Movin' on

Recognize this?

Recycle? You bet!

That old sink that came with the house has a new life.  It now resides in a snappy new loft apt.  The legs are gone and the faucets are new but it's the same sink...no refinishing necessary.

A bathroom begs for transformation.

When I purchased my home some 30 plus years ago, the bathroom on the second floor consisted of a sink and a clawfoot tub.  The toliet was in another room referred to as a "water closet."  My favorite things in the room were the porcelain towel bars and the sconces on either side of the medicine chest.  Which, by the way, was slightly high for someone 5'2" tall.  That explains the stool you see next to the sink.

As we know bathroom rehabs can be mighty expensive.  So the bathroom stayed as it was for a while until I decided a little paint and wallpaper would be a cheap fix if I did the work myself.  Although blue is not my first color choice, I thought I should pick up the color of the floor tile and incorporate it around the room.

Additional storage was created by adding a cabinet beneath the sink.  This served the dual purpose of concealing the plumbing.  An add on shower and rod made the bathtub more versatile.

As time went by, I met a neighbor who made his own stained glass windows.  He agreed to tutor me and together we created a 3'x3' piece of stained glass.  I chose a pattern I thought would be good for a beginner without giving much thought to where I would put it when it was completed.

After some thought I decided the only place was the bathroom and so began the next demo and planning session.

The medicine chest was lowered and centered on the wall.  A recessed area was created above the medicine chest where back lights were concealed.  The stained glass was framed and hindged.  Then it was attached to cover this recessed pocket.  The hinges allowed light bulbs to be changed easily.

Then a light bar was added.  A stub wall created a partial divide and concealed the plumbing for the new vanity.  The tub took a 90 degree turn to end up under the medicine cabinet.  This arrangement allowed the toliet to be hidden behind the stub wall and no longer secluded in the water closet.  (That closet was destined for greater things which will be revealed in the next post.)

This lasted until I was so done with decorating around the blue and grayish white tiles.  Although charming and authentic, I just could not incorporate it into another redo.  And yes, I had had it with the ducks now and forever more.

A switch was made to 18" laminate squares in a marbelized pattern of tans and creams.  The sconces that flanked the medicine chest when the house was built have remained at their post.

The tub and toliet area was surrounded with beadboard 3/4 of the way up the wall.  The remaining walls were treated with  a plaster like finish in golden tones.

The light bar disappeared.  The vanity was replaced by an amoire that opens to reveal it's own sink, mirror, lighting, and towel storage.

Puck lights in the top of the amoire provide adequate lighting for this application.  The small lamp light is for ambiance.

Crown moulding was added at the ceiling and painted along with the ceiling in black.

A six armed chandelier with golden pleated shades topped all this drama.  The room has survived to this day because it was a very tight squeeze getting the amoire into the room and I don't have plans to reverse that process.

BEFORE & AFTER

Let's face it. I'm addicted to transformations and nothing satisfies that craving like a quick fix of before and after photos. It's the first page I turn to in a magazine. I devour every detail and scrutinize every change. So it is no wonder I kept a few of my very own B & A's. Although there are many, I have selected just a few that are featured in my bedroom to this day.

This cabinet nicely filled the space between two doors of my bedroom. The shelves are perfect for folded clothing and also provide storage for bins of socks and such. The color, however, was a bit dismal for my taste.

So I applied what is called a seven layer peel. The "peeled paint look" is achieved by applying a substance tinted to the desired color and then removing parts by lifting the substance with paper towels. This process is repeated with different colors to resemble layers of paint that have chipped away to reveal the color beneath each coat. It is quite time consuming but rewarding if you have the patience. (Normally not my strong suit but I can overcome for the right goal.)

I bought this screen sight unseen. A friend insisted I needed it and convinced me she should grab it before it disappeared. I was a bit surprised when I saw what I had purchased over the phone but I rallied and came up with a finish that worked for me.

I painted the entire piece a rather brilliant yellow and then added several washes in varying shades of yellow and peach. Although it has remained this color for several years, I doubt I will part with it in the move. I see another makeover in this little treasure.

I cannot remember how this chair entered my life but I could not wait to give it a facelift. Although the fabric was in good condition, it was "not me." But it is comfy and the the potential was there.