The Haunted Heritage - Vintage farmhouse bathroom

by brae  

The bathroom is one of two rooms on the second floor of The Haunted Heritage.  It's a small room but just right for an old farmhouse.

The initial dry fit had the cabinet and toilet reversed.

Two major structural changes were made to this room.  First, the outside wall on the left originally had a swinging window.  I eliminated this window when I removed the bay window on the first floor to make room for the fireplace and chimney.  I replaced the swinging window with a small round window to keep some light flowing into the room.

The second modification involved the front dormer window.  Since I made changes to the ceiling height in the parlor below, the dormer had to be modified from the original kit instructions.  It's similar but is even with the floor in my version.

A small portion of the chimney continues through this room with most of the inner portion in the attic.  I formed the inside chimney from a double layer of 1/2" thick foam core board and cut it to align with the outer chimney.

I cut wallpaper to cover the portion in the bathroom.  Now, that's a nice seam, don't you think?  :D  I'm rather proud of it!  I guess all those years of sewing come in handy for pattern matching.

The beadboard treatment around the lower portion of the walls coordinates with the pale patterned paper above.

I made a heat register for the bathroom like the one in the kitchen, again modifying the tutorial by Kris at 1 Inch Minis.  With the addition of water pipes for the sink, there wasn't room for the register on that side of the room.  The remaining portion of the inside wall had the tall tank toilet, so I placed the register near the corner there.  This one I painted Vintage White by Folk Art to match the trim.

The bird and bee design by Flora for the bathroom window really sets the room apart.  After Flora graciously permitted me to use her artwork, I edited the image in PhotoShop, turning the bird more grey and removing all stray spots.  The white in the bird wouldn't print on transparency and any spots would be magnified in this small scale.  I bumped up the coloration since printing on transparency usually results in some color loss.  Beautiful.

I built a Chrysnbon bathroom kit to furnish the room.  I painted the tub to look like an old copper claw foot tub.

I love this style of vintage tub!

The inside of the tub is also aged, with a custom made overflow drain made from a pen cap.

Grandma's white fuzzy slippers are from The Dolls House Emporium.  They're quite cute.  :D

The Bees and Trees rug made from a Teresa Layman French knot kit sits in front of the tub.

I'm not sure if it will stay here permanently, though it does coordinate well with the bird and bee window.

I added a small shelf with a towel bar and two knob hooks.  The pot was a gift from Jeannette.  I made the shower cap from a scrap of floral fabric...a better version than the mockup I made for The Artist's Studio gag.   The bath brush is from a Chrysnbon kit with an added cord for hanging.  The two bead bottles are from Gypsy Boudoir Miniatures.  The soap holder is from the Chrysnbon bath accessories kit.  The bar of soap is borrowed from Baxter Pointe Villa.

Here's a view of the items outside of the bathroom.

I painted the bath brush to look like wood.

The sink is from the same Chrysnbon kit.

The pipe included with the bathroom kit would have made the wall sink too low, so I used a spare pipe I purchased from Sussex Crafts.  It also bothered the realist in me that there was no way for the water to get to the taps.  So, I added two lines of aluminum tubing from the sink to the floor.

I added tiny washers for these new pipes as well as little valve knobs so grandma can turn off the water in an emergency.  :D  I know these are typically oval, but all I could find were round ones in my box of watch parts.  I drilled holes into the aluminum tubing and glued them in place with super glue gel.

It might not be up to code, but I love the way it looks!

I added a washer to the sink bowl and drilled out a hole for the overflow.  I placed a piece of black paper behind the overflow so no light would show through.  I added a couple of brown paint washes but didn't dirty it up too much...just enough to tone down the shine and make it look like it has been there awhile.

Keli sent me some fabulous soap bottles, so I've put one here on the sink.  The towels are fine cotton sateen, pressed into shape and with a few rows of thread removed to make the fringed edge.

They have perfect pump dispensers!

The medicine cabinet is also from the Chrysnbon kit.  I painted it with Krylon Almond in satin finish.  I like that it matches somewhat but I didn't want a glossy finish to compete with the sink.  The hinges and knob are painted with Liquitex Iridescent Bronze.  The wall sconces are Chrysolite kits, though I left off the reflectors.

I painted the brass parts of the sconces copper to match the bathroom colors and switched out the included wires for replaceable bulb sockets.  I painted the wires black to make them less obvious.

I also added a water line with a shutoff valve to the toilet tank, though I didn't think to take a better picture of it before I had the loo in place.  Because the beadboard wall treatment adds some thickness, I had to glue the loo to the floor and the tank to the wall.

I shortened the chain that came with the kit, because it was nearly hitting the floor.  I figured the handle has been hitting the wall for years, so I dragged it across the beadboard to transfer some of the paint.  :D

The toilet paper holder is modeled after the one I have in my real life home.  It's a fun and interesting alternative to a wall mounted holder.   I'll wind some more tissue on here later...it got late, and I needed to get to bed!  :D

I made the small stool from the bath kit, too.  I sprayed it flat black, but the top was rough so I had to follow up with acrylic paint.  I topped it off with satin varnish, and now it looks like a vintage piece that's been painted and painted and painted.

For the flooring, I used spray adhesive to mount the Flower Frenzy paper by We R Memory Keepers onto a sheet of regular drawing paper for stability and then sprayed it with matte sealer.  I didn't want it to be shiny, just a little deeper in color and not so paper-y.  ;]  I like the way it looks like worn down linoleum.

Opposite the loo sits a bath cabinet made from a House of Miniatures kit.  I've taken it out of the room to photograph the details.

The owl wall art is a jewelry finding with the loops removed.

It's a small piece but it has a lot of detail.  It's so hard to see in the room, unfortunately.

The tissue box is a wood block covered with Martha Stewart sticky ribbon and a bit of real tissue glued to the top.  The mirror is a jewelry charm with the loop removed.  The doily is from Stewart Dollhouse Creations, and the tray is a jewelry finding.  The purple bottle and powder are Gypsy Boudoir Miniatures.  The other two bottles were purchased blanks for which I made the labels.

I lined the drawer with a scrap of Cute Little Diamonds paper by The Paper Studio, the same paper used for the wallpaper.  Grandma is frugal and has found a use for her leftover wallpaper scraps!

The African violets were made from a kit from Georgie at The Miniature Garden.  The kit makes three colors of violets, but I chose the darkest purple since those are the ones my great grandma kept.

The overhead light casts a wonderful glow with the sconces.  Though it's nearly impossible to tell now that it's installed, I added some 1:12 scale insects inside the globe.  :D  Lyssa egged me on when I joked about it to her, so she is to blame!  It's just a little dry-brushed brown and black paint, but it's rather convincing in person.

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For The Haunted Heritage pictorial recap post, please click here.  Click here for a full list of Heritage posts, including how I made things and the materials used.

22 comments

Comment from: susu [Visitor]  
I love how the bathroom looks like. The lightness, the colors and all the little details. Can't wait to see the rest of the house! :)
08/13/13 @ 08:48
Comment from: Deb [Visitor]
HOLY WOW. I absolutely love this! Your attention to all the little details is what makes this outstanding. I can't wait to see the rest!
08/13/13 @ 09:42
Comment from: Blondie [Visitor]
My favorite detail is the toilet chain scraping on the wall. Perfect detailing!!
08/13/13 @ 11:09
Comment from: April [Visitor]
You know, I never realized there was a bee in the window until I read this and looked at it again, it's so teeny. :) The finishes on the bathtub are splendid and one of my favorite parts of this room.
08/13/13 @ 12:09
Comment from: Kristine [Visitor]
These posts have been so inspiring! I have to say this is my favourite room. I especially like the tub with the copper colour. Excited to see the rest :) Kristine
08/13/13 @ 12:47
Comment from: Pat [Visitor]
I've already told you I think you are amazing and wonderfully creative. I love the bugs in the light. I also love to make things realistic and when people laugh at me, I show them your realistic things, too. Shuts them right up!!! Keep the work coming!
08/13/13 @ 14:43
Comment from: thea [Visitor]
What a wonderful bathroom have you made. I love it
08/14/13 @ 01:48
Comment from: Annie Fryd [Visitor]
I cannot with words express how much I adore your work Brae. I love your attention to the details and I admit that I´m very inspired by your work, when I plan my new house. Thanks for mentioning my miniatures :-) Looking forward to see how your display the hatboxes... Hugs from Denmark
08/14/13 @ 09:17
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you all so much!!! :>>
08/14/13 @ 12:27
Comment from: Betsy Rogers [Visitor]
Hi Brae! I agree with the others.... Just Unbelievably Wonderful attention to details!!! Your bugs in the light is one I will never forget!!! It opened my eyes to a whole new layer of "realism" when I first read about it when you made this bathroom! And all the plumbing details.... things most people would skip or gloss over as "good enough" ... you add the details! Like the overflow drain in the bathtub!!! On top of it all... you have a real sensitivity for the era and character of your "resident Grandma" so you add things that are just Perfect for the character! I LOVE to watch your creativity unfold and I'm always just astonished at the care you take! Thank you for sharing so much! I learn a lot from just looking at your work!
08/14/13 @ 16:46
Comment from: 12Create [Visitor]
I just love this bathroom Brae. I love the colourings and the bird window. It is just full of fabulous accessories and it is great to see that wonderful bee hive rug in a room setting.
08/15/13 @ 03:53
Comment from: Angie Hall [Visitor]
I am just in awe! I don't know what to comment on first, because everything is simply amazing! It's all jaw-droppingly incredible! Thank you for allowing us to view your work!
08/15/13 @ 19:42
Comment from: Sandra Campbell [Visitor]
Again, your attention to detail has made this a most lovely room. Little things like the way the toilet chain has rubbed on the wall, and yes the insects in the lights - add a special touch to the house. Love the memories of your gt grandmother with the african violets, the use of the wallpaper inside the drawer. The owls on the wall are so sweet and of course the birds and bees rug and the round window are just perfect matches. A bathroom has seldom looked this good! Hugs, Sandie
08/17/13 @ 20:06
Comment from: elizabeth s [Visitor]
Hi Brae! I love this room for all the reasons that everyone else does. You have made the most beautiful space out of something so familiar and made it really SPECIAL! I love the colors and the lightness of the entire scheme and the window level with the floor is a unique and fantastic detail that you notice immediately and makes you lean in closer. The encroaching chimney stack and the way that you have incorporated it is another piece of realism that makes this an Outstanding piece of creative genius. I also want to comment on the shower cap. What a great personal touch! I love this room all over! elizabeth
08/18/13 @ 18:44
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you, thank you!!!! :>>
08/19/13 @ 10:02
Comment from: Sumaiya Mehreen [Visitor]
I love this bathroom. I recently bought the Chrysnbon bathroom kit for the Garfield manor. May I use some of the photos from this post on my blog as inspiration photo?
11/27/13 @ 08:41
Comment from: claire [Visitor]
Love Love Love this bathroom. So realistic! Can I ask you where you purchased the ceiling light? I am just starting to build my dollhouse and this room has given me a lot of answers!
01/26/15 @ 05:19
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you!!! :D The ceiling lamp came from miniatures.com http://www.miniatures.com/Cut-Glass-Ceiling-Lamp-P16985.aspx
02/09/15 @ 11:09
Comment from: Chris Toledo [Visitor]
Love love love this! I am about to purchase the same bathroom kit and was wondering if you could elaborate how you acheived the old copper tub look? Again, amazing work!
07/17/16 @ 21:29
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you! :>> I see I hadn't provided the link to the tub painting post, so I've added that above. :yes:
07/20/16 @ 07:50
Comment from: Sharon croteau [Visitor]
What can I say that others already have said. Absolutely stunning g!!! I am redoing my doll house. She sat alone for years while I raised kids and worked. Now I'm retired and having a blast with my" Barker" house. Would love to know where the. Glow bathroom paper is from. Ur vision for this house is brilliant. Thanks for the peek into your stuff nite g designs.
07/17/19 @ 18:49
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you! :>>

The wallpaper is Cute Little Diamonds paper by The Paper Studio. The floor paper is Flower Frenzy paper by We R Memory Keepers. Both were purchased from local stores - Michaels, Hobby Lobby or Joann. :yes:
07/17/19 @ 22:43


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