Bird Bath

This client came to us in a bit of a panic when she realized that she really wanted her first floor powder bathroom to be updated quickly because her 2 daughters were getting married and one was graduating. We were only about 5 months out from that date, so we knew it would be a bit tight, but decided we would give it a go!

The original bath was a bit tired and dated and needed attention. Our client wanted to take advantage of the home’s extra tall ceilings, so our first move was to see if we could gain access to the space above the room’s lower ceiling, and we were in luck! The new tall ceiling really gave the room the stature it deserved.

This historical home was built in 1896 by an ornithologist (bird expert), so we took our cues from that as a starting point.

The drama in the bathroom comes from the wallpaper and custom shower curtain, both in William Morris’s iconic “Strawberry Thief” print that tells the story of thrushes stealing fruit, so fitting for the home’s history.

The flooring is a vintage basketweave of marble and limestone, and the shower walls are clad in subway tile with a vintage feel.

The lighting and plumbing fixtures have a vintage vibe that feels both fitting and up to date. To give a feeling of history and collecting over time, we chose a custom green paint color for the linen cabinet, mushroom paint for the ship lap paneling that clads the walls, and selected a vintage mirror that ties in the color from the existing door trim.

There is a lot of this pattern in a very small space, so we were careful to make sure the pattern on the wallpaper and shower curtain aligned. A sweet little bird tie back for the shower curtain completes the story.

Details are what really make this space so special — we were able to salvage trim for the new window and wainscot cap that the homeowner had saved from past remodeling projects. Vintage switching, an original doorknob and towel hooks really make the rooms feel connected to the home’s history.