I’ve been spending some time working on the bathroom lately. Its was fairly recently fitted when we bought the place so there wasn’t really an argument for replacing it. (Unfortunately). I decided to just do some ‘tweaks’ to make it a bit more homely. Sadly i forgot to do any ‘before’ pictures so perhaps this doesn’t quite tell the story. If you were really interested, the home report is still available online; glancing at some of the pictures now its nice to see the place transformed a bit from its former slightly drab self.

Beginnings occurred in the usual way, ie getting some furniture painted up. I recently wrote a post about furniture painting with Annie Sloan chalk paint, which i would like to now refute completely as i have wholeheartedly changed my mind and gone back to Farrow & Ball. It is simply much better quality paint, gives a tough, satin finish, and comes in the most delicious color range. I was previously limited in choice by Homebase’s rubbish range but then (dangerously) discovered an F&B shop in Stockbridge, with every colour always in stock. It was a bit like a sweetie shop for grown-ups. I managed to escape from my first visit with just 3 different tins, which should see me through the next few weeks of projects.

This shelving unit originally came from the salvage yard in Musselburgh. It has been reincarnated a few times, being a shoe rack for a while, and nearly a planter when it first came into the house. I painted it in ‘Vert de Terre’, a fresh apple-y grey green.

The colour choice came about serendipitously, through this fabric which i wasn’t too sure about initially. It was a scrap of slightly shiny material which i reckoned would do well for a steamy room. I removed the doors from the under-sink cupboard as they were a bit boring and rickety into the bargain, and replaced them by making this curtain. The bathroom fitter appears to have added a wine rack to the left of the sink unit; rolled up towels are about the only thing i can think to put in there!

I also covered the top of this storage box which i found on the street a few years ago. It also got the F&B treatment…

These shelves came from Tullyroan and I have been quite pleased i stole them as they have come in handy in a few different places. Again, though not very obvious in this picture, they are also painted to match. Here you can see one of my collection of vintage first aid kits. Hey, what do you expect from a vintage aficionado doctor!

The panelling on the side of the bath was pretty ugly before – grey tiles poorly fitted together with sealant bulging out at every angle. I got this tongue-and-groove panelling done, to bring a….surprise surprise….country feel to the room! We also had the dreadful lino lifted, and sanded down the floors to reveal the beautiful golden pine beneath.

Its taking shape, but still a few bits to do including replacing the Ikea shelving with a glass wall cabinet (when i find one), and some pretty lighting to follow. And that should do it for a year or two!