Bathroom Renovation

As a DIYer, I had no choice but to renovate my upstairs bathroom. There was a secret sink leak. We noticed the problem only after water began to drip from the ceiling in the living room below the bathroom. But that wasn't the only reason for the reno. The bathroom was the original one that was cheaply installed as a 'new build' (and we were the 2nd owners). Ugly linoleum on the floors, press board cabinets... So, after tackling the kitchen a few years ago, it was most assuredly time to tackle the upstairs bathroom. The leak only kicked us in the butt to get us going in the right direction! Because of our budget, I opted to keep the tub insert. It was still in decent condition, so it stayed.

My little man was my assistant and helped me pull out the sink, cabinet and toilet. He removed the trim and helped pull up the old linoleum. Hubby and little man hauled everything to the dumpster. Then on to tightening up the very noisy floor by fastening the squeaky floor parts to the joists with screws . The cement-board sub floor was not a difficult job, it was just nasty to deal with the dust from cutting (safety glasses and mask a must!).

Paint was next...cream on three walls and the ceiling and a burnt orange-ish on one wall. Then onto tiling.  My youngest daughter kept giving me final touch ideas but, you have to understand something about me that, apparently, she does not. I have a plan and that plan has a totality to it. It may take me months to figure out what that plan is, but I won't start a project until I know how it's going to unfold. So, if I am at the beginning of my plan, at a particular part of it, my only thoughts are of what, specifically, I am working on. Not of what is next or what the final-touches are. (All great ideas little girl of mine, but ...button it...mommy's not there yet!). NO! I did not say that to her face. I am by far *ahem* too sweet a mommy, but I am sure my eye-glare while she was extolling her ideas as I was actively using the wet saw was a little bit of a warning.

On to shower doors (Lowes - off the rack). Hardest part of that was sawing the base and top horizontals down a few inches. Tedious with a hand saw but do-able.


The toilet install was a bioch. The concept is easy enough but the dang screw-to-toilet lineup was a bit of a challenge only because one of the flange screws came out of it's holder, after I set the toilet into place. I am a mom who always taught my kids to say things like 'oh nuts' and 'jimney cricket' when things get a little challenging, but my language while installing the toilet was very colorful. I kept telling my kids....'this is not the language you would ever use.....unless you are installing a *&#@*% toilet!!!!

Anyway, they are now, old enough to know that mommy was just a nutjob at the moment of toilet installation. They kept their distance...shyly brought me water...and kept telling me what a great job I was doing....Well played little Coyles!

My child desk to bathroom vanity was more my style. A little vision...a little paint. My husband couldn't grasp the concept and couldn't see my vision so he kept trying to give me new and improved ideas (Coyle, see note above. I have a plan!!!). I could see he was trying to grasp the idea, get his head around it. I listened to is thoughts about it...but NO!

I inserted simple closet cubbies in the existing closet area, but took the bi-fold doors off. It'll do for now.


All trim was painted and glazed to match the bathroom vanity.

And now for my little girl's suggestions...the final touches! Towel hooks were installed, bathtub and shower hardware will soon be replaced with an oil-rubbed bronze set..to match the sink hardware and wall decor will be put up as soon as I find what it is I'm looking for.