apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm with Regina: my guess is that trying to mask it will just make matters worse. Some occassional flowers in there, a wooden bathmat, a fresh coat of paint on the walls ...

I'm sort of infatuated with the Sweet William shower curtain, but clear works, too.

I'm with Regina: my guess is that trying to mask it will just make matters worse. Some occassional flowers in there, a wooden bathmat, a fresh coat of paint on the walls ...

I'm sort of infatuated with the Sweet William shower curtain, but clear works, too.

How about giving it either a high polish or a brushed finish (requires power tools). It would go from messy to cool.

Oh my Gawd! Are you moving into a penitentiary ? forget about masking, rip that shit out and start a fresh. Ugghhh!

All it takes is a little cleaning up and polishing and you could have one sexy bathroom.

The real crime here is that crummy shower curtain. Get a new curtain, preferably a solid color in a nice heavy fabric (with a separate plastic liner). Paint the walls. And add a nice mirror/medicine cabinet. I'd look for rich wood tones to warm up the room, while using a cool, earthy color (pale tan, brown, gray) for the walls. Looks like you could use some better lighting there too - maybe above the medicine cabinet/mirror.

Dan,

For Christ's Sake, what would cause you to live voluntarily in that place. Are you being forced?

If you stay and do something about that hell, I would love to see the before and after pictures.

i think the stainless is kinda cool! unfortunately, i imagine, extremely cold (can you imagine leaning over that sink to brush your teeth in your underwear? you'd want to avoid all contact with the architecture)

do they make wood 'bathmats' that can stand up to water? looks like you really need something in the base of that shower, pronto.

heavy canvas curtains in ivory with silver grommets would look awfully nice here. Plush ivory would look great with all that silver, it could turn the industrial into elegant.

Here's a cheap & cheerful solution for the interior walls of your shower that will cut the up keep to the minimum.
Purchase a vinyl floor remnant to cover the 3 walls of the shower, floor to top.
*IMPORTANT* Be sure the texture is very smooth.
The clerk can show you the adhesive that will stick to the metal. Take your time & make a neat crease in the corners with an 18" plastic or wood ruler.
Run a small bead of mold-proof caulking along any edge where water might get under.
Cleans easily with any all pupose spray cleaner.
The shower will feel softer to the hand or shoulder. It will be quieter too.
Exposed stainless needs to be cleaned & oiled to look good. Good news... readily available thanks to stainless appliances.
A few well placed magnet buttons on the shower & the curtain (clear or sheer) & you can cut down the fullness of the curtain to a minimum while it still closes well.
Have fun with your project.

dan- when moving into an apt with a stainless steel shower:

1- check the walk-in freezer for "parcels" meticulously wrapped in butcher paper

> Think spa. Anyone else?

I'm thinking state pen!

However, I think there is a small chance you can actualy fix it up to look decent.

I'd try this:
- polish all stainless surfaces
- wooden floor in shower
- new curtain (heavy fabric w/plastic liner)
- tall mirror over sink
- wood veneer on cabinet door (below sink)
- a more relaxing colour on the walls, maybe a light green/blue/pastel colour
- CHANGE YOUR LIGHTS! This has a huge effect, go for a bulb that has a similar rage to natural sunlight
- a good quality rug/runner on the floor because you need to warm the place up a bit and this will be nice to walk on.

did I miss something? Good project by the way.

there are many options.
the main issues are freedom...
can the stainless be dismantled, punched, grooved or laser cut?

if the SS can be dismantled, repurpose it.
(quiznos personal deli kitchen) :)
if the SS can be dismantled, send it away for bluing.(sorry, its actually art not weapons)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel)

Hot bluing and cold bluing kits and solutions are also sold commercially.
there are also ceramic and teflon coatings avialable in colors and insulated coatings.

as i mentioned above there are also options to groove or punch the stainless steel, you can do it yourself if you have the time and simple tools.
greenlee punches will allow you to cut holes and shapes where you want them and a simple ball peen hammer, punch and chisel set will allow you to change the surface of your stainless material.

you can stencil the surface with a medium point marker and then just literally pound in the details to the metal.

the greenlee punched holes/shapes can be left open or filled with....(plants, glass, acrylic, shower accessories, ect..)

have fun, marine paint and laser cutting or etching is also an option.

sunlight and plants would be my choice.

Can you get a clear or frosted glass door put on? I think that would make a world of difference. Clean and polish everything and paint the walls.

Unless you totally want to re-do the bathroom and replace all these stainless fittings, I would suggest working with it. Try for an industrial or HR Giger space-pod sort of look.

Cleaning it up and contrasting with some organic elements like wood accessories and plants could work too. Definitely go for something plain for shower curtain. I like the idea someone suggested of a frosted door.

magnets?

I think it could be really cool bathroom with warm wood shelves and the right accessories. Perhaps really saturated deep color on the walls? Is it part of the kitchen in a studio or something? But I can't help thinking of vintage metal signage, and I think that's the wrong way to go...

Sure, it needs some work, but you could certainly make this high-tech chic, without having to invest too much.

Plenty of good advice here, so I guess this is just a me-too post.

i definitely agree with the fabric shower curtain. this place needs warmth and softening. steer clear of more hard surfaces.

On another note: have you tried singing in your shower? The shower walls won't absorb any sound so you can really hear what you sound like. My recommendation: get a shower CD player, close your eyes and enjoy the music.

One more thing: most stainless steel will not attract magnets.

Wow that has to win the ugliest bathroom contest. They actually sell precut shower stalls that extend to the ceiling. Perhaps you could check that out as an option.

Please don't cover that stainless steel. I think it is just entirely too industrial-chic loft hot! Clean it, yes. Get a new, wonderful faucet in that sink; get a new, interesting shower head. Get some wonderful lighting.

Figure out some wonderful, interesting thing to do to the walls and/or ceiling. Maybe a pressed-tin ceiling? I love the idea of wooden bathmats, or perhaps sauna-style wood floors. Maybe radiant heated stained concrete floor.

Maybe some kind of tiles on the wall that have some kind of metallic flecks in them, or perhaps sheets of copper for a warmer color?

It's just so damn cool I can't stand it!

Dude - a little diamond plate aluminum paneling and some industrial fixtures... some interlocking vinyl garage floor tiles and you'd have a MONSTER BATHROOM!

It is a difficult one...
Obviously clean will look much better...
And what about the walls the curtains and the decoration using warm blue and an earthy orange and wood features..?? will love to see a picture with the change of look!!