The Problem
This condo bathroom was sad. It was built in the early 70s with “builder grade” materials that had worn down over the years. The color scheme was a depressing cold gray. The cracked tiles, scuffed faux-marble countertop, a vanity the size of a kitchen cabinet, and useless towel bar in the shower weren’t going to be fixed by a simple update. It all had to go. But with the average bathroom remodel in the US costing more than $12,000, how would a full remodel on a $4,000 budget be possible?
Enter Happy Interiors. When I met with the client the first thing he mentioned was that he wanted it to feel like a “modern hotel bathroom.” It also needed to be easy-to-clean and have a floor plan with enough space for his Roomba to navigate. And lastly, he needed a cat-proof toilet paper holder. Apparently, the cats would destroy any paper product that’s not locked up. The current toilet paper holder was strictly a cat toy at this point.
The Plan
With that in mind, I set out to solve the current problems and came up with couple of designs that fit the clients criteria.
We decided on a warm cream porcelain 12 by 24 inch tile, with a feature wall that included dark brown and green glass tile. This gave the space a hotel feel, while making it easier to clean due to the reduced amount of the grout used. Plus larger tile makes smaller bathrooms look bigger. Then I added silver fretwork to the feature wall and around the wainscoting to add a more modern clean look to the design.
Next, I picked a dark chocolate colored wood vanity with a bright white integrated sink. It’s on legs that will allow a Roomba to clean under it easily. Then I picked a coordinating toilet, mirror, faucet and other chrome accessories to go with the streamlined feel.
And finally, I found the perfect toilet paper holder. It’s made of stainless steel and frosted glass. With the toilet paper entirely enclosed by the steel, no cat paws can get to it.
With a plan in place, Happy Interiors got bids from contractors and the materials ordered. The total time for construction took 9 days, and now the client has the perfect hotel-like bathroom he was looking for.
Written by Karie Place. If you have questions for Karie or are interested in getting a new bathroom, feel free to contact her on her portfolio page.
How we saved big:
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Reduced the Markup on Materials: the number one thing that kept this project under such a meager budget was the savings from not paying retail markups. Also, this allowed us to squeeze in higher-end materials for things like the hardware and porcelain tile. -
Layout: by keeping the vanity, tub and toilet in the same location we saved potentially thousands in plumbing and construction costs.
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Client Pitched In: demolition and painting are things that many of our clients can do themselves. These little things can turn into big savings when added up. I always ask a client what they’re comfortable with doing themselves to help them save some money. The client also had a friend install the new toilet and vanity saving him even more money.
Inexpensive Sources of Art in Minneapolis/St. Paul
Art. When it comes to your home art may not be your first priority or necessity. Let’s face it, you can not sit on it, eat on it and it certainly will not do the dishes! On top of all the necessary things it does not do, it can often cost you more than that sofa, dining table or dishwasher too.
So what is a person to do? We know art adds beauty, character and most of all personality to any space. When your bare walls are feeling lack luster and uninviting, art gives them interest and brings the room to life. It puts the finishing touch on any space, big or small, whether it is a tiny hallway or grand living room.
Since art is a necessity for creating that one of a kind vibe in your space, we at Happy Interiors are here to help. We want to make it a little easier and more fun of course, to find that prefect piece of wall bling. Even better, we are going to show you how to do it on the cheap. Below we have put together a couple of awesome sources for great, inexpensive art right here in Minneapolis.
Annual Art Sales in Minneapolis: The perfect place to score some incredible originals.
The MCAD Annual Art Sale
This is real art by real artists at a faction of the cost. You can spend a day checking out some fabulous art and for under a $100 you can take home an original master piece. This sale is great for those of you looking for more contemporary works. The pieces you will see are one-of-a-kind art created by MCAD students and recent graduates at unbeatable prices. Nothing at the sale is over a $1000 and the average price less than $100.
"Graduates from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design have been changing the world you see since 1886. ... And, of course, the school is currently incubating talent you haven't heard of—yet. You can buy work from tomorrow's stars at the MCAD Annual Art Sale. With many pieces under $100 and nothing more than a thousand, the price is certainly right. And if you trust your good eye, you might acquire something whose maker is on a fast track to fame."
- Susannah Schouweiler,
The Rake/10,000 Arts, November 2007
If this has piqued your interest then check them out on the web, they have a face book page www.facebook.com/artsale (no need for a facebook account to view either). Check out tons of other great works of art that have sold over the years and stay tuned for next year’s sale!
The Soap Factory’s $99 Sale
Looking for art that is a little on the eccentric side? Then the Soap Factory’s $99 Sale is where you want to be. Every fall donated works of art from artists around the country sell for just $99 a piece! The proceeds go to a great cause, to support the Soap Factory, the area’s leading laboratory for up-and-coming contemporary art. No need to worry if you missed the sale. They have great works of art all year round and often the prices are pretty easy on your budget.
The sale is growing in popularity and size so when September rolls around be sure to go. For more details about the $99 Sale and Soap Factory go to www.soap99.com.
Wall Decals: Large graphics make for a fabulous and inexpensive conversation piece.
Single Stone Studios
Relatively new to the art scene, wall decals are a great way to cover a lot of wall for very little money. In patterns ranging from Victorian to contemporary there is something for every room here. Multiple color choices also make it easy to get the exact color you want. These bold and impactful designs are essentially large stickers for your walls, ceilings and floors. They are completely removable and do no damage.
If you do not see anything you like or have a better idea for a wall decal just let them know. They can custom make any decal. You pick the style, size and color and they will quote you a price. Medium to large size custom decals will run you about $100 - $300.
To see all of their stylish decals and get pricing go to www.singlestonestudios.com.
Custom Printed Canvas: It does not get any easier than this.
Photos 2 Canvas Printers
Can it really be that easy? Yes. Their website is super easy to navigate and makes placing orders a cinch. They offer an array of sizes to choose from, as well as do custom sizing. The fun starts when you get to choose from 9 different effects. If you want your photo to look more like a traditional hand painted water color or contemporary panel series they can do it.
You can have your canvas in as little as two weeks. Better yet, there is free shipping on all orders over $99. If you have a photo you have been dieing to do something with or are just plain curious go to www.photos2canvasprinters.com to learn more.
Printed Art: Happy Interiors has what you need.
Happy Interiors
Finally, if you are feeling a little bummed because none of these options are quite right then you are in luck. Happy Interiors has access to tons of amazing art vendors. We get their products at a trade discount and then pass that discount on to you with a mere 10% mark-up. Plus, if you are just not sure what to buy our designers can help you make the perfect selection. We will sit down with you to go over what would look best in your space and work with your budget. Once you have chosen one piece or several we take care of everything. From ordering to delivery tracking we are here to make the whole process easy and hassle free for you.
So, next time you are redoing a room, looking for a conversation piece and want something totally custom, try one of the above. You will not be disappointed!
Written by Abby Tallman, the newest member of the Happy Interiors team.
See Us at The West Metro Home Remodeling Fair
If you're a resident of the west metro area, come by the Home Remodeling Fair on Sunday February 28. We'll be giving out free home design kits to people who visit our booth.
The Home Remodeling Fair is a free event sponsored by the cities of Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Its goal is to provide residents with ideas, information and resources to promote improvements to housing in each community. More info is on their website.