Joy in the simple things...

November 4, 2007

The cement guys were back out first thing this morning to finish up the cement job. We now have a foundation for the 6x8 bathroom addition. It has occurred to me that my once ‘closet sized’ bathroom is soon to be a ‘walk-in closet sized’ bathroom.

Brings tears to my eyes…

A Woman's Perogative

November 3, 2007

Much to my amazement the cement guys came out and poured the cement today! WooHoo!!! Hubby said that he will try to get the building inspector out on Monday to inspect the cement.

On another note-(you may want to sit down for this one as it may come as a total shock) I have decided to go with the beadboard instead of the wainscoting. I know, I know, I seemed pretty sure about it last week but this time I am sure. At least pretty sure. Well fairly sure. Almost entirely sure. No, yes I am sure-wainscoting it is! I mean beadboard…

After all, I am female which gives me full entitlement to change my mind as often as necessary to achieve the goal of a beautiful bathroom (not to mention driving those around me crazy:).

Still waiting...

November 1, 2007

I surfed the Internet in search of ceiling medallions and wood appliqués for the ceiling treatment. I have found several which I emailed to hubby (I gave mom a break on this one). We are still working on this design.

Despite my excitement over the passing of the building inspection I have yet to see any cement poured. Hmmm. Wonder when that will happen...

Lights, Architecture, Action?

October 31st, 2007

The last of the five light fixtures arrived today and it is beautiful!
I received a call with a quote for the decorative ceiling tiles-$17 per tile. The ceiling cost would be around $400 so we have decided to try something else. We are thinking about doing something with decorative moldings on the ceiling. I have several ideas we just need to decide which one is the most feasible.
We discussed the beadboard for the walls and at this point (notice that I don’t make any kind of declarative statements anymore-I have learned to make tentative statements when remodeling) we have decided to go with wainscoting.

Hubby ordered the windows today. No Palladian.

Mom was able to send us the history on the architectural pieces (columns and stained glass). It is very interesting. The pieces were salvaged from a notable historic home in Georgia. Our walls might not talk but our architectural pieces sure do!

Color schemes...

Monday October 29, 2007

I returned the small rug for the bathroom.
I realized that it was too small and that a longer rug would look better. While at the store I found a rug that I liked better (3½x5)- hopefully it will work.

I found the curtains that I was looking for at a big box store. Unlike the set that I really liked from a catalog ($150 for the set) these were only $30.

The county building inspector arrived this afternoon and passed the work thus far. He told hubby that it wasn’t necessary to have the dirt inspection done for such a small job. Now he tells us! We could have had the concrete poured by now if we had known that! Oh well, we will be getting the concrete poured soon-hubby is trying to finalize it with the concrete company.
We have finally decided on a 36” wide window for the center window without the Palladian window. The Palladian window would look nice but I think it will look just as nice without it and save us some money.

As for the color scheme…
Originally I was going with black and white with red accents. Then I saw a beautiful picture in my favorite magazine which got me to thinking. So I started planning a slight change in the décor colors. I found curtains and a rug in the new gold and red colors. The red colors are more of a rusty red so I purchased some towels in this color too. I figure this muted red color won’t run or fade as badly as the deeper burgundy towels I have had in the past. The black and white background will make a beautiful backdrop for the soft golds and reds. Instead of painting the upper walls in a burgundy color I am leaning toward a dusty gold. I may even use a fleur-de-lis pattern on the walls in a flat paint so that the design is subtle. I was also considering doing a faux wainscoting instead of the beadboard but hubby said that the beadboard would be easier. This discussion is still ongoing...

Looking up...

Saturday October 27, 2007

I bought a small rug for the bathroom.

We are awaiting quotes on decorative Victorian ceiling tiles. We decided that we will use a regular wood molding instead of the moldings that match the ceiling tiles to save money.

The remodeling wheels are turning...

Friday October 26, 2007

The dirt inspector arrived! And we passed the dirt inspection!
Hubby called the county inspector who will be out on Monday. From there we will arrange the concrete delivery!

Waiting...

Thursday October 25, 2007
Hubby called Gary who called the dirt inspector and was told that everything is running behind schedule due to the rain.

We are still waiting.

Hubby finished removing the old tub and part of the drywall in the bathroom.

The list (and the expense) continues...

Wednesday October 24, 2007

Still no dirt inspector

I went to the tile store to order the decorative tiles for the platform step. After consulting with Lisa at the antiques shop I have decided to go with the black tiles. The tiles are handmade in California. After reading about the company on their website I was very happy with the choice. All of the tiles are made in America at their studios.

· Decorative tiles-$267

The reason for the insanity...

Tuesday October 23, 2007

Darryl called me at lunchtime. The tub is here and sitting in our driveway! WooHoo!

No sign of the dirt inspector.

Afternoon-The tub was in a crate sitting in the driveway when I got home. After Darryl removed the crate from around the tub I sat in it to try it out. Darryl had a friend from work come over and help him carry it into the living room. I proceeded to fill the tub with blankets and some pillows. I spent some time watching TV and talking on the phone to mom while sitting in the tub in the middle of the living room floor. HeeHee!

The feet for the tub are beautiful. They are detailed claw and ball feet (bird feet) with swirls at the top.

A step up...

Monday October 22, 2007

I went to the local tile store after work to pick up the bathroom tile as it had arrived sometime last week. The decision was made to build a platform for the tub to sit upon, and to hide the plumbing, creating a 6” step up to the tub. This got me to thinking that perhaps we could use decorative tile on the step up. While I was at the tile store I found a beautiful raised fleur-de-lis tile that comes in black or white. I took the tile samples home and hubby also liked them. Now comes the hard part. Which color-black or white? Hubby scoffed at the price ($17 per tile) but I reminded him that we saved so much money by going with an inexpensive tile choice (8x8” black and white tiles) for the rest of the bathroom that we could now splurge a little on the decorative tile. Ah, a woman’s logic-there is none other in the world like it.

Did I mention that about two weeks ago mom found a bathtub basket at a yard sale that fits across the tub to hold the soaps and shampoos for twenty-five cents? At least we got a bargain on something!

The dirt inspector (he inspects the tamped down dirt to make sure it is solid enough before the concrete is poured) is supposed to come out today. On our ‘list of requirements’ from the county we have to have the tamped dirt inspected to make sure that it is properly tamped down. Of course, the building inspector can’t come out until this is done and the concrete can’t be poured until the building inspector has approved the work!

Lighten up!

*******

Friday afternoon

Gary was finishing the rebar as I pulled into the driveway. WooHoo! One step closer to a hot soak in an old tub!

So far four of the five reproduction light fixtures have arrived (more arrived today).

They are beautiful!

Nothing but dirt...

Friday October 19, 2007

Gary was supposed to come out to put rebar down earlier in the week but has been delayed with his regular job. He is coming out this morning to do the rebar. Unfortunately we can’t get the building inspector out until the rebar is done and we can’t get the concrete poured until the building inspector comes out! Ugh!!!

Stained Glass Dilemma...

Thursday, October 18, 2007

It’s Thursday and as soon as the antique mall opens I will call to layaway the stained glass (the layaway plan was for three months so it didn’t seem like such a huge amount all at once-ah, the art of justification!). I was very excited. At 11:00 I called. The other owner answered. I told her that I was calling about the stained glass that mom and grandma had found the previous Saturday. With disappointment in her voice she said that it was sold the previous Saturday.

My heart sank.

But that’s alright, I’ll find something. The search continues-I put this piece of stained glass out of my mind and start searching the website that I found earlier in the week with several other pieces of stained glass.

I can’t help thinking about the piece of stained glass from the antique mall. But I put it out of my head-no sense thinking about it now-it’s sold.

Ugh-I should have bought it!

I keep searching and find a couple of pieces that I like. I called the place in Pennsylvania and had them place a hold on two stained glass windows-I won’t make the mistake of not acting quickly enough again!

Still trying not to think about the piece of stained glass from the antique mall.

I continue telling myself that the stained glass I have on hold will be great in the bathroom. Then again there are other options-I even found an inexpensive and creative solution using a stained glass fireplace screen from a national department store to save some money until I find a piece that I like as much as the one that I missed out on at the antique mall! I will call the place in Pennsylvania tomorrow and tell them that I don’t want either piece that I have on hold. (I want the piece from the antique mall but it’s sold so don’t think about it anymore!)

Mom calls me later in the afternoon with amazement in her voice. She informs me that grandma was the one who bought the piece of stained glass at the antique mall! I am so excited! Her reason behind the purchase was that she felt the piece belonged in our family. Hubby and I will make payments to her until we pay it off.
Stained glass dilemma solved!

Back to the construction:
Gary can’t make it out as he had to work late again. He will be out tomorrow morning to do the rebar.
And so the saga continues...