Fresh new looks for a bathroom

After

Blue Heath tiles are the first things you see when you enter the room ($77 per square foot; heathceramics.com). They made up a hefty chunk of the budget.

Wanting a whimsical accent to balance the clean lines of the space, De Pasquale went online to find the spiky, dandelion-inspired pendant light ($150; lampsplus.com). To avoid adding overhead lights and having to drill into the original redwood, she chose Robern cabinets with ultrabright fluorescents ($2,707; robern.com).

Don't overlook remnants when shopping for a countertop. The quartz CaesarStone came from a leftover slab.

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Smart spending

Though the wardrobe's cherry-veneer doors were custom, De Pasquale used Ikea laminate boxes and shelving on the interiors. "It made more sense to spend on what's visible," she says.

Who'd have guessed? Simple brushed-metal toilet-paper holders from Lowe's serve as rods for hand towels.

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Highlighting a top asset

To make the tiles shimmer, De Pasquale lined the ceiling with energy-efficient LED rope lights from Ohm Lighting (ohmlighting.com).

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3 easy bathroom updates

Can't swing a full-on renovation? Here are some quick ways to spruce up your space.

Light it up
Think beyond the same old inset canisters: Adding an offbeat fixture can help redefine a space, as seen here in furniture designer Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz's San Juan Capistrano, Calif., bathroom. "The rest of the room is so modern and clean, it needed an exclamation point," she says. Lush potted orchids — the plants thrive in moist, well-lit quarters — next to the sink add a dynamic finishing touch.

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Go low-flow yet luxe

One of the simplest, low-cost-but-high-impact upgrades you can do is replace your shower head. The options for eco-conscious water-saving models are better-looking than ever — like this oversize, rain-can style, which features clean lines and a wide, satisfyingly powerful spray. Best yet, it can be screwed on in just seconds -- no tools required -- and rings in at less than $30.

Opella by DeNovo Rain 6-inch Chrome Showerhead, $27; http://overstock.com

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Hang bold artwork

For this Los Angeles-area master bath, designer Melissa Warner of Massucco Warner Miller Interior Design brought in a massive abstract photograph, mounting it in acrylic plastic to protect the image from splashing water. Still, steam might get in, so don't use anything irreplaceable. "And if space permits, go big; it'll make the bathroom feel like more of a destination," Warner says.

• Bing Cube: Check out photos of more home makeovers
  
  
• 'Listed': Hire a circus, sell your house
  
  
• MSN Lifestyle: What makes a great bathroom?