Bathroom Reveal

It all started when I found this vanity.  I thought I'd use it to do this... 

Simple remodel. Remove the double vanity... replace with single.. gain space

Yea right~!

Ended up ripping out EVERYTHING, replacing joists (all of them), all subfloor, new vinyl, new walls, etc..

It was tricky because we couldn't remove the clawfoot tub down the 24" hallway.  So we had to rip out half the floor, replace everything.. then move the clawfoot to the "new" side and replace the other side. 

Some process.

In moving the clawfoot around, I realized it would work  much better on the "vanity" wall. So I rearranged the  plumbing to accomidate.

So... without further ado...

I made the door myself out of the old door. I cut a hole in the middle, frosted plexiglass... put moulding around and added custom vinyl decal. And now it's a pocket door.  (I'll post a "How To" later)

The sink got moved to the tub pluumbing area.  So much more spacious!

The large mirror right as you walk in is the old vanity mirror that was horizontal.  I glued it onto some hardboard, let it sit for 72 hours.  Then I screwed the exposed hardboard into studs then trimmed out the rest.   The tub still needs a D shape clawfoot rod and curtains, 

and a glass shelf over the toilet.  

But it's been 7 weeks and my husband is done having a construction zone.

COLORS

The tub and vanity

Behr Eucalyptus Leaf

The upper wall in Satin

Behr Aqua Breeze

And the beadboard and all trim in semi-gloss

Behr Swiss Coffee

Making the faucet fit

I was so excited when I got my faucet in the mail from CSN.  I got THIS one.

It called for a 4" holes and that is what mine were, so I thought it'd be fine.

But what I had was (3) 1" holes... and what I mainly needed was just a single 1.5" hole in the middle.  With the water supply lines and the screw to secure it, it just wouldn't come close to fitting.  I could dress all the kids (30 minutes), load them into the car (10 minutes), drive to Home Depot (20 minute), unload the kids (5 minutes), buy a 1.5" carbide bit (15 minutes + $20), drive home (20 minutes), and unload the kids (10 minutes).  That's almost 2 HOURS!!! (and $20 plus gas) So I just decided to use what I had.

I do not own a hack saw... shameful,  I know. 

So I took my wood saw and SLOWLY sawed 1/8" deep into the porcelan.  This took about 30 minutes but it seriously felt like forever, especially when 30 minutes = 1/8" progress!  

That's ONE HOUR and  $0.  A much better choice!

Then I could start chipping away with my wood chisel, I know, fully equipped with all the RIGHT tools (**rolls eyes**) This took another 30 minutes and was quite messy with porcelain chips flying EVERYWHERE. I went about half way down, then turned it upside-down and started chipping from the bottom.

I sanded the edges and there you have it... ugly as can be!

But the faucet now FITS... and you can't see any ugliness at all.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this faucet, so old fashioned looking. All the old fashioned looking ones I would find had  cold and hot levers. With kids, I am just afraid they would only turn on the hot and scald their lil' hands.  So, I can't wait to get it all hooked up!

And I'm waiting for my February remodeling budget allotment, which is why the walls are still lacking drywall and beadboard. 

Love me some TV

In our house, we have one 32" LCD tv in our living room.  That is all.  Not that we are against more, we just have been putting our money towards the bathroom instead.  So... since the boys bedroom is right on the other side of the living room wall, the tv get turned off as soon as they are in bed, 8:00pm.

We really need a tv in our bedroom.  But right now, I just watch movies on the iPad (currently on Season 3 of Prison Break via Netflix) and Stephen watches movies on his iMacBook  or works late.  I really like the idea of corner TV stands because our bedroom has such a weird layout.

I like this one but it needs to be higher. I'd probably add legs to it to raise it up an extra 12".

I just want to start watching my shows instead of being stuck watching whatever movies are on instant netflix. We will probably be moving our 32" to the bedroom once we remodel the living room, add the fireplace and get a bigger 42" for above the fireplace.  Our living room is so small, 12x14, anything larger than 42" would just be tacky.

I love the look of this one (tv is a little too  big) but old world cottage feel.

And the frame built around this one.

Does anyone know where you are suppose to put the dvd player and cable box.  I want it hidden.. but where?

Bathroom Insanity

Remodeling so VERY slooooow when you are the only one working on it (ok Stephen helped with the demo)... and you have 3 kids, all 4 and under... and another one on the way.

We got the floors completely ripped out... all the way to the "joists"... they were actually 2x4's.

Fixed them with 2x6's and proper blocking

Then... turned around... had to move the 30" wide tub that wouldn't fit out the 24" door, to the new floor and repeat on the other side.

Remove flooring and 2x4 "joists"... look at nasty rotten wood, figure out to to "repair it"

Replace with 2x6 joists and blocking

And then add subfloor.  We did 2 layers of 1/2", to keep level with the hallway.. then 1 layer of 1/4" birch plywood that had to be perfectly leveled and smooth .... screw holes had to be filled and sanded, along with joint cracks.

We had to cut the 12' wide vinyl to be 5'9".  Carter (4.5) and August (2.5) were big helpers. We didn't have much space so we had to cut 3' at a time.. then roll it up, then roll 3' more out to cut... repeat for 12'.

Vinyl over my beautiful birch plywood.  Perfectly smooth

Publish Post

Got the toilet installed and still waiting on the faucet for the sink.

Now for the outlet moving, switch moving, sliding pocket door installation, drywall, beadboard, paint, trim.  I'm Tired!

We are having a baby _ _ _ _ !

I had my 18 week ultrasound and the baby was VERY cooperative. 

So we are going to have another baby GIRL!!! She measured right on track for everything 18 weeks, 3 days.  My perfect lil' sweety!

So looks like we have a PINK caboose!!

Two boys... two girls... D-O-N-E!

Bathroom Havoc

I got a new vanity for Christmas for a great deal from a lady on Craiglist. (It will be painted)

My original intention was to remove the old vanity that was completely worthless as a double vanity because barely one person could fit in the bathroom with where everything was positioned.

But after I started ripping up everything and moving the clawfoot tub back and forth because it's 30" wide and we have a 24" door (yay me). But I realized, the tub will be awesome where the double vanity used to be and all I would need to do is just move the drain... With putting the  vanity in the new spot, I would have to move the drain, and hot and cold water.

And the sink will go right next to the toilet (not moving the toilet.. not that crazy). But the floors are all different materials, not level, the tile was glued down, I think, but it didn't hold at all.  I will be giving away all the salvaged perfectly whole tiles on craigslist. Hopefully someone will want them, LOL. They are heavy and I don't want to take them to the dump. 

In the mean time, the floor are dry rot and will be entirely replaced tomorrow (by yours truely) and we will be installing new vinyl.  And since the budget is TIGHT (like jeggins tight), the walls wont be finished til next month.  But I just want to get the tub and toilet installed again, so the bathroom at least functions! 

I'm so excited! I'll post pictures of the tub and floor when we get it in!

Living Room Dreams

I have 3 children, can you  tell?   In a (blog) world where everyone's living room looks like a show room, lets get real.  We live in 920 sq ft. The wood stove HORRIBLY placed in the right corner, takes up about 1/6 of the tiny floor space we have and it's got to GO!

I would go insane following my children around, picking up their toys, in between laundry, kitchen cleaning, meal making, etc.

But one day, (in the next few months), I will be installing a gas fireplace, right where the kid's bedroom door is.  The armoir will be gone and the den door will be moved there.

The upper beams will resemble this, along with the fireplace and tv. (Beam not pictured but 14" down from ceiling). The windowseats will be the front door (left) and den door (right).

I'm thinking about a very beige/ warm palette. I'm not a fan of modern decor, you know me, I'm a country girl. But have decided that I will be getting this convex mirror and painting white, then sanding it.

I'm going to put it on the stair wall so "in theory" I can be in the kitchen, look back at that mirror wall and see the kids playing. (see it edited into the photo, haha)

Then there's the flooring.  I was going to go with this IKEA antique

But have since found this Armstrong vinyl, that I could use throughout the kitchen, laundry, and bath, without worry of water damage. And it'll be seamless! I've haven't priced it out yet at Lowes, but I like it alot.

And since in about 3 years, we'll be renting this place out, we want the least maintenance and the MOST durable. From what I've heard, tenants are very nice to homes that aren't theirs, so I'm just thinking ahead. 

What do you think, vinyl too lame?