Operation Master Bathroom

(Part of the 'making our house a home' goal for 2012)

We have a history with decorating (or as the Americans say 'remodelling') bathrooms.

I've been desperately trying to find a photo we have of Mr D. and Goth Child (rather tiny) knocking down the ceiling in our lovely old cottage bathroom back in England...but can't find it at the moment. There GC stands 'protected' by a pair of swimming goggles whilst her father knocks down the ceiling above them with a sledge hammer. Actually you know I exaggerate...a little. But this was the outcome:

 

 

It was probably the longest rebuild/decorating project we've ever done. It took us a year to rebuild the ceiling, installing spotlights and stereo speakers into it so we could have music in the bathroom (connected to a record deck and cassette player in the neighbouring dining room). I have memories of painting the radiator heavily pregnant on New Year's Eve so we could say we finished it within one year.

I LOVED my old bathroom. Because it was an addition to the original 1802 house, it had two tiny (originally outdoor) windows alongside the bath. It really was a safe haven I could chill out in, during long, relaxing bubble baths:

 

Now I have to say I'm still a fan of blue and white, wallpaper, of Scandinavian white-washed wood, of making rooms look smaller and therefore cosier (all of which I am VERY PLEASED to find will be decorating trends for 2012)......and as you know I'm not a fan of Arizona muddy browness as a decorating style. Our master bathroom in our new house is not a place I currently enjoy. It feels cold and clinical. It's a place a pass through quickly at the start and end of the day because I have to. I never feel like chilling out there and have only had 2 bubble baths in it since we moved in last March (I shower instead, people, how dare you imply I don't wash!)

These are the master bathroom before pics (I don't say currently, because we've actually started some work, those photos are to come):

 

 

It's boring and bland. It doesn't have any character.

The thing I dislike the most is the ginormous boring blank mirror:

 

And although when I first moved to the USA, I found the 'hollywood dressing room' lights quite exciting, I've actually grown out of love with their novelty. Plus the bathroom only has one lighting level - super bright. The only way of creating subdued lighting is by keeping the lights off and lighting candles. And candles aren't things that last in our Arizona heat.

If you check out my Pinterest you'll see some of things that are inspiring this first attempt at decorating the bathroom. I say 'first attempt' because this isn't a complete 'remodelling'. We don't yet have the time, money or the effort required to do that. Eventually I want a roll-top bath like we had back home. I think I'd like separate his and her traditional wash basins. I want new tiling and to get rid of the horrible gold shower unit in the corner of the bathroom. 

 

But for now the plan is this:

1. Make the mirror look less huge and more interesting by building it a wooden frame.
2. Also install a tower vanity unit inbetween the two wash basins to break up the mirror more.
3. Install crown and base mouldings on the tower vanity (because my favourite bathroom inspiration is this).
4. Install new lights above each sink that are more 'us'.
5. Take out the bathroom extractor fan (we already have a separate one in the toilet) and use the electrics from this to install a 'sort of' central, ceiling light that's on a separate switch to the over-sink wall lighting.
6. Fill existing holes and any others we create with spackling (I think polyfilla is called spackling over here).
7. Paint the walls a blue or turquoise, yet to be chosen.
8. Strip, prime and paint the cabinets in the room white (I'm following the incredibly informative exploits and tutorials on painting cabinets currently appearing on Young House Love - those guys are amazing, if you're not following their blog, you should be!)
9. Paint or white-wash the mirror wooden frame (yet to be decided).
10. Create some sort of window treatment for the glass brick window to soften the room.
11. Take down the horribly cheap towel rails and buy a ladder towel shelving unit.

And you know that list will grow as we a) think of new things (just like my 2012 goals and resolutions pt1 and pt2), b) cock-up things in the bathroom and have to repair the mess we've made!

But for now, I'm off to continue working on framing the mirror according to Mr. D's plans....which I can't currently find.....doh, he's taken them to work hasn't he?! Oh well, it's all part of life's great adventure :)

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