Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Getting Gothic on Halloween

I have been steadily chipping away at my grand plans for a Gothic/Poe, slightly creepy bathroom. My goal was to finish by halloween, but that is not the case (this will have to do for GPP Street Team Crusade #13). There are some small decorating details that need to happen and the sink and faucet on the vanity must be replaced still. I found an old marble vanity top that fits perfectly and went ahead and bought exactly what I wanted for an undermount sink and faucet. That's all I will say for now...wait in anticipation for the final post.

Much progress had been made since I last posted pics of my materials and some shots of the metalic paint.

The light fixture is by Meyda from their Mica Missions Collection. I wanted a dimmer and orangy glow and that is what I got.


The paint is a Ralph Lauren metallic in Thatcher Green. I matched it with an overall bronze-brown color to match oil-rubbed bronze fixtures that are planned but not in yet.

The birds are the Poe thread in the gothic, slightly creepy theme. Two little black birds cling to the vine-like metal votive holder on the wall and a big black crow stands currently on the back of the toilet.

The key on the back of the toilet was a perfect find! Etsy Storque featured Vital Industries with their toilet decals and I knew I had found another luxurious necessity for the room. I messaged the shop owners and in the end they designed the skeleton key decal for my room specifically, although now the key is available in their store.


Among the materials I laid out last post was lace and a shower curtain. I tea-dyed the lace and then stitched it all onto the shower curtain with turquoise top-stitching. It is splendid!


For window treatments I went with a ricepaper shade layered with a section of brown silky fabric that I raggedly nailed into the woodwork with big, old-fashion nails you find in general stores or Old Sturbridge Village. I tugged at some of the stray threads to make it a tad more ragged.


Here are my birds in more detail. The big crow is sitting on a stack of books (Poe & Dickinson). I want to put her on a shelf at some point. I made her a pearl and skeleton key necklace on satin ribbon to give her a little more humor. When the crow was first in the bathroom it gave both my husband and I momentary heart failure despite having put her there.




And what would a creepy bathroom be without a mirror self-portrait?

When the other major pieces come together I will do a final post. And then there will be other rooms in the house...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow jess! what a cool bathroom! now there's something we haven't seen on the street team yet :) love your colors and of course your POE theme. clever photo in the mirror. love the rose tie-back thingie. thanks for sharing with the goth crusade!!

Pocket Size said...

That may be the coolest home bathroom EVER. Though I'm such a scaredy-cat that I don't think I could use it. But that just means it's well done! I particularly love the shower curtain and the crow on the top of the toilet :)

The Dabbler said...

I am enchanted by your bathroom--the colors are perfect and all the Poe touches are ingenious (when are books in any room not brilliant?)!! Makes me want to repaint my bathroom!

A crusader-in-training,
Shay.

Carol Soules said...

Absolutely love how this is coming together. It looks wonderful at night in the mica and candle light. I can't wait to see that marble vanity top and the "special sink and faucet." oooooo....so fun!!!!!

Scrappy Moments said...

Wow What Cool Decorations, I like it Jess. How Fun, Great Bathroom. I am enjoying your blog :) Please stop by Mine www.scrapnmomsmoments.blogspot.com

Hope you had a Great Halloween!

Angie
(Your Swap Partner In The Deck The Halls Swap)

Stacy/Creativemuse said...

I LOVE your BATHROOM!!! I those colors....I want to know your painting techique!! WE have a little Design shop here that's super cool like what you have I just can't afford them!....I've done some faux finishes..and Really Love it! I am trying to do my Laundry room as a Victorian conservancy or Garden room with a terra cotta tile floor we just put in....my hubby is finally letting me go wild with color...I've been working on him for Years! SO I'm in search of techniques.....
Warmly,
Stacy~Creativemuse
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5023227
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52895107@N00/

Unknown said...

Hi, I stumbled upon your blog and thought I would drop a note to say, cool bathroom. I am teaching myself to build furniture and I am always looking for ideas. I wondered if you had any pictures of furniture you have built.

Best of luck!!

-d