Duckling to Deco, bath remodel no.1

A Vintage Inspired Vanity

 

So, as promised, here are the details for the bath remodel. Look for each area of the remodel posted as its own installment.

 

The master bath has needed updating since we bought the house three years previously. Although serviceable, it was builder blah and boring.

 

As I mentioned in this post, the vanity was originally a lumbering and outdated buffet that I found a local re-sale store. Its graceful serpentine front and abundant storage made it a perfect candidate for a master vanity, however. Thankfully, I could see past the ugly duckling exterior to the art deco details hidden under the hideous application of varnish.

 

Since I wanted a 1920s styled bath, this piece was a perfect fit. And, with a 25% discount off the original price of $185, it was a done deal for sure!



Comparing the vanity color with the marble and tile accents

Yikes! Overdone varnish and chipped veneer


 

A hearty sanding reveals the beauty of the veneer beneath
 

Marble inserts removed and frame painted
 

 

Vanity area before:

 The hubs hated the light fixture and I couldn't tolerate the builder grade press board a minute longer (not to mention those wall colors...egad).



 

And the ugly gets uglier once fixtures are removed

 



The existing drywall was cut for the addition of two electrical boxes for lights



 

 

And after paint, plumbing, and planks....the NEW vanity area:

 

 

 

 

Vigo Faucet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I fell in love with these classically vintage shut-off valves and had to incorporate them into the design..along with the exposed copper pipe to the side of the vanity they add an industrial touch to the bath.

 

  

The $ breakdown: 

 Fabulous Finds

Buffet $139

Picture $10

Vintage Hardware $18

 

Splurges

Mirrors $225/each

Faucets $65/each

Shut off valves $65/set

Sinks $80/each

Lights $275/all

 

Next reveal installment: The water closet area

 

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Tori



 

Dr. Livingstone, I presume?

Hello from the wilds of the remodeling jungle!

Egad, I had no idea what lay ahead of me last July when I so presumptively said, "It's time to remodel the master bath."

Let's back up a step - it all started with rum (as any great story must). Whilst the hubs was on travel last summer, there I was - unsupervised - with access to rum, a credit card, and the internet. Just as one should not drive while under the influence, neither should one make alcohol induced decisions to order Restoration Hardware mirrors in the "if you buy them, the remodel will become" vein of thought. Yet, armed with Captain and courage, I hit 'purchase' and the great adventure began.

Having slashed into the jungle of a remodel with that brash mirror purchase, my brain lept straight toward a vanity. Given how wonderfully inspired I was by this pic I found on Pinterest from Whimsical Perspective's website,

I was über excited to find this buffet at a local re-sale store:

Quite the find, eh? Note the hideous hardware, the dated finish, and just look at those trendy marble inserts! Surely you can see the evil genius of my selection. Not so much?

Ah, then check out those gorgeously sculpted lines, the art deco relief detailing and the convenience of being able to pop out the two marble inserts and have it be instantly ready for vessel sink plumbing. Which leads me back to that sneak peak that I posted many moons ago:

I went immediately to work on removing the hardware and stripping the thick and poorly applied varnish in order to get down to the bare wood.

 

 

Extra hardware holes and gaps in the veneer were filled in with a wood filler . Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Aubusson was chosen for the final color and I attached antique brass pulls (found on Etsy) to mirror the round detailing in the drawers and doors.

At the 90% complete stage

Next to add are the vessel sinks and additional drawer hardware. I am also distressing the wood to have it reflect the vintage/industrial vibe that will be the decor style for the room. Want to see more?

 

Coming soon: the final bathroom reveal!

 

Check back soon to see the entire project in its completion. The infamous mirrors that started it all, the demo, helpful tips on keeping a marriage (and various body parts) intact throughout a remodel, and how to do it all for under $7,500! 

 

Now where did I put that blowtorch...

Tori

 

 

 

 

To market, to market....

So, summer has been chock full of activity. Relatives from Florida visiting, rose gardens being overhauled, new paths added and, best of all, fun with flea market finds! I thought I would share some of the cool items that just had to come home with me so far this summer...

Can you believe I found this beautiful vintage sewing machine for the absolute STEAL of $20?! Neither did I. I even double checked that the tag wasn't missing a zero. Lucky me!

Or how about an old-fashioned ice cream parlor stool for the drool-worthy bargain of $22? It still spins like a dream and is the perfect side table to the newly painted garden bench (or as the occasional photo prop).

This petite darling is headed back to Florida with my mother - just the right size for watering her blue daze vine in its birdcage planter...

A vintage scale and iron bee napkin rings were impossible to resist...

I'll be sharing more soon on my largest summer project. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak..

More to come soon...

From shabby to chic...

Have a garden bench that needs some TLC? Join the masses...

When the hubs and I wanted to fill an empty front porch space, we trooped off to one of the home improvement stores and brought back a standard park bench. We added a few hanging plants and, presto, instant atmosphere. Fast forward five years, a different porch (one that was open rather than covered), and lots of abusive weather later and you have a poor bench that needs some love.

I stumbled upon a darling picture on Shabby Soul's  fabulous blog and an idea was born. Rather than an all over lilac as featured in Sylvia's blog, I opted for a sage and lilac combination (mostly because I feared my husband would refuse to sit on something so entirely pastel).

After moving the bench into the garage for disassembly, I sanded down the wood slats with my trusty orbital sander. (I have to say, there is something infinitely satisfying in watching old paint or stain give way to the brute force of spinning grit.) Previous homeowners had left behind a tiny quart of the most serendipitous can of paint that I have ever come across. I have used it on the secret garden door featured in this post, on this sadly neglected bench and on the newly renovated arbor (more on that project in a future post).

Before

Before

After spray painting the metal side frames with some Rust-Oleum in French Lilac, I let everything dry overnight. The wood slats got a quick coat of polyurethane and all was reassembled.

TA DAAAA...

Amazing, is it not, what a little TLC can accomplish? Now we can sit on our ever-so-chic new bench and I can show off my equally chic new summer sandals...

Fahrenheit Iplay Espadrille

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Have fun with YOUR garden bench...

A Patio Complete...

Obsessed much? Nah, not me..

So the focus of my last several weekends has been the completion of our Parisian patio. Once I have an idea in my head, it's hard for me (read: impossible) to move past it. I can be obsessed with a project until it is what I deem complete, perfect, and fabulous. (The hubs would dearly love to medicate this quirk of mine, I'm sure).

When I finally completed the patio last weekend and told him it was finished, his immediate response was, "I doubt it." Smart man. As it turns out, the window frame that I repainted yellow and mentioned in this post is now lavender. The petite hanging urn (featured in that same post) has also found a new home.

Despite grumblings from the peanut gallery, I am quite pleased with the end result of my much maligned focus. We are now able to enjoy a delightful and intimate corner of our yard that was once a leaf-strewn, rock-embedded eyesore. Pieces from antique shops, market fairs, and Etsy have added to the bohemian flair that I had envisioned for the space.

The BIG picture :)

Before

The "secret" door that leads to an open field space behind the fence

Shutters and a trellis from The Barn create the illusion of another garden gate at the end of the path...

Old iron scrolls were found on this Etsy shop

 The small hanging urn finds a new home on the secret door

The formerly yellow (formerly black) window frame aquires a much more French je ne sais quoi in pale lavender. Copper flower boxes with cascading blooms remind me of those divine Euro gardens...

The chairs that inspired it all...

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For my next project: rose garden revision!

Now for some wine....

Flower to the power...

When the hubs and I were first getting to know each other, I sent him a list entitled "5 Things You Should Know About Me." I figured, if things worked out, he'd be exposed to these oddities of mine anyway - why not see if they made him bolt for the hills right from the start?

I was frank about my affinity for shoe shopping, up front about my need to (loudly and at decibels that threaten glass) comment on others' driving skills, and was quite forthright (if not a little boastful) with regard to my ability after consuming cranberry juice to outbelch any sailor foolish enough to challenge me. What I neglected to disclose to the dearest, future hubs was my excessive addiction to flowers. All of them.

We are now in Year 2 of the grand, three year gardening plan. Each year produces a healthy list of new bloomers that "must, must, must" be added to our wasteland of a backyard. A certain nursery sends emails that I am their #1 <insert your city here> customer (hey, I'll take blantent, non-sincere flattery anytime).

Warm weather and more-rain-than-is-typical has had us in the garden every weekend (hence, the dearth of blog posts). Delightfully, we are now seeing some Year 1 results and are deep into random Year 2 projects:

This weathered window frame is a sister accent to the blue window box featured in the last post. Scouting around at an antique shop yielded the frame and the darling petite hanging urn. I promptly spray painted it with flat white paint and now it acts a perfect foil to the bright yellow (formerly black) window frame.

A cascading Vinca vine fits perfectly in the shallow urn.

The flowers planted two weeks ago in the blue window box (featured in a previous post) are thriving more than ever! See the complete post here.

 A resounding success from Year 1: Snow in Summer borders the paver steps.

These pops of color petunias are some of my favorites. An iron plant pot ring lets you hang them directly from a fence, post or wall.

Arizona Sun Gaillardia is living up to its name even only having been planted about a month ago.

So what could be better than flowers? Shoes with flowers, of course. I had to have these pretties as soon as I saw them. Now, I'll just take a bit of the garden with me. ;)

Seychelles Joan Espadrille

Off to play in more dirt!