By the time we unpacked our shower curtain last week, it had been 48 hours since either of us had showered. And those two days were filled with lifting heavy objects, if you catch our whiff drift. So hanging the shower curtain was a welcome step in our moving process. What was not so welcome? This result:
You know we love hanging an extra long shower curtain all the way to the ceiling to add height to the room (the 95″ waffle curtain is from amazon.com and the 86″ fabric liner is from Bed Bath & Beyond by the way). But the trick doesn’t work so well when the tension rod you inherit is too stumpy to hang on the higher tile-less portion of your shower wall (it was literally about a half-inch too short to grab the slightly wider wall up top). Then the tricky part becomes being ok with the bottom of the extra-long curtain sitting bunched under the toilet seat.
We were not ok with it.
Which is why our first post-move trip to Home Depot was to get a new longer tension rod. And now we have this going on. Ooooh. Ahhh. Note: You can read more about raising your shower rod and finding extra long liners and curtains here.
It’s a small start in the process of making this bathroom feel a bit more like our own. It’s a great bathroom with lots of good stuff already, but not necessarily an overall style that we’d pick for ourselves. So eventually we’ll do some tweaks / upgrades / remodeling to make it more “us.” And yes, we’re definitely planning to swap out the light fixture for something smaller that doesn’t encroach as much on the newly hung ceiling-height shower curtain. And speaking of light, anyone who is wondering if it’s super dark with the shower curtain that high- amazingly it’s not. It sort of glows and light shines through the light curtain and the liner so the whole shower is lit up through the curtain if that makes sense. In our old house we didn’t even have a ceiling light (just a wall-mounted one above the mirror) and it was still nice and bright.
‘Til then, we at least get to enjoy nice finishes like these sleek stainless shower fixtures.
And these spa-like glass shelves:
We don’t really have a clear vision of what we’d eventually like our master bathroom to be, but there’s a good chance both of those items will be kept long term. The only thing we can say for certain will be going sooner rather than later is the mirrored door. Shocking I know. When have you known us to remove a mirror from our house? We can usually be found hanging them left and right.
But we already have a nice chunky floor length mirror in the bedroom (the one seen in this post, that I got Sherry as a surprise wedding gift) so there’s no need for the slightly less exciting door-mounted one a few steps away. Here’s hoping we don’t break it during removal and suffer a seven-year span of bad luck. And for anyone else out there who’s ready to remove a big mirror on their door or wall, we’ll be sure to post about our hopefully-not-bloody-at-all removal process when we get there…
you updated the photo in your heading, didn’t you? i only just noticed. the new house really *is* just the same style as your first one! =) thanks for sharing the journey with all the [blog]world! it’s fun to follow along.
Hey guys, to successfully remove a mirror without worrying about it shattering everywhere, use whatever that stuff is for cyran-wrapping shipping items! It’s the heavy duty stuff that is almost sticky and if you wrap your mirror in it and then attempt to remove it, if it does break, all the pieces will be stuck to it! I’ve seen it happen with a lot of HGTV remodels….
GOOD LUCK!
Does having the curtain that high not make the shower dark when you are in there? I love the look but think I would be showering in the dark if I hung my curtain that high.
Hey Marianne,
Scroll back through the comments or right in the post itself for that answer. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I have a question!
I love this look… the long curtain coming from the ceiling. I would like to accomplish this look in my master bath but I have one problem… my master bath is not a bath at all… it is a large shower. It has sliding glass doors. Will it look funny or be awckward if I hang a shower curtain in front of the glass?
Hey Kelsey,
Hmm, we’d just recommend trying it to see how it looks. We’ve seen people cover dated glass shower doors with a curtain and it looks great, but it probably depends on the layout. Good luck!
xo,
s
You know…I think a 95 inch shower curtain might be just want my guest bathroom needs. It’s such a terribly blah room (we haven’t painted it, the sink is still the builder special, and the counter top is pink…ugh).
Off to scheme up a paint color!
Surprised you didn’t get one of those that is half circle so that it gives more room in the shower? (I know they sell them at home depot too)
Hey Sheila,
Our shower is already plenty spacious and we didn’t want it to encroach on the rest of the room, so we went with a straight rod.
xo,
s
Make sure you hang on to all those bi-fold doors you are taking off! They make GREAT tables (when put onto sawhorses) for your next garage sale!
I was totally sold on the extra-high shower curtain when I first read about it in your old house, but my husband convinced me it would be too dark in the shower if we raised it that high. I am going to re-open negotiations after this post! :D
Thank you! I love reading about the small projects you guys do, as you do them. It is a great reminder that “project” doesn’t have to mean weeks of chaos and thousands of dollars. Small, easy projects that just take a few hours a week can really make a difference! You guys are great!
Lookin’ great!
Oh, light fixtures. We have some real doozies in our house : ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/5109004862/in/set-72157625226555336/ – yikes!) but MAN are they expensive to replace!
“Hopefully people are in it for the journey and not just the destination. We always prefer the journey more anyway because when we’re “done” we get antsy and bored.”
Definitely. The journey is by far the most interesting part – the destination is just a wow-factor bonus (speaking for myself only)!
Agree- the destination is the amazing part of it all. Finding new things along the way. Or doing something/creating something you did not even think of months before. All the “small” changes (but lots of work) are looking great. Enjoy some holiday time with the family…
I want to give you guys a hug! For being so sweet and patient with your readers, especially the skimmers who ask questions about things you already addressed in the post. It’s a) amazing that you take the time to respond to the comments, and b) that you are so good-natured about the repetitive questions. You are good people, Youngsters.
I also say HOORAY for the new and improved shower curtain situation. You get a hug for that too.
jbhat
Just in case the mirror has glue on the back…You can try this method. First heat the mirror with a blow dryer. Then use heavy duty fishing wire. Put it at the top between the mirror and wall and run it slowly along the wall, inching it down inch by inch on each side. It cuts through the warmed glue. Just be sure not to push on the mirror, or it will re-stick.
Awesome tip! Love it.
xo,
s
I just ordered the same extra long shower curtain for our hall bathroom reno yesterday (http://bit.ly/g47mNd). I love how such a low-priced addition can completely transform the look and feel of a bathroom. I can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the space!
I love the high-mounted shower curtain, well done, and huge improvement. I also agree that the rounded curtain rod would encroach on the space in the room and not worth any extra space you gain in the shower.
That glass shelf though – it looks to me like its mounted upside down?
Hey Juliet,
That’s too funny! It never occurred to us because we’ve seen them hinged that way but you’re right- some are definitely hinged the other way so this might look upside down to some people!
xo,
s
I loved seeing that someone else has an overabundance of these doors too. Our house has 3 sets of bi-folds within 5 feet of each other! One in the laundry area, one by our master closet/bathroom and another on a loft like balcony in the master bedroom. I have been struggling with what to do with the set on the loft balcony for ages. We took the set by the closet down and did just what you are thinking about with the curtain and it has been the best! It blocks out light from the closet/bathroom area and muffles just enough noise to let someone sleep if someone else has to be up early.
We are just a little worried about having curtains all over the place if we replace the other set too.
It looks great! It is amazing how just raising it up makes the room seem that much larger!
having all these projects must be overwelming and knowing that we are all here drooling waiting for your next post must make it worse. I love that you are taking one thing at a time since that is the way most of us have to do it. One day at a time. I came to your blog toward the end of your major reno’s at your old house so I am excited to be on this journey with you this time. This house has so much potential!
I’m really loving all the types of wood floors in your new home, even though they not all the same. I’m especially fond of the wider planks in your bedroom. Are you planning to keep them as is?
And, I love the new wide open feeling since the folding doors have been taken down.
Hey Rose,
We definitely plan to keep all the wood floors (from the parquet ones in the living room to the skinny planked ones and the wide planked ones in the bedrooms/office/future dining room). We think refinishing them all in the same tone will tie them all together for some nice cohesion and flow without removing any of the texture and character they add by being so varied.
xo,
s
I am getting such a big kick out of the comments today. Everyone has their crafty hats on today. Maybe we are all itching to get rid of the xmas decorations and get back to renovating – we’re living vicariously through you guys!
Good luck tackling those short term to do lists. Oh, I do love a good list too!
Nothing like that first shower in your new house, ahhhhh!
The shower curtain looks great with it all the way up to the ceiling. I never considered this. Maybe this is the solution to hiding the ugly green ceramic tiles in my shower.
When you decide to replace the light fixture you could do something like a chandelier that has a swag style so you wouldn’t have to mess with the wiring and it would provide for a little more room between the shower rod and light fixture. It might also add a little warmth to the room. Just a thought.
That’s definitely a possibility! We loved having a chandelier in our old house’s half bathroom!
xo,
s
Hey John and Sherry-
Congrats on your new home! I can’t wait to see how it transforms in the coming months and years. We just bought our second home back in May and have almost the EXACT same situation with our Master bedroom/bathroom layout. We have french doors that open into the bedroom, displaying our bathroom vanity in all its glory. The toilet and shower are off to the side, just like yours, separated by a door. We’re getting ready to renovate soon and I have lots of ideas (none of which I can commit to). I know you just moved in, but if you’re willing to share any ideas you guys have had about your bathroom, I’d love to hear em! Thanks!
Hey Holly,
We’re still debating what we’ll do with that area but will definitely do things in stages and see what we like (and don’t like). Stay tuned for the details, which we’ll post in real-time as we go!
xo,
s
Can I just say….what the heck is up with that super long faucet in the tub? Looks like it could be a definite safety hazard for those of us who are more clumsy. =/
Haha, maybe it’s just the picture? In real life it doesn’t stick out any more than a regular tub faucet does!
xo,
s
Glad to hear the tub faucet is regular length – it looks gigantic on the picture!
I think the secret to having the shower remain light is to have a white curtain. We had an off-white one for a long time, and our shower was always a little dark and gloomy. Recently we switched to mostly white curtain, and the light inside the shower has improved immensely!
That’s a great tip Sarah! Use darker or more colorful extra long curtains with care!
xo,
s
It’s really amazing how just by upping that shower curtain, it makes the bathroom look much better (and, by effect, much more expensive looking).
Any reason for getting rid of the mirror? Is there a possibility that one can actually have too many mirrors in a house?
Hey Brandt,
We’re just bigger fans of nice weighty framed out floor mirrors than the front/back of door variety! And since we already have a big framed out leaning wall mirror to check out reflections in, the front of door mirror just feels extraneous. Sometimes we find that stripping back the excess (bi-fold doors, a hundred towel bars, lots of door mounted mirrors, etc) allows the original architecture and design of the house shine without looking too cluttered!
xo,
s
Not sure if someone else mentioned this in the original long shower curtain post, but you can also throw plastic liners in the washing machine (with the kitchen scrubbies) and it comes out crystal clear and clean. Just buy a thicker-type one and you’re all set. I do this every other month or so and mine is 5 yrs old and looks brand new.
Wow that’s amazing Annabelle!
xo,
s
I really like your bathroom already! I don’t think you need to make many changes besides changing the light fixture near the shower. I would totally leave the mirrored door– its practical and opens up the space. IMHO, you guys are removing a hecka lot of doors.
dont get rid of it! Reposition it so that you can check out your rear view (on a door is actually great because you can angle it easily and see more clearly). I recently stayed in a hotel that frightened the heck out of me becuase their wall mirror reflected the closet’s full length mirror. once i got over the shock i loved it.
I love the fixtures. The toilet, though…
I would be so tempted to paint the little bit of wall space and the ceiling a really saturated pop of color hue like eggplant or teal (does the tile have a pinky undertone?).
Oh yes, I’m dying to switch out the toilet for a more classic white round one! And yes, there is a slightly pinky/fleshy undertone to the tiles- and a bold shot of color on the walls is definitely something we’re considering!
xo,
s
The tub faucet looks like the pipe murder weapon from Clue.
Haha- it was Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the lead pipe!
xo,
s
I love the look of the higher shower curtain! When we moved into our house the previous owners actually took the tension rod with them, so we couldn’t even hang our curtain until we got a new rod!
I love this idea and would like to try this, but question: Isn’t it too dark in the shower with the curtain being up that high? We have just the lights over the sink in the guest bath…ideas? Thanks!! Merry Christmas!!
Hey Heather,
You can scroll back through the comments or check out that info in the post itself. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
AH! Good to know where I can now get an extra long shower liner! I ended up taking some twine and making some DIY “shower-curtain-hanger-extensions”. I’m not sure yet if it’s really cute and adds some humanity to our super-modern bathroom, or if it’s just trashy. If I decide on the latter, I’ll definitely be referencing this post since I’ve scoured every store in our city for extra long liners.
I’ve been wondering: When you’re doing a complete home-makeover, do you like to do one room at a time – from demolition, to paint, to fresh flowers and guest soaps while the other rooms look on in jealousy? Or do you prefer to spread the love equally all over the house? I’m a little obsessed with completely finishing a room, but I’m starting to think that touching up the paint behind the toilet and setting out clean towels in the bathroom can wait until we move the stove back into our kitchen. Just wondering what your modus operandi is.
We like hopping all over the place when it comes to smaller projects, but of course when we got a bathroom or redo a kitchen we usually focus on that room for a while just to see it through so it’s functional again (and not “in progress” forever)!
xo,
s
I’m considering mounting a mirror on my bathroom door so as I stand in the bathroom doing my hair, I can see the back with the mirror on the door.
If I could make a toilet suggestion… We recently remodeled our bathroom and purchased a Jacuzzi Espree at Lowe’s. We LOVE that toilet more than we ever thought we could love a toilet. It’s one of my favorite things in the bathroom. Low water usage, but very powerful; very sleek design and slim profile; and the best part, no curlicues or crevices on the sides. It just goes straight down, making cleaning a breeze.
That sounds like the Rolls Royce of toilets! We’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
Placing the curtain rod up so high feels too sterile and hospital-like to me. It looks warmer and cozier when it’s hung lower. Also, the eyelets and hooks used to hang a curtain add nice detailing. But I enjoy seeing how people style their homes and think you have a lovely bathroom. The glass shelves are a really nice touch.
I quickly scrolled through the comments and saw someone mention wallpaper in the bathroom. We had wallpaper in both of our bathrooms and I would not recommend it. It was the thick vinyl kind, but the steam still worked its way in the seams and it started to peel. That stuff has a thick layer of adhesive underneath which started growing mold like crazy.
We took down all of the paper and painted the walls with a soft gloss Kitchen & Bathroom paint, scraped the popcorn off the ceiling and painted it, and replaced the linoleum that was glued to concrete with ceramic tile. Everything dries much faster now and our bathroom smells SO much better, it doesn’t smell musty anymore.
i love that burger is lately popping up in your pictures!
it looks very nice! i can’t believe you went 2 days without showering though! the prices you pay to fix up the house :)
inspiringpretty.blogspot.com
I am so enjoying your updates on the new house! I seriously check your blog every day for updates so keep ’em coming!
I love how you guys get right back into the projects…my husband and I were moving into our first house at this time last year, which was when I discovered your blog. So that makes this my 1 year anniversary of homeownership and of reading your blog. =) I love following your adventures, and congrats on the new place!
Can I just make a quick recommendation on the mirror?
If you get some molding for it, you can create a faux frame around the mirror, making it FAR more impressive. Perhaps the best solution is to move the mirror to one of the other rooms?
But I definitely wouldn’t get rid of it…
Is there a dark spot somewhere in the house? You could create a faux window by putting muntins and mullions on top of the mirror… just a thought. I’ve seen those look really good or really bad depending.
Not to worry about the mirror! We’ll either find another place to use it ourselves (you know we love working with what we have) or donate it to someone in desperate need for it! We just passionately believe that everything in our house should have a function, so since we already have a floor length mirror five steps away that we like better- that one strikes us as superfluous. Ten points for the use of superfluous?
xo,
s
What is the pattern on the smaller tiles? I tried to enlarge, and still can’t quite make out what it is.
I think it looks very fresh and livable. Thank goodness you don’t have some wild colored toilets and crazy fixtures.
Love all your up-dates, and like others, your blog is the first that I check in the morning or through out the day.
I love that it will be in real time, I’m in for the journey with you :)
They’re little sketches of trees. Definitely nothing too crazy (like little drawings of naked men a la The Birdcage)!
xo,
s
wow, that made a HUGE difference! I never would have thought to do that— that’s why I love you all!!! Have a very Merry Christmas!!! =)
Where is that slanted mirror from? I really like it!
The big wood-framed wall mirror that we linked to? It’s from West Elm. We’ve actually seen an extremely similar one at Ikea for about $250 less, so that’s a good place to look!
xo,
s
How painful was it to say good bye to your former bathroom and kitchen in the old house? Esp when you did so much work demoing and tiling that bathroom. We did our 1/2 bathroom last winter and the kitchen has been a work in progress, but like you guys we’re getting to that point where we’re considering moving to a house with more spacious functional spaces. But when I go window house hunting, all the houses we can afford have the old kitchen and bathrooms and the thought of redoing those just makes me ache. :D
Love your new place. It’s motivating me to go with it older kitchen and all.
Hey Anita,
For some strange reason it wasn’t hard at all! I think we knew we were getting a better house for our family to grow and it was in a better neighborhood and we had faith that we could fix up a bathroom and a kitchen again since we already had that under our belt so it seemed like a really easy pill for us to swallow. Every time we heard about friends and family members redoing their kitchen or bathroom we literally got envious (that stuff is so much fun for us) so we actually look forward to those projects! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
This photo from designer Miles Redd’s portfolio reminded me of your master bathroom:
http://www.milesredd.com/portfolio/18-Graev-xl.jpg
So much possibility for making that space totally amazing!
Wow! That’s amazing. And actually has a few elements that we’re debating (french doors, hanging a mirror above the sink centered on the two windows, etc). So much possibility! Thanks so much for sharing the link!
xo,
s
We have a regular clear shower curtain mounted at regular height and then a skinny tension rod at ceiling level with a pair of long standard curtain panels on it. Works great AND I loved the clear curtain when the kids were newborns… I could shower and see them in the bouncy seat at the same time.
So happy you are tackling the bathroom. Our bathroom is in sad shape and you are a great source of inspiration as we work our way one room at a time through the house.
With a shower curtain to the ceiling I’d be afraid that there’s nowhere for the steam to escape, saturating the wall above the tile.
Hey Nancy,
Feel free to scroll back through the comments for our experiences on that subject. There are definitely a few inches of room around the top and sides of the curtain where steam escapes (it’s not sealed like tupperware or anything) so we’ve never had an issue after years of using the same method in our previous house. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love that! I’m going to go and hang my curtain rod a foot higher right now!