I ended my previous post with this last lone wall, so it's only proper and fitting to begin this post with the same wall, so that you can follow along on its adventures in the Villa del Vigneto. The wall is destined for the villa's bathroom, which was part of a renovation to the villa many years after the original farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside was transformed into a country retreat for a Venetian family.
THE TILE MURAL
(Adventure #1)
I wanted a tile backsplash for the bathtub, which extends from the wall into the room. But I didn't want to tile a large area. I finally found a mosaic tile mural of a fountain, which seemed appropriate for a bathroom. I traced the outline of the mural onto lightweight cardboard and onto a piece of cork.
Note the "embellishment" for the top of the mural, just to add a little interest.
I glued the mural onto the cardboard and cut out the cork frame, adding the embellishment to the top. The bottom piece of the cork frame was cut separately and glued on.
To simulate a plaster (or maybe stone) frame, I applied a light layer of joint compound to the cork.
I used a makeshift stylus to outline the mosaic tiles in the mural, then added some layers of a gloss finish. Those steps don't actually show up in the photo! I also muted the original colors that you see in the mural - just a bit.
I added some colors to the plaster frame to make it look stone-like.
The mosaic tile mural is mounted onto the bathroom wall.
A MIRROR AND SCONCE LIGHTS
(Adventure #2)
I found the perfect mirror in my "mirrors and frames" stash - perfect, that is, except that it was silver. I wanted gold.
So I painted the mirror gold and added a cream-color wash.
Then I found the perfect pair of sconce lights - perfect, that is, except that they were black and white. I wanted cream and white.
So I painted them with a thick wash, so that just a bit of black shows through.
The mirror and sconce lights are in place on the wall. The last lone wall is enjoying all this attention!
THE LIMESTONE FLOOR
(Adventure #3 - A Vicarious Adventure)
For the villa bathroom floor, I gathered up all the remaining cork coasters in my supply bin. I've used the cork coasters for all the villa flooring. I've found that cork is an excellent building material: light weight, easy to mark, easy to cut, can be used as is or painted, stained, or stuccoed. I like the coasters because of the convenient size, but the cork can be purchased in larger blocks or in rolls.
As usual, my first step was to cut off all the slightly rounded edges and mark the cutting lines. The limestone tiles for the bathroom floor are larger than the terra cotta tiles in the other rooms.
I applied a light layer of joint compound to the cork coasters.
After the joint compound dried, I began the job of sanding - my least favorite of all construction steps.
The sanding - for a nice change - went very fast because of the thin layer of joint compound and because I wanted only a very light sanding, in order to preserve the rough texture of the tiles.
I painted the tiles with random applications of Antique White, Magnolia White, Pale Golden Brown, Pale Gray, Mushroom, and Yellow Ochre paints and washes.
Following the marked lines, I cut each cork coaster into four tiles.
I will lay the bathroom floor tiles from the back of the villa (before I mount that last lone wall) for easier access.
I have marked the center of the bathroom floor - ready to lay the tiles. This view is from the west opening of the bathroom, which is located behind the master bedroom.
Most of the tiles are down - just the edges to finish up. I decided to lay the tiles on a diagonal for variety.
Finished laying the tiles.
View from the west end of the bathroom.
The limestone tiles have grown older and more worn since the previous photo!
This photo shows a view from the bathroom door down a short hallway to the Master Bedroom, where the door stands partially open. A left turn before reaching the bedroom leads through an arched door onto the stair landing.
The bathroom door that leads to the short hallway has been hinged and hung in place.
THE LAST WALL IS SECURED IN PLACE
(Adventure #4)
AND - THE LAST LONE WALL IS UP!!!
The last wall of the villa revels in its moment of glory!
I've run a bead of spackling along the corners and the floor edges.
A quick peek from the door of the Master Bedroom, through the hallway, and into the bathroom, where you can see the line of pink spackling in the far corner.
All the corners and edges have been retouched with paint.
I've temporarily placed some of the basic fixtures and furniture in the bathroom to make sure that everything fits as it should. So far, so good! That last wall will be a busy and functional one.
And so we come to the end of the adventures of the last lone wall. But although there are no more walls to raise, there are ceilings to put on and lights to install before the rooms of the villa can be considered complete. And that will be another adventure!
ENJOY JULY!
And so we come to the end of the adventures of the last lone wall. But although there are no more walls to raise, there are ceilings to put on and lights to install before the rooms of the villa can be considered complete. And that will be another adventure!
ENJOY JULY!
