It’s official: we’ve got bathrooms on the brain after our impromptu weekend update. And it’s not just bathrooms — closets are getting attention too. Fortunately, Meghan and her husband Sean shared a double dose of makeover inspiration: both a bathroom and a closet reveal. Below is a clear, concise recap of their project that highlights the planning, decisions, and the creative solutions they used to get a high-end look while keeping costs under control.
Meghan explained that she didn’t have a blog when her kitchen redesign was featured, but that recognition encouraged her to start one to document home projects. Her master bathroom renovation was a long-awaited update: a tiny, dated room with an unpleasant odor and all the charm of 1960s décor. They decided to open up the space by removing a closet just outside the bathroom, then gut the room to the studs and rebuild using Carrara marble and white quartz to create a fresh, bright, classic look.
The plan to renovate had been postponed for years — originally something they thought they would do a decade down the road. After several years of juggling other renovations and children, they finally committed to this project and, to save time and avoid DIY stress, promised not to tackle the whole job themselves. When Sean strained his back lifting a new window, that sealed the decision to bring in professionals for the heavy lifting.
Meghan handled the design and sourced materials over a six-month period, buying as items went on sale to manage the budget. Approaching the project methodically allowed her to collect quality materials without paying full price. As an accountant by trade, she also shared a numerical summary of the renovation that illustrates how they organized the work and the savings they achieved:
- 3: The number of general contractors they initially interviewed.
- 0: The number of general contractors they ultimately hired; they chose to act as their own general contractor and contract trades directly.
- 6: The number of subcontractors they employed to complete specialized tasks.
- 9: The total number of months from start to finish for the bathroom renovation.
- 40: The approximate percentage saved by subcontracting work themselves instead of hiring a general contractor.
The new toilet is a Kohler “Memoirs” model, a name Meghan found amusing. She also displayed a painting done by her father that has sentimental value. For tile, they chose a Carrara marble scheme from Avalon Tile and used installers they described as true craftsmen. Meghan weighed polished versus honed marble and chose honed because it is more forgiving; it hides scratches and marks better than polished marble. Given a household with several men, she appreciated the practicality of a honed finish where small stains or etches are more easily concealed.
The bathroom renovation naturally bled into a bedroom update: by removing an internal wall they combined two smaller bedrooms into a larger one. That demolished wall had contained the rooms’ closets, so the renovation team was left without any built-in storage — a problem they solved with a creative, budget-friendly approach.
They loved the look of built-in cabinetry but the price tag was prohibitive. They also liked the style of IKEA’s PAX wardrobes, but faced two challenges: their 80-inch ceilings were shorter than the standard 90-inch PAX units, and they had concerns about the long-term durability of the stock doors. Their solution was an IKEA hack: they bought four 90-inch PAX units, cut them down to fit the shorter ceiling height, anchored them to the wall, and built a hardwood frame around the installation to make it look custom.
To complete the customized feel, Meghan and Sean took on carpentry tasks by building tongue-and-groove style shaker doors themselves and finishing everything in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White. They broke up the long run of doors by adding a central bookshelf with a pull-out hamper drawer at the bottom, installed interior lighting for functionality, and topped the whole unit with crown molding. The end result reads like a built-in piece but was achieved for a fraction of the custom-cabinet cost.
Meghan and Sean’s project shows how thoughtful planning, phased purchasing, and selective subcontracting can deliver elevated finishes without breaking the bank. By managing trade hires directly they reduced costs significantly, and by combining off-the-shelf components with custom carpentry they achieved a built-in look for much less than the typical price. Their approach offers practical inspiration for anyone dreaming of a marble bathroom or a tailored closet on a sensible budget.
Thanks to Meghan and Sean for sharing their process and photos — their work is a helpful reminder that smart decisions and a bit of elbow grease can make a major difference in both style and cost.