One Room Challenge | Week Six | Final Reveal Is Here!

Welcome! The best week of the One Room Challenge is here—it’s final reveal week!

The One Room Challenge is a bi-annual event that features 20 featured designers and many guest participants who makeover one room in six weeks. Better Homes and Gardens is the media sponsor.

This basement bathroom has come a long way! Before we delve into all the details of the reveal, here are all the steps along our journey.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

If you are new to KS Design Company, read more about us here. We are a mother-daughter design team working in Topeka and the Kansas City metro. We started our business a little over a year ago, meaning we have spent the past year having fun designing spaces and trying to keep up with the learning curve of running a new business.

The Beginnings

Just as a reminder, this is where we began: an outdated space that was looking a little sad.

And Now…

It’s a whole new bathroom! The space feels so much brighter, which was a goal since the basement bathroom has no natural light source. One of the first things decided was that the shower wall should be demoed to a half wall. This really opened up the space and made it feel more luxurious. Also, the shower was expanded to cover the whole back wall, meaning it’s twice its original size. We chose three different tiles to add visual interest, but worked to make sure the shower space still felt cohesive. Read more about the tile selection process here.

Large-format Tile | Subway Tile | Penny Tile

Showerhead

Shower Specifics

As far as water sources, this shower has it all: a normal showerhead, a rainfall showerhead coming from the ceiling, and a sprayer. It definitely gives off some water park vibes, which was exactly the plan. One of the people using the shower regularly will be my two-year-old grandson who is a huge fan of water parks. He has already started to call it his shower. 😉

Rainfall Showerhead

Soaps | Scrub Brush | Candle

The mega-sized ledge was recessed into the shower. It probably won’t always look so lovely, but it will be the perfect size for all the toiletries and bath toys.

Stool (TJ Maxx, Similar)

The stool was the final touch. Every shower area needs somewhere to prop up a leg for shaving. Plus, the stool added some warmth to that side of the room.

Vanity Area

The simple, open vanity reinforces the open feeling in the bathroom, and the wood breaks up the stark surfaces. Read more about the custom-made vanity here. We love the modern style and matte black finish that the light fixture, mirror, and faucet share.

Light Fixture | Mirror | Countertop | Toilet Paper Holder | Vanity (custom-made by Brian at Brokenstar Woodworking)

Art | Toilet

Faucet | Soap Dispenser (HomeGoods)

Baskets

Faux Plant (TJ Maxx) | Crystal (TJ Maxx)

Final Touches

On the wall opposite the vanity, there is a custom-built towel rack. The clean lines and openness mirror the vanity. The beautiful line art carries that touch of black to the other side of the room.

Art | Towel Rack (custom-made by Brian at Brokenstar Woodworking) | White Towels (HomeGoods) | Pink Towels

We knew the bathroom needed one more touch of oomph, so we DIYed two wooden beams for the ceiling. The DIY ended up being a family affair with my husband and son doing the hard work—thanks for the help Lance and Keenan!

Signs (Hobby Lobby)

Finally, these leather and iron signs hang on the far wall and greet you as you walk out the door.

Whew! We went into this One Room Challenge with the mantra “third times a charm,” and this one has may have been the most difficult yet. 😝 (Here is our final reveal from our first ORC room and our second). All the work pays off though. We are in love the final result!

The best way to keep up with us is to follow us on Instagram! We would love to hear from you there.

We think the ORC is pretty great, so a big thank you to Linda Weinstein from Calling It Home, the creator and owner of the event, and to Better Homes and Gardens, the media sponsor. One Room Challenge reveal week is full of eye candy, so make sure you check out the 20 designers and all the guest participants!

Thanks for stopping by,

Staci and Kylie

One Room Challenge | Week Five | Setbacks Near The End

Five weeks are in the books, and that means there is one final week in the One Room Challenge to wrap everything up in this basement bathroom. All the plans are in place to finish, but there have been some setbacks this week, which make it more difficult to see it all coming together in so little time.

Last week, we painted the walls a charcoal gray, which helped add a little life to the space (especially compared to the white we initially painted them!). This week was supposed to be all about installing everything, but there have been some hold ups.

The Vanity

Focusing on the good first, the vanity is finished! My neighbor, Brian, owns a woodworking studio called Brokenstar Woodworking and does incredible work. From the start, we knew that a simple wood vanity was the way to go and really liked the Easton Single Sink Vanity from Pottery Barn but did not like the price tag. Brian said he was up for building a vanity, and we are so thankful because his work is such great quality. We opted for Ash wood with a clear sealant.

Don’t you like how the wood pops off the dark walls? Next up was deciding what color of countertop would work best: white, lighter gray, or darker gray? White would stand out against the walls and darker gray would blend into the walls—both good options—but after taking in a paint swatch of the wall color, we chose the lighter gray (this one specifically).

The Trim

The wood trim also was painted this week—one more thing to check off the list! The wood tone of the trim didn’t go with the wood tone of the vanity, so the trim got a couple coats of paint in the same color as the walls (except in semigloss). Now, the trim blends in with the rest of space, and since we didn’t want the trim to be a focal point, it works well.

A Few Setbacks

Full disclosure, the bathroom currently looks like we have regressed in our progress. 😂

The popcorn ceiling was scraped at the beginning of the project but repairs were required on the knockdown that was applied. That paired with a sick contractor has delayed the installation of the light fixture, the countertop, and the mirror. But what would the ORC be without some minor delays?

Here is our to-do list that we will be updating weekly. Italics mean the task is partially completed.

• Demo bathroom
• Source and install tile
• Install new vanity or repurpose old one
• Source and install light fixture
• DIY ceiling beams
• Install glass for shower
• Source mirror
• Source rug
• Paint walls and trim
• Source art

We will still have our big room reveal next week though, and it will be a big improvement over the room’s current condition! (Fingers crossed). Everyone else is nearing that finish line too, so make sure to head over the ORC blog.

See you next week,

Staci and Kylie

One Room Challenge | Week Four | Fixing a Paint Color Mistake

That’s a wrap on Week 4 of the One Room Challenge! Painting was the main thing on the agenda this week. The plan was to go with an off-white color with gray undertones, with the hope that it would make the tile pop. What do they say about best-laid plans? After getting the paint supplies all ready and the roller going…whoa, it didn’t look great in the space. See proof below.

The off-white color just looked too drab, especially in a basement bathroom space that has no natural light source. We called an audible and changed our design plan, going with a dark gray instead. After hustling to the paint store before it closed, a new color was chosen: Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal. Sooo much better! Paint can make such a big difference in the feel of the room, and now we can call the space modern and moody.

Lighting

The sconce that will go above the vanity arrived! It’s a very simple silhouette and works perfectly in the space. We are not going to install it until the vanity is complete, so the placement is correct. We’re anxiously waiting… we really need the extra light! Speaking of the vanity, it is being built and should be completed by the end of the week. Eek! We can’t wait to see how it turned out. Hopefully we will have all of the details next week.

Accessories

We made trips to Target, T.J. Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, and World Market looking for finishing pieces for the bathroom. Although every step of the design process is good, picking accessories always feels like pure fun. I found the abstract art at Target and the colors spoke to me. The face print was an instant download from Etsy. I love that it is a little quirky! Not only are crystals having a moment, but the information tag said the crystal was supposed to deliver clarity of mind—never a bad thing for the final two weeks of ORC. Although we definitely made a dent in the accessories, there are still two missing elements: towels and a bath mat. And, since we did change the wall color, we may have to make some adjustments. We will see what makes the final cut.

Here is our to-do list that we will be updating weekly. Italics mean the task is partially completed.

• Demo bathroom
• Source and install tile
• Install new vanity or repurpose old one
• Source and install light fixture
• DIY ceiling beams
• Install glass for shower
• Source mirror
• Source rug
• Paint walls and trim
• Source art

Thanks for checking in with us this week! We have been feeling on top of everything, but as the time narrows down, it feels like there is a lot left to check off. Isn’t that how it always goes? Make sure to check out what else is going on in the ORC world.

See you next week,

Staci and Kylie

One Room Challenge | Week Three | Tile Breakdown

We are at the halfway point of the One Room Challenge! Luckily, last week was very productive, because, honestly, this week was a slow one as far as the basement bathroom renovation went. We spent the majority of the week in Virginia visiting family and friends, and although the trip was good for our hearts, it was tough to make progress when we were not in the same state as the room. This week, we are taking a closer look at the tile choices.

Tile #1: Shower Walls and Bathroom Floor

Originally sporting a shower insert and linoleum floors, this bathroom desperately needed some beautiful tile. Right away, we were leaning toward a large format, marble-look tile for its clean, modern look. We preferred a white tile with gray veining, and we preferred the tile to be matte rather than glossy. Floor and Decor to the rescue. They had a 24x48 in. porcelain tile that fit all our requirements for $2.99/sq. ft. One tip about large format tile: it is HEAVY. We ended up splitting our tile haul into two loads even though we were driving a big SUV. This tile ended up covering the majority of the bathroom: the bathroom floor and one shower wall.

An in-process photo of the large format tile being installed.

Tile #2: Shower Ceiling

To complement the marble-look tile, we searched for a different tile for the shower ceiling that would then continue all the way down the end shower walls. We wanted a version of white subway tile, but not in the standard 2x4 in. size. That seemed like an easy request but was actually tricky to find in a brick and mortar store (we were on a time crunch). The only tile that was both matte and a complementary shade of white ended up being this 3x12 in. tile. Then it was down to the choosing the pattern for the layout.

After laying out some different patterns on the living room floor, we went with a pattern that included a wider and thinner tile. Even though it was more work for our tile installer—shoutout to Nick!—since it required cutting some tiles in half, he was game because he had never laid in that pattern before. We like the visual interest it adds to the space.

Tile #3: Shower Pan

We actually stumbled on our last tile choice while we were at Floor and Decor. Although penny tile is a classic choice, the dark charcoal penny tile looked fresh when paired with very dark grout, and it highlighted the gray veining in the shower wall tile. Love those easy choices that fall in your lap.

After being installed, we love that the tile choices look sleek but will also act as the perfect backdrop for some warm touches—looking at you, wood vanity and beams.

Here is our to-do list that we will be updating weekly. Italics mean the task is partially completed.

• Demo bathroom
• Source and install tile
• Install new vanity or repurpose old one
• Source and install light fixture
• DIY ceiling beams
• Install glass for shower
• Source mirror
• Source rug
• Paint walls and trim
• Source art

Even with a slow week, we feel like we are in a good place to get this bathroom transformed. Hopefully, the bathroom will get a fresh coat of paint this week, a light fixture installed, and maybe some beams?? Time will tell. 😉 There is so much design goodness going on with the One Room Challenge beyond our basement bathroom. Make sure to check it out!

See you next week,

Staci and Kylie

One Room Challenge | Week One | Basement Bathroom Before

We are gearing up for our third go at the One Room Challenge! This fall we will be tackling an outdated—dare I say ugly?—basement bathroom. Although we only have the before pictures today, the plans are already underway, and we can’t wait to reveal a new look for the bathroom in six short weeks. If you are unfamiliar with the One Room Challenge, here is the lowdown: The One Room Challenge is a bi-annual event that features 20 featured designers and many guest participants who makeover one room in six weeks. Better Homes and Gardens is the media sponsor.

If you are new to KS Design Company, welcome! We are a mother-daughter design team working in Topeka and the Kansas City metro. We started KS Design Company a little over a year ago and completed our first One Room Challenge last fall and our second last spring.

The basement bathroom: a sad place.

This bathroom needs some love and attention. After moving into our house 16 years ago, this bathroom has been heavily used, but as far as design goes, it hasn’t really been touched (beyond paint and a light fixture upon moving in). The brown/cream linoleum, the shower insert, and the laminate vanity countertop have lived their best lives, but it’s time for them to go. The plan is to revamp the space from top to bottom.

What do we have in store?

We will get into the details of the design plan next week, but the overall aesthetic for the bathroom will be modern with touches of rustic. Think large format marble-look porcelain tile for that modern feel. Then wood elements with a new (or potentially heavily repurposed?) vanity and new ceiling beams will bring some warmth. Here’s a sneak peek.

Because this space is getting a head to toe makeover, demolition has begun.

Already on the way to transformation! Join us next week to see more progress. And, in the meantime, check out all the creativity over at the One Room Challenge blog.

To keep us accountable, here is our to-do list that we will be updating weekly. Italics mean the task is partially completed.

• Demo bathroom
• Source and install tile
• Install new vanity or repurpose old one
• Source and install light fixture
• DIY ceiling beams
• Install glass for shower
• Source mirror
• Source rug
• Paint walls and trim
• Source art

See you next week,

Staci and Kylie