Notice the refrigerator floating strangely in the middle of everything. It drives me batty.
Welcome to the Northwoods Bathroom, the ugliest bathroom in the world. Its ugly amenities include circa 1996 cheap wallpaper and pre-fab vanity. To round out this hideousness there is a drop ceiling (To cover up the 10 foot ceilings, of course! Who would want those?), fluorescent lighting, plus forest green painted cabinetry and trim.
Oh la la! Tres chic.
The church talked about a kitchen/ bathroom remodel before the economy tanked in 2008. Basically the plan was to remove the no longer in use chimney, to create a built-in space for the refrigerator. Also discussed was moving the bathroom into what is now a coat closet, to regain the butler's pantry space for the kitchen. That project is on hold until further notice.
So. What to do? I haven't done much with it because of the looming remodel, but because it is not going to happen soon, I feel the need to make the most of what I have. First up is the Northwoods Bathroom. I plan to remove the wallpaper, paint the vanity to match the white cabinetry of the kitchen, and paint the walls a grayish purple. The kitchen is going to get white paint touch-ups, dreamsicle orange walls and new valances. Maybe take doors off of one of the cabinets to display some of my nicer things and introduce more color? I would like to replace what I call the "crap table" in the corner with a prep table on wheels with some stools. Chris isn't in love with the idea, because a prep table would be a lateral move, plus it would cover up a window.
Does anyone else have some cheap ideas?
8 comments:
If you use flat black paint to paint photo frames, use white matting, and put black and white photos of your kids on the creamsicle-orange walls, it will look like you picked that black dishwasher to match everything.
Also, when you hunt down fabric for valances, you should be able to find a fun print (there's SO much out there!) that has a touch of black in it. That will also help. Voila! Black is now your secondary accent color and your Dishwasher looks so clever! :)
A prep table or cart would have storage on lower shelves. You could put all the kids' plastic dishes there - they could help unload the dishwasher and set the table, too, then.
Depending on how batty the ref. drives you, you could put the Ref. in front of the window. It would make more sense functionally. But I'm not sure I'd give up a whole window. You'd have to curtain the window so people didn't see the back of the ref. from outside of the house.
Another option, which a friend of mind did who had a crazy-small kitchen is to put a small apartment size fridge in the kitchen and move the big one down to the bottom of the basement stairs.
Alternately, you could slide the fridge to the left, so that it's adjoining the window, but not tight against it; put it maybe 15"-24" away. The light would still come in the window (and would reflect off the side of the fridge). You'd have a weird corner there, but that large fridge wouldn't be floating in the middle of the wall then. I'd attach a shelf under the window, maybe, to fill in the corner.
I love your plans for the Northwoods bathroom. It sounds very nice. Like EC, I think the idea of prep cart to replace the crap table. You can scrounge around on Craigslist for something cheap that you could paint or upcyle. (I hate that word.) And I'm all about some glass doors on your cupboards to show off some colored pieces. Sweet.
Perhaps this calls for another IKEA trip. :)
1) SheeeEEEEZ! What did the northwoods bathroom ever do to you?
2) Kidding. I can see how wooden ducks and small pine trees aren't really your thing.
3) I like your black dishwasher. Black and white are my favorite colors. You need some black and white ultra-modern paisley fabric to make curtains? I have roughly eleventy million years (see: never-used wedding tablecloths).
4) You used the phrase "butler's pantry," which makes you, and your house, awesome.
Also, by "years," I definitely meant "yards." I'll go back to sitting quietly in the corner minding my own business now.
Adriane, I don't know who you are, but will you be my friend?
Yes! I'm just Adriane Dorr, friend to the stars (read: Seifferleins), or, if you prefer, a Seifferlein groupie. Either way.
Ah. I'm Jenny, Casey groupie, spotted at Redeemer Fort Wayne several times per year. I think I've met you and/or a sister of yours while playing hooky from my own church at Redeemer.
Thank you for all your ideas. You have me thinking!
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