b a t h n o t e b o o k

SMART

SOLUTION

Save money and charm

by having an old tub and

sink professionally

refinished. You’ll spend

several hundred dollars

to update them, but

you’ll avoid removal

costs and headaches.

S T R A T E G IC S W A P S

Changing the window

blinds to shutters and

replacing an old light

fixture and wall m irror

with a new pair in satin

- nickel adds impact with

- minimal effort.

P A TTE R N C O N T R O L

Floor-to-ceiling toile might

have been too much in

this com pact space, but

half that much provides a

- pleasi ng counterpoi nt to

- the white tile wainscoting.

- (No worries about

wallpaper in a bath that

doesn’t get steamy

from showers.)

G U E S T A M E N IT IE S

Towels in sherbet hues

- and a petite W indsor chair

- that serves as a perch for

- toiletries are thoughtful

accessories for guests.

Update w ith accents

K e e p in g a vintage bath’s m ajor elem ents intact is as m uch a com m itm ent to

practical rem od e lin g as it is respect fo r y o u r hom e’s history. T h is k in d o f

cost-effective and classic-m inded approach is e viden t in th is 1929 bath, used

b y occasional guests. T h e pedestal sink, flo o r and w a ll tile, and tub w e re all

keepers, w h ile origin a l cross-h andle faucets in sp ire d sim ila r replacem ents. T u b

p lu m b in g in need o f re p a ir created an o p p o rtu n ity to in corporate m o d e rn -d a y

fu n ctio n w ith a n e w w a ll-m o u n t hand show er. T w o im pressive p airings: N e w

tile installed b e h in d the fa u ce try n e a rly m atches the old pieces, and a p in k -a n d -

w h ite w a llp a p e r com plem ents the tones o f the e xistin g m osaic floor.

78 MAY 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

PHOTOS: ANTHONY-MASTERSON; PRODUCED BY LISA MOWRY; STYLING: ANNETTE JOSEPH