Monthly Archives: March 2012
Feline Friday: Siblings
Sister cat cleaning her brother.
Bathroom Remodel: Shower no more
After gutting the bathroom a few weeks ago, Nate and I had to make the decision of what to do with the stand alone shower.
Shower Issues
It’s an awkward space. There’s about two feet of clearance into the shower between the sink and the wall.
Plus you have to step up into the shower over a tiled ledge. This ledge happens to be quite tall and with the clearance issue it just screams “tripping hazard” to me.
Once you get into the shower, it’s very dark. The soap dish is way to high and there is no easy way to add any shelving so shampoos and body wash have to be on the shower floor.
We also need to replace the leaky shower fixture, but it would be very difficult to do. The original plumbing is enclosed between the bathroom and kitchen and totally inaccessible at this point. (We plan on taking a good look at the plumbing when we remodel our kitchen.) So we could just replace the fixture, but it would be difficult to change out the hot and cold water knobs.
Our Decision
With all these issues, the shower just doesn’t make much sense in the prison bath. So we have decided to re-purpose it as a closet.
Our plan is to sheetrock over the shower opening in the bathroom and add a closet door that opens from our hallway. (The door will be right where the mirror is above.)
Since we want our guests to still have the convenience of a shower, we’ll then add a shower to our existing tub with a fixture like this.
Shower to Closet Convert Plan
1) Remove the tile from the shower
2) Cap the plumbing
3) Cut opening in hallway
4) Install a pre-hung closet door
5) Sheet rock over original shower entryway
6) Finish inside of closet
7) Add shelving, etc.
The first step took Nate two weekends to complete. That tile was a monster to take out, but Nate just kept banging on it till it gave in. I took some video I hope to upload this weekend on his progress.
Mixed Spring Look
I haven’t done one of these in a while, so here’s how our entry way/front room is looking these days.
With so many spring holidays, I decided to mix them up this year focusing on pretty bright pinks, purples and greens. (Ignore the pedestal sink in the background from our bathroom project.)
I have very slowly transitioned from my 2011 holiday look this year. I kept up a lot of my pretty glass items and just made some small change to other decor I had up.
And yes, we still have our Christmas lights up. I just love coming home to their jeweled glow. The most surprising thing is I am getting a lot of peer pressure from my neighbors to keep them up (who would have thought?) BUT I will take them down this month. It’s time.
So to complete the transition, I’ve added a few bright items to the room and I am quite pleased with the result.
A spring bouquet
Of course the easiest thing to do is add flowers. I picked up a bundle of Stock and Bells of Ireland from my grocery store then arranged them in a clear tall vase with green marbles in the base. Both flowers are nice and hardy, plus the Stock smells great. As long as I keep the water clean by changing it every couple of days, I expect these to last for weeks.
Cost: $8.00 for two bundles
Pink fairy lights in my glass jar
I wanted to find a way to keep my Christmas fairy lights up. I love to shop the clearance aisle at my favorite stores after a holiday. You can get such great stuff for 50-75% off! I picked up these pink LED lights at Target after Valentine’s Day and thought they would be perfect in my glass jar. I guess you can’t take the rave out of the 90′s girl.
Cost: $4.00 (75% off)
Pretty mercury glass votive holders
Here’s another great clearance buy. I got these green and purple mercury glass votive holders for $1.00 each at Cost Plus World Market after Christmas.
They are certainly timeless in my book and seemed silly to just put them out for the Winter holiday.
Cost: $4.00 for four (75% off)
A print of Heart
When I changed jobs last November, I bought some art work for my new work place from the etsy seller Aeropagita Prints. I bought three prints during a three prints for the price of two sale special. I got this one called The Change as my third item. I love the unexpected heart in the middle and how the fuchsia pops against my turquoise wall. It’s just awesome.
Cost: Free
A new candle
I admit it – I love candles. When Bath and Body Works have their two for twenty-dollar sale, I stock up. My newest purchase is the Lilac Blossom scent from Slatkin & Co. It’s described as “lilac blossom, lingering muguet, delicate heliotrope and violet.” It’s heavenly and very fragrant. We had a lilac tree growing up and I just can’t get enough of the scent so I am enjoying burning this in the evenings.
Cost: $10.00 (50% off)
In total I spent about $26.00 on my little updates. I am really digging the bright tones and floral hues. I just can’t get enough.
Note: All costs are rounded up.
Photo of Lilac Blossom Candle from Bath and Body Works.
