TA-DA! Bathroom Debut

It's finally DONE! :) :) :) :)

And we're really, really, really pleased with how it turned out. Just as a refresher, here are some BEFORE pics...

Yuck, right?

And, after a complete gutting, taking down a wall, building a new wall, moving the toilet, all new wiring, replacing the window, adding crown moulding, a shower, new pedestal sink/toilet, (new plumber), insulating, drywalling, tiling, painting, etc. etc. etc....HERE are the AFTER pics (yay yay yay yay yay!!!)

And so, with the completion of our first major DIY home improvement project, here are some Major Lessons Learned:

1) Expect the Unexpected. Especially in an older house. Seriously, just erase the phrase "All we have to do is...(fill in the blank)" from your brain, because really that's not ALL you'll have to do. Oh, and your timeline estimate? Triple it.

2) Work in Tandem! Steven and I started out by working on different projects in the house, thinking that that approach would accelerate the overall progress. Never again. Things go so much more smoothly and quickly when you combine forces--and momentum is SO KEY to maintaining our morale.

3) Don't Get TOO Crazy About the Budget. We stressed about whether to splurge on the chair rail tile waaaaay too much. In the end, it was an integral part of getting the look we wanted and worth every penny. I think maybe the key is to identify what is essential to the "vision" (faucet, pedestal sink, chair rail, showerhead) and what really doesn't have that same impact (like the ceiling fan, towel bar, or shower pan) and spend accordingly, without sacrificing quality, of course.

Note to self: Read these before starting the next project!

Are You Kidding Me!?!?

My friends, incompetence is all around us. Just take a look at this picture:

We thought we were ready to put up the wall tiles, but right before mixing up some thinset, Steven (luckily) decided to double check that everything was kosher with the shower valve, as he'd been giving it the side eye since putting the cement board up.

Sure enough, it was installed incorrectly and is sticking out about 1" farther than it should be. This is our plumber's 3rd strike (I absolutely loathe him) and when we had him come by to confirm our diagnosis, he wasn't even remotely apologetic or accountable. Steven couldn't even pin him down and get him to say that it was installed incorrectly...closest this guy would come was to say "ayuh, it's sticking out too far". Uhhhh, okay, thanks for that.

Soooo...that's the latest on the bathroom :(

Floor Tile Is IN!

Our friend Tom, who recently did an awesome job renovating his new home, was kind enough to bring up his tile saw yesterday and help Steven install the bathroom floor. It's IN!!! I love it, and can't wait to see the rest of the room come together...

*so FOCUSED*

*the dry run*

*now with thinset*

*all done!*

Blog Crush

I came across the A Country Farmhouse blog this past week and fell in love. Talk about living the dream! The blog is all about a couple who bought a horribly wood-paneled and crooked farmhouse somewhere in the pacific northwest, in the BEAUTIFUL countryside, and then renovated it into a lovely, light and bright, cozy home. And when the author, Trina, is not writing about the home renovation, she's detailing a charming life full of fresh flowers, mountain views, and elk migrating through her yard.

Here are some of my favorite images from this inspiring blog:

(her adorable dog taking a swim in the lake)

(her kitchen BEFORE)

(her kitchen AFTER)

(bathroom BEFORE)

(bathroom AFTER)

(I felt so encouraged when I saw this pic of her husband installing the same floor tile we just purchased! Silly of me, but I felt like it was a good sign!)

(sigh)

(The reality of this woman's "outdoor dining" stuns me. This is her front porch.)

(rustic, yet light & airy. love it.)

So I don't have a mountain view and I don't live in the country. So what? Fresh flowers, natural light, beautiful home? It's doable, right?

The Great Tile Debate

We spent 3 1/2 hours getting tile on Saturday, and not because we selected some obscure specialty tile that's difficult to acquire. It simply took that long to first compare the offerings of Lowe's and Home Depot, then make the call between the 1" hexagon tiles and a similar option, THEN find 40 square feet of tile from the same lot (to avoid color discrepancies). All told, we went to 3 different Lowe's and 1 Home Depot.

For the floor, we selected a soft white "octagon dot" mosaic tile that is very similar to the 1" hexagon tiles we originally wanted, but a better deal. In fact, the hexagon tile in ceramic cost twice as much as the octagon dot in porcelain. I'll gladly trade a subtle visual difference for a higher quality product at 1/2 the price.

Sample image of the octagon dot floor tile (notice the light gray wall grout):

Octagon Dot tile close up:

Small hex tile close up:

Different product, similar overall effect.

We also picked up the wall tile, a 3"x6" white subway tile. And herein lies the debate...

WHITE GROUT...

OR GRAY GROUT???

Steven and I are split on this, so feel free to weigh in. If it affects your decision, we'll be using a light oyster shell gray for the floor. And while you're at it, feel free to tell me that chair rail cap tile is so striking that it's worth the extra cost ($4.75 per tile vs. $1 for a plain cap tile)

I love it, but is it justifiable? (And notice the white wall grout!)

To be continued...