

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 3:42 PM

      Oh, I bet that was beautiful!! The golden color is always so pretty when it's the right shade. And I'm really pushing for a chandelier in this bath...I think it would make a great impact! :-)

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  14. DD's CottageOctober 10, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    Looking forward to seeing your room challenge! It is probably a good thing to do thechallenge because it will make you finish a project that you have been wanting to do anyways!

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 3:43 PM

      Thanks so much! That was my thought...it would push me to get it done and not drag it along...I've got 5 weeks...that should be more than enough time! :-)

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  15. Kim October 10, 2015 at 11:15 AM

    Can't wait to see how it all comes together! I know it will be gorgeous.

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 3:44 PM

      I’m looking forward to just being done. Today, I’m good with throwing a new light fixture up and calling it a day…LOL

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  16. KimberleyOctober 10, 2015 at 9:14 PM

    Hi Benita! :)
    I know the bathroom will turn out beautiful! I love the gallery wall idea...you could always use the command strips to hang things if you don't want to make all those holes...I've used them on quite a few things in our home and they work really well and come in different sizes that hold different weights of things you are hanging and don't damage your walls! :)
    We did the SW Sea Salt in our lower bath redo...it works really well with browns and white! But I do love that dark gray you chose too! It's a small room, I say go bold!! The white from the board and batten will keep the dark gray toned down and not too dark in there!
    Can't wait to see it all done! :)
    Hugs, Kimberley

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 3:46 PM

      Hi Kimberley, thank you so much! I like the gallery wall idea also...mine might not be that busy or by the time I get to that point, I may be so disgusted with it, that I will just throw something on the wall and call it finished...LOL. You know how frustrating some projects can be. I've been looking at the command strips as alternatives because I just really don't want to have a wall littered with nail holes. The dark, dramatic color is what I'm really leaning towards. I will know more once I get the board and batten up and the painting finished on the bottom part of the wall. Thank you so much!! Hugs!!

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  17. DeeOctober 12, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    Happy Monday, Benita! This one room challenge sounds exciting and I love the ideas you have for your half bath. It's definitely not easy to work with a small space like that so I can't wait to see how it all turns out. Blessings... :)

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 4:31 PM

      Thank you so much Dee and Happy Monday to you too! :-) I think that squeezing both of us into that tiny space will actually be the biggest challenge of all in this project! I’m looking forward to getting it completed though! Thanks again!! Hugs!!

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  18. Lowcarb team memberOctober 12, 2015 at 4:23 PM

    I like those shades - can't wait to see more.

    All the best Jan

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    1. BenitaOctober 12, 2015 at 4:49 PM

      Thanks so much Jan! Hope you are having a great day!

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  19. Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda GOctober 12, 2015 at 8:57 PM

    Can't wait to see how the bathroom turns out! You've picked some great inspiration and I bet it will turn out fabulous! :) ~Rhonda

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    1. BenitaOctober 13, 2015 at 4:09 PM

      Thank you so much Rhonda. This is the first time to really tackle a project like this and I'm hoping for easy and not to frustrating! Hugs!!

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  20. Jemma@athomewithjemmaOctober 13, 2015 at 1:25 PM

    Hi Sweet Benita!
    Your half bath is going to end up amazing! You got this one girl:)
    xo
    Jemma

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    1. BenitaOctober 13, 2015 at 4:09 PM

      Awww, thank you so much Jemma! I appreciate your confidence in me...but you've seen my craft projects, right?? ;-) Hugs!!

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