House Tour Part 1: Bathroom

Hello lovelies!

How are you? 

Welcome to the long-awaited Part 1 of my new House Tour series. I know starting with the bathroom doesn't sound like the most exciting introduction to the tour, but I've chosen it because: 
1. The bathroom was the only room I remembered to photograph "before".
2. It's by far the most dramatic transformation we've completed. 
3. I've just cleaned it*. 

Before: 

Our bathroom was originally split into two rooms, both of which had been wallpapered by the previous owners. Because clearly there's nothing more sensible than really thick wallpaper in a bathroom. There's no way that plan will backfire and the walls will end up going mouldy. Oh no.

Excuse me. Just using up my Sarcasm Quota for the week. 

The first thing we tackled decorating-wise after moving in was stripping the mouldy wallpaper in the bathroom (as opposed to the room with the toilet in it, which also had the most disgustingly germy doorknob in the whole wide world - because the sink was also in the bathroom. YUCK.). We decided to slap on a quick coat of anti-mould bathroom paint, and opted for a cheery cornflower blue.

The bathroom stayed that way for about a year, before we had saved up enough money to get the wall knocked through and put in a new suite. It was only after stripping the wallpaper in the toilet room that we discovered the stunning paint effect** underneath, which I can only describe as "crabstick pink". Lovely, innit?

The radiator was originally against the wall separating the two rooms, so we spent the six or so months between knocking the wall down and getting the plumber in having to walk round the radiator pipes in the floor (I've circled one in red). I ended up putting buckets over the top of both pipes to save any more middle-of-the-night toe-stubbing incidents. A very classy look. 

On the left is where the builder blocked in the old bathroom door

We were both very excited about getting rid of our bath. I was sick of having to clean an entire tub despite never actually bathing in it, and neither of us like baths. Although I would hasten to add that doesn't mean we smell, despite what my bestie has told the internet. 

Searching for a vanity unit that I liked took ages and ages. Because I am WELL fussy, and also really didn't want a shiny, glossy white one. I didn't record how long I spent scouring the internet for The Perfect Vanity Unit, but 50 hours is probably a reasonable guess. I could've built one in less time! 

Finally, after wasting half my life on ebay, Next home came up trumps. I was so excited I literally ran upstairs yelling "TOM! I'VE FOUND OUR VANITY UNIT!!!". Tom was as apathetic as any normal person should be about a cupboard that supports a sink. Not that it mattered, as I got excited enough for both of us. And I even put it together myself *bows*

The shower enclosure, counter-top sink and mixer tap were ebay bargains, although I have since learnt that cheap taps are a (leaky, wobbly) false economy, and would definitely recommend investing in a decent tap if you ever undertake a bathroom makeover. I'll probably buy a new one soon, before it starts leaking and ruins the vanity unit. 

I really wanted a rain-head shower, and we eventually decided to get a double-headed unit for days when we didn't want to wash our hair. I've actually ended up using the regular shower head every day, because the water pressure isn't as strong with the "deluge" head, and I like to feel like I'm being punched in the face with water when I'm having a shower. The rain-head feels more like being dribbled on by an overly enthusiastic dog. Lovely.

And then there's the tiles. Oh, the tiles. I never thought I'd get excited about tiles - the ones in our local tile warehouse are all just so... meh. And beige *shudders*. Then Tom and I visited a cafe in Winchelsea during a mini adventure which had the most EPIC tiled floor I'd ever seen. The minute I got home I started Googling as many varients of "multi-coloured Moroccan tiles" as I could think of. The nearest I could find any within our budget was in Ireland of all places. Don't know why I didn't look there first really- Ireland's famous for nothing if not it's excellent Moroccan tile exports(!) 

The tiles were so heavy the shipping cost a third as much as the entire order, but as the tiles were so incredibly cheap it still cost us less than buying the same number from Generic Tile Warehouse. To illustrate how monstrously heavy they are, the tiles were left on our driveway on a huge wooden pallet, and it took me a NINETY MINUTES to carry them from the driveway into the house, because I could only lift seven in one go!! 

It was totally worth it though, despite having to keep an eye on them whenever we had guests before the plumber arrived; because someone would always "pretend" they were stealing one because they're just so darn pretty!

Anyway, I'll shut up now because I'm sure you're dying to see the "after" shots! 

After:

THE VANITY UNIT OF DREAMS

The best thing about this new radiator?
It's not in the middle of the floor.

Guess where this rug's from? Starts with "T", ends in "iger"...

A nautical print I got free with Homemaker magazine. I do love their freebies.

Our shipshape toothbrush holder, my Odds and Ends jars,
a Moroccan-style jar I made from this tutorial,
the box of my awesome anchor mug from Alice,
and this teatowel in an Ikea frame.

Fancy new blinds to match the vanity unit (and to stop me
mentally scarring the neighbours)

THE TILES!!!

Our plumber even cut the tile holding our shower head into a
star shape :)

Handy shower storage

What do you think? 

Katie xxx

*I mean, uhhh... it's ALWAYS this clean. Definitely. Ahem. 
** Whaddaya know, I had a bit of sarcasm left after all!