DIY: Bathroom Storage as Art Installation

In her combined art gallery and home in Antwerp, Veerle Wenes is always looking for the cross-over between design, art, and functional objects—even in her bathroom.

Wenes commissioned Belgian artists Ann Vereecken and Jeroen Worst of Studio Simple, whose work she frequently exhibits in her gallery, Valerie Traan, to create a bathroom with madcap storage made from old cabinets, mirrors, and dressers found in a thrift shop and then painted white. If you are short on time or thrift shops, you could always mix in a few online salvage companies or eBay finds with basics from from Ikea; the key is to have a variety of shapes and sizes.

Above: Studio Simple lined three walls of Wenes’ bathroom with old cabinets, dressers and mirrors that they found in a thrift shop and painted white. The effect is that of a functional art installation. See Living with Art: Galerist Veerle Wenes at Home in Antwerp for more on Valerie Traan. Photograph by Tim Van de Velde via Dwell.

Above: Ikea carries pieces in untreated solid wood which makes for easier painting. The Tarva Nightstand has an open shelf that adds to the variety in the mix; $39.99.

Above: The Tarva 3 Drawer Chest; $79.99.

Above: The Ivar Cabinet comes in two heights; 12″ and 20″; $80 and $90.

Above: The Ivar 3 Drawer Chest; $125.

Above: The Rast 3 Drawer Chest; $34.99.

Above: Architectural salvage companies typically hold stock of Vintage Glazed Cabinets like this one from UK company Lassco; £275.

Above: A quick search for Vintage Bathroom Cabinets on eBay revealed these two from $40 – $100.

We’re convinced that good storage is the key to domestic happiness. See 832 images of Storage Solutions in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.