The start of a new era. Or blog category.
Originally, N and I had seriously considered taking AE on a vacation this summer – just the three of us. We were going to leave Miss T with the grandparents and head to Denver for a trip down memory lane. None of us has been back to Colorado since we moved away almost six (!) years ago, and AE is old enough now to enjoy a trip like that, I think. But we could never seem to agree on a time to go, and I hate vacations where renting a car is involved, and AE claims to hate flying, and finally we just decided to hold off for another year or two when Miss T is old enough to join us.
So now the money we had planned to use for that is burning a hole in our pockets. And in a development I will no doubt live to regret, I believe we have decided to spend it updating the master bathroom.
Before we even moved into the house (July 2006), we knew that the master bath would require updating. We didn’t have the money to do it before we moved in, what with purchasing a refrigerator, having the carpets cleaned and doing some badly needed painting. We figured we would live with it until the next summer.
The next summer rolled around and I was pregnant with Miss T. One should never make important decisions while pregnant, plus babies are expensive so we decided to wait another year.
Summer 2008 arrived, but given our out-of-control daycare expenses for two kids and the fact that N had recently been let go from his side job, we couldn’t afford it then either.
So here we are, sick of the old-lady wallpaper, tired of the fugly light fixtures, and annoyed with only having one functioning hot water faucet (I somehow broke the handle off mine sometime last fall). The time has come. And I am already considering putting it off for yet another year, just so we don’t get a divorce.
Sweet fancy Moses, this is a bad idea. Neither of us is good at interior decorating and we are both paralyzed by indecision. We can’t even agree on what to watch on TV, is there even a chance in hell that we’ll be able to agree on a major decision such as this? (Hint: NO.) I have an idea of what I want, but don’t know how to describe it to a professional and bring it to fruition. N doesn’t really know what he wants, but knows that he doesn’t like my ideas. (And of course has no reasonable or serious alternatives to offer. Last night, after standing in the bathroom tossing around ideas, he suggested having an artistic friend sketch a mural on the wall - of a man sitting on the toilet. Or a nautical theme, complete with anchors and fishing nets. Thanks for the input, babe.)
Here’s the rundown: we don’t want to gut the bathroom at this point. While not ideal, the countertops, bathtub, shower and cabinets are all fine for now. The floor will eventually be replaced throughout the entire house (You know. Someday.) so we’re leaving that alone too. I think that getting rid of the wallpaper and replacing the light fixtures and faucets will go a long way in updating the room. Basically, I want something with a serene, spa-like feel. I would like to use a pale shade of aqua if we can make it work. We would also like to incorporate some tiling on the walls. However, N strongly prefers subway tile, I like glass tile. N is offended by the amount of wall space I suggested painting, and I am offended at the amount of money that would be required to tile all of that space. And around we go. You see our dilemma.
See that stupid fake marble crap? I don’t love it on the counters or as the tub and shower, but I can cope. The real bane of my existence is that ugly-ass backsplash. Why did they continue it onto the sides of the cabinets? Was that really necessary? I fail to see how. Either way, it is ugly and I want it to go away. (Also, do you see that little fuzzy-headed baby? Where did she go?)
Not pictured: ornate black and maroon flowered wallpaper border. (Or the broken sink handle.) The border happened to match our maroon towels all this time, but it has GOT TO GO. Along with the brass-accented faucets and light fixtures. Goodbye, Bathroom of the Elderly. It’s been real.
Anyone have any input? My sister’s friend is an interior designer and she has given us a few excellent suggestions already, but I always like to get tons of opinions on this type of thing. I’ve been scouring the internet, looking for pictures that inspire me, but realistically it is going to be a bit difficult with the limited cash we are willing to spend. But! I do love a good challenge, so we’ll see where we end up. Thoughts? Ideas? Cautionary tales? I’ll take anything I can get.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Try a 2″ x 4″ white subway tile is a better fit with the traditional window grid you have behind the tub. The space you have to cover does not appear to large so cost for tile I believe will not be to expensive. While glass tile is also an option, without a complete remodel I don’t think glass “gels” as well with what you have in this bathroom as does timeless subway tile. Just my thoughts anyway.
Good luck,
Steve
June 9th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Oh MY! I love to tell other people how to spend their money. If I were to guess, I would speculate that you wanted a more modern look? Might I suggest watching some HGTV? Things like this are why I HATE HATE HATE living in an apartment. I love to do projects and I just can’t. Boo.
As a compromise, you CAN get glass subway tiles. Just a thought. I also like glass tiles, as well as the metallic ones that are out there these days. Subway ones are cool and retro, but they might date themselves once again.
You MUST get rid of the wallpaper. If it’s on well enough, you can seal and paint over it. Good luck with ripping it off. Either way, I think you’ll find that a coat of paint will do wonders. Fix the faucet, paint the walls, update the light fixtures. Small things go a long way so you don’t have to go crazy.
I’m a fan of glass block showers in case you were wondering. You didn’t mention that part, but I thought I’d throw that out there.
You could also install some sort of frame around the mirror or replace the big one with two smaller, more decorative ones.
Look into how much a new vanity would be. With out without under-mount sinks, whatever your preference is.
Oh God, are you sorry you asked? I’m already going nuts over this!
June 10th, 2009 at 7:46 am
We always start with the faucets. Faucets are cheap and easy to replace – for a first timer it’s a 2-3 hour job start to finish including the extra trip to Lowe’s or Home Depot that you will no doubt have to make (here’s a hint, you need both caulk AND plumber’s tape to install all parts of a new faucet/drain assembly). We’ve done so many, Clinton can do it in less than an hour.
I’m not a fan of mixed metals – pick a metal and stick with it. If you like gold, you pick colors for your paint that go with gold, if you like silver, same thing, if you like bronze, if you go for brushed aluminum, everything should be brushed aluminum, no shiny aluminum mixed in…blah blah blah. Light fixtures should match in both style and color to the faucets, and by that I mean, round soft style to round soft style, or modern squared style to modern squared style – and take a moment to look at your door knob – I like those to match too (don’t look at my bathroom, I’m not talking about what I HAVE, I’m talking about what I LIKE.)
Sorry, N, but I’m going to side with NSM on most of these decisions based purely on the man on the toilet mural suggestion – you kind of lost any hope of being allowed to have input.
PS – I’m going to guess that the reason they took the fake marble down the side of the cabinet was to protect cabinet from the water from crazy splashy bath takers.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I probably should have mentioned that we are not actually planning on doing the work ourselves. We have a recommendation for a reasonably-priced remodeling/painting guy that we are most likely going to use. If we tried to do the work ourselves I could go ahead and have the divorce papers drawn up right now.