It’s time to dive into another round of projects from our split-level renovation — and this time we’re heading into the most hardworking corners of any home: the bedrooms and bathrooms. If you’re catching up, make sure to peek at the sunroom transformation and the main living space first. Those set the stage… and now we get to talk about the spaces where everyone rests, refreshes, and hits reset.
Let’s jump right in.
The Bathrooms
Both bathrooms came to us tired, dated, and in need of a major makeover. While many rooms in this house simply benefited from fresh flooring and paint, the bathrooms required nearly full gut jobs. There wasn’t much worth salvaging, and starting fresh gave us the chance to create clean, timeless spaces that would appeal to a variety of future buyers.
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Main Level Bathroom
The upstairs bathroom was a true “before” moment: peeling trim, broken vanity, mismatched finishes, and a bulky walk-in tub that overwhelmed the room. It felt dark and dated — and not in a charming retro kind of way.
We reimagined the space with crisp white trim, updated flooring, and fresh wall paint to instantly brighten everything up. The new vanity, faucet, and fixtures created a much cleaner, more modern feel. We opted for a single sink to preserve generous counter space, and after hunting for the right size, finally found a cabinet and top that fit perfectly.
The original mirror, while awkwardly sized, was still in good condition — so we trimmed it out for a custom look that tied in beautifully with the new finishes.
And yes — the walk-in tub found a second life! Since they’re surprisingly hard to find right now, we were able to resell it instead of hauling it to the dump. A classic tub-shower combo with fresh hardware and a sleek door gives the space a fresh, universally appealing look.
One of my favorite details? The linen closet behind the door. Once cleaned and repainted, it became the kind of simple convenience every homeowner appreciates. (I still wish we had one in our own bathroom!)
Lower Level Bath
Downstairs, the two bedrooms share a compact half-bath. It may be small, but we wanted it to shine and function as efficiently as possible. That meant saying goodbye to the oddly sized vanity, mismatched toilet, black sink, and dated shower setup.
We chose pieces designed for small bathrooms — more narrow in depth but still offering storage. My dad found a perfect recessed medicine cabinet (a lifesaver in a tiny bathroom), and we topped it with a space-saving vanity light nestled perfectly under the ceiling line. Smart lighting was key here since there’s no window.
A new sliding shower door makes the space feel more open and modern, and ties in nicely with the upstairs bathroom finishes.
The Bedrooms
Next up, the bedrooms — proof that paint, carpet, and lighting can completely transform a space. All four rooms got the full treatment: new carpet, fresh wall and ceiling paint, updated trim, and clean white outlets and switches. We also replaced light fixtures and fans where needed (cleaning up the newer ones we kept).
The largest bedroom was begging for light. With dark walls and worn finishes, it felt closed in. Fresh paint and carpet made a dramatic difference, highlighting its generous size and the fact that it has not one, but two closets — a huge bonus for future homeowners.
One of the things I love most about this house is that even the lower-level bedrooms have full-size windows. Natural light makes every room feel welcoming and far from “basement-y.”
We also brightened all the trim with crisp white paint and added black hardware for contrast — a simple update that instantly modernizes the space and ties in with the finishes throughout the home. The little ledge under the window in one room just feels like the perfect spot for a child’s books, artwork, or small treasures.
In another lower-level bedroom, we worked around a non-removable header. With fresh paint, new flooring, and a modern overhead light, the room now feels airy and functional — ideal as a bedroom, playroom, or cozy office.
These updates make such a meaningful impact on the livability and character of this home. Fresh, bright, clean, and ready for a new family to love — that was the goal, and I truly think we achieved it.
Room Sources
- Flooring: ProCore Plus English Grove Oak, 7”
- Paint:
- Walls: Behr Dolphin Fin
- Trim: Behr Ultra Pure White
- Lighting:
- Black pendant light (full bath)
- Two-bulb vanity fixture (3/4 bath)