The bathroom lucky money bought

All this rambling about luck was not entirely innocent, you know I always have an agenda. Do you remember Catherine from Mill Valley, the lucky winner of the Domino decorating contest?  You think I'm obsessed with her don't you?  Mmmm you're right.

She and I have kept in touch.  I never thought of her as lucky for winning. Her win was no Vegas slot machine deal. She had a vision, she made it happen, and she made it happen by doing most of the work herself with great ingenuity and playfulness.  And no this is not a dilettante with too much money and time on her hands. She is someone like us, with a budget and a job.  She did not hire a decorating pro either.

I told her I call her style modern Marie Antoinette, (mostly since seeing the Sofia Coppola movie ) but her style is much more than that, and not so easy to define.  One thing is for sure, it is not like anyone else's.

 With the prize money, she transformed a room into a lovely bathroom that is so her. Here are the pictures , and because it's always fun, she has also sent me the before pictures and her notes.  Read to the end:  this is still a work in progress and she asking for your opinion.

Catherine says: "There was no question when I won the Domino contest that I would FINALLY get my claw foot tub and redeo my most disgusting hall bath! The vision, for years, was to install a large casement window with the tub right underneath so I could look outside to the garden/trees/sky when bathing in deep water for my middle age aching body. (UGH). Everyone asks why the hall bath instead of the master bath which is as disgusting. Simple answer: I could not afford to move all the plumbing to get the tub under window and the hall bath is also the one guests use so why not make it my bath also.

I researched and purchased everything myself and then had the white laminate floors installed and a large window installed in the 12 inch thick concrete wall. This was the biggest cost.  

My vision included silvery vines and leaves on the ceiling and draping down the walls here and there.  And a small beautiful crystal chandelier for above the tub.

I knew I wanted a "furniture" piece for the vanity. Fortunately I found the perfect french looking piece and a small lovely sink that was set into the top. New low flush toilet and nice hardware.

I have done all the painting and just had to paint/stencil the tub.

(Corine's note: Okay, now the before pictures, hang on to your desktops.)

"I had demoed out a small corner shower two years ago and set an armoire against the wall for storage. There was an ancient vanity, tiny avocado green mosaics on the floor, part of the ceiling was gone from a leaking roof and the walls were an orange peal texture. It was gross. 

Aqua blue and just a splash of coral red were the colors. No plastics bottles! I put the shampoo and conditioner in a silver vintage curette set and the teacups hold soaps etc. 

HOWEVER, I came to a halt in the decor process. It all felt sort of cold, too much white, something off. So it really is a work in progress and any ideas would be appreciated! Or I may continue....What would you do? 

Thanks for all comments!"

Catherine.

Well, Catherine, I would personally not change a thing, but you remember this link you sent me?  What about a nice funny/subversive piece of art on the wall by Artist Tracey Emin:  like this one:

Who else has ideas?

Comments

[karina]

Great post!
The bathroom is beautiful!

[erika @ urban grace interiors]

I love it!! I think maybe a pair of little cafe-curtains (wall to wall install so they wouldn't block the lovely view) or even swing-arm rod curtains would soften, add texture, and maybe a tiny bit of color either side of the window...? But really... it's lovely! Great use of your $!!!!

[Cat]

Thank You C! You are way to knid and generous and soooo funny! I only wish I could approach anything like the design/colors on Lux Culture. Really, all of you, have at it. Just remember that none of the big things can be moved. It is the way it is. But another color? Different design on walls, etc etc. I now have a white shade on the window and I know lux curtians would be really cool but I want all the light I can get. Maybe it is all too matchy...YES C! it needs something funny!
Catherine

[Cat]

OH Erika: I love the idea of curtains on swing rods. That may be just the right amount of softness/texture/ it needs! It is a tight fit there b/c I got a window as big as I could fit in but I will test that out. You will note in pics that an alcove had to be cut into the wall to fit the tub in. Do you all know there is like 6 inches of empty space between walls!
Catherine

[Marnie]

great fun to see the after and then the before - love the tub and the painting and the beautiful window - what about using the aqua in a few other spots in the room - like inside the casement windows and the ceiling -

corine - i can see why you liked the first picture that one the award - soothing blue/green/white and then the POP of pink - love it

[hopeful~ for happy]

What she's done so far is beautiful and ingenious, yes, but I can see why she thinks its still a little too 'white' overall. To me the contemporary toilet sticks out like a sore thumb aginst the prettiness. Might I suggest stick-on decals directly onto the cover and cistern. Ready-cut wall decals can be purchased, though I'm sure she'd so a much better job designing them herself. Cleanable, adds as much or as little colour as desired, and the harsh angles of the commode can be disguised.

[muralimanohar]

I am thinking something on the wall, a large statement piece, echoing the red...that wallhanging, Corine, or another sort of large picture, or a large mural echoing the silver vines, but in red, with paint, or wall decals.

I love it, otherwise!! :D

[Cat]

Thank you everyone, keep the suggestions coming..
Catherine

[nutella]

Oh mon Dieu c'est superbe !! J'ai perdu quelques neurones alors j'ai pas tout compris au challenge à donner à Catherine mais as t elle besoin d'inspiration ? J'en doute !

[Karen Olivia (Alkemie)]

WOW! Catherine is amazing! The clawfoot tub is divine. She's such an artist! Thank you so much for sharing her current project and what she did with her winnings. It's very exciting to see her before and after photos fo the bathroom, what a transformation. I really like the term you coined, "Modern Marie Antoinette."

Karen

[anne]

absolutely fantastic. I would not change one thing ..love it. :-)

[virginia]

because corine suggested the art work above,i headed to one of my favorite art sources, polish posters, and found this whimsical piece: http://www.polishposter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1650

perhaps paint the bottom third of the wall...not even sure of a color suggestion, but here is how i did it in my house: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoinformal/2643881245/in/set-72157605995660886/

and, i love the suggestion of the swinging curtain rod, and perhaps you could print a design on the fabric yourself...if interested, i'll e-mail instructions.

[Happy hour]

That is a very pretty looking bathroom, may I suggest the possibility of painting the floor in diamond shapes.................. maybe in that same color as the tub ? Either way I'm sure the end result is going to look just beautiful !!!

[Peggy Alborn]

Wow, that is so soothing and classy! Your tub is to die for, and the colors are lovely. I feel like a little texture would help, and since the toilet is obviously more modern, how about something above the toilet to draw attention away from it? Tapestry? A shelf with plant life or flowers - flowers are always wonderful Textured canvas art? Or maybe a silvery blue fuzzy rug on the floor? Both! Peggy

[Cat]

Thank you to everyone! My mind is reeling with ideas. I love painted floors but that floor is laminate which looks like white washed planks (it is in entire house) and will not hold paint. I do have a lovely round rug now in front of vanity. It needs the art, I agree, am thinking of painting on wall a very stylized version of the famous David painting in the Louvre, the Odalisque, with pale blues, silver and mostly reds with painted ornate frame around it and of course a bird added somewhere and the vines running into the "painting". I think it will lend more humor and of course some wall decor! I did consider painting bottom third of walls but everything is at different heights. You are all right on the tolet but anything else was way out of my budget.
Catherine

[dwellings and decor]

That bathtub is so pretty! I also really love the design on the closet doors as well.

[Fifi Flowers]

LOVE the winning room... it does have a MA look... love the new bathroom too! I still have the magazine these photos were in... they would make good paintings... hmmm
And if you love these... you are going to love my MA project!
ENJOY your weekend!

[virginia]

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/color-combo-blue-and-yellow-040211

LOOK! catherine is featured on apartment therapy...
and, i think the Odalisque would look beautiful.

[Julia]

Wow, what a gorgeous space. Soothing colors. Love the tea cups and the chandeliers.

I think it looks beautiful as is, but if you want more color, I think a framed floral chinese papercut might be delicate and sweet:

(like this) http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1aocos-_4cg/R_zDoEE0WiI/AAAAAAAAC0A/cmtMJRXOWGI/028--12%E5%85%83.jpg

[pascale]

I love it bout I see why you think it's a bit cold. Maybe a bit more texture ? Some fabric at the window ? A coral bath mat ?
I love the french-looking unit, have you thought of replacing the handles with coral-looking ones ?

[Sean Goins]

I had the same problem with my bathroom looking cold. I went a way different direction. I bought this Bathroom Vanity http://www.mybath.biz/servlet/the-302/Bathroom-Vanity-Cabinet-with/Detail It seemed to make things easier to match with the focal point being the vanity instead of bath tub. BTW that tub looks great painted like that.

[Denise@Swelle]

I just drooled all over my keyboard. I am absolutely smitten with that living room and the way the sunlight washes over it, and the bathroom looks a dream. Sigh...