Coastal Bathroom Remodel

If you've been following the 60's bathroom renovation in our home over the last few years, I am pleased to say I am COMPLETELY DONE!!

One thing I have been working on is "framing" our built in cabinet. I stalked the internet for days to find a thick molding  idea that worked for us. Ultimately to cut cost, I went with MDF boards and crown moulding.

(See links above to see transformation on the framing it in).

But first, I'd like to share the completed project!

(Below: All framed in and pretty!! Coastal accents bought on a budget in various places)

(Below: Still need to touch up paint in some areas)

(Below: Built in is framed and pretty - decorated with Coastal accents from all over)

(Below: Coral bought at The Green Turtle in Siesta Key, FL (while on vacation last week) for $5.99 - Sea Glass also purcahsed from The Green Turtle for 59 cent each)

(Below: Loved my metal basket SO MUCH, when I first laid eyes on it, knew it would be perfect!)

(Below: Just another view, with flash on)

(Below: Another Coral ($5.99) & Giant Starfish ($4.99) I purchased in Siesta Key, Florida while on vacation this past weekend)

(Below: Probably one of my FAVORITE pieces for the coastal bathroom remodel - An old candle my daughter decorated with sea shells she and Ethan collected off the beautiful white sands of Siesta Key, FL).

(Below: Hot glue and collected sea shells, handmade with LOVE from my daughter, MiMi)

(Below: My baby girl after she made me the seashell candle - A great way to preserve vacation memories!! - I should probably double check my spelling on things, I left off the "ed" in "collected" ;))

(Below: My daughter and her brother collecting the seashells in Siesta Key, Florida last week)

That's it for now, I'll post more vacation photos and portraits I did of family while there on my next blog (hopefully). :))

A budget bathroom upgrade (framing the built ins)

So, I have these built in shelves in my bathroom. Sadly, I do not have a before photo - but if you can, try and imagine these bad boys as being chipped golden oak, that matched all the other 60's dated oak accessories, in a very outdated bathroom. Mmm-hmm - was truly that bad :) To see some before images of the bathroom, feel free to click one of the labels below. Anyway, so after the tile was put up I felt, geez, I love these built ins, but they need some flair! And so I had this idea, to use thick MDF boards and 

paint it white and box it in (farm house style).  I also had to patch up the old drywall. Total cost $30. It's not fully complete, but I wanted to post a sneak peak anyway.

 So here we go..BEFORE: 

My Vision:

After being painted in semi gloss - BRIGHT WHITE :))

The crown moulding I will eventually add to the top to give it a nicer trim (saw this idea on pinterest)

So far:

I had to do a mirror shot, because the toilet was in the way of getting a 

decent shot (they are bigger, the angle makes them appear narrow).

Looks loads better already! I will be sure to post an update when I add the crown moulding and put my items back in the shelves. A cheap upgrade does a world of wonders :))

Farmhouse Inspired Wire Basket

Despite some of the daily stresses and procrastination the last couple of months following my car accident have brought me, I decided today would be high time to get out of the house and ENJOY some stress free time.

 I still haven't received my settlement (and I don't care to be honest, I just want my medical bills taken care of so I am out of the harassment pool with threats of being turned over to collections).

UGH. JOYS of no health insurance and someone else's bad driving - it costs you more than you can imagine.

So instead of dragging around the house, I decided to go out to the pottery with the kids and Doug. While rummaging through things I was "ooooh'ing and aaaah'ing" over, I found these BEAUTIFUL galvanized twisted metal wire baskets!! OH MY WORLD!!

I initially had a locker room basket in my hand, but when I found this one, I was just smitten and had to get it. It had a rustic old farmhouse look to it, and I knew exactly what I wanted it for! - My built in cabinet in the bathroom.

By the way - I am giving that an awesome (budget friendly) HUGE make over. I can NOT wait to share it with you all!! SOON!

But for now, this BEAUTY :)) - I have seen them online for $48, but picked this up for $16! What a steal!

Tile Done!

In my last post, I showed photos of the tile progress to our 65 rancher single bath home. Welp, it has been completed :) All that is left is to fix the dry wall and add the moulding in some areas. But the tile itself is floor to ceiling 12x12 ceramic / porcelain tile up to the ceiling in a brick lay pattern. I have to admit, I was very skeptical on the brick lay for tile, but it looks AMAZING! The glass tile from Milstone really makes this bath. Here are some photos. I absolutely love it!

I have a plumber coming today to check out our leaky valves. Hopefully it goes with out a hitch :) we'll see :) My daughter also had her 7th birthday party (that I planned in a mere 4 days). It went fantastically well and I can't wait to share some photos with you all:) But for now, the tile:

A little side/side comparison of before and after:

The 12x12 tile I bought was the cheapest one Lowe's had: It was Sahara Beige by Surface Source at about 70 cents per tile. (They are actually 57 cent on markdown right now). The Glass mosaic tile is by milstone, and our tile guy gave it to us free, but it's $16 a 12x12 section. The grout was Navajo Brown and the caulk was keracaulk in ivory.

To see all the progress our old bathroom has made over the last 8 years, please click HERE :)

Tiling the bathroom..

In the 65 rancher home, we only have one bathroom. Since the day we moved in 8 years ago, I have wanted to remodel it. - AND - Phase one can be seen here: Phase I Bathroom Remodel- Vanity, Light, Mirror, etc

It basically consisted of a new vanity/sink/counter, a mirror, and new light bar and LOTS of painting.

Phase II has FINALLY gone underway!  The tile I bought 3 years ago has finally been put to use.  We went with a standard tile lay on the floor and a 12 x 12 ceramic tile brick pattern lay in the shower & bath with a mosaic glass tile border (border courtesy of Doug's friend).  Here are a few photos (mind you my photos aren't too great b/c my bathroom is smaller).

Tomorrow Doug's friend will lay the remainder of the shower tile and grout it.  Then we will put the baseboards back up and touch up and re spackle the drywall that was damaged. Can not wait!

Some Before Photos:

Before: vinyl sticky tile and old 60's mini tiles

Before: Check out that water damaged stud when the tile was peeled off! THANKFULLY

that was the only tarnished stud:) - It was replaced..

After (floor, all grouted and pretty) Standard tile lay.

Gorgeous mosaic glass tile! (cut in half for border in shower)

12 x 12 ceramic tile in a brick pattern with mosaic border.

Letting this set over night then Doug's friend will add the rest of the tile and groute tomorrow.

I was skeptical on the 12 x 12 brick pattern tile lay for the shower and bath, but have to

say it has turned out amazing!!

What a difference! Can't wait until it's all grouted and finished. Adding more tile tomorrow.

I will enjoy this!

So, in short, that's what has occupied our weekend. Doug and his friend exhanged labor jobs. Doug will do his car engine and he has done our bathroom tile. I love the work he has done so far:) If you can TRADE labor with a friend, I HIGHLY recommend it! No sense in paying full price when you can trade skills! AND save money! :) I hope to post more photos as this job is completed.