Windsor Terrace Reno

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March 2, 2008

Parlour Floor Bathroom

To those who have been following along this year, you may remember what I like to call THE.MOST.DISGUISTING.ROOM.EVER.

I can't seem to find the other photos of the original bathroom but lets just say it didn't get any better from another angle. This bathroom was next to the rooms that became the kitchen/dining area. The original bathroom was pretty big so we took some of that space for the kitchen and made the bathroom area smaller.

A good deal of thought went into deciding if we should make this a half bathroom or leave it as a full. We didn't really NEED a full bath on the main floor. Ultimately, we decided that the claw foot tub could live in here and we could leave it as a full. We figure the tub can come in handy for future dog/children baths. And even if we rarely use it for whats its intended for, at least we saved the original tub and its pretty too look at. Time will tell if its a practical decision or not.

The layout of this bathroom is one of those things I'd count as a major mistake on my part. As you can see from the photo, the door swings open right into the tub. How did I miss that detail? It was in all of the plans and I never even thought of it. I justify it to myself as having too many details to worry about at the time but really, it isn't like me not to spot something so obvious. Oh well, I didn't notice and it was too late to fix once I did. I suppose I could have the door switched to swing the other way at some point but I'll live with it for now. I really am loathe to do another thing that requires power tools.

This bathroom is really tough to photograph. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but all the photos seem to come out with a weird greenish cast and make the room look poorly lit. In reality, the marble has a blue/grey tone and the wall has the tiniest bit of green and its quite bright in there. I like the color combo and the feel of the whole room. Anyway, I think it looks nicer in person so you'll have to take my word for it.

Here are the specs in case you're interested:
-tiles are carrera marble - hex on the floor, subway on the wall (purchased from Classic Tile and I'd recommend them)
-paint is Benjamin Moores "gray owl" (which actually looks a tiny bit green)
-the toilet is a Kohler Memoir (purchased from Park Slope Plumbing Supply - not wow'd by the service or help there at all)
-sink & faucet is Polished Nickel manufactered by Porcher (purchased online)
-Mirror, lights & shelf also Polished Nickel (purchased from pottery barn)

The walls look really bare in here so I definitely need something on the walls. For some reason, I think the marble tiles would look cool with some high contrast black and whites of the NYC subway or maybe grand central? I don't really want to use the same photos Ive seen on a thousand postcards so maybe I can snap some of my own and see how that looks.

Until accessories are added, this is it. Another room done. Woo-hoo.

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Comments

Nice job. I'm wondering if that original bathtub was a standard five-footer or something smaller, and the clawfoot as well. Somehow from the photos (the offset original tub) it looks somewhat less. Hard to tell.

BTW, I had a clawfoot in my original bathroom until disaster (a flood) forced me to renovate. It proved a silver lining as the day to day maintenance job with a regular inset tub replacing the clawfoot was way more convenient cleaning-wise.

-Carolyn

Posted by: guest at March 2, 2008 7:16 PM

Its a standard 60 incher. Nothing really "special" about the tub in an absolute sense except that it was original to our house so I wanted to keep it.

Good point about the cleaning. I didn't really think about that but another reason why its a good thing it won't be used for everday showers.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 2, 2008 7:35 PM

lovely. I wouldn't call the door thing a "major mistake" since I bet this tub will be used a couple times a year. I'd prefer this than to open towards the toilet.

Also, nothing is "major" that can be changed by a handyman with a couple hours.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 11:25 AM

Ok, maybe its not major but it seems like the kind of thing that required major stupidity on my part to miss. What can I say? I have high standards for myself. Im just so tapped out of renovation patience, Ill probably live with it forever.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 3, 2008 11:51 AM

Could you put a sliding door on the outside of the opening (ala a warehouse-type door) if it ever got to be too much?

Would rather have the door swing into the tub than into the toilet. When you're rushing for something in the bathroom, it's never the tub, KWIM?

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 3:31 PM

I'd just put in a doorstop in the floor so the door won't hit the tub. (Or, if you don't want to drill the holes for the screws, just stick a heavy metal art object on the floor there to stop the door.)

Door would be worse opening toward toilet, I think. Best would have been a pocket door. You could have door open to hall (many apartment renos have this with small baths), but that creates its own traffic jam in the hall sometimes. This actually is best - and has some advantages over a pocket (I'm not crazy about them in these situations, unless there's absolutely no way a door would fit. Your door fits.)

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 3:34 PM

Am I cleaning my tub wrong? Is it really that difficult? A little commet and a sponge, 3 minutes, once/wk. Done.

I think you can pull up one hex tile and put in a little rubber stopper to keep the door from banging into the tub. I had that in a rental once. Looks a little funny once your inside with the door closed, but may be better for you than switching the door.

I suggest a framed photo of the before as your wall art, but then I like to hang photos of the bathrooms I've encountered in my travels.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 3:41 PM

Much better to open to the tub than to the toilet. As you stated, you don't really need a full bath so chances of someone use the tub is almost non-existent.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 3:46 PM

The issue isn't really function. Once the door is closed, how it opens is not an issue. (If youre using the toilet or the tub, you're going to shut the door) Its really just a concern to prevent the door slamming into the tub.

Good idea about the floor mounted door stop. Anyone know where I can buy that?

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 3, 2008 3:58 PM

Could I please ask how much you estimate that this all cost you in dollars? I have a similarly horrible bathroom to renovate and you have a similar aesthetic. Thanks.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 4:15 PM

I'd think it would be better to use one of those doorstops that fits into the hinge. That way you don't have to have something sticking up out of the floor to trip on and it would probably be easier to install. (Do you know what I'm talking about -- I think it's got two arms, one of which rests against the wall and other one stops the door.)

One drawback of having it open toward the tub is if you open it while someone is in there, well, you know...

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 4:17 PM

I don't know how you guys roll but in this household, there is an unwritten rule that the door shall be locked while the loo is in use. So Im not concerned about exposing anyone's twig and berries mid stream. Its really just annoys me when the door hits the tub.

Guest - I can't tell you what the labor costs for your bathroom. We redid every inch of plumbing and electrical as part of a larger job. I don't know how that got portioned in here. I can tell you what the materials cost. Some of this is from memory so its approximate.

Floor tile - $19/sq foot
Wall tile - $9/sq foot
Wall trim/base - $20/foot
Pedestal Sink - $380
Faucet - $360
Mirror - $300
Sconces - $50 for both (picked up at outlet)
Shelf, Towel Bar, TP holder - $150
Clawfoot tub - "free"
Clawfoot tub faucet - $350
Toilet - $380

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 3, 2008 4:37 PM

We don't lock the doors because the old knobs etc don't really line up properly, and I won't let my kids use the hook latch in case something happens to them (paranoid school of parenting, I know). I should get the doors fixed, but they're far down on a long list!

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 4:59 PM

The floor kind I had in mind is the second and third one in this link - called low rise - because they don't stick up as much as others, and are rounded (for when you do trip on them.) And I would think you could get them just about anywhere.

http://www.doityourself.com/icat/doorstopsfloor

I like the idea of hinge mounted one. But I can't tell from the picture how far your door does open. The hinge mounted ones are designed to prevent the inside doorknob from hitting the wall - so if your door opens almost all the way, it might work. If it doesn't open almost 90 degrees, it won't be long enough.

And, better yet, get a straight doorstop (metal with rubber tip) and screw it into the trim next to the door. That way, there's nothing on the floor to trip over (just something sticking out the trim to bump into) - pick your poison, considering what you'll bump most, given the size of the room and how you use it. Again, it might not be long enough.

To make a wall-mounted one that is long enough, look for a longer version of a wood finial to (if this one is too short). I have something very old (but longer)like these in my current old building and like them.

http://www.rensup.com/Door-Stops/49205.htm

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 5:02 PM

i like the old bathroom better than the new

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 5:23 PM

You guys have such great taste. I really enjoy seeing your progress and appreciate that you take the time to post your photos on here.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 5:35 PM

put in a pocket door and all of your problems are solved

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 5:47 PM

Don't use hinge mounted stops. It puts undue stress on the hinge, and you can easily tear out the screws with a too-hard push open.

Try here or google floor mounted door stops

http://www.ahturf.com/catalog/catalogue.phtml?f_action=search&f_category=642

Posted by: cmu at March 3, 2008 6:00 PM

Put the hinge stop in. It should work on your door I just put one in. Its a three dollar item. So what if it puts stress on your hinge? Keep an eye on them and replace them if need be. Better than drilling into expensive tile and putting something in the floor that you will undoubtly injure your foot on a some point. My two most painful and disgusting personal injuries were to my big toe. Nothing like watching a doctor stick a big needle through your toe nail and then watching blood spurt out.

Posted by: guest at March 3, 2008 8:27 PM

I cut myself with a sharp kitchen knife and spent 16 hours in emergency. I recommend that you throw out all your sharp knives. Better to be safe than sorry. Nothing like watching stitches put into your arm.

From your photos, putting a $4 small floor stop just at the edge of the tub rim will stop the door. I can't imagine stubbing your toe that badly, unless you're playing some kind of very esoteric footsie.

Posted by: cmu at March 3, 2008 9:05 PM

I bought floor mounted door stops at Simon's Hardware & Bath on 3rd Ave in the city. Great selection and service.

Posted by: guest at March 4, 2008 11:53 AM

were people living in the house just before you bought it? it's hard to believe (and sad to think) that someone was actually using that pink bathroom.

Posted by: guest at March 4, 2008 12:10 PM

What did you do with the pink tile? I'm looking for replacement tiles for the restoration of my 50s/60s bathroom. For as many bathrooms that were done in this stuff, I'm having a hard time finding it. Thanks.

Posted by: Hartbreaker at March 4, 2008 12:50 PM

Whoa, thanks for the graphic description of a big toe injury. Maybe Ill just open the door softly :)

I don't think those hinge stops will work since the door only opens a bit more than 90 degrees before hitting the tub. I think I need something on the floor to prevent it from smashing into the tub rim. Thanks for the links everyone - they are very helpful. Maybe I can affix one of these without ruining the tile.

Since this is in a little hallway, a pocket door wasn't an option b/c I didn't want to make the hallway any smaller than it needed to be. Obviously, a pocket door requires a thicker wall. We have a pocket door in our master and its a major pain in the ass to lock.

I know it seems hard to believe someone was using this bathroom. Trust me, it was worse in person!

Hartbreaker - Sorry, its long gone. If I had known anyone would want it, I would have opened my doors for you to take it but as you can see, it was covered with a mysterious brown substance that I assume to be fecal matter. Salvaging it wasn't something I even considered since I had no use for it.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 4, 2008 1:26 PM

Hartbreaker I live over in Hoboken NJ , and the rental home I own had a pink bathroom. I may have a box of the old tiles in my basement. If your interested leave your email. Ill contact you.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:56 PM

So here is a wierd idea for you Mrs L.

If the swing of the door is the concern, and you need a stop, but you don't like the hinge stop, or a floor mounted stop... How about cutting down the handle of your bathroom mop/broom and laying it down on the floor extending under the tub through to the baseboard. When the door opens, that's your stop. It's multi-purpose, and it will encourage a frequent cleaning under the tub which is one of the reasons why clawfoot tubs are not in use today.

What is the sealing routine for the marble?

Posted by: guest at March 8, 2008 10:53 AM

I think the issue about cleaning with a clawfoot tub is cleaning the floor under and around it, especially those far back corners.

Our bathroom was just about as gross as your pink one (except blue) and yes, someone was using it up until we bought the house. The resident was a mentally disabled man, the shame is that his family was paying a housekeeper who obviously wasn't doing much work in the bathroom. Fortunately, the room cleaned up pretty well. (Except we gave up on the reeking toilet and put in a new one right away.) We'll redo the whole thing after we put in a full bath downstairs, replace the roof of an addition, redo the basement, etc etc etc.

What did you do for storage of TP, spare towel, soap, Comet, sponge, hairdryer, etc? I'd love to have a pedestal sink, but in our tiny bathroom, we need the hidden space inside the existing cabinet sink.

Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 7:06 PM

Ive never had a marble bath before so I don't know the deal from first hand experience but we bought a sealer and used it after installation. It supposed to last a long time (decades) before needing another coat. That seems a little ridiculous to me but we'll see how it holds up. The tile is honed so I think if it ages, I won't be upset since thats the look I prefer.

We don't store TP, cleaning supplies or extra towels in here. This bathroom is off of our dining room and won't be used on a regular basis for shower or getting ready. I would not suggest using a pedestal sink if it were your main bathroom unless you had ample storage elsewhere in the room.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 11, 2008 9:03 PM

hmm, has anyone addressed your question about what to put up on the walls yet?

I like the idea of photos too, but I really think prints would be more fun. especially the kind that looks sweet but on closer inspection has a dark sense of humour. in metallic frames (not matching the finish of the metal already in there, but complementary-- brushed silver?)

a fun source is etsy.

Or maybe matted framed old maps. But I'm guessing you are not fond of that old map/globe celadon-ish color!

or... polaroids in a grid. in one big frame (that's black)

this is fun.

Posted by: guest at March 15, 2008 4:35 PM