I’ve been working on my boys’ bathroom since 2011. We pulled everything out except for the tub surround, and replaced it all. It was just before Christmas and I had my sister and her family coming to stay with us, so I rushed to get it finished. I’ve tweaked it a bit and redone several things for it like this stool, and this shelf, and this chair. However, it needed just a couple more finishing touches.
Today I’m sharing the DIY bathroom art I made to match the coastal feeling of the room.
I started with these sad-looking framed pictures that at $2.25 each, I paid way too much for:
I was looking for a set of three small frames and these fit the bill.
I took them apart and painted the frames with MMS (Miss Mustard Seed) Milk Paint in Ironstone. It comes in a powder form which you mix with water, one part powder, one part water. It’s suppose to chip and flake here and there unless you add a bonding agent, but this adhered pretty well…probably because the polyurethane was all worn off and the finish soaked up the paint. (It did end up chipping over time.)
I settled on three words for my art: Wash, Brush, Floss; subliminal messages for my boys as they get older and stinkier typical words you might find in a bathroom.
Since I was going for a time worn, but cool coastal feel, I went searching the garage for inspiration and found this:
Perfect! (But not really as you’ll see soon)
I painted it just like I did the trays I made out of the same old fence pickets. I painted, then rubbed the paint off to create a whitewashed feel. The paint on the right side has been rubbed off:
Then I used this method to transfer my letters and painted them in using acrylic paint:
I painted the mats using Country Chic paint in Elegance:
Here’s where I hit the “OH NO!” train…I went to assemble the frames, add the glass, etc., but even though the fence pieces were super thin for fencing, they still stuck up off the back of the picture! I guess I hadn’t thought this idea through very well.
I ended up duck taping them in place. Then I cut a piece of cardboard to cover it in the back and duck taped that too. Classy, Christy.
{Update} I actually called it a day and posted this as is, but I just couldn’t do it. So tonight, I found some felt I had in my stash and stapled it with my staple gun all the way around. So much better!
Now I can sleep at night. The tape was starting to pull a bit as well. I thought duck tape was supposed to be strong?
They are exactly what I wanted for this space.
They do sit off the wall just a bit, but it really makes no difference. They still look great.
I like the aged feel of the milk paint. I sanded the edges since it didn’t really flake off and topped it with AS soft wax.
It’s not easy capturing a good photo of a piece that has glass. I’m trying really hard not to be in the reflection. 🙂
Here’s a tiny bit more of my bathroom. I always felt like that space on the wall could use a little something.
So for around $7, not including the paint which I already had, I was able to make the perfect art for this spot. You could very easily purchase scrapbook paper with a weathered wood pattern and print your words out on it and frame them for the same look. I just like to do things the hard way sometimes. 🙂
UPDATE: See the complete before and after of this bathroom here!
UPDATE#2:
The mats got a fresh coat of navy spray paint for the bathroom at our new house:
See that bathroom makeover HERE!
XO,
Lindsay Eidahl says
Nice job! Way to reuse the frames. I love projects like that. They look great!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Lindsay! Trash to treasures are my favorite. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Those are awesome! Who cares what the backs look like! 😉
Nancy
Christy K. James says
That makes me feel better! They’re super cute…from the front he he 🙂
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Love these Christy – so pretty! Great idea using old wood and white washing it. CCP Elegance is such a beautiful color (I’ve been playing with it lately).
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Marie…I am loving that color too!
Andi says
Ummm…hey there missy…those are fantabulous and everything, but you forgot the most important word:
“Wipe”
Now you have to make another one. =D
xoxo
-andi
Christy K. James says
LOL!! That’s exactly what my husband said ha! 🙂
JaneEllen says
Hey the hard way gives us more satisfaction of job well done doesn’t it? Works for me anyway, lol. Love how you compensated for thickness of boards, gotta do what ya gotta do. However you did it they turned out great, love beachy/rustic look. And boys do get stinkier. Just telling you from personal experience, have two boys 16 months apart who are grown now. Happy Spring days
Christy K. James says
Yes I agree and I completely expect my boys to get stinkier ha ha! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Glad you linked these at the DIY Sunday Showcase Party – I’ve pinned them to our DIY Sunday Showcase Board!
Ronda @ the.refurbished.life says
These are awesome! So cute & clever! Thanks for sharing on Monday Funday!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Rhonda! 🙂
Emily says
These are adorable! Love them!
We would love for you to come and link up at Your Designs This Time, Mondays 8:00am EST.
http://www.elizabethjoandesigns.com
Krista @thehappyhousie says
Looks gorgeous Christy!! I love the weathered wood background – and perfect ‘subliminal’ messages. I think we need some subliminal (or perhaps, overt) messages around our house:)
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Krista! I was just thinking about you today and hoping your vacation went well! This bathroom could use more signage like…”seat down”, “wipe dribbles from seat” ha ha…the joys of boys! 🙂
Gigi Harlan says
These look so great! I love the driftwood patina, fabulous!
Gigi @ Old World Patina
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Gigi! XO
Julie at Being Home says
Lady, I love how you can take something old and dingy and make it look classy. 🙂
Christy K. James says
You are so good to me, Julie! Thank you 🙂