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Seriously. Google "ugliest bathroom" and look at images and NONE of those are even close.
I am renting a mid 80's mobile home, as I've posted here before, and the landlord doesn't care what changes I make.. I mean.. how could he? Burning the thing would be an improvement.
However, because it's a rental, because I don't plan to stay beyond the 1 year lease I signed in August, and because I am a semi-broke 42 year old college student, married to another college student, and we have 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 3 cats, I cannot spend much on "improvements".
For now I am ignoring the ugly off-white tub with the mis-matched 60's mobile home nicotine-yellow shower surround. At least THAT is hidden by the shower curtain... and I am focusing on the worst part of the bathroom; the counter/sink/cabinet.
The cabinet is dated brown wood with gold "toned" hardware, the counter top was too long but the landlord stuck it there anyway so it hangs over on the left side by about a foot. The counter is at least a tolerable shade of tan. The sink is the color of cheddar cheese when you leave it out in a warm room for a day.
I have found a free replacement sink (YAY!) thanks to Craigslist. I've also sourced a good wall mirror. I need to know what I can inexpensively do about the rest of the monstrosity that is the feature of our ONLY bathroom, aside from replacing the entire vanity/cabinet thing (I have been watching Craigslist for 2 months now in hopes of scoring a cheap/free replacement but no luck yet)...
I have wondered if I could cut that overhang off? Or find some crafty piece of furniture that would fit right under (shelving of some kind? a tall hamper?) and maybe I could pain the cabinet base to at least simulate something "nice"?
Please check out the pic and advise. Thanks! This pic was taken before we moved in -- it's clean now but still lots of paint splashes and general discolorations, etc.
Measure the space you want to fill and then look at closet organizer stuff and see if any of it is close to the right dimensions. The other option would be to get a couple of boards cut to fit under the edge and put shelves in there. Paint the whole thing white and use the shelves for toilet paper, books, rolled-up towels, anything that you need to store. Even a stack of organizers like this: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/b...N=71791&Nao=20 would make it look better.
I would paint the countertop also. A lot of the apartments I lived in had painted countertops and it looked decent and held up well to daily use (just be careful with things like haircolor).
Actually, here's another idea for the bathroom vanity, google "bathroom sink skirt" and look at the images. You could make it out of a twin sheet to keep the cost low. Make a shower curtain to match (have to use a plastic liner of course) and then go with kind of a shabby chic look in the bathroom, maybe get an assortment of little mirrors in different shapes at the thrift store and paint the frames to match, put up some vintage pictures (print out old-fashioned soap ads or things like that and frame them), put a fluffy white rug on the floor. I would still paint the countertop though.
Measure the space you want to fill and then look at closet organizer stuff and see if any of it is close to the right dimensions. The other option would be to get a couple of boards cut to fit under the edge and put shelves in there. Paint the whole thing white and use the shelves for toilet paper, books, rolled-up towels, anything that you need to store. Even a stack of organizers like this: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/b...N=71791&Nao=20 would make it look better.
I would paint the countertop also. A lot of the apartments I lived in had painted countertops and it looked decent and held up well to daily use (just be careful with things like haircolor).
Thanks for the suggestion! After I posted this, the shelf idea started working its way into my brain, great minds think alike!
I have been checking out all the options to paint the counters too and I am amazed at what can be done in that regard! I MIGHT be able to splurge on one of those countertop painting kits that simulates stone or whatever, because I have a kitchen counter I could use it on as well.
Thanks again! I'm feeling a bit better knowing there's some hope here.
You're lucky really. Ugly can be fixed and without having to break the bank.
I've got a very small bathroom, which can't be fixed unless I spent thousands
Since you're renting and your lease will expire next summer, Why spend any of your own money on someone else's property? It will only benefit the LL. And you mentioned that you're on a tight budget.
While I can see from your pix that yes, the cabinet, counter top is ugly, it's still just a rental.
Since you're renting and your lease will expire next summer, Why spend any of your own money on someone else's property? It will only benefit the LL. And you mentioned that you're on a tight budget.
While I can see from your pix that yes, the cabinet, counter top is ugly, it's still just a rental.
This. It seems pointless to me to spend anything on it. Of course the exception is stuff that was free.
For the counter top buy Spray Stone, its like 5.99 a can, comes in a light beige color, two cans should do it, then seal with a clear spray sealer. Will last a couple of years and certainly improve the look of the counter. Did it in my mothers mobile home gave the nasty counter a whole new look.
Personally I would not invest much if anything in the place. I do like the idea of make a wall at the edge of the overhang. Then put shelves between the wall and cabinet end.
DON'T DO IT! When I was in college, for one year a friend and I rented a piece of crap house for a princely sum of $450/month. You can imagine how crappy the house is. My friend and I ended up spending a crap ton of effort updating the house (with the owner's blessing). We painted the walls, repainted the cabinets, sourced a fridge, installed a shower, replaced door knobs, moved a hallway door to the inside of a room to create a walk in closet, sealed hole in the hallway with drywall and taped/painted it, and a lot more. In the end, not only did we not get compensated for all of our hard work, he took away some of our deposit for other BS reasons (not related to the remodeling). Sure, it made living there a lot more bearable. But I wish we hadn't done all of that work.
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