Mixing finishes is fine if you like the look, but I’ll be honest—warped baseboards would drive me nuts. Under $4k is solid, though, especially if you did most of the work yourself. Most folks underestimate labor costs... that’s where budgets really get blown.
I get what you mean about warped baseboards—stuff like that catches my eye every time, and then I can’t unsee it. I did a bathroom gut job last year and tried to keep it under $5k, but the labor really did me in. I thought I’d save by demo-ing myself, but once I got into the plumbing, I realized I was out of my depth. Ended up calling in a pro, and that alone was almost half my budget.
Mixing finishes is one of those things I used to avoid, but after seeing a few bathrooms with brass and black hardware together, I changed my mind. It actually looks intentional if you’re careful about balance. Curious—did you do your own tiling? That’s where I lost a ton of time. I thought it would be “fun” and DIY-friendly, but man, my knees disagreed.
Mixing finishes is a game changer—totally agree there. I used to be all about matching everything, but now I’ll throw in matte black with brushed nickel if it works. As for tiling, I learned the hard way on my first flip: it’s not just about slapping tiles down. My back was toast after two days and I still had lippage everywhere. These days, I just budget for a pro unless it’s a tiny powder room. Labor’s expensive, but bad tile work costs more in the long run.
My last main bath remodel came in just under $14k, but I did most of the demo and painting myself. The tile install was a splurge—after years of “lippage” nightmares, I’m with you:
I tried DIY tiling once and learned that lesson fast. My back still remembers it.Labor’s expensive, but bad tile work costs more in the long run.
Mixing finishes is such a breath of fresh air, too. Brushed brass with black fixtures brought way more character than the all-chrome look I used to chase.
If you’re trying to keep costs down, doing demo and paint yourself helps a lot, but for anything that needs to be perfect (tile, plumbing), pros are worth every penny. Small powder room? That’s my DIY playground. Full bath? I call in the cavalry.
Mixing finishes really does change the whole vibe, doesn’t it? I’ve found that pairing matte black with antique bronze pulls in a lot of warmth, especially against lighter tiles. I’m with you on hiring tile pros—nothing worse than staring at uneven grout lines every morning. Curious, did you go for any statement tile or stick to something classic? Sometimes a bold pattern on the floor is all it takes for a space to feel custom without blowing the budget.
