Wood-paneled, postage stamp sized bathroom needs help!
My husband and I bought a 1987 prow-style Lindal post and beam cedar home a year ago. We have two bathrooms: the 2nd floor bathroom which is for our bedroom (its the only room upstairs) and this 1st floor bath which serves as our guest bathroom AND bathroom for our 8 month old daughter (whose bedroom is across the hall).
The first issue with this bathroom is that it is so dark and claustrophobic! Since our budget for this bathroom is -- uh, how do I say this -- next to nothing, the best and easiest alteration would be to whitewash. However, the paneling isn't just wood, it is Western Red Cedar, which smells beautiful when someone showers, and -- of course -- can't be put back once you've altered it in some way. However, my husband and I agree that we need to change it... My thought at this point is to paint the walls and (maybe) the ceiling but leave the trim, beams door, and windowsill natural. Thoughts?
Next is the fact that there is NO FLOOR SPACE in this bathroom. You literally have to stand with the backs of your legs against the bathtub to close the door. In my wildest dreams, it would make sense to rip out the tub and just have a shower, but we do need one to bathe babies. So, we are left with whatever we can salvage from replacing the toilet and getting rid of the awful sink vanity. We are going to get a compact toilet, and I am considering options for the sink and vanity. I am thinking of building or asking my husband to build a really streamlined, shallow (meaning stays close to the wall), butcher's block-style vanity with a porcelain vessel sink (is a vessel sink practical with kids?). Thoughts?
Third: hardware! You may notice that the house has a fabulous wood-on-wood decor going on... wood towel bar, wood light switch and outlet plates, wood medicine cabinet... They really went all out! Our general flair is sort of contemporary rustic vintagey Anthropologie (did that make any sense at all?), so I am thinking that once we lighten the place up with whitewash, that antique glass and metal would look nice. Also, going to take out the medicine cabinet and replace it with a mirror, either spanning over sink and toilet with a little shelf beneath it, or just over the sink, with shelves over the toilet. Will loose a little storage, but this bathroom is not meant for storing things!
OK! That's my design dilemma (well, one of them, wait until you see this place!).
Thanks for looking!
The first issue with this bathroom is that it is so dark and claustrophobic! Since our budget for this bathroom is -- uh, how do I say this -- next to nothing, the best and easiest alteration would be to whitewash. However, the paneling isn't just wood, it is Western Red Cedar, which smells beautiful when someone showers, and -- of course -- can't be put back once you've altered it in some way. However, my husband and I agree that we need to change it... My thought at this point is to paint the walls and (maybe) the ceiling but leave the trim, beams door, and windowsill natural. Thoughts?
Next is the fact that there is NO FLOOR SPACE in this bathroom. You literally have to stand with the backs of your legs against the bathtub to close the door. In my wildest dreams, it would make sense to rip out the tub and just have a shower, but we do need one to bathe babies. So, we are left with whatever we can salvage from replacing the toilet and getting rid of the awful sink vanity. We are going to get a compact toilet, and I am considering options for the sink and vanity. I am thinking of building or asking my husband to build a really streamlined, shallow (meaning stays close to the wall), butcher's block-style vanity with a porcelain vessel sink (is a vessel sink practical with kids?). Thoughts?
Third: hardware! You may notice that the house has a fabulous wood-on-wood decor going on... wood towel bar, wood light switch and outlet plates, wood medicine cabinet... They really went all out! Our general flair is sort of contemporary rustic vintagey Anthropologie (did that make any sense at all?), so I am thinking that once we lighten the place up with whitewash, that antique glass and metal would look nice. Also, going to take out the medicine cabinet and replace it with a mirror, either spanning over sink and toilet with a little shelf beneath it, or just over the sink, with shelves over the toilet. Will loose a little storage, but this bathroom is not meant for storing things!
OK! That's my design dilemma (well, one of them, wait until you see this place!).
Thanks for looking!
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Looking at the photos again, I see that there is white trim around the door opposite the door to the bath. Is that consistent throughout the house? If it is, you might also change the doors to white, not just whitewash. That would brighten things slightly. I like your idea of a bigger mirror, tho I fear you will miss the medicine cabinet and the safety issue of having things out of reach of your baby.
I'll be interested in what others have to say.
If you have to paint one thing, maybe by painting the ceiling white, that would make it feel less closed in.
http://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/bath/sinks/15-3-4-round-porcelain-vessel-sink/p-1897705-c-5966.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/bath/sinks/square-porcelain-vessel-sink/p-1852606-c-5966.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/bath/sinks/credenza-above-counter-basin-18/p-1508567-c-5966.htm
Keep in touch would love to see it done. If your in my area would like to come and see it. Good luck.
http://www.mackintoshdesign.com/titroflistgl.html
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72581833/stained-glass-water-color-stained-glass
Very strongly agree with Carolyn. Light is essential in this wood saturated environment. Like others who have commented already, I wouldn't paint the paneling. It is beautiful. Embrace it. Having said that, light is very important. The first two photos below show wood-enveloped bathrooms but each has lots of light. Consider replacing any single bulb fixtures in the bathroom with multi-bulb fixtures. ALSO, use a CLEAR vinyl shower curtain. This will make the most of the light from the window as well as helping to visually expand the space.
Secondly, seriously consider a pedestal sink. This would eliminate some storage (I'll discuss that later), but it will do much to help open up the space and diminish the claustrophobic feeling. See the third picture below. If you find one to mimic the victorian era pedestal sinks, this will lean toward your Anthropologie / eclectic style. I think your toilet is fine, just replace the seat in white to match the toilet.
Thirdly, find a large mirror to replace the wooden medicine cabinet (there goes the rest of your storage). The mirror could even be large enough to cover the area behind BOTH the sink and the toilet. Mirrors visually expand spaces and will help contribute a feeling of more light. Find a mirror that goes with your Anthropologie leanings - something eclectic, retro or even ornate. See the fourth picture below. Scour thrift stores, antique haunts and websites until you find one you love. Don't limit yourself to rustic styles. Consider even ornate and "swirly". The juxtaposition of sophisticated against rustic could be very appealing to you. If you find one large enough to cover the space behind both the sink and the toilet, hang it securely in a landscape orientation across both spaces.
Fourthly, remove all clutter from the bathroom. Since this is your main floor bathroom, you will want it to be appealing to everyone. Is there a linen or coat closet in the hallway outside the bathroom or one in a nearby bedroom? Think of this closet as your "bathroom annex". Bathtime supplies could be stored in a wire or even plastic laundry basket for use at bathtime. Keep extra towels and cleaning supplies in that closet as well. If there is no closet available, consider using a piece of furniture (dresser, armoire, etc.) in an extra bedroom near the bathroom for all the bathroom supplies. Every bathroom needs storage but this bathroom is simply too small to accommodate that storage - especially all the supplies needed for children. You'll have to think outside the box and be creative to get the storage you need.
Lastly, replace the towel bar, shower curtain bar, toilet paper holder, hooks, etc. with chrome. They will reflect more light and bring some refinement to the space.
Thanks for sharing your project! We'd all love to see your finished room. Please post a pic if you get the time.
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