Bathroom Inspiration

The bathroom in Potic Cottage is up and running. Lighting fixtures, tub, toilet, and sink are in, as is a portion of the white pine paneling we plan on using for the entire room. As for the chandelier, I bought it in the children's decor section of Target for under $40. James was skeptical about the fixture, thinking it was out of place, so months later I was tickled to find this collage on Style Files, an eclectic blog with some lovely decor ideas, which featured a chandelier over a claw foot tub. Although our space is far more rustic than the white ones in the top photos, I like the mix of the wood and the porcelain, with the chandelier providing feminine element. The flooring, which James designed and built, is a mix of reclaimed wide cedar planks and concrete, and the sink reuses a slab of walnut James had stored since he made furniture over ten years ago. Each inch of wood was calculated into the construction with little waste which we will burn in the winter. From his years of furniture making, James finished the wood with a thin layer of water-based polyurethane and then a coat of wax which he proceeded to rub in throughout the day.

I am thinking of painting the underside of the tub-- a color perhaps. I am also in search of a vintage mirror for over the sink, hoping the right one for the room calls out to me. Recently I drove past a medicine chest on the side of the road but was moving too quickly to stop and take a look. It may be for the best since I'm thinking a mirror alone might work better. I'm very open to suggestions on the tub and/or the sink's mirror.

Salvage Site

My cousin, graphic artist Michele Mikita sent me the link to an architectural salvage place in Barnegat, NJ called Recycling the Past. Not only do I adore the idea of reusing objects in new contexts, I loved killing an hour perusing their site, discovering an eclectic collection of salvaged materials. It amused me to think about placing an electric OPEN sign in the woods or installing one of the shipment of sinks from the 1960's just recently discovered. The prices are reasonable, a porcelain kitchen farm sink runs about $1,000. This could be the spot to find that unusual sign or vintage sink which could add an extra something to a predicable decor.

One Man's Treasure

One way to reduce consumption is to reuse other people's castaways. Of course, it takes a bit of time and an imaginative eye to see through all the rubble in order to find the one item that might work in your life. What I like about the flea markets on 9W in Ravena was the lack of editing. You want a box of eight-track tapes? How about a slightly cracked set of dishes? Hey, they were just going to the landfill anyway; they might as well sit on the shelf at the flea market with the possibility of finding a home. I am pleased to report that the mismatched set of crystal cordial glasses (50 cents each) made their way home, as did the canoe pillow, a bag of Matchbox cars and an old Easter basket.

Salvation?

We looked at the roof rafters with Keith and saw that there was enough wood to salvage-- perhaps using some of the roof decking for flooring. We also shifted our plans from a one story addition off the back, which would require costly excavation and foundation work, to a second story addition. I tried to convince James to work these salvaged cathedral window frames I found in Hudson into the design, but alas, it does seem out of place in both a modern design and a rustic weekend cottage.