4.15.2010

Big plans for the weekend

I have a lot planned to accomplish this weekend...but in just a short amount of time.  I have a busy weekend ahead of me (Mark isn't as busy, lucky) but I still have high hopes that we can get something accomplished. From working a lot to the two of us being sick, not a lot has happened on the old remodeling front.  Here's my to-do list:

1 - Begin laying marble tile on the tub surround. We start with the "deck" which is the top. Once that's done, Mark can get the tub all situated correctly and cut the holes for the plumbing.  Once plumbing is in, he'll install the tub and work on the face of the tub surround.

The stone we picked is Botticino Marble and we got it in 2x4 subway tiles, which looks very similar to this picture...a very ivory color stone with a slight grey and/or beige undertone.  I wanted something that looked similar in color to our carpet, and this stuff is great!!

Click here to see the picture

2 - "Frost" our bathroom windows. I didn't really want curtains of other window coverings in our bathroom because we would pretty much always want them closed since the windows are big, there will be so much steam from the soaker tub which could mold or just make things icky, etc...so we decided to buy a frosted window film.  Never used this before. No idea how it will look, but John and Sherry from Young House Love used similar stuff in their basement remodel. I figured we could give it a try. Plus, I love how light still shines though the film. I really want a hanging plant or two near the windows, so that will work out great!

3 - Sand more of my dresser. No idea if I will get to this or not, but I am really anxious to finish refinishing my dresser.  So far, I have stripped all the paint, done rough sand, and now am going back over with a fine sanding pad using my really awesome birthday present from my hubby...
{Image courtesy of Power Tools UK}

For those of you wondering, I actually ASKED for this for my birthday. Keep your comments to yourself.  (Kidding!) Once I'm done sanding, I am going to slap on some wood conditioner, stain it, and then probably do a coat or two of semi-gloss polyurethane to protect it. I really, really, really want it to be done so I can use it. 

It's not a long list, but like I said, I have no idea how much of it we will even accomplish.  Wish us luck!

4.11.2010

Little accomplishments...

I hate being too busy to work on house projects!  It seems like we've been stalled for a long time, and I feel like we need to break that cycle. Well, today we bought the material we need to tile the tub surround!  Mark is picking it up on Monday, so VERY SOON we'll have more things to post.

For now, I'll show you the little things we've been working on or accomplished recently...


The window seat/storage bench in our bedroom is practically done.  I still need to make a pad, sew cases for the large lumbar-type pillows, and shorten the curtains.  I want to find a cute pattern material to make more throw pillows...eventually my bed linens will match the grey/white/ivory-sand color pallet and half the pillows from the window seat will be on the bed.  Also, once we replace the windows, I want to add wood roller blinds because this window lets in a TON of light.  Like I say, it never ends...


Today, I had a little fun painting this old metal kitchen cart.  It's got a dent on the top I tried to hammer out...it's not perfect but that's okay.  I just have to find the perfect place for it...maybe my master bath to hold towels, tp, and a cutie little basket holding soap, etc?  Who knows, but it was a fun, fast $5 project.

And for the next big project...preparing to install the bathtub...




Have I mentioned that this is a 6' tub?!  It's HUGE! Mark and a friend of his built the tub surround last Saturday. Mark plans to do the plumbing for the tub and toilet at the same time, so we will soon be getting a toilet.  We want to get a dual-flush toilet - we're all about saving water and $$.  But, first thing's first - tiling the tub surround! We haven't decided 100% on the backsplash...but we have a couple options we're looking at.

Hopefully soon, I'll have more to share!

4.01.2010

Happy April!

Sorry to be so silent around here!  We haven't had a change to work on much of anything. Mark has been busy with work and our weekends have been full of other things.  Our next project in the works is the master bath!

I'm sure it will look something like this:


or this:


 - - - I  W I S H ! ! - - -

or this:


How calm is this? Seriously.

Unfortunately, we don't have a million dollar budget and 1,000 square feet to work with, so it might up ending looking just a bit more modest than these gorgeous spaces, but it'll be all ours and it'll be great. :o)