The claw foot bathtub, yes blame it on the claw foot bathtub. I never liked our blue tiled bathroom, but it wasn't the worse thing in the world, nor the first thing that needed fixin' in my life. But then I saw the claw foot bathtub, sitting pretty at a local second hand store, for a song. I knew those blue tiles were gonna be history.
French Husband is not a handy man, neither am I. Though somehow we managed to put in the floor, paint everything and sand the tub. Sure what we did was small potatoes compared to the plumber and carpenter, but it was a good "first project" for us…. and we are still loving one another and alive to talk about it.
Painting the walls was a challenge. I left the ceiling white. I painted one wall Galet Gris (Rock Grey). The other three I mixed, splattered and splashed several paints together. Then I waxed the walls with furniture balm. My aim was to have it look like an old photographer's back drop…it took twenty thousand hours to create. And the funny thing is the photos do not do it justice.
We had thought to construct a linen closet using old shutters for doors. But then we found this old linen armoire. It was exactly the right measurements, though a very dirty brown. We bought it and I painted it using the same crazy method that I described earlier.
We put styrofoam molding around the ceiling.
The bathroom measures 10 x 17 feet (It is half the size of our first apartment!).
The floor (once we got the hang of it) was easy to lay. Of course French Husband did the cutting, because I do everything backwards. (For more about this product click here.)
The sink and faucets are reproductions. The mirror, tub, armoire, chair, shelf, and statue, I found at my favorite second hand store nearby my home. The second hand store is amazing, it is my second home… No, no, no, it is my home.
The chandelier Sacha helped me paint silver. I am thinking about taking the lights out and adding candles… Or at least changing the light bulbs to match each other and find tiny shades. What do you think: Candles or shades? (It is NOT electrified.)
The bathroom is grey. It looks old, and feels like it has been this way since forever… Not everyone is going to like it. But I sure do.
Opposite the sink sits the blue chair. A good place to sit and wait your turn, or give counsel.
The charcoals of the nude men will one day hang on this wall… but until then the tapestry is adorning the spot.
As you can see the claw foot tub sits in the middle. It is so spoiled!
The old shelf adds a touch of color: I did not have the heart to rip out the old Toile du Jouy
A Louis sixteenth armchair takes center stage. In French homes the toilet is not in the Bath- room. Instead it is in a closet away from the bathroom.
When you go to someone's home in France, or a castle, or a simple- or a five star restaurant, and you need to use the bathroom you must ask:
Where is the toilet? Not where is the bathroom unless you want to take a bath.
There isn't a toilet in our bathroom. I much rather look at our Louis Chair than a toilet.
(Note: In our other bathroom the toilet hangs out with the shower. It is a Franco-American bathroom. Equal rights start at home.)
The bathroom! Hooray we did it.
Now we can tackle the kitchen. I promise it won't be grey.
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