Bathroom week 3.5 update

 I sold Sophie's cabinet doors then yesterday I sold her sink and faucet...it was just the push I needed to get it removed and to install the pretty rectangular sink and the new faucet...
I knew the sink was pretty but wow what a huge difference the clean lines make....I am glad I decided to keep the counter because I don't think I would have it in me to make a counter right about now...this reno is kicking my butt a little bit...I typically work 6-7 hrs at a time on any given day in there...

 I had to grout just to be able to install the new strip Hollywood style light...it looks so glamorous...if you had told me I would be putting in this kind of lighting I would have told you NO...never...but sometimes its just right and here it is perfect...it makes for beautiful make-up lighting and it just sparkles, I used 25 watt clear bulbs. With the reflection of all the tile it just sparkles now.

 A little upgrade was over due with the toilet...I picked up a $15 chrome handle to replace the cheap plastic white handle...what a difference.

 This stage was admittedly a little scary, I haven't replaced many sinks...replacing faucets is really a simple job really anyone can do.

Next steps...I will build a chunky frame for around the mirror, then onto making a face frame for the cabinet with decorative feet..then doors and drawers, tiling down to the floor and crown moulding still needs to go up and the white drapes I have for the tub need to be hemmed...there's at least 2 more weeks of work to do.

Bathroom update week 3

I finally decided to start the tiling portion of Sophie's bathroom...I was kind of dreading it...not that tiling is hard but that it is very fussy and messy. 

Let's just say it is SO WORTH IT!!!! I am in love with this, and one thing I over looked was that you get double the impact with the reflection in the mirror...what a pleasant surprise.

When Sophie saw this tile installed she said it was amazing....that was so nice to hear, I am so glad she likes it. 

I just need to take down the light and tile that wall above the mirror but I am thinking I need a break today...

I used two sheets on either side, plus the extras tiles I needed to cut in half, so maybe 5.5 sheets total.

 I thought I would need my wet saw but this very thin and fragile tile that I bought years ago on Overstock needed a light touch so the only way to slice them in half was to use this old basic tile cutter, just score and snap... if you use these tiles do yourself a favor and pre cut your tiles in half...its not hard I swear.

Nothing more helpful than a premixed batch of tile adhesive, this is great for wall tiles...I back buttered all the subway tile and the marble detail.

I didn't want to start the detail lower than the outlet which meant I needed to create a little frame for the outlet to sit on so that it would sit flush as my tiles are different thicknesses...I think it worked out to be a nice detail for a problem solution. These things come up, you just have to deal with them. 

There is no going back now...because I sold all these doors this morning...its time to re-face and build a beautiful vanity front, add drawers and build all new fronts and doors...The sink is being sold tomorrow....

Sometimes I think I am overly ambitious but its always worth it in the end.... do you ever bite off more than you can chew?...I know a lot of people will run out of steam and projects will remain at a stand still sometimes for years...I am not really that type....I NEED these things completed. I thought maybe I could tackle two projects at one time but I realized I need to keep my focus on one project at a time to get things accomplished.

bathroom progress

I finished a lot of the painting in Sophie's bathroom yesterday...I painted the trim Birch white by General Paints and the blue wall is Pensive sky by Behr, I used this color in my master bathroom it's a nice soft greyish blue it goes perfectly with the marble look ceramic tiles.

 I installed a hook right outside of the shower for a towel.

What a big difference a few strips of MDF and a little bit of cove moulding can make. 

           

 I had this towel hook but it never fit properly so I made a custom plaque so I could mount it securly to the door and painted it with a fresh coat of Birch white.

Here's a reminder of how it looked before. 

Next I will be tiling the walls around the vanity, creating a frame for the mirror, installing a new light and replacing the sink with a new rectangular one from Home Hardware and a new faucet. 

 I found this brand new faucet on Kijiji for $20 unreal right?

I will just have to wait for some drier calm days to tackle that tile job...one day at a time.

bathroom update

 The weather let up a little last week and I was able to tackle some of the trim for Sophie's bathroom. There is no better way to see how off square your walls are than to just add mouldings.
 Don't worry because I removed that piece of wood from the post detail...it bugged me all night...as mistakes will do...that's how you know they are mistakes.
 I thought about taking out the laminate counter but I think it is OK to keep it... I can't justify a stone top so I would have to make a custom wood counter and I'm just not sure how that would stand up in here. I think a wood top with an under mount sink would look beautiful but it's an expense I didn't really consider so I am not sure it is needed.
But if it is to be done it will have to be done before the tile is started...

 I headed off to the lumber yard and picked up 100 ft of cove moulding and spent a few hrs one day last week adding that simple finishing touch. It is all waiting to be sanded then primed....
I spent about 1 hour quietly and alone, I love some alone time....wandering Lowes picking out touches and considering my options. I'm thinking of this pretty Delta faucet...I am not a fan of the builder basic ones although they are good quality they need a little more style for me.

 I picked up the strip make-up lighting, 2 big boxes of subway tile 200-3x6" traditional of course a new bronze knob to replace one of a handful of brass knobs that's still left, so I am ready to go. As I figured once Mason saw that light fixture she would want one too...I guess I will be selling two vanity light fixtures then.

 Here is a little visit down memory lane to my girls old shared bathroom where I painted the vanity white, built a mirror frame inset a cubby in a void of the wall and tiled some walls with my favorite subway tile and blue glass. I loved the wood toilet seats we had in this house I really need to spring for some of those for this house.

 Here is my old master bath with all the pretty bead board I installed. I loved the window casings I built and the antique legs on the vanity area, not to mention the bead board apron front for the tub...

One more little bathroom with the board and batten and all the crisp trim around the mirror I added...a little bit of trim and white paint go a long long way...the sink and faucet were also newly added during the update.

That's it for my little update...it's not a big change but it is a step in the right direction.

watch out...I found my staple gun...tales of a frustrated DIYer

 I was so very tired of looking at this chevron covered cushion...this chair was actually from my daughters bedroom in our old house and the chevron worked well for that room...but I am so over the chevron...its nice but I just needed a change...

 I thought it was time to remove all the previous covers......this chair was actually yellow when I bought it and it had some palm themed fabric cover...I painted it and covered it very shortly after buying it.

 I have this pretty linen fabric that I just love but didn't have a plan for so on a whim I recovered this chair in it...I think it so pretty now.

 I am patiently waiting for spring here... I want to start on Sophie's bathroom and I have some tiling plans but I need it to be warm enough to deal with my wet saw that is messy and cold...so for now I plan.

 I plan to add a post trim detail by the shower as well as a nice cornice above the tub area, I will be installing a hook to the post for easy towel access, double white curtains for the shower, I will be re-building the vanity, well the face of it and I will be adding four drawers and new doors all custom, painted white I think.
The walls surrounding the sink and mirror area will get tiled in white subway tile with a mirroring accent tile features flanking the mirror. Walls will be a wash of pale greenish blue. The purple light was replaced with a simple chrome and glass fixture.
For the wall behind the toilet and the wall to the right of the vanity I plan to do 2 simple paneled walls.

The space above the mirror will be tiled and a frame will be built for the mirror.

 I love this tile arrangement but I don't have enough to do both wall features so I am going to go for the more decorative feature and I will use the marble I have to frame the accent...I am kind of excited to see it all come together....come on weather...Thursday is supposed to be nice so I hear.

 I think this will be lovely on either wall flanking the sink, I tiled walls in the girls last bathroom and I loved it..it adds decorative interest and it adds reflection.

Sophie asked me to make her a big memo board for her like the one her sister has, it's great for all those keepsakes and photos. I have been making memo boards for as long as I can remember...since the girls were babies and that's a long time ago because they are 16 and 13 now.

 I decided to make this board with a simple frame construction of 1x2" pine, this one is about 3'x4' and I use pocket hole construction, its light and sturdy.

I covered the frame with batting and then with a neutral fabric and stapled on ribbon.

The fabric is a table cloth I picked up on clearance and the adorable fringe ribbon is from Michael's craft store. I used 4 rolls of ribbon so all together this big memo board cost about $40... which is pretty great for such a big memo board.

I am getting the creative itch back and I can't wait for some warm weather to get outside and keep busy and get into my shop to start building things and re-building things...I am ready when you are spring.

Has spring arrived where you are? 

basement planning and primping around the house

 Things have been pretty quiet at home lately...we just hung around for spring break...I use the term spring break very loosely because it still feels like winter this year.
 Now that the kids are back in school I am trying to get the house back in shape. I came across this table on a classifieds app the other day for just $60 but I couldn't for the life of me figure out where it could go, we are pretty full as far as furniture goes...but we are starting to think about finishing our basement and I figured it could go down there when the time is right...but I gave it try up on the main floor first... turns out it looks pretty great right by the front door with a few adjustments...I just shopped the house and it all came together with a little time and effort $0 besides the table. It will look great when I finally get that wainscoting complete, hopefully really soon.

 It sure is easy to go back to my beachy ways with all the accessories I have around the house.

After saving up I finally dragged my butt out to Ikea and bought the white ottoman I have been wanting for some time...so happy with my purchase. 

While I was at Ikea I saw some of the new kitchen line, I was in love with this huge island with all the drawers...it was dreamy. Although I truly love my kitchen it's hard not to get sucked in when you see another amazing kitchen...I think that's one of the problems when you truly love interior design...there is always something new or different to fall in love with.

 After my little furniture re-arrangement I was inspired to map out this paneling today...this spot really needs some attention, this poor wall gets so beaten up. It's almost warm enough to get out to the garage and rip some MDF down to size and get some projects underway.

 Like I mentioned we have been thinking it would be nice to have a completed third level...we could use a media room, a small bar with a small fridge and a microwave, a washroom and a gym space as well as enclosed shop and furnace room for function and storage...here is what I have come up with just a quick sketch. I am envisioning this area to be kind of industrial contemporary with a traditional touch. Lots and lots of pot lights for sure.

inspiration photo

Wish list chair...we love a nest chair and it would be perfect for a media room.

inspiration photo

inspiration photo

 I love the idea of leaving the floors concrete and finishing them with a stain or etching finish...I would like to get a nice area rug for the media area but the rest of the space makes sense to keep concrete. I want the basement hard wearing and not precious, we have teens so...that makes sense.

inspiration photo

What do you think of a dark sprayed ceiling...I think this is actually a really reasonable option. I hate to lose any height so just painting it out black is a great option... but we'll see, at least we can spray it and if we need to add some insulation and close say the ceiling above the media room in we can always do that later.

inspiration photo

 I like these two small bar/kitchenette areas...I have some veneer brick I will be incorporating somewhere and I want some shiplap or planking for sure.

inspiration photo

I am going to see how much of the basement I can do myself I think we can handle some framing and finish trim the built ins and cabinetry as well as some tiling and perhaps some plumbing installations like sink faucet and maybe the toilet....but the rest I will leave to the professionals. Not to sure when this will get started but it is officially on the list now.
Should be interesting...although we would love to have an amazing backyard to enjoy it makes more sense to put some money and effort into finishing the basement as it can be used year round and honestly our yard can be used about 5-6 months a year...as well as for equity I think this is a safe bet to add another bathroom and two spaces that with little effort can become two additional bedrooms (the gym and the shop) which would could make this house a 6 bedroom 4.5 bath house.

We have never had a finished basement so this sounds like a fun project to me...a little scary too...