Picking the pretty

The last week has been spent picking out materials for the bathrooms, and signing off on the cabinets and vanity designs.  I'm pleased to report that decisions have been made!

Master Bath
The master bath is (predictably) going to be white and sparkly, and (hopefully) spa-like.

The free-standing tub will look something like this.

Wall sconces (the crystal doo-dad is a lot whiter than this photo suggests).

Decided to go with a single sink.  This one is 30" long, so two people easily could brush their teeth at the same time without spitting on each other's head.  I think.  

The vanity is a custom piece that will be (duh) white.  It also will float on the wall, which will make the dog hair easier to sweep.  :-)

From a materials point of view, the floor tiles are dark brown, with the look of wood grain.  Sadly, this doesn't photograph well, so just picture dark wood but in tile.

Maybe this photographs better.  At the top of the photo is the coolest accent tile.  We will use this big bubble motif as an accent in the shower.  Below it, looking a bit like crushed crystal, is another accent tile that also will be used as the tile in the shower stall.  At the bottom is the countertop (which might be marble, or it might be granite - this requires further investigation).  And the big white tile in the background is ... the big white tile that we will install in some sort of brick pattern in the shower.

And in a rare burst of colour, a nice botanical fabric will be used for curtain panels on the window behind the tub.

Guest Bathroom

The guest bath will be light and sparkly too.  The countertop is a quartz with lots of little iridescent sparkly bits.  The grooved subway tile looks a lot like the tile in the kitchen - white with a bamboo texture.  The little mosaic marble bars will be used as accent.

The wall sconces are nice and shiny too.

The vanity will be custom built and will be a fairly standard 48" wide, white one with lots of storage.  The faucet is what I fondly refer to as "the puking water kind".

So that's most of it.  The electrician is first up, as he needs to rough in the myriad lights for this reno.  He also will advise whether placing a chandelier over a bathtub is "to code".  Seriously, what could be the danger of putting a large pendant light fixture over a steaming tub of water?

It's ON!!!!

You knew it was coming.  And now that spring is here, my thoughts have turned to a master bath reno.  And you know, while that wall is open ...

In order to make the bathroom big enough for a free-standing tub and a decent sized shower, the wall had to be moved out about 4 feet.

This meant that the original window in the bedroom needed to be replaced with a smaller one, and then a second window was added to the bathroom, to give some balance to the exterior of the house.  The free-standing tub will go on this wall, and we'll hang a little chandelier over the tub to give it some bling. Because you can never have enough chandeliers.

The little walk-in closet was annexed to make room for the shower.  It's going to be a good-sized shower too - hexagonal and about 4' by 3' by whatever measurement that long piece is between the two sides.  

So there it is, in its gutted glory.  The scope of the master bath reno involves:

• Creating larger overall space
• Installing large custom vanity with deep trough sink and natural stone top
• New flooring with heated undermats
• Installing custom shower with built in shelving and multiple shower heads
• Installing free-standing tub
• Subway tiles where required
• Recessed lighting
• Chandelier over tub
• Sconces flanking mirror
• New mirror
• Installing a skylight (and what the heck, let's do a new roof while you're up there)
• New toilet (because even toilets can be pretty)

Of course, when you remove a girl's walk-in closet, that must be addressed too.  To that end, then, the scope of the master bedroom reno involves:

• Custom closets and built-ins for clothes and shoe storage
• New carpet
• Smooth the ceiling (because flocked ceilings should be illegal)
• New chandelier
• New light fixture near entrance to bathroom
• Recessed lighting
• Bed solution for Lou (seriously - his Big Chair might not fit in the new bedroom)

I'm working with the same great team that did last year's reno, and I'm confident we'll achieve the same great results.  We've finished selecting most materials, and work should begin very soon.

The Reveal, Part 2

Kitchen

BEFORE:  It was a standard 10x10 kitchen that was built in 1993 and changed not a jot since then.

AFTER:  What can I say - it's my dream kitchen.  Tons of cabinets, new appliances, lots of lighting.... oh, and the popcorn ceiling is gone!

I am insanely in love with my fridge.

The backsplash is a large subway tile with a texture sort of like bamboo.  I think it goes nicely with the dark granite counter tops.

The counter top kicks out to make a little breakfast bar (and an excellent place for kneading dough and other large-scale pastry activities).

In easy reach is my collection of cook books.

DINING ROOM

BEFORE:  I actually used this area as the living room when I first moved in.  

AFTER: A new chandelier, and replacing the sliding door with french doors, and now it's a sparkly place to eat.

I use this bank of cabinets as sort of a sideboard right now.

The cabinet makers were very good at maximizing space.  There are lots of clever little shelves and such built into the cabinets.

Living Room

BEFORE:  The front room and the dining room in the original layout had no windows facing the yard, save for the pokey little sidelights in the dining room area.

This did not exactly let the light pour in.

AFTER:  Well, I can't throw stones now, because I live in a big ol' glass house!

The two sets of french doors, plus the enormous windows that mimic the roof line, make this a very happy place to be.

Whereas before the vaulted ceiling made this room a depressing cave, now it makes it ten kinds of awesome!

Three border collies + a white leather sectional.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Yard

BEFORE:  Ah yes, the reason I bought this place.  The yard was a little hopeless back in October, but as ugly as it was, it was BIG, and with the house squished way up in the corner of the lot, that meant a ton of room for the dogs.

Look at the windowless side of the house.  

AFTER:  A new lawn with irrigation system, 104 cedar hedges, two big garden beds, three raised veggie beds, a new cedar fence, and an interlocking paver patio have made this just an excellent place to hang when the sun is out.

Doesn't the house look better with the doors and windows?

So far, the dogs haven't ruined the garden.  The key is not to plant anything in the flight path.

Lou says thanks for following our renovation.  We are all very glad that all the dust and noise are gone.  Given the horror stories I've heard about renovations, I have to say mine was painless.  I love the results, and I can't wait for the next one.  Wait ... next one?  Nah, I think I'll live with things just as they are for a while.  Except the master bath.  How hard can it be to change the tub?  And add a walk-in shower?  And double vanity?  Just a little renovation, probably won't take more than a month ....

The Reveal, Part 1

It has been brought to my attention that I never showed the "after" shots of my renovation.  Epic fail!  I've been more or less done with the reno for about a month now, and I love my house so much!  That the weather here has been spectacular hasn't hurt my romance with my house either.

So without further delay, here is The Reveal.

Exterior Front

BEFORE:  Back in October, one could say the house lacked curb appeal.

AFTER:  A new front door, a new gable, and some landscaping gives the house a nicer look.  Plus, the door is the same colour as the door at my old condo - win!

Hallway

BEFORE:  The tragedy that was dirty pink carpet and possibly the slipperiest tiles known to man.

AFTER:  A new bit of carpet, and the same hardwood flooring throughout the main floor.

Powder Room

BEFORE:  Located under the stairs, this room made me really claustrophobic.  

AFTER:  The ceiling was raised, and new pretty plumbing and lighting, plus a lovely coat of paint, make this a very pretty powder room now.