BedStuy Reno
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February 14, 2008
Top Floor Bath - Shower Body Edition
Who says Bed Stuy reno isn’t green? Yes, we’re keeping the green tiles, people. In fact, what we removed for putting in a new shower body and where we had to get to the sink plumbing we are patching back with new green tile! There are parts of the wall that were patched at some point with mismatching green tile, and in that tradition, we are adding our own mismatching green tile to the mix. It looks cool, trust us.
Anyway, after the plumbers completed the rough in, there was a lot of patching to do. G says I am now graduated to the realm of “bricolo,” which would be Belge for “handyman,” the implications of which have to do with ability and also visual style. It’s a double-edged compliment, but I’ll take it. Here is some photo-documentation of the patch job I attempted around the new shower body on the upstairs bath. First came some strapping to tie into, then a layer of greenboard, followed by a layer of hardibacker to receive the tile. Finally, I tried to patch and smooth everything out with thinset and mesh tape. Just about ready for our new green tile here. For whatever reason, the opening and the cutouts I made to fit it look like the New Museum profile. If you’ve seen the building or the ads around the city maybe you know what I mean.
Comments
Im really eager to see what the finished product looks. I wouldnt have the guts to keep the tiles and make it work but you guys did such a great job on your other bathroom, Im sure you have a vision for this one as well.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at February 15, 2008 8:33 AM
I was wondering about that when I first saw those tiles. They rock! The only thing that would make them better is if they were pink.
Posted by: rh at February 15, 2008 4:27 PM
Love those green bathroom tiles popular in the 30's - a friend I know has them and hates them, but I love them. Also like that you are keeping them and just mixing more greens as patched before - people tend to pull out more than they need to to make everything perfect. With good quality work, one doesn't need the matchiness to be perfect.
Posted by: guest at February 15, 2008 5:03 PM
you guys have too much time on your hands. lucky you, though.
Posted by: guest at February 15, 2008 6:56 PM
Agree with you-- this is really cool, and a fresh approach to a vintage bath that you never see done.
Were you able to remove some tiles without breaking them? I've tried this with an angle grinder to the grout, and it's sometimes possible--but not easy.
I renovated a heavily-tiled 20s Deco bathroom that required Dremel-ing out all the old grout and replacing it--the nastiest, ugliest rehab job I've ever done. Worse (to me) even than stripping paint from woodwork.
Congrats on a great job!
Posted by: guest at February 15, 2008 8:01 PM
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