{Pool Bathroom} The Reveal!

Happy Monday, sweets! How was your weekend? We had a dark and rainy one, which was perfect for laying low, but not so great for my potential Pinterest Challenge project! Paper mache, plaster and clay require a particular environment, you know! (Have I piqued your interest? Fingers crossed it works out.) 

Six months Further back than I care to admit, we started an unplanned renovation on our Pool Bathroom (named such since it has a door leading to the backyard pool). Today I’m thrilled to finally have it put back together and ready for the big reveal!

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To give you a full perspective of how far this room has come, here’s how it looked with the previous home owners. The plaid is actually kind of bearable fun, but we wanted to put our own stamp on it minus the hunter green.

pool bath before

This bathroom is in the back of the house, so it isn’t seen much by guests. Which made it easy to turn a blind-eye to the cosmetic problems. Who knows how long we would have lived with the homely light fixture and sad grout, if the shower hadn’t sprung a leak and rotted through the wall! (The builder skipped the shower pan and liner, go figure.)

bathroom befores

We weren’t planning on making this bathroom over any time soon, so the leak was probably a good thing. I felt a fair amount of creative freedom since it’s a spare bathroom, utilized mostly during the Summer. We used the inspiration and treasures brought back from our trip to San Miguel de Allende to create a truly unique space. Warning: I’m fairly obsessed with this room, so prepare for picture overload!

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The room is so small that I have to stand in the backyard to take some of the pictures, hence the fluctuation in lighting. I’ll admit, even I was a bit wary after painting the doors dark pink and the ceiling turquoise. But now that all the decor is up, I think they are one of the best parts of the makeover!

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My amazing aunt (who helped paint these stripes with an eyeliner brush, and was vital to the assembly of this room), came to my rescue again when it came time to decorating the bathroom. (“Here or here? Oh, how about this here! Cuuuuuute”) I went through a cross-collecting phase a few years ago, so in addition to the mirrors and trinkets from our trips, we had plenty to choose from. Instead of just one or two objects on the wall, we opted for big impact by hanging 21! I think we captured the Mexican culture we’re so smitten by!

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The mirror is from Ballard, and was a wedding gift to Mr. Sugarplum and me (from my aunts, coincidentally enough!). It’s lived in the Den for years, but I think it’s made for this room…and a definite improvement over the previous builder-grade mirror.

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The World Market hand towel and religious store candle are the only decor purchases I made (besides the reno materials), and I shopped the house for everything else. Having all the Mexican folk art in one place makes a much cooler impact than scattered about the house.

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The super high-gloss paint is subtle, but I love how it shines on the cabinets! I couldn’t put regular ol’ pulls in a room like this, so these bright ceramic knobs are perfect for the Colonial Mexican style.

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Painting the trim and cabinets the same as the wall color keeps the eye moving and allows the decor to be the focus. White trim and baseboards would have changed this look completely.

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Even though the walls are a deep navy, the shiny tin and multiple mirrors keep it from feeling like a cave. It does have a dramatic moody feel, and the dark walls are a relief on the eyes when coming inside from a sunny afternoon by the pool.

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No, we aren’t Catholic, but I’ve always loved the religious icons associated with it. It might be wrong odd, but I even love how the wall over the potty feels like an altar or shrine.

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We’re also the proud new owners of a shower pan tray and liner, so the pretty subway tiles are safe!

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The pebble tile floor feels so great underfoot that all of us have taken to using this shower. Having the frame less door makes the whole space feel larger and more open, too. I scooped the John Robshaw rug off One Kings Lane last year.

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Another perk of this renovation, was the added storage. Once the shower was ripped out, we discovered an open area behind the wall, which is now 9-feet of floor to ceiling cabinets. I left the door off the middle cabinet to create an alcove, and it became the perfect spot for pool and beach towels.

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The Overstock light fixture got a little Rub ‘n Buff so it would mesh better with all the other metals. The sleeves and shades need something too, but I haven’t decided what yet.

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I never would have gone this all-out in the Master Bath, or even the Kid’s Bath that doubles as a Powder Room. I realize this probably isn’t everyone’s cup of cerveza tea, but we’re crazy about it! Not only is it totally fun, creative and unique, but it reminds us of a country we have really fond memories of. And if you can’t have fun in a spare bathroom dedicated to pool guests, then where can you?!

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Thanks for sticking with me and weighing in with your invaluable opinions along the way! In case you missed something, here’s how this bathroom came about:

Leave a Comment

54 Comments

  1. aaah! it looks amazing! and i am so glad you went with the pink door- it totally pops. 🙂 love love love it!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  2. Ninah wrote:

    That looks sooo much better than before, lol!!! And I love love love the pink door!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  3. Love how this turned out! And the pink doors are amazing!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  4. Simply LKJ wrote:

    You totally nailed the look you were going for! Looks great!!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  5. The colors are incredible! And the ceiling and doors are the perfect touch! I also love that sconce. What a great transformation!!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  6. Love the stripy mat on the floor – so fun and colourful!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  7. Honestly, I wasn't sure where you were going with this in the begining (I was one who thought it was a glam space) but I'm LOVING the mexican inspired room. It's the oerfect fun space off the pool and such an awesome reminder of your vacation. Love it!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  8. It looks fantastic! I love the deep pink color, it looks great with the dark walls. I think it's perfect for a fun bathroom, and how convenient that it has a door straight to the pool!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  9. Awesome Cassie! I really love the pops of pink! What a transformation!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  10. Caitlin wrote:

    This looks awesome!! I have a bunch of crosses I picked up during a trip to visit a friend's family on the Baja. Some are like yours and some have the milagros (?) tacked in. LOVE them. And my friend has a great collection of the flaming sacred hearts. I'll send her this link!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  11. Can't wait to see what you're planning for your Pinterest project! And I love the Mexican flair that you gave this bathroom! It's definitely a lot of fun!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  12. Aleksandra wrote:

    I do love that!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  13. Cassie, I just love how you do your thing – your personality just shines through in your colorful decorating! I absolutely adore the Mexican-inspired direction you went with this little bathroom, and the bold paint on the walls, door and vanity are such a fun departure from the typical bathroom. Love your fearlessness!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  14. Dharma wrote:

    I just KNEW you were gonna dig that pebbled flooring tile 🙂 Way to go you for using inspiration from a place and trip that you loved 🙂 It makes this small room so personal and it will be a guest favourite throughout those pool months! Nice job girlfriend.

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  15. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! You've done it again! I really do adore it!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  16. charmaine wrote:

    I love it Cassie! You did such a great job! I also love your cross collection. Did your contractor paint the vanity as well?

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  17. You had me at turquoise ceiling! Beautiful and fun room. Love the impact of the accessories.

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  18. Love all the crosses! I've always wanted to create a cross gallery wall! So fun!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  19. Oh I adore it all – and really so jealous that you have a pool lol

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  20. Alexi wrote:

    I will definitely have to pass this along to my Mom! She is a major San Miguel lover! My parents have property there & are planning to retire there in a few years. They happen to be in SMA right now actually! (and are Collin County residents too!)

    Such a fun bathroom for right off a pool!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  21. This is such a fabulously fun space- love all the personality Cassie…great, great job my friend!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  22. Alexa wrote:

    Cassie it is amazing. Love the dark paint and all of the complimentary colors! Gorgeous!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  23. I love this – it's like being on vacation in your own home! The colors are so fun and your collection of crosses looks great.

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  24. Love, love, LOVE how this all came together. I think you are spot on with the impact of all the crosses and folk art *making* the room instead of just being scattered around the house (which so often ends up looking cluttered, right? collections belong together i think!). I don't know if I would do this in my house, but if I was at your house swimming and walked in there, I would hang out a while. And then tell you how much I loved it. And maybe dream about it. Great job!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  25. Haley wrote:

    I LOVE this bathroom and I am the crazy one who would love to do something like this in my main bathroom. The whole room looks amazing! The colors are so beautiful, and the texture and warmth brought in by the accessories make the room!

    Keep on being fabulous and don't be afraid to be a little more daring because you are good at it!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  26. Becca wrote:

    I have a project planned with that same recipe! Wonder if it's the same one…lol
    XO Becca

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  27. I enjoyed our rainy weekend! The bathroom turned out awesome! Love how you really made the theme cohesive – it looks great!

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  28. Tiffany wrote:

    Ok, now I totally get it. I wasn't sure about the pink door, but after seeing your inspiration city it all makes perfect sense. I love the whole Mexican flavor in the room. Makes me want to eat a big bowl of guacamole and chips.

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  29. What an amazingly fun space! I love how ecclectic is is and adore the pink door.

    Posted 3.12.12 Reply
  30. emily wrote:

    Holy moly! It's amazing! I would totally want to get ready in that bathroom every morning to feel like I'm on vacation.

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  31. Looks awesome! I especially love the heart with wings art piece above the door. It looks so much classier on your wall than on a female's lower back.

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  32. I'm reading through these comments and going "geez, was I the only crazy that was on board with the pink door no matter what kind of room it was???" (c: I am feeling like going straight to Mexico now…this bathroom is absolutely fantastic, all the best things about Mexico! And me gusta all the colors…yeah, that's pretty much my best spanish. Just for you.

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  33. I love it Cassie! It's such a gorgeous and totally fun space, and you get to travel back and enjoy fond memories of your vacation every time you walk in it 🙂

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  34. Really turned out great. I love the high gloss paint. Now, you can sit back and enjoy!

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  35. Laurie wrote:

    Splashy! Love the pool bath and glad you went with the pink doors. Turned out fantastic.

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  36. Leah wrote:

    Love the paint colors!!!

    Luvs

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  37. I absolutely LOVE your bold colour choices! The navy walls are dramatic and rich, the dark pink door is fun and whimsical, and the turquoise ceiling is like the bright sky above it all. Such a great idea to showcase your collection of Mexican art all in one place – it really does have a lot more impact than having individual pieces displayed here and there.

    Enjoy your fun new pool bathroom 🙂

    Kelly

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  38. It is a unique space. You certainly thought outside the box with this one. Amazing accessories, too. Always good to see imaginative use of color – gorgeous! It is a shame your guests do not get to see/use this much.

    Posted 3.13.12 Reply
  39. Erin wrote:

    I think it looks fantastic and I love what you did!!!!! Great choice for pool bathroom!! Now all you need is some margaritas!!!!

    Posted 3.14.12 Reply
  40. Cassie, For the sleeved of the light fixture, I would use hot glue to mimic the texture of taper candles, that you might see in an old church and then spray paint a color of your choice.

    Posted 3.14.12 Reply
  41. Anonymous wrote:

    You know, I have never said anything against a design in all my time of reading these amazing blogs but I want to say as amazed as I have always been of your design that this feels more like a confessional than a restroom. I know we’re supposed to be reverent but this may be a bit extreme. Keep the colors and change out the accessories.

    Posted 3.15.12 Reply
  42. Anonymous wrote:

    Am I the only one thinking: gee…those are religious icons!!? I mean…out there there is people who believes in these things…i dont think it´s correct to hang them in a BATHROOM?? I dont know what´s your religion, but maybe you wont like to see your beliefs hanging in a place like that…I´m talking about RESPECT

    Posted 3.15.12 Reply
  43. Anonymous wrote:

    Maybe you could move your accessories/color scheme/etc. into another room of the house and love some of the "Mexican" flavor here as well… those crosses mean a lot more than being used as decor.

    Posted 3.15.12 Reply
  44. Anonymous wrote:

    By love, I meant "leave." 🙂

    Posted 3.15.12 Reply
  45. I'm cah-razy for this bathroom. Love everything about it! You were so smart to keep the trim the same as the walls. I'm curious: Does this make you want to be more daring in the rest of your beautiful home?

    Posted 3.18.12 Reply
  46. It looks fabulous! I especially love the cross collection–I have a cross collection of my own that I don't currently have a place for (although not as extensive as yours.) The colors look great together and I love the Mexican theme. Great job!

    Posted 3.20.12 Reply
  47. I am absolutely in love with the paint color you used. I'd love to use it in our guest bathroom, but there's no natural light there and I don't want it to resemble a dungeon. I'm thinking instead about a blue-gray cabinet with navy accents. Decisions, decisions!

    Erin

    Posted 3.20.12 Reply
  48. Anonymous wrote:

    Bold or Tacky? You decide.

    Posted 3.25.12 Reply
  49. Anonymous wrote:

    love this idea,the colors, and how it all came together. for me personally, i don't think it's appropriate to put crosses in the bathroom, that's just my way. so, i may try something similar to this in my guestroom w/private bath. 🙂

    Posted 6.25.12 Reply
  50. Vel Criste wrote:

    This does not look like a pool bathroom at all! So beautiful!!!! we just recently re-did our pool house and like you said, the work never gets done, if you have time, check it out here…
    http://buhayatbahay.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-pool-house-story.html

    Thanks for the great ideas!

    Posted 8.9.12 Reply
  51. Sara wrote:

    Exploring via I Heart Organizing and I love this room! My half bath is navy and I'm going for an eclectic, collected look. Your bath gives me inspiration! I also love your new shower. I'm hoping to get our master redone within the next year and a frameless shower door is on the list!

    Posted 1.17.13 Reply
  52. I'll admit, even I was a bit wary after painting the doors dark pink and the ceiling turquoise. But now that all the decor is up, I think they are one of the best parts of the makeover! stack stone

    Posted 4.30.13 Reply
  53. Jessica wrote:

    Yiiikes!!!! Should’ve left it how it was. Now it looks like a creepy Jesus shrine in a dungeon.

    Posted 5.4.18 Reply
    • Cassie wrote:

      Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but a nod to my fave parts of Mexico and the culture there. But no fear, we haven’t lived in that house for 3 years and didn’t recreate that space in our new house! 😉

      Posted 5.6.18 Reply