The Latest on the Bathroom Overhaul

Even the inside is purple

Here is the list of to-dos:

Tear out corner cabinet

Remove tub and sink

Tear out old tile

Open wall/floor, replace pipes to sink and tub

Replace 80% of drywall on walls and ceiling

Strip and refinish medicine cabinet (in progress)

Strip, refinish and repair original sash window including broken pane and rope pulleys

Replace bottom pane with stained glass if affordable

Refinish window

Install fan in ceiling

Tile floor

Replace and patch baseboards

Replace shoe molding

Float and tape walls

Paint walls

Paint baseboards and shoe molding

Replace tub and sink

Fabricate hook and hang antique cup holder

Purchase properly sized storage cabinet

I am currently working on the medicine cabinet. I used my go-to stripper, Soygel. Both the exterior and interior were painted dark purple. Beneath the purple paint, I found several layers of white and offwhite, a layer of lavender, more white, then finally a beigey yellow.

Ready to sand

The hardware was also covered in layers and layers of paint. The striper softened the outer layers. To get the older stuff I tried latex paint remover (eh), paint thinner (eh), baking soda and boiling water (so-so) scrubbing with a toothbrush and textured sponge between each attempt. After several hours, I finally got down to bare metal. It appears they are copper and have a nice patina except for the top of the cabinet latch. The coating has peeled away to reveal dark flat metal.

Before

After

I wonder if the hardware on the window is also copper. The sash pull is rusted and corroded and there’s no telling what the metal was. The sash lock is covered in paint. I’ll find out what’s under it later.

Rusty sash pull and rotted window sill

The window sill and side frames are pretty rotten so will be replaced. Once removed you can see the original window weights--two on each side. The front set controls the bottom window and the rear set controls the top. The top window is currently painted shut. The previous owner even painted the rope for the weights, so it will have to be replaced. Both windows will be removed and refinished. If it's affordable, I will replace the broken glass in the lower window with an antique stained glass window. Old Is Better Than New has a nice selection. Hopefully something will fit!

Why?!?

Painted rope, weight pulley

Dusty and rusty

The lighting, sink and tub fixtures are all chrome. Do you think the copper cabinet hardware will clash? Should the window hardware match the sink, etc. or the cabinet? Decisions, decisions. Below is the pinboard with paint colors, tile and some inspiration photos.