While we were waiting to close on this house, I was able to thoroughly plan every room out in detail. I had a style journal and was ready to go. This has been very helpful. We’ve been able to jump into many rooms and start working. So far the one room that has not worked out has been the main bathroom upstairs. I had planned for it to be crisp, solid white. I thought the floor tiles were white hexagons (nope). I thought I would have shiny chrome fixtures, glamorous lighting, and I would paint one of my Brocade Home style mirrors a crisp white. It was going to be white, shiny, clean, and OTT. Well, for me to get that I am going to spend much more than I had planned. After I ripped up the 70’s self-adhesive tile flooring, I did not find dainty white tiles. Instead I found a mix match of tiny squares yellowed over time by the glue. Around the floors and walls there is a super shiny black tile. These 2 things do not mix very well. After doing some 30’s research and after convincing myself the black was added much later, I found that this was very typical of a 30’s home. Many people in the neighborhood have the same black tiles. Colors in the 30’s were pretty brash and not complimentary by our standards. We have sanitary white streamline fixtures, shiny black tile, buttery yellow walls, and tiles that are mainly off-white with tiny tiles of jade, baby blue, pink, eggplant, black, and tons of others. I do not want to lose my vintage fixtures but I was hating the floors. How could I make this work for now? Well, I have to have an entirely new direction. No more monochrome white. I was going to go “traditionalist” to the house and I’m going to go Art Deco. So here’s the plan on how to make this work without doing major renovations and “keeping it real”:
-The sink has to be replaced. Don’t worry, the current one isn’t the original. I’m going to replace it with a hanging sink or as David calls them “the urinal sink”. I bought one and it was only $32. Bonus. The awful vanity lighting will be replaced by the black Rufus overhead lighting from Rejuvenation (pictured in my style idea collage). I really want sconces but that means ripping up the plaster and I just really do not feel like dealing with all of that.
-There is no mirror in this space. I would like to have an Art Deco styled mirror. I’ll find one, just give me sometime.I don’t think the one in my collage will go with the lighting but I’ll find something. I’m thinking of salvaging one from a waterfall dresser. Or maybe I can find a cute medicine cabinet at one of the salvage stores.
-The accessories will be the streamline porcelain ones from Rejuvenation as well. This ties in the black glossy tile around the floor. The house has deco hardware. Bonus. I’ll get some black hooks or chrome hooks to go in there.
– The walls will be painted a rich jade shade. I think this will do. It isn’t something I would normally choose but I really think it will bring out the jade in the floor tiles, look great with the glossy black, and look good with dark woods. It will add more of a masculine feel to the room like a cigar lounge. It will still be very deco. Think a Tamara de Lempicka painting with a gangster slap in the face.
– I want a set of waterfall end tables to put in there for storage. I’ll have my deco perfume bottles courtesy of Guerlain and Tom Ford’s lovely bottles plus cigar boxes holding things like hair pins.
– Other items will include a black or zebra print bath rug so we don’t bust our bottoms on the tile (and it will cover it up, haha). I also want a pop of red somewhere. This jade with lacquer black demands it. I’m thinking a lush vase or a house plant. I don’t know yet but something in there must be a rich red. I may incorporate that into perfume bottles. Samsara?
Some obstacles in the space include: The tub is surronded by sometype of plywood painted white. Yep. This must be removed. Should I tile around the tub? If I do what color? It’s all very overwhelming. I don’t think I am cut out for bathrooms.
-Victoria
I’m really charmed by the cigar lounge idea.
not to overstimulate you with ideas….but have you considered the tub and tile refinishing kits? I’ve never tried it….but apparently it’s paint with like a marine epoxy resin added to it, so it will adhere and remain adhered to slick surfaces that are constantly exposed to water and dampness…(like tubs and tiles). it’s the kind of thing, that if it sounded like an option for you, you’d probably want to do it while you aren’t living in the house….(like your present situation) regular and small epoxy resin projects (i.e. jewelry repairs) makes me gag…..I can’t imagine a whole room coated in it…
a word of caution: careful about the tub surround…it’s probably there for a reason….like covering up unsightly and amateurish “home style” plumbing. I really wish I ‘d taken more “before, during and after” photos, to illustrate my point. Anyway, the single act of removing the tub surround in my bathroom opened up a huge can of worms that I wasn’t entirely prepared to deal with at that moment in time, mentally or fiscally…it also dislodged the plumbing so that the tub became unusable due to the gaping leak in the drain…. in January …we were taking showers in the skanky root cellar for about a year while we saved up money to get the bathroom completely redone to our liking…..clawfoot tub shower conversion kit $200, new bathroom $5K; showering in the root cellar in January priceless.
I just don’t know what to do with the space w/o spending a ton of money and since we have so many projects going on, I thought we could do the “dream” bathroom later after a few years of living there. But, does it sound too Madonna “Vogue”?
I didn’t know you could do that epoxy stuff yourself. We’ve had it bidded (is that a word?) at under $500 and we need the kitchen sink done as well. Epoxy is a pain but now I’m tempted by the DIY method, but only if it is much cheaper.
I think our plumbing is insane. But, here’s the deal. The shower is surrounded by that masonite. It’s just painted over and it looks awful and since we are in the PNW, I am worried big time about mold. Hell, mushrooms grow in people’s bathrooms here. Plus, the ceiling curves there and is shorter. I’ll have to take pics to share. I just don’t know what to do. I’ll talk to the contractor about it. I want this to be easy but I think they are going to do something to that half-ass plumbing.
I’m sorry you had to shower like you were an axe murderer in a crappy slasher flick. And doesn’t cold water make your hair shiny? But, $5K for a bathroom remodel isn’t bad! Especially if it is as cute as you’ve described it. I really want a clawfoot but I’ve got to work with this house. Plus, streamline is vintage and very charming in its own way.
Oooh…sorry…. mold worries, compromised plaster on ceiling…….yeah. fix that first, worry about aesthetics, after. If the bathroom is otherwise functional, I’d actually recommend putting off the work on it. Get everything else done first. Then devote your full attention to it later. We spend so much time in the bathroom, I don’t think you want to feel like you have to make a decision on it this very second. My greatest regret on buying a home, is spreading myself too thin…..starting too many “easy” projects, and finishing none….and then getting overwhelmed by them all. Learn from my mistakes here, finish something before you dive into another room. It’ll help keep house related stress to minimum in the marraige. When do you guys move in?
If I could have 10 different houses, each a different era and style period……I would! I only have a clawfoot tub, because that’s what came with my house… I have a love and appreciation for all styles! but let me tell you a great style resource for your particular era…..watch donald duck cartoons….specifically where he’s at home. Donald had a BEAUTIFULLY appointed home….his leather club chairs kill me…no wonder daisy fell for him:D
P.S. Are you sure it’s not a clawfoot tub hidden under the surround?
Don’t get our hopes up, haha! I’m sure there isn’t one under there. The home was built in ’36 and the height of Streamline Moderne in the home was ’37, so I’m pretty sure these are the originals. Sure are dirty enough to be…Ugh, that bathroom. I think we are just going to get it working and make major decisions later. I don’t want to make any dumb choices right now. I am overwhelmed.
We move in Sept. 1st since that is when are rental is up. We are working “overtime” to get things acceptable. The electricians and plumber will finish this upcoming week. I hope they don’t destroy our walls.
Me too. I love old homes and they all have their own character. I am envious of all the Spanish Revivals on the block. I would love a Victorian, rowhouse, early 19th century farm home, oh, the possibilities.
Donald’s house was amazing. No wonder Daisy could overlook that lateral lisp! Looney Tunes had great “gangster” homes as well. Such a cool, unromantic era of decor the 30’s were. It was so no frills and functional. Def. the era that we consider “modern”.