Kersten and James are gold-star Retro Renovators: With determination, imagination and good spirits to survive more than their fair share of speed bumps, they transformed the blah bathroom in their 1957 modern ranch house… into a blue, midcentury delight. Read on for Kersten’s story – which includes lots of salvage finds, help from another Retro Renovation reader, troubles with floor tile grout, wallpaper that fell right off the wall the first time around – but a happy ending.
Kersten writes:
Thought I should write and tell you that, besides finding a better shower curtain, the bathroom is DONE. We started this project in October 2009 — on a whim that I hated the big box store bathroom vanity. Put it up on craigslist, sold right away, and although the original thought was just the vanity, it turned into much more.
Two weeks after pulling out the vanity, I tore my achillies tendon (dancing). 15 months later, a 2nd tear to the same tendon, a floor mess up, and a wallpaper do over — WE ARE FINISHED!
We had a vanity built by a local woodworker to mimic the one that Chris from Milwaukee with the killer time capsule has in his bathroom. Chris sent me awesome pics and measurements and the woodworker used them to make the vanity.
The cabinet maker, Dave, is pictured with me with the cabinet when it was going in.
A friend gave us a beautiful old piece of carrera marble for the vanity top and we found 2 perfect sinks (with hudee rings) on ebay. It took our friend about hour hours to carefully cut two round holes in the marble for the sinks. It can crack easily, so he went slowly, and my DH stood alongside and sprayed the saw blade with water while he cut. He was amazing with his assistance and precise measurements from his rockin’ bathroom vanity.
Some of my favorites from this project include:
- free low profile toilet from craigslist
- $2.50 for the mirror- habitat store
- $60 for the matching sinks- ebay
- free piece of carrera marble (which took HOURS to cut the two round circles for the sinks)
- $2.50 for the ceiling light – habitat store
Oh, one other thing that I wanted to mention is that one of the best decisions that we would not have considered (brought up by our new friend that helped us with getting the wall tile up) is the new shower and tub knobs. Before we started, it had one of those one arm faucets that you find in hotel type bathrooms.
Our friend told us we *may* want to consider buying a more period appropriate set of faucet knobs, and it was a jackpot idea! It was the perfect time to change it. I attached a photo of our new knobs that didn’t cost a ton (I think $100 through efaucets.)
Floor tile is Daltile “Random.” Only offered in Almond. If I were to do it over, I wouldn’t get almond. It shows every fuzz and hair that falls on it. Originally, we wanted to order one sheet of one-inch pink and one sheet of one-inch blue and pop out random tiles here and there and place them in a way that we see in many midcentury bathrooms of this style, but they wouldn’t allow us to order one sheet – had to order an entire box.
[Update: Wall tile is Daltile Spa.] Grout from Home Depot is Polyblend non-sanded grout in Delorean Gray. [In emails back and forth, Kersten explains how the first installation of the grout turned out poorly – I think what the issue was is called “hazing.” She spent hours… weeks… removing the grout and then continued:] We found a professional restoration guy that now is our friend. We wanted to hire him for the tile work, but he insisted we could do it ourselves so he got us (us, means my DH) started and trained DH to do the tile work himself. Took a while, but it is done. (I think another reader had the same trouble I did with the inconsistency of color. It is really very sad.) We (we meaning DH) did 2 or 3 tries of the dehazer (myric acid), and it helped a little, but not much.
Thanks to your support, I didn’t give up on the idea of the double sinks! (Almost everyone thought the space was too small, but since there were 2 sinks in the original blue prints to the house, I knew it was worth a try!) Once you said “marital bliss”, I knew it was the right way to go! Not to mention my kids don’t spit on each other’s arms anymore when brushing teeth!
Kersten also reported on a first, failed attempt to hang wallpaper:
My mom and I did the first round of wallpaper, and when DH saw it sadly falling off the wall, and my face to match, he told me he’d help me do it all over.)
So, “we” (meaning DH) resanded, then we got all the dust sucked up and then we sized it (again.) I LOVE this wallpaper and ordered it all over again when the first try did not work.
I’m really enjoying the bathroom!
I’d really like other suggestions for the shower curtain. It will be okay until I decide what to do. I bought it used on ebay and it wasn’t a very good picture and listed it as “pink shower curtain with valance” – so I assumed it was two separate pieces. Thought I’d use the valance as a window curtain. But, it is actually all sewn together, and I considered trying to separate the two, but I don’t know if it is worth it. The floofie-ness of the valance is growing on me. When my friend saw it, she called it my 1989 pink prom dress shower curtain. It splits in the middle and came with 2 tie backs, so I might try it that way too. The liner is white, so the pink would actually stand out more if I brought it back to each side with the tie backs. 🙂 I knew it would be a bit tricky with the pattern of the wallpaper, but I don’t know what direction to go. Initially, I wanted something bright and more atomic, but I can’t find anything that comes close. I looked at many of the new barkcloth patterns, but that means I’d have to make the shower curtain myself, and at this point, I don’t want another project. Ideally, I’d love a matching shower curtain and window curtain.NOW — onto the kitchen! Where I’m going to want massive amounts of ideas! The set of St. Charles in the garage want to come out and play!
Kersten
Of course, I get the photo of Kersten and James. And forget the bathroom — I want to know about that dress! Yes, she explains:
Yes, the dress is vintage. When my grandfather’s niece died about 2 years ago, the house was FILLED with 60 years worth of *everything*. This relative lived 2 doors down from my parents, and somehow, the son and his wife knew I’d LOVE all the vintage clothes! It was amazing. For weeks, she’d drop off boxes and boxes of dresses, shoes, purses, hats, etc. Luckily, the coolest ones fit me! They are my summer wardrobe!
Kersten – Your bathroom turned out beautifully. It looks like it’s always been there – but it’s new! The color is terrific – in fact, it appears to be a close match to my blue bathroom with its heron blue tile from the now-discontinued Maple Leaf tile. It’s great this is now offered by Daltile.
I’d actually place Kersten in one of the blog’s first wave of regular readers. My first email from her was 9/9/09 (and in reality, sooner, because even then I couldn’t keep up with email.) What’s also typical, I think, is that a Retro Renovation journey is the road less travelled. Speed bumps? Yes. Potholes, too. You just gotta trust you’re going to end up someplace extra special good.
You can see more of Kersten and James’ lovely 1957 ranch-modern house on flickr. Thank you, two, for sharing!!!
Dot says
Beautiful job. My upstairs bath tilework still is half the original blue (which I love), and the other half is white w/speckles. I would love to find matching blue tiles, yours is very close. Thanks for the inspiration.
cynthia says
great job. so authentic. dave the cabinetmaker is pretty cute.
Kersten says
Dave is adorable. We’ll hope to have him help with our kitchen remodel as well.
Amber Rhea says
What an inspiration!! Kersten and James, I love your bathroom. I am in the early stages (still collecting all the materials) of re-vintaging my bathroom as well. My house was built in 1950 and I *know* it had a classic 50s bathroom because my husband and I looked at some other houses in the neighborhood that still had theirs. But in ours, the previous owners “updated” it into Home Depot blah. I love seeing posts like this because it renews my resolve for a project that sometimes seems too big!
CindyD says
Wow – that’s some payoff for all your effort! I love your ‘new’ bath and your home really has great curb appeal! I’m sure your kitchen will be equally impressive!
stacey says
You guys did a very very good job! I especially love the light fixture above the mirror, the chrome vanity and wallpaper. It’s all so on-point with an original midcent bathroom, you should be proud of yourselves!
donna says
Very nicely done! Love the wallpaper, and love that the vanity was custom-built with that angled lower cupboard front. We have an angled-front vanity in our 1/2-bath, with gold-specked formica countertop and white hudee-ring sink. I really like the angled front. You guys did a great job, and I envy you your summer wardrobe!
Mark says
Great job! I love to tile and you did a really good job on yours!
Well done.
Jenny says
It’s beautiful! Great job.
Gavin Hastings says
I was going to give everyone a well deserved rest today….but:
I love what you have done with your bath. It looks great and authentic.
When you are ready…do not hesitate to make a shower curtain! Easy to make and you can customize it to your room. I make mine to fall just above the floor…but I think my next one will be just to the top of the tub rim (since there is a liner-why hasn’t THAT idea caught on…maybe in bold horizontal stripes?)
My current shower curtain is that tufted stripe cotton chenille fabric being sold for bathrobes and it really adds texture to an otherwise “hard surface room” and an “only in the1940’s” touch.
The possibilities are endless when you do it yourself- Keep going!
Kersten says
Gavin, I am glad that you did not take the day off! I hoped you’d respond with curtain ideas! What type of pattern or color do you see as a good fit? I guess I’m open to hauling up the 1936 Singer from the basement and giving it a whirl once I find the right fabric!
Gavin Hastings says
STRIPES! Almost Circus-y.
3-4 inch ones in blue/gray and white with maybe a tiny stripe of pink, of course to the floor. This bath is great, but I’d be looking for one more punch.
A valance for the high window.
The only other thing I would suggest is chrome switch plates…otherwise…PACK YOUR BAGS…I”M MOVING IN !!!
Gavin Hastings says
Ok…maybe 2 inch stripes if you are not that bold!
Cotton.. Chrome grommets and hooks.
Pillow ticking is readily available…but might toss your into an “updated in 1982″ catagory!
Grommets are easy once you figure it out. The ANVIL is the flat bottom piece you use to mold the actual grommet.
I thought an anvil was the thing the Roadrunner drops on the Coyote….Duh..it’s in the package. Buy two packs (4.99 tops) and practice.
The first time I tried these: I read the directions, and thought…”I don’t have an anvil”
So I took my shower curtain outside and hammered it on the curb!
pam kueber says
No, not chrome switchplates — vintage plastic ones, like these: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/03/22/vintage-wall-plates-an-easy-jolt-of-retro/
Kersten says
Ha! These are the details that I LOVE! Switch plates have been known to be a big discussion in our house. In our previous 1952 cape cod type house, we bought chrome switch plates since that house had a more “fab 50’s” feel, with its pink kitchen and swirled marble plastic tiled bathroom. This house, however, is more the danish modern 50’s. All around our house are the switch plates that Pam linked (3rd on right). I have seen many of them at the habitat store here, so there’s no shortage, but here’s the issue. We had to go with white because of the white grout and white on the wallpaper. I’ve only found the vintage switch plates in off white.
Gavin Hastings says
I stick by my vintage chrome.
BUT….when you see those plastic ones with the vertical stripes BUY THEM ALL.
They are paintable…don’t peel or scratch…and are impossible to find!
Gavin Hastings says
Ever the compromiser….
Buy Pam’s striated plastic switchplates and paint them with chrome spraypaint!
Dot says
Oh my..I’m getting caught up in the thread, but I just checked all my outlet covers..almost all have the raised stripes. I’m going to replace all the outlets so they can be grounded, but it appears I can paint the covers?? thanks for a great post as usual.
Jeanne says
That bathroom looks original to the house! I love the cabinet that was made and also the light fixture. I can’t imagine what’s involved with removing grout around all those small tiles. ugh. I bet you’re glad to be done with that project!
Kersten – I wanted to ask you about your china cabinet. I looked through your flickr photos and noticed it. I just got a buffet for my dining room from the Salvation Army and I think it matches your china cabinet. It has one set of matching doors to your china on one side, and three drawers on the other. I’ve been trying to find a photo or information about the manufacturer with no luck. Then I saw your photo! Is there a story behind it?
Kersten says
Jeanne,
Thanks for your kind comments. The grout removal was a nightmare. It took weeks and caused many chips to the corners of the small tiles, which in turn, caused much cussing. I did this when I was recovering from my tendon tear, and with a cast up to my knee, I had to crouch down in a way that actually messed up the nerves right below my knee where the cast pushed into my leg. It was numb in that spot for months after the casts came off! All part of the story, right? The really devastating part is that even after hiring a pro to do it the second time, it doesn’t look much different. Sigh…
I love hearing your story about your buffet! Amazingly, my hutch was found at the Salvation Army too! I’ve only had it since Christmas. The inside drawer is marked Garrison Furniture Co. Does yours have the same marking? That’s all I know. With a very small dining room, I knew I needed a petite hutch. I love it. I’d love to see pictures of your buffet!
Jeanne says
The only label in the buffet was removed from the drawer, so I don’t even know who the manufacturer is. All I know is it fits perfectly, is exactly (almost) what I was looking for and I got it for $40. It was 30% off furniture day!
I’ve been working on my dining room and it’s getting near completion. I’ll probably have some pictures available soon. I’m actually working on pinch pleated valances, which I hope to have done by this weekend.
Jeanne says
update: I just posted a link to my buffet on your flickr photo of the china cabinet.