Pheasant Run Home Blog: The Three Little Pigs Bathroom

The story of The Three Little Pigs was always a favorite of my preschoolers. Each spring we would act out the story in a short play. I would help my students build a simple set, practice each role and then perform this classic for their families. As you know, two of the three pigs were hasty and not very bright. The straw and stick houses they built were easily blown down by the Big Bad Wolf. In our plays, these houses were pieces of painted cardboard, held up by the actors until the huffing and puffing began. Then, in most cases, they would drop them on cue. However, the third little pig was wise, forward thinking, and obviously got a greater share of the inheritance, because he built his custom home out of solid bricks. For our play, the brick house was a refrigerator box with a working flap door and cutout windows. The preschoolers would paint red bricks in random places on the box. During the two weeks of set design and practice, there would be 10 littles, at any given time, squished into the refrigerator box, having a grand time.

With this lengthy introduction, and the photo above, you can easily see how this bathroom got it's name. Even since the remodel, we still call it The Little Pigs bathroom!

This bathroom is located at the top of the staircase on the second story, between the great room and the three original farmhouse attic bedrooms.

Step Up

When we first looked at the house, we noticed multiple elevation changes on the landing at the top of the stairs. Three feet from the top stair, the floor had a step down. Then a step back up into the bathroom and the great room. It was very confusing and everyone that we took through the house before we bought it would stumble. We knew this had to be remedied first.

We called Brandon Adamson and Cody Christensen of High Country Hardwood Floors. They are complete professionals that know their trade, and are definitely in high demand. Because of several floors throughout the house that had to be repaired and new wood installed (like here) they came back several different times and were great to work with.

You can see how well they matched the wood and finish in the photo above.

High Country Hardwood Floors also did a maintenance coat on all the Brazilian Cherry floors on the main floor. GORGEOUS! This is our daughter's room.

Demolition

Our friend and favorite BYUI student, Jay, chipped up and removed all the floor tile. Because the tub surround was all plaster, including the faux bricks, Curtis covered over it with wonder board.

Floor Tile

Curtis put down new cement board before installing the new tile that he placed in an offset pattern. We chose a 12"x24" ceramic floor tile from Marshall's Tile and Stone that was called Metallic, but I think it resembles concrete with a semi-gloss, linen finish.

Tile Surround

Curtis wanted to make sure we didn't have any moisture issues in the shower since it was directly above our new kitchen. After the Wonderboard, he applied Thinset and tape on all the seams, as well as a paint-on moisture barrier called Redgard.

I initially wanted a standard white subway tile but Curtis talked me into this wavy, shiny version of a subway tile and I LOVE IT! It literally sparkles in the light.

Fixtures

Fortunately, we were able to still use the toilet, cast tub, and pedestal sink. These fixtures can be the biggest chunk of a remodel budget, so it's always a bonus when they can be salvaged. In the process of cleaning the tub, I learned a great new trick. A towel soaked in vinegar, and left on the bottom of a tub for an hour or so, can remove any kind of stain, including Thinset, Redgard, and even rust! Who knew?

Lighting

We replaced the existing, goofy, hanging lights with the same recessed lights we have used throughout the house.

Highlighting the Unique

This home is nothing if it's not QUIRKY aka unique. We wanted to highlight the unique features of the Little Pigs bathroom, which we felt were the slope angled ceiling, the skylight, and the nook. One fun feature accomplished all three. Shiplap to the rescue!

Shiplap Ceiling

When Curtis first told me he wanted to put a wood feature on the ceiling, I wasn't sure. I worried that it would be too imposing and make the ceiling feel lower. He took another trip to St. Anthony and Spencer at Rustic Lumber hooked him up, again. We agreed upon a color and then Curtis did a four part staining process that started with a white pickling paint, then two different shades of gray and finally a urethane top coat. He wanted to make sure it was moisture proof since it was also going over the shower.

We feel like the shiplap ceiling accomplished three goals.

1. Enhanced the slope of the ceiling, making it feel even more dramatic.

2. Highlighted the cool skylight.

3. Made the nook feel more like a part of the room.

The Finished Product and the Fun Stuff

Most of the accessories in this bathroom, including all three mirrors, the galvanized towel bucket, and the furniture piece in the nook were all purchased at Taipan Trading Company's going out of business sale. My timing was perfect, but I'm sad the store has closed.

Curtis made the reclaimed lumber shelf with wood from Trestlewood in Blackfoot. It adds a bit of rustic with the sparkly tile and actually came in this perfect color.