Bathrooms

Polka Dotty

Here’s the new shower curtain in the bathroom, along with the little bronze table/stool. The polka dots are cute (Eleanor likes them a lot), but I’m still not sure about the proliferation of stools (heh) in a 5’x7′ bathroom.

Polka Dot Shower Curtain

Below is a shot of the cracked tile that I mentioned in my last post about the bathroom. I love the hex tile, but the house is more than a hundred years old and a fair bit of settling has occurred over time. The floor slopes downward (two inches or so) from the doorway to the other side, beneath the heavy pedestal tub.

Cracked Bathroom Hex Tile

We’ve done a good job of ignoring it for the five years that we’ve lived here, so we can probably ignore it for a while longer. The update I had in mind for the bathroom was more cosmetic than structural, and I’m not sure if we can address the tile right now. I want to (scope creep!), but I need to do some more research to see how to best approach the project.

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  • eskimo*rose
    November 19, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Good choice, I like it a lot, looks good and won’t show the dirt!

  • Ashley @GirlyObsessions
    November 19, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Love the polka dots! I did a whole page on dots in my holiday Girly Gift Guide, can’t get enough!!

  • Anna
    November 19, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Have you seen Caitlin Wilson’s peel and stick tile floor. This could be a good cheap solution for this floor.

    http://caitlinwilsondesign.blogspot.ca/2012/10/my-kitchen-floor.html

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:18 pm

      It looks great, but I think I’d miss the hex tiles.

    • jamiet
      February 23, 2014 at 5:02 pm

      No way! I’d take the hex tiles with crack and all over some peel and stick vinyl crap. The cracks don’t bother me as it only adds character. I’m currently removing layers of old mastic that covered 3/4″ square historic mosaic tiles. I’ve got some cracks as well as some broken pieces. I’m planning to only replace the badly broken ones, the cracks can stay. :)

  • Kathryn
    November 19, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Ha! Scope creep describes every house project here ever.

  • Cristina
    November 19, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    The shower curtain looks so cute with the tub!!

  • Valerie Parizeault
    November 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    Funny how when you mentioned polka dots in your previous post, I was thinking super girly, but matched with the bronze and the wood it’s just perfectly balanced. Will you put some art on the walls? Maybe a cute mat to cover the cracks?

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:20 pm

      I’ve wanted something on the floor, but that heating vent shouldn’t be covered. If we did take on the floor project, I’d want to move the vent over a little (if possible).

      • Catherine
        November 19, 2012 at 11:39 pm

        Sorry I mentioned the rug! I thought that was a drain. Shows how much I know. :P

      • Valerie
        November 20, 2012 at 6:38 am

        tought that was a drain too! ;)

  • Catherine
    November 19, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    I love that shower curtain, and it is wonderful that your house has a history! Maybe you could just find a cute rug to cover the tile for now.

  • Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door
    November 19, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    Scope creep, the story of my life. Love the updates!! Anything with polka dots is aces in my book.

  • Monica
    November 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    FLOR tiles or the click-together teak deck tiles would make interesting temporary choices for the floor.

  • Yelle
    November 19, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Absolutely love that brass table/stool!

  • ryan
    November 19, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    You don’t have to cover up or replace the floor tiles to make it look “new” again. Some of your cracks are right on the grout lines and only a few are missing. It wouldn’t be hard to find tiles the same size to replace the missing and broken ones and then re-grout the areas with large cracks and missing grout.

    The new tiles will probably be a different color, but it looks that the original tiles vary in color already. I think it would be a satisfying weekend project. One day remove the damaged tiles and thin-set new tiles. The next day grout.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:22 pm

      That’s a good idea in theory, but along with the visual of the cracks, there is a change in elevation. We could (and should) fill in the two missing tiles, but grouting the rest won’t work (unfortunately).

  • Allison Dunmire
    November 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm

    Where did you get the two-step stool? I’ve been looking for one so my 3 yr old can reach the faucet and that one looks perfect. Thanks!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:22 pm

      IKEA! We’ve had it for five years, but they still sell them. They also have a glossy black one now too (same shape) that looks really nice.

      • K
        November 27, 2012 at 8:11 am

        We have one and they are easy to finish if you want a different color. Ours is stained dark brown and it looks great after 4 years.

  • Joan B
    November 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    What about a cute shelf instead of the bronze stool? You could put planters there to add some color and greenery!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:24 pm

      I was thinking about adding a hanging plant in that corner. Something like this perhaps?

  • Kara
    November 19, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    Very lovely. Beware that old porcelain floor tiles can have lead glaze. Just did a reno on a bath and had to find a lead certified contractor to remove it safely.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      Thanks — I hadn’t even considered that. One thinks of lead paint, but not lead glaze. How did you find out? Do the lead testers that you just rub on the surface work?

  • Anna B.
    November 19, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I love the polka dot shower curtain. We got a black and white striped one recently and I am having buyers remorse. Yours is much cuter!
    –Anna

  • Christina W.
    November 19, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    This is the classiest poo joke in the history of the internet.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:25 pm

      I’m not sure if that means I win the internet, or lose.

  • Nina
    November 19, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    I absolutely love the shower curtain, it looks lovely with your tub. The bronze stool is cute too. If that would be my bathroom I’d use it to put a cup of tea while soaking in the tub ;)

  • Jessica
    November 19, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    It seems a little too crowded for the bronze stool. I would paint the kids step ladder a fun color.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:25 pm

      I think I should paint it either way.

  • Kathy
    November 19, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    I love the polka dot shower curtain! I have to agree two stools may be a bit much in such a small space, though. Have you considered just painting the one under the sink a bronze or gold color? This would give you a bit of glamour without adding to the space.

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:27 pm

      Yes, I think the stool under the sink should be painted. I hadn’t considered a metallic though — I was leaning more toward a fun color like mint or coral.

  • Evelyn w
    November 19, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    That looks so good! Maybe the stepladder can go white to blend more? And a clear vase with a tall arrangement to add height? I personally love it!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 19, 2012 at 9:26 pm

      A vase is just asking to be broken by August! I may add a hanging planter though, and that would have a similar effect.

  • Christine
    November 19, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Yeah, too many stools. The bronze stool is pretty but probably not as useful. Classy shower curtain.

  • Jessica
    November 20, 2012 at 12:47 am

    Your stool comment made me laugh, but I think ” stool boom” would have worked equally well. I can’t resist a Waiting for Guffman quote. Love thw shower curtain!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 20, 2012 at 12:27 pm

      Now I can’t get that song out of my head!

  • sue
    November 20, 2012 at 9:04 am

    love the polka dots… definitely agree with painting out the wooden step to make it disappear a bit better (black or white or b&w stripes?), but i love the bronze stool.. nice shape & works in with the circles on the shower curtain :)

  • Courtney
    November 20, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Thank you for the term scope creep! Amazing.

  • Evelyn W
    November 20, 2012 at 11:06 am

    I keep coming back to this photo, had to pin it.

    I’m so impressed by how little it took to change that room to a whimsical-stately-old-school look.

  • MMonk
    November 20, 2012 at 11:12 am

    The new shower curtain really transforms the room!

  • Amanda W.
    November 20, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    The curtain completely changed the look of the room – love it! I also like your idea for using a planter where the stool is right now. The stool is beautiful, but it does make the room look a little cramped.

  • Meghann S.C.
    November 20, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    We’ve just finished working with a contractor to install hex tiles with blue daisies in our 1920s house. A previous owner had installed terrible faux European stone stuff and had only dealt with the cosmetic details in the bathrooms (plumbing and floor sloping issues remained). I will say it was not very cheap, but definitely worth saving up for if you are going for a look that remains true to the home’s original character while dealing with more serious issues of sloping floor due to a heavy cast-iron bathtub. We had the base floor reinforced and leveled, then re-tiled. One thing we found difficult was finding true blue hex tile, I have to say, you probably won’t be able to find the exact blue you have in your original tile (it’s beautiful btw, I understand the desire to save it), but there are shades just a bit darker available. Dealing with the sloping is a good idea though, it’s going going to get worse (read: more expensive to fix) over the long term.

  • Jennifer
    November 20, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    I had the exact same issue, mine was a lovely carrara marble hex tile, but it just couldn’t be saved and I couldn’t take the eyesore any more. There will be concrete you have to jack hammer and it is a lot of work, but it was so worth fixing. Requiring me to take up (which I put back) the cast iron tub saved my house. Come to find out that the one joist it was sitting on had been cut for who knows what and that 400 lb beauty was mere showers away from being in my kitchen! If you want a play by play email me, but I am a total weakling and I jackhammered 6″ of concrete all by myself. You can do it!

  • sp
    November 20, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Sorry but I think the decorative stool just adds more clutter and takes up floor space in what seems to be a small bathroom. I like the idea of a hanging planter. Or I would paint an accent design on the wall (or use decals).

  • kerri
    November 21, 2012 at 1:27 pm

    where or where did you find that fabulous shower curtain??????

  • Melissa S.
    November 21, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    I agree with the pp Jessica. I would paint the stool a different color and maybe “dip” the feet in a bronze color? So you still get that pop of color without all the space taken up.

  • marga
    November 25, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    I know how you feel about the bathroom, I am having the work starting tomorrow at mine. I have lived in my house for the past 7 years hating the bathroom and i am finally going ahead with the renovation, scary as it is not having that room for 2 weeks plus all the stress i am looking forward to finally having my dream bathroom, by the way i will get the same dotty curtain as yours, totally love it, so thanks for the tips.

  • Katie
    November 27, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    Oh my god – I have the same exact tile in my apartment’s bathroom! I wish the rest of my bathroom was as cute and vintage-y as yours!

  • Kirsten
    November 29, 2012 at 9:06 am

    My husband and I (along with the help of my sister who manages a flooring store) completely rebuilt a bathroom floor in our last house, a 1920s bungalow in Indianapolis. The bathroom was over the crawl space, rather than the bathroom, which helped quite a bit. We sistered joists, installed new subfloor and a special underlayment designed for small tiles and then installed penny tiles on top. It was a big job, for sure, but it was worth it. And it was nice to have a level floor for the next three months (we sold the house).

    We’re currently trying to figure out what we want to do with our own hex tile sad-face situation in our kitchen and downstairs bathroom. I’m leaning toward marble hex complete redo (and new all tile, too) in the bathroom, but a herringbone or staggered bond 12″x18″ dark-dark gray tile floor in the (big) kitchen. The hex tiles and square edging tiles remain in our entry way, somehow unfazed by settling issues. I wish that all the original tiles were in the same condition.

  • Jamie
    December 2, 2012 at 7:47 am

    Why dont you just put a small bathroom rug over that spot and cut out a square hole for the vent? Or you can fill the crack with that bathroom putty stuff that turns into rubber that you use to seal the tub to the wall, that stuff works wonders!

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