4.01.2010

bathroom on a sunny day

You probably haven't seen too much work being done in the bathroom off the kitchen, but we basically gutted the entire room over the last month and a half. It's come a long way!

we:
- Exposed a swath of brick wall
- Retiled the tub surround and added a shampoo shelf (tile is American Olean's biscuit, found as overstock at BMRC),
- Installed fixtures...a new (but used) Toto toilet, a 1950's Crane co. medicine cabinet + matching wall-mount sink. also TP holder, towel ring, etc.
- Poured a concrete slab for behind-the-sink storage (this time we used high-density Quikrete, not as happy with results)
- Sheet rocked the ceiling adding an exhaust fan and new recessed lights,
- Installed a cork tile floor
- Installed vertical wainscoting (partially to hide the uneven walls, but also because it looks nice)
- Added a 3x3 glass block interior window to let afternoon light into the kitchen.

^the Crane Co. used to make beautifully shaped things! ... and anyone who lives in the area should go to Crane's Beach, also beautifully shaped
^cork... somewhat sustainably harvested, fairly durable, looks great, and very easy to install.

^The only thing remaining from day 1 is this aqua cast-iron bath tub, which is a shade of blue i don't think they make anymore. It was somewhat of a challenge to find a color pallette that wouldnt turn the room into a carnival, so we kept it simple. White on the wainscotting, and greyblue on the walls. the cork does it's own thing, and the brick ties in the concrete. its a very bright room, i sort of wish i spent more time in there.

what do you think?

ps. the folding chair in the first picture was found in the basement of the house, and on the back of it reads Highland Company. Not sure what the connection to the neighborhood is, if any, but its a nice little chair nonetheless.