From simple updates like switching out hardware and paint, to more complex installations like a new vanity or floor – there are some go-to techniques and products from The Home Depot to help make any bathroom project easy.
Meet Kelly Edwards, lifestyle expert and HGTV and STYLE Network TV host, she’ll show you that adding a bit of vintage charm to a basic bathroom or turning a dated bathroom into a contemporary space is a breeze with the right equipment and know-how. It is possible to spend as little as $200 or as much as $2,400 transforming a bathroom. Here to help you cook up some tips for a simple and stunning bathroom makeover is lifestyle expert and host of “Design on a Dime” and “Tacky House”- Kelly Edwards. Grab a power tool, it just may be your new toy to your newfound hobby.
Did you know that according to Remodeling Magazine, updates to a bathroom yield a seventy percent return on investment? Who wouldn’t want to get in on that?
Where does your love of renovating stem from and what is it about bathrooms?
My love of design and renovating houses comes from, honestly, Bob Vila! When I was a kid, my dad used to watch Bob Vila all the time and I would see all these renovations happening. I’ve always been a really creative person, so I think it’s growing up and seeing Bob Vila, my dad, and my brother built a house from scratch that brought about my passion for renovations. It was just fantastic to witness, so I kind of fell in love with that. Even though I was always a very girly girl, I always loved power tools and kind of getting in there with the guys; so I think it was a combination of both.
Then as far as the rooms that I love the most, I love kitchens and bathrooms, but particularly bathrooms, because I feel like they’re so versatile and there is absolutely so much that you can do with them. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and the world’s your oyster pretty much.
So how can we update the look and feel of a bathroom without the potential stress of the renovation itself?
If people do get very stressed out about renovations, I say you don’t have to get so worried because one of the places that you can start is the vanity. It’s like the furniture piece of the bathroom – the one to upgrade. There are some vanities that I call my three-in-ones. These are stress-free because they come with the countertop, the sink, and the hardware.
One of these is the Home Depot Home Decorator’s Collection of Vanity and Mirrors, the Claxby; it has a nonporous top so it’s bacteria, mold and mildew free. This makes your bathroom healthier and of course cleaner, and it’s very vintage chic which is super popular this fall, but if you don’t want to go vintage, you can go with something more modern, such as the Abby Vanity. I really like this one because it’s sort of traditional with a modern, contemporary look. It’s perfect for any bathroom, any home, including two drawers for storage; so if you have children — storage is imperative! This is absolutely perfect. And quite honestly, each of these cost under $300.
What trends should Moms be looking at this season?
If you want to talk about changing out things that make a huge impact, quite honestly, you can simply change out the faucets. Oil rubbed bronze, for me, is trending this season; I think it’s absolutely gorgeous. This is the Delta Porter bathroom faucet. Oil rubbed bronze is absolutely popular. It tends to blend together different styles as well as functionality while still ensuring water efficiency. So if you see this faucet, it’s this gorgeous, classic arc; to me, classic refinement never goes out of style and is always trending. You’ll find that it meets the ADA requirements and has a water sense certification, so not only is it reliable, but it’s also efficient.
Now if you still want to go with modern, a brushed nickel faucet is definitely still trending. This is the Everly Faucet; it comes with Spot Shield Technology, meaning less spots, less cleaning, an antimicrobial finish and is also equipped with their Worry-Free Drain Catch. A must-have with people who have children, as things get dumped down the drain all the time. So items like your jewelry, your valuables, pills, anything that can go down the drain, can easily be retrievable which is a very, very, valuable attribute when looking at faucets.
What if you just aren’t into the DIY scene?
If you’re not into DIY, which I would say at least try to tackle something DIY, because just maybe you’ll fall in love with picking up that power tool or picking up the drill or that hammer and becoming that girl. Being able to do it yourself gives you that sense of empowerment. But if you’re not into doing that, you can certainly go to Home Depot where they have their home installation services. When you go to the store, talk to a professional; they will literally walk you through it. They’ll help you design your bathroom, they will go out and do it for you, or you can simply go to homedepot.com and check out what else they can offer you. So again, when you are doing your bathroom, you don’t have to be stressed out, you don’t have to worry about it if you don’t want to do it yourself; you have options. See more.
You designed a book, what’s it about?
My book is called, “The Design Cookbook: Recipes For A Stylish Home”. I got that idea actually, sitting with my dad at the dinner table. I said, “I’d like to do a book, writing a book is on my bucket list. What kind of book should I write?“
He said, “Do it so it looks like a cookbook.“
So that’s what I did. I wrote a book; basically, it’s a cookbook containing recipes for rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, you name it, it’s all in there. You open up the pages and you’ll see how to do the rooms, see what ingredients you need, what steps to follow, and then you go and make it. I also have DIY projects in there as well, so it’s perfect, there’s something for everybody. After all, who doesn’t love to read a cookbook? This is just a little bit of a twist with a design included.
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Go to homedepot.com and I can be found at KellyEdwardsInc.com – Design your way and on a dime.
Kelly Edwards, a lifestyle expert, hosts the successful HGTV series “Design on a Dime” as well as Style Network’s “Tacky House.” In addition to her weekly television obligations, she has been the design expert for Shelter Pop, host of EDITOR AT LARGE, and currently serves as the host and home design expert for THE DESIGN NETWORK’S new series “DIY House Call.”
She’s been seen on HOME & FAMILY, THE REAL RACHEL RAY and THE MARIE SHOW. You can also find her in national magazines such as Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style, and Better Homes and Gardens. A Chicago native, she has contributed to regular lifestyle segments on Chicago’s WGN.
Currently, Kelly resides in California and has a new design book called “Design Cookbook: Recipes for a Stylish Home.”
Photo credits: Home Depot, Kelly Edwards, Logan Ripley on Unsplash