Monday, February 17, 2014

The Upstairs Bathroom


This is the upstairs bathroom in our rental house as it was when we moved in. I was thrilled to see it because it had a lot of great features that could shine with a little TLC. My first thoughts were fresh coat of paint, new ceiling light fixture, replace mirror, and install new light sconces over sink. In addition, the homeowners wanted to replace the bathtub and sink as it has been on their to do list for quite some time, and had already selected new ones. 


So here's a little peek with the new sink and bathtub. 

The sink has a lip on it so it's easier to place things around the basin, which is a nice upgrade. The bathtub matches the lines of the original. After the tub arrived and sat in the dining room waiting for installation, Mike and I pondered out loud to one another how he and the homeowner were going to be able to move it upstairs. We then discovered, to our astonishment, that the tub is fiberglass

This before photo looks like a black and white image because the original paint was a light grey. We chose to paint the bathroom white because we had extra paint left from painting the hall and stairwell. The end result gave us a much brighter space. 

We kept the blue floors but added a large throw rug. It comes from Dash and Albert. Dash and Albert rugs are not chemically treated with stain repellants or flame retardants, which is absolutely wonderful. 


I tried all sorts of paintings above the bathtub and settled on The Torn Hat, in this case a reproduction of the original painting by Thomas Sully (1820). The mirror is the first example of our movement to use lighter woods in the house. I really liked the warmth that lighter woods offered in our old guest house, so we're phasing out the dark and adding the light. 

In the end, we opted to not upgrade the ceiling light or replace the sconces. Instead, to save money, we left the ceiling light and simply removed the old sconces. We economized by not replacing the sconces, but they were also off-center from the new sink. Thus covering their wallboxes with blanks and mirror made the best sense to us. 


I added my Grandmother's old buffet for storage (she used to keep napkins and See's candy in it and I can't help but think of that every time I open the drawers). 

49 comments :

  1. Thank you so much for sharing. I love casters as a finishing touch, and I love them on that lovely family piece, too. Don't know why, but they just add something. It all looks beautiful. I know it wasn't part of all the hard work that went into it, it's a detail, but I love the hyacinths in the silver cup. Gorgeous.

    Take good care,
    Em

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  2. The bathroom looks amazing. I love the new sink and tub and your accessories are perfect. They make the room. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Beautiful changes, Catherine! I love the hardware on your Grandmother's buffet, and I know the owners are very glad to have you in the home.

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  4. as always. beautiful. i love the picture of the torn hat. i have always loved that picture. i have it in a post card. what size is your print?

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  5. The bath is beautiful! Dash and Albert make wonderful high quality rugs.

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  6. What a lovely bathroom. So fresh and airy now.

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  7. so very pretty. love all the white with the antiques. and the updates look modern but true to your style. so lovely.

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  8. Dear Dogwalker,
    The painting is an original (reproduction) on canvas. It's about 16x20 in size.
    Best, Catherine

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  9. Very nice . . . you have the midas touch . . .
    Love the touches of blue and the wide plank deep blue floor.

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  10. Talk about charm! I just love it!

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  11. Just beautiful! It was so fun to see your post this morning and have a glimpse inside your new home. It made me smile - I love that your style is still the same and that you always incorporate family treasures! Have a wonderful week.

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  12. Is your rug an indoor/outdoor Dash & Albert? I didn't see the pattern on their site. Did you need to use a rug pad?

    I am searching for a new bathroom rug. My husband is unhappy with the existing rug.

    Your rental bathroom is so lovely!

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  13. Thank you for sharing - it looks just like you guys now! old houses just make me happy inside and i'm enjoying seeing yours. Linda R (Phila burbs)

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  14. Hi Kellie,
    Here it is: http://www.dashandalbert.com/product/view/swedish-stripe-woven-cotton-rug--RP42#pch_gallery_7786

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  15. I love everything you do! As simple as white paint seems it made EVERYTHING just GLEAM! I love it! I love your grandmother's buffet! What a treasure...and now I have to go order some See's chocolate! ;)

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  16. Absolutely beautiful! I love all the changes you made. Your grandmother's buffet is just wonderful. Thank you for sharing! ox
    Yuko @ northfield gate

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  17. This is really, really lovely! Love the updates you've done.

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  18. What a gorgeous bathroom. I love the addition of the buffet.

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  19. It's the "A Country Farmhouse" touch! I'm telling you Catherine you should market that. It is your signature. We would all buy anything you sold. I know I speak for all of us when I say we love your style, your eye and your way of making a room look simply elegant.
    It's funny, this is a rental but it already as your stamp on it. These photos could have been from your farmhouse and no one would know . Love it, love you my friend.
    xoxo
    Lisa
    Leeshideaway

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  20. Love the makeover. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  21. Since it is a rental, good call on the fiberglass tub....we recently built a new home and installed a cast iron slipper tub....it weighed over 300 pounds! A semi truck delivered it packaged in a wooden crate and it sat in the driveway for 3 weeks....I wasn't too worried about anyone walking off with it. ;)

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  22. just love, love, LOVE your
    Grandmas buffet!!!
    ...beautiful!
    Corinne

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  23. Beautiful bathroom...just love the changes. It shares a striking resemblance to your old house's bathroom, yes? :) Because it is a rental, did the owners not mind you painting, taking out the sconces, etc? We are renting too and our landlords would have a fit! Ha!

    Hugs,
    Gail

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  24. I absolutely LOVE See's Candy!! This Canadian thinks it's the best thing in America. ;)
    I'm curious what toilet you have in there, as finding a new one that has old world charm is proving difficult for me.

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  25. Dear Gail, We run things by them for the most part. And we're going to put most everything back when we leave. So thankfully, it's been okay on that front but I know how it goes!
    Best,
    Catherine

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  26. I absolutely love your decorating style! It's so simple but so elegant yet casual:) I can not wait to see the whole house, I am taking notes:)

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  27. Hmm...looking at this practically...it seems to me that if you kept See's Candy in that drawer still, you might just be able to reach the box from the tub. Win, win!

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  28. I love old buffets like that! We use one as our tv stand in the living room and now I'll have to wonder what the original owner used to put in it's drawers!

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  29. Lovely. It's wonderful how you can transform even a rental house's bathroom into something so charming and sweet. I love the new tub and sink, and your grandmother's sideboard is so pretty, and a unique touch used in a bathroom. Very nice!
    Claudia

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  30. You did a beautiful job making it your own. It's lovely, and full of charm.

    Can't wait to see more in time.

    Maria

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  31. I agree with Lee's comment. It is so you and I just love it!

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  32. Beautiful! I love the white. So fresh and clean. Did you use Ben Moore Simply White for this house as well? It looks great.

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  33. I absolutely LOVE the floors in your bathroom. Wowza. Also, I'm like you: I love using unique pieces of furniture for bathroom storage. Your little buffet is perfect for storage, and just the right size for setting things on top.

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  34. I noticed Lee's comment. I'm telling you...

    I'm glad you kept the blue floor. It might not be the natural choice but it's unique and wonderful.

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  35. Dear Julie, We tried a new greener paint by Yolo. You can find it on Amazon. It's very green. I chose the color of white online so that was a bit tricky. We've used it throughout the house on already painted white plaster walls.

    Dear Rachel, Yes the floors were painted a royal blue. I tested them for lead and it came back negative so we opted to leave them alone and just touched up spots here and there. To match the paint for touch-ups, we took a sample of paint from the floor.

    Best, Catherine

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  36. I love this. I can't wait to see everything you have done with this house.

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  37. This absolutely stunning!
    Xoxo-Joelle
    Countrylivinginheels. blogspot.com

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  38. What wonderful changes you made to the bathroom - love your touches from home like the great buffet and the painting!!

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  39. I would find it difficult to not spend hours in that bathroom, the tub is lovely and very inviting.
    This is the sort of room I had hoped for when we moved back to the US .. instead I am living in a 50s Ranch house and trying to love it. Your photos do not make that easy lol

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  40. Hi Catherine,

    I saw that you used Yolo paint. Did you find that the coverage was the same/better than Benjamin Moore?
    Also, what is the name of the white you selected? I really like it!

    Kathryn

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  41. Dear Kathryn,
    Yolo paint is Imagine 01. I chose it online so wasn't completely sure about it. But it's a nice soft white.
    Best,
    Catherine

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  42. Beautiful before and afters! Great work on brightening the bathroom, proof of how little tweaks make monumental differences in design.

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  43. So beautiful! I love the use of the cabinet, the tub, the brightness, the painting...all of it!

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  44. Gorgeous! I love that Dash & Albert rug you chose!

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  45. Lovely! Everything is so lovely and fresh & welcoming.
    Your guest house is wonderful also.
    May I ask about the tub? Does the water stay warm, long enough for you? Where did you get it? Love the pondering only to be happily surprised with a light weight tub!

    With Kindness,
    Mary

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

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