188) New Bathtub From Old

Way back in 2010, I wrote a post about refinishing my bathtub, but I don’t think I’ve yet shown the tub in its forever home.

(As an aside, all my posts on this blog and on its daughter blog, This Green Life, are indexed (see tab at top). If I or anyone wants to easily find a past post, we can just go to the index of posts.)

Yesterday, our daughter said there were two unusual things about her mother, that she didn’t think were unusual when she was growing up. One was that I am addicted to tea, and (unsavory as it sounds) drink it from a thermos all day long. The other is that I never shower. (Eeewwww!)

But, I do love to bathe!

And, the old-style clawfoot tub is absolutely the most comfortable kind.

Fortunately, I sourced an old beauty on craigslist.

The seller graciously included all his grandma’s original brass bathroom accessories and racks.

The tub was in such fabulous shape on the inside that I didn’t need to have it re-enameled. The outside was another story: (Eeewwww!)

I found an inspiration photo in a magazine (on the left, below), and set to work spray-painting the tub in two different browns:

Add modern plumbing fixtures (deeply discounted because they’re brass, and brass is not “on trend” these days – I have to face the fact that I, and this whole green house, are not very fashionable. That’s part of the philosophy of building green: we chose enduring, classic finishes that will never go out of style, thus not requiring updating as the trends evolve.)

The ceramic tile floor was an interesting job. I installed under-floor heat (a guilty not-so-green pleasure for the coldest days only.)

Some dark evenings, alone on the building site with a work-light shining on my work, I removed all 2200 of the white 1″ centre tiles and replaced them with mocha-brown ones. (OCD much, Gail?)

To complete the traditional look: wainscotting, Belgian curtains,

classic linen cupboards, old brass light fixtures, a big old mirror,

cottage-style tongue-and-groove ceiling: 

And, to enter my little retreat, a lovely old refinished fir door from a math building at a local university.

I’m sharing with these link parties:

Funky Junk Interiors’ Saturday Night Special, Mockingbird Hill Cottage’s A Favorite Thing, DebbieDoo’s Pinterest Party and Newbie with a Twist, Little Red House’s Mosaic Monday, Alderberry Hill’s Make the Scene Monday, Boogieboard Cottage’s Masterpiece Monday, Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Thrifty Decor Chick’s Before & After, Cedarhill Ranch’s Cowgirl Up, Creative Cain Cabin (FEATURED!), Knick of Time Tuesday, Cozy Little House’s Tweak-it Tuesday, Not Just a Housewife, Savvy Southern Style’s Wow Us Wednesday (FEATURED!), Rose Chintz Cottage’s Home., Green Eggs & Goats, I Gotta Create, From My Front Porch to Yours’ Treasure Hunt Thursday, Apron Thrift Girl’s Thrift Share Monday

Tagged as: Clawfoot bathtub before & after, old-fashioned bathroom retreat, re-finishing a claw-foot bathtub