We moved into our house a little over a year ago. I LOVE my house, but there are a few things that needed and still need changing. One of them is the boys bathroom. It used to be a girls bathroom from the previous owners, as evident from this pic here from the girly chandeliers. It also had white cabinets and a very outdated counter.
I have been wanting to make this bathroom over for awhile now. And finally a couple of weeks ago, my younger son had a water bottle with his name written with Sharpie on the bottom and it made a perfect transfer onto the counter.
I would like to say I tried everything to get it off but truly, it is an opportunity like this that sparks the fire for such a project.
I have been wanting to make this bathroom over for awhile now. And finally a couple of weeks ago, my younger son had a water bottle with his name written with Sharpie on the bottom and it made a perfect transfer onto the counter.
I would like to say I tried everything to get it off but truly, it is an opportunity like this that sparks the fire for such a project.
I usually hate prepping a project but this one didn't have that much and went really fast. Here's a good tip: Aluminum foil molds to things really well and makes a great covering for fixtures.
Frog tape is the BEST tape and allows for very little leaking. I was told from the guy at Home Depot that if you wipe it with a wet rag first, there is virtually no leaks. He was right. This tape expands when wet so if you wipe it down first, it provides a barrier before any paint is applied. AWESOME!
I used this 1-2-3 primer from Home Depot. It has a glue base and sticks to everything!! I applied two coats to the counter, meanwhile painting the cabinets while waiting for coats to dry.
The picture below shows counter totally primed and cabinets all painted grey.
After the grey had dried, I applied a brown glaze over the cabinet edges. Just to give a bit of definition to the edges. I love how they turned out! To seal them, I applied 2 thin coats of satin polyurethane. Be sure to open windows, that stuff can make you dizzy!
Meanwhile, I applied the first coat of paint on the counter. I chose a stone spray paint. I have to admit that I was really nervous about the results and the whole concept of spray paint as a counter BUT, after applying a test coat on a sheet of cardboard, I knew it would work.
Meanwhile, I applied the first coat of paint on the counter. I chose a stone spray paint. I have to admit that I was really nervous about the results and the whole concept of spray paint as a counter BUT, after applying a test coat on a sheet of cardboard, I knew it would work.
While waiting for coats to dry, I also changed the color of the mirror that was hanging on the wall. I had this grey terra cotta left over from a different project that worked really well for this mirror. It has a great texture to it.
And... another coat to the counter.
2 coats of paint for the cabinets, 1 coat of glaze, 2 coats spray paint and 4 coats gloss polyurethane to seal, AND 2 coats of terra cotta paint (and a partridge in a pear tree).
And to finish off a long weekend project, a new coat of paint for the walls, of course some new lights, a new red valence, red rug, red hand towels, and counter accessories. Oh... and light switch covers to match the stone counter. Total cost: about $100. Granted I had some paint already in my stash but pretty good overall.
And... another coat to the counter.
2 coats of paint for the cabinets, 1 coat of glaze, 2 coats spray paint and 4 coats gloss polyurethane to seal, AND 2 coats of terra cotta paint (and a partridge in a pear tree).
And to finish off a long weekend project, a new coat of paint for the walls, of course some new lights, a new red valence, red rug, red hand towels, and counter accessories. Oh... and light switch covers to match the stone counter. Total cost: about $100. Granted I had some paint already in my stash but pretty good overall.
