Entering our house from the garage, you come into a small hallway (or mudroom), which leads to the laundry room, kitchen, and a half bath.

When we first toured the house, we noticed these bright orange stickers over everything that used water.  The house had been winterized, and vacant for at least nine months. In this picture, the half bath is at the far end.  (It’s the only pre-moving picture I could find).

Front Hall

It took a lot of effort and elbow grease to get those orange stickers off.  :P

We lived with the primed only walls for nearly a year, when I decided I wanted to try something bold and colorful.

Hallway Bath Before

Ah, so many things that could be upgraded and changed…so little money.  We were hurting for cash, so other than paint, everything was stuff I already bought, inherited, or was given.  I chose two shades of the same tone of blue- I think I remember Bahama Blue being one of them.  The hallway is darker, with the lighter shade in the bathroom.

Hallway Bath After

The floating shelf I had from ikea, and I stabilized it with a bracket from Home Depot.

Floating Shelf

The tin jar has a cloisonee effect and belonged to my father’s mother.  A little dish holds keys and change, and a pumpkin for October.

Barbie As Ophelia

The painting is by my very talented co-worker, and is of Barbie as Ophelia.  She had it in storage, and is very graciously allowing me to hang it in my hallway.

The other painting in the hallway, on the opposite wall, is a little floral stiff life, also inherited.

Painting in corner

I thought it would look cute with the turquoise color behind it, and no one else really wanted it.

There’s also a hook for scarves and hats, and grocery bags.  I bought the hook when I was living in Lexington, VA.

Hook for scarves and hats

I replaced the mirror in the bathroom with the mirror that was in my childhood bedroom.  My mom found it, and painted it, something like 30 years ago.  :)

Half Bath Progress

I do have two kitties, so this is their bathroom too.  The striped rug is one of those squishy mats that helps hold cat litter.  It works great!

Brass and Ceramic Bowl

Just a detail of the little bowl on the sink.  This was also my grandmother’s, and I love the slightly asian vibe.  (I think it has a sticker on the back about being made in china.)   The color I chose is a popular color from the later 19th, early 20th century, and reminds me a little bit of the color from the Peacock Room by Whistler.  Artists were intrigued by the east at this time period, and there was a resurgence in Asian inspired pieces in furniture, textiles, and art.  This is partly why I chose this fabric for the curtain.

Detail half bath curtain fabric

I made this small curtain panel and posted about it here.

Window and Print

The print I bought several years ago at my great-aunt’s estate auction.  I re-matted and re-framed it equally as long ago.  It is actually a watercolor painting on mat board.  I like it’s simplicity and vintage vibe.

So that’s pretty much it.  I have some ideas of some other projects I’d like to tackle– such as changing the light fixture(s) and faucet.  If we really had any money, we might upgrade the flooring to tile.

Half Bath Progress

The progress I’ve made on the half bath, so far.  To be continued…?