| Author | Message | ||
     greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9423 Registered: 5-2001  |
I can't get my upstairs bathroom out of my mind. It's an OCD thing. This is what happened with the kitchen. It started with a mental plan for a $1 or $2k spruce up, to last about 4-5 years and ended up a full-blown six-figure kitchen-bathroom-den-heating-central air-deck-landscaping extravaganza. We seriously don't have the money for more of this nonense right now. But, here's the thing: we have this gawd-awful sky-blue high-80s fashion tile all over the bathroom (floors, 2/3 up walls), a sky blue bathtub, toilet and teeny-weeny double sinks. Rust old 80's scrolly-fancy medicine cabinets and a laminated brown cabinet & counter where everything gets jumbled up no matter how many times i clean it out. Did I mention the fleur-de-lis hanging light fixtures, one of which is broken? Can't forget the paisley wall paper, which covers everything that the tiles does not, including the ceiling. Oh, the tiles are falling off the wall and the wall paper is starting to pull away. We handled the falling tiles (too numerous to regrout and caulk around, as we did for years) by enclosing the entire shower in curtains to stop the leak into the ceiling below. Attractive picture in the mind, isn't it? So, I'm thinking that, since I know what I want to do, I can buy a few pieces now. Like the stand-alone set of drawers. I can put in the drawer dividers and clear out the medicine chest and cabinet. Maybe get new light fixtures that won't match now, but I will want when we renovate. Would bathroom carpet be really gross? Probably. Nah, forget that one. Take down the medicine cabinets and put mirrors over them. Perhaps paint over the wall paper for now. My vision for the future is all classic white subway tile, white tub, toilet and large console sink. Small black & white tiles for the floor. Classic 1920/30s. Large mirror, no cabinets or medicine cabinets. Just a tall, thin etagiere and a chest of drawers to store things in. We will have to rerun the pipes down to the basement, which adds $$$. Will someone please talk me out of this? Renovating the whole thing right now is just not an option. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 3193 Registered: 9-2003  |
Well...maybe you could. Take it apart, piece by piece. Is it a bathroom you could live without for a couple of of months while you do this stuff. Make a project plan and supplies list for everything. Buy the parts you can. Take a tiling class so you can do yourself. Do the demo yourself. You've got an electrician. Maybe you're just down to the plumber costs, plus supplies. I'm the wrong person to dissuade you. We redid both baths and the kitchen in our old house. It was wonderful, and we did subway title thing (white with black bits, white with navy bits and then accent tile in those colors). I still miss those bathrooms, and my kitchen. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9425 Registered: 5-2001 |
Go away, Cyn.   | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 3194 Registered: 9-2003 |
Couldn't help it. I think about stuff like that, too. | ||
| melicious Citizen Username: Melicious Post Number: 793 Registered: 6-2002  |
...think about the lawsuits...think about the posting time it will all incur...think of TS... | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9427 Registered: 5-2001 |
True. We'll need a good divorce attorney and a criminal defense attorney. Not necessarily in that order..... | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 5024 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hehe Gtree, I am in the same boat, and I want the same things for our bathrooms too! The girls bathroom has white 4x4 tile that looks relatively new, but the shower floor needs regrouting. The entire bathroom floor is hideous white wall tile (must have been on sale because it's on part of the kitchen floor) laid over what looks like vinyl tile. We've peeled most of the wallpaper off, there's too much dark wood waiscoting, moulding, vanity top (some will get painted, some torn out) but for the floor I was thinking what would be a good DIY solution? Maybe a sturdier vinyl tile to hold us over 5 - 10 years? | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9428 Registered: 5-2001 |
VIG - we can start a RA group. Meet at the Women's Club. Hi. I'm GT. I want to pull out my light fixtures and we can't afford to replace them. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 3195 Registered: 9-2003 |
I really do think that learning how to tile well would be worthwhile skill. My experience is that it's one of the most attractive things to do, and expensive labor-wise. But also something you don't want eff'ed up with lousy do-it-yourselfness. Yet seems highly learn-how-to-able if you're methodical(unlike, say, plumbing). Vinyl tile is not awful. See it all the time on HGTV and similar, especially when they're trying to sell the house and do quick facelift. I got over my fear of vinyl, especially when you're talkin' a short run solution. Our pink bathroom had had some dreadful white stuff on the floor, with lots of grooves, that was really meant for walls! | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9429 Registered: 5-2001 |
So, Cyn - did you do the tiling yourself? I can envision that the floor would be a lot easier to do than the walls. Maybe if I just did around the tub area? | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2859 Registered: 8-2003  |
GT - Please do not take advice from VIG. She has a serious problem. She needed to renovate so badly, she upped and MOVED need I say more? | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 3196 Registered: 9-2003 |
No, and sorry if I gave that impression. We did mucho demo. Curt's nephew worked for a big contractor, and did "side jobs." He and we did all of our demo, hung cabinets, all painting, etc. We were basically the nephews workers The nephew hired out for tiling, plumbing, electrical. Couple of years ago (B.C. if you know what I mean) up here, we got tiling through a handyman/small contractor who brough a buddy in. Every job seems to start at $900, and I can see why. Several cycles of work from mud to the end. If you are interested in the guy who did our teensy facelift (maybe just Botox? fixed/re-tiled floor, installed shower door, installed new oval mirror med cab, painting,) I can provide. We retained pink tub, had had toilet and sink replaced when we moved it. HE had me go buy floor tile, med cabinet, interior shutters, shower door. I call it a facelift cuz re kep the wall pink tile and fixtures, but neutralized the pink by having the accent (burgundy) painted white, doing white shutters/valance, finding cool tile that knits the differing pinks together, and went with light taupe walls. My bath is not ready for TV but it is SO much better than it was... | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4573 Registered: 12-2004  |
Better Pippi said it than me! My mother has that bug. She cannot stop renovating and redecorating. Luckily she has 2.5 homes to do it in. She makes the rounds through both (she doesn't really do much with .5 since it's a rental), which usually takes a few years, and then she starts all over again. Right now she's in the process of refacing the cabinets in her kitchen and getting new countertops. All this in a kitchen that was brand new 10 years ago! She decided to do this after she found out the new cabinets she wanted would have cost her $50,000, so I guess I gotta give her credit for that. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4574 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sorry, GT. My 2 cents: It's going to take willpower on your part, but I think the ideas you have sound great for an update that won't cost too much. There might be a way to work with the blue tile (are they nice original or a crappy update sometime in the 60's?) to lessen the impact of all that blue, depending on what other colors you choose to put with it. Or, you might find that once you remove all those horrific sounding fixtures, it's not too awful after all. | ||
| Mergele Citizen Username: Mergele Post Number: 449 Registered: 7-2003  |
I inherited robin's-egg blue tub and tile, with matching double sinks (cracked and chipped) dropped into a 70s-era bad fake woodgrain vanity, and a blue-grey faux marble formica countertop that was so worn that you had to squint to see the remaining marble effect. Oh, and the POs had put in a bottom-of-the-line almond toilet about 10 years ago. Tile was in fair shape, so I had my handyman regrout and fix a couple of loose tiles. He also put in a nice, shiny white toilet. When I refaced my kitchen cabinets, I refaced the icky vanity, and it's now white with brushed silver-tone hardware. New formica countertop is a quiet grayish blue that works with the tile. Sinks were replaced with new shiny white ones courtesy of HD. I found a silly, cheerful ruber duckie shower curtain that picked up exactly the right shade of blue (sheer luck), and the proceeded to paint the walls an exuberantly cheerful shade of yellow to coordinate with the duckies  It's finally done, and it's nothing that I would have chosen if I was starting from scratch (I too have fantasies about white subway tile and pedestal sinks), but it all works together and the total cost was probably well under $5k. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 2200 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'm in the middle of a kitchen reno. Of course, one day a few weeks ago, I realized the upstairs bathroom is leaking. I had hoped to start the bath in a couple of weeks -- but the kitchen still has a way to go. I put the bath off -- there is just SO much chaos that I can stand at once. (and of course, it was NOT the upstairs bath that was next on the list of projects, but the dining room!) Now Greentree, given that your kitchen and other projects have been done for a while -- I think you just ought to rationalize, I mean figure out, why the bath must be done NOW! 1) it will be cold soon, and you need a nice bath with a warm floor (you were thinking of a heated floor, right?) 2) you may see your dream home (at a fire sale!) in the next few months, and need to get the most out of your current place that you can 3) The falling tiles are a potential hazard, God forbid you or TS are hurt 4) TS secretly wants to do the bath, too, she just won't admit it 6) You may as well spend the year end bonus (next year's tax refund?) now 7) Its too hard to keep a blue/brown bathroom clean, and after all, cleanliness is next to Godliness! 8) You really need to start a new blog on MOL -- and the bathroom reno is perfect for that 9) Since the, um, legal issues, with your previous contractor, the next contractor you pick will be perfect 10) The best time for work on your new bathroom will be that one evening a week (Wednesday was it?) when the church group is praying next door. Either the loud noise will keep them away or drown out their prayers and singing. Let's help her out -- gotta be more reasons we can give her to DO THIS PROJECT! /p | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 5025 Registered: 5-2001 |
I love it Pete...finally SOMEONE who gets us! And FWIW, I didn't move to renovate. We needed more space and found a fixer upper that fit the bill. I'm very grateful we made this decision BEFORE plopping 40k into an attic reno! | ||
| Drew Citizen Username: Dhearon Post Number: 58 Registered: 2-2005  |
If it were any other room than the bathroom, I'd say do it....but aside from the money (we both know this will grow to a $20,000 endeavor), think of the time commitment. Once you start, you better be ready to dive in head first. Better to take the time and really do it the way you want, even if it takes an extra year or two of planning. We had ours redone in that style (White subway tile, etc.) it looks beautiful. (free Plug for my wifes design tactics and our contractor, Mr. Bill Rega :-) ) | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2864 Registered: 8-2003 |
ooohhhh you moved to AVOID renovating I got it [I'm just playing with you, y'know. you're such an easy target.] I have no advice for GT because, while I desperately want to renovate, I fear it terribly  | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9434 Registered: 5-2001 |
Pete- you make the most wonderful points. To be honest, the main reason not to tackle this now (other than the bothersome funding issue) is my mom. I can just see starting a major renovation and then having to go spend a few weeks in OH. I would come home to find no one but the contractor. But it would give me more closet space.... The single best thing anyone said was "under $5k". I am convinced that I can do the whole thing for $15k, so it would be ludicrous to spend almost a third of the whole job on a face lift. Thanks for the reality-check. I figure this: 1. Get a demo guy to rip it all out. 2. Have my plumber install the fixtures as long as he's there doing the pipe work. 3. My electrician can run a couple outlets. 4. Get a tile person. 5. Bring in a painter because they are going to have to cut thru walls in the living room and hallway to run the pipes. So, they can paint everything. Hell, I'll have them rock the bathroom. I have no desire to buy high-end fixtures. I have narrowed the console sink I want down to either the $700 single, huge basin or the $1500 smaller, double basin. The average age of our towels and bathmats is 5.7 years, so I figure that I'll register at BB&B for towels, toothbrush holders and the like and then throw a bathroom warming party. I'm kidding about the party. It's too small a room to invite more than 3 people. | ||
| Sherri De Rose Citizen Username: Honeydo Post Number: 444 Registered: 11-2005 |
Greenetree, let me take a look one day. You and I can work on alot of the stuff together as a "sweat equity" thing. It will make a good winter project. I have been tiling lately and it is backbreaking and exacting but we can do it. | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1837 Registered: 3-2002 |
GT, It doesn't have to be expensive...I spruced 2 bathrooms & redid two. One of the spruce-up was also missing a few tiles...I went to the Tile World place on Rt 22 that has old tiles & bought the few I needed & put them in & regrouted & caulked myself - it was easy & I could teach you quickly - but basically if you can put cream cheese on a bagel you can do minor tile repair. I had a plumber replace faucets, shower head & toilet & had a new light fixture put in. Removed wallpaper & painted & got a big 50's alien movie poster to make the most of the era bathroom. The powder room I fluffed: had the wall tiles sprayed, replaced sink & toilet & light fixture, removed paper/painted & put this on the floor (cut around toilet) http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/ch_floormats.html to cover the ugly tile...have a different color in entry & it is fine with water/dirt - very tough, as it's vinyl. I spent very little in terms of labor & both were very quick fixes, so it wasn't long & drawn out at all. I think there's a way to fluff & satisfy for the time... Go for it!! | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2869 Registered: 8-2003 |
while we're on the topic of sprucing up a bathroom, we decided to replace the vanity in our main bathroom. I checked Lowe's and Home Depot's website and they aren't my style. Any good resources for not-so-expensive, cool looking (not traditional) vanities? thanks! | ||
| george H Citizen Username: Georgieboy Post Number: 335 Registered: 8-2005 |
Community Plumbing on the center island of Rt.22 in Springfield,where the center island literally comes to an end.Fairly lg. selection on the floor.Some cheaper than others.Some floor models.Worth a look. | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1839 Registered: 3-2002 |
agree on Community Plumbing...also Ikea | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2870 Registered: 8-2003 |
Thanks George and doulamomma will check out Community Plumbing our current vanity is from IKEA (I think) One of the reasons we want to replace it is because we need drawers and shelves. I will check them, but for some reason I convinced myself they didn't have anything like that. | ||
| Sherri De Rose Citizen Username: Honeydo Post Number: 445 Registered: 11-2005 |
How about turning an old dresser into your vanity. The bowl can either be a vessel or sunken. We are currently doing that with a white dresser I found for $55.00, a red glass vessel sink I found on ebay for $75.00 and wall faucets. (not cheap but online better than others). The drawers can be reconfigured so that they open and close around the pipes. I can't wait til it's finished. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2871 Registered: 8-2003 |
Sherri - I bet it looks great! (just not our "thing") We aren't that into "old" ... we like new and modern nothing fussy, very clean lines. Also, we are limited by space. I don't think we could put more than a 30" vanity in the space we have, which doesn't give us too many options. I checked IKEA. Just as I suspected, their vanities only have an adjustable shelf. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9442 Registered: 5-2001 |
Pip - the consoles I'm eyeing are on this sight. I don't know how they are price-wise but they seem to have a huge variety of styles from traditional to outer-space. My dad just put the waterfall faucet featured on the home page in his powder room. Not my style, but it's fun to play with. http://www.rensup.com/ Doula- I replaced tile in our old bathroom, so that's not a problem. The tile itself, is, well.... I wish that I weren't too lazy to move all the wires and get to the serial port so that I could upload a picture. Close your eyes. Envision an egg, standing up on end. Now, give that egg a neck at the top. No head, just a neck. Give it a mirror image tail at the bottom. Or, envision an interlocking patio paver, more rounded than octagonal, with two square pieces on opposing sides. Color the whole thing sky-blue with a sort-of whitish subtle ripple-textured overlay. And you want me to put more of that on my walls? As I said earlier, it's everywhere and overwhelms the bathroom. So, until that goes, I'm afraid that I won't be happy. Sherri - interesting proposition. We'll see what happens when I'm ready to tackle this. |
