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Bathroom Makeover Day 5 – The Finished Vanity, Before & After

It’s finished.  Well, the bathroom vanity makeover is finished, at least!  Ready to see what color I painted it?

Bathroom vanity makeover, before and after

It’s yellow!   To be more accurate, it’s a soft muted golden yellow called Arizona Tan by Behr.  Do you think I’m crazy?  🙂  I’m hoping it’ll all make more sense  when this bathroom is done.

But doesn’t it look like I just completely replaced the vanity altogether?  I can’t believe I lived with this ugly thing in my condo for so long…

Outdated bathroom vanity before its makeover

I mean, that thing was just pure disgusting.  Completely, 100%, bona fide gross.

And now with the new DIY cabinet doors that I made from scratch, and the beautiful stained $35 wood countertop made of cedar fence pickets, she looks like the belle of the ball!

Bathroom vanity makeover with new DIY cabinet doors and inexpensive wood countertop made from cedar fence pickets

And by the way, her name is Barbara.

Barbara Vanity.

(Extra points to anyone who knows where I adapted that name from.)  😀

And that concludes this phase of the bathroom makeover.  Next, it’s on to the walls, including removing the big builders-grade mirror, and the awful cabinet above the toilet.  I’ll be so glad to not have to look at that awful berry wallpaper anymore!!  Seriously, berry wallpaper in a bathroom?  There’s just something not right about that.

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44 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG
    January 25, 2013 at 10:55 am

    wow – it turned out great! – I am so wanting to paint our ugly bathroom cabinets but the hubby is fighting me on that – he LOVES wood and thinks just because it oak we should leave it alone…I am so wanting white cabinets…maybe this will change his mind – especially if we build a great countertop out of wood like you did!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lori
    January 25, 2013 at 10:57 am

    I absolutely LOVE the color!! Very neutral for a yellow. And the name is from Veggie Tales… you are the one for me one for me!! Happen to be watching them on tv right now!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sharon B.
    January 25, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Looks beautiful! It’s completely transformed. And you’re right about the berry wallpaper in the bathroom. That made me chuckle as I imagined the person who put it in saying, “hey, I LOVE this one, let’s go with it. But not in the kitchen, it HAS to go in the bathroom!”

    This bathroom makeover is like a TV show series that I can’t wait to see the next episode. 🙂 Sharon

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Diane
    January 25, 2013 at 11:10 am

    it looks wonderful, and I’m amazed at the projects you complete with limited resources! I can’t wait to see the whole room finished….

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kim L.
    January 25, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Wow, great job! It looks like a completely new cabinet!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    CristieB
    January 25, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Barbara Manatee!!! Veggie Tales :0) Love them. Your bathroom looks fantastic!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Diane Mansil
    January 25, 2013 at 11:36 am

    HA! I guessed yellow yesterday! It’s gorgeous! Goes perfectly with your new counterop and flooring. Can’t wait to see how you make the walls less hideous! LOL

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jean
    January 25, 2013 at 11:40 am

    That is a great makeover!!! I love everything about the finished vanity. Can’t wait to see what you do with the walls and mirror.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christine at First Home Love Life
    January 25, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Wow! If I didn’t know you put trim up, I would have thought it was a completely new vanity! Amazing!! It’s going to look fabulous when everything is done!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Adrienne
    January 25, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    OMG that is some before and after! I can’t wait to see the rest of the makeover!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rachel @ Architecture of a Mom
    January 25, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    That is amazing! What a wonderful transformation! Isn’t it amazing what we put up with in our homes, and then when we tackle a project, we wonder why it took so long. That’s one of the reasons I blog…to encourage me to get going and get the projects done!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    tammy hebert
    January 25, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    It looks amazing. I was wondering what color you were painting the vanity. I love it and it looks great with the top. I’m sure the whole room will be amazing when done. 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Chris
    January 25, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    Oh.My.Goodness!

    Have you really done that all in 5 days? Well, yes you did, because I’ve been following the whole ordeal, and I’m so seriously jealous of what you get done in such a short time and with so little cash output.

    GREAT JOB!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sue
    January 25, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    I love that shade of yellow. Very ‘happy’ but neutral at the same time. The finish vanity is great! You just keep amazing me with your creativity so I can’t wait to see what’s next for this bathroom.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Sue
      January 25, 2013 at 4:49 pm

      Oops! I meant ‘finished’ vanity. Evidently, my Friday thinking cap has slipped off. : )

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Karen @ My Reclaimed Haven
    January 25, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    I came out gorgeous Kristi, I am going to definitely do this in my powder room–I’ll let you know what it looks like when its done. What did you use to seal it–polyurethane?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    GilmerGal
    January 25, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Ahhhh, bootiful

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
    January 25, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    Barbara should be on America’s Next Top Model strutting her stuff!
    Kelly

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carol
    January 25, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    Looks amazing! Can’t wait to see what you do with the walls.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Brenda
    January 25, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    Barbara Manatee! You’re the one for me! My kids are 21, 16 and 13 now but I can still sing it! You vanity is amazing! It looks brand new, beautiful and up to date! Love it!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sheri
    January 25, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    That is one of the most amazing transformations I have ever seen. You rock!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janet
    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    Wow! Amazing! Instead of removing the builder-grade mirror you could update it using Mirror Mates! Google it. 🙂 You’ll be glad you did! Can’t wait to see the next installment of the makeover……

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    karen
    January 26, 2013 at 12:36 am

    I can’t believe you got this done in just one week. This would have taken me at least two or three months. It looks gorgeous! Add contractor to your title now because you just did a gorgeous bathroom! I cheated and did a google search on Barbara Vanity, this is probably not it, but there is a “Barbara Vanity” for sale at high end furniture site. Their Barbara Vanity retails for $2,000. Personally, I like your Barbara far better.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Diane | An Extraordinary Day
    January 26, 2013 at 12:56 am

    Fabulous!!! I could say ditto to all the other wonderful comments made on your fantastic makeover. I can’t wait to see what’s next. You’re getting good practice for your next new home re-do…coming soon…I hope!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Susan M.
    January 26, 2013 at 7:30 am

    YOU GO GIRL!! If you’ve not already done so, you need to give yourself a BIG ole pat on the back. Just goes to show what can be accomplished with a bit of creativity and a minimum of $$$. And oh yes, Girl Power fortitude!!

    Am anxious to see Stage 2!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jayne
    January 26, 2013 at 9:19 am

    I love it and the color too! Can’t wait to see the whole bathroom done!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kelly Palmer
    January 26, 2013 at 9:31 am

    It’s looks sooo much better Kristi and I love, love, love that shade of yellow! I think I will have to find a place to paint that color in my home. I have been loving this series and waiting for your next post is almost as exciting as waiting for the newest episode of Downton Abbey 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Nicki
    January 26, 2013 at 11:58 am

    Great job. That is a very similar color to the color I chose for my kitchen cabinets, which I painted in the fall. I love the way they turned out!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christina @ The Frugal Homemaker
    January 26, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    this is amazing, Kristi! You make me want to put wood countertops and make custom doors on my bathroom cabinets! You made it look so easy! Can’t wait to see what else you do and your final reveal of the bathroom!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mrs Mike
    January 26, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    wow, this looks amazing!!! I really wish I wasn’t renting, I would love to do something like this in my beach inspired powder room (I use a stain that looks like weathered wood that I really like). Great inspiration though. I can’t wait to see what it will look like when you tackle the walls! 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Anat
    January 27, 2013 at 2:02 am

    congratulations! Barbara – beautiful Cinderella!! love it, thank you for sharing

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Maggie
    January 27, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    So charming! Love talented people and the ideas you so graciously share with us all.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jennifer Loy
    January 28, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Rocked out another one..you are amazing!!!! Love it!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Runt
    January 28, 2013 at 10:36 am

    That came out fantastic! Ah I’m so jealous! We have two bathrooms that need vanity makeovers. I was thinking of just painting the bottoms but one of my problems is that the vanities don’t have drawers, just cabinets, so the sinks seem kind of low… any suggestions of what I can do to raise them besides having to get all new vanities??

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christine Crowley Welby
    January 29, 2013 at 3:41 am

    Nice makeover! I love the colors and the fact that you kept it simple. It all turned out great! Let us know about your next home DIY projects!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Nathalie [email protected] designs
    February 15, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Wow, I think the choice of yellow is definitely spot on! Congratulations, I’d take the same vanity in my bathroom 😉

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Meg McGinn
    March 12, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Did I miss where you showed how you painted the vanity? I just painted mine, but need to add some sort of top coat (sheen) to them and not sure what to use.
    Thanks

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    gesenia
    November 2, 2013 at 9:38 am

    I’m sorry if I missed a step but what did u put on the wood countertop to seal it from getting water damage?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Essential DIY Tools – Miter Saw
    December 27, 2013 at 12:00 am

    […] my bathroom vanity, I used the saw to cut the cedar fence pickets for the countertop, and also to cut the trim that I […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kaekae
    January 7, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    I have the same question as gesenia: what did you use on the wood countertop to seal it? Also, how does or did it hold up to water over time? Thanks!