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Kristi Linauer’s bathroom was noticeably brighter after about a month of intermittent work, but her July 5, 2013 update was a progress report—not a finished renovation. She had painted the walls and existing cabinet doors, added wall planks and trim, and still planned a custom mirror and an unspecified shower change.
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The transformation came from a restrained palette and visible surface updates: Behr Rich Cream, described by Linauer as a light buttery yellow, on the walls and Behr Polar Bear, described as white, on the cabinets. The project also records two decisions she later questioned—painting roughly 40-year-old cabinet doors instead of making new fronts, and leaving the ceiling unscraped. Those details make the post useful as an honest account of improvement that still contains compromises.
What this bathroom makeover progress actually shows
Linauer’s post, “Bathroom Makeover Progress – From Dark and Disgusting To Light and Bright,” captures the room midway through its makeover. By the time she published it on July 5, 2013, the major visual direction was established: lighter walls, white-painted cabinetry, new wall-plank surfaces and trim. The work had taken roughly a month, although she emphasized that she had not worked on the room every day.
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Two conspicuous elements were not complete. She hoped to add a custom mirror and make some change to the shower, but the update does not say what the shower work would involve. Neither should be described as finished. The page was later updated on December 24, 2015, but the progress account itself does not provide a completed-room specification, final budget or technical record.
Progress at a glance
| Part of the room | Status in the July 5, 2013 update | What is documented |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Painted | Behr Rich Cream, described as a light buttery yellow |
| Cabinet doors | Existing doors painted | Behr Polar Bear, described as white; the doors were roughly 40 years old |
| Wall treatment | Wall planks installed; priming and painting were still being finished around this work | Material, dimensions, tools and installation system are not stated |
| Trim | Installed | The post does not identify the trim product or method |
| Mirror | Planned | A custom mirror was still pending |
| Shower | Planned | Linauer mentioned an unspecified change; no scope is given |
| Ceiling | Not scraped | Linauer later said she wished she had prepared it differently |
Why the color change made such a strong visual difference
Light buttery yellow walls
Linauer selected Behr Rich Cream for the walls and characterized it as a light buttery yellow. In the context of a room she described as dark and unattractive before the work, that warm, pale wall color became the main brightness strategy. It is a historical 2013 selection, not a statement that the same product name or formulation is currently available.
White cabinet paint
The cabinet color was Behr Polar Bear, which Linauer described as white. Painting the cabinetry created a clear contrast with the yellow walls while keeping the room’s palette simple. The post identifies the color choice but does not provide paint quantity, sheen, primer brand, number of coats or drying conditions, so those details cannot be inferred from the progress photographs or narrative.
Together, the two named colors explain the update’s “light and bright” direction without requiring a claim about measured light levels. The source offers a visual account, not a laboratory comparison of brightness or reflectance.
Wall planks and trim changed the room beyond paint
Paint was only one part of the makeover. Linauer had installed wall planks and trim before the priming and painting work was completely finished. These additions supplied texture and architectural definition that a flat color change alone would not provide.
The update does not identify whether the planks were wood, composite or another material. It gives no dimensions, spacing, adhesive, fastener, primer, caulk, tool list or finishing sequence. A reader can accurately take away that planks and trim were part of the visible progress; a reader cannot use this post as a specification for reproducing the installation.
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The cabinet decision: keep and paint or make new fronts?
One of the most revealing parts of Linauer’s account is that she kept the existing cabinet doors rather than replacing them. She painted the plain doors, which were roughly 40 years old, as part of the quick visual transformation. Later, she said she wished she had made new doors and drawer fronts instead.
| Approach in this project | What the account establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Retain and paint existing fronts | This is the route Linauer took, using Behr Polar Bear on the doors | No cost, labor time, durability result or surface-preparation specification is provided |
| Make replacement doors and drawer fronts | This is the alternative Linauer later wished she had chosen | The post supplies no design, price, construction method or performance comparison |
Her regret is personal project feedback, not proof that replacement fronts are always better. The useful lesson is about decision timing: a surface can look dramatically improved while still reminding its maker of a shortcut. If door style is important to the finished look, decide whether paint is enough before investing time in the rest of the room. This source cannot tell you which option will cost less or last longer.
The ceiling regret is a preparation lesson, not a universal rule
Linauer also said she wished she had scraped the ceiling. That observation matters because ceilings can remain in view after walls, trim and cabinets have been refreshed. In her room, the unfinished or uncorrected ceiling became a detail she continued to notice.
Her comment should be read as a personal reflection rather than a technical requirement for every bathroom. The post does not describe the ceiling material, the condition that prompted the regret, whether scraping would have been safe or necessary, or what repair would have followed. It does show why a makeover plan should include overhead surfaces before the new wall color makes old flaws more conspicuous.
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The custom mirror
The mirror was a future element, not part of the completed state documented in this update. Because its dimensions, frame, placement and installation are not described, it cannot be used to infer the final proportions or style of the room.
The shower project
Linauer mentioned wanting to do something to the shower but did not specify what. It could be discussed only as an unresolved plan. The post does not establish whether the idea involved paint, fixtures, tile, enclosure work or a larger replacement, so assigning a scope would invent details.
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These pending items are why the post works best as a progress story. The room had already moved far from its before condition, yet the author was still evaluating choices and planning additional work.
How to read the before-and-after claim
Linauer described the current bathroom as a “vast improvement over the ‘before’ bathroom!” in her July 5, 2013 progress post. That sentence is her assessment of the visual change, not a measured increase in usable area, storage, lighting output or property value.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical planning lessons from this progress update
Separate visible wins from final decisions
A room can look substantially better before every component is complete. Linauer’s painted walls, cabinets, planks and trim created a recognizable transformation even while the mirror and shower remained unresolved. Photographing or evaluating progress at this stage can help identify what still needs a decision.
Record the exact colors and their role
Writing down which color went on which surface prevents confusion when touch-ups are needed. Here, Rich Cream belongs to the walls and Polar Bear to the cabinets. Because these are 2013 selections, confirm any current color names, formulas and availability independently before treating them as a present-day shopping list.
Decide on cabinet-front strategy early
Painting existing doors may change the room quickly, but Linauer’s later regret shows that the door profile remains part of the result. Before painting, examine whether the existing fronts match the look you want to live with. If replacement is your preferred direction, settle that question before finishing surrounding surfaces.
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Inspect the ceiling before the walls are finished
Linauer’s ceiling comment illustrates a sequencing check: look upward while the room is still being prepared. Addressing a surface you already know will bother you is easier before the rest of the makeover makes it stand out.
Label unfinished plans as unfinished
The mirror and shower should stay on the project list until their scope, materials and installation are known. Treating an intention as a completed feature creates an inaccurate before-and-after record and can lead to unsuitable purchasing decisions.
What the original account does not establish
- No renovation budget, itemized prices or labor-cost estimate is given.
- No room measurements, paint coverage, quantity of materials or number of coats is reported.
- No primer brand, paint sheen, tools or wall-plank specifications are named.
- No durability, moisture-resistance or cleaning test is reported.
- No final mirror design or completed shower scope is documented in the progress update.
- No claim is made about increased home value, improved ventilation, code compliance or structural changes.
Keeping those boundaries clear makes the story more useful. It supplies a real sequence of choices and honest regrets without pretending to be a construction manual or a cost guide.
The progress story in context
Linauer is identified on the page as a DIY blogger. Her account is valuable for the way it pairs an encouraging visual result with dissatisfaction about details she would handle differently. The room’s direction was successful enough for her to call it a vast improvement, but success did not erase the consequences of choosing to paint old plain doors or leaving the ceiling unscraped.
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That combination is the central takeaway: a bathroom makeover can become lighter and more welcoming through coordinated surface changes, while the person doing the work may still see every shortcut. The July 2013 post records that middle point clearly. It is not a final reveal, and it does not claim to be one.
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