Improvements
Dad (aka Grandpa) and Uncle Todd swapped out
these















and installed these

out with the bland and in with the cool =] (OK, the compact fluorescents kinda ruin the effect, but they'll burn out soon, right? Maybe in the next 5 years?)

Labels: bathroom, family, kitchen

- posted by Lenise @ 9:19 PM |

 
Still Holding Out on Y'all



The kitchen backsplash ought to be installed by the weekend (I hope), so you can wait a few more days (Mom). To tide you over, here are some photos of the bathroom with the platinum grout applied to the hex tiles and the screen across the laundry area. While it does hide the washer and dryer, it doesn't really hide the ugly. Paint is in order for the ceiling and some more decorative containers would be helpful for the top shelf. We'll get there someday... BTW, it turns out a leaky toilet can keep tile adhesive from drying even better than vinyl flooring underneath. Never a dull moment.

Labels: bathroom, home improvement, Old Houses

- posted by Lenise @ 9:37 PM |

 
By Request




Mom wanted to see bathroom photos. Kitchen photos are being held pending the installation of countertops (the counters are scheduled to be delivered Tuesday, the dishwasher on Monday), but bath photos are here. Unfortunately, the adhesive has taken a long time to dry (Steve thinks it's because it was applied over the vinyl floor), so the floor grouting did not take place today as planned. I bought the "Platinum" color at the recommendation of many housebloggers. Hopefully the grout will make the hex tile look like it belongs! (OK, I included a sneak preview of the kitchen backsplash).

Labels: bathroom, home improvement, Old Houses, photos

- posted by Lenise @ 9:27 PM |

 
Spiralling Out of Control
So I realized it'd be a good idea to buy a soap dish to mount in the wall by the tub and one by the itsy-bitsy sink. We could also use a toothbrush holder and a toilet paper holder. The PO's had installed the folksy oak ones. *Wrinkling nose* I found ones that match the towel bar I installed the first week we owned the house- at the site that delivered my sink two days after my order. I really like EveryFaucet.com, and this time I even got free shipping. I decided we needed the towel ring, too. We'd been using a basket which was holding various hair accessories as a towel rack. Moving on up, baby.

Labels: bathroom, decor, home improvement

- posted by Lenise @ 9:21 PM |

 
Fun With Toxic Fumes and Backbreaking Loads
I am not even kidding! Despite the fact that it was not my idea, I bought a jar of mod podge and went after the cheap world map I bought for the kids. I was going to use contact paper, but my younger brother (who is wise beyond his years) suggested I paint something on. The maps are something like 3' x 5', so contact paper would probably have been an exercise in frustration. I already checked with our local print shop- when I asked if they did laminating, the fellow said (eyeing my 4' tube with obvious doubt) "Yes, up to 12 by 18 inches." Oh well. Anyway, the podge is kinda fumey, but painting is fun!!

Earlier in the evening, #1 son and I went out looking for subway tile, bullnose tile, a medicine cabinet, and possibly a light fixture for the "new" downstairs bathroom. I called our local Lowe's, since Home Despot in B-ton underwhelmed me with their helpfulness when I was trying to order our sink. Despite the fact that subway tile is nowhere to be seen (a new favorite expression of Jay's, incidentally) on Lowes.com, the gentleman I talked to on the phone said that it was in the store and gave me the item number in case I had trouble finding it when I came in.

It wasn't too hard to find, but it was quite hard to lift and gingerly deposit in the race car shopping cart. Paul had offered to come along, and asked me if I'd be OK handling the materials, and I thought I'd be fine, but wow, that stuff is heavy! Jay wanted to help, being an extraordinarily helpful caterpillar, but I had to refuse his aid. It was hard enough maneuvering the stuff when I was in control of all the forces being applied. I cleared the shelf for them, incidentally.

We bought black bullnose tile to accent the black dots in the floor (the contractor suggested it might look nice, and I think he's right) and an octagonal beveled-mirror medicine cabinet (which I really, really hope can be sunk into the wall- the lip is resin and looks tacky, but will be hidden behind the door frame if it's mounted inside the wall), and even a more vintage-looking over-sink light (for $13!). It's got a pull-chain like the ugly fixture we have, so should not require much to install. Then I went to B-ton to pick up my special order tile, which I could have had delivered for $8 if I had ordered online, which I intended to do, but for the sink. Long, frustrating story, but I have the sink (ordered elsewhere with a $90 delivery fee) and the tile I want. I just hope it all looks good together!!!

Anyway, I'm quite pleased with the purchases, and I need to hurry and get a "before" picture! The guys are coming tomorrow to start tearing out the kitchen paneling and getting the beadboard underneath touched up. Monday, the plumber is supposed to be here, and then things are going to get very interesting very quickly. Especially since our beechwood counters from Ikea won't be shipping until maybe the 24th. *Sigh*

Maybe we'll use the 5-panel door lounging around the bathroom (taken off of the office doorway) as a temporary countertop.

Labels: bathroom, home improvement, learning, Old Houses

- posted by Lenise @ 10:14 PM |

 
Bathroom Buys
Here's my list:
White subway tile for the walls, this for the floor.
I kinda like this light fixture, but it may be too much expense to buy it & get it wired to a wall switch
I love this sink, which should work with our existing faucet, but it costs a lot more than this one. This one's nice, too, but they don't seem to have both pieces in white online. These guys do (they also have a great price and $8 shipping), but have very mixed reviews on NexTag. What do y'all think?

Labels: bathroom, home improvement, Old Houses

- posted by Lenise @ 6:13 AM |