Getting ready to update my bathroom.

[wildeyed]

Here is the before:



And here are the paint colors- #4 (garden path) on the wall, #3 (seawall) on the ceiling and #1 (the darkest) on the vanity

door pulls

three choices for the vanity top (haven't decided yet)



The grout between the tile is quite nasty, so I will re-grout. Also will replace the lighting, sink bowl and tap, although I haven't chosen a fixtures yet. The tub and fixtures is fine, just needs some cleaning and re-grouting.

This is a children's/guest bathroom. I am going for a modern vibe. Also want to spend as little as possible.

Comments? Suggestions?

[NMDemDist2]

1. wow, quite the project! I like the paint colors but am not sure about the

counter tops with the paints (unless the pic-or my moniter- aren't showing the true colors

I know they are making some very good laminates these days, maybe a granite style with hints of the green and tan in there? Granite is the nw hot look and will give you that modern vibe too

I love the pulls and see why you need a new fixture on the sink but is the sink itself in bad shape? it looks fine in the pic :shrug:

just my two cents, if you love it though, it's perfect!

do you have an "inspiration" piece? I always find that helps me pull things together so much easier. keep me posted!

[wildeyed]

2. I thought about keeping the sink.

It is in fine shape. I don't like the chrome ring around the edge. With a darker laminate, it my not be as obvious. I will get the new counter in, see what it looks like.

The middle laminate is the best so far. In real life, it looks a little like stainless steel. It is also slightly green, so it goes with the paint. If I buy the counter top already laminated, I will have to buy a minimum of 8', about twice as much as I need. So I would have enough to do the more traditional downstairs powder room, too. A granite look might compliment booth rooms better than the ultra modern steel look. I will go back in a few days and look again.

I have no inspiration on this bathroom. I looked at the geckos I already have on the walls, but I don't actually like those colors (someone gave them to me). So I just picked a paint color I liked and went from there.

[NMDemDist2]

3. Thrift Store Mission....... ROFL

you need to go on a "mission" and find something that pulls the colors you want together

a vase, a picture for above the toilet, a basket something!

I love missions like that :patriot:

also I'd suggest looking at only painting EITHER the doors OR the bases of the cabinets and leave one or the other white. it will make it pop and pull in the white tile and not make the cabinets so heavy

put some color on the doors and drawers and paint the "cut out pattern" white and leave the bases white too.. if you don't like it you could just keep painting....

i've seen those two tone cabinets and they look cool IMO

just a thought :shrug:

[wildeyed]

4. I may use some of the other greens as an accent on the vanity.

I am not good at planning ahead, just kind of let things evolve.

I would love going on a mission to find a harmonizing piece. Also, I could try making something. I am not very crafty, but you never know, it might work.

[eleny]

5. An art book form the library could help

Or an art site on the web could be a place to find a picture to help with your colors.

I'm not so good at planning ahead. I'm just now watching HGTV and they're redoing a small apartment rented by a designer guy. They drew up a plan and figured it all out in advance. Yeah right!

Here's an idea to just throw out there, not to be taken seriously. I was watching Debbie Travis's show the other day and she painted a laminate counter top with an oil based primer and then a melamine paint. Dabbed it with a sea sponge to make a granite look and last put on 3 coats of sealer. It's supposed to last for years and years. I'm not suggesting you do this but the discussion reminded me of the program. I think the melamine paint is the latest product that makes painting counters durable.

Good luck with your bathroom! No matter what colors you choose, you could even just dab all your colors onto a page in a paint program for a couple of modern art prints and print them out to hang and unify your room. Your earth tones make that easy and modern art is totally forgiving. :D

[wildeyed]

6. Hey, you found us!

:hi:

Now if H2S and a few others from C & B show up, the whole gang will be here!

The melamine paint is an excellent idea! Then I don't have to take the counter top out and install a new one. And if I dislike the result, I can always pull it out like I was planning originally.

I am always impressed with people who have their entire project planned out ahead of time. I always do mine if fits and starts. I never have enough money or time to do it all at once anyway.

[eleny]

7. We're working on our kitchen now

My living room and breakfast nook have looked like a tag sale for over a month. Sometimes I feel like Murphy Brown who was never finished getting her house painted. I'm great at clearing out to get a job going but then you have to get it going.

Oh, btw - love your toidy with the kiddy seat! Adorable! :hi:

[wildeyed]

8. Welcome to my world.

2 year old is potty training :eyes:

Can't wait to see your finished kitchen!

[Stinky The Clown]

9. You rang?

http://www.jedessine.com.nyud.net:8090/MUSEE/SOPHIE/genie.jpg

If you have little kids, I'd worry a bit about a painted countertop. I know it isn't lead paint and all, but I'd worry.

Now, for painting the vanity base, Sherwin Williams has a remarkable primer that lets any paint stick to slick surfaces - like a laminate or thermofoil vanity base, which yours appears to be. Its pricey - probably more than the paint you'll buy, but it works wonders and is worth every penny.

I like your color palette. My son used a similar palette when he painted the first floor of his house. The colors flow very nicely from one room to the next.

When you regrout, consider a Dremel tool with a grout gutting blade. It makes short work of the otherwise very tedious task of removing the old grout. The tool also has a depth guide so you don't go too deep and undercut the tile. Also, since the tile is much harder than the grout, the tool pretty much follows the path of least resistence - the softer grout.

I'd consider using a gray grout ... at least medium gray, and maybe almost charcoal color. It will give the tile some real definition.

For the counter, I'll depart from everything here and suggest a black. Black granite (laminate) would be okay, too. And yeah ... replace the sink. Those rim set sinks look very dated. A self-rimming sink can be had quite reasonably. The cheapest ones, however, are some kind of composite material. Don't buy them. They can **not** withstand wear and look shabby in sort order. Go for china. I would bet you can get a china sink in the $30 to $40 range.

[wildeyed]

10. Oh goodie, do I get three wishes now?

Dremel tool, we have that! Thanks for the tip. I will give it a go. I think a darker color for the re-grout would be nice. Also, it would not show dirt as much. Maybe I will paint a few of the tiles on the wall as accents, too. Just to give the room a little more character.

I had a black granite-look laminate in my old kitchen, which I liked. I looked at a graphite color in the store this go round. I will bring home a swatch to see if it looks good here. Why do you think that would be preferable to the lighter grays? If I go the gray rout, maybe I will try to match the grout to the counter top.

The sinks I saw at Lowe's were in the $80 range. We have pretty much decided to re-laminate the existing counter top (we did that in our old bathroom and it worked great. Also cheap, cheap, cheap) the existing bowl will fit. We won't have to fit a new bowl. On the other hand, I dislike the rim......

Finished painting the wall today and got the sink base partially sanded. The base is wood, so I think regular primer aught to do it there. We are well on our way!

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Let's see ... three wishes ......... well ... at least three opinions ....

.... each worth exactly what you paid for them ... nothing! :)

All your colors are in the same tonal range. The black countertop would pop against it all. Now, if you really wanna be daring, go with black trim, too. Again, it will pop against the monotonal color scheme you have.

Okay, that was one ... plus a freebie (the trim suggestion). Here's number two ..... try an independent hardware store or a plumbing supply store for the sinks. We bought two of them some years ago and paid under $40 each. They were name brand (Ehljer? Elkay?) made in the USA. There's a lot of vitreous stuff coming from China these days for even less money. We just bought a new console sink for the main bath upstairs (a project still undone) that has a tubular stainless base and a vitreous (china) top, all made in China ... and remarkably good quality.

And finally ..... Just tellin' ya what ya already know ... any good primer will do fine for the vanity base.

Good luck ... and do pictures!

[wildeyed]

17. Found the *best* laminate countertop today.

Matte finish, graphite gray with tiny green speckles and the slightest texture. Looks great with the colors and it will pop.

Also found a less expensive sink, so I will replace that, too.

Now for the fun part. Re-grouting. Argh.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. That sounds really nice!

I'm glad you found a cheaper sink, too.

It's a vitreous china sink, right?

[wildeyed]

19. Yes, vitreous. I checked. n/t

[NMDemDist2]

20. sounds perfect! on the home improvement shows when they "re-do"

grout, they only take out part of it, so a dremel taking it down about half ways may be fine

dremel tools are totally cool, fairly cheap (or easy to borrow-- ask your relatives or around your home group) they are really easy to work with, fairly light weight so it won't be as bad as you think I bet

can't wait for the pics!

[wildeyed]

21. I bought the dremel tool attachment.

It has a special bit and a guide to make sure you don't go too deep. I also bought an old fashioned grout scraping tool, just in case ;)

The weather has turned nice this weekend, so I doubt I will get to work on the bathroom project too much. Got bulbs to plant.

[eleny]

12. P.S. on that Melamine paint

It's not available in the U.S. yet. They have it in Canada. :(

[NMDemDist2]

13. a black sink in a kids bathroom?? whoooooman can I have some

of whatever you're drinking?

I had black fixtures in my master bath in California and it showed every spot of toothpaste, every water drop not wiped up, every speck of dust that was within a three room radius

ever had a black car? same thing.... I love ya H2S and you know I do, but black is a nightmare in bath fixtures, been there, done that trust me

:loveya:

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I wasn't suggesting fixtures ... just the countertop laminate

I agree with you that glossy black fixtures are very problematic, even if not in a kid's bath. A semi-matte finish laminate .... not so much.

[NMDemDist2]

15. ooops! I should known you knew better, mea culpa!

forgive me?

:hide:

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Mais oui ....

.... mon amie! :pals: