Day Six: The Massive Bathroom Project

Well, today I pulled out the old vanity from the main bathroom.  I would venture to say that it's the original from 1939.  I had actually considered repainting the vanity (and had actually already begun the sanding!), but after further consideration, I just elected to go with a brand-new one.  Sometimes it's best not to repurpose...but to move forward.  This would be one of those times.  I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed since I already had some man hours in the project of sanding and wood-filling, but I had to get over that.  :)  The inside was just a bit too dirty...it had been wet at one point, and no matter how much I wished to show before and after pictures of a repurposed vanity, this one just had to go.  I just wish I had made that decision BEFORE I started working on it!

The behemoth of a vanity.  It was still decent wood, so I decided I would sand and paint it.

I took all of the handles and trim pieces off.

Before.  Yucky!

Getting ready for sanding and wood-filling.

I won't lie, it was a pretty wasted day.  I mean, I'm happy to have made the decision to get rid of this old behemoth, but I just didn't get too much accomplished today!  Oh well, such is what happens during a remodel project sometimes.

Day Five: The Massive Bathroom Project!

Well, the tiles are in place.  Now it's just time to grout.  As I said yesterday, this is a first for me.  But I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this isn't all that difficult, either!!!  I tell ya, it's just take some gumption sometimes...of which I have plenty!  :)



The old ship ready for grout!

The old towel rack tile ready for grout!

Ready for grout!

Four new tiles ready to be grouted.

The most crucial part is getting the consistency just right.  I have found that it works best if it's in a peanut-butter like consistency...maybe a tad bit thicker.  It stays in the grooves quite easily without running out, and yet it's still easy to spread.  I had purchased a special grout application tool from Lowe's, and that did the trick perfectly.

In no time at all, I had grouted four tiles!  And I was a proud little boy.  It's so fun to learn new projects!

I am so happy with the results!

I might have a new calling in life...

I'm so glad I opted to not put a towel rack back in.

Just like new!

I was such a proud little boy after this project!

I had run out of time yet again, though.  I would have to wait another week before I could continue.

But the project is taking shape little by little.  And in order to whet my appetite, I had to go ahead and put up the shower rod and curtain that I had purchased.  But first, let me tell you about this shower curtain.  I have been searching HIGH AND LOW for a curtain that not only would I like...but would match my wall paint.  I never knew shower curtain shopping could be so difficult!  It's nearly impossible to find one!!!

Well, I found a model piece in Target...but since it was a model, it was only a few inches long.  But I LOVED it.  I mean, I loved it.  THIS was the one that I had to have.  The problem was that Target was clearing the shelves of bathroom items!!!  It was a seasonal change (I'm pretty sure I use the bathroom year round?!), and the shelves of numerous stores were empty in this bath aisle!  What is more, this particular curtain was being discontinued!  It was down to the curtains that remained on the shelves in the stores...and I checked several...even out of state!  I was so frustrated!

I quite literally had to run all around town trying to track down this single shower curtain!  Once one was found, I actually asked them to hold two for me!  Just in case.  :)  I made a drive nearly 15 miles out of my way just to get it!  But I love it...and I think I am going to be pretty pleased with the new bathroom.  (Also note the newly painted bathtub ceiling from yesterday...it makes a world of difference).

The shower curtain I would spend hours tracking down!

Agh, it's coming together!!!  This gives me a taste of what could be!!!

Day Four: The Massive Bathroom Project

Today didn't require as much physical energy as yesterday, and that was fine by me.  I'd be a happy man if I never had to remove another tile from an old house for the rest of my life!!!  That's just not fun work.

Well, today I decided that I was going to go a slightly different route with my painting.  I had already painted the walls of the bathroom, but I have now decided that I am going to carry that same color into the closet and above the bathtub enclave.  I went back and forth on both places, but the more I look at these areas, the more I think that each could benefit.

So with little sweating and zero hammering, I happily painted walls instead of broke tiles.

The closet before...

And after!

I don't have a picture of the area above the bathtub yet, but just know that it looks sooooooo much better being painted green!!!  More to come.