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life{in}grace

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The Making over of my Bathroom and my Imagination

by 76 Comments

Edited to add:  I’m joining Kelly’s ‘Show us Your Bathroom’ Party so if you’re visiting from Kelly’s blog, welcome.  You can see more decorating posts by clicking the pictures on my sidebar!  To my regular readers, you can see lots of cute bathroom decor by clicking here.
I also just wrote a post about “Why I’m not a Feminist”.   It’s sure to be controversial.  Click here to read.

Decorating my home is not just a hobby for me. It is a part of a quest to create for my family a haven, a place that inspires us, beckons us to retreat from the world; and calls us to notice and enjoy the beauty all around. And my tastes are changing. I’m finding that my spiritual need to live simply and authentically translates well into the  practical side of living too. Decorate with items that you love, that are beautiful, that inspire you.  First,  I want to show you the inspiration for my bathroom makeover. This bust of some Greek/Roman goddess/fairy beckoned me to bring her home. And I promised her that if she was 40% off—and still on the shelf—the next time I went to Hobby Lobby, I’d welcome her to our family. So, she was. And I did. We’ve named her Juno in honor of the great fun we’ve had studying the ancient Greek and Roman myths.

This bathroom makeover was an attempt to simplify—using what I already had—and adding a little paint and a little statue named Juno.

The walls got lighter…..

The tired and clunky medicine cabinet was removed and replaced with a simple mirror.

And Juno took her place upon the throne.

Maybe only the towels stayed exactly the same.

The project was cottage inspired–using the colors of the sea–with some natural elements such as shells and starfish to accent.

The vanity cabinet was painted a very dark brown….

and the two front cabinet doors were replaced. (I know, I’m schizophrenic—take the kitchen doors down, put the bathroom doors on).  The look is so much more sleek and clean (minus the two wet, smelly dogs in the picture).  I wanted to add a few quaint little details like vintage glass knobs and a towel ‘rope’, but those will have to wait for now.

Several smaller decorative items were removed in favor of the one large Roman goddess/garden fairy.   She makes a bold statement in this little room.  And though I have never been a fan of myths or fantasies, C.S. Lewis and George McDonald are teaching me. I am currently reading the book  Phantastes by McDonald;  a book that C.S. Lewis said, ‘baptized his imagination’.   That alone intrigued me enough to want to read it.  But mythopoeic writing is difficult for someone like me to read.  It takes discipline and a certain sticktoitiveness, which I sometimes do not possess.  It helps that my  husband happens to love mythical writing and is re-reading the book with me so he can help me through it.

Here is what Lewis says of mythopoetic writing, “It is in some ways more akin to music than poetry.  It arouses in us sensations we have never had before, never anticipated having, as though we had broken out of our normal mode of consciousness and ‘possessed joys not promised to us at our birth’.  It gets under our skin, hits us at a level deeper than our thoughts or even our passions, troubles oldest certainties till all questions are reopened, and in general shocks us more fully awake than we are for most of our lives……it finally lets us feel in our face the sweet air blowing from the land of righteousness.”   

I think I finally get it.  After struggling through the first 60 pages of that book…..twice,  I finally feel that ‘sweet air’, an nearly inexplicable goodness, a ‘baptism of my imagination’.   And Stevie tells me that Lewis’ book “Till We Have Faces” takes it all to another level.  I highly recommend the books, but I cannot tell a lie;  the bathroom makeover was easier.   Maybe Juno will help remind us that this longing we have for fairy tales, for adventure, for truth and meaning, is given to us by God.  And His story is the culmination of all myth and fairy tale; the miraculous and mysterious come to us in the flesh, to bear our sin, and be our Savior.  

When I’m finished reading these, they stay in the Fairy Cottage Bathroom!  With Juno.
And I’m also reading one of McDonald’s fairy tales to the girls, The Princess and the Goblin. They find it wonderful and magical and are never satisfied with just one chapter a night!  Do you have a favorite fairy tale/fantasy book?
Edited to Add:  This bathroom has no natural lighting and it’s hard to get a picture that captures the colors well because of the necessity to use the flash.  I am not a fan of flash photography.  The bathroom walls are very similiar to my kitchen walls…..a very light (almost white) green.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ~ Jill ~ says

    very nice! I love the cabinets!! We have these oak looking builder grade ones I have been thinking about painting a dark brown – you have inspired me – LOVE your bath!!!!

    Reply

  2. Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful says

    You are such an inspiration!!! ANd I think you’ve totally convinced me I CAN paint my kitchen cabs black! LOVE the bathroom makeover. It’s so calm and soothing and classy.

    ~Amanda

    p.s. My bathroom vanities are open under the one side like yours…I HATE them. How did you do yours?

    Reply

  4. Michele says

    Your bathroom is beautiful. You never cease to amaze me! I just love your style! My favorite part was Juno being on the throne – cracked me up!

    Reply

  6. Kelly B says

    That looks wonderful!! More inspiration for me… yeah!! We are painting our guest bath this weekend and I plan on changing the mirror into a medicine cabinet and I hope to get the vanity painted, too. Juno looks lovely where you put her!! 🙂

    Reply

  7. TheOldPostRoad says

    I prefer non-fiction. I just finished “What’s So Great About Christianity?” by Dinesh D’Souza and loved that book. Another good one I read since Christmas was “Why We Are Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be” by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. I need to pick up something else but do not think I can mentally/intellectually handle the book you are reading.

    Reply

  8. Rhondi says

    Hi Edie
    I saw the post Rhoda did about your kitchen redo and had to come by and visit. Thanks for the suggested books. I think I’ll see if our library has them. Have you read John Eldridge? He talks a lot about fairy tales and how God put that desire for adventure and imagination in us. I have the same thoughts about what a house should be as you do. We named our home “Rest and Be Thankful”. I’m glad I found you!
    Hugs, Rhondi

    Reply

  9. edie says

    TheOldPostRoad,
    Ironically, I was JUST this morning listening to IssuesEtc talk radio and they were interviewing Dinesh on his book—very intelligent man. I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and I’ve watched his YouTube videos as he debates athiests (Christopher Hitchens, I think). All that to say, I know what you mean about reading fantasy. It’s not what I’m naturally drawn to either, but you gotta try it sometime. Wow!

    Rhondi,
    I’ve read all (I think) of Eldridge’s books. I love them and he often references Lewis and McDonald. You should definitely try these.

    Thanks everyone for all your kind comments!

    Reply

  10. Meme says

    Love “Juno” – I have never seen her at Hobby Lobby – I will have to keep an eye out for her on the next visit. Your bathroom is beautiful. The Princess and the Goblin was my favorite book as a child, and my daughter loves it as well. Our favorite right now is “Iliad for Boys and Girls” from Homer told by AJ Church. I had listened to Helen of Troy from books on cd and since I knew the story I am finding the Iliad to be almost magical, and my daughter begs me to keep reading. It is a must read. Other classics that we quote to each other when in the mood are Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, “5 Children and It” by E. Nesbit, “Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie Babbitt and “A Little Princess” by Francis Hodgson. I always feel the richest when leaving the library with the classics.

    Reply

  11. Sandra says

    Wow! Your bathroom looks awesome! I have been thinking of painting the cabinet in my bathroom too. Currently, it’s an oak color. I’d like to paint it black or a dark brown. I may just do that this week!
    Sandra

    Reply

  12. Donna says

    Lovely job, I have pictures in my bathroom as well…and why not? I love my bathroom; it’s a calm place to go….

    Love what you did as well…..

    Reply

  15. Jane says

    I sooooooOOOooOOo want to paint my master bath cabinets black! The husband gets super freaked at the thought of that & seems to think I'm trying to go gothic on him.
    I'm so going to show him your bath photo's to help plead my case. Your bath looks FAB!!
    I swear I'll probably just wait till he goes on a business trip & paint them then!

    Reply

  17. Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam says

    Beautiful and I was loving the convo mixed in with CS Lewis. The best of both worlds. 🙂

    Reply

  18. minnesotamom says

    I think your makeover is lovely! And you may have convinced me to give fantasy a try. My husband is an avid Tolkien/Lewis fan, and I’ve read very little of either, aside from a few of Lewis’s less fantastical works. Thanks for the double inspiration!

    Reply

  19. Kimm at Reinvented says

    Love your bathroom AND Juno. Beautiful transformation. I admire your newfound “sticktoitiveness”, I’ve never been able to make it through on of “those” book either!

    Reply

  20. Denise says

    Lewis’ quote on mythopoetic writing is one that I will add to my list of great thoughts. I know I will read it again and again in an attempt to even partially quote it correctly! I do so get it though! That is an accomplishment in itself.

    Loved the bathroom but will miss the say your prayers reminder. I love that you are willing to make a change–even when the original is still so nice. I know I sometimes keep something a certain way even when I’m tired of it just because it’s not horrid. Oh, variety is the spice of life and the fuel that feeds folks like you and me!

    Loved the chitchat today; can we make a weekly date over the summer? I’d love to pick your brain a bit more!

    Reply

  21. Cathy Santarsiero, "The Christmas Corgi" says

    I love this post and love the new bathroom. Happy Monday! Warmly, Cathy ^..^

    Reply

  22. Mandi says

    Love it! You have outdone yourself once again. Amazing what a few changes can do. The painted vanity is great! Looking forward to your next project, whatever that may be!

    Reply

  23. Lisa says

    Love the re-do! Very chic! I have never been much of a fan of fantasy type writing. More of a Jane Austen fan but at your recommendation I will give it a go!

    Reply

  24. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    Edie, that turned out gorgeous! I'm loving all your redecorating projects. I liked the before, but this new look is great. I really love the darker vanity & mirror, something I did in one of my guestbaths too. A great makeover again, Ms. Edie!

    Reply

  27. Sarah says

    Edie, as always, beautiful job! I look forward to the next redo… look, now I'm like a little crack addict !? SO, enjoy the new bathroom and I'll patiently wait for the next project! ;>

    Reply

  28. podso says

    You know how you can get from one blog to another! I can’t remember how I got to your blog, but I love the step by step of your bathroom and how you tied it in with CS Lewis (I read a lot of George Mac Donald in years past). What a beautiful post. And I really love your cottage kitchen and the colors there. I keep looking at my white cabinets in need of paint and wondering ….

    thanks for the great posts and lovely photos.

    Reply

  29. TRICIA boutellefamilyzoo@yahoo.com says

    Hi Edie,
    I think the bathroom is fantastic, just as good as the kitchen. 😉
    I have not had as much time as I would like to explore your blog, but darn’t, I’m gonna find the time.
    I think the thing that I like so much about your blog is that not only do you have great style, but there is so much more than that.
    It’s like I can actually feel the love that you have for your family and your home jumping off the screen and hugging me.
    I don’t think that you could possibly ask for more in a family blog, or any blog for that matter.
    Thank you for the inspiration.
    *Tricia

    Reply

  30. gina says

    Oh, the walls looked light yellow. Love the cabinets- I love dark paint!! I have some beadboard and a vanity to paint in the new house- thanks for the inspiration!!

    Your home looks like a charming place to call home- how lucky your family is!!

    Reply

  32. Susie Q says

    Lovely. I am wanting to paint the cabinets in our half bath an espresso brown…mixed a pretty blue to go in there…like yours, it has NO natural light, but it is maybe half the size of yours but it might work…if nothing else, I’ll use the color in the kids’ bath upstairs.

    Reply

  37. Pam says

    It's an amazing bathroom and I really love it…but, that's a lot of stuff to move to clean. Well worth it though.

    Reply

  39. pumpkinpatches says

    I LOVE your bathroom! I Love the fabric for the shpwer curtain as well! Thank you for sharing.
    -Ash-

    Reply

  41. Trudyroyston says

    Hi Edie, back to the archives today. This is great. I feel that your depth of perception is what makes your blog so appealing to me. I get inspired by your creative ideas and amazed at your ability to seamlessly transition to the more scholarly like’s of C S Lewis. You offer it in such a doable fashion. And I love the passion you have for family and the sanctity of HOME. God bless you and yours!
    Sincerely, Trudy

    Reply

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