TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Melissa and Wyatt Shipman refreshed an underused basement half-bath with a reported final cost of $203.76. They removed its popcorn ceiling, painted the walls and vanity, added peel-and-stick floor tiles, and updated several fixtures while keeping the existing toilet, sink and countertop.
Melissa and Wyatt Shipman updated their underused basement half-bath for a reported $203.76, replacing its dated look with white walls, a black vanity and graphic peel-and-stick flooring. As reported by Apartment Therapy, the couple kept the existing toilet, sink and countertop, using paint, surface changes and a few new fixtures instead of a full renovation.
The bathroom dated to the early 1990s and had tan vinyl flooring, an oak vanity, poor lighting and a blue toilet and sink. The Shipmans had lived in the home for nine years and completed other DIY projects, but Melissa said they had put off this room because it was rarely used and she did not know how to work around the blue fixtures.
The room became more useful after Wyatt began working from home in the basement, and the family’s two young children were home more often. The couple set a $200 budget and started by removing the popcorn ceiling. They painted the walls with leftover white paint, then covered the existing floor with gray, white and black peel-and-stick tiles, a less permanent option than installing new tile.
Rather than replace the oak vanity, Wyatt sanded down its decorative edges and the couple painted it black with paint left from another project. They added a black faucet, a new mirror and more contemporary lighting, and used frames they already owned for DIY artwork. Apartment Therapy reported that the final cost was $203.76, slightly above the couple’s original target.
A Surface Refresh Avoided Full Replacement
The project shows how the Shipmans addressed the room’s dated appearance without replacing its major plumbing fixtures. Keeping the toilet, sink, countertop and vanity allowed them to focus spending on paint, flooring and selected updates. The approach mattered to this household because the basement bathroom had gone from a room they seldom used to one serving a home office and family more often.
The reported cost is specific to this project, not a guarantee that a similar renovation can be completed for the same amount. The couple had leftover paint and frames, and kept existing fixtures and cabinetry. Room size, materials, local prices and existing conditions can change the cost of another project. The peel-and-stick floor also offered a way to try a bold pattern without committing to permanent tile, though it did not amount to a full floor replacement.
Popular right now
Vitamix Propel Series 510 Professional-Grade Blender, 3 Programs, Black
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, Black
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, Onyx Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why the Basement Bathroom Changed
The Shipmans had lived in their home for nine years and worked on other parts of it, according to Apartment Therapy. The half-bath was low on the priority list because they did not use it much and saw the blue sink and toilet as obstacles to making it feel updated. Melissa described the room as one she had been “basically ignoring” because she did not want to spend money on a space that seemed difficult to change.
Its role shifted when Wyatt started working from home in the basement and the couple’s children were home during the day. That increase in use prompted them to revisit the room, but they chose a limited-budget makeover rather than replacing the bathroom’s main fixtures. The report does not give an exact date for the work or say whether the bathroom’s underlying flooring or plumbing was altered.
““I was basically ignoring this room because we never really used it, and I didn’t want to spend the money to upgrade a space that felt impossible.””
— Melissa Shipman, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Floor Details
Apartment Therapy reported the final total as $203.76, but the article does not provide a full itemized breakdown of each purchase or say how the couple calculated the value of leftover paint and previously owned frames. It is also unclear whether the stated amount includes tools the couple already had or any costs beyond the listed updates.
The report describes peel-and-stick tile covering the existing floor but does not specify the product, the condition of the floor beneath it, or how it has held up over time. It also does not state the bathroom’s dimensions, the exact project date or whether any work required repairs beyond the cosmetic changes described.
No Further Work Was Reported
Apartment Therapy’s report presents the renovation as completed and includes no announced next phase or follow-up work. Melissa said she was pleased with the brighter lighting, white walls, scraped ceiling and bold floor. There is no reported update on the flooring’s long-term performance, later changes to the bathroom or whether the couple plans to replace any of the retained fixtures.
Key Questions
How much did the bathroom makeover cost?
Apartment Therapy reported a final cost of $203.76, slightly above the couple’s $200 budget. The article does not provide a complete itemized cost list.
What did the Shipmans change?
They removed the popcorn ceiling, painted the walls white and the vanity black, covered the floor with peel-and-stick tiles, and added a faucet, mirror and updated lighting. They also used frames they already owned for artwork.
Did they replace the blue toilet and sink?
No replacement is reported. The couple kept the existing toilet and sink, along with the countertop, and changed nearby finishes and fixtures.
Was the new flooring permanent tile?
No. The report says the couple used peel-and-stick tile over the existing floor. It does not identify the product or report how it has performed over time.
Source: rss
