The $822.47 Bathroom Remodel

One of the most important things I was looking for when purchasing a condo was an en-suite bathroom in the master bedroom. It might seem like that’s a given, but entry-level two-bedrooms typically have just one bathroom in the City of Chicago. In order for my dollar to stretch the furthest with a two bed/two bath wish list I had to come to terms with the reality of having a not-so-sexy master bath.

Knowing this isn’t a “Forever Home,” it’s nearly impossible to justify bringing a perfectly functioning bathroom down to the studs–even if the finishes are far from anything I would install today. And like just about anybody, competing priorities have pushed the idea of a full on bathroom renovation to the back burner. Working with a small budget however, doesn’t mean there aren’t creative ways to elevate the space.

After scouring both big box stores and the internet for what felt like a lifetime, it eventually became apparent that small-scale bathroom vanities (or at least those with any semblance of high-design) are few and far between. Working with a space only able to accommodate a twenty inch wide bathroom sink proved to be the biggest challenge of this mini-makeover. While the overall size did lend itself to being generally budget-friendly, you’d be shocked at some of the pricier options out there (take this “on sale” Wayfair vanity, for example); this is essentially an IKEA-looking white box priced above $1200. No, thank you!

On a chance visit to one of several local Home Depots, I came across a Glacier Bay vanity with a minimalist shaker-style single door, a thick porcelain counter top and no back splash. The single-knob door pull was less than appealing, but I just couldn’t argue with a price tag of just $169. By simply drilling another hole in the door, I was able to replace the knob with a full size handle to match the hardware on our kitchen cabinets. This small tweak made a huge impact in the overall aesthetic of the piece.

A vanity, of course, isn’t complete without a great faucet to top it off. Fortunately, this decision proved to be a helluva lot easier to make. There were three main considerations: it needed to be polished chrome, have a modern look with clean lines, and be reasonably priced. This Moen option fit the bill perfectly. We were in and out of the faucet aisle in no time.

Running on the high of finally being able to bring home a bathroom vanity, it was time to scoop a fresh, new porcelain throne. Again, another incredibly easy decision knowing that Costco only ever offers the best-of-the best in any given product category (that includes The Pooper). The only design requirement here? One-piece tank and bowl–the fewer crevices to clean, the better. At the time of writing this, Costco appears to be no longer carrying the exact toilet, but here’s a similar option offered.

The pièce de résistance: this insanely affordable IKEA mirror with built-in LED lighting. Something similar from Kohler or other high end brands would easily top $700 or more. The goal was to utilize the entire space above both the sink and the toilet. After all, two people sharing a 20 sq ft bathroom is challenging enough–who wants to share the mirror, too?

So how did the budget break down?

Mirror – $299
Vanity – $169
Facuet – $99
Toilet – $179
Tax: $76.47
Total: $822.47

Some finishing details, including towel hooks and accessories, are omitted from the makeover budget, but all-in the project was certainly less than $1,000 and extremely easy to replicate–which is exactly what will be happening in bathroom number two before the end of 2020. 🚽🛁

Are you remodeling a bathroom soon? Tell me about it below!

xx

Cory