26 June 2013

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!

46 comments:

  1. Oh my god those tiles are AMAZING!!!! One million percent better than our pale lilac marble effect tiles with random hippos on some of them (I'm sure one hippo is doing a poo)!!
    Love it! Can you come and do ours???

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    1. Pooing hippos eh? Those sound, erm, interesting! :) I'm sure I've read they have those tiles in fancy spas... I will absolutely come and do yours! xx

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  2. Awesome!! My favourite is the triceratops of course, but the tiles & vanity unit are very cool. I totally understand your excitement, DIY is so fun when you do it like this!! :o)

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    1. It is brilliant fun when it's not boring beige. And when you pay someone else to do all the boring DIY for you... *ahem* xx

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  3. WOW, just WOW!! I have never seen a shower I'm so in love with. Never! SO amazing!! And all the furniture goes perfectly with it, plus the pirate ship toothbrush holder and tea towel picture... your bathroom is perfection Katie!

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    1. Thank you so much Miriam- what a sweet comment! :) xxx

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  4. Gorgeous make over! Wow wow wow x x x

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  5. Wow! I mean really, wow! I love it all! But I do think that you missed an opportunity there with that radiatot pipe. Surely it would have made a fabulous repurposed industrial toilet roll holder. Love those tiles, and I would have got excited over that sink cabinet! xx

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    1. I think the radiator pipe had gone a bit rusty- but you're totally right we should've upcycled it into something else. We have thought of something fun to do with the spare tap though- which I will try and remember to share on here soon. xxx

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  6. It's lovely! Very impressed indeed!

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  7. Oh Katie those tiles are immense! Love the description of 'crabstick pink' too, plus the vanity unit is lush! I need to come round for a wee now!

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    1. You're very welcome to! I was tempted to call this post "Welcome to where I wee" but decided it might take the glamorous-makeover edge off :p xxx

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  8. This is absolutely amazing, the transformation is incredible! That vanity unit is absolutely perfect and those tiles, wow! xo

    Rosie | A Rosie Outlook

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    1. Thanks Rosie! I love the unit so much- very glad I persevered and didn't just give up and buy a white one. xxx

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  9. Love those tiles, in fact love the whole bathroom!!! Xx

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    1. Cheers m'dear :) I'm so glad it's finally all finished xxx

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  10. I want those tiles! I'm just mad I didn't see them before we did our main bathroom but it does mean I could get them for the grotty ensuite - when we finally get round to sorting that out.
    Its a really gorgeous renovation.

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    1. You should absolutely get them for the grotty ensuite! It will certainly no longer be grotty :) Thank you very much xxx

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  11. I love it! Those tiles are just gorgeous... I'm totally going to steal this idea if we ever managed to buy a house!

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    1. Steal away m'dear - I'm on a one woman mission to stop people buying beige tiles (unless, you know, they want to) xxx

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  12. Wow - you've certainly made a huge change! The bathroom looks very stylish and I agree with everyone else, those tiles are awesome!
    I really like your vanity unit and "storm in a teacup" tea towel as well. :-) x

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    1. Ta very much. It really makes me wish I'd bothered to take "before" pictures in the other rooms too- although none of them were transformed quite to the level of this one! xxx

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  13. the tiles! THE TILES! I love them. THey completely make up for you taking the bath out (not liking baths? are you kerazzzzy!?)

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    1. I know, I know- not liking baths is very weird. I love the IDEA of baths, but in reality they're too hot when I get in and then go cold much too quickly. Give me a punch-in-the-face shower any day of the week! xx p.s. although it does mean we're going to have to bathe our future babies in the pond.

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  14. oh wow--those tiles! I am so in love with them! And I appreciate your very descriptive shower setting metaphors, too :)

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    1. Thanks Gretchen :) I felt I needed to set the scene- although can appreciate not everyone loves a dog drool metaphor! :p xxx

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  15. OMG it looks amazing! The tiles are fab :)

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    1. Thanks Nic! And welcome to my blog- thank you very much for reading :) xxx

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  16. Love it. Tiles, vanity thingy and star shaped tile for the shower - all win.

    Yay for your momentarily clean bathroom.

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    1. Indeed! If nothing else, at least my house will get a thorough clean during this series of posts :p xxx

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  17. Your bathroom is AMAZING!!

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  18. Those tiles are just adorable.

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  19. Popped to this post to see which tea towel you have framed in your bathroom, I like a nice teatowel and am gobsmacked at how beautiful your tiles are, completely stunning!
    Lisa x

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  20. The shower is blooming marvellous!!! It all is!!!! Your house must be such fun to be in!!

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    1. It certainly is- it's practically impossible to be miserable living in a rainbow! xx

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  21. These tiles on the wall decor is a hit. They look like a mosaic of the royal palace

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  22. I just had to come back again for another longing look. I WANT a rainbow shower. If I ever owned my own house, please could I a) totally copy this b) let me know who the Irish people are?!x

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    1. a) Of course you can! and b) http://best-tile.co.uk/index.php xxx

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  23. Hello, been on a endless search for morrocan tiles for the kitchen where did you source yours in the end? Fran

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    1. Hi Fran,

      We bought them from here - http://best-tile.co.uk/index.php When we bought ours they only had an Irish website, so shipping cost a fortune, but they've expanded to the UK now too. Not sure what shipping is like, but the tiles are all really cheap- about £3 each.

      xxx

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  24. My word or word up! You have found the perfect means to hiding all the shapes and bottles of soaps etc. in your tile selection. It's perfectly camouflaged. It's actually "live art" as the placement of bottles and new bottles change. The star cut tile is perfect. Radiator heated towels, perfect.

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