What Is This 4/12/08 Answer

The winner this round is.....
Glenda!

She guessed correctly that it was a toilet paper holder.


Who'da thought I'd be writing about toilet paper? Not toilet paper per se, but the holder itself. If I had my choice, I'd go and buy any of the fantastic easily mounted-on-the wall type of holders. However, with my bathroom walls covered in porcelain tile, my choices are limited.

The TP holder that came with the house is a plain Jane chrome recessed one. I swear I've spent hours searching online for a recessed toilet paper holder. One wouldn't think it'd be such a difficult task. I'm here to tell you VERY FEW places sell recessed TP holders, let alone ones that are decorative in nature.

A few weeks ago, I found an antique brass one at an Ace Hardware store about 40 minutes from my house, so I picked one up when I took my niece shopping. When I got it home and looked at it in the bathroom, I found that it was too dark so I ended up taking it back last weekend.

Several months ago, I read about Habitat for Humanity ReStores. They're retail outlets for gently used building materials and home appliances. The store I went to wasn't very big, but I was surprised at some of the things they had. Imagine my surprise when I saw that they had not one, but 4-5 recessed TP holders. Some were still in the packaging. I left the store without anything because the one I liked wasn't the right color.

Half a block away, a light bulb went on in my head... I could paint it to match the mirror I refinished last month! For $2, I got this:

Not only did I support Habitat for Humanity, I reduced waste and use of resources by purchasing something second-hand. I also saved myself about $16, if not more. Since the piece that actually holds the TP is plastic, I'm going to switch it out with the metal one on my other holder.

The metal border was a bit corroded. So I set to work... First, I disassembled and cleaned everything. I primered and painted everything. The decorative border looked great!

Then.....


Like a dummy, I used the power drill to try and screw the plastic piece back on to the border. Just a TAD too strong because the entire thing flipped out of my hands and hit the kitchen floor. I imagine there was a mixture of horror and outright disbelief at what laid in PIECES. Yup, the plastic part shattered!

So much for my matching TP holder. I'm hoping one day to find another plastic part, or an entire holder like it that isn't too expensive.


Congratulations to Glenda in MT for guessing correctly!


Other winners of previous What Is This contests:
• Patty Smith in Canada
• Anita Sorrells in Illinois
• Cindy Smith in Illinois