I’M OUT IN SPRINGS these rainy days, enjoying the shut-in life. Bring on the cabin fever. I’m busy with query-writing, soup-making, and savoring my newly renovated bathroom.
(Go here for ‘Before’ pics.)
I came out here Wednesday from Brooklyn, not knowing if I’d have a flushing toilet (the plumber hadn’t called me back). I do.
I have everything I need, except a sink. The plumber didn’t get around to installing it — a vintage pedestal still sitting in the basement instead of the bathroom — before going on vacation for a week. OK. I’m sure he deserves a vacation.
My initial reaction — I hadn’t been out here in a month, having decided to leave the contractor to it, and not try to micro-manage things from afar — was generally positive. I just wasn’t sure how I felt about the turquoise grout I chose for the floor and subway-tiled shower walls. I had thought it would be kicky and fun, but my first impression was not “kicky”; it was tacky. For about a day-and-a-half, I toyed with the idea of asking Miguel to re-do the shower walls with white grout. But then I decided I don’t care that much. And by today I’ve decided I *love* the floor and even like the shower walls. The problem with colored grout on white tile, I’ve realized, is that it emphasizes irregularities, and old houses have irregularities.
So be it. It’s a cottage. It’s grout. It’s not important. Onward. (This is why I didn’t become an interior designer, even though I went to school for it: no head for details. I hope God is not really in them.)
I love the wainscoting and my new medicine chest, below, found for $50 on Court Street in Brooklyn (there’s an orange sticker inside that says ‘Hub Towel Supply Co.’) I’m using it in place of the carved yard-sale mirror, which is too large to hang flat anywhere in the room, now that the wainscoting, topped by molding that projects 1-1/2″ from the wall, is in. (I hadn’t thought of that.)
Speaking of projecting from the wall, the light fixture I ordered from Rejuvenation, which I like and which (whew) casts adequate light — it takes a 100-watt bulb — doesn’t quite clear the medicine chest, which is 5-1/2″ deep.
I’ve called and ordered a new fixture with a deeper projection — 9″ instead of 6″ — and will have that installed when it comes. Rejuvenation will exchange it and I only have to pay for shipping.
See what I mean, though? I’m a broad-stroke person. Not good with details, at least not the first time around. Good thing I’m my own client.
8 comments
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February 25, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Cherie
I sure hear you on the do and re-do thing. Some of us creative folks have our hands full, and life is too short to sweat the small stuff. I just finished my cottage bathroom re model and love it…went way low budget, but it is sooo cute, found a great claw foot tub as well!
February 25, 2011 at 8:22 pm
cara
Aloha, Cherie! I briefly entertained the idea of a claw-foot tub, but I had the perfect 5-foot alcove so went with a regular one. Do we get to see a picture of your new bathroom?
February 25, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Terry
Does that door ever rock!!!
February 26, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Cori heffernan
I like the grout. I think once summer comes and your backyard is filled with color it will look even better.
February 26, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Adrienne
Bellisima! This is just perfect!
I just returned from Greenport and and I’m obsessing over the bathroom reno there. I love the “all white” look and I’m contemplating an iridescent blue floor tile. We need to meet and chat!
February 26, 2011 at 8:10 pm
runfeferun
I love the colored grout!
February 27, 2011 at 9:41 am
cara
Thanks for the vote(s) of confidence, folks! I’m now liking it, too. It was just a tad shocking that first day. It’s kind of like when you move furniture around. It looks odd at first, you’re not used to it. But you sleep on it and wake up the next morning and it’s fine.
February 27, 2011 at 11:35 am
Nancy
As one who has seen the turquoise grout, I think it’s whimsical and fun! And yes, sitting on the pot and looking out the glass door to the woods beyond is divine.