Little House on the Prairie: A Doggone Bathroom for Boys

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"Laura knew that wolves would eat little girls.  But she was safe inside the solid log walls.  Her father's gun hung over the door and good old Jack, the brindle bulldog, lay on guard before it.  Her father would say: 'Go to sleep, Laura.  Jack won't let the wolves in.'  So Laura snuggled under the covers of the trundle bed, close beside Mary, and went to sleep."

Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods

We have a dog, but she's nothing like Jack the bulldog.  She's a black lab, her name is Sascha, and she would let anything into our home---especially wolves---as long as they patted her first.  She is 13 years old now, and it took her 12 of those years, some cataracts, and acute arthritis to stop jumping up on people.  Yes, most of Sascha's misbehavior is my own fault.  I'm no dog whisperer, after all.  What matters is that the boys adore her, and she adores them.

A few months ago, Sascha had a massive seizure.  We took her to the vet who looked at her test results and explained that our sweet old dog had a brain tumor.  At her age, surgery isn't a viable option, either financially or practically as the doctor didn't see her making it through the operation.  So we bundled our brown-eyed girl into the car and brought her home to die.  

For the next few days, the entire family kept vigil at her side.  The boys drew her pictures and read her stories.  My husband sat next to her on the floor, stroked her fur, and talked to her in the voice he uses with babies.  As for me, I didn't quite know how to make peace with the animal who had dug up my hydrangeas on a regular basis, who would sneak food off of my dining table, and who dragged me behind her on a leash for all of those years.  In the end, I sat down next to her in the laundry room and told her how much I appreciated her being my children's beloved dog.  In that quiet moment, I realized that she and I shared a common purpose: to mother and protect a houseful of boys.  I then proceeded to blubber and spill my heart out to a dog who really just needed to sleep.  But at least I had made my peace.  We prepared ourselves for the possibility that our dog wouldn't make it through the night.

Well, that was months ago and Sascha seems to have stolen a sip from the fountain of youth.  (We like to think that God heard at least one of the 3.7 bazillion prayers that my children offered up in Sascha's behalf.)  Yesterday, she escaped from the yard and we found her in an obliging field where she was chasing insects.  I'm not sure how long our dog will be with us, but in honor of her and her eventual memory, I redecorated my little boys' bathroom in a dog-friendly theme.   

Here is the before and after.  Before, the room was serene bordering on boring---not quite the right feel for busy and energetic boys.  After, it is a fun-filled room that's perfect for kids of the "snips and snails and puppy dog tails" variety.

I found this adorable print at TJ Maxx and used it as the inspiration for the room.  In a pinch for cash, I opted to put this red basket on the wall as convenient toilet paper storage above the toilet in lieu of shelves.

I sewed a wide-striped shower curtain to mimic the scarf on the dog in the inspiration print.  I love the fresh, happy feel it brings to the room.  The letters above the shower were on clearance at a local arts and crafts store.  I wanted to spell the word "Splash" or "Bath," but they were fresh out of the letter "H."  I had to settle with the word "Soap."  (Never a bad reminder for little boys . . . )

I found this hardware for a steal at Hobby Lobby and knew it had to go on the cabinets.

I spruced up the brass light fixture with a few layers of black spray paint.

I couldn't pass up this adorable piece of vintage looking hardware.  I thought it would be the perfect hand towel holder to the right of the sink.

A few fresh towels, a budget rug, and another fun dog print later, and we have a whole new bathroom.  It has such a fun vibe that I almost don't mind scrubbing the toilet in there . . . almost.

Project Budget

Shower Curtain Fabric and Rings  $25

Decorative Hardware/Towel Holder  $13

Art Prints   $19

Basket  $4

Towels  $10

Letters  $8

Rug  $7

A whole new bathroom for $86 . . . Now that's a doggone deal if you ask me.  Sascha will probably outlive the life of this bathroom, but for now, it's a happy little reminder of man's best friend.

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