If you remember our post from week before last, you probably know we were reeling from this not-so-little little issue right before we took off on a little family vacay. We were just grateful to have the mold cleaned up before we left, and it was probably perfect timing. It comes down to a rather fun project that we never quite intended to do… but here we are, anyway. Lemons… lemonade. It’s how we roll around here.
Right now, these cabinets are all that’s left of the bathroom. It’s like a builder’s grade dream, I’m telling you. I don’t mean to be an ingrate, but we’re torn. On one hand, I’ve always hated it, and if we’re doing all the rest… shouldn’t we tackle this half of the bathroom, too? (Cue my rationalization: There are a few cracks in the sink, after all.) But on the other hand… practicality is reigning in.
But seriously, builder. What’s up with the oddly placed lights and bad sink and waste of space in that corner with overwhelming mirror issues and cheap laminate cabinets? Just. Saying.
And here’s the rest of it.
It’s a little intimidating, guys. So, what does any rational gal who’s already lost half of her ever loving mind on an eight hour trip back from Orlando, do?
She starts pinning like a psychotic banshee, of course.
I have no idea what psychotic banshees have to do with bathrooms, but we’ll go with it.
I know what I like. I always have. When it comes to this bathroom project, we plan to take our time and do it right. This, of course, clashes with the fact that I’m also a type-A planner and we’re in that throwing-ideas-around phase. I like to have the picture painted clearly, before we even begin. Thus the psychotic banshee reference.
While I don’t call inspiration posts my usual forte, I thought today would be as good a time as any, to talk a little about the impending process… and a few potential ideas that we love. I think that every photograph has an inspiring element you can carry away and utilize in your own home. Even if it’s not for the bathroom.
With subway tile and wood floor from here.
Originally from Architectural Digest
I love the contrast of smaller tiles on the floor. And so help me… I will never own another framed glass shower door again. If I have to leave the rest unfinished, all for the sake of a glass door in that bathroom then so be it… I know there’s some practical builder’s reason and saving money thing for doing it that way… but blah blah blah and I don’t care. Hashtag mildew cleaning nightmare for any busy mama. Hashtag I spray cleaning stuff and run away because aint nobody got time and I have an aversion to scrubbing.
This doesn’t look practical at all for me and my post-baby crazy curly hair and it’s demanding accessories (to name a few)…I mean, a girl needs a little counter space to apply her face, no? But it’s still beautiful.
Brilliant storage behind the toilet? Consider it DONE. Does it bother anyone else that we can see trash in that waste basket?
I know enough to know that if I can help it, this time around we’ll integrate some type of shelving. So I had to include this charming bath for some eye candy perusal.
I love the idea of storage between the vanities. It feels so very no nonsense. Sorry… I will not be adding a television.
I’m pretty sure my soap bottles aren’t half as awesome, but I’ll certainly take that tile.
Okay. Totally doesn’t apply at all to what we’re doing, but I have an affinity for claw foot tubs + big moroccan mirrors.
I’ve been pining for one for years, and I think I can get my hands on an older one. (The tub, but I would also take a mirror) From what I hear, they’re pretty do-able in the redo department (???). Anyone out there restored one before who needs to tell me to abort mission now and run away? I’d love any advice you have to give!
I believe this was originally from Pottery Barn? Forgive me if I’m wrong in my post-vacation stupor. But if I’m doing a claw foot tub, this shot of blue rocks. My. World.
And this. The perfect combination of blue + white.
Just because. It’s gorgeous.
This bathroom is unexpectedly amazing.
This. I’m more of a shower gal mahself, but I could change my ways.
Because everyone needs to see an orange one if they can’t own it.
See? Aren’t unframed glass doors fabulous?
Stripes. I will forever have a weakness.
So… It always helps me to visualize a few ideas together, and I rounded up a few of our favorite ideas with what we’d love to do in this current headache bath.
1. I think I’d love to mix a few metals, and not drive myself crazy with trying to match. {That’s sooooo 1993, anyway}. I’ve been stalking these hexagon towel pulls for a while…
2. One of our favorite colors, (Benjamin Moore’s Buxton Blue) I think this would be perfect for the bathroom for a clean contrast.
3. These hexagon tiles paired with a subway would keep it simple, clean, and an all-time classic.
4. With any space, I believe it’s in the personal touches and details, so I had to include a few towels on our board! It seems so trivial right now with such a daunting task ahead, but styling is always my favorite part. They’re a great (usually affordable) way to add color.
5. + 10. If I had a claw foot bathtub, I would take more baths. Because neglecting to take baths in a claw foot bathtub is a sin against all of humanity. So I would definitely need one of these. (Apparently these are sold out, but they sell bathtub trays on Amazon, as well.)
6. This light. (Or something like it because I’m on a budget.) Absolutely. Duh.
7. Baskets. For all the awesome shelving we plan to add. (Apparently, also sold out. You never know when you’re going to stumble across a fantastic basket.)
8. + 9. A vanity in a handsome grey like this with awesome brass mirrors like these and lights like this to keep it from getting too stuffy. See ya, builder’s grade ickiness. But again, we’re not ingrates. Promise.
11. I’m currently obsessed with all things round rugs. I’d love one for the bath.
We shall see! Just a few little ideas we’re throwing around right now, along with placement, measurements, and everything headache-inducing awesome fun in between. Let the journey begin!
Any tips + tricks you experts want to share for those of you who have tackled such a project? Especially if you’re restored a clawfoot tub? We’d love to hear!
Also if you a looking for a little holiday fun in your bathroom be sure to check out this fun post from our friends at Hausera.
I will be following your bathroom re-do very closely! Our master bath shower was leaking so we had it gutted and re-tiled. The rest will be done as the money is there. Getting ready to pick out the frameless shower door – whew, not inexpensive but I agree that it is so worth it!!
I know, right? If it meant that I had to install the exact same bathroom all over again, but not have those framed glass parts, I would do it in a heartbeat. Worth every penny in my book. Never. Again. Cleaning those things are the stuff nightmares are made of. BLECH.
re frameless shower doors – beautiful, but have fun using a squeegee keeping them clean. I had them in another house and HATE them. I wish I had enough room for an open entry.
We’ve had ours for about nine months now and love it! It’s a lot easier than the framed one – ha! Thanks! ;}
We are going to be gutting our bath any day now. I love your board. We are looking at the same/similar tiles but I’ve read some articles and heard nightmare stories of the care of marble on floors and in the shower as well as rust coming through over time. Curious if you’ve gotten that far in your research and just aren’t scared or not. You should also know that I feel the sane way about frameless shower doors. Everything else on the budget may have to shrink so I can have that!
Hey Elyse! DEFINITELY not to that stage yet in my research, (still looking at pretty pictures like a total dork) but will keep you posted on quality findings on my end, for sure. Whatever we choose, we will be reading up a lot on because we want to do it right. Thank you so much for the heads up. And amen to the shower doors. Who’s idea was this? They belong in the shameful bath inventions category.
Such gorgeous eye candy! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m tempted to direct message you a picture of the mildew around my framed glass shower door on Instagram. It’s 40 years old and this house has been a rental for the last 20. As you can imagine, it’s in a state almost unfit to look at. No amount of bleach/scrubbing/shaking fist at the heavens Scarlett O’Hara-style makes any dIfference. I’ll spare you the horror, but suffice it to say, I share your disdain for framed shower doors. They must die.
Oh my. I can’t even imagine. And the plastic under strip part? VOMIT. It’s like a collection for scary movies. They took ours out, and they have only been there for seven years. The metal was pulled away from the glass and it was just embarrassing. The The stuff gets underneath that obnoxious metal. So it’s there, no matter what you do. It’s terrible. I am with you. UGH.
I would love to know the color of blue in the picture “The perfect combination of blue + white”. It’s so pretty!
Hey Rhonda! I did a quick search, and it looks like Sherwin Williams Ebbtide. I hope that helps! I am in love, as well! ;}
Thanks, Ashley! I may have to get a sample.
When I saw your huge mirror, it made me immediately think of what Jenny at littlegreennotebook did with the same tpe of mirror in her mom’s bed/bath redo. So much cheaper and easier, and it looks fab! http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-parents-new-bedroom.html
So pretty! Thank you for sharing. Definitely a lot to consider! My head is spinning. ;}
Can I rain on the claw foot tub parade a bit? I’ve had one in two different apartments. They ARE gorgeous but a giant pain in the posterior to clean under! Just imagine a large piece of footed furniture bolted down to the floor that you (not the maids of yesteryear) have to clean underneath and around the feet and along the wall beside it. If your post baby now curly hair is anything like mine (what’s up with that?) you will hate it.
Secretly I wondered, but I was still in denial. LALALA can I un-read that? I am sure it’s terrible. We all shed like dogs, anyway (why is my hair STILL falling out 4 years post baby, but I have TONS of it?) and aintnobodygottimeforthat. Cue me, scrubbing with clorox wipes on my knees, all because I wanted a claw foot tub. Sounds about right. 🙁 At least I can’t say I wasn’t warned? We’re still figuring out measurements, so the space may be too small, anyway. Thanks for the heads up!
Have you seen this? A tub inside the shower…less splashy, and might be easier to clean under, This was a new idea for me but makes lots of sense, especially with splashy kiddos. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/bathroom-trend-putting-a-tub-in-a-shower-200080
I ask myself all the time why am I still shedding 5.5 years post baby!
Traci at http://www.beneathmyheart.net refinished a claw foot tub for her master bathroom remodel. She gave instructions on July 9, 2012.
Well, thank you very much! DUH. I should have known. I’ll have to ask her how she’s still feeling about it all! Thank you!
Traci’s turned out beautiful. I love the ones with color on the underside – maybe not orange though. I have an empty place for a bath tub. I think a free standing one would be so nice. I always thought of a full built-in one but it takes so much more space.
I LOVE claw foot bath tubs! Have been in love with them for YEARS!!! So when we were redoing the bathroom when we moved into our “barn”. I did a search and found one on craigslist in decent shape – my husband said – GO FOR IT – and he didn’t have to tell me twice:)
After looking at what Traci at Beneath my Heart did with her tub – I am thinking this summer the “ole girl” might be getting lugged out into the front yard and given a make over! I am so glad someone posted that because it was a GREAT how to!!
Now – on to the cleaning part – YES – it is a bummer to clean under – but a vacuum hose reaches really well under there to get all the hair and such. And, to me, reaching under and cleaning/scrubbing the floor – is “worth it” to have a claw foot bath tub. Since I am so in love with the look, the DEEP baths you can take and the charm it adds to my bathroom – I think it is personally “worth it”.
Also – just recently my son – 9 years old – has thought it “great fun” to “crawl under” the tub and clean under there for me – I know that will end eventually – but for now – he finds it fun – and he is learning to be a wonderful husband, by learning the fine art of helping around the house AND not too many boys can say they can “crawl under” their bath tub!
A friend of mine recently did a bathroom remodel with a clawfoot tub. They found it for $75 on Craig’s List and then had a guy come and finish it for them for a couple hundred bucks. It looks absolutely amazing!
Uh, yes please! WOW how amazing!
We have been in our new custom built home for 9 months now so I can give you a few bathroom ideas. You haven’t mentioned heated flooring but if you’re going to have a tile floor, it is a must. My recommendation for a heated bathroom floor is to heat the entire floor. We just laid a strip of heating which heats where you stand in front of the vanities and in front of the toilet. If we had to do it over, we’d fork over the dough to heat the ENTIRE floor.
Another thing we did was to install a VacPan Automatic Dustpan (a part of the central vac system) in the bathroom. We didn’t realize how much hair we shed until we started living with this white & lite gray bathroom floor! It’s so convenient to sweep the hair into the VacPan and voila`, it’s gone.
We installed a smooth side toilet. It is so much easier to clean and to keep clean.
Think hard about putting wicker in your bathroom. My experience with wicker is that it’s difficult to keep dusted and when you’re talking about in a bathroom, think about all the beauty products you use that are spray and powder (makeup). That product has to land somewhere!
Can you tell I’m all about making cleaning easier??? Enjoy your new bathroom!
When we built our house 20+ years ago, our contractor had drawn in a 4 person hot tub (ugh) in the area I had decided I wanted a clawfoot tub. I found one being sold by a woman who wanted to get rid of hers…she was modernizing her bathroom and I was thrilled to get her old fashioned tub. I’ve never been sorry. It was wonderful to bathe kids in and wonderful to relax in, always looks great! My tub is on a hardwood floor, I use a Swiffer to dust underneath it. Not a problem. I would encourage you to go for it!!
Hey Ashley,
So gorgeous bathroom re-do.Thanks for sharing the inspiration.I’ll definitely follow this for my bathroom remodeling.Loved these small tiles,bathtubs and the shelves.
love the images you pinned and posted and I really like the light you put into your own design board. beautiful.