Tiles and Tribulations

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I've spent the better part of this weekend, sprawled around a vintage commode, trying to improve the sorry state of my bathroom walls. 

The paint on the walls was barely attached, and I was able to remove quite a lot of it with a carefully deployed razor blade. 

The trick is to remove the loose paint without damaging the plaster "tiles."  

After the wall is cleaned up, I masked around half the "tiles" so that they could be selectively resurfaced. 

I'm applying a custom mix of joint compound, white glue, and paint. It's something I've used for years in theatrical construction. My goal is to smooth out the irregularities in the surface with a material that's strong, relatively waterproof, and somewhat flexible. I'm putting on a remarkably thin coat. The white squares have been "schmooed" and the first pass of masking tape has been removed. I'll repeat the process, evening out all the times, before I start painting. 

Meanwhile, Robb has been examining our fancy "new" green toilet. We have never swapped out a toilet before, which just adds to the fun. 

Anyone who has any great advice about maneuvering antique commodes into tight spaces is more than welcome to stop by to help.