Wednesday, January 12, 2011

~~~BATHROOM NIGHTMARE TO END SOON~~~(Possible Dead Bodies Found in the Rubble)

  ~NEWLY INSTALLED TILE~

In May of 2010 (trust me when I say I'm choking on that statement!) my hubby and I began the SECOND of what will eventually be THREE bathroom makeovers in our La Chaumière de Briarwood.  

~BEFORE SHOT - UGLY SINK CUBBY~

Our main upstairs bath redo was finished before I started blogging and in retrospect that was probably a good thing.  I barely survived it!  If you'd like to take a peek at the finished work you can find some interesting pictures and information HERE!
 ~HALF WALL PARTITION REMOVED~

I'm thinking that between my guy and I at least ONE OF US should have better recalled the stresses that can often accompany a 'tear-it-down-to-the-studs' redo! 
 ~EVERYTHING TORN OUT and MORE~

This second bath makeover project has truly been overwhelming and we are both sooo very happy to finally see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
 ~SHOWER HEAD POSITION CHANGED~

Our home was built in 1970 and back then I suppose only the very wealthy had homes built with lots and lots of extra amenities!  When I tell you our Master Bath was not much bigger than a small closet I'm truly not exaggerating.  It's ugliness combined with it's tiny size almost kept me from signing off on purchasing the very home I deeply love today.
 ~EVERYTHING HAD TO BE REDONE~
  
Still...even back then we had great plans to refashion her.  However, little did my guy and I know that 'life stuff' would happen (umm...that would be raising two kids and buying clothes and food!) and that 18 years would pass before we'd be forced to get serious about giving the bathroom a complete and total makeover.
 ~WEEKS TURNED INTO MONTHS~

Now...I'm very, very proud of everything my Mr. AGPMan is able to do.  The guy is a workhorse and has never been one to sit idyll while someone else did work in his home.  Still, as more of what should have been a fairly typical makeover project started to unfold he began to see firsthand that some of the things he expected to be 'quick fixes' proved to be anything but!
 ~TILE PREP WORK BEGINS~
~SHOWER HEARTH INSTALLED~
~ABOUT 1/3 DONE~
~TILE COMPLETED~

Yesterday the entire bathroom (where you see the blue sheet-rock) was textured and this weekend it will be painted and the sink and toilet installed.  The only thing we are truly waiting on now is the custom shower door to arrive.  We put off ordering it until we were 100% sure the exact size we would need!
 
 ~TRULY GORGEOUS TILE WORK~
~ENTRY INTO BATH~

Now...don't forget this was a tiny cubby bath!  I mean TINY!  It originally had this horrible sink area (see 2nd photo at the top) and a truly pathetic little pocket door that separated the sink from the toilet and shower.  Even with opening up the space we were still left with a very small area in which to work!

Because I wanted a REAL DOOR on the bathroom my guy came up with installing a vintage glass pocket door (the glass will be frosted for privacy) and I'm loving how it has turned out.  The wall you see above that is patched/textured is actually a wall in my bedroom...  So...you can see the space IS very tiny as I've said.  Along with the bathroom makeover we are also completely repainting our master bedroom...everything will be fresh and lovely for Spring!

We hope to have everything finished this weekend and I'm more excited than I can say that at least part of our lives will be returning to normal in just a few days.  I hope you'll come back for the BIG REVEAL!  I'm thinkin' we should win a big prize or something!  Maybe I'll call up that Nate Berkus dude and see if I can talk him (or the powers that be) into featuring my "Mr. He-Can-Do-Anything-Man" on his new show!

Blessings for a lovely day!

Love to you...

20 comments:

Theresa said...

WOW, HE really CAN do ANYTHING:) Beautiful tilework! I can't wait to see the big reveal! Hurry up:) Have a blessed day, HUGS!

NanaDiana said...

Oh-I am so excited for you, Rebecca. That pocket door will be wonderful frosted..still let some light through too. The tile work is great. Soon all the work will be only a memory and you will be enjoying your new bath. I can't wait FOR you to be done~xxoo Diana

Adrienne said...

I can't wait to see the big reveal! Loving what I see so far and I understand how thrilled you will be to have it DONE! We have a home that was built in 1969 - same vintage as yours so I know what you're talking about with construction (or lack of!) and room sizes. Love what you've done with your other bathroom and know this one will be as wonderful!
~Adrienne~

Caroline said...

I'm looking forward to the reveal Rebecca. We are starting our bathroom makeover at the end of the month...I sure hope it don't take too long.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

I cannot wait for the big reveal. I know how much work it is, i did mine all by myself and that was without tearing it down to the studs. I thought, this is why they get the big bucks for bathroom remodels!! I know a lot of people that have had the flu like you and seems when all else is gone, the cough lasts for a month.....Horrid! Glad your on the road to recovery!

Carol

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see the finished bath...I know it seems to have taken forever, but you will love it so much, time....like birthing pains...will make you forget all the bad moments and just let you enjoy the finished product...
We did a bath make-over in our other house...knocked out a wall in a very long, narrow closet to add space to the new bath...the contractor said it should all be done in three weeks easily...HO..after over three months and me firing him before it was completed, and getting a friend
who knew how to do everything, too.
we finally got our beautiful new bath. I guess all of the tears, frustrations and bad times were worth it...it was gorgeous~~~~
and then a couple of years later we sold the house!!! Go figure!
Big hugs...Francy

Rita said...

Oh man, when you get into a project like that, there is always more to it than meets the eye! But you guys did a fabulous job on that shower! It really looks good. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it next week!

Vintage Gal said...

Rebecca ~ How lucky you are to have a wonderful husband who can do that! I too have one and I LOVE him to death (yes it is hard to survive construction). Just think how FABULOUS it is going to look...;-)
Marianne

Marilyn said...

The suspense is going to be hard!! I must have pictures soon! You both have done some great work, so I'm hoping you are both feeling fine now and can make me happy and get 'r done! ♥♫

Mari said...

HELLO REBECCA~WOW!!! I COULD HARDLY WAIT OR THE BIG REVEAL, THE TILES ARE GORGEOUS :) IM SURE ITS GOING TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TINY MASTER BATHROOM EVER :)
HOPE YOUR FEELING YOUR NORMAL SWEET SELF AGAIN :)

XO~MARI

Tanza said...

How exciting R !! And, we just KNOW that it was done perfectly !! Look at Mr. AGP man work !! What a doll he is !!You've hired the BeSt !! Everything looks wonderful, and am excited to see it all finished up with all your pretty touches !! What a difference, and was this that ReD bathroom ?! WoWsErS .. looks Fab !!
I had to laugh at your last post, I got that EXACT set of tools for Christmas, my kids got it on Amazon !! LoVe them .. Of course I was soo excited !! I didn't get the little set tho :( I probably don't know what half of these are, OR what they are called !! I call everything pliers, and "pointed things"!! What FuN we will have using them !!
Hoping all is well, and you are both 100% again !! Enjoy your evening, and know I'm thinking of you and missing you ~
BiG HuGs ~TeA~ xo

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh Rebecca, I can't wait!!! Love the tile, the big reveal will be a great day! Know you are so ready~

Sorry to hear you've been an sick, I've been away quite a bit. Take care!

Hugs,
Nancy

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Rebecca,
Our bathroom needs redone soooo badly
so i am soaking this in like crazy !!
It is gorgeous !!!

xoxo
Lori

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Rebecca,

Aha, we do have a LOT in common as my dear Pieter is a fantastic handy man and a workhorse of the highest scale. When I ever have a chance to show you our beginnings in March 2003 for our 'Rose Suite' below our house... Pieter literally dug out 60 tons of dirt before the constructed there a complete suite for guests! They have a private entrance and a hallway, small walk-in-closet; bedroom with shower; living room with small kitchenette and a toilet. He even got a work place and we got a huge pantry. What a dream and all done by my true love. The masonry, the plumbing, the wiring, the air-conditioning ducting, painting...
Give your Steve a big killer hug from both of us! He's a great guy and that's another way of earning a better salary and having things perfect (not easy!) the way you want them.

Lots of love,

Mariette's Back to Basics

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

It really looks great! You are lucky that your husband knows how to do that. I love the idea of the frosted pocket door! Can't wait to see the end result!~ Hugs, Patti

Blondie's Journal said...

It's a long process but well worth it. We at one time had two baths, the kitchen and hardwood floors being done at once. We had to walk on the ceiling and use an outhouse!!

Love the tile work...your husband is brilliant.

Hope you are feeling well, my friend!

XO,
Jane

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Wow what a job Rebecca! I have a dear friend Julie who totally redid an old bathroom last year and I remember the work that went into that so I can sympathize with you and hubby completely. I have a question for your husband if I may? I am removing very old nasty cheap tiles from my kitchen floor and I was wondering if there is a preferred product for removing the glue that is left behind. I was using acetone but the fumes can build up and cause a fire so I would like to use something else. Does your husband recommend anything in particular?
Any suggestion is appreciated!
I can hardly wait to see the BIG REVEAL!!!
Have a fun day guys...
Tina xo

Lisa & Gerald said...

I can't wait an longer....I'll try my best to wait...heheh
Have a wonderful day...

P.S Im glad you guys are both feeling better..hugs...

Jo said...

Wow...! That looks lovely. Do you lend you guy out? I have some reno jobs here that need to be done.

Glad you're feeling better, Rebecca. :-)

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

I know your bathroom re-do will be gorgeous just like you and the rest of your home! Just don't let any of the dead bodies be yours or hubby's! LOL

Mean teacher on your previous post. I'd be thrilled to have a student put forth EXTRA effort to illustrate their work!!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

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