Powder Room Phase III

The painted medicine cabinet, soap dish, towel ring and toilet paper holder etc., have completed the last bathroom in this old farmhouse. Hooray!

Powder Room Phase II

 

The second phase of this powder room renovation, was installing the Nameeks corner sink and Kohler "Persuade" toilet. The sink needed a different drain with American threads, new chrome plated brass pipes only found at "Signature Hardware" and upgraded escutcheons that decorate the base of them. The toilet needed a new button and mounting screws from Kohler.

Five French Chairs And A Table

I found a terrific antique French table to use as a desk in Christian's garage barn studio upstairs. The table came with an offer to buy these chairs for not much more money. Both came from the South of France and belonged to the owner's grandmother who lived there. The chairs are Art Nouveau in style (1890 - 1910) and the seats are hand caned. They will be used outside with a long table for summer picnics in nice weather.

The table is an earlier kitchen piece with two useful drawers and very sturdy built. It will make a great table and desk for the studio.

Large Wallpaper; Little Room

The most challenging job in this small powder room renovation, was installing a very large repeat; dark wallpaper with irregularities on very irregular walls with split corners etc.! This wallpaper had a 36" repeat and drop pattern to hang here, and we removed the corner sink to make it possible. First Bill spackled and sized the walls before painting customized trim to fit the toilet. I read that a large pattern wallpaper is good to use in a small space because it tends to enlarge it's look, which I think is true.

After the invention of wallpaper in 1675, Sea Captains brought wallpapers to American ports beginning in 1700, from England, France and China. Wallpaper actually began in ancient China because they invented paper and glued rice paper to their walls as early as 200BC.

Powder Room Phase I

Phase I of restoring this little powder room hidden under a stairwell, has been adding exterior wall insulation and new sheet rock besides removing a back wall cabinet. The woodwork and wallpaper paste have been stripped while the fixtures were dry fitted. Luckily both the sink and elongated toilet fit this small space and the old floor supply valve to the toilet will even fit inside the new modern toilet base!

The sink and faucet were found for 1/2 price on sale and the toilet was $100 from a remodel sale. The wallpaper and paint are left-over from previous projects, so this remodel will cost about $1000 after Restoration Hardware fixtures (on sale) have been installed. Since Bill and Christian will do all of the plumbing besides the rest of the work themselves, the rennovation will be a very worthwhile upgrade.

Modern Fixtures In An Old Bathroom

This old farmhouse has a half bath hidden under the staircase to the second floor. It is very old and has the original floor boards we have had refinished, so it is soon ready to have fixtures installed. This bath was gutted when we bought the house and I decided to buy a very modern Nameeks "Scarabeo" corner sink and Kohler "Persuade" toilet which fit the space. The new surfaces and look should be a nice contrast in this old space.

The wallpaper is Stroheim and Romann's "Clayfield" shown above. The wood trim in this powder room will be Benjamin Moore's "White" and the corner cabinet will be Fine Paints of Europe's marine base paint "Zuider Zee Blue". There is a cabinet behind the toilet which will be pared down to a simple recessed shelf.

We will install a radiant barrier to the exterior wall here called "Ultra Touch", which comes from Home Depot. It reflects 97% radiant and cooling energy, is a Class I fire retardant, while acoustical and flexible for our varied surface. It is natural fibers faced with a heavy foil in 4' X 6' pieces costing $23.00 each.

A New Farmhouse Bedroom

The master bedroom in Christian's old farmhouse is now mostly furnished with extra furniture we had. It's an open space where we hoped the old floors and windows would be noticed still.

The first bedroom to be furnished here, was Christian's brother's who is now his housemate. This room faces the back/North side of the house with two large windows and a view of the pastures, barn and annual garden. Both side walls have very old cedar and new closets, but still leave room for a desk with a view.

I have made a padded slip cover of ivory denim for the headboard which is both practical and comfortable. The leather chairs and standing mirror are an Art Deco style.