Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Hanging A Towel Hook In The Bathroom

goose!

Duck Before

And horse.

Horse Hook1

So apparently my little self-imposed Dude Get On That Already challenge is just a sick joke where the universe tells me: “hey crazy lady, stop hoarding animals in the playroom.” But at least I’m getting things off the floor in there and up on the walls of the rest of the house so they can actually be enjoyed (or that’s just the denial talking). So without further ado, two more thrift store finds from here and here. Yes, this week was a double whammy of getting on that, since no painting was required. And they’re both over a year overdue. Another big surprise. So it was time to get these guys up on the wall (especially give the untimely death of our dear friend Ramsey).

I made John hold this so you can see the weird way we hung him up in the right place and at the right angle with just two nail holes (instead of ten while we scooched him around to find the right spot and cursed ourselves for not making some sort of a template). We just stuck some painters tape around him (sticky-side out) and poked holes in it where the hooks for the nails are (just stabbed the tape with a pen there).

Duck Tape 1

Then we held it up about an inch from the wall and moved it around until we liked the placement. I stood back about 8 feet to judge while John did the moving-around thing. Once we liked the placement we shoved him up against the wall so the painters tape stuck…

Duck Tape2

And then we pressed it against the wall firmly around the back of the ol’ bird to make sure it would stay on the wall.

Duck Tape3

Then when we pulled our little $8 thrift store duck off.

Duck Tape4

The tape became a little duck-hanging template. See how our little pre-poked holes are left stuck to the wall to show us exactly where our hanging nails need to go (and on the exact right angle) to hang this guy?

Duck Tape5

So here I am hammering those babies in (this guy’s really light, so no screws and anchors were required). Once the nails were in I just ripped off the painter’s tape while screaming Kelly Clarkson.

Duck Hammering

Behold:

Duck After1

Yes, the concrete greyhound underneath Sir Duck (an old V-day gift from the hubs back in 2008) is further evidence that I have an animal problem.

Duck After Wide

But seriously, how bad-a$$ is this guy? We love that he’s flying towards the front door. And if the rest of the dining room weren’t full of secret book projects we’d share more panned out pics to show how the dark wood tone picks up on the big chunky dining table nearby. Soon hopefully.

Duck Close Up

Now onto matters of the iron-horse kind. From the start we had plans to hang this equine delight in our bathroom with a towel through the ring. So a year after adopting him for $7 from a Delaware thrift store I finally did. He looks a bit lackluster now because the room is a big white box, but once we get around to painting and tackling some other updates we think he’ll be downright dapper.

Hook 2

It was fun to keep both of these guys au naturel. I mentioned the possibility of painting them both back when we bought them last year, but I think we’re moving into a phase where sometimes we just like things with some texture and some timeworn “patina” (aka: as they are). But you know I’m still no stranger to the ol’ spray paint can, so I think it’s one of those 50/50 things. Ya never know if I’m going to spray paint you or leave you well enough alone (or hide you in the playroom for a year, apparently).

Hook 4

How have we not had a hand towel hook in the hall bathroom for the last year? That’s the main bathroom that all of our visitors use. Yeesh. Glad we finally got on that. Our towel just used to lay in a heap next to the sink, but now it has presence. It has pizzazz. It has animal magnetism.

Hook 5

In summary: our bathroom has 99 problems, but a towel hook ain’t one.

Hook 3

I’ve actually been thinking a lot about the five million upgrades that we’d like to do to this bathroom, so maybe it’ll be next on the ol’ agenda (after we finally finish off the never-ending kitchen makeover). Oh and since folks have been asking if we’ll have anything left to do once the kitchen is done (ha!), here’s just a smattering of the bigger projects that come to mind (along with about a million smaller upgrades/projects as we go):

  • We have not one, not two, but three full bathrooms that are untouched and in dire need of some upgrades
  • We have a sunroom that has seen zero action since the day we halfheartedly plunked random old furniture in there (aka: move-in day)
  • We have an untouched playroom full of pillows, fabric, more animals (?), and goodness knows what else that we’re planning to turn into a useful kids bedroom/playroom
  • We’re going to convert our carport into a garage
  • We’re going to build a pretty major walk-out deck
  • We’re going to paint the porch, remove the scallops, stain the concrete, and box out the columns for a fresher look
  • We’re going to hang crown molding in a bunch of rooms that don’t have it
  • We’re going to add some wainscoting in the hallway (not the frame hallway, the other one that leads to the three other bedrooms than ours)
  • We’re going to refinish our wood floors
  • We have a slew of 30-60%-done rooms that we’d like to someday finish, like the living room, our bedroom, the guest room, the dining room, etc
  • We have a full-blown front yard, side yard, and backyard makeover on the agenda (we like to tackle those slowly over time, like we did at our first house)
  • We want to build some outside entertainment for beansie, in the form of a sandbox and/or a playhouse or playset
  • We want to double side the fireplace between the kitchen and the living room
  • We even daydream about bigger projects down the line, like changing the roof-line to add some peaks to the front of the house (to match the ones in the back, which were added when they did an addition in the 70s)

So yeah, there’s lots to do! But back to the fact that I need Animals Anonymous. Do you think Animal Hoarders is going to show up at my house? If they do, they’ll just get to chat with our house-sitters since we’re currently on a plane to Portland. Haha. The joke’s on them.

Speaking of our currently-in-flight status, we’re most likely going to post the second post of the day a little early (at noon EST during a plane change) and then won’t be available to approve comments between 1-6 EST while we’re on our second leg of the flight, so bear with us if there are only a few comments for five hours and the rest are hanging out in moderation! We moderate so we don’t miss questions (when thousands of contest comments roll in early in the week, it’s easy to lose them otherwise), but they should pop up eventually!

Have you guys finally hung any art or bathroom accessories that you’ve been meaning to hang for, oh, over twelve months? Let’s commiserate.

Comments

  2. Karen F says

    I can’t believe you didn’t paint them! (but they look awesome)

    Have safe travels and have the best time in Portland! You are going to rock their socks off!

    Reply

  3. Celia says

    One of my favorite things about your blog is that sometimes you take pieces that in my head I’m going ‘ick! I would never put that in my house,’ and then you do something with it and I end up loving it. It’s making me realize how bad I am at seeing a finished room out of many many pieces. (I promise this is a compliment, I know sometimes the tone of a comment doesn’t come through once it’s typed!)

    Reply

  8. Sherry from BC says

    Loving the horse especially but I think the wood is a nice mid century touch for you house and the horse just looks lovely. I have a horse and head fetish so that satisfies both for me. I totally get your animal fetish…..I seem to be accumulating horse paintings/sculptures as well as heads of all description….both indoors and out. What does that say about me? I actually finally hung some small encaustic paintings on wood blocks that I had purchased off Etsy some time ago. I had them on my main bathroom window sill for the longest time but just put them up in the hallway on Sunday……whoot whoot! My youngest son who still lives with me, didn’t even notice…..men! He liked them when I pointed them out but he would have gone weeks or more without noticing. Have a great trip!

    Reply

  10. Merideth says

    I forwarded this post to my husband…this was his response: “The tape with the holes is pretty smart. J-dog and Sher-bone seem to know a thing or two.”

    He still hasn’t quite figured out the nicknames :)

    Reply

  11. Amanda says

    Your “Dude Get on That” challenge has totally inspired me – I’ve had piles of frames in the living room for about six months, just waiting for pictures and/or walls. In the last week or so, I’ve hung about thirty (yikes!). Some of them are still empty, but I’ve been Etsy hunting like it’s my job to fill them!! I’ll probably start hoarding frames again soon, since I’m planning a gallery going up the stairs, but I’m waiting for a new BigLots to open near me first. Enjoy Portland!!

    Reply

  12. Cindy says

    Okay, so I love the horse. Really cool looking!!! But the goose…hmm…man, am I anxious to see the rest of the room with it b/c, right now, I am just not getting it. And that has to be a first for me, where you guys are concerned. Anyway, it’s your house and your thing, so good for you! But that brown goose….. :)

    Reply

  13. Kathy W. says

    Your duck reference is timely since you are about to land in the world of the Oregon Ducks!! (I was so excited to point this out to you, until I was reading through the comments and someone pointed out that he is probably a Canada Goose.) But I’ll take the four “duck”s in your header to be a good sign. GO DUCKS!

    It’s not raining (right this second) so hopefully you will get to enjoy some dry time in our gorgeous state. Love your tips on hanging items using tape. And am anxiously awaiting your new cork floor. And from your list of projects, I guess that I will be looking forward to your daily updates for YEARS to come!

    Reply

  14. Wrenaria says

    Have fun in Portland! If I didn’t JUST get back from a NYC trip and have a million things to catch up on at work, I’d totally take an afternoon off to drive up and meet you guys (I’m a little over 1.5 hrs south of Portland).

    You’ll just have to make your way over here again sometime. ;)

    Reply

  16. Larissa says

    Love the 40 year old virgin reference! So many great lines in that movie, but that one is definitely a favorite.

    You guys are going to kick butt in Portland!!!

    Reply

  17. Valerie says

    I’m afraid for the dog… I feel like it’s a bad omen that the birds above the dog.. maybe I’m still sensitive to last weeks ramming…

    Reply

  18. Victoria says

    My husband and I were shopping at home depot and both were in the isle looking at “robe hooks” and saying at the same time that we needed one in our main bath. For five years we have been putting our towel on the toilet or on the floor when we were showering. So we found one and put it up about 2 weeks ago and I love it – I don’t how we ever lived without it. ;) Even when our boys (1 and 3 years) are bathing I use it to hang their towels.

    We are currently working on our downstairs bath and in the last 2 weeks my husband has put in the shower, we had a gentlemen come and tape and mud the bathroom, and we are almost done painting (just a couple touch ups where the ceiling meets the wall). This weekend my husband is planning to work on the flooring. Yeah! We still need to buy a toilet, a vanity, sink and shower curtain. We are trying to finish this room up quickly before March 2…that is when my mom is coming to visit for 10 days! We have been wanting to get this room done it feels like forever, but of course I am exaggerating. We also have a another bathroom to work on as well (our on suite). It will be nice to have two functioning bathrooms when we have visitors staying with us!

    All the best when you get working on your bathrooms! And I just want to say that I love your blog and I enjoy seeing all the little things and the big things you do on your house. I wish you all the best as you finish up your book! Have a great time in Portland!

    Reply

  19. KellyA says

    Three years after moving in I am finally working on the master suite. The short list includes scraping and retexturing the ceiling, painting everything, new baseboards, new lighting, rehanging a photo gallery wall, painting a headboard and replacing two more outlets.

    Then on to the bathroom where I get to tear out the cabinet and countertop, add the pedestal sink, replace the toilet, add beadboard, replace the flooring, replace the light, create some storage, and hang a shower curtain from ceiling to floor (an idea I stole from your first house!).

    Y’all are definitely in the fun stage, seeing and enjoying projects that are done and beautiful with more fun challenges ahead to tackle.

    Reply

  21. Amy H. says

    S & J,

    Hope your trip West was un-eventful. I will be at your seminar tomorrow, and can’t wait!

    We would love to show you around Rejuvenation if you have a chance to slip away for a bit. Ask for me or give me a shout out to make sure I am around, via e-mail or call.

    Amy Hekker
    Trade Sales and Community Marketing Specialist
    503-740-0778 (cell)

    Reply

  22. Audrey Moore says

    Your are flying to my town today!!! When I found out you were coming to P-town I almost peed my pants (not that I’m an estranged stalker or anything I just really enjoy your blog). But bummer of all bummers I can’t come to the meet and greet. Anyway I hope you have a fabulous time while you are over here and I will be looking forward to hearing about all the fun thing you did.

    Audrey

    Reply

  23. Liz F says

    BAHAHAHAHA Kelly Clarkson!!! It took me a sec to realize what you meant…and then I about died from laughing! PHEW! Love the duck (erm, goose; your title keeps throwing me off), love love love it!

    Reply

  24. Luisa says

    Welcome to my hometown! Don’t be put off by the bland surroundings of the Convention Center. Make sure you hit Mississippi Ave, Division Street, Belmont, the Pearl, parts of Hawthorne and Belmont, and Sellwood. That is a tall order but will give you a good dose of Portlandia.

    Reply

  26. sue says

    you two are about as cute as they come… i read your posts daily, without fail, so will challenge myself to acquire some patience whilst you’re away… best of luck with everything that comes your way!

    Reply

  27. Lauren says

    So this is delayed, but I just thought of something about your headline of this particular post. I’m originally from Wisconsin, however moved and now live here in Minneapolis with my Minnesotan husband. We have had many arguments as to which way the game goes… “Duck, duck…GOOSE!” OR (the strange Minnesotan way)”Duck, duck….GREY DUCK!) It’s so ridiculous and funny to me. Who yells out GREY duck?!? I love that it’s GOOSE for you guys, I knew I could always count on you guys, from day one. :) Keep on blogging, you’re my daily routine!

    Reply

  28. Diane says

    OK, you two are just a bit too (animal) GAME-y for me, but I was SURE you’d paint that duck and I’d love it! OOPS. So if you’re taking votes, paint the duck and leave the horse head natural.

    I think I’m starting to feel that wild side and may need to go hunting soon myself …(certainly not for more puns!)

    Enjoy your quick trip!

    Reply

  30. Katie Jo says

    Hey! I have a pair of those same geese that I found in my Grandma’s basement!!! I need to find a place for them around here!

    I just re-decorated my bathroom this past weekend with mistint paint and a fun shelf organizer with jelly jars screwed into the board. It was made for my grandpa by my great-great uncle several years ago and used to house nuts and bolts and now houses cotton balls and q-tips! I love the rustic look with the bold paint! Any-who…I read on one of my blogs that if you do not have time to clean the entire house before company comes, to clean your bathroom because that is the only place that they will be without the distraction of food or entertainment! Just a thought when jumping into your next project!

    Reply

  32. Koliti says

    Well you know what they say…the first step is admitting you have a problem. Rest assured – yours is perfectly creative and no one gets hurt! I was deeply saddened to read about your recently departed ceramic-loved-ones. Have you ever thought of turning your loss into something positive? How about ceramic-animal-body-part donation? That’s right – save all of those interesting parts of previous animals and Frankenstein them together into a new totally unique creature that you can spray-paint. Thus bringing two passions together in one awesome package.

    Reply

  33. Steph N says

    I love the horse, but I worry that damp towels + iron animal= rust stains. I’ve used a clear matte sealer on rusty iron to prevent it from getting everywhere; that might be worth considering for this.

    Reply

  34. Dustin says

    My husband has to do this a lot to attatch power strips to the wall for computers. He takes a piece of paper, and pokes the holes in the paper where the screws need to be placed, sometimes, will put lines on where the sides of the power strip will be, and then puts it on the wall, and marks it on the wall with a pencil once he has it where he wants it. So much easier than the painters tape! :D

    Reply

  35. Shirley says

    I have an embarrassing number of pieces not hung because husband hates putting nails in wall only to take them down if I change my mind. Unfortunately they are large and heavy so command strips will be of no help. The saddest one is my wedding bouquet that I had preserved and dried in a large shadow box that has still not found a home. I spent a fortune getting it done and then redone (it was done poorly the first time hence the re-do) I’m also not 100% happy with how the preservation went (they were lilies and I think they waited too long, either that or I’m not sure they can dry nicely) I hate to throw it out because of the sentimental value and $$$ invested. :(

    Reply

  36. Trina says

    Okay, so I had to share this tip with you. Yes, it IS indeed life changing.

    Take your item to be hung. Get some toothpaste. Dab a little where the item would hang (on the hook or on the picture wire (pulled taught), or on the wood frame itself. Hold the item out from the wall until you eyeball where you want it and then press it into the wall. When you pull it away, you’ll see wonderful little dabs of toothpaste that represent where the nails should go. (I KNOW, right?)

    It won’t work with all frames, but most are perfect for this trick.

    Enjoy! (and feel free to share)

    Trina

    PS I have a design business here in Nova Scotia and keep toothpaste in my tool-bag of tricks. :)

    Reply

  38. jenn says

    wasn’t sure about goosey being au natural but I kind of love it. The grey walls soften it so it’s not so “hello i’m from the 70s.”

    Reply

  40. Sandy P says

    Best Pintrest tip ever? Put a little blob of toothpaste on the hanger of your wall art. When you find the right spot, press against the wall and the toothpaste marks the right spot for your nail/hanger. Genius, huh? I tend to use the toothpaste when I’m upstairs and I’m lazy so I use peanut butter downstairs. Pass it on!

    Reply

  41. Karen @ Paperfancy.com says

    Hi fellow Richmonders,
    Love your fun blog and congrats on your great press. Also love that horse head towel holder!
    Karen
    Paperfancy.com

    Reply

  42. Ericka says

    I was watching HGTV (Color Splash, I think) and the head designer used 35 animal heads in black and white all on one wall. Of course I thought of you! And apparently, they are “so in right now”. So good job on being ahead of the times and maybe they will be easier to find! :) Love your blog and can’t wait for the book!

    Reply

  44. Amber says

    We just finally hung up our wall of framed pics we’ve been hoarding for a while. I can’t lie, It looks awesome. That coupled with the curtains we finally put up, our downstairs just got way more inviting. It is so nice to have that marked ofd the to do list.

    Reply

  45. holly says

    Hi! I’m sort of new to your blog so you may have already mentioned it, but where did you find the curtain panels in this post? They are gorgeous and I need them!

    Reply

  47. Kiki says

    You had me at double side the fireplace. Okay, you had me before that, as that phrase was at the end of the post. Can’t wait to hear about that one! I’ve always wondered how doable that was and love those kinds of fireplaces. I’m sure that may wait until before next winter, but I’ll be excited until then!

    Reply

  49. Livvy says

    The horse towel hook is very cute & I can see why you were drawn to it…however, that goose needs to fly on out the front door. I think seeing it hanging above the large dog is a bit odd, to say the least.

    Reply

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