Elsewhere

The Lake House Bathroom, Before

Last night, I started a fun DIY project at the lake house. If you have a very good memory and have been reading here since 2010, you may remember this post, in which I wrote about my mother-in-law’s idea for wainscoting made from vintage yardsticks. (Go read it! I’ll wait.) Seeing as how I’m up here for 3 weeks and this project falls squarely in my skill set, I’m taking it on.

Here’s what the bathroom (powder room, really) looked like before.

Lake  House Bathroom

Lake  House Bathroom

Here’s the view from outside the room.

Lake House

The yardsticks are going up today!

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  • Laurie from House to your Home
    August 15, 2013 at 10:12 am

    Ok seriously that bathroom is beyond cute and that room! What a beautiful place to spend the next 3 weeks! You’re one lucky girl!

  • Laura @ Rather Square
    August 15, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Looking forward to seeing the finished result! Also: that tree stump sink is a gem.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 15, 2013 at 10:52 am

      Isn’t it? It’s a OOAK vintage oddity.

  • Tena
    August 15, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I would find myself going in there just to hang out with that sink. The little mice are cute and totally my sense of humor in decorating. Can’t wait to see the yard stick treatment.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 15, 2013 at 10:52 am

      I’m glad someone spotted the mice!

  • Laurie
    August 15, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Oh my gosh that is going to be seriously cute! I wonder if what I’m picturing is what you are doing because I don’t know where you could get that many yard sticks.

    Can’t wait to see it!

    • Making it Lovely
      August 15, 2013 at 10:53 am

      We have a LOT of yardsticks to work with.

  • Nikki
    August 15, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Oh my gosh… that sink is amazing! Like Laurie, I’m also wondering where you found enough vintage yard sticks… I can’t wait to see!

    • Making it Lovely
      August 15, 2013 at 10:53 am

      My mother-in-law has been collecting them from flea markets and the like for years with this project in mind!

  • zilredloh
    August 15, 2013 at 10:36 am

    What a wonderful idea! Can’t wait to see how it turns out. :)

  • Sarah {702 Park Project}
    August 15, 2013 at 10:41 am

    I can’t wait to see it!! It’s such a unique idea! And I’m glad to see you aren’t leaving your DIY brain at home! A new place with new projects is always fun. :)

  • Nick
    August 15, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Let us pause and admire that sideboard outside the bathroom though…. it’s pretty remarkable.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 15, 2013 at 10:49 am

      I want that thing so badly.

      • Nick
        August 15, 2013 at 11:01 am

        It’s seriously boss. It looks like the ones in antique stores that are amazing, but are never for sale.

  • Dana
    August 15, 2013 at 10:50 am

    That sink! It is amazing. I want one.

  • jbhat
    August 15, 2013 at 11:00 am

    What an awesome place! The MIL is awesome. Have fun with the project!

    jbhat

  • Emily
    August 15, 2013 at 11:08 am

    My mom is a yardstick junkie and I can’t wait to tell her about this! She’s a landscape architect turned high school teacher and it would look great in her home office where she drafts!

    Another note, I work for the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association and we’re sorry to loose you as a bungalista, but delighted to see you making moves!

    • Making it Lovely
      August 18, 2013 at 9:05 am

      I never thought we’d be moving into a Victorian, but the one we bought charmed me!

  • Michelle M
    August 15, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    That cabinet is AMAZING! I pretty much love all cabinets with lots and lots of drawers. But that one is like Awesome!!

  • Ryan
    August 15, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    There is a yardstick wall treatment in the current issue of Anthology no. 12, useing the entire wall. I’m sure the powder room didn’t take an entire barrel full.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 18, 2013 at 9:12 am

      Oh, I can’t wait to see it! Our project took a wastebasket full, not a barrel. ;)

  • Tara Jane
    August 15, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    That SINK! Totally awesome. Good luck with the sticks. Let’s figure out how to DIY a sideboard like the one pictured…!

  • Catherine
    August 15, 2013 at 4:40 pm

    I can’t wait to see the finished product! Also, what does the sign on the door say? I tried to read it but can’t see it clearly.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 18, 2013 at 9:13 am

      It’s an occupancy sign (a joke). I’ll get a better shot of it when I take pictures again of the ‘after.’

  • AnnW
    August 15, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Must Have — that sink! I think you need to take a LOT of pictures and show us your Mother in Laws. house. Please.

    • Making it Lovely
      August 18, 2013 at 9:17 am

      It hasn’t changed much since they redid the place in 2007. I took a bunch of photos then: here and here.

  • KRISTINA
    August 15, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    AS OTHERS HAVE STATED BEFORE – THAT SINK IS TO DIE FOR!!

  • Lucy
    August 16, 2013 at 7:55 am

    That tree stump sink is awesome and your MIL sounds awesome, herself! I can’t wait to see the antique yardstick wainscoting!

  • Betty Behrens
    August 16, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Curious – what does the sign on the door say?

    • Making it Lovely
      August 18, 2013 at 9:18 am

      It’s an occupancy limit notice for the bathroom (no more than 27 people)!

  • kelsey
    August 16, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    You MIL sounds like a sweet lady. Selfishly I wish she still lived in Des Moines so we could meet up!

  • lsaspacey
    August 16, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    Wow, I love how the sink looks like one half of a cut coconut! Seriously, I love it.

  • How to Make Yardsticks into Wainscoting | Making it Lovely
    August 20, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    […] vintage yardsticks that my mother-in-law has been collecting for the lake house’s bathroom have finally become wainscoting. Three years after she mentioned the project to me, and at least […]

  • The Lake House Bathroom, After | Making it Lovely
    August 23, 2013 at 9:51 am

    […] vintage yardstick transformation into DIY wainscoting is complete! The family lake house bathroom is looking pretty dang […]

  • Kellie
    August 24, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    Is the door a new door made to look vintage? Please share a source.