Take the Gold Out

When we decided to be houseboaters, we looked at new and used boats. We decided for us a used boat would be the best for starters.  The one thing that was a constant on all the used boats we looked at was the gold. It was everywhere! So we set out to bring it up to date with rubbed bronze and wood.

Shower Enclosure

This is the first decision you will have to make. Is it gold, silver or bronze. If its and older boat chances are its gold or silver. If it's silver you can still bring it up to date with some simple décor. If it gold it's got to go. You can mix gold and silver by replacing the faucet handles with brushed nickel. Also the toilet paper holder and towel bars can be purchased in a gold and brushed nickel combination. This will tie the gold shower enclosure in with your décor.  If its bronze you like you can change the lights, faucet and towel bars and simple paint the shower enclosure trim bronze. The mirror is a little different. If you want to update the gold around the mirror, you can purchase a frame kit at your local home improvement store that is a peel and stick product, made to look like a wood frame. If you are handy with a miter saw you can buy wood that is already stamped or carved with a design, cut it to size, stain it and seal it. Use liquid nail to attach it to the mirror and your bathroom it done.

Knobs and Handles

The easiest fix was the knobs. Try to be consistent throughout the boat. It's a small space compared to a house and if you start putting different accent it will look choppy. Count the knobs you will need for the whole boat. If you are replacing handles, make sure you replace them with the same width between screws. To redrill drawers or cabinet doors is a task. Look online for your items. I found my knobs for a fraction of the price than I could buy them at our local home improvement store. Order all your knobs and handles at the same time. This will cut the cost per item as well as shipping. When you take off your old knobs and handles SAVE THE SCREWS!! None of the screws that came with my new knobs were long enough. This can be a fun thing for the kids to make them feel like it's their boat to.

Soffit

The last little bit of Vegas left in your boat is the gold trim around the ceiling or the soffit. From shear trial and error my advice to you is to paint it.

1.      Pick a color that matches to wood tones in your boat.

2.      Have the paint mixed at your local paint store using the profit shot technique from a color sample you have brought from your boat.

3.      Tape the top and bottom slipping the tape just under the edge of the gold trim your about to paint.

4.      Use a paint brush to apply the paint. Let the paint dry completely before you remove the tape.

You're done.

Aunt Merri says its as simple as that.