Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

French antiques for the home

Thank you for your ideas, opinions, and color swaps for our bathroom.

I like how your comments tell me about who you are and what you like. It is fascinating to me how we can share something so simple on a blog and learn a great deal about each other.

My brother Mathew said: "Its only paint. It's not like your painting the Golden Gate. Live with the color and in 6 mo. if you can't stand it go with something else."

My brother Mathew thinks I exaggerate. You are right my bathroom is not the Golden Gate, it is the Eiffel Tower.

Bathroom faucet

Melange wrote, "I think you
should *ditress* the walls.  You know several colors and a wash to make
them look old and worn."

I am going to try your idea, thanks.

My Cousin Chris offered his advice which was, "…Cover the walls with polished diamond-plate aluminum for that industrial look."

Chris I think you have been into too many motorcycle showrooms! Tell me when are you going to write that motorcycling blog???

exposed tub pipes

Diogenes (A designer-friend who often comments ) was horrified that I was going to leave the round mirror on the floor, he wrote, "I think that mirror should be on the wall."

I agree. I didn't hang it up because I am uncertain if I like it.

Erin teasingly wrote, "You know what…you livened yourself with a new color hair ….so…"

You are right, I guess change is in the air in more ways than one.

And, Erin Perry wrote telling me about her bathroom, "… My bathroom, in my Mexicolor house on the Central Coast of California, is lime green and fuschia – about as far away from grey as one can get! It's decorated with Frida prints, Day of the Dead skulls and calaveras, photos of fountains and doorways from San Miguel Allende and nichos and milagros."

I gotta see a photo please 🙂

French antique Lustre 

(Note: I am going to take the lights off and add candles.)

I am painting. In a few days I will show you the results. Maybe I will have someone take a photo of me in the bathtub… what do you think of that? Should I match my showercap or my bubble bath to the wall color? (Hint: I do not have a shower cap, nor do I take bubble baths. Do you?) You might want to close your eyes!

Comments

27 responses to “”

  1. Vicki

    That would be fun….Corey in her new bathtub!!!! Not so sure about the shower cap but lots and lots of bubbles!!!!! Love the light but it will be so romantic with candles!!! Sounds like you are having so much fun with your new bathroom!!!!

    Reply
  2. My Melange

    Coery,
    Thanks for trying my idea. If you like, I have several tried and true *recipes* that you could try for such a wash. Just email me if you are interested.
    And that chandy is to die for. Wish it was hanging in my bathroom 🙂 And I *do* take bubble baths- especially with LUSH products. All natural bath bombs and bath butters that smell wonderful and make your skin feel even better. Ahhhh. Think I’ll have me a tubby tonight!
    Enjoy!!

    Reply
  3. le petit cabinet de curiosites

    A LOT of bubbles but no showercap it looks like MAMIE , I will suggest wet wild hair …I can’t wait for a party in your bathroom , should we come in bathsuit ?

    Reply
  4. AmandaMay

    ooh I just looked at your pictures from yesterday and I love it! THat bathtub? So good. What if you paint the walls a rusty orange to bring out the color in the outside of the tub? Then big white floor length drapes to lighten everything up. And that chandelier is just amazing, I can imagine a candlelit bath, with the crystals sparkling… Do you need a live in assistant perhaps?

    Reply
  5. Diogenes

    Dear Corey,
    Once again you brought a smile to my face while I’m having my morning coffee!
    LOVE the chandlier – it will look great with candles. Looking forward to seeing the finished bathroom.

    Reply
  6. jody

    Corey,
    how am i always a day late it seems?
    Well, when considering the rest of your gorgeous house i did not think an aqua paint would match.
    so i started thinking, i have color in most rooms with accessories, as i am really not good at picking paint colors so i have mostly bland walls……
    but i dream of pale white rooms for the light they give as my house has lots of dark woodwork and is surrounded by large trees that shade it.
    i have been reading a blog called cote de texas. she has helped a lady out west transform her living and dining area from reds to whites. the look is very serene.
    but then again, are we following fads and traditions or our hearts? just who is this house for?
    make yourself happy i say.
    and also as your brother Matthew says, your choice is not written in stone, you can always change.
    so have fun, send us the results.
    try looking at http://www.wisteria.com catalog online to decide on that mirroor.
    they mix contemp and vintage in a way.
    Blessings
    jody

    Reply
  7. Isa

    This project is so dreamy – that chandelier is spectacular and with the candle switch out is divine! Colorwashed walls of greys – you’re killing me with beauty! What a way to go.
    xo Isa

    Reply
  8. Jill

    I missed yesterday’s post… I love the bathroom! But somehow that mirror doesn’t fit – I wonder where there might be a Corey-style mirror with a lovely old scrolly wooden frame? And color… that’s funny about the pale aqua color you suggested being the same as the old tiles. But it’s not, you know. I think a pale version of aqua on the walls would be ethereal!

    Reply
  9. Leslie Garcia

    Dear Corey,
    Your bathroom looks so lovely…and I am sure you will have many wonderful soaks in it! My grandmother in Topeka, Kansas back in 1967 had just such a tub when I was a little girl…I still remember the fun of taking a bath in it.
    Thank you for sharing your adventure.
    Leslie

    Reply
  10. Alina

    I’ve always wanted a chandelier in the bathroom! I am strictly a shower girl so do not take bubble or baths of any kind! Why not follow in the footsteps of MM for your photo:
    http://www.lawrenceschiller.com/photoofthemonth.html

    Reply
  11. Susan

    How can you make painting a bathroom sound like fun? You amaze me! I’m sure it will be beautiful!

    Reply
  12. Mo’a

    It just gets better and better…love the chandelier and candles will be perfect.
    How romantic it will be for you, to take bubble baths in your beautiful bathtub in candlelight.
    Ahhh!!!the French life well lived.
    Yes, yes, a photo of the amazing Corey in her bathtub…sans shower cap, I think…candlelight looks wonderful on blond hair.

    Reply
  13. Rosemary

    Hi Corey,
    I always say it’s only paint, and if you hate it you can paint over it.
    Have fun!
    Rosemary

    Reply
  14. Christy

    Can’t wait to see what color you choose! The chandelier is remarkable. No, I don’t take bubble baths and have never liked them. They make me feel like I’m stewing in my own filth! My husband thinks I’m a female anomaly. I’ll have to refer him to your blog to prove I’m not the only one!

    Reply
  15. Jill Flory

    With a new tub like that I think you need to try a bubble bath! I dont’ usually take them either but every once in a great while it can be fun and relaxing to languish in the tub with bubbles up to your neck. I’ve always dreamed of having the chance to take a bubble bath in a tub like yours. So if you don’t take a bubble bath at least once I may stop reading your blog!!!! Just kidding, I love reading your blog, maybe even more than the idea of a bubble bath in a tub like yours:-)
    Happy painting, can’t wait to see the results.
    Jill

    Reply
  16. Claire

    I’m late on this but here’s my tuppence worth – I like the distressed idea. When my bathroom wallpaper (yuck) was stripped off I loved the look of the old bare plaster walls but everyone said I was crazy and had to paint it to seal it. I’ve always regretted it – if you could get that look using paint or skimming a layer of plaster it would look great!

    Reply
  17. Cindy

    Oh, yes please! A picture of you in a bubblebath would be wonderful. Especially if you don’t ever take them. One of the things I like about photographs is looking at them years later and all the memories and feelings they bring up. Think of the chuckle you would get 10 or more years from now looking at a photo of you in that beautiful tub surrounded by bubbles with the sparkly chandelier. The bathroom looks wonderful, it has a peaceful feeling.
    Thanks for sharing Corey.

    Reply
  18. Eunice

    LOL! If I took a pic of me in the bath, I GUARANTEE you’d want to shut your eyes!

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  19. Cindy

    I forgot to mention. Don’t forget to include those nudes in the photograph. Tee hee.

    Reply
  20. La Donna

    You are sooooo much fun! : )
    And, I CAN NOT live without my daily bubble bath!
    La Donna

    Reply
  21. Tamara Giselle

    I LOVE bubblebaths! And I would especially love one with a candlelit chandelier above me. You know the color of the sheetrock seems to be the same color as a tub full of water.
    I am with your brother. I used to change wall colors like I do my haircolor (but now I have so many huge antique pieces to move and artwork covering my walls it isn’t as easy to change it – also I have colors that I haven’t tired of – or I am just too tired to paint 🙂
    I can’t wait to see the reveal!

    Reply
  22. maria

    Corey, I LOVE bubble baths. You must not waste that tub, you must be in lather up to your nose at least every week. I’ve a friend who put in a huge tub with candlelit chandelier 2 years ago and still hasn’t used it!!
    Like Rosanna Brazzi said to Katharine Hepburn in “Summertime”: “Life is short, eat the ravioli!!”
    ________________
    Hi Maria
    I am a bathoholic. I take baths like most people go for a jog. It is my form of exercise, prayer, and work station. My best thoughts come from sitting in the tub. I am addicted to taking baths. Hot water is a luxury.

    Reply
  23. Kieren

    We had a hard time choosing a wall color in our bathroom, the wall behind the tub is tiled in dark teal blue tiles,and we’d just moved in, didn’t want to redo the tiles so had to live with it for a while…white/black hexagonal tile floor, clawfoot tub, pedestal sink, all brass faucet handles(I would’ve chosen silver). We tried about 10 colors, ended up with a khaki-greenish-grey.Sounds weird, but actually looks good, believe it or not.

    Reply
  24. Tammy

    I think no matter what color you paint it, it will be lovely. I love bubble baths and my bathroom is purple cause I find it a soothing color. Candles add a nice touch too.
    love and blessings

    Reply
  25. Lei

    Oh that chandelier is gorgeous. I just got one for my daughter’s bedroom… it hung in my father in law’s print shop 20 years ago and had been there for many years longer than that. Such a treasure!

    Reply
  26. M-Noëlle

    I like colours, Corey… all of them. It all depends on where, how, what with…
    I’ll be pleased to see the result !
    – be careful with the candles as they will be very high and seem to be close to the ceiling, they might blacken it in course of time…
    ——————
    Hi MN
    Thanks for reminding me about the candles being able to burn the ceiling. You are right.
    Unfortunately I learned that lesson the hard way and burned our kitchen ceiling.

    Reply
  27. Polly-Vous Francais

    Corey,
    I love your salle de bains! Can’t wait to see the results.
    I’ve always wanted a bathroom with a clawfoot tub and a crystal chandelier. Here’s one that made me drool.
    http://pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com/2008/05/versailles.html
    Thanks for more inspiration!

    Reply

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