Beginning our DIY kitchen remodel— gutting the bathroom… *VIDEO*
The strangest thing about writing a blog on the internet is feeling like you owe strangers an explanation for your life… then, after the explanation, some of these strangers will be aggrieved by your choices.
This is going to be one of those times.
We are taking out the half bath on the first floor; it is not original to the house, and there is NO PLACE else to relocate it that does not duplicate the same awkward design.
To recap the feedback I’ve gotten:
1. That bathroom is hideous. You MUST tear it out.
2. That bathroom is hideous. You MUST keep it; a first-floor bath is invaluable.
3. That bathroom is hideous. You MUST tear it out… and put it somewhere else; because a first-floor bath is invaluable.
Here is the explanation for taking it out… not that it will persuade you. I only offer it because I am legally required, as a blogger, to account for all of our decisions, so that my explanation may be ignored in favor of public derision.
We are removing the bathroom because we feel the poor location and horrible appearance outweighs its value.
Does that mean we do not understand the value of a bath on the first floor? No. Shockingly, we understand. AND YET we are removing it anyway.
Did we think of some workarounds? Yes.
Were they designs that would enhance the space? No.
They were ways of building half walls and pseudo mudrooms and moving the bathroom further into the kitchen… and just generally creating MORE UGLY to hide the EXISTING UGLY.
So we have decided to have NO UGLY.
To us, this entire space— the addition AND the kitchen— are going to look 1,000,000,000% better with windows on that wall, rather than a boxed-in toilet.
To us, one billion percent is a lot and we feel good about our choice.
I’m also compelled to say this:
This is an old house.
Old houses come with the necessity that you sometimes be willing to ACCEPT THE HOUSE… and sometimes that means choosing what is best for the house, rather than what is most convenient.
Okay… Now you may proceed with the cries of VALUE! Resale!
But you’ll have to do it while watching Paul and I take it out.
other videos to help you waste time:
bed to roof/through window,
how to move a grand piano,
building drawers inside the piano
October 6, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
That video is soo Gorgous!!! I can’t stop watching it. You are wonderful!
October 6, 2015 @ 7:19 pm
Hi, love your blog. I’ve been reading past posts and am just caught up. I am so excited to see how you finish this space. The piano as island is truly genius. You and your husband are super talented. What a great place to read for inspiration and a laugh. Have a great day to you both!
October 6, 2015 @ 8:13 pm
Nice work! We have a toilet in our laundry room – interesting enough – which is right next to our kitchen. I ridicule it and yet use it all the time. Nevertheless, I think the toilet has to go so I can expand our utility sink, which is right next to the toilet, into a dog wash area. Which to me is somewhat less gross than having a toilet one door away from our food prep area. And yes, between the toilet and the dog wash, I realize what we sound like.
October 6, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
OMG, you guys have waaaaay too much fun . . . .
October 6, 2015 @ 9:12 pm
Ha, I can’t even concentrate on what you’re saying because of the macaroni&cheese walls. ANYTHING done to that space by you WILL be an improvement. For realsies.
October 6, 2015 @ 10:04 pm
Totally agree!!! Space and windows are beautiful….so is elvis!!!!
October 6, 2015 @ 10:38 pm
I’m glad you decided to take it out! I remember the first time I saw pictures of that room and I was thinking that with all your good taste, why were you keeping that bathroom? SO glad it’s gone! Good for you!
October 6, 2015 @ 11:33 pm
Since I never criticize and am always supportive, can I come and visit when it’s done. I will ooh and aah and tell you how wonderful you are. Because you really are. Give Elvis a love from me.
October 7, 2015 @ 12:30 am
I got rid of the toilet (it wasn’t even what Americans call “half-bath”) that was downstairs in my Cottage. It’s an old house so it had been added after it was built and it always flet like it was in the middle of the living-room, so it was never used. But I did receive a couple of comments of people who had never seen the house telling me I had made a mistake!
October 7, 2015 @ 6:47 am
Do what you want with your home and we will sit back and enjoy the ride!
October 7, 2015 @ 8:53 am
You’re busy demo’ing. That means the rest of us have a chance to get on Craigslist and find a GFT while your attention is diverted. I always enjoy your latest ventures, but this time I may not have to kick myself that you beat me to a find of a lifetime!
Later tater… and keep up the good work!
October 7, 2015 @ 8:59 am
Hi Victoria,
Just saw on a post by Rhoda on her blog southernhospitality.com… pictures of her visit to an antique store called The Plunderosa, which is in Loxley, AL.
She shared photos of items for sale there, including really large cabinets, the kind of furniture you arecwanting for your kitchen.
When she mentioned that the store owner told her that a lady had bought a couple of the older cabinets and was designing her kitchen around them, I immediately thought of you. Amazing antique cupboards, beautifully formed, spectacular shiny glass fronted upper doors… just for you!
I though, “I simply HAVE to inform Victoria of these remarkable finds!” Then almost immediately after that thought, “Ooooh, what if that lady IS the amazing Victoria? ??!”
I trust you have found them and are on your way to pick them up… they are worth the long road trip!
I’m so looking forward to viewing the eye candy that is your kitchen ‘taking shape’. ?
October 7, 2015 @ 9:04 am
Glad to see you didn’t go all HGTV and start swinging at the walls with a sledgehammer, although I don’t even see that move in Paul’s playbook.
October 7, 2015 @ 10:07 am
Girl, you shouldn’t have to defend your decision to us, your lovely readers. We obviously think you’re capable and awesome, or we wouldn’t be here! besides, it was hellaciously awkwardly placed.
October 7, 2015 @ 12:34 pm
I say, hurrah! And I love your video 🙂
October 7, 2015 @ 4:47 pm
We don’t have a first floor bathroom either! Honestly, doesn’t everyone want to use the most remote bathroom anyway? No one wants to go within earshot. 🙂
October 7, 2015 @ 5:08 pm
I LOVE the dancing in your video…and a man with power tools? yeah, baby!! How lucky are you? I will offer a “YES good choice” to removing the bathroom as it enhanced that room to have the space opened up…. fabulous! Listen to the house.
ps. many hugs and snuggles to Mz Elvis
AND Paul is also lucky to have such an energetic and lovely person to do house reno’s with.
carry on…
October 7, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
My absolute favorite part of the video is when you both start laughing when Paul realizes you are being ridiculous. Thank you for including that part.
October 7, 2015 @ 9:34 pm
Effing GLORIOUS!!!!
October 8, 2015 @ 12:54 am
To hell with it, indeed. You live there; it’s your house. 99% of the time, you’re fine with going upstairs, right? You don’t need it for the 1% of the time a guest might not make it upstairs.
I, too, have an old house. The previous owner put a half-a$$ full bath in the basement (and the shower pan was busted, so it’s unusable). I live ALONE. I don’t need a second shower. My 76-year old tiny house is a teardown anyway, so I need a home that works FOR ME. It’s becoming a larger laundry room.