Reno Day 3

Here's what the bathroom looks like as of today:

                                                   Closet door in the hall is closed up now.

                                          From the bedroom looking into the bathroom.

                                    Walk-in shower entry on left, toilet closet straight ahead.

                                  Standing where the toilet will be looking towards the bedroom.

                                           Future vaulted ceiling, where skylights will be added.

Remember one of my previous posts, in which I said I hoped this project would be "fun"?  It's not.
The only thing fun about it so far is there are people in my house daily, preventing me from talking to only myself.  Plus, the cats are amused that they have folks to annoy.

I'm learning, really I am.  If God is trying to grow me, I don't yet see what I've to become!  This project is stressful, frustrating and most often, mentally taxing.  My brain cells don't have much left come dinner time.  If the kids ever figure this out, I'm toast.

Nelson and I approach these things differently.  Neither of us is right or wrong.  It just teaches me to pray silently and unceasingly that I need a new appreciation for his perspective.  My marriage shall become stronger as a result, not weaker.  "Above all else, love one another fervently"  right?

Decisions are needing to be made quickly around here, and I am the last one to enjoy being rushed.  It would be fine and dandy if I could decide alone, but Nelson needs his say too, so the decision often must wait- not exactly a contractor's dream.  It could drive one to drink, I tell you.

In due time we'll be over the hump and this whole thing will be easy peasy.  Did I mention that the contractor thought I had ordered the cabinets, and I thought the same of him?  Oops.  Guess that's a delay coming down the pipes.  What was that about "6 weeks tops" from my endearing hubby????? Hmmm......

Day 1 Demo

It's so exciting to watch your plans become reality.  This bathroom has been on our list since we looked at the house back in May.  Finally, it's going to be something usable and beautiful.

The guys made great progress after one day.  I know this pace won't keep up, so I'm going to relish it while it lasts.  Nelson thinks it will be done in 6 weeks tops.  Seems I'm more the realist, saying it's likely to be about 8-12 weeks.  Things don't always go according to plan, and if the basement is any indication, projects gets stalled with one little snafu.  So I'm mentally preparing for a longer process.  We'll see who's right in the end.

Tomorrow I'm off to find a shower faucet.  The pressure is on (no pun intended) to find one we both like, and that fits the look of the shower we designed.  It wasn't high on my list until the contractor asked if I'd chosen one yet....um, no.  In between life and the normal errands and goings-on, I have to squeeze in bathroom "chores".  Such is life!

Here's how things look after day 1:

                                               Everything is out of the teeny tiny space now.

                                        The old closet door opening gets moved to the other side.

                                             Now the closet opens into the room instead.

                               The left opening will be scaled down and become the entrance to the bath.

So long, farewell....

Tomorrow is the big day!  Our ugly, small, inefficient master bath goes the way of the dumpster.  I CAN'T WAIT.  This room needs a bomb dropped in it.  Good riddens!

Here's the before shots which will allow you to understand WHY we're saying so long to this hideous space:

                                               This space will become part of the new bathroom.

                                 Excuse the messy closet, it's going to be getting a makeover too!

                          Honestly, there's not even enough space to change your mind in this SMALL space.

                                                   I'm soooo going to miss this puppy.  NOT.

                                   A HUGE closet in the hallway will become our new shower.

                                  It's about time this closet was included in the bathroom space.

There was a big learning curve with the basement bathroom.  It won't go unused in the master bath.  Now that I know what to expect I'm aiming to be on top of things.  While we're excited to begin this process, there's the down side of dust, dust and more dust,  as well as workmen coming and going all day long.  Our plan is to camp out in the guest digs until it's done, seeing as our bed will be covered in what else?  Dust.  We'll get to ensure the guest bath is par excellence this way too.

Wish us luck- I'm hopeful they'll be stories to relay here- of the good kind.

Thing 26

At the store today, I just couldn't resist.  My eyes caught it, then my fingers grabbed it, and before I knew it, my hands tossed it into the cart.

The latest issue of "New Jersey Monthly" folks, it's a must have.  Their February issue is the "Italian Food Issue" and is thing 26 I love about my move.

Thank goodness reading it is calorie free!

Good question

The other night, Nelson and I were watching "Extreme Home Makeover".  They were in Joplin, MO to makeover seven homes for the tornado victims.  A lofty goal, for sure.  They typically do one home in seven days time, but this was the mother of all projects for them.

Nelson turns to me and asks " How is it, that our bathroom takes three weeks to build, but they can construct SEVEN HOMES IN SEVEN DAYS?"  Good question.

Suffice it to say, our bathroom has come along very nicely.  The plumber spent the morning here installing the toilet, the cabinet and faucets.  The painter has been here for the past two days giving the walls a bit of love.

Here's the proof:

                                       Counter to the right will be added for a hair/makeup area.

                                 The new hallway; guest room to the left, bathroom on the right.