Medicine cabinet

I found and painted this "medicine cabinet" a few weeks months ago and finally installed it in the main bathroom, possibly the smallest main bathroom in existence.  Extra storage was needed, but I didn't want to darken the space with shelves or anything that may make the room feel smaller (having already lightened up the room during the renovation a few years ago).  I scored this tall and narrow piece at Marshall's and painted it classic gray. It fits perfectly in the recessed area and doesn't get in the way of entering the shower.   My medicine supplies consist of only a few bottles of things, but the shelves are good for all other bathroom supplies.

Next up, some hooks for towels; either hidden behind the door or a few pegs extending from the medicine cabinet and behind the door. And painting the last frame on the cabinet is in order. And a nicer looking shower curtain rod...

Dealing with the shelf over the toilet... This was custom made by the bathroom renovators, but my vision didn't quite present itself to the carpenter. I'm looking for a taller piece with more room between the shelves. And a place to hang a hand towel.

And installing a  tubular skylight. I have just discovered this item and it is exactly what my little, windowless bathroom needs.

Painted medicine cabinet

And because I am that kind of lazy and house guests were arriving shortly, I screwed the hardware back in and declared the project complete.

I decided to paint the perfect, narrow medicine cabinet because I have spent the past 5 years brightening up this house, particularly the bathroom and the kitchen. The wood was ok and smelled like cedar, but it seemed I would be retracting all that hard work by not painting.

Sun drying painted cabinet

Notice that "that kind of lazy" person is also sparse w/ the painters tape.  After placing a few strips on, I decided too much effort was being exerted (and tape getting stuck everywhere); it would be easier to just omit painting the edges all together.  I managed ok, only smearing one pane.

It was at this moment, while taking pictures of my lazy ass completed project, that I discovered my camera was busted. Lens was smashed in and no longer could focus to snap picture. Not sure when it was dropped, (must have been from a very high cliff that I was not on).  And now I have a good reason to finally get that new camera, or at least a new lens.  By then the cabinet should be properly cured and installed in bathroom.

A spoonful of sugar...

I have been finding many unique and useful cabines in a section of Home Goods and recently scooped up this long narrow medicine like cabinet ("makes the medicine go down", the rest of the lyric used in the title). Perfect for my small and hugely under shelved bathroom. It smells like cedar, although hardly looks like it. We are giving it a coat of Kilz2 and then will paint it with left over pale gray (Classic Gray - Benj Moore) (from the dining room) or pale green (Oatlands Taupe - Benj Moore) (from the bathroom & vestibule). Pretty excited about this addition. The bathroom was renovated several years ago, and then I left it with one awkward, unfinished shelf that was merely good for displaying things and quickly became cluttered.

Painting again.  Which means some cleaning, dusting and organizing is happening. See that unfinished portion above the window.  Well its now painted. Window frame also done. Dining room 99% completed. I decided to paint the alcove a darker shade of gray, will get back to that later.

And its raining today and forecast for the next week. Good news for me, as my contractor said he can come build a wall on a rainy day which will allow me to paint the rest of my bedroom and then work on the other bedroom.

Old house - bathroom

Feeling nostalgic, going through photos.  Seeing "what was" in a photo versus "what I perceived" at the time.

In my first house, the bathroom was much bigger then my current house (hard to believe one can get smaller). It also had natural light (a must in bathroom) and charming wallpaper. But the wall paper was peeling off, so I begin my first wall paper removal adventure. I was semi prompted by my circumstances at the time, waiting to hear about a contract, possibly having to put my house on the market and return to my homeland  (OH YES, this is where I am at RIGHT now.  Been there, done that.  Deja vu minus 6 years.) And although the house sold (yay!), the day after getting an offer on the house, the work contract came through (Ugh). I moved forward, selling the house, found an apartment to move into and then bought another house.

Anyhow, back to the bathroom in the first house. Charming wallpaper but peeling off. So I bought my scraper and took the rest off. The scraper became my favourite tool. Still is.

I was contemplating pink. My 4 year old son was on board for a pink bathroom. Hot pink w/ white and black tile, a la french.

But then it was time to put the house on the market and I chose a safe colour, neutral beige, with a few pink accents.

I was very new to homeowner ship, renovating and on a shoe string budget,  but I managed to remove the light fixtures, paint them black and screw them back on. I came up with a snazzy chain link shower curtain rod. And painted. Go Me!  I was really pleased with the results and if I were doing it again, I would go pink and replace the lights, (and oh boy, get rid of the plastic medicine cabinet above the sink) but back then shoe string budget and selling were factors. (At the time, I thought that blue hand towel worked...ha! It must have had sentimental meaning)

 My now 10 year old occasionally asks to move back to that house.  He recalls that we painted the bathroom pink. I love that memory of his and I don't dare tell him otherwise.

Bathroom reno completed

The bathroom was painted over the weekend!

The mirror and shelf were installed. We also took off the "plastic" baseboard and installed a wood baseboard. A trim around the door frame was attached. The wood shelf is still undone as I do not know what to do with it (it is not the recessed "2" shelf I envisioned). We love the outcome of bathroom - a complete year from start to finish! 

The Toto Aquia II Dual flush toilet;  I love my toilet. It was really important to me to get a water conservative dual flush. Although any toilet would have been better then the water guzzler that was previously in here.

Kohler Wellworth sink. The sink, this was my backup sink. I had bought two other sinks and returned them as they didn't fit the tiny area and they were not quite what I wanted.  Faucet is by Kohler.

Wall paint - Oatlands taupe; Door, baseboard and ceiling - white. I initially used Chantilly Lace paint by Benj Moore on the walls, but that dulled the tiles. (post edit: not in love with the paint colour with this bathroom. I will have the find the perfect white)

Baseboard Painted and installed by Contract-Her.

The shelf was installed above the tile, just in case I changed my mind. I didn't want to put holes in the tile.   Mirror - Pottery Barn online store.   Vanity Shelf - Vintage Tub and Bath.

Light fixture - oil rubbed bronze, made by Rejuvenation: 

The boldest thing I did in this bathroom, the Floor tile - Keystone Daltile -ocean blue and artisan brown summer.

Wall and bath surround tile - Modern Dimensions, Arctic white matte finish

And a white waffle shower curtain and bath mat from Target. Still need a new rod. I have a bruise on my cheekbone as the rod keeps falling down.

Click here for BEFORE pictures. And here for work in progress and one of the beautiful but rejected sinks.

Bathroom Renovation

before (9/23/09 - first day of owning house):

Almost completed (7/2010):

Before stages:

Gutted (12/2010 over Christmas break, took about a month to get done).

Stalled.
Finally got the old dirty vinyl flooring and plywood cut out.

Skim coated 1 wall:

Stalled.
Some plumbing work. Repositioned the toilet and sink.
Stalled....
Found a new plumber and contractor.
ACTION!