Master Bath Update for Under $500

   Shag carpet in a bathroom. Where to begin with that statement. So wrong, yet so completely in line with all the other poor decisions made in our house. Did I mention the strange proportions and miniature toilet. The photo is not distorted, the vanity was maybe 2' tall. And for good measure, let's throw in a random cabinet floating in the corner. Enough said.
   The experimental idea behind our home rehab was to buy everything off-the-shelf and still remain true to our taste. The OTS approach immediately saves time and money. It is a mindset that allows flexibility when planning for the next step. The one caveat to this practice is if you see something you like, go ahead and buy it. The large home improvement stores will return nearly any OTS item without restock fee or any hassle what so ever.
   There have been a couple instances where we missed out because the season changed and the product was no longer available. The inverse of this is also true, if you are not sure wait, you may see an item's price reduced to the point where it is now attractive.

    We scored a half price Kohler toilet and matched it to a cheap pedestal sink. The new medicine cabinets were a necessity, but the economy model looked insignificant on the wall and out of scale. I did the math and was able to pair two units together without a gap. The light fixture is an inexpensive piece dressed up with nickel caps.
   The largest cost of the master bath remodel would have been labor. This was not included in the budget because we did it ourselves, of course! Seriously though, the update involved some light demolition, easy flooring, paint and basic plumbing.
   Our master bathroom was yet another powerful transformation that reflects the beauty of simplicity. All items were purchased from a home improvement store for under $500.00. If you like this sort of thing, check out the DIY Before & After page.