Our first floor bathroom view (from the mirror reflection) before:

Yup – that is our archaic washer and dryer hanging out in the first floor GUEST bathroom. I had a constant fear that I would accidentally leave a load of laundry in there. Then a uber-nosey guest would go in there…shut the door…and check our undies for skidmarks. It was terrifying. At first chance, we moved that sucker to basement – away from the prying eyes of panty peekers.

Now when you peer into the bathroom mirror, the reflection looks a little more refined with my newly painted cabinet! YAY!

Before the cabinet was dark, dated and pretty depressing. After a little TLC, I brought this baby back to life.

All my beast needed was a couple coats of primer and paint. I used a roller for all the flat parts, a foam brush for the crevices and a regular brush for the spindle-y legs. The primer was actually Zinsser’s oil-based primer – which is fabulous for furniture because it seals and is a stain blocker. This hand-me-down didn’t have any visible stains but it was an extra measure that ensured that no hiding blemishes would peek through my white top coat. Two coats of primer (three is special spots) and two coats of Benjamin Moore’s base paint in Pastel White gave the dark veneered wood a traditional, clean, and time-lasting look.

Ya’ll voted for the color of the inside and I listened. Since the vast majority chose the blue-gray smokiness of Benjamin Moore’s Atmospheric for the inside of the cabinet and the inside of the drawer, I made a mental note that the next time I was out I would get a pint. But when Jeremy was making a trip to Lowes – I decided that I probably could find an alternative color that was screamed Atmospheric. Enter Valspar’s Winter Flannel. Immediately, I was totally crushin’ on this color. A little less blue and a little more gray than the Atmospheric. And is it just me or is this not as punchy but more cozy? Or am I just taking cues from the name?

We definitely splurged on the hardware. Usually I have a three dollar limit for each knob or handle. But when I saw these brushed nickel pull cup handles – they practically danced their way into my buggie. I got them at Ace Hardware – but for an online version, check these out.

I also moved some of the existing art in the room. The two black and white pictures that flanked the window now live above the cabinet. I got them at TJMaxx for $5 each.

I told Jeremy that when I bought this art that they were an interpretation of us. He is the one on the left….orderly, stable, transparent. Me – I am the right hand photo…messy, romantic, and sometimes I fall apart. I knew I was meant to own the b&w prints. Plus now I have a clear view to ponder the balance my boyfriend brings to my life as I do my bid’ness. Two thousand points go to interpersonal art.

So that is it folks. The tour of my new bathroom complete with new-old cabinet is finished. But now that I spent so much time in the loo, I found about seven more things I need to add to the to-do-list. Does that happen to you? It’s like chores only lead to more chores. Maybe we should all just leave it as-is and quit, that way we would have tons more time for more important things…like reality TV 🙂