Upstairs Bathroom Makeover

I have been slow at posting this: mostly because I suck at taking pictures and I hoped that my brother in law would come around when the bathroom was clean, but alas: that was not to be! So, you will have to settle (emphasis on the "settle") for my sad depiction of the after. Just trust me when I tell you that in person this is leaps and bounds better than it was before.

 

First of all, I will finally reveal my color choices! I used Behr Ultra Premium Plus in Semi Gloss for the record. The color above the wainscoting is Toasted Chestnut (a beautiful copper brown color.) The color beneath and on the vanity is Parchment Paper (an aged white that I just adore.)

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-240F-5-Toasted-Chestnut-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-240F-5U/202182273

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-710C-1-Parchment-Paper-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-710C-1U/202182798

 

 

And the bathroom set that Mom loved and we purchased last Christmas, was an ensemble from Bed, Bath and Beyond entitled "Leaf Study."

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/3/leaf-study-bath-ensemble

 

Here is a reminder of the crappy "Before!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

And here is the "After!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

If you recall, this corner had a hideous, weirdly mounted white cabinet. Instead, I took it down, patched the wall, and purchased an espresso colored linen tower from Bed, Bath and Beyond to be our storage furniture instead. Only $79.99!!! Here's the link in the caption.

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/summit-tall-cabinet-tower/3252290?poc=213218&skuId=42479154

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, was my light fixture make over project! The light fixtures were covered in splattered paint from past paint jobs. I hated that. They were kind of neat old fixtures. I tried to sand the old paint off but it didn't work. So, I went out, purchased a Krylon chrome metal paint from our local hardware store, screwed the fixtures loose, took newspaper and taped it to the walls carefully tucking it under the edges of the fixture so it covered all of the toasted chestnut wall: and sprayed away. It's not perfect, but 2 coats covered the old paint stains and gave it a brighter, newer life.

 

 

 

Well, that's it! The linoleum cleaned up surprising well and I think the new coat of paint and newer, more traditional but still modern style hardware on the vanity just made the space look cleaner. I think that the toasted chestnut color makes the architectural details of the room (like the molding around the window and door frame and recessed built in cabinet) really pop out.

Brimfield Antique Show and Recovered Dresser Set

It has been a crazy few months.  My father was very ill (terminal cancer) and he recently passed away, so my passion for crafting was put on hold.  I am thinking that life will start to slow down again now.

Recently, I found myself with friends at the Brimfield Antique Shows (Brimfield MA.)  Google it if you haven't heard about this: it was massive.  I thought I'd share some of my pics, and also my most recent furniture redo with you.  I recovered my childhood vanity, mirror and nightstand set by painting it flat black and having my stepfather powdercoat all the (formerly brass) hardware, a satin black.  I admit I did not sand (what a sin.)  And unfortunately, it was laminate in some places, and had a gloss finish where it was wood grain.  So, instead I purchased Behr Ultra Premium Plus interior in "Broadway" with a satin finish (primer built in) as a shortcut and to make up for my laziness.  It took two quick coats (three coats on the laminate top of the dresser) but it seems to have worked.  

 Forgive my crappy photography, especially with the dresser pics.  I used my iphone and my creative streak does not extend to great photo taking. Enjoy!

Dresser/mirror before: the dirty white just stood out like a sore thumb

nightstand before, dirty off white trimmed in gold

mirror before

first coat

getting ready for the first coat, laid down a plastic drop cloth

mirror, one coat: this was the toughest of all three parts

finished nightstand

close-up of the hardware