Eclectic Bathroom Makeover – Potty Paradise
Last Updated on February 26, 2024
It’s Week 6 of the One Room Challenge which means ding, ding, ding, times up! Words can’t even express how excited I am about the bathroom makeover. I mean wow! The transformation is crazy, and I honestly can’t believe I live here. It’s wacky and crazy and out there and pretty much describes exactly what happens in my brain. Like if you were a really tiny person and crawled into my ear to have a look around, I would imagine this is exactly what you’d see. Are you prepared for this? Put yo’ pinky rings up to the moon. Whoop, whoop!
Table of Contents
Meet Potty Paradise
The goal for this bathroom was if you are a guest in my house and in the need of the lavatory, you will walk in here and forget to pee. Wow, my contractor did one hell of a job. Seriously, you brought everything that was in my head to life. If you live in the Chicago area and need an amazing contractor, give this guy a buzz…and no, he’s not paying me to say this. He did an amazing job for one of the toughest clients on the planet…me.
This Bold, Eclectic Bathroom Is a Tiny Jewelry Box
Bold Pattern Black And White Tile Flooring
I’m just gonna start from the ground up with this bathroom renovation because that’s where this space all started. The flooring is from Clé Tile, and this is their encaustic cement tile Cubicon. There were so many designs to choose from, and I mulled many choices, but ultimately I picked a bold graphic. It isn’t easy to stand out. So many talented bloggers and interior designers participate. I knew I had to step out of the expected to stand out. Wanting something that wasn’t necessarily on-trend but rather just fly AF.
The subway tile in this bathroom is from the Essentials Collection also by Clé Tile. Per their online suggestion, I went with a natural gray grout which I’m totally digging. Not too harsh, but still pops the tile. A piece of brass was used to cap off the subway on the wall, and then came the second layer…the eclectic and totally whack-a-doo awesome wallpaper. This is where the transformation of ERMERGERD I CAN’T BELIEVE I LIVE HERE happened.
Lighting In Makes It Pop
The sconce backorder debacle was one of the happiest accidents ever. I never realized something could be so understated yet so shazam at the same time. The foldover, along with the brass? I mean, so good, am I right? My mom said she thinks it looks like a folded-up Pringle chip. Insert monkey covering its eyes emoji here.
I managed to pick up this mirror at Elkhorn Flea Market a month ago. At first, I thought the gold finish was too harsh, but it’s being embraced for the time being. I’ll live with it a bit before deciding to dull it down. Also, in case you’re wondering where on earth that vanity is from up top, it’s actually an antique cabinet. Learn how to turn an antique dresser into a vanity.
Porcupine needles in a vintage brass trophy are totally normal…right? Actually, I have a whole collection that made it into the toilet tank.
Funky Artwork In The Bathroom
I struggled with art in this room. To hang or not to hang. Ultimately, I chose not to hang. Mainly because the wallpaper already makes enough of a statement. Can anything compete? I don’t think so. Believe me; I’ve looked. But if you know of anything, send it my way; I’d love to see it.
This small portrait was picked up at a recent estate sale and is the only piece of art in the space. If you like this piece, I bought a ton of paintings from the artist’s estate and have posted quite a bit for sale on my Chairish shop.
The rocks were to be featured in my One Room Challenge last year but never made it from Turkey in time for the final reveal. The shop owner collects sea pottery on her daily beach walks. I fell in love with them immediately and have been dying to show them off. Although it looks like the shop may no longer be selling. Sadsies.
Can we just take a minute to gaze at this lucite chandelier from The Savoy Flea? One late-night texting spree rolled into a “Hey! I need lighting for my bathroom makeover. Got anything?” This beauty was sold within 2 point 5 seconds. I mean, clutch the pearls, she’s a beaute! Do you think she should have a name? I’m looking for suggestions?
If you’re looking for affordable turkish hand towels, look here (no longer available). They come in a few colors and are the cheapest I’ve found. I bought a set of 4 for $28…ummm, ya, don’t walk, run. Just pass go and run. Normally these bad boys will run you $50 bucks a pop.
Before Photo Of The Bathroom
Before I give you one final looksy, wanna see the before one more time?
RELATED: If you think this before and after is dramatic, don’t miss the black and white bathroom makeover!
AHHHH! Crazy! This picture really illustrates just how tiny the bathroom is. The footprint might be a smidge larger than my dining room table…maybe. Hooray for finally getting to use the #smallspacesquad hashtag on Instagram. It was tiny and beige and boring. Now it might still be tiny, but every time I open the door, I forget I have to pee and just think yahtzee.
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Ariel
Wowza! With that wallpaper the space is unstoppable! Now if only I could hit Command+ C and bring the space over here!
kyla
ArielI wish I could do that for so may things. Command + C would really make life a whole lot easier. LOL.
Suzy Lindow
This is bananas good!!!!! So many interesting elements right on down to porcupine quills that yes, I’d totally forget to pee! 😉
kyla
Suzy LindowLOL! Yesssa! That was the goal! Thanks for stopping over my dear =)
Brynne | The Gathered Home
Oh my gosh, YES! So, so good! I have to admit – I’ve seen that wallpaper before and thought it was super fun, but always wondered who would actually pull it off in a space. YOU CAN, that’s who!!!
kyla
Brynne | The Gathered HomeI finally got pretty fearless! You ladies have been inspiring me.
Julie Spear
This is Triple A A-MAZING!!! EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT YOU HAVE CHOSEN IS A WORK OF ART!! OK, i will stop shouting… I cant stop staring at your beautiful tiny powder bath! It somehow looks larger now (at least in photos?) Maybe because there is so much glamour to look at? I dont know, but GREAT work! Thanks for sharing!
kyla
Julie SpearThanks for stopping by Julie! Who says you can’t do black in a tiny room, huh =)
Tee @ Beauteeful Living
Wow – such an amazing and eclectic makeover! Love the floor tiles and that vanity you revamped. And that mirror is simply gorgeous! Congrats on completing this 6 week challenge. So fun to follow along!
Kristi
Oh my goodness!!! The wallpaper, that vanity and of course, the tile … who knew you could pack so much style into such a small space!
Cassie Bustamante
kyla, this is so perfect! i love the wallpaper SOOOO much, and all of the elements work together so beautifully to create a magically dramatic space.
Jessica
This is gorgeous!!!!! I love the wallpaper and all the drama. I think we have similar styles…Love!
Emily @ Table & Hearth
Dude. Just, dude. You ROCKED this lady!!
Erin Spain
It’s amazing! I absolutely love that wallpaper. And everything else too. Great job!
Amanda
I’ve been EAGERLY awaiting this room and it did not disappoint! Amazing! And thanks for sharing the source for the towels – was just looking for some affordable, pretty hand towels to add to my bathroom since it’s all fancified now. 🙂 LOVE THIS ROOM!
kyla
AmandaThose towels are the bomb dot com!
Breanna
I’d totally forget I had to pee too! You did a bomb job lady, it turned out so amazing!
kyla
BreannaBahahaha! Sit and stare LOL =)
Ruthie
What a great space!! I love seeing the chandelier through the mirror!! I love how you made such bold choices for the small room! Love it!
kyla
RuthieThanks Ruthie!
ashley@biggerthanthethreeofus
I laughed out loud about the command +C! Ditto! Kyla you killed it. I think my favorite thing has to be the vanity, Seriously it’s so beautiful!
kyla
ashley@biggerthanthethreeofusI want to Command + C everything!
Maggie @ Maggie Overby Studios
such a dramatic space! That wallpaper rocks and the vanity is adorable.
kyla
Maggie @ Maggie Overby StudiosWe must have been on the save wavelength…wallpaper and chandies =)
Sarah
it turned out absolutely perfect!! love the bold floor tile paired with the subway wall tile. and that vanity is amazing!
kyla
SarahThanks so much for stopping over to check out the space Sarah!
Jonette Jordan
I love the privacy of bathrooms…It would be fun to have an Alice in Wonderland door! Your guests will enjoy the experience.
kyla
Jonette JordanI was actually trying to figure out how to add a speakeasy peek-a-boo window into the door. Because I like the not so normal =)
Erin @ Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry
Your writing is so captivating with your sense of humor. I love it! This bathroom for sure is a stand-out! What a transformation!
kyla
Erin @ Lemons, Lavender, & LaundryYou are the sweetest! Thanks Erin!
Mila
Shell toilet lid! Love it, and, of course, that wallpaper
kyla
MilaThanks for stopping by Mila!
heather
That wallpaper is EVERYTHING. I just sat in front of the screen with my kids for five minutes looking at all the fun things the animals were doing! The hookah?! Hilarious.
kyla
heatherMy daughter loves the squirrel playing the banjo =)
sherry hart
UM….HELLO THIS IS GORGEOUS! LOVE THE WALLPAPER AND THE TILE…..YOU ROCKED IT GIRL!
kyla
sherry hartSHERRY!!!!! Thank you my dear! Thank you so much!
Brittany Goldwyn
Nice work, Kyla! I have to admit that the wallpaper is not something I would have chosen, but it looks so fun. I love seeing how you’ve put together things I wouldn’t normally be inclined to choose and make them look fantastic. We’re about to tackle our main level powder room, which is TINY too. I just ordered a bunch of watercolor animal prints for the wall! Luckily no shell toilet cover. 🙂
kyla
Brittany GoldwynThis paper is definitely not for everyone. I second guessed myself so many times. In fact I JUST returned the backup paper =)
kyla
Bahahaha! Yeppers! That is really a raccoon…and I think I asked myself about a million times if I was okay with a raccoon in my bathroom. There was a lot of second guessing on my part. But I finally said, if I hate it, I can always rip it down LOL.
kyla
Girl! You are the sweetest! Thank you soooooo much!
kyla
Thank you sooooo much Lindi!
kyla
You are sooooo awesome for saying that! Thank you soooo much!
kyla
While putting it all together I was a bit concerned about it being overkill…but I seriously love it! thanks for stopping by!
Rachel
BRAVO!!!!!! SOOOOO gorgeous! That wallpaper is ahhhmazing and the tile is on my wishlist.
Emy
It turned out amazing! I love that your took a normal sized bathroom and made it amazing. The wallpaper is truly a work of art! I love this room so much. Great job!
Nadia | Preciously Me
Wow! Totally, truly, completely in love with this gorgeous wallpaper!!!
Lately I am addict to dark wallpaper and this one really makes the room!
Also love the cement tiles.. Love it!
Congratulations 🙂
Mila
How do we get you to participate in the main ORC next year?? Don’t want to be negative, but I don’t love most of the spaces from the main participants this Fall, but I would LOVE to see what you do because (as I said above), this bathroom is great.
Jessica | Petal + Ply
Bold, fun, funky, dramatic! What’s not to love!!
Jillian
I love this bathroom so much, such personality! Great work!
Krista
WOW! That is about the coolest little bathroom that I ever have seen!! #allthehearteyes. Amazing job!
Flea Market Rx
Bravo!!! So so so fabulous! I love it when people aren’t afraid to pack a big punch in s small space, play with pattern and scale, break the rules … and confuse their mothers;) You out-did yourself! That wallpaper has been one of my fave’s forever. I think one of my 1st pins way back when Pinterest just launched was a foyer with that wallpaper … it’s my “someday” wallpaper. The brass strip finish above the subway tile is nothing short of genius. And last but not least the chandy is to die for … for some reason I want to call her Ginger after Ginger Rogers for how she dances with the light. Or Bernice;) Rock on lady … can’t wait to see what you do next!
Flea Market Rx
Bravo!!! So so so fabulous! I love it when people aren’t afraid to pack a big punch in s small space, play with pattern and scale, break the rules … and confuse their mothers;) You out-did yourself! That wallpaper has been one of my fave’s forever. I think one of my 1st pins way back when Pinterest just launched was a foyer with that wallpaper … it’s my “someday” wallpaper. The brass strip finish above the subway tile is nothing short of genius. And last but not least the chandy is to die for … for some reason I want to call her Ginger after Ginger Rogers for how she dances with the light. Or Bernice;) Rock on lady … can’t wait to see what you do next!
Kate Smith Interiors
LOVE that wallpaper! It looks awesome, congrats!
Joan Miller
That wallpaper is incredible!
Carissa
Kyla this is just absolutely amazing! I am such a fan of your style and girlfriend, THANK YOU for not being afraid to use color and bold choices. It’s so refreshing and you do it OH. SO. WELL.
Lizzie @ Living Pretty
Kyla, your bathroom is seriously amazing. I could definitely forget I have to pee in there! The floor tiles, that vanity, EVERYTHING! So so good. Well done!
Julia@Cuckoo4Design
Oh my gosh this is amazing!!!! I love everything so much
Sarah
THANK YOU for posting a photo of the lucite chandelier with its light on! I’ve been after one for a while but wasn’t sure how it’s light quality would be; love the reflections it throws!
Denise
Wow! What a stunning transformation! I’m pretty sure I would forget why I came in this room 🙂 Great job!
Jenny @ Refresh Living
Yep – AHHmazing! I love your vanity, and that wallpaper is just plain awesome. Job well done!
Meg @ Green With Decor
What a fun bathroom!! I love the light fixture and the vanity!
Joy
You brought it! I love this space! Happy design. Congrats!
Ellis Yao
amazing, I love the wall light, is it from RH?
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living
GET OUT!!!! This is fan-freakin-tastic!!! I love this wallpaper and the tile with it is spot on! Gorgeous bathroom. Absolutely gorgeous!!
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Nicki Parrish
Oh My GAWD!!! I think this is amazing, and I’m not surprised because you are a rock star! I would never have the nerve to do what you did in this space. Congratulations on having balls of steal when it comes to your decor choices!
Tracy
Wow. This is amazing. Every detail is incredible. It was so boring before and now it is anything but!!
Jennifer
I absolutely love this! So luxurious.
Jessica
This is gorgeous. I stayed up way too late last night oohing and aahing over this! My mainfloor bathroom is begging for this animal paper!
Question about the wallpaper: how many rolls did you need? I have a small bathroom I’d love to paper in a similar style to yours (beadboard goes halfway up) but am unsure about the number of rolls I’d need.
What did you do?
Jen A.
Where on earth does one find kinkajou-playing-the-accordion wallpaper? I love it! Love the geometric floor tiles too. Your style choices are so fun and unique. Nice job!
Carla Aston
So well done. Congrats! Love it.
kristy stafford
Love it, love it. what size subway tiles and what brand of grout? I am buying with Cle as well.
Cheers
Kristy
kyla
kristy staffordHi Kristy! I used the 4″ x 8″ subway tiles and the grout was the most neutral I could find. Gerry found one at Home Depot called platinum I think? It was just a simple light gray. Hopefully that helps and good luck with you project =)
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Steph
Kyla, I love what you’ve done here – and oh sooooo curious to hear how this bathroom is doing 4 years later? I recently found this paper and fell in LOVE with it but my husband is beyond hesitant. I went on a hunt to prove it’s awesome and found your article. I have visions of stories walking out of that bathroom with each and every visit. Please tell me it’s as strong as ever and needed in my own small space?
Kyla Herbes
StephDO IT! DO IT! DO IT! You will have zero regrets. This is by far my favorite wallpaper in the house. Yes, I was completely freaked out when it was being installed, but even after 6 years, this room is my favorite.
BUT, if you do a half wall, you are not saving on paper or money. The repeat is a full panel so it acts more like a mural. Something I wish I would have paid attention to. There was a lot of waste, but I saved the excess for a future project.
Steph
ohhhh…thank you thank you for the quick reply – you are awesome! I was thinking of doing it on a half wall, we have white beadboard in there now (that I’m trying to get the hubby to upgrade to shiplap, we shall see). Any tricks for saving on wasted paper?
Steph
ohhhh…thank you so much for the quick reply – you are awesome! I was thinking of doing it on a half wall, we have white beadboard in there now (that I’m trying to get the hubby to upgrade to shiplap, we shall see). Any tricks for saving on wasted paper?