06 July 2010

Custom Bathroom Vanity Made with Salvage Pieces


I have a bathroom sink! It's taken a while, but I'm SO happy with the results. It's pretty much exactly what I wanted. And it's "green" because the sink and the table were salvage. I blogged about the bathroom all the way back in January, when the table had been in for a while, but no sink.

Remember my inspiration photo?


I think I actually like ours better, minus the staging. Here's how we put the whole thing together:

I bought the "rustic pine potting table" on craigslist. It looked like this:


You can read about the purchase and how my mom prayed I wouldn't buy it here. After cleaning it and removing the rusted zinc top, I sanded & clear-coated the top, then dry-brushed the rest with a 50 cent can of mis-tinted paint (that I'm really in love with and might take with me to the store sometime to have more mixed!) to make it less "rustic".

The sink was from a local salvage place, Scherer's Architectural Antiques. Thanks, Manuel! He has a great selection of old stuff - sinks, bathtubs, doors, windows, lighting, hardware, marble slabs, pediments...I could spend all day there digging through the cool stuff. If any of you are in the Midwest (particularly around Lincoln, NE) and in need of anything old & architectural, you should check it out.


We replaced the faucets with a one-hole number. We had to buy it new, but sometimes one has to compromise. :)


I also added trim all around the bathroom to top off the tile. It's that stuff that's pretty much foam wanting to be wood. It's awesome. What I didn't cut with my little hand saw & miter box, I used scissors. And lots of caulk.


As I am easily contented, it makes me rather happy that not only the el-cheapo rug I bought matches the mis-tinted paint/original finish combo perfectly, but so does...the soap. Vino bought the soap. Good job!


Vino was also the one who did most of the work after I prepped the table. He (and our fine friend Scott) attached the table to the wall, cut the hole for the sink and did a lot more caulking. Vino did the plumbing part himself. So proud.


The final touches were adding a towel bar & toilet paper holder to the front. Love. It. I originally wanted to put a shelf underneath but it seems like it might be too much of a bother to cut out space for the plumbing, and I think it would look weird.

One more look at what the place looked like when we first bought it:

before

after

So there you have it. A finished project. :) And can I tell you, I feel so civilized...extravagant even...to be able to brush my teeth in the bathroom instead of the kitchen. Not to mention washing our hands....!

37 comments:

Tonya in England said...

I love what you've done with the bathroom. I really like how you plan to do up your house using thrifted/second hand items which is something I am trying to do too.

Kim said...

I love it!! It looks so great, so wonderful and comfortable!!!

Unknown said...

You have got to be kidding me?! That is amazing! A beautiful mix of modern and shabby chicness- I LURV it!!! :-)

Dayka Robinson said...

wow--such an amazing transformation. love it!

Jeri said...

Erin, your bathroom looks great and I'm glad we could help provide the sink!! Jeri @ Scherer's

Shelley said...

Looks great! You and Vino did a great job.

Anonymous said...

Wow...love what you did with the table we sold you! We love old and primitive things as well. I'm pretty sure our family think we're nuts as well!
Lori & Dave

Back At Ya Babe said...

Gorgeous...you need to be working for a home magazine. So gifted you are my friend...spoken in Yoda language...miss you, hope all is well.

Amanda Jo said...

Perfection!!! I just love it!!!

Amanda @ Healthy House on the Block said...

Oh my gosh! I think I'm in LOVE! That vanity is absolutely amazing! The sink on top is PERFECT for it! You're bathroom looks 100 times different than when it started! Great job!

Anonymous said...

OMG!! Your bathroom turned out amazing! I LOVE your table turned bathroom vanity, and the vintage sink is amazing, too! EVERYTHING is PERFECT! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration. I only wish I had a bathroom to redo (lol)!
I came over via Furniture Feature Friday. I'm the kitchen B/A.
Have a great night!
~ Jo :)

Anonymous said...

P.S. I just wanted to let you know I like your bathroom WAY more than your inspiration photo, truly. ;o)

Nita Stacy said...

That turned out darling! It makes me want to go straight to the Habitat for Humanity Store tomorrow and buy and old sink.

Tania said...

I like yours more than the inspiration photo, because it's got warmth and personality!

Becky Holmes said...

Stopping by from MMS...great transformation!!

angie said...

Found you through Mustard Seed and all I can say is WOW! That should be in a magazine!

Heather at Happy Chippy Junk said...

Oh I love...so salvage chic!!

Unknown said...

Freaking WOW! That is an incredible transformation...one of the best I've ever seen. You should be so proud, girl. Found your feature on Miss Mustard Seed's blog.

Jami

Karie Waters said...

Love this transformation!!!

thriftytickle said...

I love it! Could you come by and share by linking up to Vintage Suitcase Friday!

madge1967 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
madge1967 said...

I just had to join your group! OMG is right!!! I love your new bathroom Ms. Girlfriend!!!!
I want to see more of your work and thank "Hub Hub" for all of us!
Melissa

Samantha2818 said...

Wow - I love this. Gorgeous!
~Sam

Empty Nest Full Life said...

What a fantastic transformation! Jackie

Recaptured Charm said...

Incredible job!!! I actually like yours better too. Truly magazine worthy!

- Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl said...

I am seriously drooling over your sink. That is so perfectly rustic and antiquey! So, did your Mom come around? Does she like it now?

Thanks for sharing.

Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com

Cayce said...

LOVE IT. Go mama!

Erin said...

Thanks everyone for the kind words. And yes, Brittany, my mom likes it now. It's still not her style - a little bit too rustic - but she said she likes how it turned out.

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

Wow, this is fabulous!!!

Amber said...

I absolutely love it!

dmercer said...

Superb! You are so talented. I prefer your bathroom to the inspiration photo.

Jen@Notes From the Heartland said...

Hi Erin! Just found your blog and LOVE IT!!!! I too had a "change in taste"...started out painting EVERYTHING dark chocolate brown...now want it all white. Love the buffet with hutch on top...and this bathroom vanity...I'm SOOO jealous. It's great.

Carol @ A Bird in Hand said...

I just found your blog and love it!! This vanity is AWESOME!! So me, as well. I am going to mention you, your blog, and vanity on my page....with links so all can see! I'll visit again soon.

Carol @ A Bird in Hand said...

I just found your blog and love it!! This vanity is AWESOME!! So me, as well. I am going to mention you, your blog, and vanity on my page....with links so all can see! I'll visit again soon.

Jessica Davies said...

You have made this sink again awesome, great job dear keep it up.

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Dörte said...

Super Idee... Erinnert mich sogar ans Interieur eines Hotel in Ratschings in dem ich mal war...großes Lob