Our recent tour of Sarah’s round house promised a closer look at her gorgeous purple bathroom — but Sarah’s lavender lavatory has not always looked so polished. When she first bought her round house, the bathroom was in dirty disrepair. Luckily, Sarah could see beyond the grime and fell in love — thus beginning her careful restoration. She found a toilet seat in the perfect shade of purple, had her “perma-dirty” original purple tub cleaned and coated in a clear gloss and even had the counter top coated in purple to match the tub. Read more about her experience engaging Miracle Method (vs. other recoaters) and see lots more of her pretty purple potty –>
Sarah writes:
This is probably my favorite space in the house! I love my lavender bathroom! It’s one of the more rare retro colors not loved by all, and I’m happy to preserve it. I found the purple toilet seat through Bemis. I had the paint color matched from the toilet tank lid for the walls. The yellowed counter top was coated purple. The purple tub had been scrubbed to death during its life and looked ‘perma-dirty’. The tub coaters super cleaned it and put on a clear coat. Now it stays lovely, has its shine back and is easier to clean.
Not all tub coaters are created equal. I had the local guys do the tub and vanity in my master bath first and was greatly disappointed in the quality of work. The counter top was coated three times because I made the guy fix his mistakes, so I know it’s not going anywhere, but the tub started peeling soon after.
Sarah was happy with Miracle Method — read her experience
The next time I needed work like this done, I called Miracle Method of Beaumont, TX, and watching the man work was night and day compared to the previous company. They took the sink out to do the counter and did several layers then buffed it, then put everything back, and then caulked all the seams. They were also able to do any color I specified and worked on the purple counter several times to get the color just right.
It’s not often that someone requests to keep the color of their tub, most people are coating theirs white. So I was happy that they listened to my requests and worked with me on getting my purple tub looking better. The tub had been scrubbed with abrasive cleaners and no longer had its shine. Because of this it also looked dingy even after cleaning it. Whatever product they use to strip tubs before they coat them is most likely what they used to clean it. [After they recoated it purple] then they did several clear coats and buffed it smooth. I think it looks a million times better. Miracle Method also felt bad for me and fixed the peeling of my white master bath tub for free. I was very pleased with their work and would recommend them to anyone looking to do the same type projects. They can also coat tile and can fix any cracks or chips. I had a chunk missing on the purple counter top and they filled and sanded that out before the coating process.
Yes, I do have an original Hall-Mack relaxation unit (which came with the house) in the purple bathroom. I have another relaxation unit in the garage that I might put in my blue half bathroom.
The wall divider should be two more panels and another pole wider, but the bathroom isn’t big enough for all that so I used the extra panels as window screens. [Sarah told us that she found the wall divider at an estate sale.]
Also both bathrooms have these great/unique banquets for shampoo and shaving legs.
I also had to include this shot of Basil in the shower [in the other bathroom] — since it is his favorite place to be!
Sarah, the work you have done to preserve your rare lavender bathroom is just amazing. Thanks for being a decorating inspiration and for sharing your discovery with all of us. Retro Renovators have to be a determined bunch to find — or in this case create — all of the pieces needed for restoring their homes. You’ve put us one step closer to sparkle laminate.
I think Basil might need to be our official spokesbird — he is so cute and you can tell that he loves living in the round house with you.
Do you want to see another purple bathroom — check this one out, from the very early days of the blog.
Janet in CT says
This is one of those kick-me emails. We had dozens of those room dividers where I worked in my father’s furniture store. We eventually took them all down and stored them in the basement. I would bet when we closed and the building was sold that they all got thrown out. Wish I had known…..
JKM says
Your lavender bathroom is gorgeous and the room divider is genius!
Kim Mulligan says
Wow, great bathroom to start with and great job with the repairs and improvements. Glad to hear you found contractors to do the job right. The sinks should be removed when the counter top is resurfaced, it reduces the chance for future peeling. Glad to see such a special house end up with someone that appreciates it!
Marta says
I have to laugh! We used the Miracle Method to coat our lavender tub with white! The bath had all lavender fixtures, but was in such horrible shape (picture floor around toilet rotted so badly that you risked putting your foot through it if you got too close) that we had to get rid of everything but the tub.
It’s been 13 years since we did it, and the finish is still going strong. Well, slightly yellow where my daughter put the bleach which she had been told never to use. Use only recommended cleaners!
tammyCA says
So pretty and lavender is a relaxing color for a bathroom. Love the screen divider and genius to add the panels to the window. I’ve never seen a “relaxation unit” before…that would be a really great thing to replace the thermador wall heater we have in our bathroom…looks like the same size space. We’ve never used the heater (plus, it scares me) and it collects so much dust.
Teresa says
We had the original tub in our 1956 green tile bathroom refinished by Miracle Method of Dallas Tx last year, at the recommendation of a contractor we know. We were MORE than pleased with their employees and the finished product. It was in bad bad shape – but we didn’t want to remove the tub and disrupt the tile, walls, etc. It’s been over a year and we still talk about how nice it looks and the transformation. Easy to clean, and showing no signs of wear or peeling. It was very reasonably priced also. Thanks to Retro Renovation we also learned where to get replacement green tiles we needed to do a repair job and so our ’56 bathroom remains original!
Jen says
Wow, Sarah, that looks great—and I’m glad your second contractor did a much better job for you. The purple in the tub looks so good—I’m sure it looks brand new!
Happy to see Basil enjoying the (other) shower—all of the parrots and small birds I’ve had seemed to like the shower as well. It was always funny when they wanted their bath, too! Enjoy your beautiful lavender bathroom!
John says
Okay, i dont care for purple in any of its shades, this is a really cool bathroom and I give you all the credit for preserving it its not common. One thing… i LOVE using the room divider in the window. THAT is truely inspired. I love creativity! Even though im not a fan of putrple, i am a fan of this bathroom.
Scott says
That’s soooooo beautiful and a perfect example of why there is no need to fear bold color.
And speaking of colors, color me green with envy over that divider screen that also became a window screen! That is stunning as well as totally original looking.
Mary Elizabeth says
Sarah, what a great job! Everything in your house is extra special. I love the idea of clear coating the tub. I had no idea they could do that. Maybe in another 25 years my 1959 pink tub will need resurrecting in that fashion. The shower curtain is absolutely perfect, and if I were you I’d follow that other person’s advice and go buy another one (maybe on sale) in case it wears out. It’s hard to believe you could find another shower curtain that matches your bathroom so well.
I’ll bet Basil loves to fly around in circles up by the windows in your round house.
Roundhouse Sarah says
If I ever catch Basil doing that he’ll be in a heap of trouble! Lol but when children come over they do enjoy running around in circles in the hallway!