Main Bathroom

Four Year Home Tour: Part Two

Published on April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 by Our Humble Abode9 Comments

Continuing the tour, let’s walk down the hall and peek into the bathrooms and bedrooms.

Four years ago, when we closed, the only tub in the house was the clawfoot in the main bath. Having two little kids and guests, a tub only wasn’t the most ideal layout, nor were the finishes selected.

Our first project was to remodel the bathroom, adding a tub/shower combo, and create more privacy by the toilet.

Across the room, a large, intricate vanity with small drawers and little storage took up a lot of floor space. Note the plug-in sconces, in a bathroom.

Utilizing vertical space, we built the floor to ceiling narrow shelving for storage. Keeping the vanity open, and painted a unique color, visually lightens the room, while still offering storage for toilet paper, towels, and bath toys.

The smallest bedroom in the house, the guest room, featured wall to wall, floor to ceiling oak bookshelves, a boob light, and another broken window.

With a tight layout, we wanted to create a useful room, with plenty of walking space and even a dresser. To do so, we cut out a notch in the shelves to recess the bed, making a cozy nook. Sconces flank either side, with the shelves serving as a nightstand. A larger window creates an egress access and brightens the north facing room.

Across from the bed is a petite dresser and small closet.

Perhaps the most neutral space before, the boys’ bedroom, had two windows and oodles of sun shining in. It also had unevenly patched walls and popcorn ceilings.

When working on spaces for kids, I like to ask for their opinions. Before getting started on the fun stuff, I fixed the walls, scraped the ceiling smooth, and we replaced the fogged up old windows. Then came the fun part, and the boys helped choose the wall color, art, and stripe curtains.

There’s a small space between the entrance and closet doors, but the starting point was a blank slate.

To use the small space, a handed down bookshelf fills the space nicely, without eating up precious real estate. Of course the Star Wars gear makes an appearance.

While the boys’ room was neutral, the master bedroom had peeling/painted over wallpaper, electric blue walls, two large windows, an ugly ceiling fan, and popcorn ceilings.

As with the entry, we added a wood planked wall for texture and interest and later painted it white. On other walls, I painstakingly peeled off the old wallpaper and scraped off popcorn ceilings. A custom bed, sewed leather top curtain panels, and floating nightstand add character and warmth. We also replaced the window and added a door leading out to a small, private balcony.

Along the left wall is our walk in closet.

Oh the power of paint! Blue walls be gone, in with bright white and nearly black walls. A large leaning mirror is a functional way to put the small area to work. Storing extra blankets looks good on a DIY ladder rack.

Across the room is the entry door (to the right) as well as the master bathroom (on the left). With a generous open area, it’s a bit challenging to put to good use. A master sitting area seems to be the go to.

Instead, a recently found Craigslist dresser brings the warm wood tones over to this side of the room. Added storage is always a plus, but I love having a surface to hold decorative items, too. I hear masking tape is the new, modern alternative to picture frames, didn’t you? Haha, no, a frame will happen…eventually.

Four years ago, if you went through the door you would have seen a hot dog covered with ketchup and mustard-esque room. Red walls, yellow tile and sinks, and brown floors. In a word, woof.

After a full gut remodel, we have a modern meets rustic retreat. Ben built a custom walnut vanity, topped with a stainless steel counter and vessel sink. More tongue and groove is a durable lower wall and a high contrast against the dark upper.

Double sinks on a long vanity were nice, but not something we really need.

Instead, we shortened the vanity to five feet with a single sink, allowing room for the clawfoot tub we pulled out of the main bath.

Though much of the basement is still in the process, here’s a peek at the previous arrangement. Door number one (to the left) led into the under stair storage, and the small French doors went into a big, open space.

With a bit of reconfiguration, we turned part of the under stair storage into a small mud nook. Straight ahead is a bedroom, with a theater space on the other side.

Stay tuned for the exterior changes, as this post has also gotten lengthy.

Luck of the Irish

Published on March 17, 2016March 17, 2016 by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

I may not have Irish heritage, but I undeniably love the color green. As a kid, when coloring or painting, I didn’t consider my work done until I added a splash of green somewhere. If you’re wondering, yes, I was a complete nerd who loved to draw, paint, build and decorate cardboard doll houses. I remember making a yellow-backed floral wall paper by drawing on white printer paper. It’s too bad I don’t have photos, because I’m sure it was just lovely-haha.

To me, green adds a vibrancy and lively element no other colors can. Yes, yellow is bright and cheery, but it doesn’t add the right warmth. Blues are beautiful and soothing, but can’t quite make the statement green can. Green is so abundant in nature, whether light, fresh spring green, dark mid summer grass-green, or the muted tones found in fall and winter. As a general green lover, I’ve incorporated some of each throughout my home and I urge you to do the same.

Some rooms have just a sprinkle (nothing too in your face) of green, such as our family room. In a mostly neutral space, nearly citron green pillows liven up the couch and add a jolt of color.

A brightly colored green and blue landscape painting perks up the mantle while the lumbar pillows pull the color down to the neutral chairs. Just a few small green accessories like books, a small vase, and candles pepper the color around the rest of the room.

Our kitchen counters are dark, nearly black green soapstone that still reads as a neutral.

Small additions like towels, plants, dishes, even fruit are quick, zero commitment ways to add even more color.

Other rooms have a slightly bigger swath of green, like our living room. Six sets of luscious grass-green velvet curtains flank the windows.

Cover the curtains with your hand and you’ll notice just how much life and personality they bring to the room. When in doubt, always default to house plants to get that bit of color without overwhelming a room. Bonus, you don’t have to deal with picking paint colors or fabrics.

Speaking of paint, sometimes a quart can make the biggest impact. At less than $20, what do you have to lose by giving it a try? Our main bathroom rocks an olive-green vanity, which has so much more character than any neutral ever will.

Toss a few more green accessories, in this case, hand towels and a nearly ugly 70’s landscape painting, around the room to complete the look.

According to the color wheel, green is a cool color, but it certainly adds warmth to any space. A muddy sagey olive acts as an almost neutral backdrop in our guest bedroom.

Pairing with bright white it feels so fresh, clean, and simple. But greens really shine next to warm wood tones, much like a tree trunk and leaves.

By far the most overtly green room in the house is the boys’ bedroom. Back when I gave their room a makeover, I asked each of them what color walls they wanted. One said green and the other said yellow. We compromised with this lemongrass yellow-green. It’s fun and happy, but is tempered by white, gray, and navy.

Our master suite, though mostly white and black, has green tucked here and there. More grass-green velvet wraps the headboard for a touch of color against an otherwise white wall.

Opposite the bed, a few bright green plants and (soon to be framed) landscape painting flank a dresser, bringing color around the room in a simple, easy-going way.

Even our master bathroom has touches of green via plants and a very abstract landscape.

Though we’re not quite at the point of the basement remodel to paint and add accessories, I’m trying to narrow down green paint options to use down there in a few ways. I think we all have a color we naturally gravitate toward, right? What’s yours, and more importantly, how do you use it in your decor?

Mirror Makeover

Published on August 10, 2015August 6, 2015 by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

When I found this dresser for a friend, it also came with a matching mirror. The kind that attach to the back of the piece on stilts. You can kind of see it sticking out the top, reflecting another chest of drawers.

Luckily for me, she didn’t want it as a set, and I loved the look and size, but not the speckled finish or the color.

A few areas of the veneer started to bubble, so my first step was fixing those by applying glue under and clamping it until dried.

Then, to remove the stain, I generously spread Citristrip over everything, letting it work its magic.

Just like scraping off popcorn ceilings, the process is satisfying and oddly similar. Instead of using a wide metal spatula, I used a narrow plastic tool to gently remove the old finish.

One thing I really dislike about using a paint stripper is the clean up. But, with such a small area, I didn’t have the option to sand instead. To clean the residue, I brushed on a little paint thinner, then scrubbed the grooves with an old toothbrush. Flat areas are easier to clean with an old rag. After all that, I had my clean slate.

For a little color and protection, I rubbed on two coats of Dark Walnut tinted Danish Oil. The coloring isn’t as strong as a stain, and can be applied as needed. I wasn’t looking for a new mirror, but I swapped the one in the main bathroom for this handsome fella because I like him so much. The mirror already had hooks on the back, so we strung 100 pound picture wire to hang it. To accommodate the slightly taller size, we did raised the two wall screws a few inches.

Adding that small dose of natural wood brought in so much warmth and texture, making the once white space feel layered and earthy.

Our Humble Abode Blog Main Bathroom Vanity This frame is two inches narrower and three taller than the old frame, so it makes the ceilings feel a bit higher.

A serendipitous change for the main bathroom, that just proves changes are always taking place, even when unplanned. That white mirror will be saved for the basement or pool house half bath, so it won’t go to waste either.

Olive You

Published on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 by Our Humble Abode20 Comments

Green has always been my favorite color. As I child, I realized green brought life and zest to my pictures/drawings. I’m finally done cheating on green with blues and determined to bring in more of it.

Ironically, about four weeks ago, I was amassing green paint samples to change out the vanity. Then I got an email from Better Homes and Gardens asking if they could feature our master bathroom in an upcoming I Did It article. Umm, yes!! While they had a team out here, they wanted to photograph the main bathroom, too. Double yes!

So I put my plans on a brief hold. After the photo shoot (two weeks ago) I set my plan in motion. The quick makeover added more green and natural elements to the main bathroom. It feels so different now, even with the few simple changes:

Even better, I spent only $6.99 for a small can of Tate Olive by Benjamin Moore paint. After clearing everything off, I taped the edges and gave two coats of paint. Taping everything inside the vanity was the biggest pain, but so worth it.

Once fully dry, I restocked the shelves. On the bottom, I put toilet paper in an old wooden crate I found on the side of the road. Green + old wood = love. Towels we already had along with a basket left over from the photo shoot fill the top.

On the shelf stack I have clear lidded jars filled with soap, cotton balls, cotton swabs, and band aids. More toiletries, and another navy and white striped bin below.

The dipped woven basket is a great small clothes/towels hamper. In place of a normal trash can we have a geometric patterned hole-less ceramic planter. Another prop from the photo shoot; Char (the stylist) is a genius.

With the new natural scheme, the quirky Woman/Man art and shower curtain didn’t feel right.

Instead, this old oil painting fills the space and looks right at home.

I’ve had this painting for four or five years and never had the perfect spot for it. Until now, where the natural setting and wood frame complete the design.

By the door, I wanted to add a little life, so I made another copper bud vase and filled it with boxwood clippings.

A white striped shower curtain we had in our old master bath is super simple. Maybe too plain though. I’m thinking of adding a strip of green along the bottom. It’ll add length and bring more green over to this side.

A low light plant and white flower dish fill in one side of the vanity.

A white and wood soap pump from Target and woven cup round out the other side.

Shopping the house for accessories made this change without taking a toll on my wallet. Of course it helps when I have a few props left from a photo shoot, too. Even if I had to buy those this make over would have cost about $50 total.

Au Natural

Published on June 6, 2014June 6, 2014 by Our Humble AbodeLeave a comment

For the past two years, the hall bathroom has looked like this:

White and light gray walls with a bold blue vanity and coral accents. While I love how fun, happy, and bold it is, I’m feeling the need to change.

More recently, I’ve been drawn to natural colors and elements; rustic woods, earth tones, leafy greens, plants and botanicals. This bathroom doesn’t have any of those pieces. Nor does it have the same feel as some of the more recently finished rooms.

To make it flow better, I’ve got a few simple ideas that will change the vibe. Leaving the walls alone, I can still infuse nature and color.

A quart of paint can easily cover the vanity in a new color. I’ve got scrap wood in the garage I could use to make boxes or picture frames.

Just yesterday, I found a really neat vintage wooden crate free by the road. We’ve needed a lower toilet paper bin for a while, so the shelf doesn’t get scuffed pulling it out. This character rich crate is the perfect piece with a few felt pads on the bottom.

To complete the quick refresh, I’d love to paint the vanity a warm mossy/evergreen. Something with plenty of color, but still slightly muted. A few new bins and baskets for added function would be nice, too. On the large wall, I’m debating between one large botanical style piece or three (maybe even a grid of six) smaller nature prints. Maybe a plain white shower curtain? Not sure on that yet.

Hopefully I’ll get a chance to start on it this weekend, now that this crazy week is almost over. Last week of school paired with another exciting event is a lot to handle in such a short time. Getting back to normal feels really nice right now.