The farmhouse reno is coming along. We are still up to our eyeballs in plaster and lath but I am keeping my spirits up by planning out fixtures for the main bathroom in the house. Seriously though, I can't lie, I LOVE ripping down walls .. I just don't like plaster in my bra.
My big dilema is that the tub in the main bath needs to be replaced. This is the perfect time to replace the tub with a claw foot! But then I started thinking seriously about it. I obviously can't buy a new claw foot (I live in a world where I like to think no one has a bathtub that expensive), I desperately want to buy a rusted out old one and refinish it but that project would add a lot of time and energy to an already very intense project. Not to mention that self refinishing can be tricky and the results may not be long lasting.
Do I take the risk and go for the labor intensive, time consuming project OR do I just say, forget it on this one and buy a perfectly usable, clean, brand new, fiberglass tub that I can dress up with a pretty tile surround? This is the best "normal tub" photo I could find, but I'm envisioning floor to ceiling subway tile and a more classic color palate.
So what do you think? Take the risk for timeless beauty, or go standard for ease?
Go the standard and easy route, but add classic and vintage elements in other ways with all the hardware, lighting, sink, and decor!
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for an old claw foot, but I completely understand the amount of work you already have. I agree with Meredith too, you could add in other vintage elements like a pedestal sink and cool lighting. Either way i'm sure it will be fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAbout 6 or 7 years ago when my parents redid one of their bathrooms, they decided to go for the clawfoot (found a good one at a decent price that only needed minor refinishing). They loved the look ... then realized quickly that it was lousy for actual use. It was a pain to take a shower or a bath in. Uncomfortable, and water got everywhere. Other than testing it out once the bathroom was finished, I don't think it's even been used. So I'd go the standard route and dress it up. Looks are great, but if there's no useability, it will lose its charm quickly.
ReplyDeleteIs it that expensive to get it done? I'm all for claw feet tubs and it would be amazing in the style youre talking about but what about a kind of 1930's style bathtub? Then you could have a new tub and as you said "dress it up", I'm thinking kind of Bauhaus style.
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