Pre-holiday Spruce-Up: The Vintage Blue Tile Bathroom

This week marks the official start of the holiday season (though, according to malls and big box stores, it's perfectly appropriate to start celebrating and shopping in September!). As such, I had the itch to get a jumpstart prepping for holiday guests; the first place I wanted to start: our vintage blue bathroom. 

I shared the photo above on Instagram one morning last week, as I could hardly wait to show off this work-with-what-you've-got spruce-up, which required little more than incorporating items I already had into an otherwise-ignored space. In the spirit of Thanksgiving gratitude and contentment, I challenged myself to work within the limits of what I had rather than undertaking a full (and completely unnecessary) renovation and, in doing so, I proved to myself that the smallest changes could turn one of my least favorite spaces into one of my favorites.

This vintage bathroom is one of two upstairs in our home and is used most often when we have overnight guests. Though small in footprint, the bathroom accommodates a corner shower, original porcelain and chrome sink and large window that streams sunlight. The bones were good, but it was missing pieces to pull it together.

...it's a wonder what a good scrubbing, crisp white towels and a little attention can do for a 60-year old bathroom. A few carefully-chosen accents also help!

I lucked upon the Victorian stick and ball side table at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market this past summer for $30; but, though I loved it, I hadn't found the perfect spot for it before realizing it was the ideal size to hold a basket of bath supplies for guests.

The table's deep hue complemented the new black toilet seat as well as the framed black and white cherry blossom photograph that I found for $10 at a thrift store a few years back. Speaking of black toilet seats: they really have become an obsession of mine.

This is not the first bathroom in our house enhanced with one of these things and it certainly won't be the last I'll show off on the blog. In case you're new or have forgotten, our vintage jadeite tile bathroom (just down the hall from this vintage blue bathroom) also features a black toilet seat as a nod to the age and character of our home.

Do you remember chatting about cafe curtains a month or so ago here? To strike the right balance between privacy and exposure, I converted inexpensive-but-charming swiss dot panels from JC Penney into a pair of cafe curtains. The yardage produced enough fabric for multiple cafe curtains, too!

Above all else, I wanted this bathroom to feel welcoming for holiday guests, and the best way I could think to do that was to stock the room with affordable, gleaming white towels, fresh soaps and a few decorative touches.

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

Dare I say it? I'm actually excited to share this room and the nearly free spruce-up with our holiday guests!
How are you prepping your home for visitors from near and far this holiday season?