New Place for Pretty Furniture

Southern Living, Oct 2004 by Hamilton, Majella Chube

You won't find ordinary cabinets in this made-over master bath.

If you're looking for a way to add warmth and personality to a bath, consider placing an old furniture piece in the room.

Robin and Jonathan Anders hadn't thought about doing this until a local antiques salvage shop owner suggested that retrofitting a dresser would enhance the couple's newly restored master bath in their 1923 Raleigh bungalow.

Search and Rescue

Robin and her mother, Patty Grain, were shopping in downtown Raleigh when the store's owner pointed out a reproduction cherrywood dresser, noting that a master bath might be the perfect spot for it. "Before, we were going with standard cabinets," says Robin. "But it cost no more to retrofit the furniture, and we had something unique in the end."

All in Place

The antique dresser was brought home and prepared for a makeover (see box at right). Once installed, the piece, with its original paint and ornate details, gave the master bath character as well as ample storage.

Finishing Touches

With the new vanity as the showpiece of the room, it was easy to add decorative touches. Robin chose a shade of violet for the walls. A circular skylight, along with inset lighting, subtly change the wall's hue depending on the time of day.

Robin found a pair of ornate framed mirrors at an antiques shop in Raleigh's Five Points. "I was looking for a pair of matching frames, but only one was displayed," she says. "After learning that the other one was slightly damaged, I bought them both. We like the aged effect, so we made minimal repairs and cleaned them."

"This room feels as if it's from a simpler time, and it's very calming," says Robin. "We need calm, especially now with a 19-month-old and two dogs running around."

MAJELLA CHUBE HAMILTON

REFITTING FURNITURE FOR THE BATH

Here's how the Anderses turned an antique chest of drawers into their dream vanity.

* Robin and her mom cleaned the piece with soap and water.

* Then contractor Bob Aiello cut big holes in the top so that the sinks and plumbing could be correctly positioned.

* A piece of granite was cut to fit for a countertop.

* Bob removed the top row of drawers and put just the faces back on. (The second and third rows of drawers, modified to fit around the plumbing, open and close, providing storage space for towels.)

Page 136: Architecture by Meg McLaurin, Meg McLaurin Architect, AIA, Raleigh, (919) 754-0808; builder was Bob Aiello, Aiello Builders, Raleigh, (919)319-6355; vanity furniture piece is from Classic Antiques, Raleigh, (919) 831-0306 (R); matching frames over vanity from Elysian Fields; paint color is #1515 Violet Evening from Laura Ashley.