Wednesday, June 29, 2011

POWDER ROOM INSPIRATION

We recently started remodeling our main floor bath...or should I say, I started remodeling the bathroom....hubby hasn't done anything...YET... however, he will be helping with the removing of the toilet, and sink soon...much to my dismay, I thought we would be keeping the green ceramic tile wall...but much to my SURPRISE the hubster said it could go...YES!!!...you can have a peek at that little GREEN bath and the start of that remodeling project HERE...

...I must say, I have been at a loss as to which direction I want to go with this little bath...oh yes, I KNOW one should NOT start a project of this magnitude without knowing all the details first....what colors...what type of flooring, tile, etc....one of these days I will learn to put together an idea notebook first...ONE OF THESE DAYS...

....but for now I will RELY on some inspiration photos as my idea notebook...I love this bath from a recent post on Decor to Adore...




..did I say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this bath and it would be soooo doable IF....I could FIND this wallpaper....I've searched high and low on the internet and local stores for a wallpaper like this, but it's just not out there...ANYWHERE...I've thought of doing a paint technique to mimic this...but I'm not quite sure my painting skills are up to that kind of challenge....we have a sink just like this but a tad smaller in the upstairs bath that we could switch out....and Lowe's has that mirror for just $59.99...but without THAT wallpaper it's just not going to work...so back to the drawing board...



...how about this?...I love the blue and green together...I love the subway tile...what's not to love, this is a BEAUTIFUL bath...but I don't know about all that tile work...after ripping out that tile floor I don't even want to THINK about tile...

...then, I thought about the fact that my house is done in warmer colors and a cooler blue or green bath may not flow too well...so I checked out something with warmer color tones...


...I like the beadboard in this bath but...this just doesn't speak to me...know what I mean...back to the drawing board again...



...I like this one...but again more tile...maybe I will try something with a little black...you know, get a little black and white action going on...



...nah...a little too jazzy for me...though I do like the harlequin pattern...next up...



...oh yes, I am LOVING THIS cream and black bath...it's the cats meow on style...I love the baseboards and crown molding in black...VERY DRAMATIC...and I saw that floor tile at Lowe's though it's a little pricey $5.95 sq. ft....OUCH...but, I may just have to try something like this...what do you think.?..would it go with my white cabinetry?  Perhaps you have a few ideas you can throw at me for my little bathroom...the toilet, sink and the other layer of tile flooring will be coming out sometime this weekend....HOPEFULLY...so I am in NEED of some ideas....hope to hear from y'all soon.  Sharing this at Wow Us Wednesday, Whassup Wednesday and Open House Thursday.  Thanks for y'all's help.....I REALLY MEAN THAT!!!

Oh....and have a wonderful 4th of July!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET---BATHROOM REMODEL PART 1

Hello all you blogging remodelers, decorators, thrifty engineers and altogether fantastic creative ladies (and a few men) out there....I'm sad to say our driveway resurfacing project has once again been put on hold due to all the RAIN we have had here in central Missouri lately....however, today I have a DIRTY LITTLE SECRET to share with you....actually it's a SCARY little secret...dun, dun, dun....



...our U.G.L.Y. little main floor bathroom in all it's GREEN glory....NOT!!!...the entire bathroom is mint green...with the exception of the one white window frame...oh and the toilet and sink...

...This bathroom has been on my hit list ever since we bought this little OLD house late last year...however it was set to be one of the last projects on our list for the summer...then with the putting off of the driveway....AGAIN...I determined to remodel this bathroom now...after all it is a small space and wouldn't take all that much effort to do...YEAH RIGHT!...I always get myself into these sorts of messes...how 'bout you?  Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a project and think "why in the world did I ever think I could do this?...and will I ever get done?"...Yes I said all these things to myself probably after only two hours into the project...

I started with removing the drawers and STRIPPING the cabinet doors...they HAD to be stripped first just to get them off their hinges, as the hinges had about 10 coats of paint on them and I couldn't get them loose without stripping them first....






...once the drawers were out and the doors off...I tackled the floor...(mainly because I ran out of stripper and the stores were closed)...so as I said...we moved onto the floor...



....Oh yes...I was THRILLED to find out that there was more than one layer to be removed...oh joy, oh rapture...CALGON...please take me AWAY....

It took some doing to remove the ceramic tile floor...I would hammer the tiles...then scrape up the loose ones...hammer some more....scrape a little more....







...Yes, this took a while...but alas I finally got the first layer of tile up...WHOO HOO...





...see the second layer....MORE GREEN...hey, I kind of like the retro vibe here...well, maybe NOT so much...after all that hammering and scraping I was pooped...so the second layer...yep, you got it, still there...waiting for the hubby to take out the sink, toilet (and for me to pick out new flooring) before I tackle that...

....what kind of tile or flooring do you think I should go with here?...and what color? is the biggest question...I am at a total loss...the mint green ceramic tile wall behind the sink and toilet is going to have to stay...although at some point in time I am going to try my hand at painting it...so what kind of floor and what color would GO with MINT GREEN?....Oh, boy my head hurts just thinking about it...

In the meantime...I started painting the drawers...


...right here on the dining room table...I removed the hardware...threw down a tarp...and GOT BUSY...




...OH YEAH...I am liking this WHITE sooooo much better...now onto the doors....STAY TUNED for my dirty little secret...PART 2...hopefully coming soon.

I am joining these parties...

Metamorphasis Monday @ BNOTP
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A diamond in the Stuff
Wow us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic


Tuesday, June 7, 2011

SHE'S A BEAUTY

Happy Tuesday all.  Hope you all are having a WONDERFUL week.  This has certainly been a BETTER week for me.  We have finally managed to get our yard cleaned up after the recent storm blew down the massive red oak tree which smashed BOTH of our vehicles (wellllllll, we still have MOUNDS of firewood to get rid of) but for the most part it's done...woohoo...you can read all about our HUGE catastrophe HERE...



The adjuster has FINALLY come out to access the damage (much sooner than they had estimated)...and our claim is just about settled...boy, what a process!!!

I have AGONIZED over the loss of my van...after all it was a great van...very ROOMY and had all the FRILLS...it was long enough to haul lumber....roomy enough to lug home all those fantastic furniture finds...great for trips....all leather, heated seats, entertainment center...how do you replace something like that?  Not easily...

...I'm tellin' ya, any OTHER time I would have been all for buying a new vehicle...but when you have a good thing...it's just so hard to commit to change....anyway, after much thinking, scrutinizing and debating over this BIG decision of just what kind of car to get...I finally decided on this little beauty....



Chrysler PT Cruiser
 Yes, she's little...probably won't be hauling any wood home in her...or very many furniture finds....but my pocket book will be SINGING with all that gas money I will be SAVING....and besides she's sooooo CUTE, I just had to have her...the color...2.DIE.4...it's called "cool vanilla"  is that the name of a decorator's color or what...HA, I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!  

So as I hop into my new ride...I'm wishing you all the best for this week....take it easy...soak up some sun...grab a tall glass of ICED TEA and...chill.....

Although this doesn't fall into the category of tabletop anything..metamorphasis anything...or any other decorating topic...I am still joining a few parties to share the good news...

Tabletop Tuesday
What's up Wednesday
Show & Tell Friday




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