Firstly thanks so much for your encouraging and interesting comments on the previous post about the kitchen, I appreciate every single one of them.
As I mentioned I've started on the bathroom, still lots to do but at last I can see how the brass bathtub looks. It's actually a soap dish, to my great delight I found it on eBay - Susanne @ Miniature Dreams used to have one on her blog header and I always admired it so I was excited to find one of my own. I thought it would be perfect for the old French bathroom and I'm happy to see that it looks right at home.
The bathroom is at the back of the house, above the kitchen. Part of the bedroom will be in front of it with a doorway for 'ensuite' access. (The door that you can see below is the hallway/bathroom door.)
When the dividing wall between the bedroom and bathroom goes in the bathroom will be visible only through that doorway and the side window. There will also be a mirror on the wall opposite the vanity so that it, and the accessories on it, can be seen (perhaps 'glimpsed' is a better word) from the front.
I couldn't find an old fashioned toilet so I made one.
I started out with this modern unit...
I microwaved it on full power for about 3 seconds to soften up the glue holding the two parts together so that I could pull the cistern away from the base. About half of the back of the base was cut off so it fits closer to the wall.
I made the cistern from a small block of balsa adding some trim and a lid, also the flush lever, chain and downpipe. The downpipe is a black plastic drinking straw painted silver, it has a bend at the bottom just like a real one where it connects to the toilet pan. I don't remember where I got the straw, I've had it for ages in my 'found things' stash just waiting to be turned into a toilet cistern downpipe :)
At the moment it looks like it would be impossible to flush this toilet because the lever is sitting on the top of the window blind but that's because both the wall and the cistern are temporarily held in place with blu-tac which is pushing them both forward a little. Once everything is fixed in properly the lever should fit behind the window frame.
I'm going to repaint the cistern (it's too dirty compared to the rest of the bathroom) possibly in a creamy colour to set it off against the white wall, but it might even go black!
I have a dilemma that I'd like your opinion on...
.jpg)
I'm thinking of spray painting the shower unit to dull it down a bit. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo but it looks totally shiny and new compared to the bathtub, and the bathroom in general - I bit too shiny and new I think. On the other hand it does match the toilet chain and the taps on the vanity, but they too may yet get an ageing treatment.
The two paint options are a more aged gold/brass look or matt black. The third option is to leave it alone, it does add a nice little bit of luxury to an other wise very practical home and I quite like having some contrasting features.
Please feel free to share your opinion - (a) paint to look more aged gold/brass (b) paint matt black (c) leave it alone (d) some other option I haven't thought of.
I'd appreciate knowing what you think!
.jpg)
38 comments:
Fab job on the loo, love the bath! Waterworks hardware does look a bit glam for the over-all style, could it be toned down a little?
Ooohhh, it's looking lovely. I would age the taps (etc)to be more in keeping with the finish of the tub.
Norma,
The bathroom looks great, and I agree with you the bathtub faucet does need to be toned down. Is it possible to use a vinegar mixture and age it to have a similar finish as the tub? Is the faucet real metal? Vinegar would only work if it's real metal.
Oh, I think your little bathroom is darling. What a great idea for the bath tub...omg, how brilliant using a soap dish. I would age/tone it down. Vinegar is a great idea.
Love your minis...enjoy your blog and following you. Fantastic work!!
xoso
Sandy
so cute!!
x
Me gustaría ver "envejecida" la regadera.
Es una tina preciosa.
Un abrazo
Wow it's looking great! I think option a) and I would age the toilet chain and the taps too and then it would all compliment each other! :)
I vote for leaving it the way it is. It wouldn't be as tarnished as the tub itself and I like the bit of sparkle it adds. :)
i love the bathroom it will look gorgeous.. the pipe and taps might look nice if you added a bit of verdi-gris with some paint..
My preference will be to tone it down too :)
Hi Norma, I am a bit late but I managed to catch up with your blog.
love the kitchen and bathroom so far, truly love them.
Since you ask , I'd tone down a bit all that brass since it is really a bit too shiny.
Have a lovely evening, Rosanna
Good Evening Norma, You have been busy in your house. I am enjoying watching it evolve. Love the shower unit. If your bathroom is well used the shower head and handles would certainly be dull- would you consider trying matt silver paint textured in part to make it appear gently corroded?
Take care.
Janine
Hi Norma! Tone it down a bit. I also agree with Christine: you can add a bit of verdi-gris with some paint on the taps, pipe and the chain of the toilet. It all looks gorgeous!
Greetings, Ilona
this bathroom is looking wonderful. I think it would be better toned down too.
Great work with the loo and so sensible to place it by the window :-) Doris
Yo envejecería la bañera y la grifería!!
Besitos
Awesome! *___*
Hi Norma! I'm in favour of toning it down a little too. I think black would look too stark x
Your bathroom is wonderful. I like the bathtub.
Bye Faby
Geniale l'idea del porta sapone, sembra fatto apposta per diventare la vasca del tuo bagno, è bellissima!!!! Io dipingerei con un colore e metterei dell'oro vecchio qua e là, tutto oro mi sembra troppo, il nero anche..... Ma sicuramente troverai la "strada" giusta, hai un gusto meraviglioso!!!!!
Luisa
truthfully I love what you've done with the bathroom but since this is a dollhoue I'd go for realism and paint the bathtub white (not bright white just white and the shower a dull steel color.
the cistern I would make look like faux wood with a faux wooden seat for the toilet and if you can I'd put in a pedistal sink and a chair rail...something like this
http://www.remodelingguy.net/2009/03/chair-rails-and-crown-molding/
sorry if it too much I do get carried away sometimes
Looks great! I prefer the plan b. I like strong contrast so black would be great :) Anyway I know any of these choises will be nice.
Kitchen on the earlier post was perfect too!
Wow your bathtub is fantastic. Great work on the toilet also.
Hugs Maria
Dear Norma, I am not convinced of the bathtub: this model, I think is more beautiful white enamel, even rusted. At that point, also the pipes would paint, colored zinc.
But I realize that this is my recurring thought, in case of bathtubs ;-)
Mini hugs
Flora
Hi Norma, I also bought this exact same bathtub on ebay after admiring Susanne's header! I have since been looking for a shower unit and taps to go with it, yours is perfect...where did you find it? I think toning it down a little with a few touches of verdigris as suggested would look great. I look forward to following your progress with this!
Norma, that brass bathtub is out of this world gorgeous. I would tone down the other fixtures. It would look more realistic unless you want to pretend that Emily had to replace them,that would justify them looking so new. I love how the rooms connect and the fact that we will only get a glimpse of some of the things in the bathroom. It's a set up that I like very much. I find it adds a bit of mystery because people will always wonder what else is in there. I find that you have such a knack of putting things together. Fantastic job with the toilet, by the way.
Great work on the toilet! I love that you stuck it in the microwave...
The bath is gorgeous. I would probably try to match the colour of the pipes to the bath and see how it looks when the taps and showerhead are left a little shiny. If it were bronze or copper, the parts which get touched a lot would stay shiny, around the connections a touch of verdegris would build up (more with copper than with bronze).
Have fun!
What a great bathroom and I am very impressed with the speed with which you are working Norma. I would favour dulling the shower bits/taps. Didn't know that vinegar worked (Love what you learn from other bloggers!!). I learned that trick about the microwave melting glue from a blog a while ago. Very handy. Can't wait to see this finished. Best wishes, Carol :)
Perhaps it is a great joke sitting on the WC and looking out of the window!!!!
Nina
A is my choice. Although it's beautiful as it is, it draws attention to itself and not the entire delightful bathroom.
Is the bathtub 1:12?
Hi Norma,
I think your bathroom is just gorgeous, what a great find the bath tub is. You are so inventive with you toilet, I will have to keep that in mind for when I get to my bathroom.
On the topic of toning down the shower fitting I agree. I Haven't tried vinegar before but what I did do to my shiny kitchen taps was I used a little bit of burnt umber and raw umber oil paint and dabbed and rubbed a little. That way you have a bit more control in darkening the little crevices with a tiny brush. You can use your finger to rub just a little to dull the other parts. If you go to my blog and look at my kitchen you can see that my taps were originally bright gold, and are now dull brass.
Good luck, Fi x
That bathtub is cute! I would dull down the shine. But it will come to you. You'll have an epiphany and the perfect answer! Everything is looking great.
hugs
Caroline
It's adorable! I don't have any suggestions on how to improve it! I just love it, Norma! :)
Norma♥ Primero que nada que gusto volverte a ver en mi blog ( = Recordé que ya falta poco para tu cumpleaños...( ;
Un baño muy lindo!
Un abrazo
Flor
Hello Norma! Your bathtub is like mine, who was an old ashtray.. ha ha!
I'd like to see it in white enamel, with some chipping, to simulate the long-term use.
I think even the tube should be opaque, if you want to get old effect. but this is just my opinion...
a kiss from Italy! :)
Caterina
Me parece un baño muy particular y muy bien realiado
Hello Norma!
It´s nice (and amazing)that you found the old bathtub. My father bought one for Annie and I about 25years ago, it was made as a soap bowl for the 1:1 bathroom, but my father knew we would find other purposals ;-)
Your bathroom is lovely, and I would vote for a little verdigris patina too.
Hugs, Susanne
Hi Norma, I am a little late commenting and you have probably made your decision, I was going to sugges some verdigris as others have. Even just a little bronze or brown paint rubbed on would age the taps a little and you can rub it off where you want it shiny. The bathroom looks great, love the tub and your use of the straw is very inventive.
Hi Norma, I notice you have gone missing and much missed. Hope all is well with you and family. Just back after a busy northern summer.
Take care.
Regards Janine
Post a Comment