Andrea

Andrea

Project Guy emerges victorious. I present the master bath remodel.

Remember Project Guy and the Master Bath Remodel?

And how I’ve lived at Lowes and Home Depot for … let’s see now … eternity?

The remodel is done. Finished. Completed.

Fait accompli.

And the best part about it? Other than not having to sleep with one eye open for fear that Hannibal Lecter was lurking in the ode to Silence of the Lambs eight feet away from me? I’d have to say the fact that it was finished before Nate and I would be forced to celebrate by sucking Milk of Magnesia through straws while nodding off in our wheelchairs at the Older Than The Hills Nursing Home, as I had once feared.

Can I get a WHOO HOOO?

Taking into consideration the year it took for the remodel and the time we have spent in this house, I calculated that I have stopped, dropped and rolled my naked self from the girls’ bathroom, across the upstairs hallway, under the picture window, and into our bedroom no less than 1,875 times since we moved into this house.

For those of you who are whizzes at math, I don’t need to tell you that that equates to over five years.

For those of you who are my mother, I DO need to tell you that that equates to over five years. And, STEP AWAY FROM THE CALCULATOR.

And I hate to type this out loud because I know it’s breaking every single oath I took when I became a blogger and my life became raw material, but you’re bound to find out sooner or later so, I might as well spill my guts now…

I don’t have any “before” pictures.

I know! I know! I’ve already kicked myself in the bum ten times, which hurts in more ways than just the obvious if you haven’t stretched properly first. But feel free to yell at me anyway. I deserve it. The only excuse I have is that when Nate first drove a sledgehammer into the disgusting blue tiled walls, I hadn’t yet started this blog and therefore had not called a family meeting and instructed everyone that every minutiae of their lives and all their dirty laundry, including not only the intangible but the dirty, smelly tangibles strewn across their bedroom floors, was to be considered blog fodder from that moment on.

But let’s get on with it anyway, shall we?

I thought you’d never ask!

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This is what you see when you first enter the bathroom. You’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that in person, the wall color, called citrine granite, looks nothing like pumpkin pie vomit.

Then again, I don’t like pumpkin pie and have never hurled it, so maybe it does look eerily similar.

Nevermind.

It’s citrine granite and I love it and it looks beautiful when you’re sitting there, staring at it. Let’s just leave it at that, before we’re all grossed out.

master-bath-remodel-toilet

This is our high efficiency toilet, the one I described in this post HERE. I find that if I take a running head start from say, clear across the bedroom, I can pole vault myself onto it with a fair degree of accuracy, without sustaining too much bodily injury. It’s 17″ high, which is just slightly shorter than my legs. Nate’s legs are three stories high. Guess who picked out the toilet?

Apparently this toilet can flush something like 15 golf balls at once.

If you need that kind of power, I just have two words for you: FI-BER.

master-bath-remodel-shower

This is the front view of the tub/jacuzzi/shower unit. I can’t give you a back view because then I’d have to rip out the tile and cement board backer and try to wedge myself in between two studs to get a good angle and I think Nate might voice his objection by having a stroke. Or ten.

And I suppose I could insert a joke here about squeezing myself in between two studs but we’re better than that, aren’t we?

I’ll try to come up with one.

master_bath_remodel_art

This is the wall art on one side of the shower.

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It looks suspiciously like the wall art on the other side, with just a few minor differences.

That’s because I was feeling matchy matchy and bought them as a set.

Sometimes matchy matchy is so yesterday but sometimes, it’s downright necessary. Especially after spending an entire day running around the city in a swirl of frustration, only to discover that no one makes anything that coordinates with pumpkin pie vomit. And I know I said that the walls are not pumpkin pie vomit but when you spend eight hours driving all over the county and find nothing that even remotely looks like the right color and you’ve got an eight year old with you who is barely managing to cling to life because you’ve sucked all the fun out of it by refusing to buy her everything at touch level, the walls are not only pumpkin pie vomit, they are GODDAMN STUPID PUMPKIN PIE VOMIT! WHO CHOSE THIS FREAKING COLOR ANYWAY?

master_bath_remodel_entry

I chose that color. Citrine Granite. Good thing I did, or I’d never have reason to buy this picture.

Let’s not mention pumpkin pie vomit again, OK? And I’m talking directly to me here, so I hope I’m listening.

Moving on …

master-bath-remodel-faucet

This is our faucet. I love it.

master-bath-remodel-vanity

Here it is on top of the vanity. I know this is not a good picture of our vanity but my point and shoot camera had no batteries so I was forced to use my DSLR and we all know how much I hate my DSLR camera and how much it returns the favor.

It’s not called Damn Stupid Little Ratshit That Costs A Lot Of Money for nothing, you know.

(pssssst: if you’re new here, I hate my DSLR camera and it hates me back just as much. Maybe even more. I call it DSLRTCALOM for short. Now you know and you’re all caught up with everyone else! Don’t you love it when that happens?)

master-bath-remodel-toiletpaper

This is our toilet paper holder and I’m only showing it to you because I wanted to warn you never to get one of these.

Sometimes change rocks, like when you get caramel highlights in your hair and your eyebrows totally blend in. But sometimes change sucks rocks, like when you get caramel highlights in your hair and your eyebrows start screaming HELP! WE DON’T BELONG HERE.

What I’m trying to say is, when something works, don’t fix it. Stick with the old fashioned, traditional toilet paper dispenser. You know the one … it’s spring loaded and confounds husbands and scares kids, compelling them to simply leave the toilet paper rolls on the floor or on top of the dispenser or on the back of the toilet, because they know full well that if they successfully replace the roll, they will be expected by their spouses and mothers and xx chromosomes everywhere to do so from that moment on until eternity.

The new fangled dispenser above, while aesthetically pleasing, is just not functional. Simply put, it is not conducive to those who may be a little over zealous when tearing off a piece of paper because 9 times out of 10, those enthusiastic, unsuspecting people will find themselves utterly helpless to stop the roll from flying off the handle and sailing clear across the room.

master-bath-remodel-toiletpaper2

And there’s nothing they can do about it, other than watch in horror.

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Because they’re way the hell over here.

So I’ve heard.

And I just have one word to describe this particular scenario.

INCONVENIENT.

TOTALLY.

Sorry … two words.

So stick with the spring loaded version. It’s less messy.

So I’ve heard.

master-bath-remodel-shelves

I bought new fluffy white towels. You’ll notice that I only bought two large bath towels and several smaller hand towels.

This is because I must use a new towel each and every time I shower or my skin will shrivel up and rot off. I’m the one that does the laundry so I’m well aware, painfully so, of how much laundry this practice generates. I’m also aware that my mother is currently yelling I DIDN’T RAISE HER THAT WAY to no one in particular who is busy reading the paper behind her and pretending he can’t hear.

Nate, on the other hand, needs one and only one bath towel and will only grab a new towel after his old one finally screams ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and stomps off to the dirty laundry basket of its own accord.

So to cut down on the sheer amount of laundry, as we are a family of four, three of whom are female, of which two use more towels than the Marriott, I use a hand towel after the shower. Yes, a hand towel. I find it works perfectly for me since my hair and skin are so naturally dry from 42 years of abuse, they’ve morphed into sponges and slurp up every droplet of water without much assistance. Sometimes the hand towel is actually overkill. So a bath towel is just unnecessary for me, especially because I’m not the kind to wrap it around me and walk around. I try to spend as little time as possible naked, for the good of mankind. You’re welcome.

master-bath-remodel-slate-tile

I think my favorite thing about the remodel is the slate tile. I just love the texture and the mottled colors. Sometimes I just stand in the shower and stare at it for a minute or twenty, leaving approximately 2.7 seconds worth of hot water for Nate.

master_bath_remodel_slate_floor

We carried the slate tile onto the floor.

And by that, I mean we used the same tile on the floor as we did in the shower.

But I also mean that we carried boxes and boxes of tile up the stairs and through the bedroom, into the bathroom and then placed them gingerly on the floor, breaking our backs in the process.

And by “we” I mean Nate.

I originally wanted an area rug for the floor but then Nate asked why in the world did I bring boxes and boxes of tile up the stairs and through the bedroom and into the bathroom and onto the floor and break my back? And I didn’t have an answer for him.

I know that these earthy colors and all the texture won’t appeal to everyone, but I just love them and I adore this bathroom. And I love that my beloved Nate did it entirely on his own and did such a beautiful job and even though it took longer than he originally intended, we didn’t have to celebrate its completion and my entrance into menopause in the same year and that is just the coolest beans ever.

Totally worth an occasional pole vault or two.

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55 thoughts on “Project Guy emerges victorious. I present the master bath remodel.”

  1. Avatar

    looks fab! Congrats!! I wonder if you can flip the toilet roll holder around so the paper flies off towards you rather than the other way? Just an idea…

  2. Avatar

    Oh I can SO relate to the stupid toilet roll holder design. We’ve got one of those but ours doesn’t have a super-huge fabo room to roll around in like yours….oh no, ours just hides BEHIND the bloody toilet so you put your neck and/or back out trying to reach around to get it so you can finish what you were doing there in the first place! Stupid design….really, who picks these things!!!!

  3. Avatar

    wow and wow. My project guy needs to take a lesson… projects CAN be completed.

    We have been working on the deck for 8 months now.. guess what stage we are at? still drawing up the designs in autocad. I have had 7 different designed decks. If I so much as ask fo r one little thing to be changed he scraps the entire design and starts over.

  4. Avatar

    Wow!!!! Now that’s a bathroom! I’m going to have to get my DH moving on renovating ours……I want a jacuzzi tub so badly! I’ve been wanting to get one of those toilet paper holders too – and I think I still might despite your warnings, lol. Right now, everyone simply places the full roll on top of the empty tube attached to the holder and it drives me NUTS! So making them chase after the runaway roll would sort of be like revenge. 🙂

  5. Avatar

    That is GORGEOUS! Nate, you did well! Andy, the only things our bathrooms have in common now that yours is just stunning? The toilet paper roll on the floor. ROFL My 4 year old has an aversion to using the dispenser thingy. She’ll get a new roll out from under the sink and throw it on the floor. I gave up and leave it on the sink for her.

    And Andy, if you need someone to take that DSLR off your hands, I know of a good home for it in Iowa. ROFL

    Have a great day chicky!

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    Thank you so much for the problems with that style of paper holder! I was just at Lowe’s yesterday, as our bathroom remodel is in the wrap up stages, therefore I was looking for those finer finishing touch items. I’m glad I couldn’t make up my mind (again!) yesterday, decided to come home and think about it some more. Ironically one of the items I was trying to decide on was a paper dispenser design like yours! It sure looks pretty – my thinking was that people in my house would actually put more on instead of leaving me with the last 2 squares; from what you are telling me I would probably not even get those last 2 squares as I’d be looking for the roll across the room.

  7. Avatar

    It gorgeous we have an end table and a coffee table with the same title.. we must be related in some form or fashion.

    Love your bathroom..its gorgeous..did I say that already. Oh yeah I did..

    Hmm being stuck between to studs…if they are human that might be well exciting to certain parts of the body…though I doubt you were going in that direction with that comment.

  8. Avatar

    Hey, nobody gave you a WHOO HOO yet! WHOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Go, Project Guy! (And the rest of the family who had to wait, patiently or not so). By the way, I *adore* the slate. Prettiest thing ever! I hope it cleans easily, though. =/

    Fabulous job, and lovely bathroom!!

  9. Avatar

    Awesome, Andy!! I’m totally impressed!! I love it! I hope you don’t find this creepy but seeing those pics makes me REALLY want to use your bathroom!! I’d probably just sit in there all day staring at the beautiful pics and admiring the gorgeous tile….I promise I wouldn’t scare your kids. Maybe my kids…but never yours.

    I left you some link love on an interview I did on Tess’ blog….you can read it here:

    http://sixfeetundersite.blogspot.com/2009/04/words-with-blogger-wednesday.html

  10. Avatar

    Wow! It’s beautiful. You guys did a great job. And the best part is always the finished product that you get to enjoy without having the ‘to-do-‘ list lurking in the back of your head.

  11. Avatar

    Oh My gosh — I’m jealous beyond all words! Yeah… the bathroom is gorgeous, but a man who starts AND finishes a project like that? Priceless! Kudos to you!

  12. Avatar

    Pumpkin Pie Vomit. You should start a side business coming up with names for paint colors. You’ll be rich.

    The bathroom is absolutely gorgeous. Nate totally kicked ass.

  13. Avatar

    Brilliant as per usual….oh I mean the post of course. But the bathroom deserves a holler or two also – go Nate, you fab guy you!

  14. Avatar

    I’m new hear. Someone sent me over last week, saying you were funny. And alas, they were right!

    Your bathroom looks spectacular. So glad you can sit back and enjoy it now and not have to trapse off to the other one. The wall art is especially gorgeous!

  15. Avatar

    Totally love it! And I wanted to mention that there’s a better solution for the toilet paper holder. My in-laws have this kind that has an arms (the normally spring-loaded part) that has a little hook on one end that closes and then just swings up to load the paper.

    …I’ve not looked for it online for 30 minutes and can’t find the exact one but it looks like this: http://tinyurl.com/cog4kt

  16. Avatar

    I’ve done several remodels and this bathroom is beautiful. Great job. I found you through SITS. Fun to discover all of these new sites.

  17. Avatar

    Great Job Nate! Andy you have to soooooo happy! Hope to have our kitchen done in a few weeks? Got the sink in today! Water finally in kitchen,been out since Jan 5!!!!!

  18. Avatar

    Enjoy the new bathroom! And you’ll get used to that new fangled toilet paper holder…honest! It make changing the TP roll so much faster and easier, you’ll be happy to change the roll (or maybe Nate will be happy to change the roll).

  19. Avatar

    WOW! Your bathroomis beautiful. Now you don’t have to worry about Hannibal Lectre coming over anymore, and you can now rest peacefully. That’s the kind of bathroom, where I would want to go and read my magazines….literally, if I buy a magazine that I want to read, I have to lock myself in the bathroom and sit on the edge of the tub or floor to read it. Speed read at that! I love the color scheme and it doesn’t look like pumpkin pie vomit either!
    BTW, I’m suppose to be off this week for spring break, so you didn’t see me here. But I couldn’t go w/out reading for aover a week. Stalker!
    Congrats on a job well done!

  20. Avatar

    OMG, I’m totally in love with your bathroom!!!! I loooooove it!!! The colour is sooo beautiful and I highly regret there are not before photos to compare with this effect.

  21. Avatar

    oh!! LOVE it Andy & Nate!! AWESOME!! Maybe someday, when we finally get rid of the lion, monkey and bamboo shower curtain I’ll have a cool grown up bathroom like that!! After the boys learn how to aim anyway 😉

  22. Avatar

    I really like your slate tile, can you please let me know what the name of the tile is and where you got it? I am about to start a bath remodel myself and I cannot find the kind of slate I want but I really like how yours turned out. I would really appreciate it!

    -Andie

  23. Avatar

    I love the pics. A couple of questions for you. Yes where did you get the tile. I have some slate tile I bought from lowes. That I am putting on the floor of a bathroom. I want to do the bathtub surround also but my husband thanks it will be too dark. Do you feel it’s too dark in your bathroom? And is that a two tone paint, faux finish? Where did you get the paint out.
    I think you did a wonderful job!

  24. Avatar

    I too will be shamefully ripping this decor and claiming it as my own creative creation.

    So citrine granite? I’ve heard of citrine but I can’t seem to find this particular citrine with this particular texture (granite?) overlay. Care to share where you bought it and who the paint company is?

    Thankyoumuch

  25. Avatar

    Nicely done. Could anyone please tell me what tile that is (company) and where to get this paint? Is the granite an overlay coat or is it mixed with the citrine? Also, I’ve seen citrine before and it varies greatly from place to place. What particular one is this (style, company)?

    bobsaget5@yahoo.com

    Please help me if you could..looking to do mine up the same way.

  26. Avatar

    Where did you buy the decorative insert in the the slate tile in the shower? I have looked for that pattern for a renovation using the same.

  27. Avatar

    Can you please tell me who makes the paint color and what we would need to buy? We recenlty had purchased some slate tile and i was searching images and found your blog. I love everything you did.
    thanks Courtney

  28. Avatar

    OMG!! That is exactly the color tile that I’ve have been looking for…literally!!! I’ve been searching all night tonight and finally saw your blog…..PLEASE, PLEASE tell me where I can find that floor tile!!! I’m waiting with baited breath!!:-) absolutely gorgeous!!

    cheyennebred@yahoo.com

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