Week Five | October 25 | Mid Modern Primary Bathroom
For the Fall 2023 One Room Challenge we are tackling our Primary Family Bath — fun and fabulous with an MCM flair.
Be sure to check in on all of the other ORC projects on the ORC blog here.
Some before photos as well as some images of the inspiration for this project.
Progress: Tile
Ok. So I have a confession to make: this project is not unfolding in real time. We started on this bathroom in June — June 12, to be precise. And I hoped it would be done before the ORC even started. Nope. We are ALMOST caught up to real time. So here we are at tile installation. The tile is in and it is GORGEOUS! This tile is from Modwalls — just like our Guest Bathroom.
And I am going to tell you something about glass tile: a good installation is CRITICAL. The tile in the guest bathroom was also glass, but the tile people installed it while we were out of town. I wasn’t able to supervise it, and they did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions (which, I absolutely provided them). Critical to glass tile is to WAIT BEFORE GROUTING — at least 48 hours. This gives the adhesive behind the tiles time to dry before the grout goes in.
We have had to have several tiles downstairs replaced — and another is cracked now — because they didn’t follow those instructions. So, for this bathroom, I was VERY careful about the installation. And I made them wait a week between installation and grouting. The tile guys were not happy about this, but if you do it right the first time, you don’t have to redo the work. It’s that simple.
So if you are considering a bathroom renovation, be sure YOU read all of the instructions even if a contractor is doing some or all of the work.
Anyway… the tile is up, and I LOVE it!
Floor tile — note the plug in the sewer line, too.
Wall and floor tile — pre-grout.
The tile choices are:
Flooring: Brio Glass Mosiac Tile in Palm Springs
Walls: Lush Glass Subway Tile in Peacock (3”x6”)
Both are from Modwalls Tile, one of the sponsors for this project.
At the risk of repeating myself: my inspiration for this bathroom was the bathrooms in my elementary school. I know that’s a little strange, but I remember those 1x1 inch tiles on the floors and walls with a random color pattern. They were so pretty in my 8 year old head, and for some reason it’s that image that started this design. Those bathrooms also had these super-cool sinks with foot pedals that were like fountains. I loved them — but there’s no room for that in this bathroom.
So the tile is in, and the next step is wallpaper! Very exciting!
Lighting
We aren’t there yet, but I want to show you the lighting I chose for this room. Le sigh! First, I have another of the vintage bubble fixtures like the one I used in the Guest Bathroom. I bought it several years ago on Etsy — really cheap because I loved it, and there were two of them. Originally, I was going to use them as wall sconces, but I love them in the bathrooms! It is unmarked, but I think it was designed by Helena Tynell, a Finnish designer, for the German glassmaker, Glashütte Limburg, in the early 1960s. All I had to do was rewire it.
This Waterslide Bar allows me to convert our standard shower into one with a rain head very easily.
Just add the rainhead to the Waterslide Bar, and I will have a spa shower at home!
To compliment the bubble light, I chose Kichler’s Harlaw Vanity Light. The circles echo the bubbles on the ceiling fixture, and with 4 LED lights, it will be both bright and flattering. It’s a more modern take on a makeup light that still nods to the 1950s. Kichler is one of the sponsors for this project for which I am so thankful.
Gardening News
We STILL haven’t had frost here! But it is coming this week. We will go from highs of 80 to lows of 10 within 6 days. That’s what we call “weather whiplash” here in Colorado! So I’ve been watering everything relentlessly and prepping for snow. That’s part of why I grow so many native plants, though. They can take these more extreme weather conditions without much preparation — and some even thrive on them.
I’ll remind you as fall creeps along: leave the leaves! And make some leaf mould if you need to rake them up. I have a whole guide for doing that here. It’s free and easy!
I will miss these nasturtiums! They have been glorious this summer!
Coming next week: wallpaper! Until then, be well my friends!
Thanks to my sponsors for this project!
Interested in being a sponsor for a future project? Let me know!
I am thankful for your support and wholeheartedly recommend the products I used in this bathroom!
To Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, I offer my most sincere thanks. Thank you for offering this kind of opportunity and for opening it up to anyone. And to Apartment Therapy, the ORC media sponsor: thank you for making this possible! And to all of the other ORC participants: I’ll be sure to stop by to admire your work! It is always fun to do this together!
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as the seasons change. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter below so the weekly updates will pop right into your inbox.
Here’s to another great project and all of the DIY energy that the ORC inspires!
Cheers!
Angela
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