A Cool Place
to Do Your Business
| Country | Garden |
Horsy Nay-Nay
This bathroom idea is really for the person who is deeply drawn to the country life. The space itself is bathed in a bright, creamy, butter yellow. We have chosen to cover the toilet and adjacent area to resemble a western horse stall. The toilet has a wooden screen door garnished with wagon wheel appliques in the corners and slat wood attached to the bottom front to look like a saloon door. The screen door allows for privacy, while still giving the occupant air and light. The adjacent space is covered in standard paneling positioned horizontally and painted a bright apple red (using oil based paint for moisture) . A window is framed out and decorated with spindles. This space would be great for a separate shower, laundry set-up, dressing area or linen storage.
For the sink area, we chose a primitive but creative approach with our materials. Around a standard oval mirror, we attached an old weathered yolk. On either side we hung bright red lanterns. These were originally kerosene lanterns, but we removed the old carosene attachments and filled them instead with white LED Holiday light strings. The vanity is pine car siding held together underneath with a couple of slats and painted a patriotic blue (using oil based paint for moisture). For the sink vessel we used an enameled mixing bowl, as well as other enameled dishes for accessories to hold toiletries. The base of the vanity is held up by simple saw horses.
We used the saw horses again for a sort of seat, and placed a saddle on the top. On the standard ceramic floor we placed a lovely Mexican wool blanket (for slip resistance, be sure to put a carpet slip guard underneath it). To bring more color balance to the room, simple red paisley bandanas were sewn together to make curtains over the window. The over-head light for the room is a 100 watt barn light fixture.
Finally, the bath of this thoroughly country bathroom is, naturally, a galvanized, steel stock tank. For comfort we added a resin lounge chair.
| top |
Garden Party
Using the same footprint, we choose a green garden theme. The cream colored tile is replaced with a mossy green tile, and the walls are painted a pleasant sky blue. The screen door in front of the toilet is the same, but the wagon wheels have been replaced with flowery appliques. The paneling is replaced with cedar lattice, and a scrap piece of lattice is turned 45 degrees and placed on the bottom of the screen door for privacy and visual interest.
The mirror is the same, but the red barn lanterns have been replaced with glass, Asian-inspired lanterns, using either candles as lighting, or, again utilizing the LED white Holiday lights. For the vessel, we went a little more standard and used a simple, translucent glass vessel sink. However, we placed it on a rustic planters table made of 2 x 4's, and plywood. The top is tiled in a ceramic tile complimenting the floor, and we used various pots and planters for our toiletries.
On the floor we placed a natural fiber rug, and for seating, found a cast metal Victorian garden bench (thoroughly painted and sealed to prevent rust). Our window treatments are simple white sheers.
The centerpiece of this garden bath is our very different tub. The tub itself is actually a large hard plastic pond form. We set it in a solid wooden frame, filled in the areas around it with closed cell polystyrene foam, then sculpted the foam into rock shapes and painted it.
The large, open chandelier is hardwired for lights, but also has places for candles (purchased at at discount home store). The large, low light vining house plant is right at home on the lattice, while the other orchid-like arrangements are made of silk, for ease of maintenance.
| top |