A big project we undertook in 2017 was to have our guest bathroom renovated. This is the nicest, largest bathroom of our house, but one that doesn't often get used (yet). We also have a powder room on the main floor and a small bathroom off the master bedroom (which just has a standing shower - not a tub). We replaced the toilets and vanities in each of the three bathrooms, and completely overhauled the large guest bathroom with new tile, new cabinets and counters, new sinks and faucets, a new tub, new lighting, new toilet, new mirrors, and new paint color. With the exception of the paint color, which we did ourselves, we had a company in our town manage the project. It took twice as long as they originally estimated, putting us out for two months - but the end result is beautiful!
I wanted a gray/white/purple color scheme, with white tile, sinks, tub, and toilet, medium/dark gray cabinetry, and purple walls. I had them lay the square floor tiles diagonally, and the matching "subway" style shower tile in a herringbone pattern - because I love how dynamic those lines look when they aren't set up in the typical boring parallel/perpendicular way.
For the paint color, I didn't want to go too "girlie" with the purple color - but I still wanted something bright as a contrast to the neutral white/gray everywhere else in the bathroom. I tried to pick a purple that had some gray in it, and one that was also light enough that it didn't make this windowless bathroom too dark - since the gray cabinets already added to the darkness.
Finally, I finished up the bathroom with some matching purple rugs and towels, and by creating a custom piece of art for the wall.
And now (since you're dying to see them, I'm sure!), here are the photos!
Before the renovation:
At the start of the renovation, after they tore everything out:
The finished room - with awesome tiles and more cabinet space!
I decided that I needed some vertical artwork for the wall near the bathroom/tub, and when I couldn't find anything in the colors/style I wanted to, I made it myself.
I picked out a white frame that would hold four small paintings. Then, using some small pieces of paper torn from a watercolor sketch book, I went about making the paintings. Even though my frame would only hold four, I made six small pieces - knowing that some would turn out better than others, and that I would want options to choose from.
I wanted to do an abstract style, and I wanted to incorporate the white of the tub, toilet, tile and counters, the light gray veins in the tile and counter, the color of the darker gray cabinetry, the color and shiny chrome texture of the silver faucets, towel racks, and lighting fixtures, and a nice purple to go with the purple color we painted the walls. I also really liked the abstract leaf-print shower curtain we found (which had simple leaf-shapes in shades of purples and grays), and wanted to incorporate some leaf-like shapes into the design as well.
I taped down my six small pieces of paper with masking tape, so they wouldn't curl up too much when I got them wet with paint.
For the first layer, I used black India ink, super pigmented purple ink, and iridescent acrylic medium - which you would usually mix with acrylic paint, but which I just used straight from the jar for a sparkly/metallic look.
Then, I just went to town. I layered wet washes of ink with thinner brush strokes. I used the iridescent medium to just smear some areas with shine, and I used the black and purple inks to write/draw curvy lines and the hints of some leaf shapes.
I threw some cotton makeup rounds on there just to soak up some extra moisture while they were drying.
For the next layer, I used white pastel chalk, metallic silver and pink markers, and a thinner metallic silver pen to "collage" more leaf-shapes onto the paintings, and add visual interest.
Once I was satisfied and everything was dry, I pulled the masking tape off and chose which four of the six I would put in my frame.
Here's the final piece hanging in the bathroom!
I had a lot of fun "experimenting" with the abstract style for the artwork, and playing around with some art materials I don't usually use. It's exactly what I wanted to finish off our new bathroom.
Do you have a space that needs some custom artwork? I'd love to help you out! Leave a comment below or send me an email at afrownfe@gmail.com to let me know what you're thinking of. :)
I wanted a gray/white/purple color scheme, with white tile, sinks, tub, and toilet, medium/dark gray cabinetry, and purple walls. I had them lay the square floor tiles diagonally, and the matching "subway" style shower tile in a herringbone pattern - because I love how dynamic those lines look when they aren't set up in the typical boring parallel/perpendicular way.
For the paint color, I didn't want to go too "girlie" with the purple color - but I still wanted something bright as a contrast to the neutral white/gray everywhere else in the bathroom. I tried to pick a purple that had some gray in it, and one that was also light enough that it didn't make this windowless bathroom too dark - since the gray cabinets already added to the darkness.
Finally, I finished up the bathroom with some matching purple rugs and towels, and by creating a custom piece of art for the wall.
And now (since you're dying to see them, I'm sure!), here are the photos!
Before the renovation:
At the start of the renovation, after they tore everything out:
The finished room - with awesome tiles and more cabinet space!
I decided that I needed some vertical artwork for the wall near the bathroom/tub, and when I couldn't find anything in the colors/style I wanted to, I made it myself.
I picked out a white frame that would hold four small paintings. Then, using some small pieces of paper torn from a watercolor sketch book, I went about making the paintings. Even though my frame would only hold four, I made six small pieces - knowing that some would turn out better than others, and that I would want options to choose from.
I wanted to do an abstract style, and I wanted to incorporate the white of the tub, toilet, tile and counters, the light gray veins in the tile and counter, the color of the darker gray cabinetry, the color and shiny chrome texture of the silver faucets, towel racks, and lighting fixtures, and a nice purple to go with the purple color we painted the walls. I also really liked the abstract leaf-print shower curtain we found (which had simple leaf-shapes in shades of purples and grays), and wanted to incorporate some leaf-like shapes into the design as well.
I taped down my six small pieces of paper with masking tape, so they wouldn't curl up too much when I got them wet with paint.
For the first layer, I used black India ink, super pigmented purple ink, and iridescent acrylic medium - which you would usually mix with acrylic paint, but which I just used straight from the jar for a sparkly/metallic look.
Then, I just went to town. I layered wet washes of ink with thinner brush strokes. I used the iridescent medium to just smear some areas with shine, and I used the black and purple inks to write/draw curvy lines and the hints of some leaf shapes.
I threw some cotton makeup rounds on there just to soak up some extra moisture while they were drying.
For the next layer, I used white pastel chalk, metallic silver and pink markers, and a thinner metallic silver pen to "collage" more leaf-shapes onto the paintings, and add visual interest.
Once I was satisfied and everything was dry, I pulled the masking tape off and chose which four of the six I would put in my frame.
Here's the final piece hanging in the bathroom!
I had a lot of fun "experimenting" with the abstract style for the artwork, and playing around with some art materials I don't usually use. It's exactly what I wanted to finish off our new bathroom.
Do you have a space that needs some custom artwork? I'd love to help you out! Leave a comment below or send me an email at afrownfe@gmail.com to let me know what you're thinking of. :)
