When Kim sent dramatic before-and-after photos, we were eager to share her bedroom-to-bathroom conversion. Here’s her letter:
Okay, Youngsters… I’m biting on your quest for before and afters. I’m not sure if it’s quite drool-worthy enough, but I wanted to share my favorite room makeover in our house – our upstairs bathroom. We bought a foreclosed home a year and a half ago. It was built in the 1930s, so it had many charming original details, but the previous owners had let it fall into disrepair. It took about eight months to make the house livable, and we only “finished” this space in August (though, as any homeowner knows, a room is never truly finished). Our upstairs bathroom started as a tiny bedroom (about 6 x 11 feet), but it became a fabulously large and comfortable bathroom.
My husband and our dads handled the plumbing and electrical work, and today it’s a lovely retreat and my favorite transformation in the house. I borrowed the idea of open bathroom storage with baskets from your blog and fell in love with a shower curtain from Ballard Designs. That one find really inspired the rest of the room. Hope you like it! Keep the design inspiration coming! — Kim
The transformation is striking. The open storage with woven baskets adds warmth and function while keeping everything organized and within reach. Converting a narrow, otherwise impractical bedroom into a peaceful, airy bathroom was a smart move — especially in an older house where efficient use of space makes a big difference. The room feels current and crisp thanks to clean lines, neutral tones, and a few well-chosen accents.
Small rooms often hold the greatest potential when reimagined. In this case, strategic plumbing changes and thoughtful finishes turned a cramped area into a serene bathroom retreat. Kim’s approach — mixing vintage character from the home’s 1930s bones with modern storage solutions and a cohesive textile choice — demonstrates how inspiration plus a few practical changes can produce a beautiful, functional space.
Thanks to Kim for sharing these photos and the story behind the renovation. It’s a great reminder that even the smallest rooms can become favorite spots with a clear vision, some elbow grease, and a few personal touches.