china shepherdess

Wallpaper Whenever: Festival in the bathroom.

Yeah. I've featured this amazing wallpaper before. I originally sourced these Mini Moderns wallpaper samples for my TV room. Then I started thinking it would actually be even more perfect in my bathroom. The geomtric print referencing the 1951 Festival of Britain will add a much needed mid-century element to the room and the yellow and grey will contrast nicely with the blue accent tiles I really wish weren't there. This project is way down the list, but I'm glad I have the walls sorted out!

Featured Wallpaper: Festival by Mini Moderns in Concrete, Stone or Bunting Blue and Red. £50.00/roll

What should I do next? And, an installment of soap dish drama.

I took a couple Saturdays off and I'm now eager to tackle another room. I really should work on my office next, but fixing up the teeny tiny tv/piano/guest room would also be nice. Oh, and there's the bathroom where I started removing the wall mounted soap dish in a fit of pique.

This soap dish has annoyed me since I moved in. Who installs a shower soap dish above the sink? I mean, all that soap goo just drips and gets disgusting no matter how often you try to clean it.

 

 

Gross.

PS: The grout isn't nearly as nasty as it looks in this photo. I'm not a fan of their color choice, but it isn't a mucosa yellow as it appears to be in this photo.

I had been told these soap dishes are usually just mounted onto the face of the tiles. Unfortunately, when I chipped away at the caulk I realized it actually fit into the space where a normal tile should go. Luckily there are boxes of this handyman special tile in the garage.

 

After I patch this, the room could use some fresh paint and simple shades for the window. Top-down ones would be nice so I could let some light in without giving the elderly lady next door a fright.

I also have a wild idea that I should replace the counter with the soon to be discontinued Virvarr White formica. A full on bathroom reno is a long ways out and I wouldn't mind adding a bit more vintage flair to the room until then. Then there's the cascade effect of wanting a new sink and faucet. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to tackle a bigger project like that. Maybe I should just move on to a simple room like my office. We'll see...

Looking my age

I've been watching the Golden Globes tonight and have been getting an eyeful of all manner of lifts, tucks and botox. I realized that my goal with much of my house is different. Instead of making it look younger or newer, I'm trying to make it looks its age

All of this blah blah blah-ing is really just to fill space because I don't have any big exciting reveals to share. I've been working hard at work and a little at home and have one tiny project to show for it. My lovely mid-century-looking bathroom knobs arrived from Rejuvenation and I am so happy with the results.

Here's the before (with the 80s brassy knobs of which I wasn't so fond):

And the after (apologies for the wonky photo - I had to crouch on the edge of the tub just to get this shot of the vanity):

Who knew you could get such a thrill from a minor little update like bathroom hardware? It's pretty amazing how these new, old-style knobs from Rejuvenation give my bathroom a mid-century feel it was lacking. I wish I could go crazy and do all of the bathroom updates I'm dreaming about, but at least these make me smile whenever I walk in the room.

A Cockeyed Optimist

In my last post I went on about the changes I'd like to make to the bathroom in the long-term. In the immediate future there's one small problem that simply must be addressed -- the shiny brass hardware.When I knelt down to snap this photo I realized that the cabinet doors and/or hardware were hanging a bit crooked. Their cockeyed quality reminded me of a co-worker's recent geek lunch rant regarding Angelina Jolie's "special co-stars" in one particular scene from Tomb Raider. I'm sure you don't need me to spell out the specifics.

Anyway, decision made. The brassy, cockeyed hardware must go.

Here's what's going to replace it.

It's a square zinc knob in a brushed chrome finish from Rejuvenation. The knobs will no longer coordinate with the kitsch Hollywood-style vanity light (not shown), but I think it's a good decision. My next steps for my short-term bathroom fix-up are to paint the vile blue walls a basic white and find a mid-century-ish fixture for over the vanity. They seem to be rather difficult to find, or maybe I'm just too picky.

Oh, and regarding those brass cabinet knobs. I have 37 of those things in my country kitchen. A kitchen re-do is far off in the distant future so I'm looking for something inexpensive to replace them with in the short term. I would have thought the amusingly named knobs4less would have something cheap and simple, but even they were too spendy for what I have in mind. Any pointers to inexpensive and simple kitchen knobs would be very appreciated! I'm sure there's something out there for me!

30 Years in the Bathroom Baby

Bathroom Inspiration to be filed for later:

My bathroom, though not to my taste, is close to last on my list of projects. It was given a handyman special reno sometime in the last few years. It's tidy, serviceable and really basic. Because it lacks any of its original mid-century elements (except the tub), I won't feel guilty about eventually refashioning it to my liking and bringing back more of a MCM feel.

Retro Renovation posted a home with a most inspiring 1964 bathroom. There was a similarly inspiring bathroom in a recent issue of Atomic Ranch.

I'd love to re-do my petite and only bathroom with light-colored angled cabinets similar to those in the 1964 bathroom. I'd also include some panels laminated in pink, orange or aqua. Perhaps there could be some pegboard, like in this Palm Springs wonder I found on Apartment Therapy.

For flooring, I'm drawn to Daltile's Kimona Silk tiles. Sigh.

Oh, and we can't forget one very important, but definitely not mid-century feature -- the Toto Washlet. I have wanted one of these for my very own since my first trip to Japan. I wish I could find the old clean is happy website they used to have with disturbingly perky people talking about the wonders of the washlet, but maybe you are better off for having not seen it.

Maybe I can talk my contractor pals at Quality Cut Construction into working with me on a project like this someday. That is, once I've saved up some cash and gotten through a few more important, but boring projects like adding more insulation. It's been chilly around these here parts lately.