I don’t know what it is about the One Room Challenge for me, but it seems like the universe continually conspires against me to get one done in time! This time around I was doing really well with my French Country inspired powder room makeover, but then I did something to my back and ended up couch-bound for two weeks. I literally had half the room done but I couldn’t finish it because of my back. Grrrrrr!!!

Here’s the thing, though, and I think it’s a good life lesson. I didn’t give up. Last time I participated in a challenge, my husband died suddenly. If anyone had a reason to quit working on a project, it was me. But I didn’t. This time, I was nearly crippled with pain, but as soon as my back healed enough to start moving around again, I finished the room. I had to make amendments to my plan and I had to finish it late, but I still got it done.

Please don’t think I’m trying to toot my own horn. I am not. I did not do any of this in my own strength. You guys, as hard as the past 7 months have been for me, the Lord has been by my side every step of the way. He has held me up when I’ve been unable to take one more step on my own. He’s given me peace when everything in me wants to lash out and surrender to the turmoil. He continually reminds me that He is with me, that He has a plan for me, but that sometimes His plan requires me to WAIT or BE STILL for a time. I need that reminder on a daily basis, don’t you?

Anyway, I did not mean to turn this post into a sermon, but there’s my truth. So, after I rested and made some changes to my makeover plan, I finally got back to work and finished my powder room. To remind you of the horror from whence we came, here’s a before picture:

And now, it looks like this:

SO MUCH BETTER, am I right? My goal for this room was to lighten it up by painting it a neutral gray that would highlight the crisp white fixtures in the room, like the sink and the mirror I got on clearance at Lowe’s. I also wanted to bring in a lot of natural wood tones to bring warmth to the room. I did that by adding the wood on the feature wall and the baskets (and a little stool to assist the tiny people who live with me).

Speaking of the feature wall, my original plan was to stencil a moroccan tile into that wall niche. But when I tried it, it was way to messy and I can’t live with messy lines. So I scrapped that idea and went wandering around Lowe’s for inspiration. I found it with these awesome wood planks! They were so easy to use and very lightweight. Since I am renting, everything I do has to be easily removed, and these wood planks are being held in place by simple brad nails. When I leave, all I have to do it take it down and spackle the small holes. Easy peasy!

There are a couple of things I still want to add to the space, like a window treatment and one more piece of art on a blank wall, but all that can come with time. I am just so thrilled by how this room turned out…and that I actually (finally) got it finished!

Related posts:

French Country Inspired Powder Room Makeover One Room Challenge: Powder Room Inspiration One Room Challenge, Week 6: Dining Room Reveal One Room Challenge: The Power of Paint & Fun Wall Art