One of the things I am most excited for with the new house is the bathroom situation. Mostly just that there is more than one of them. :) There is a powder bath on the parlor level, and any powder bath to me just begs to be adventurous! Look how sad the bachelors made this bathroom! It’s down right desperate for some love and better lighting.
I can’t decide about that little sink. It’s original I guess and it could be sort of cute with a skirt? Wouldn’t something really quirky like this sink (and that mirror!) be amazing?
For the walls, I would naturally gravitate toward a crazy, loud wallpaper pattern like this one:
Palmer Weiss
With an interesting mirror:
But the room is tiny (like 3×4) and I don’t really feel like papering around mirrors and lights and fixtures with almost every single sheet. I’m thinking I might try a decorative paint treatment.
Martha Stewart’s Faux Bois kit might be perfect. I’ve heard it’s a really fun project and that the rocker tool is super easy/forgiving. (demo video here) But I’ll run into a similar problem af having to work around things on the walls.
I’m leaning toward hand-stamping the walls with a wood block. I bought this pretty 3×6″ floral stamp here and I think it’s worth trying. It could be a really quick, fun project. The hardest part might be choosing the color combos for the paint!
you do not putauddah on a toilet seat – i don't care how worldly you think you are.
Wow the possibilities! I love the hand stamped look, and the faux bois. Have fun with this, and congrats on a powder room!
Nancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
My 12 year old is begging for some pattern in her small bathroom, but I am sticking with my resolution to not have one square inch of wallpaper in my house (after many, many hours and many dollars spent taking it out of my old 80s house). I love the idea of a stamping the walls!
Have a happy 4th,
Holly
I vote for wallpaper or stamping. It's a small space so going around the fixtures wouldn't be that bad…I had my husband do ours. I'd also consider a pedestal sink only because my children would constantly wipe their hands on the sink skirt and that would drive me nuts! I'm so excited for you and I can't wait to see everything you do. Enjoy the day!
Stamping wall with a wooden block is difficult because walls in old houses are not that straight/flat and the wooden block can't bend, and isn't that flat either. I did my bathroom wall in my old Victorian house, and it looks like it is old and faded in parts as the stamp would not sit flat on the wall in some parts (even with rocking it) which looks great, but was different than I was expecting. I was expecting a full wall of pattern, but it is broken up, with pattern missing in some areas especially corners. (I can send you some pics of mine if you'd like) I say do it! Or stamp some simple linen fabric and then hang that on the walls with starch paste if you want a more even pattern.
I have used that "wood-grain" stamp. I found that it works better on an anything other than flat paint. Practice, practice…you will get so much better after several times. It's all in the wrist.
How about a painted stripe, maybe with a gloss and matt of the same colour, alternating?
Oh wow–I really love that last bathroom. I was planning on just going for a super dramatic teal blue paint, but that image is making me reconsider my plans.
Love the trim idea with a stamp or stencil.
Seems like you're putting an awful lot of money into a rental. I hope they gave you a good deal on the rent.
Love the idea of the hand stamped powder room Jenny. When you are working and designing a very small space this will be fab!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Jenny, I am on deck to do exactly that project to my tiny master bath here at my beach house! I have the wood blocks ready and was planning on going some kind of fillet around the edges too. I am hoping to start after 4th of July, but who knows? Knowing you, you might get to it first!!! If you want to see more – I have a post on it from December called "Do You Throw Good Money After Bad"
The current lighting in there really is terrible. I like the colors of the paisley wallpaper.
Hi Jenny,
I love all the ideas and the last one especially! Hand stamping a pattern on the walls sounds fun and creative. You will surely come up with something special!
Liz
Love your blog and your chic projects!
I've made a few skirts and they are a super inexpensive way to dress up a sink (replacing it could be pretty pricey). I use adhesive velcrow putting the scratch/stiff side on the sink and the softer side on the skirt- so it washes better. Pre-wash any fabric and pick something that is easy to wash since it will get dirty. White denim or linen comes to mind. A simple pleat, maybe with a tape trim could work well. Make sure you think about access from the front- so a panel that opens from one side so you can get to the trash can/whatever you're storing under there. Also start the skirt an inch lower than the top of the sink so it's not getting wet all the time.
Ah! I love the idea of stamping. I would leave the sink as-is, skirtless. I think it'd make the room feel less cramped–once you finish your wall treatment then you will know for sure!
I like the hand stamp idea for a big impact and minimum work if you change your mind and want to do something new later down the road. The black trim is so cool and unexpected but really makes the room pop. I may be crazy but I'm sorta digging your original sink!
I like the idea of stamping or maybe bold paint with a gallery wall- I always like that. New lighting and a new mirror would make the bath look great too. I would keep the sink. I think it would look great once you change out the other stuff. I am also not a big fan of sink skirts – they look to countrified to me.
I would leave the sink and add a skirt in a quirky pattern or print. Maybe try wallpapering with a newspaper from France or Italy. Newspaper would be super easy to work with around lights and sink.
Please either keep the sink or find another good home for it. It really is a tremendous waste of resources to get rid of it just because you don't like it. If anyone, you can make it work–and it would be instructive too.
I really love this! Either stamp would look amazing. Black trim? For sure!
I love all of these ideas… esp. the faux bois one… if anyone can do it – YOU CAN :)
Happy 4th!
I remember my Dad stamping our bedroom walls way back in the early 1950s. He did each wall in different colors and stamps. Each stamp was a roller. I loved my walls – they were white with tiny red flowers.
Awesome ideas I can't wait to see what you end up doing. I can't wait to have a powder bath someday so I can go all out – I agree with you that those tiny rooms need to be adventurous!
Ooooh I love the faux bois and a funky mirror. The sink is hard… I say get a new one though.
Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
I LOVE the idea of stamping, but I would practice/test on some other surfaces first. I have a few of those that were brought back for me from India and no matter what I did I couldn't get them to stamp onto fabric. It was incredibly depressing because they would have been gorgeous.
Hope you have better luck!!
Hi first thank you Jenny for blogging about my block, and what a lovely post it is.
I'm based in Delhi India and I do buy the blocks here from local Artisans. I then ship them to Chicago where they get distributed stateside.
For those wondering how well they work feel free to contact me at catfluff.artfire.com
Yes they do work on fabric it just takes practice and a rolling method with an even pressure all the way through.
I've been selling the blocks for two years now and have many happy repeat customers, who have used them on numerous surfaces including paper, textiles, pottery, and even handmade soaps.
THanks again
Gabi aka Catfluff
You are endlessly inspiring!!
I started to work on our powder bath in the winter (took on a VERY ambitious hand painted mural replication of fabulous Josef Frank fabric) and since starting grad school again- and tending to 2 little guys- I have lost time- and thus intrest on my hefty undertaking.
The idea of handstamping/ faux bois treatment are now much simpler contendors- thanks again!!!
It's a ways off, but we have a powder room that desperately needs an overhaul. I'll have to file this away for ideas.
Check out my blog for a chance to win a great ebook this week! http://revitalizewithstefania.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-raw-food-diet-ebook-giveaway.html
I think you should keep the sink & skirt it with some lovely box pleats in a heavy twill. Maybe something solid for the fabric & then do your wood stamp on the walls, what fun!
YOU MUST KEEP THE SINK ITS AMAZING!!! and ORIGINAL !!!!!!!
love the idea of the hand stamping
My vote is to keep the sink. That bathroom from Houzz is gorgeous as yours will be when you're done!
I am a lazy decorator. I would make a sink skirt with a fabulous fabric and bring in my pattern with it. Then paint the walls a solid (or striped) color with a funky mirror, a great light fixture and a cool piece of art. I don't think I would be happy hand stamping a space because it probably wouldn't line up exactly and would drive me bonkers. Besides it sounds like a lot of work.
If you are looking for great geometric and modern stencils Royal Design Studios has some great ones. Young House Love has a discount code.
I'm excited to see what you come up with! BTW, thank you for answering my question about black trim.
I love the idea of trimming the room in black. I was hoping to try this in the entry of my new place which I want to wallpaper. Love the black edging with just a bold wall colour as well!
Oh, and I'd keep the sink – would be perfect with a gorgeous tailored skirt, and it's usually nice to keep some original pieces! xx
Anna (My Design Ethos)
I think you would rock the hand-blocked walls! Its a welcome change from wallpaper too. The variation you'd get with stamping, the unevenness, would add some charm too. Can't wait to see what you decide!
Definitely keep the sink. That type is really functional as it has the taps on the vertical space allowing for things on the top "shelf" without feeling crowded, especially useful in such a small space. It generally came with the attached side or front towel racks and chrome legs which look great. I often come across them at my local ReStore. If not a skirt might look cute.
I also love the stencil idea.
CTD
BTW, what does Anonymous' comment even mean? CTD
I mean the comment about the toilet seat and thinking one's wordly.
Thanks for your feedback guys! Lots to think about! I'm also a little worried that the wood block stamp wont work on the walls (I think rubber would give a more true image, but would also do that weird smudge thing). I'll just have to play with it. Wallpaper can be my back up plan!
Anon #1 – LOL! What's a patauddah??
Anon #4 – I've posted this a couple of times now, but the landlord is subsidizing our rent and is covering much of the cost of the reno work. It makes a lot of financial sense for us to take on this project. We would never be able to afford a brownstone at this point in our careers otherwise. We feel really lucky and happy that I get to blog about the process too.
j
I love the stamping idea! What a great concept! :-)
Hi Jenny! I love your blog! I think anon 4 meant he wouldn't "put a buddah on a toilet".
Eitherway, your blog is fantastic an so inspiring!
w e have an eeennnsy teensy under the stairs power bath that I am finally re-doing, with wallpaper but not all all the walls, maybe you could mix it up? paint or half way up…do a wainscoat…whatever you do I cannot wiat to see for I know it will be spectacular!!!!
Tiny powder room ideas
Expensive: Try antiqued mirror on walls, floor to ceiling, with a john in dove grey and a sink in grey marble. Hang a gilt mirror on the mirrored walls, or a small Venetian mirror, and flank with sconces.
Cheap: If faux bois-ing, after you run the rocker, follow with a brush which you lightly shimmy in the glaze to get a rippled effect that mimics moire silk. Tone on tone works best for this effect, a clear tinted glaze a bit deeper in tone than the base coat of the walls. I have seen it in raspberry and its a knockout, seen it in pale grey and in celadon and its elegant in the extreme.
Tiny powder room ideas
Expensive: Try antiqued mirror on walls, floor to ceiling, with a john in dove grey and a sink in grey marble. Hang a gilt mirror on the mirrored walls, or a small Venetian mirror, and flank with sconces.
Cheap: If faux bois-ing, after you run the rocker, follow with a brush which you lightly shimmy in the glaze to get a rippled effect that mimics moire silk. Tone on tone works best for this effect, a clear tinted glaze a bit deeper in tone than the base coat of the walls. I have seen it in raspberry and its a knockout, seen it in pale grey and in celadon and its elegant in the extreme.
Opps, forgot to mention, drag a combing brush through the faux bois effect before using the brush to get that moire look.
I love the sink! I think a skirt would add so much to the room!
The pint of guiness WILL be staying, right??
I definitely like the idea of the hand stamping, and would love to see a tutorial on it! but, I'm sure it will look fab, whatever you do.
Love your blog by the way. So inspiring!
Best,
Amber
I like the current sink, although since I can't see it up close, I can't tell how well it's holding up. I'm a big fan of a bold wall treatment for a small room. The hand stamp is an interesting idea to solve your problem of working around too many fixtures, etc. Can't wait to see what you do. I've been wanting to paper our hall bath, but it's hard to justify the cost when I rarely use that bathroom myself and we rarely have guests over. The hallway isn't wide enough to have the door even cracked, so I would have to change my habits to use that bathroom instead of our master bath (which is just around the corner) — just to see the wallpaper. But I'm not decided … I still might go for it, just for fun.
I'm assuming you have non-textured walls? I hope so! Our walls are textured and I tried both a faux bois tool and a stencil and neither one worked! I'm so disappointed. I'm experimenting with washi tape next. This poor bathroom. In the last three years it's had three coats of paint and still isn't finished!
I've always loved this skirted sink from Eddie Ross:
http://www.eddieross.com/.a/6a00e55391c48e8833016762862acb970b-pi
Also, I wonder if the black trim is ribbon detailing that hides staples–thinking that maybe the paisley pattern is fabric. Perhaps real indian handblocked fabric? If your walls are hard to stamp on, you could do the fabric covered walls thing, and do the ribbon trim.
Whatever you do, I'm sure it will look great!