Back Up: what happened to our bathroom?

I started this blog with the idea of showcasing the diy projects hubbs and I were doing around the house.  Tackling the bathroom was the biggest (and longest) project we had done yet and every time I go in there, I still can't believe we did it.  So...here are some before photos to remind you of how outdated and dingy the lone bathroom at Hunter Drive was:

                  

Lets just say it left a lot to be desired (and probably wasn't cleaned enough over the years ever).  Here is the bathroom today:

We started the renovation by just about gutting the whole bathroom.  The only thing we kept was the sheetrock and even that mostly came down.  The layout is exactly the same and was probably the easiest way to go.  What we did:

• Wainscotting with trim and a custom "ledge" around the whole room, sink alcove and ceiling
• Changed out the whole vanity and replaced it with a (free) double sink top and custom cabinet
• New mirrors, lighting and fixtures in sink area
• Demolished the cast iron tub and tile walls, installed new tub deep soak tub, imported tile and fixtures
• New toilet and found storage cabinet for over toilet
• Ripped up linoleum floors and rotten sub floor (yuck), replaced with new tile

Cost?  Probably $3,000 in all.  I think the look is much more expensive and luxurious.  Now if we only had a second bathroom...

Movin' on Up!

Facade of Hunter Drive

Hunter Drive is a three bedroom ranch that is the perfect size for our family of three (me, hubby and our dog Wally).  Since move in day, New Years 2009, we've been working on house projects non-stop.  At first I did a lot of complaining...ok, major complaining, about doing the work ourselves.  While I've always been crafty, I just didn't grow up in the type of household where you laid your own wood floor and installed your own windows (yes, we've since done both).  Now, almost 3 years later, I feel we can take on any house project, even a second story addition!

While we certainly wont build up by ourselves, we are interested in doing as much of the work as possible to keep to our budget.  We're in a good location with a great yard so I'm hoping we can add enough space to make Hunter Drive a place that a family can grow into.  With a ranch, there are so many addition options and I'm determined to avoid a flat colonial at all costs.  Here are some of my favorite facades:

A renovation in Hingham, MA with a before that looks just like Hunter Drive

A ranch renovation in Arlington Heights, IL

Can you see it?  I think its all about the front porch and an interesting roof line.  I'm sure an architect would come up with a number of other alternatives as well.  I can't wait till we get started on this!

Tiling

This past weekend we moved the plumbing, installed the tub and tiled. Thanks to our helpers and some unorthodox tile tools we are well on our way to showering in our own home! Check out our progress and learn about my tips for tiling...

1) The tile adhesive (mastic) can easily squirt between tiles and show through grout. If this happens to you, use a pen cap to clean out the spaces in between the tiles.

2) Walls and sometimes tiles are not straight. In addition to tile spacers, wooden shims work well to hold tiles in place while drying. A flat head screwdriver helps when wedging shims.

3) Map out your tile pattern on a paper before you begin.

4) The work goes quickest when you have some people tile and some cut the edges, corners and pipes.

5) Even if it looks and feels dry, give it at least 24 hours before you remove those spacers and shims.

More on grouting soon!

Slow and steady -- remodeling our bathroom

The day I moved into Hunter Drive I knew remodeling the bathroom would be a project we would tackle down the road. The outdated tile, old medicine cabinet and bisque colored toilet left a lot to be desired but it was livable. "It could be worse" I'd say when giving friends a tour of our new home. A few months shy of 2 years later, the first tile fell off the wall (and into the toilet) and the leaky faucet handle broke off and shattered the light fixture. It was time...

We began by removing the tile that covered the walls and lived with the scratched up and hole filled sheet rock for longer than I'd like to admit. When we couldn't find a vanity to fit (the space and our price) at Lowes, we went to a cabinet maker for a custom bottom to match the Corian counter top that a friend gave to us from a construction site that had an incorrect order. Next came tile, fixtures, paint, and a new deep soak tub!