Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Downstairs Bathroom - Before


For 12 years now, I've been fantasizing about taking a sledge hammer to the floor of this bathroom!
Actually, from this viewpoint, this bathroom looks nice. But...

The 12 x 12 tile was supposed to mimic green marble back in the day. It actually looks like a photograph laminated over porcelain.

To make it worse, the tile is also on the countertop. Bad grout job. How many times have I taken a knife to this edge?

The wood countertop edge has seen better days.

The heavily textured walls make me even more crazy!

Then, there are the fixtures. All of the "hot" and "cold" buttons are long gone. The porcelain handles in the shower are cracked.

I could possibly recycle this faucet, but again, the porcelain buttons are gone.

So now that you have seen the bad and ugly, here is what's good about this bathroom.
It opens to the outside, so guests or swimmers can use it without going through the house.

It is positioned near the family room, just down the hall and across from the guest room, where my Mom stays when she visits me.
She loves this bathroom, and is sorry I'm changing the tile, but I am assuring her it will be better.

This is the plan:
Replace the counter with honed Carrara marble and undermount the sink.
Replace the glue-on mirror with an oval mirror over the sink and a sconce to the left.
Tile wainscot will be replaced with tongue and groove to cut costs.
Drywall will be floated out smooth.

The shower tile will be replaced with simple white subway.

And the fake green marble floor will be replaced with....

...black honed marble hexagon tile!

My Mom's bathroom is getting a facelift. And if that isn't enough, I'm doing the same thing to my daughter's bathroom. "Before" photos to follow....
That's new tile in two bathrooms and new countertops in the kitchen.
Hopefully, it can all be finished before Mr. A's 60th birthday party in November and my daughter Ashley's wedding in December.
That's my incentive to "getter done!"
I'm going for it!

Pin It!

20 comments:

laxsupermom said...

Love that hex tile you've chosen! Gorgeous! Can't wait to see the after.

Taylor Greenwalt said...

I have a bathroom that I feel the same way about. Love your choices. Can not wait to see it.

Karena said...

Your makeover will be beautiful Delores!! It is always a big undertaking you will be so thrilled though.

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Willow Decor said...

I know its hard to get started with these types of projects but it will be so fabulous when its done!! Can't wait to see the finished result!
xx-Gina

Sarah said...

Wow, Delores, you are on a tight schedule. Good luck! Your plans sound wonderful. I've a guest bath I'd like to make changes in. Not on the books at the moment. The garden is taking my attention at the moment. ~ Sarah

Kathysue said...

You go girl!! I am so excited for you!! It will look amazing. It is so fun to finally get to do a project or two that we have had to put on the back burner so to speak. Birthdays, and weddings are a good impetus to get us going on things around the home front. I can not wait to see the process!! Enjoy, xo Kathysue

Gerry said...

As much as I love everything about your house, I have to agree, these bathrooms are going to look SO much better when you're through. Can't wait to see them, I think I'm almost as excited as you are!

La Vie Quotidienne said...

How exciting...it is going to be beautiful!

Karen said...

Delores,
Can't wait to see the changes. LOL, we're giving an engagement party this coming Saturday and the months prior we have revamped the guest bath and backyard...there's no better motivation than a party!
Karen

NanaDiana said...

Can't wait to see it done. I had those same "marble" tiles in a rose pattern...yeah.....

Hope you get it done before the two big celebrations! xo Diana

AT HOME BLOG said...

Wow... it will change!! I can't wait to see the work in progress! :-)
kisses
Etta

Mary Ann Pickett said...

You are going to love that hexagon tile...we used it in a client's kitchen and it is beautiful.

Lizabeth said...

Awesome! I like the new flooring choice and the carrara marble tops will be perfect! I remember when everybody was going with the wood edges in the 80's early 90's...I had it installed at a home I sold so I don't know how it held up. Your sink is beautiful and I bet if it doesn't break when they remove it it can go to a resale shop for home items. Can't wait to see the finished job!

Unknown said...

This will certainly be an awesome makeover! Waiting to see the changes. Hope there won't be any problems! Have a great week Hugs!

Becca Bertotti said...

I can only imagine how gorgeous this space will be when you're done with it ... awesome tile! Thanks for sharing! *Becca*

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Oh, it is going to be beautiful! I have 3 of our 4 bathrooms that I would like to do TOTALLY over! They are so dated as we built this house in 1984 and they look it:):) However, I need to win the lottery first. LOL! Can't wait to see the afters!!!! XO, Pinky

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

The bathroom upgrade sounds so lovely!!!! I can't wait to see it in progress.
I have been catching up on your past posts, and want to comment on the soapstone post. I have soapstone and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! You got some bad info... soapstone is inert~ it does not stain, not at all. It is non pourous. It does not etch,however can scratch if dug out with a knife or a screwdriver. But covers when wiped with mineral oil. It is a wonderful surface. I would not go with absolute black granite,I have done my homework. We thought that we might go with it if soapstone was out of our price range. But non polished granite does stain and is harder to keep.
Go soapstone, it is so beautiful and is the most wonderful, no staining scratch resistant surface.
Hope this helps.
Yvonne

Tricia Rose Rough Linen said...

It's going to look wonderful Delores - love the sophisticated palette - and I bet your mum will love it too!

Kim said...

There is nothing like a good party or two to spur me on to do some updating!! Good for you for tackling this project ... it will be beautiful and lucky mom!! Can't wait to see the finished project!

Today's Treasure by Jen said...

Delores, love your plan...classic simplicity. You are smart to start now with the two celebrations on the horizon. Have you considered a border on the floor of the carrara marble to tie in the horizontal surfaces? Just a thought. Good luck! I know it will be stunning. ~jen

Related Posts with Thumbnails