Flummoxed! What to do about these pipes in the bathroom?

Question

Bathroom renovation - the pipes cannot be (re)moved.

Kini · Answer

I'm guessing you want to hide them!  My first thought is to paint them to match your wall and your tile to blend them in.  2nd would to be to make them stand out with an industrial feel.  Or funk them up with with pool noodles, washi tape, bright paint etc.

Chris aka monkey · Answer

@Trevi i think the cheapest and easiet way to cover them would be a 3 sided wood box, do all your painting etc. first, then just make a three sided box that can have hooks for robes or towels hope this helps xx

Janet Pizaro · Answer

I think this site is your answer for ideas. http://www.carpentry-tips-and-tricks.com/Pipe-Boxing.html

Donna L. Woods-Clements · Answer

Industrial is so 'in' now, why not clean them up, & find or make some long wrap-around hooks that would hold towels or robes behind the door? You could probably even find an old plumber who could tell you how to 'connect' them with couplings & copper pipe to make ladder-like connections between them.

CK · Answer

They look a little 'tired' right now but......Think of it this way, they are original to the house, they still have a purpose so work with them. Here are a couple of ideas---
1. Remove existing paint down to the original pipe. Leave as is.
2. After removing paint, paint with a high shine metallic paint the same color you'll be using as your faucets (e.g. shiny chrome)
3. Paint the same color as the wall paint you'll use so as to 'disguise' them.

There are some things with old homes that look odd but are still necessary. Embrace their story as part of your home :-)

Dave Pieper · Answer

enclose them with two sides or box them in .

Jean Myles · Answer

I agree with Chris aka monkey, Box them in and add some decorative hook, There are so many fun hooks out there to chose from.Match the baseboard at the bottom.And some small molding to the top or if you put crown molding in the room to tie it in..Good luck .

MN Mom · Answer

It appears as though you have an older home or apartment. Personally I like the vintage look. Can the pipes be cleaned up or painted? I agree with Donna and her comment of industrial style being popular. I think boxing them in would draw more attention to them and may possibly inhibit the ability to fully open your bathroom door .

Carole · Answer

If you are re-tiling the bathroom I would go with white tile and clean and paint the pipes white. They will blend in and hardly be noticeable, especially since they seem to be behind a door. I would not make a feature of them as it really depends on the style of the bathroom and the home in general as to whether that will work or just look a bit odd. Just my own opinion.

Sherry Fram · Answer

Paint them to match the wall or enclose them.

Sandra · Answer

I too think boxing them in is the right thing to do.  They make styrofoam beams and that might be the easiest way to do it. Well, not styrofoam, but some sort of plastic. They can be painted however you like.  Not sure they are heavy enough to put hooks on. And remember, you need something that can be moved if there happens to be a leak. Let us know what you decide.

Kathy Owen | Petticoat Junktion · Answer

Box them in like Chris said.

User · Answer

wow i could paint in gold to highlight and give a special look

Michelle · Answer

Option one take painters tape and create some kind of line design and paint, then remove tape. Are the pipes hot if so be careful what material you use , try creating a narrow vertical box wth a slim hinge door so you have access

Becky · Answer

I would definitely try to do something fun with them, boxing them away would be a shame. Maybe paint them silver or pewter for an industrial look or attach horizontal plumbing pipe to it and make a towel rack?!?

Bernice H · Answer

I think they are unique. So many fun and interesting things to do. Paint them,then paint ivy or flowers up and around. Maybe intersperse cute sayings or proverbs. In other words ,make them fun and whimsical...they are unique. They can be a star ....

Sarah A. Victory · Answer

Paint them and leave them be or build a three sided box around them. Add some hooks for bathroom necessities to disguise them.

Capernius · Answer

if they can be removed, then do so...
if not, can they be rerouted? 
can they be moved to the inside of the wall?
if the pipes get hot, or even warm, build a box around them but with some kind of ventilation to allow the heat to escape which will help heat the room in the winter...

Rus1058682 · Answer

Paint them brown and add craft-store vines to give it a tropical look. Just don't overdo it with the vines.

Tracy C · Answer

If they are like the ones in my son's co-op, they get hot. Removal is not an option. I am going to have a tinsmith make a circular column out of sheet metal (not sure what you call it but it's the stuff they use for panels in front of a radiator cover - there are a few different colors and designs and different preforatioins for ventilation - available at Home Depot & Lowes). This will be about 1' away from the stack with spacers and secured to the floor and ceiling with flanges. Since the new cover will have preforations we will add a few small hooks to hang wet towels - a good place to dry them in a small bathroom!

Jeanette S · Answer

This is hard to answer not knowing what they are hot!? If no heat problem, just clean them up a little and play into the 'industrial look' by making some small shelves out of galvanized pipe...leaving everything natural or painting it a color of your choice and then accenting with that color in bathroom. That 4' of space behind the door can be used for storing toliet paper, boxes of tissues, shampoo bottles, etc. Take the labels off veggie cans and make small 'metal' bins for holding razors, extra small items. Let your imagination loose and make it fun!

Allinthefamilysingers · Answer

I like them HIGH LITE em and show em off put a hanging vine and maake a trellis or it wont take much to box em off if u like.A lso a good idea is to take a paper core like UPHOLSTER fabric or rug comes on and make a column and then decorate the CARDBOARD ROLLcore... u can decoupage it with your favorite paper or i saw where some crafters mosaic the paper core and make beautiful stained glass columns. very pretty idea. GOOD LUCK DHALL

Lindy · Answer

Box them in with MDF but with the ability to remove or open (hidden hinges) if need be. They can have crown molding around them and end up looking more like a pillar than pipes. If they are hot it's more than likely from hot water and not heating.

Johnchip · Answer

I would simply learn to live with them after cleaning them up and refinishing them with some metallic paint finish and use the same to accent some other things in the bathroom. Steam punk away!

Lynne Boyd Almstrom · Answer

I would build a storage area behind the door. Box in the pipes and then put shelving next to it for TP, small items stored in those nice apothecary jars you can get at the home stores. You wont even notice the boxed in section.

Patty S · Answer

You have all answered in the way I would have. I like Jeanette's idea the best

Em · Answer

box in the pipes and put another one on the other side to match a short distance away
put up shelving in between and decorate with items or face clothes stacked and soaps

Jeanette S · Answer

This is the kind of shelf I was talking about...it ties in with the other pipes! You can glue small strips across the front and ends to hold items on the shelves! Make them as long as you need them!

Trevi · Answer

I'm going to leave them as they are with their surface stripped of the old paint that was off-gassing, and use the rings below as heated-towel rings: http://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-YT-RING7-Snap-On-Plant/dp/B004KPL096/ref=pd_bxgy_86_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MQQW2ATYRFWD1TK66YT

Rae · Answer

I can so relate! I have been living with these for years in all the rooms in our basement. Lots of good ideas here.

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