Yesterday, I didn’t get any work done—well, not on the bedroom trim, anyway. Wednesdays are sacred in our household; they’re my “family and friends” day, and I rarely get a chance to make any progress on projects. But today is a completely different story. I have a full, uninterrupted workday ahead, and my goal is to dive headfirst into the bedroom trim and make as much progress as possible.
In the meantime, my thoughts have been circling back to the studio bathroom. This little space has an unusual role at the moment—it’s functioning as our one and only guest bathroom, at least for an undefined period. That’s because I plan to eventually turn the current guest bathroom in the foyer into a storage closet. And then, of course, the big addition we’re planning will include a brand-new guest bathroom. Until that happens, this studio bathroom has to pull double duty.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared that I was considering toning things down in the studio bathroom. My thought was simple: while I adore bold colors and wild patterns for myself, I didn’t want to overwhelm guests with them. Let’s face it—the original pattern I had chosen was perfectly fine for me and looked fun in photos, but for someone stepping into a guest bathroom? It could be a bit much. A little dizzying. Maybe even overwhelming.
The wallpaper I had designed for the upper walls before the pivot to a walk-through pantry would have been beautiful—but again, it was a little loud for a guest bathroom. It would have been a big, dramatic statement, and that works wonderfully for me, but I think it could intimidate someone walking in for the first time.
My initial plan was simple: paint the upper walls the same soft green as the walls in the back entry, paint the wainscoting white, and call it a day. Clean, simple, functional—guest-approved. But then, several readers chimed in with thoughtful pushback. Their consensus: “Just because it’s a guest bathroom doesn’t mean you have to strip the room of all personality or your love of color.”
And you know what? They’re right.
I spend every single morning—seven days a week—sitting at my desk in the studio. From that vantage point, I can see straight into the studio bathroom. Over the past couple of weeks, as I’ve looked into that space each morning, I’ve reconsidered. While I absolutely don’t want a dizzying, overpowering, or overstimulating environment for guests, I realize that the bathroom can still feel distinctly “me.” It can still be a fun, beautiful reflection of my style without overwhelming anyone.
Here’s a little reminder of where the bathroom sits: it’s right behind the door in the back entry of the studio. Once it’s finished and looking pretty, I don’t anticipate keeping the door closed all the time when it’s not in use.
So here’s the updated plan: I’ve decided to have my floral wallpaper printed smaller—actual repeated wallpaper rather than the larger mural-style design I initially had on the studio wall—and use it on the upper walls in the bathroom. The pattern will still be playful and colorful, but much more approachable for a guest space.
The wainscoting color is still under consideration. I tested two mockups so far and left one white for comparison. One option is a soft green, the same color used in the back entry of the studio, which would create a cohesive look between the two spaces. The second option is the same pink as the studio cabinets—Sherwin Williams Tuberose—which would coordinate beautifully with the cabinetry and add a subtle continuity throughout the room.
The third option, of course, is classic white. Clean, simple, and neutral.
Right now, I’m leaning strongly toward the green. I feel like the pink might be a little overwhelming since the studio already has a significant amount of pink cabinetry, and the green offers the perfect opportunity to tie the bathroom visually to the back entry. It feels like a choice that balances color, personality, and cohesion.
I’m genuinely grateful for the reader input that pushed me to rethink my original plan. After all, this bathroom won’t be a guest space forever. Eventually, it will revert to being a studio bathroom, primarily for my use. So, in the meantime, I feel confident making it a little more “me” while still ensuring it’s a welcoming, comfortable space for anyone who needs to use it.
In the end, I think it’s going to strike a beautiful balance between personality, functionality, and guest-friendly design—a space that’s cheerful but not overwhelming, colorful but not chaotic, and entirely reflective of the home we’re creating.