Upstairs Projects at Old Silver Shed

Every year, we start out with the best intentions, and somehow maintenance projects take over, leaving the more fun ideas waiting their turn. This year, I’m making a point to change that. I have a few projects planned, and the first one I’m tackling is my upstairs, kids’ bathroom.

I also wanted to share a  true “lay of the land” of our upstairs. Over the past few years, I’ve remodeled these rooms one at a time, and I’m often asked how they work together — something I’ve never really talked about before. This project fits into that bigger story, connecting the updates I’ve made throughout the upstairs and giving some context to how the spaces have evolved as a whole.

How it started…..

A few years ago, I decided it was time to start updating the upstairs bedrooms. I started with our bedroom. We were trying to just get into the house in the early days, and made fast decisions that lacked thoughtfulness at the time.

From the beginning, I hated the wood divider wall that separated my bedroom from the entry and walk-in closet. When we first built the house, I had scheduled a contractor to wrap that divider wall in white oak. After canceling multiple times, he ultimately showed up while I was away in Vermont — and wrapped the wall in walnut instead of oak. I never liked the color, and it always felt like an unfinished chapter to me.

Redoing that wall became a long-term goal, and I also knew I wanted to add more dimension and warmth to it. Eventually, I found pre-finished oak flooring from Sawyer Mason, and that became the solution.

You can see the before and after below..

Extending the warm wood….

Once the wall behind my bed was finished, I loved it so much that I decided to keep going. I extended the use of the wood wall leading into the bathroom, designed a custom floor-to-ceiling sliding door, and then continued the wood behind the bathtub.

Using the same wood throughout gave the space a cohesive, spa-like, almost zen feeling. It finally married the bedroom and bathroom into one complete suite. (This portion of the project was done in collaboration with Ferguson, who partnered with us on the bathtub and hardware.)

With that project complete, it was time to move on.

The wood wraps around the soaking tub, adds places for art, products, and towels

The Kids’ Rooms…

Next up were my kids’ bedrooms. They hadn’t been updated since we moved in — when they were eight years old — and, as you can imagine, the teenage years definitely left their mark. Both rooms needed complete overhauls. See the before and after photos below!

The Kids’ Bathroom…

Once those were finished, the last remaining piece upstairs was the kids’ bathroom.

When I designed the kids’ bathroom, I knew I wanted it to feel fun, unexpected, and a little quirky.

My search for a sink led me to a vintage cast-iron sink that was originally used in an old schoolhouse or art room. It was long and featured two sinks — perfect for the twins — each with their own faucet and step stool.

I added a sculpture by Harry Allen: a hand extending a small bouquet of flowers. Sometimes the kids would add real flowers, but it also doubled as a toothbrush holder. You can shop a similar piece here!

An oversized Karlsson clock kept everyone moving on time (shop similar), and I found original photographs from Louis Stettner’s portfolio. He was a commercial photographer for ad agencies, and the two images — one for Afta After Shave and the other for body soap — felt perfect for a bathroom setting.

I always loved their vintage cast-iron art-room sink. It was long, functional, and perfect for the twins. But after reglazing it twice over the years, the paint started peeling again, and I finally accepted that it was time for it to go.

I didn’t want to change the tile at all. The floor is a beautiful azul limestone laid in long, skinny tiles, and the shower is a mix of white porcelain penny rounds paired with matching white 2×16″ wall tiles. It’s clean, modern, and still looks great.

Now that the kids are young adults who only come home for a few weeks at a time, I also wanted to give them more counter space — something that felt a little more grown-up and practical.

The New Plan…

This time around, I’m using a single oval Lefroy Brooks sink — one I specify often for clients — paired with a limestone countertop. I also designed a playful backsplash with an integrated shelf behind it to add both function and personality.

It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming along beautifully, and I’ll be sure to keep sharing updates as it takes shape.

More Photos from Upstairs…

This time around, I’m using a single oval Lefroy Brooks sink — one I specify often for clients — paired with a limestone countertop. I also designed a playful backsplash with an integrated shelf behind it to add both function and personality.

It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming along beautifully, and I’ll be sure to keep sharing updates as it takes shape.

Thanks for stopping by-

xo