AFTER: GUEST BATHROOM

Just as I was my retirement was cut short by gainful employment, I was planning to refresh the guest bathroom. Having to work for a living, unfortunately meant that this project took much longer. However eventually Mr B offered to help out with the plastering and painting. So now it is all done, and I am disproportionally pleased the outcome. Check out the Before photos here.

New plaster capping added, white paint and vintage oval mirror

New shower hardware and showerscreen re-sealed

Woodwork all painted white

Vintage hotel china soap dish

Handtowel from my mega-visit to NY's ABC Carpet & Home

New taps (same as main bath)

Vintage milkglass light

Refurbished linen press

The finished product

BEFORE: GUEST BATH

The current indoor project is the "refresh" of the guest bathroom. We can't justify a complete re-fit (nor is it really needed) so I have decided to do a few small DIY things to spruce it up. This is how it looked when we moved in (and it was only workable bath).

Since we moved in I have replaced the tapware with the same chrome and white taps which were used in the main bath (here); replaced the toilet seat and had the shower screen re-sealed and the brass hinges replaced with chrome ones.

What's left? I am refreshing the linen press (more to follow); will enlist Dad to help me install some plaster capping to finish off the tiles; I need to find a (vintage) oval mirror; and finally I will paint all the woodwork and walls white.

AFTER: MAIN BATHROOM

After quite a lot of "palava" with the shower screen the main bathroom was completed a week before Christmas - the perfect present.

Plaster capping on top of subway tiles to chair-rail height. Hexagon carera marble tiles worth every cent.

The re-surfaced cast iron bath made its way back upstairs and looks fantastic with its original feet.

The custom marble-topped vanity is just large enough to hold all the bathroom clutter. Towels are in the linen press in the spare bathroom. I painted the vanity myself with Dulux Design Silk product in white. The finish is very matt which is unique for a bathroom, but actually quite practical because it wipes clean with a damp cloth very easily and is easier to touch up than a high gloss paint.

The vintage pendant light and vintage-style scone lights were sourced from this Etsy store and I think work fine.

And the mirror? The first "pie crust art deco mirror" sourced from Ebay turned out to be a dud, but the second one was a gem. Mr B tightened up all clasps (after I rubbed off the rust with steel wool), painted the mounting board white to blend in which the walls and mounted it on the wall (took three goes!).

I realise it is all a bit "vintage" but I think by keeping the palette all white, I just got away with it. New bathroom towels (Christmas present) complete the look and I treated myself to some bathroom accessories - vintage soap dishes and vanity trays - which I hope will arrive from the various Etsy sellers soon.

WIP: MAIN BATHROOM

It has been five weeks since the bathroom renovation started so I thought a WIP update was required. It will hopefully be finished in the next few days, so I will be able to show the finished product soon.

First a few "before: shots. Lots of brass, maroon, wood and multicoloured floor tiles. However no operating shower or storage.....

So first everything got ripped out.

Then the new concrete floor went in and plumbing was installed. The plan is to put a stand-alone shower in the corner where the bath used to sit. Shimmy the bath over to under the window, leave the toilet broadly in its spot and replace the pedestal sink with a vanity.

Then the floor tiles went down. After a little umming and ahhing I did choose the carera marble hexagons and really pleased I broke the budget on these as they look fantastic after they have been grouted (which they haven't been in the photos below). I used a coloured grout product in "misty grey".

Then the walls went on - I chose a very budget friendly white subway tile. I decided to tile all the walls with the exception of the shower to "chair rail" height (about 1100mm) - the shower is of course is tiled to full height.

I decided to use plaster capping (this one) instead of tile capping as I couldn't match the white tile caps with the white wall tiles. We also replaced the cornice and the walls were then plastered. Then Mr B stepped in for a day of doing all the fiddly parts - patching the door and frame to adjust for the new floor height, generally filling various gaps. 

While all this was happening, the old maroon and cream bath was resurfaced by Thermoglaze in pure white (inside and out), however I kept the original feet untouched.

I pulled out my paint brush to paint the vanity which was custom built by Aramis Kitchen and I organised a carrara marble vanity top from Medmarble. The sink and new taps are just resting here (back to front) in the sunroom for now.

The painting is underway today and then all that is left is to put it all back together and have the shower-screen installed next week.

PS - After a few false starts I am also hopeful of having solved the bathroom mirror puzzle.....fingers crossed.

ON THE HUNT: BATHROOM MIRROR

While un-needed ottomans are popping into my life - I am soon to be in serious need of a bathroom mirror. For the last five months we have been making do with a 20cm x 20cm stick-on square from Ikea stuck inside the door of the linen cupboard. Now with the larger bathroom renovation in full swing (WIP photos to come), I need to get my skates on and find something to fit the space above the new vanity. Problem is I have looked at numerous photos and although I have narrowed it down the ideas, I am a little stuck:

Idea 1. Round with dark (iron) frame.

Potential source - Not sure, can't find one anywhere.
Pro - sleek shape, contrast to all white capping and woodwork.
Issues - too dark? And doesn't exist!

Idea 2. Round "art deco" mirror with beveled edges.  

Potential source - ebay (though have to sift through lots with bird or ships etched on them!
Pros - subtle, vintage-ish look.
Issues - too fiddly? And I am running out of time to find one nearby of the right size.

Idea 3. Round / Oval with white wooden frame.

Potential source - again maybe ebay for a vintage, but so far haven't seen any. If could find a wooden one, I could paint it white. My local junk shop has something similar but way too big for the space. Recollections has something which is a little smaller than I would ideally like but might work.
Pros - tie in with with the white tile capping and wooden frames.
Issues - too much white wood?

Idea 4. Square with wooden frame.

Potential source: local picture framers should be able to produce something.
Pros / Issues - as per above. But also not sure square works!

Idea 5. Square self-framed mirror.

Potential sources: mirror stores or again Recollections has something which is a little smaller than I would ideally like but might work.

Pros - clean, simple look.
Issues - not sure I am entirely sold.....