HOME - Bathroom upheaval - almost there

We have put some serious energy into our bathroom. I am SO very happy with the results. Just a little reminder about what we started with. I had a hard time finding any before shots - I think we didn't want to admit this was our bathroom. 

We removed more than 1/2 of all the plaster walls (b/c they were crumbling) and replaced them with drywall; replaced the window, toilet, sink, light fixtures; installed a ceiling fan and light; put in a new sub-floor and tiles; removed the plastic shower insert and tiles the surround...  It's almost done here! Really we are just wrapping up the laundry chute closet area behind the shower (notice, there is no photo - hopefully it'll be done very soon). 

shower view - don't mind the unfinished wall

Close up of the honed river rocks - this was my favorite part to do. I posted a couple photos (bathroom work in progress post) of this task - it was harder than it looks! 

I fought for this dual flush toilet. Also notice the bathroom print above the toilet. It's from the Liberty Park Comfort Station (down the block from us) in 1913 (the year our house was built). We ordered the digital image from the Utah Historical Society - they have an amazing archive of photos.

Air vent and floor tiles. I wanted to create a vintage bathroom and Rob wanted an earthy one - so we met in the middle and came up with this design. We are both very happy with it.

HOME - Bathroom - work in progress

I am about ready for this whole disaster of a bathroom to be buttoned up for good. We started this project (flipping through my calendar) 4 weeks ago. Really, was it that long ago? The first step was ripping out the plastic shower insert so we could tile the shower surround.

Boring tan plastic insert removed - check out the cool old wallpaper - must be the original from 1913. I wish we still had the old clawfoot tub.

Close-up of the wall paper and lathe.

Tub on the side and a look at the weak, water-damaged floor beneath - we ripped the floor out and put in a new subfloor.

Screwing in the backerboard - the green is the water/mold resistant drywall.

First few rows of subway tile up - we chose wild and crazy matte white tiles.

This is where the fun began - I spent some time calculating how to cut these sheets of tile so they would fit together to form 6-inch strip. Really - this was more difficult than it looks...

Here are the pebbles on the wall - the color only gets better when wet!

New fixtures installed and temporary curtain up - all ready for a shower. This whole shower step took us one long wknd. We started on Friday - when I say we, I mean Rob - I went for a long bike ride in preparation for my century ride this weekend - eeck - not sure that was enough training... Saturday - more demo and then I headed off to a baby shower. Finally, on Sunday I stuck it out for the whole day. Grouting spread into Monday and by Tuesday morning we could use the shower! Between then and now we have replaced the bathroom window, torn down the plaster walls, put up new drywall, mudded, sanded, and painted. We are now waiting for the floor tiles to arrive - should be TODAY! Then we can tile, put in the new sink and toilet. I am looking forward to putting an end to the drywall dust!

HOME - Fireplace update

We officially said goodbye to Directv today and I am thrilled. Rob has talked me into buying a new computer that we have hooked up to the tv. It's really pretty great - we can watch shows on Hulu, the ones that come through our digital antennae, and we can surf the web - all from the comfort of the couch. Here are photos of the progress we've made on the fireplace.

BEFORE - 1980s Miami Vice


DURING

DURING

ALMOST THERE

OKAY - so it's almost done in this photo but really - it is completely done in real life - I just don't feel like taking a picture right now... The cables are hidden but we still need to get a shelf of some sort to store the computer on (the computer is that tiny box on the right side of the mantel).
Our newest project is one that scares me - ALOT! We are replacing the windows ourselves. Rob insists on wood windows and in order to afford them - we are going to do it ourselves. Here is what we have to work with...

This is the window in the spare bedroom with the molding removed. Notice the lovely powder blue house next door. IT IS FINALLY FOR SALE!!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!

HOME - Joys of home ownership

Rob and I are now officially the proud new owners of a home built in 1913. We knew it would be a lot of work and even though we are sore and tired of spending money - we are having a great time updating much of the house. We were hoping to salvage the original Douglas Fir flooring in the front room and bedrooms - but much to our chagrin - there were nails every 16 inches - likely to diminish the squeeky floor. We could not remove, pound down, or sand over the nails - so we had to go with Plan B - a new hardwood floor. We are using Acacia in the front room, pre-stained and all set to install. We went with this type b/c it is 3/4-inch real wood - rather than the engineered hardwood that is iffy to refinish. In the bedrooms, we are using bamboo - but it's a grass, not wood. Here are a series of photos of the front room and the work we have done so far. If you know of anyone looking for brass fixtures (lights, door knobs, hooks) - we have them from every room in the house that are yours for the taking. All of the new sub-floor is down, boxes of wood, and bamboo are open - tomorrow is a painting day.