...in the 2009 Country Living "House of the Year".
Shown above, left to right:
1) A vintage medicine cabinet provides storage and style
2) The patina of the cabinet lends a strong antique feel and a contrast to the shiny new chrome fixtures
3) Rope pulls instead of hardware on the salvaged doors
4) More antique patina on door and transom contrast with the smoothly painted frames
5) Limestone floors, a towel rack made from salvaged wood and a new freestanding tub
Check out the complete slideshow of the bathroom at Country Living right here.
Photos: Matthew Baum/Country Living
I really really like this idea, but that mirror is just a touch past peak for my taste. Cool sink also. I can't tell if it would be practical in the bathroom with no "counter" space, but it looks nice.
view amt230's profile
I agree that the mirror is a bit beyond what I would consider appropriate for a space that should strive to be hygienic. Not keen on the rope pull for the door handle either. The deep sink is great, and I like the rest of the bathroom. Vintage is fine with me, but it needs to be in good repair. Love the transom window.
view Sydney's profile
Great wall colour.
I love the mirror, and think it is perfect. Houses in North America need more texture, and this has lots.
As for living without counter space, we do, and it works very well -- right behind the sink we have a wide mirrored cabinet with lots of shelf space, and so you simply use what you need direct from the cabinet, without transferring it anywhere.
view mschatelaine's profile
This is a beautiful space, albeit the odd use of a rusted medicine cabinet, clearly meant to be recessed into a wall. My re-do-it voice says, recess that beauty, and somehow paint it without removing all of its patina. And come on, how about adding a table or some other horizontal surface? I imagine the owners' have one, but it was styled-out of the photos for the magazine spread. And oh, is that taupe on the walls, I can't tell, my eyes don't see that as a color anymore. Oh, and PS, 1 light over a mirror is terrible, it casts a big shadow, whereas two adds so much more actual light to a mirrored surface.
view blueyes's profile
Love the idea of reusing, but these pieces should have been refurbished. The shell of the space looks new, so the aged pieces appear forced. Shabby, not chic.
view farmhousemoderne's profile
It just looks dirty.
view tequila red's profile
I absolutely love the sink, the tub, the wainscotting, the shelf, the window, the view -- I could go on and on, HOWEVER, the mirror reminds me that I am not current on my tetanus shot, and the doorknob rope just looks unfinished. I could go for the rope maybe if the door was patched & painted.
view robyn's profile
LOVE the mirror.
view Honey's profile
I think we've found the medicine cabinet from yesterday's bathroom post that someone ripped out and replaced with a "pretty framed mirror" http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/bathroom/5-tips-to-transform-your-bathroom-078619
view bepsf's profile
It would be really ooky to have to touch that medicine cabinet with wet hands.
view JoanneM's profile
I hope that mirror doesn't give anyone tetanus.
view mooie_ziel's profile
I love vintage pieces with a bit of patina, but that mirror is just gross and unhygienic-looking. I imagine rust and old paint flakes on my toothbrush.
view slowdown's profile
I used to live in a house with no doorknob on the front door. We kept it shut by sticking a butter knife in the door jam. I thought we were poor, I didn't realize it was a design choice. :p
I actually like this bathroom, but I'm not wild about the rope doorknob at all. It just looks like they couldn't afford a real doorknob.
view BambiJo's profile
The idea of "old-meets-new" is great, but I bet it would be a matter of days before someone would be screaming about a paint fleck getting under their nail or on their toothbrush like slowdown says.
view madsarah's profile
Er, hope anyone using that bathroom has up-to-date tetanus shots.
view PhillyLass's profile
Erm, I'm not so sure the ultra-new look with extremely antique works so well side by side. Go to one extreme or the other...
view Marie Provence's profile
"A vintage medicine cabinet provides storage and style"
That mirror is not shabby chic, it is ghastly. It would not be out of place in an outhouse, but here, it ruins the rest of a lovely bathroom. And unless it's well sealed, it's very unsanitary, and that flaking paint is probably lead based.
Elitist poverty is just silly...
view typicalguineapig's profile
I DETEST that medicine cabinet. I need a tetanus shot just looking at it.
view madampince's profile