DIY Bathroom Projects

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Leni Pinyan made this toiletries holder using and off-the-shelf shadow box and flea market chain. Photo By Douglas Merriam

Read the original article, "Natural Home & Garden Bathroom of the Year 2009: My Own Private Grotto."

Hide your toothbrush! 

Leni Pinyan made this toiletries holder using an off-the-shelf shadow box and chain she found at a flea market. She hung it over an outlet so she can charge her toothbrush while keeping it out of sight.

Materials:
Shadow box or any wall-mountable box deep enough to hold your toiletries (you can often find these used at thrift stores and refinish with low-VOC finish or paint)
Heavy-duty wire cutters
Metal hanger
Electric drill
Small-link chain (available through jewelry suppliers)

1. Affix shadow box over wall outlet, making sure the outlet is directly behind the area that will hold your appliance.

2. Cut the metal clothes hanger to the width of the shadow box with an additional 1/8 inch on each side to insert into the box sides. Drill holes at the top of the shadowbox’s interior sides to insert the clothes hanger. This will be your “curtain rod.”

3. Measure the height necessary for the chains to reach the bottom of the shadowbox. Give yourself a 1 to 2 link allowance. (It’s better to cut extra links off rather than discard a strand that’s too short.)

4. Thread strands onto hanger wire.

5. Install wire, with chain, onto the shadowbox. 

6. Cut off extra chain links that prevent the chain curtain from “hanging up” on the bottom edge of the shadowbox. The curtain should freely swing to allow you to reach through and remove the appliance.