DIY Utility Sink Skirt | New Sink + Faucet for the Fish Room!

The Fish Room is done!  I'm working on the full "before" and "after" post, but it's really difficult to photograph this space, especially now that the skies have turned dreary, snowy, and grey.  While I wait for the perfect sunny day, I wanted to start sharing some of the changes we made in this odd little room.

The last time you saw the Fish Room, it was just a sea of brand new DIY plywood floors (although I did give you a pretty big sneak peek in this post).  Now the room has furniture, shelving, storage - even a new sink and faucet!  The sink and faucet is what I want to talk about today, because I am so smitten with the faucet we found.  It was such a challenge to find the right size faucet to fit the sink we bought, which is really only designed to fit the ubiquitous chrome utility sink faucet.  I had my eye on a few different designs (like this beautiful kitchen faucet), but they wouldn't fit!  Lucky for me, Delta came to the rescue with this classic single handle bar/prep faucet that's sleek and gorgeous - and just happens to be the perfect size for this utility sink!



The Fish Room originally had a pretty dreadful sink, in a janky old cabinet, but even once we removed the rest of the cabinetry, I actually contemplated keeping the sink and just painting the cabinet because a new sink (even a cheap new sink) was more than my tiny budget could handle.  But at the last minute I decided to rip it out - and I'm so glad I did!

Seriously, what was I thinking trying to work with that?  Now that same angle looks like this:

After impulsively ripping out the old sink and cabinet, I contemplated one of those fancy laundry tubs built into a sleek cabinet but those rang in at around $200-300.  I couldn't justify that price tag because when we eventually renovate this space we won't need a laundry tub (we're getting a dog washing station that doubles as a sink), so it seemed wasteful to buy that kind of cabinet now.  Plus, who knows what kind of mess I'll end up making in here - it is a craft room after all.  In the end, we found a really nice utility sink for super cheap in a local big box store, and something about it feels more modern than the typical laundry tub (see the old townhouse laundry room sink for a comparison so you can see what I mean).  The only problem was those ugly legs!  Yikes.  I stash paint under there too, so I wanted to cover it somehow.



We contemplated building some kind of encasement with the leftover watercolor stained plywood pieces but we both agreed that's too much of a good thing.  With the budget in mind, I re-purposed the fabric from my failed shower curtain hack (in the link, it's the ruched monstrosity we tried before my Mom and I sewed the simple tweed-look curtain) and we sewed a simple skirt for the sink.  I had seen some very traditional, fluffy looking utility sink skirts, but I wanted something more sleek and modern.



Making this DIY laundry tub skirt was so easy but it really helps the space feel more polished.



Because of the location of the plumbing, the sink is right up against the wall so the sink skirt only needed to cover two sides, but we made it long enough to wrap around a little bit so it looks like it covers all four sides.  It's basically just a rectangle with hemmed edges and to make it look a little fuller, but we also sewed a small pleat into the corners to give it some oomph.

(Don't mind out rough hemming job - no one will see it but blog readers, haha).

Then, using a zipper foot, we sewed on the velcro - the other side was backed with peel and stick tape and easily affixed under the lip of the sink.





I love the pale blue/grey hue of this linen because it's quiet and simple.  Plus it always feels good to use up something instead of buying new - not that it isn't nice to replace something broken and ugly with something shiny and new once in awhile! 

Along with the gorgeous faucet they sent me, Delta also provided the Compel towel ring (I hadn't even thought of where I'd hang a hand towel) and three of the Trinsic robe hooks (which come in lots of finishes, including this gorgeous champagne bronze).  Because this room isn't accessible from inside the house, I usually don a coat or jacket to run over here, so it's nice to have a place to hang my coat, keys, scarf, dog leashes - whatever.  The Trinsic collection also has really beautiful faucets, like this modern wall mount bathroom faucet and this matte black tub faucet combo kit.

You know my penchant for simple fixtures in matching brushed nickel.  Even though this room isn't accessible from inside, I still like that the faucet and accessories have the same modern feel and similar shape as the hardware and faucets inside.  It makes the space feel less like an afterthought and more cohesive.  Plus, when we do renovate out here, it will be easy to transition these pieces to somewhere else in the house because although the utility sink likely won't find a new home, the faucet and accessories definitely can!  Knowing this makeover is temporary, I've been trying to make my design decisions strategically, with re-purposing in mind.

I can't wait to show you the rest of the room, along with some more before and afters!

Sources: Bar/Prep Faucet | Trinsic Robe Hooks | Compel Towel Ring | Hand Towel (similar) | Utility Sink (similar) | Grey Linen Fabric (similar) | Velcro Tape | Fabric Storage Bins (similar)

P.S. Be careful online shopping because when a deal seems too good to be true, it might be a miniature that you almost mistakenly order, lol.

Bathroom Update: Kohler Purist Faucets + Crisis Averted

The bathroom is done!

Kidding (sorry, that was cruel).

But when you can use the toilet, bathe, AND brush your teeth in the same room (the same room!), you start to wonder what else could possibly be done to make this bathroom feel more complete...

Oh right, a few things - the dangling wires, for one, aren't an art installation.

But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  The shower curtain rod was a special order and it just came in.  We're planning a shower curtain hack, so I'll be doing some late night sewing I'm sure.  The custom mirror was measured and ordered - the standard, in stock length is 72" and ours needs to be 72 3/4" so we were 3/4 of an inch away from having it immediately.  I had to laugh, but it's getting installed Friday (yay!) so I didn't have to wait long at all.  I picked up the replacement cabinet drawer fronts but I'm too nervous to unwrap them, so I stashed them under the vanity - which is ridiculous, I know.  Meanwhile, Hubby and I skipped ahead a few steps and even hung up some artwork.  Accessorizing this space - finally - makes me feels triumphant!

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Bathroom Update: Kohler Purist Fixtures

I've had to make some difficult decisions while planning our bathroom renovation, but choosing the fixtures was simple: I wanted Kohler.  Everyone I encountered during the planning process (including plumbers, plumbing supply and bathroom reno store employees, and random old dudes at The Home Depot who do not work there but feel compelled to share their wisdom/chat me up) insisted that the quality can't be beat.  That was all I needed to hear, because I've been drooling over the Kohler ads in my home decor magazines for years.

Handy Hubby and I chose the Purist line because it has a simple, mid-century modern inspired look that we love - and it complements our interior door hardware.  Even though mixing metals and styles is trendy right now, give me matching metals any day.  In a small home like ours, the coordination helps create the cohesive, streamlined, airy space I crave. 

For the tub, we opted for the Purist® Rite-Temp® pressure-balancing bath faucet trim and the Purist hand shower kit.  We had a hand held shower in the townhouse and loved it, so I knew from the beginning I wanted it again.  I shower at night but wash my hair in the morning, so this hand held shower is indispensable to me - plus it's perfect for rinsing out the tub after washing it, bathing the pup (if we ever have a dog smaller than a horse), and winning at water fights.  I have seen a lot of bathrooms where the hand held shower kit supplements a standard shower head, but that seems a bit redundant to us.  This is perfection.

We made a critical mistake by not measuring where we put the bracing for the bar, which was then completely covered during the tiling process - obviously!  Not to worry: we located the bracing and were able to move forward with the installation.  Other than that, installation was a breeze and we just followed the instruction manuals for everything.

One of the best features is the drain plug control, which you operate by twisting the cover for the overflow - this means no reaching in to a scungy tub to pull a drain cord!  In my mind, that is what total luxury looks like.

I accidentally ordered the wrong tub spout.  I had originally wanted this spout because the profile is the same as the Purist lavatory faucets we ordered for the vanity.  But when this arrived, I really liked the shaped and so I kept it.  This is my version of mixing and matching ;)



I have seen a lot of people (like Emily Henderson) use the Kohler Purist line in the brushed gold, so ordering the vibrant brushed nickel was a gamble because I hadn't seen it in person or even on any design blogs.  Happily, I wasn't disappointed - it's beautiful!  The brushed nickel on some cheaper faucets at the home improvement store really varies and some have a really yellow cast.  This finish is perfect - exactly what you would expect from a high quality, brushed nickel finish.  It's been really easy to clean, too: I just wipe it down gently with water and buff dry with a towel to ensure there are no water spots.  It takes seconds and there are no harsh cleaners involved.  I am just thrilled!



In these photos you can get a better sense of the beautiful shimmer and organic feel of my tile choice - and it's so easy to clean, thanks to the large size and minimal grout lines.

Baby steps toward a finished, functioning space!  The walnut cabinetry is getting installed today, which means the counters and aqua sinks will be installed soon... 

Disclosure: After choosing my finishes and fixtures, I reached out to Kohler and was thrilled when Kohler agreed to collaborate with me on this bathroom reno.  All design choices and opinions are my own.  I was not asked to provide a review about the projects.  I am just jazz hands excited about finally having some high end bathroom faucets!  Oh yeah, and showering inside - another major luxury.

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Kitchen Progress: That Sinking Feeling

The kitchen sink and faucet have been installed!  So have the counters.  And the drywall.  You know, when you live with naked insulation for awhile, bare drywall starts to look really fancy.  But don't let that fancy drywall and elegant window frame(lessness) detract your attention from the real showstopper: the faucet.

Do you remember how many moons ago I asked for your help choosing a new faucet for the kitchen, because Pfister had kindly offered to send me one for review?  The one we ultimately chose - the Lita - was not available right away and when it arrived we had already listed the townhouse for sale.  I think there were more votes for black, but Hubby really pushed for silver (as did some of you).  I'm thankful that I was convinced of the merits of the stainless finish - and not the black finish I loved - because we ended up sandbagging the faucet for the lakehouse kitchen, where the black wouldn't have worked with my plans.

The lovely Lita was straightforward to install.  You might remember that it's a pull down model, which is a feature we've become overly dependent upon.  Both the townhouse and lakehouse boasted older faucets with that feature, and it's handy for filling a pot of water on the counter, or winning a kitchen water fight.  We didn't even look at any models that weren't a pull down, we're that committed.  This one feels different, though: it's sturdy and slides smoothly, and then clicks back tightly into place.

It has two settings for spray, which is also a feature we prefer.  The old lakehouse faucet had this feature too, but it was broken, and I really missed it!  Stuff that works properly feels like a real novelty around here.

I'll keep you posted on durability and how the finish wears.  For the $449.00 MSRP (!), I'm expecting outstanding quality, and I hope to salvage the faucet for our phase II reno.  The shape is clean and modern, but not too trendy, so I hope it won't look tired in a few years.  Strangely, what drew Hubby and I to this style originally was the unassuming handle: some are really curvy and seem more traditional, while some really angular ones look exceptionally modern.  This one is so simple.  We like simple.

The sink is also a stunner, but it gave us a little trouble.  It's a beast - much larger than what was there before - but we found it at Costco for $199, which is a good price for a sink this size and quality.  Plus it was fun to put "kitchen sink" on our grocery list.  It's an Atlantis Commercial Grade Pro Series, in 18-gauge stainless steel.  The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel but I've read conflicting reports about whether the gauge really impacts durability.  Reportedly, around the 22-gauge mark, a stainless sink will be more prone to denting, but I think 18-gauge is pretty standard.  We'll see how this one wears.  It does have two stainless steel basin grids with rubber feet, which keeps knives and cutlery from scratching the bottom (plus it makes a good dry rack for the things I hand wash).  Hopefully the basin grids will keep this sink looking new.

We actually bought the sink in Ottawa and drove it up here to Thunder Bay.  I'm sure we measured . . . okay I'm not sure, I just assumed that sinks are a relatively standard overall size because I thought cabinetry was pretty standard.  Nope.  The front of the cabinetry needed to be shaved away to make room for the sink.  The weight of the counter mostly sits on the vertical supports so it shouldn't be a problem, but we can always add horizontal support pieces. 

The sink sits a little farther back than I envisioned, but it's as far forward as we can put it.

This sink has the option of under mount or drop-in and we chose the latter.  Under mount required a frame be built to support it, because it wasn't designed to attach to the underside of the counter.  Bah!  Too much work.  Plus, cutting the hole was tricky enough, without making it pretty enough to show off (it wasn't).  Hubby used a jigsaw to cut the hole and although he did an amazing job, there were some areas where the cut jogged a bit.  Not a problem for installation, just not show-pretty.

More relevant than our laziness, we love the sharp lines of this boxy sink and the rectangular edge looks perfect with our thick, blocky counters.  Hubby and I have been admiring the counters with the sink, and we're so happy we didn't hide most of the fanciest sink we've ever owner with under mount.  (Not that doing dishes in the laundry room sink wasn't fancy).  



As a reminder, here's the old sink and faucet (is the new one freakishly tall, or what?):

Because the new sink's shape and proportions are different than the old sink's, Hubs spent quite a bit of time under the sink playing plumber.  So long, in fact, that while he was on his stomach, fussing, Szuka wandered over and decided his bum would be a good place for a nice, long snooze. 



Disclosure: I was provide the Lita faucet for review, courtesy of Pfister, but was not asked to, or otherwise compensated for, providing a review.  Time will tell how well it wears, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on the faucet, and our new sink, once we've had a chance to break them both in. 

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I Need Your Thoughts: Black or Silver Kitchen Faucet?

Although we replaced the countertop in the kitchen and re-did the back splash a couple of years ago, we kept the original faucet because it was in okay condition and, frankly, we were desperate to save cash wherever we could.  We're of the "don't replace things that work fine" mentality.  Unfortunately, now the faucet is getting corroded and worn out, but it looks like I will have the opportunity to review a Pfister product, so an update is in our future!  We'd like to keep the pull out or pull down feature (ours pulls out), but the Hubs and I are divided on whether to get a stainless steel finish (to complement our silver light fixture and cabinet pulls) or black (like our main floor bathroom faucet).  Help us?

My case first: I like the black because our sink is brushed inside and stainless on the edge and I'm worried a chrome faucet will be like our current chrome faucet and not match exactly.  Plus the cabinet pulls and light are a brushed silver and that adds up to just a boatload of different silvers.  I think the black would be graphic and fun, and look great with the black accents in the kitchen and adjacent rooms.  I found two pretty and practical styles: the Cagney pull down faucet (left) and Shelton pull out faucet (right), both from Pfister.

 

Because it's a more unusual choice and you might not have seen one in action yet, here are a few beautiful kitchens sporting sharp black faucets.

Sköna Hem; Flea Market Trixie; The Blade

Hubby's case:  I think Hubby prefers the stainless steel and chrome finishes because they pair more subtly with the existing finishes, plus it's a more traditional choice.  Our kitchen is not super modern, so I think he wants to make sure the faucet suits the look of our kitchen.  He's also not convinced a stainless sink and black faucet work together.  He pointed out that two of the sinks in my inspiration shots are white.  He's sharper with this whole decorating thing than I thought!  He likes the Lita pull-down model . . .

. . . but honestly, right now we have quite a few more silver faucets short listed than black, making it tricky to decide!

Selia; Avanti; Mystique; Pasadena

As a refresher, here's a quick recap of the kitchen, including the newest additions.  But please don't look too closely at the first photo - the sink is not clean!

Help us decide and cast your vote in the comments!  Black or silver?  And, which style?  Anonymous comments always welcome :)

P.S. I haven't been asked (or paid or perked) to write this post.  I just need a little help making this decision before selecting a faucet to review.  Thanks so much for your input!

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