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Monday, December 17, 2012

Bathroom Update 2 ~Wainscot {using reclaimed beadboard}

 Remember this shed?
The gaping holes are where I took wood to make my barn-style bathroom door.

Let's take a peek inside:
That, my friends, is the ceiling. 
Wide tongue and groove pine bead board over 100 years old.
Given my love of reclaiming things, I could NOT let this go to waste.

And so, enlisting DH's help (on a very cold and very windy day LAST
fall), we (he) removed most of it.

Evidently, the racoons had been living 'upstairs' for quite some time.
The 'dirt' and smell of urine was almost overpowering and I began to waver.
Could I REALLY make something out of this?!

For several months, the boards sat while I worked on various other projects.
My plan was to use this in the bathroom as wainscoting.

Finally, a few weeks ago, I decided that it was time to dive in and make my vision happen.
I began by hauling all the boards to the garage where my 'chop' saw is.
Some of the boards were in very bad shape. Either the tongue or the groove (or both, in some cases)
were broken off. Or, there were large cracks down the middle of the board.
I began cutting out sections. Salvaging what I could, I cut them in 42" lengths.

Then they sat for another week or so.

Until one day I enlisted the help of my 7 year old son to remove nails
while I began the V.E.R.Y. dirty process of planing the boards.

After much thought, I had decided that I could get rid of the 'coon smell'
by planing a layer off of both sides of the board.
I was right; a pleasant pine smell emerged as I planed.
So, I pressed on.

It took a long time. Each 42" board (there are around 100 of them!) needed
to be ran through the planer 3 or 4 times.

After that was finished, some of the boards still had some dirt in the groove.
So, I hauled them out to DH's shop and, using his air hose, I blew out each groove.

Finally, I brought the into the house and began nailing them in place.
My plan was to prime them with a sealer/primer in 2 coats and then paint them white.

Before that happened, I made an accidental discovery.
One that I'm very happy with. :)

After I put the first coat of primer on, I thought the wood felt a bit rougher
than I was happy with so I grabbed my palm sander and began sanding.
Where the grain was raised from the primer, the primer sanded away leaving a rustic look.

I quickly texted a picture to my mom to get her opinion but I was thinking I liked the look.
Mom gave it a thumbs up so that settled it. This was how it was going to stay.
I sanded the entire lower portion of the wall. Because primer is a flat finish, and because flat 
finishes are not easy to clean, I used clear wax over the whole thing to seal it and make it 
'bathroom friendly'. I'm SO happy to have that part of the bathroom project complete!


There were times along the way that I nearly gave up. 
It was a very long, arduous process.
Now that it's done, I'm glad I didn't because it really gives the bathroom
the 'farmhouse' feel that I am going for.

I am currently working on the ceiling in the bathroom. That is another challenge
because it needs to be a somewhat removable drop ceiling so that
the plumbing to the upstairs bath is accessible.
I will do a post on how I did that (hopefully) before I do a reveal.
I'm also working on the vanity top.
Stay tuned for more updates.

(If you're new to the blog, you can see part 1 here.)

From the Farmhouse


Linking to: Knick of Time Tuesday
Sawdust Throwdown
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors

12 comments:

  1. Very nice. I like the grain showing so much. This is coming out very nice.

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  2. Awesome job!! Your talents never cease to amaze me.

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  3. Rachel you are amazing. Your old house is getting a make-over that is simply beautiful. The floor is really pretty here. Different then anything I've ever seen.

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  4. Wow! Way to see something in what others would think was junk! It makes the finished product all the better!! Love it!

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  5. That was sure a labor of love! It turned out beautiful. The floor is great too!

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  6. Ooooh, I found a new blog. I think we have a similar style!

    Bobi
    http://www.bobijensen.com

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  7. Wow, I'm going to have to try using primer like that! I love it! Found you through Sawdust Girl's Sawdust Throwdown...

    Cher @ Designs by Studio C
    http://designsbystudioc.com

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  8. So much character, a great story and such beauty in that reclaimed wood. Nice job!

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  9. That is a project of love. I absolutely love the care you took to repurpose the old lumber. So much work with beautiful results.

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  10. Are you currently pondering of setting up new beadboard wainscoting? Regardless of whether youre redecorating a hospital sprucing up a hotel or just beautifying your own property this decorative technique is renowned for producing a variety of moods and ambiances from sleek and expert to quaint and Victorian.

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Thanks for taking the time to make my day with your comments!