Demo More

Squeeee!  It has begun.  Master bathroom reno.  It’s on like Donkey Kong.  Our shower pan finally came in, so we can start tearing into this project.  What looked like this on Friday:

Master Bathroom Macinack Island Green

Looks like this now:

Master-Bathroom-Demo-ToiletArea

Which is super exciting.  Even though we’re down one bathroom, this is a good thing, Martha.  Our once super closed off shower:

Master Bathroom Macinack Island Green Entry

Was carefully torn apart to not damage the plumbing and electrical in the wall.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Start

Ben had fun taking the sledge-hammer to the old tile.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-of-Shower

Master-Bathroom-Demo-of-Shower-2

I didn’t get pictures of the shower base, but let me tell you, it was gross.  Even with a liner, the poured concrete and tile base leaked.  This is the second layer of plywood below the shower.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Shower-Leak

Which is exactly the reason we waited for our custom stainless steel shower pan.  One piece means far fewer places to leak.  Exactly the reason we waited for our custom stainless steel shower base.

Master-Bathroom-Shower-Pan

In about five hours, Ben took out the shower, mirror, toilet, and vanity.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-End-of-Day-1

The floor, however, wasn’t as quick.  Tiles came up, but the OSB underlayment was a bear.  Think tiny pieces.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-of-Tile

And we discovered something unexpected.  What we just tore out, was a remodel!  There’s capped off sink plumbing and an outlet behind the shower walls.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Shower-Area

Plumbing came through the floor to feed the sinks, too, so we’re not sure where exactly the tub or shower was before.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Vanity

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Vanity-Area

We, okay, okay, Ben will have his work cut out for him.  Plumbing and electrical to deal with before things will start looking better.

Master-Bathroom-Demo-Window

But, this is exciting.  So is the stack of tile, lights, and supplies in the garage.  Have you started a winter project?  Or a bathroom remodel?

Tubs, Tile, and Inspiration

I’m seriously chomping at the figurative bit to get started on our bathroom remodel.  Hopefully we’ll finalize measurements soon and start ordering and building.  Eek, I’m so excited.  Want to see what we’re thinking?

The claw foot tub that we pulled out of the main bathroom will go our master.  We need to refinish it, and I’m thinking a charcoal gray exterior with gold feet, like this:

Or going all charcoal on the outside, feet included, like this:

Either way I think it will be fantastic.  And we’re probably going to use the brass plumbing the tub already has, too.

For the vanity, we want to include warm, dark wood, probably as a countertop.  A sleek round mirror and brass hardware accents, like this will tie in the brass tub plumbing.

A semi recessed vessel sink like this one would be perfect with a faucet similar to the photo above.

On the floors, we’re going to the dark side with gray slate (same stuff we used on the fireplace) set in a brick pattern, like this:

But in the shower, we want light and bright.  What’s better than white marble?  Well, white marble set in a herringbone pattern of course!  Similar to this, but a smaller tile:

And a barn door to allow space for the tub.

If we left the door as it currently is, it would bump into the proposed tub spot.  So here’s the proposed floor plan, with a single sink, free-standing tub, and an open shower.

Master-Bath-Floor-Plan-with-Tub

I’m ready to get this party started.  By party, I mean demo.  Of course more details to come as we make progress.

A huge thank you for all the kind, encouraging words and support on Monday, too!  You all are wonderful.

Blue Sage

For longer than I liked, the walls of our room have been royal (borderline neon) blue.  Very patchy and poorly painted to boot.

Master-Bedroom-from-Door-One-Year-Later

We thought we’d have time to replace all the house windows last summer, but that didn’t happen.  This isn’t the year either.  Knowing next year would be the earliest, I couldn’t stand looking at these walls any longer.  While V was in school, Ev and I picked up two gallons of Restoration Hardware’s Blue Sage, color matched to Glidden Duo.  I started painting right away.  Seriously, I was on a mission to eradicate the bold blue.  And her we are two coats later.

Master-Bedroom-Painted-Blue-Sage-from-Door

Ahh, that’s better.  Though the color is more green than I expected.  Or maybe that’s just in comparison to the blue before.

Master-Bedroom-One-Year-Later

At any rate, I can handle this color.  At least until we replace the windows.

Master-Bedroom-Painted-Blue-Sage-from-Bathroom

Because then we’re probably going to pull off all the drywall to replace it.  Heavy orange peel texture and two painted over wallpaper walls and terrible patches and too few outlets and different sized windows seems like that’s the best way to go.

Master-Bedroom-Texture-and-Patches

Until then, our room is dark and soothing.

Master-Bedroom-Painted-Blue-Sage-from-Bench

Maybe when we deal with the rest of this room I’ll choose a slightly more blue-green color.

Master-Bedroom-Painted-Blue-Sage-from-Bed

What do you think of it?

Master-Bedroom-Painted-Blue-Sage-Gallery-Wall

Much better than this, no?

Gold-Nail-String-Plus-in-Bedroom-Gallery-from-Front

Oh paint, how I love thee.  Such healing powers you’ve got.  What have you painted recently?

Do the Polka

Dots, that is, thanks to Ikea.  The boys and I made a somewhat impromptu trip to Minnesota to visit family and friends.  Trips back always include an Ikea run, this time looking for pillow inserts and a rug.  The lovely as ever Shavonda super sweetly sent me two Lappljung Ruta covers, so I bought two inserts.

Ikea-Black-and-White-Pillow-in-Family-Room

While I’m super impressed with the cover quality (especially for ten bucks!), I’m not as happy with the Inner inserts.  I guess for $2.99 I can’t really complain.  Unfortunately, I bought two thinking they’d nicely fill each pillow.  Wrong.  I had to use both for one plump pillow.  Now I’m wishing I hadn’t been in such a hurry, because the Fjädrar down inserts are only $6.99.  Oh well, I can always make an insert.

As for rug shopping, I checked out the Magical Thinking Triangle Chain Rug, but didn’t love it for 89 bucks.  When I stumbled on the Ullgump Dot Rug for only $19.99, I had to get it.

Polka dots are fun, but don’t clash with the striped curtains.

Ikea-Dot-Rug-in-Boys-Room

Orange isn’t a prominent color in our house, but it’s slowly growing on me.  Just like the orange background of the Green Eggs and Ham painting.

Ikea-Dot-Rug-in-Boys-Room-Painting

Rather than spending more money on a large (8 by 10 or larger) rug, I decided to get something smaller to fit between the beds.  I don’t think I’d be willing to put any more of this bold color on the floor.

Ikea-Dot-Rug-in-Boys-Room-Dresser

My other option was a 5 by 8 blue and cream flat weave chevron rug from Home Goods for $69.  It was super tempting, but I wasn’t thrilled with how thin it was.  Even hanging, the corners and edges had begun to curl.

Aside from three zoo trips, a Mall of America day (with a quick Ikea stop before), mini golf, and a few beach days, I helped my sister with a few projects. This two tone dresser is hers:

While visiting with my interior designer cousin, she told me about a product, Wall Flats that she just used in a house.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stop thinking of these light weight panels.  Ready to paint and much lower commitment than tile, tack to the wall in each corner and you’re done.

Summer Playhouse

For me, thrift store art is hit or miss.  Mostly misses with ugly florals, but every once in a while, something great pops up, like this signed two color screen print titled Summer Playhouse:

Instagram-Goodwill-Art-Print

There was a similar old man print, but I didn’t think I could talk Ben into liking it.

Instagram-Man-Art

That print is precisely what prompted an art shift in the boys’ freshly revamped room.  I had hung a constellation embroidery set above their bookshelf.

Boys-Bedroom-Bookshelf

But it felt too top-heavy with the art a good six inches wider than the shelf.  How lucky is it that this $10 print and frame was the same width as the shelf?  Serendipity, people.  Not the John Cusack movie, just a happy accident.

Goodwill-Screen-Print-Art-in-Boys-Room

Especially because I had no idea where I would put it when I bought it.  I just knew I liked it.  And had to have it.  The details and colors are great, and it’s a limited edition.  And there are two boys, just like mine.

Goodwill-Summer-Play-House-Art-Detail

Now the sky maps flank the window.

Constellation-Art-by-Window-in-Boys-Room

One more wall to add art to.  Still haven’t gotten around to de-uglying the little kitchen set.  Whatever, the boys will probably out grow it soon.  Buuuuut, their room is one step closer to being finished.

What rooms have you been working on lately?  Finishing up a project?  Just getting started?