By james art A home DIY project isn’t just about mind-blowing transformations: reinventing your space takes time, money, resources and the right know-how—and completing any kind of DIY task should be celebrated. But when content creator Ben Broad posted his recent before and after, his revelation was met with shade. Lots of shade.
Broad set out to transform her modern bathroom into an ‘antique and rustic’ space – all for under £1,000. To do this, the DIYer used chicken wire mesh and lots of plaster to create the illusion of a shabby chic stone vanity and mirror. After applying a thick layer, Broad carved out very fine details to mimic the wear and tear of brick. “Seamless toilet mitres were very difficult to achieve,” he wrote in the caption. Of course, there are bound to be splashes in the bathroom, so he coated the sink and splash guard with epoxy for a waterproof touch.
For some design-minded Instagram users, the results were astounding… just not in the way Broad had imagined. “I hate this more than anything,” one person commented. “Must be a joke,” speculated another. “No person on earth worth their salt thinks this looks good.” A third even said it looked like a bathroom from “some theater or amusement park.” “Straight out of Sims 4,” quipped another.
Between the faux brick details, the palette of yellows and browns, and what many call “uncleanable” materials, this bathroom is certainly not for everyone. However, many Instagram users were quick to defend Broad: The bathroom decor may not be to your taste, but you can’t deny his work. “I don’t like it, but I absolutely have to respect it,” one person commented. “Unreal skills,” one person commented. Meanwhile, others praised his “artistry and talent.”
After all, isn’t that what interior design is all about? No room project or DIY is going to be for everyone, but instead of bashing someone’s taste, we can appreciate the joy their home brings. While great design is subjective, Broad isn’t too concerned about shade to his space. “Not everyone loves a cup of tea, but I love the rustic brick look in bathrooms,” he wrote in the caption. “It’s a feature wall and there’s a lot more to come in the other areas with cool finishes!”
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