the good. the bad. and the really ugly.

 

 

all above from albion bath company  {thanks to Liza in SF}

As I was oohing and ahhing over these an email popped in from my sister...

Sister,

Get your tongue ready and don't drool on your computer screen! I thought since all your other blogstalkers shared their bathroom pictures with you that I better do the same! Any advice on any of them!?

 

Seriously I can't explain why I haven't shown these to you all sooner.  Well, probably because I like to keep it nice and tasteful around here.

 

If and when you are feeling down and out about your bathrooms and any possible lack of good taste that you might be living with... just know that my sister feels your pain.

 

She and her husband bought a house recently and these are her bathrooms:

Yes, that's carpet.

Hello Hollywood.  This was faaaaaahhhhhnnnnccy for one lucky lady long ago.

 

There are not words clever enough for the atrocity.

She has asked that I take donations on her behalf to help her update her bathrooms, we only need to raise about $75k... shouldn't be too hard. She has only stripped the wallpaper in one bathroom... the renovation process may be a long one for that mother of three.

 

She will get there.  Her kitchen is already revamped and fantastic. 

 

Comments

[Jenn]

"There are not words clever enough for the atrocity." - hilarious!

Bless whomever installed these bathrooms. And bless your sis for putting up with them! I'm sure she's doing it gracefully.

[lindsey]

You can do 3 bathrooms on A LOT less than $75k. Try like $3k per bathroom. Just head over to Home Depot and get an inexpensive vanity and sink/toilet/etc. and find a great discounted tile place and leftover granite suppliers. My mom just did her guest bathroom with all new fixtures, vanity, and carrarra marble galore for $4k.

[erika]

Lindsey, you are so funny. I was only kidding about the $75k. I know she can do them right inexpensively, considering she did her kitchen for $6k.
I was estimating the other $66k for pain and suffering pay.

[megan]

OMG! There are no words! I laughed, a pity laugh, and then cried (for your sister). I am in complete disbelief.
Let Darby know I will be happy to help make the bathrooms more livable. Just let me know when a work weekend is scheduled.

[Leslie/Miss Havisham]

It looks like you're wearing knickers!

[Dianne]

I am speechless!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Alison]

It looks like all kinds of fun, to me! I imagine her new kitchen helps ease the pain ;)

[Laura]

That is unbelievable...is that a dropped ceiling...does she have a basement or is that in the house? Wow, she will be stripping wallpaper for years!

[Annmarie]

What clean, shiny bathrooms Darby has!

[Pamela]

I didn't even know Liberace's house had been for sale.

[erika]

leslie, that is my sister in the knickers.

[Heather]

MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!! lol

[Jessica]

Wow! I thought my bathrooms were going to be a lot of work... I guess I should be thankful I didn't have any wallpaper on the walls... and the orange sink and countertop! That's crazy... how did the people live there before them? They must have been blind.

[Courtney]

My mouth has been wide open for the past 3 minutes just staring in disbelief. HOW COULD YOU BOTH HAVE KEPT THIS HIDDEN FROM US FOR SO LONG?!!!!!! I'm offended by the secrecy to tell you the truth.

These bathrooms are freaking fab-u-lous. Can you only imagine the woman that lived here? I bet she was always clad in lame. And forever shuffled around in gold leather, fur lined of course, slippers and her hair was always just so. I would have been her best friend. I just know it.

[corine]

So deliciously ugly. Thanks for sharing, Lol!

[Michelle & Winston the Westie]

Wow- I think my grandmother had the same wallpaper!!!

[patricia]

Perhaps the paper and some of those counters could be sold to J.Adler? Well, the kitchen looks great, so I cannot wait to see what your sis does in the bathrooms. My advice, all white, they look like large spaces and could easily be renovated. Enter contests.... on-line - you would be surprised at how quick a designer would love to come help! I think I would need to be sedated or some really dark sunglasses to use those bathrooms. Who-hee.

[Ellen]

This is current? Like what she looks at every day? OMG.

[MaryBeth]

Why in the world did she buy this place? I am always shocked when watching home shows and people are like I don't like the carpet, I don't like the paint, duh, change it. BUT THIS, it is the house of horrors. I would have run screaming from that house and had nightmares for months. On the other hand, and so that your sister doesn't feel so bad about her house, she has done an amazing job with the kitchen, so I imagine it is just a matter of time until she has wonderful baths. MB

[berryberr]

Nice blog! I just stumbled upon your blog today. Will be following it from now on!:)

[Abby Maddox]

I know I just commented, but I just looked at the rest of your pictures, and you are INCREDIBLE. I feel like I just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Thanks for taking the time to capture your beautuiful home for us. Can I come next time? Do you think you could fit me and both girls in the suburban too?:)

[Linda @ Lime in the Coconut]

Hey! Our bathrooms were VERY similar...It can be fixed....Promise!!!

Boy, almost need sunglasses for those beauts!!

[Mimi Lee]

Does your sister have any way she can get a hold of some dynamite? I believe that will be the only resolution to this bathroom dilemma she has found herself in! Pretty, pretty bad!.....O my goodness....I do appreciate my bathrooms much more now! Thanks for sharing andfor giving me a good laugh tonight!

[Sarah's Fab Day]

Ok the bathrooms pretty horrendous but hilarious at the same time. I have to say the woman that Courtney described I can picture that being me in like 40 years, I just know I'll be that old lady with jet black hair and maribou slippers with bathrooms circa 2008...please no!

[skitzoleezra]

Here is a made-up word to describe those photos - Nutrocious!
Must admit I like the white shallow corner tub; imagine it with bright shiny white tile and a straight 12" shower arm for a neato shower.

[Laura Casey]

these are the best "before" pictures i have ever seen! i can't wait to see the "after"

[Lou]

Call me crazy, but I kind of dig the wallpaper. It's fabulous. The fixtures and carpet, not so much. But, dang. I'd actually hang that wall paper in my house.

[Creative Tonic]

OH MY!!! Nothing like a good project, I always say! You must have her ship the orange window "treatment" immediately to Jonathan Adler... he might do something fab with it in Palm Beach!!! Good luck- know you are up to the task!

[Creative Tonic]

Oh my... I just read the comments and someone beat me to the J Adler suggestion!!! xxooo

[Jennifer]

Well, the bathrooms are kind of tastefully...horrendous. Mine was just an awful ugly poorly done atrocity. LOL. And I have to tell you, Erika, that I never paid that much attention to plumbing before, but now I'm nuts about it, thanks to you. And I'm shielding my eyes every time I have to use the faucet, until we can afford something new. *SIGH* :)

[Elizabeth]

You have a wonderful blog and I am in awe over the pictures on your website of your work. I would love to see you do some additional posts on bathrooms. I am frustrated by photos of bathrooms in the "shelter" magazines as they are often very flashy or the bathroom itself is bigger than my bedroom. It would be neat to see your thoughts on bathrooms for normal people - people whose bathrooms are in old houses, people who need to store toilet paper, cleaning products, etc. Tile? Beadboard? Large 12 x 12 marble tiles? Perhaps you could do a virtual redo of some of your sister's bathrooms? Tips for people when shopping for plumbing fixtures? How to make the best of what you've got? I have such respect for your taste and thoughts -- you could really educate folks like me. Basically, more bathroom posts please!

[maison21]

sorry, but the wallpaper in bathroom number one, and the orange counter/sink and crazy window treatment in the third(?) absolutely ROCK! of course, it's all gotta go, but you have to admire the person that just "went for it" back in her day.

the bathroom with shag carpet around the tub and toilet just makes me shudder- what's been growin' in there since the 70's? i'd have to wear a hazmat suit in that one...

[Emily@remodelingthislife]

Wow. Okay, so I clicked over one day, added you to my reader and went upon my merry life. Then tonight, I came here to comment, clicked a few things and found your renovations and loved you even more than that first day I came here.

I love finding people who have discovered the hidden treasures in 60s homes and have loved clicking away at your projects.

Beautiful.

And thank you for making me feel not so alone in the ugliness that are 60s fixers.

[Shower Stalls]

I really like the first bathtub. Its very large and looks good for soaking.

[ian]

I just love blogging and as i get spare time from busy schedule i start working on it. Wonderful post, I really enjoyed reading it!

[plumber geelong]

I love the red design in the second to the last picture. But I think the toilet bowl should be in a cubicle or should be covered.