Our solution to a window in the shower.

Every month, I get a few emails asking how we handled the window in our shower…

I’d like to reply—oh, la la la… that’s so boring… Wouldn’t you rather ask me what I’m planning to be for Halloween?

Why is no one curious about that?

But instead of grilling them about their failure to ask me the truly important questions, I cobble together a response about the window. And I promise that SOON I’ll do a real post.

So—to the people I told that to, and never did it? I’m sorry.
Now you know what my husband deals with every day.
What takes other people one hour? Takes me 49 years.

It causes all kinds of problems… Most of which are way more serious than unwritten blog posts.

Anyway. We have a large window in our shower… it’s not unusual in old houses.

Wow. This is totally fascinating… keep reading.

May 21, 2013 By Victoria Elizabeth Barnes in Hall Bath 27 Comments Tags: DIY, Tile, window in shower

Bath Remodel: Before and After.

The bathroom remodel took at least three times as long as it should have.
Possibly four. Possibly nine.

My decision-making process was gruesomely slow and drove Paul to the brink of madness. I mean that. Not in an exaggerated way. But in a very accurate way. It made him crazy that he could not force me to pick a tile, a grout, lights, faucets, a sink, towel bars, a shower dial thing…

But? In my quest for the perfect bathroom / making my husband crazy? I win.

Behold.

Wow. This is totally fascinating… keep reading.

Nov 7, 2012 By Victoria Elizabeth Barnes in Hall Bath, My Favorite Posts 82 Comments Tags: choosing bathroom fixtures, Construction, Decisions, DIY, frustration, indecision, Marble lookalike tile, Marriage, mess, old house, peronda museum tile, Subway tile, Tile, transom window, Victorian, window in shower

Elements Of A Vintage Bath… Cove Molding. Pedestal Sink. Subway Tile.

The bathroom is almost done… we’re still waiting on a few things. Like a second sconce, and towel bars… in the meantime, here are some details we’re using that I’m excited about…

The cove molding at the base of the subway tile.

Wow. This is totally fascinating… keep reading.

Jun 5, 2012 By Victoria Elizabeth Barnes in Hall Bath 14 Comments Tags: Antique, bathroom inspiration, Decor, Fixtures, Hall Bath, Tile

My Husband — Original MadMan

Before there was MadMen, I referred to Paul’s project-state as, “MadMan”.
Because when he starts something, there is no stopping.

In the last five days he has:

Laid out all the floor tile so I could rearrange it in a way that satisfied me.
Tolerated way more rearranging than he thought was necessary.
Did all the math, made all the cuts, ran up and down the stairs, in and out of the house, back and forth to the wet-saw…
Installed the floor.
Waited for it to set.
Put the final coat of paint on the door, installed the mortice, and attached the doorknob and hinges.
Started on the subway tile.
Grouted.
Hung the door.
And found time to go pick up something I could not live without from craigslist

As a reminder, here is what we started with, before we Moved A Wall: Hall Bath

When we began gutting and discovered a second bath’s worth of tile, concrete, and reinforcement wire under the first: Twice the work.

You may also like: Our Front Porch Project

May 9, 2012 By Victoria Elizabeth Barnes in Hall Bath 2 Comments Tags: Bianca carrara, Big Project, Construction, Grout, Hall Bath, House, Marble lookalike tile, Paul, peronda museum tile, porcelain tile, Tile

Pleasant Surprise.

Surprisingly? I love this tile. It’s not magic, or made of fairy dust, which is what I really wanted. But for something I can scrub and disinfect and never think about? I love it.

Peronda Museum, 18×18, polished, porcelain, bianca carrara:

It’s not grouted yet—so the lines are darker than they will be.

Update May 9th- With Grout:

May 6, 2012 By Victoria Elizabeth Barnes in Hall Bath 13 Comments Tags: Bianca carrara, Big Project, choosing bathroom fixtures, Construction, Fixtures, Grout, Hall Bath, House, Marble lookalike tile, peronda museum tile, Planning, porcelain tile, Tile

Tile Martyr.

Number of tile stores I have been to: 12
States I have looked in: 3
Times I have been surprised at how snooty some tile salespeople are: 8
Stress level compared to the time I was tied to the roof: high.
Miles from my house where I found the final contestant: 12
Why I did not go to the winning store two months ago when Paul suggested it: because it looked crappy.

Peronda Museum, 18×18, polished, porcelain, bianca carrara:

Peronda Museum tile. Marble lookalike, large polished-porcelain, bath tile, Bianca carrara:

The crappy little store? Had the tile in stock. And let me take home two boxes of it. Not two tiles, two BOXES.

I would like to edit my previous advice about choosing tile (Tile Saga). And say that the best way to know if a tile works for you, is to cover half your floor.

The photo emphasizes the pattern—it’s not actually that prominent. From afar, it’s brighter and more neutral. Could it be a little larger? Yes. Would I like a little less pattern? Yes. A little more something? Yes. But? I’m done looking. And this weekend we will get a floor.