A Different Kind of Project

These past two months we have embarked on a different kind of project. Our bathroom, parts of which may have been original to our 1969 condo, needed some help. I made a list of all the reasons why, but let's just say it starts with mildew and broken fixtures and ends in asbestos and cracking walls. After living with it for seven years (and saving our pennies), it was finally time for a change!

This is also a different type of project than you usually read about on this blog because it was absolutely not DIY. While the Mr. has some tiling skills and I love a good project, re-doing our only bathroom when we both work full time and have very little experience in the area was not going to happen. So we moved out for six weeks while the dust and debris took over our living room. Luckily, we have some very good friends and family who let us rotate through their houses while the bathroom took shape. We handed the keys over to our friend and contractor and didn't even paint a wall or hang a light fixture. We did, however, choose and source all the materials and designs, from the sink faucet to the tile pattern. THAT was fun (and still a lot of work!).  

Unlike previous experiences with contractors hired by the HOA or insurance (we have had our share of water damage issues in the building), our contractor did an AMAZING job. He was super responsive and kept us up to date, his craftsmanship (and that of his subcontractors) is beautiful, and he managed to stay on time even after some set-backs from city inspectors. That was a big relief! 

So are you curious about what it looked like? I just love a good before and after!

The new bathroom feels so bright and clean, and very luxurious! You'll notice that we kept the same layout as before: from the hallway you enter the vanity room with a sink and mirror. Then, to the left is the wash closet with toilet and bath/shower. While we could have opened this space up to make things feel airier, with only one bathroom we really love the convenience of being able to have one person shower while the other still has access to the sink and mirror in the mornings. Plus, no fog on the mirror! We did replace the door with a pocket door, which gives you much more room to get in and out!

We also have a lot more storage now with more drawers, a medicine cabinet, a cabinet above the toilet, and two shower nooks. The tile now goes all the way up to the ceiling and we added frameless glass doors so everything feels taller and more open. Plus, the showerhead is now actually tall enough for an adult to fit under without an extender. While we could have ditched the tub altogether, it's nice to have it for soaking laundry and bathing the dog. We added a handheld hose for even easier bathing and washing.

After six weeks out of our home followed by the holidays, I am so happy to be home. Not only do we have a shiny new bathroom but I missed sewing! I did complete some knitting projects that I'll share soon, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to my machine in the new year.

Here's to fresh beginnings in 2020 and achieving some long-held projects!


Supplies List:

• Accent tile: Sonoma Tilemakers Hex in Mystic Blue, Damask, and San Clemente
• All other tiles: All Natural Stone in Berkeley
• Granite: Formation Stone African Rainbow Granite
• Paint: Benjamin Moore Sea Star and Chantilly Lace
• Tub: Kohler Bellwether
• Toilet: Kohler San Souci
• Sink: Kohler Verticyl Vitreous China Undermount
• Showerhead: Pulse Aquarius
• Tub faucet: Symmons Identity
• Sink faucet: Moen Genta
• Shower door: Maax Luminescence
• Vanity and cabinet: Jenson Danville
• Medicine cabinet: CB2 Infinity
• Bathroom hardware: CB2 Rough Cast Bathroom Hardware
• Vanity lights: George Kovacs Tube 3-Light
• Drawer pulls: Liberty Drawer Pull