(With DIY Vintage Yardstick Wainscoting)
The vintage yardstick transformation into DIY wainscoting is complete! The family lake house bathroom is looking pretty dang fantastic.
There is no natural lighting in the bathroom, and you have to get inside and close the door to take pictures, but here’s what the light fixture actually looks like when it isn’t on. You can also see that the wall color isn’t quite as warm as it appears under incandescent lighting in the other photos.
Here’s the bathroom in context.
And here are a few other details around the room. The squirrel switches things up seasonally.
The yardsticks vary in age and were picked up over many years at flea markets and antique shops. Some of the oldest have 3-digit phone numbers, and many have the old letters and numbers format. Also, apparently furniture and funeral service was a thing? There are three yardsticks offering this darling combination, all from different providers. The one below notes ambulance service, too. One-stop-shopping!
Tree stump sink!
Done. So happy to be able to help Brandon’s mom by doing this project.
Larissa
August 21, 2013 at 5:04 amLooks good! Furniture and Funeral businesses were common because cabinet makers also made coffins! My Grandpa made grandfather clocks, kitchens and coffins in outback Northern Australia. If the population was low, there wasn’t always enough work being just a coffin builder, or just a cabinet maker, but if you combine – two markets, same skill = plenty of work all year round- smart!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:13 pmAh, that makes sense!
Alex - Hydrangea Girl
August 21, 2013 at 5:58 amThat looks fantastic, awesome job Nicole! What a fun spin on a bathroom. Your mother in law is trés creative.
xx A
In My Wheele House
August 22, 2013 at 4:27 pmAgreed!
Totes came across this blog by accident – happy accident.
Also, fancy meeting you here!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:16 pmShe’s very creative. I like her a whole lot.
Tracy
August 21, 2013 at 6:01 amI’ve never commented before but am a faithful reader. I LOVE the yardstick wainscoting! It is stunning and so very inspiring. Nicely done!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:15 pmThanks, and thanks for leaving a comment!
Ananasa
August 21, 2013 at 6:39 amThe yard stick is by far an amazing idea! So creative, we absolutely love it! thank you for the inspiration.
Ali Burtt
August 21, 2013 at 6:48 amThis is darling. You did an amazing job. It looks super well-done.
And I’m coming to steal that squirrel. Just sayin.
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:19 pmThe squirrel is pretty great. He (she? I’m not checking) also sometimes holds a little squirrel-sized coffee cup.
Amy @ Paint Wine Repeat
August 21, 2013 at 7:20 amHow interesting — love this !!
From the small picture in my bloglovin feed, the wainscoting looked like wallpaper, so interesting close up.
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:55 pmWe thought it would make a really cool photo-realistic wallpaper.
Alex
August 21, 2013 at 7:20 amLove the the yardstick wainscoting! What a great idea, it looks amazing. And I like to think there’s an story behind every yardstick…
emily
August 21, 2013 at 7:26 amdarling! such a fun idea, and so perfect in this house.
Alline
August 21, 2013 at 7:34 amI love it! Great idea!
Sarah
August 21, 2013 at 8:14 amThat looks so good! One of my favorite parts though was the squirrel. My dad manages a plantation so we are taxidermy fans too!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:56 pmThere’s a LOT of taxidermy at the lake house!
Paige // Lively Green Door
August 21, 2013 at 8:32 amWHAT?! This is monstrously cool. Well done!
Michelle | Birds of Berwick
August 21, 2013 at 8:37 amThis looks amazing! I really cannot get over what a great idea this was and it turned out so charming! Perfect for the lake house!
katy
August 21, 2013 at 8:39 amthat is pretty darn fantastic! I’d love to see more vingettes of the house, the other peaks we’ve seen are so interesting! FEED US :)
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:58 pmHaha! I took a million pictures when the house was redone in 2007, and it looks mostly the same today. They’re all over on Flickr.
Nichola
August 21, 2013 at 9:00 amI really like this quirky bathroom, the wainscotting is a fabulous idea and I am in love with the tree trunk sink!! Agree with other commenters, if the In-laws would consent to more photos, it looks like a wonderful place to stay.
Kayla aka Kilo Bravo
August 21, 2013 at 9:02 amLove this!! I was so excited about this project – my mother collected yardsticks for forever with plans to do something with them someday – and when I sent her your link, she said she finally donated them about a year ago!! It might drive my father crazy, but I think she may start collecting them again after seeing this final post!
Love, love, love it!
Laura @ Rather Square
August 21, 2013 at 9:34 amThis turned out fantastic. What a cool and cute project – lucky MIL!
Lea
August 21, 2013 at 9:57 amWow, this works very well! Great job!! But what’s up with the room occupancy thing? Maybe a good excuse to not invite all the family out for a BBQ? ha
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 4:59 pmI’d like to see 27 people try to cram in there.
Abby
August 21, 2013 at 10:01 amIt looks so great! Job well done! I love the yard sticks. Well worth the hard work.
Karlie
August 21, 2013 at 10:07 amWoot! What a fun addition to an already personality-infused bathroom. The occupancy sign is a fun little touch :)
Lucy
August 21, 2013 at 10:23 amWow! This turned out so perfect! This bathroom is really amazing all together! Maybe you guys should start renting it out? :D
Kristina
August 21, 2013 at 10:32 amThis was such a cool idea, it turned out awesome!
Laurie
August 21, 2013 at 10:52 amAbsolutely darling! That could not be any cuter and I won’t be happy until I get to do one some day. I shall commence collecting old yard sticks from garage sales and flea markets. Immediately!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:00 pmDo it!
Lisa
August 21, 2013 at 10:53 amThat’s fantastic (and a lot of yard sticks)! You & your mother-in-law have great style & vision. You are the Lucy & Ethel of chic lake house interiors!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:00 pmI LOVE THAT.
Brenda
August 21, 2013 at 11:19 amI didn’t think the bathroom needed anything added to it before, but that looks amazing! That house looks pretty fantastic too, what a fun place to explore.
Stacy
August 21, 2013 at 11:44 amYou are such an inspiration! I hope one day I have a daughter-in-law like you! ;)
erin
August 21, 2013 at 11:52 amI have to say, I did not have your vision on this one. I couldn’t imagine how it would look besides weird. I gasped when I saw the fist picture – it’s BEAUTIFUL!!! The whole bathroom and the wainscoting look amazing. Go you!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:01 pmThanks! I have to say though, it was definitely a shared vision, and my mother-in-law deserves a lot of the credit.
Audrie
August 21, 2013 at 11:58 amLove how the yardsticks came out! I’m still in awe of the fact that your MIL was in possession of 150 of them!
nora
August 21, 2013 at 12:37 pmomg! that is so amazing and unique! love!!
Tena
August 21, 2013 at 12:49 pmWow! The powder room turned out great. I am totally going to steal this idea, so now I must begin collecting old yardsticks. :)
Danielle
August 21, 2013 at 1:19 pmThe bathroom is awesome! It looks like it was meant to be there all along.
You MUST do a post showing the entire lake house! From little snip-its I have seen on instagram and here, the place looks so awesome and cozy.
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:02 pmIt is. You can see more of the place here.
Sarah
August 21, 2013 at 1:28 pmFantastic job! That is such a unique bathroom; everything about it. Bet you are mother-in-law’s #1 daughter-in-law!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:02 pmI’m her only daughter-in-law, so I can say with certainty that I’m her favorite one!
Aimee @The Stylish Nest
August 21, 2013 at 2:20 pmLooks so fun! Love the squirrel too. I bet your MIL loves you most. :)
Emily
August 21, 2013 at 3:36 pmSo cute! In the US, funeral homes also operated as estate managers. Often family members had the funeral homes manage the sale of unwanted furniture, etc of the deceased. There is still one in operation in my hometown. Now that people have ‘estate sales’ these combos are not as popular, but still very efficient in a small town. :)
I LOVE that stump sink!!!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:03 pmThat’s what I suspected, but I hadn’t heard of the practice until seeing it on the rulers! Thanks for clearing that up.
Catherine
August 21, 2013 at 3:45 pmThis is awesome! I love your MIL’s sense of humor when it comes to decorating. And now that I think about it, I remember my grandparents always having random yardsticks with ads on them. It’s so cool that you’ve left your mark on a family home this way!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:04 pmIt’s a nice feeling, knowing that I’ve added to the house’s history.
Rosa
August 21, 2013 at 4:44 pmThe best DIY I’ve seen in a long time. Fantastic job. I love all the little touches too.
Whitney
August 21, 2013 at 5:01 pmLove it!
tara r
August 21, 2013 at 5:24 pmWow! It looks beautiful!
Leslie
August 21, 2013 at 6:40 pmThis looks fantastic, very creative.
Nitya
August 21, 2013 at 8:09 pmReally awesome! Loved it so so much!
Vivien
August 21, 2013 at 8:38 pmTotally awesome!!
Jennifer
August 22, 2013 at 6:26 amGreat update! I love that it’s got a lake house feel with a fun touch of whimsy!
Debbie
August 22, 2013 at 7:30 amI really like the wainscoting! Great idea mom! Also—-yes furniture sales and funeral homes used to be quite popularly packaged together in the same facilities. I learned this recently when buying a couch from an old furniture store. They said it used to be popular to have combination furniture stores/funeral homes because they both require open floor plans and they could use the space for both. Strange but clever I suppose!
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:05 pmAh, that makes sense.
Jennifer
August 22, 2013 at 8:24 amThat. is. very. cool. I am so impressed that anyone would even come up with the idea to do that. Great job!
Kristen
August 22, 2013 at 2:11 pmGorgeous! It looks fantastic! Congrats!
In My Wheele House
August 22, 2013 at 4:26 pmThis is my first visit to your blog, and I gotta say, it was a perfect time to do it. What a gorgeous, and super character filled bathroom!
le sigh…
in love.
Making it Lovely
August 23, 2013 at 5:08 pmThanks. And I hope you’ll stick around!
Stephanie
August 22, 2013 at 6:58 pmSo, this is my first time commenting on your blog and I have to say that the yardsticks. Look. Awesome! Hands down one of the coolest bathroom makeovers I’ve seen in a very long time. Well done.
Barbara
August 23, 2013 at 9:27 pmThat is absolutely *AWESOME*!! I’m so glad you got to bring your mother-in-law’s idea to fruition.
Thanks for sharing.
Barb
Eowyn West
August 26, 2013 at 10:00 amHello! Great job! Can you share where the faucet came from and where to possibly purchase it? Thank you!
northstory notes - Aug 23, 2013 : northstory
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