White Subway Tiles...

here

Love this bathroom.

I love that it is not a big square/rectangle and that the toilet is down the end.

The sink is amazing and who doesn't like subway tile right?

unknown

Subway tile is so clean looking and lends so well to wicker, wood, porcelain and of course goes so well with the Hexagon floor tiles they are usually paired with.

here

Here are the lovely floor tiles. Little Hexagons in a bone white.

I must say though, I would have to have white grout in mine...the subway tile too.

That's just me though =0)

unknown

See, again, white subway tile and Hexagonal floor tiles...with a claw foot

=perfection!

You may be wondering where I am going with this post.

We have some issues going on in our Bathroom and we are thinking of what we need to do to fix the problem and make the bathroom ow we would like.

This is not easy let me tell you.

The room is H U G E!

me

This is how you last seen it when it got it's mini 'free' makeover.

me

You may remember when I had to paint the orangey lining boards behind our 101 year old Claw Foot bath.

me

This was it when I finished.

This space has always annoyed me, never being what I imagine.

We have plans...well had.

Now they have to be sorted.

Anyone in Northern Tassie know of a Builder and Plumber???

I am sure to keep you posted on this on going pain in my side ;0)

Our Living Area And A Bathroom Floor Update

A photo of our living room through our French doors. I have added some pieces in here over the last week and I will show you more images soon. You would notice I don't have a rug down...there is a reason, actually 2 little ones! Through the Summer months I decided it was so much easier to take up our jute rug while the boys are running in and out of these doors covered in grass and the like. It makes it a breeze just to sweep up at the end of each day because the boys run in and out of these doors and carry in bits of everything!

I don't think I have ever showed this view of our living space before. You can see how it works with the kitchen and dining space (I must sort that 'BLOOM' sign out, always moves). I did add the big wicker trunk to the side of the sofa which I am loving...anyway, bathroom floor update....
Mic was away for work all weekend, and while he was gone I pulled up the lino to discover lovely Tasmanian Hardwood floorboards like the rest of our house, and they are in fairly good condition. There was a patch though that had really old newsprint on it. I tried to take a detailed shot for you...you may be able to make out the print! Well I sat for hours with a chisel, scrapping this stuff off!!

This is what it all looks like this morning.

I wont be able to do anything in here much this week as I have lots on with other jobs, but I will be hoping to get some gaping etc done on the weekend ready for a coat of BIN primer as there are some old stains here and there that will bleed through my top coat if I don't seal them properly. I am happy to leave them raw for now.

Hope you have a lovely day.

Ness xx

Re purposing storage

Looking through some of my files and some of my favourite blogs for bathroom inspiration, I have found some wonderful cupboards and drawers that could be re-purposed into vanities and linen storage. This one above from Tricia Foley I saved for the worn wood on the top of the unit. I would love to have a top like this sealed with an organic bees wax that water just beads off.
This one I found via My Lovely Things and would make great linen storage don't you think?
Imagine it filled with loads of vintage Irish, French and Belgian linen pillow slips and crisp white sheets...nice. I do like the chairs in here too.

So cute!

I cant remember where I spied this image, so I am sorry. However, this is something I could really do in our bathroom. Although I would love pressed tin panels painted white behind the taps.

and finally this gorgeous set of drawers I viewed over at Shannon Frickes blog this morning from Anthropology. I would adore something quirky like this against all the white beaded board, except we would need four drawers...one for each family member. I guess my drawer would be '2ND'.
This is high on the list for a vanity replacement!
Ness xx

Bathroom Mini Makeover - part 2

Here is stage two of our bathroom mini makeover. Our vanity has always been an after thought in this room (actually the whole room was an after thought!) and when we first moved in, the walls were a dirty cream colour with an Indian red trim. What was in this space was just a frame with plumbing pipes that had a curtain on it to try and dickie it up for the sale...it worked! The only thing I really cared about in this room was the original cast iron claw foot tub, and the size of the room.

So this cabinet had been 'fixed' up by my beloved Dad, who made these makeshift doors out of an old wardrobe that we had dismantled so we didn't have to bother with the curtains and we could child proof it for the boys. Dad also added shelves to make it more functional for us as a family. The top of the unit was as it was. we also added the shelf and the mirror my dad made as the one that was there was about 20cm round!!! No good for putting on your face!
Basically all I have done is make it cleaner, lighter and brighter by painting the doors again with the enamel paint. I also painted the top of the unit (which is a plywood). This unit will be totally replaced with probably a table or the old sideboard we have and it will have an above counter sink..or 2!

The mirror also got a few coats of white paint, as did the long mirror and I added new wooden handles to the doors.After adding some greenery in a grey jug I bought at The Vintage Rose (for those observant ones, yes it is the same as the one Mic bought me for Christmas, except smaller) and some candles, it has taken on a totally different feel.
I also added the ampersand that I bought some time ago from White Flower Farmhouse to the mix.
This is what you see when you enter the room.

Better, I am thinking...and no money involved! You can see our laundry to the left...oh yeah, that's what else I done today...

...I gave the laundry a mini makeover too!

This is what I started with, and it wasn't that bad as I had added shelves and painted the sink surround white as it was originally Indian Red!
Once it dried (about an hour or so), I added some items to the shelves that I use all the time and I was done.
It looks much better now and eventually this space will be enclosed behind doors so it looks like a big linen closet.
I love these little shelves and the big blue container was part of an Engagement gift from my eldest Sister. I keep our washing powder in here. The little mirror and the planter that's on the top shelf were second hand store finds by my Mum and I think they look good here for the time being.

So, what do you think of stage 2 of my 'No Cost Bathroom Makeover'?

I am hoping it will be done for real very soon, but for the time being it is such a brighter room...and just with lashings of white paint.

Ness xx

The First Part Of Our Bathroom Makeover...for FREE!

So for those of you that are new to the blog, we have been planning to update our huge old bathroom...and those that have been reading for a while will know how frustrated I am with this room and that I have been hanging to re-do it.

Small, actually huge problem. Because of the size of the space and the fact we have to cut it into 2 rooms means that it is going to cost us way more than originally thought...so, I have devised a no cost plan to makeover this space. It is going to take me a while because I have lots of other projects going on, so bear with me if you will.

This first image is to soften you into the hideousness of this room. It is a little table in front of the window...but more of that at a later post.

Lets get into it.

BEFORE

Ahhhh! U.G.L.Y!! Yep, I am totally embarrassed to show you these before shots. just think, we have lived like this for nearly 7 years! I know.

The bath used to black and I painted it white and the walls were the old fake ranch board stuff (faux wood, you can see it above the white paint at the top) that I also painted white a few years back as I couldn't stand it and we have been so busy doing the rest of the house, that this room was last on the list as we knew it was going to cost a lot. It has been a nightmare keeping the water away from the back of the bath, hence the tacked shower curtain to the wood!

First things first, get rid of the wood wall behind the bath and make it friendly to a little water here and there for the time being..and a thorough cleaning of the wall ready to paint. I used an organic orange oil cleaner designed for bathrooms and the like and made sure to get every speck of it off. Then a light sand as this wall had the orangey glow that only poly coated pine can offer!
Here is the beloved B.I.N that I talked about in the kitchen re-do post. I love this stuff and had some left so I thought I would use it over the pine to stop it bleeding through.

*First free part of the room makeover*

This was actually quite enjoyable as I knew the dreaded orange wood would be gone!

Here is the first coat of B.I.N on and what a difference already! It only took about half an hour to dry...time for a coffee!
This is the paint I used on the kitchen doors. I still had over half a can left, so I thought it is a gloss enamel, I can use this on the wall to help with the water. The colour that I used in the paint is Dulux Chalk USA and is a wonderful warm white, but not a cream. It is also the colour that we have under our chair rail and above our picture rail in the kitchen, living space and hallway.

*This is the second free part of the makeover*

TA DA!!

Second coat of paint went on the next day, as I had other things to do.

SO much better, don't you think?

I had to use the old shower curtain rail for the time being while I hunt down something else for it. I did find a cut work cotton shower curtain on Ebay and I think I have one here I could re fashion into one.

Now, obviously I still have a long way to go and especially when I am spending no money (if I can help it) in this room as we will eventually be doing it properly. I plan to do a little bit every few days to make it a brighter, lighter, nicer looking space.

The next dilemma is what to do with this floor! I want to rip up this linoleum and the cement sheeting underneath to reveal the wide Tasmanian Oak floorboards underneath and paint with the same paint that we have on our floors in the master bedroom, but I will have to get more paint for that and I have some other painting to do first, so I think I will wait until last to do this...and I have to convince Mic to let me do it!!

So, what do you think so far? Do you think I can do this room on virtually no budget using found pieces and things we already have and make it look nice? I may need your help along the way, ok?

Have a wonderful weekend wont you?

Ness xx

Farmhouse Flair

This farmhouse I recently spied at Country Living is just wonderful. The living area is amazing and while I was uploading these images seen a lot of others in my file that I thought would be perfect partners for this home.

I could imagine this living area attached to this...gorgeous dining area I seen over at Velvet & Linen. It is amazing! and what farmhouse would be complete with some sort of exposed beams..somewhere?

I could also picture this scrubby wooden beauty along the wall near the table and kitchen to house all of the vintage linens and ironstone. It looks great dressed for the holidays.

What a collection!!

Perfect for a farmhouse. Old rug beaters up the stairs with a hooked stair runner...leading to...

This sweet bathroom.

I love the toile sink skirt, vanilla beaded boards and the white trim and of course the sink!

And I could imagine that it joins on to this very serene room filled with vintage simplicity. There is nothing better to me than slipping into soft white linens...ahhh!
Images 1, 3, 4, 5 Country Living - image 2 Velvet & Linen.
What a beautiful home. Imagine it dressed for the season?
Ness xx

If I could just morph these!

Jill Sharp

Karyl Pierce Paxton
Yep, still waiting for the bathroom.

But I love looking at these two images. If I could morph them into each other...heaven!

Ness xx

Thanks to all who replied via email and on the blog about yesterdays post. I will stop stressing!

Free Standing Sense

Architectural Digest

These gorgeous free standing baths are just gorgeous, and in these beautiful settings make even more of an impression that I would love to have in our bathroom. There is so much here to love that every time I look, I find more to drool over!!
Home & Antiques Mag
This is just stunning. Artfully plonked over sized mirror against dark wall, loads of white and marble and off centre chandelier and candles...what more could a girl want?

Traditional Home
...but the ever present Mummy in me says this is the go! Hexagonal tile, glossy white paint, loads of built in storage, no huge mirrors to clean or zinc like surfaces to constantly rub finger prints off!
...and capable of entertaining sub aquatic aerobics from two little boys =0)
Ness xx

Bathroom Renovation Thoughts

From my Dream Home file - unknown

Don't get excited this is not it. If I could wave a wand it would!
Lyn Gardener
We haven't made any progress on our bathroom as yet. Still waiting on our window to arrive, and then we can get started making the bathroom smaller. It is a huge space and we will still have a big bathroom even with us stealing a little for a built-in Laundry and linen press.
With all the rain we have had, and then the sunshine today, I wanted to get out a crow bar or something and start ripping off the old ranch board we have lived with for over 6 years! At least I would feel like something is getting done.
Our bathroom space has a claw foot with shower over, sink, toilet, laundry and cupboard which houses our linen, 11 foot ceilings....and no style!
BH&G
I have been thinking on and off what we will do in there. Until we see what is lurking under the ranch board and the cement sheeting that covers the beautiful Tasmanian oak floorboards (which I hope are in good condition still) we have no idea really where to start. I would how ever like to find the old wall boards that we found in other parts of the house and paint them white, like Layla has done in her hallway. This would save LOADS of money and give the space some texture and a wonderful nod to the history of our old home, "Glenlee". Some beaded board sheets would also look great, like above...don't know yet.
Home Beautiful -I think
As for what we are going to do with the sink and vanity is still in the air. I would really like a double one, but something like an old dresser up cycled with a porcelain bowl on top and a bridge tap would be lovely. Of course there will be a big mirror above it.
I really like the little toile roman blind in this bathroom with the white.


Mabley & Handler

The small subway tile would look beautiful in there.
via The Lettered Cottage
Mic really wants a shower and I tend to agree. I would like to have the bath and shower separate as I am over the curtain sticking to our legs.
Trying to work out how and where we will put it is becoming a hassle. We don't want to move too much plumbing as the budget will blow out for sure.

Brooke Giannetti

This works for me. A clear glass shower screen with the shower heads pointing towards it and no door is something I have had in my head for quite a while now. Like wet room on a smaller scale. I also love how all the walls are plastered, with California One Kote I think, and just the shower is tiled.
via The Laurel Hedge
These twin showers look great...I could have each of our boys in at the same time!
The idea of tiling up to the glass like I mentioned above is another thought. Having the shower heads pointing to the opening wouldn't work in our house. The shower heads are magnificent. If anyone knows of where to get some like these would you please email me?

unknown - sorry

Another suggestion from Mic was to get rid of our old claw foot all together!!! NO! This was one of the selling features of the house. I have always wanted one, and now that we do he wants to get rid of it! It needs help, I understand, but it has history...it will be 100 years old on the 9/4/10...it has the date it was made welded on it!

I also feel that being a four bedroom house, that if we ever had to sell it (I will have to be old and dead!!) just a shower wouldn't do in a family sized home.

Brooke Giannetti
So, what do we do with the underneath part of the bath? We plan to paint the floors like we did in our bedroom, but we need tiles and waterproofing around it. This idea from Brooke was perfect. A 'bath mat' I have named it. Made of tiles, not cotton. So it would look like a rug and function as a splash proof saviour from our kids and their aqua aerobics!

I might even whip out the sketches and some before shots if I am game enough to show you.
That is my thoughts on that!
Ness xx