Shower Makeover

We got our house keys on May 10th, but I didn't have to be out of my apartment until the 31st... It was a good thing too, because the shower was totally unusable in it's current state.  Not to mention disgusting.  It was riddled with holes left behind when someone removed handrails from the shower walls, the caulk was a cracking mess and the whole thing was just old and super gross.  

Shower before...

So, the first order of business was to replace the fiberglass shower surround before we actually started living in the house.  Welllllllllll, that was MUCH easier said than done. 

Luckily, my dad is super handy and knows everything about everything...because I wouldn't have had a clue how to tackle this project.  We ripped the existing shower surround out exposing the studs and the plumbing in the wall.  This is when it started getting fun. (Please note my sarcasm.)  My dad took the old shower fixtures off and when he removed some fitting or valve thing-a-ma-jig (I know absolutely nothing about plumbing) the faucet EXPLODED and water shot out at million miles an hour and I accidentally screamed at the top of my lungs.  Okay, okay...the "exploding" part is probably a bit of an exaggeration, but the screaming part isn't. 

I stood with both my hands on the gushing pipe trying to direct the water into the bathtub.  I was worried about it drenching the bare, plywood subfloor.  My dad RAAAAN outside in search of the water main shut off thingy while someone else started throwing buckets of water out the window because the tub wasn't draining fast enough and it was filling up quickly.  I can't make this stuff up.

After what seemed like a hundred hours, my dad finally found the shutoff but he had to dig through the dirt with his hands because it was buried underneath a big tree root.  Of course it was.  Meanwhile, back in the bathroom I was remaining totally calm and collected.  Oh, wait...I was completely drenched and having a full-blown panic attack.  That's right.

Long story, short...my dad got the water shut off, he worked a bunch of plumbing voodoo magic in the walls to get ready for the new surround and fixtures and then he installed everything.  That's about as technical as I can get.  We chose a surround intended for a standing shower (without the base) so the walls are very tall...almost to the ceiling.  It made the bathroom ceiling feel really high and I love the way it turned out.  Buttttttt, it had an unintended consequence. 

After....so purdy.

I installed my beautiful, curved, oil-rubbed bronze curtain rod above the shower and then realized... "Oh, crap.  My shower curtain won't be long enough!"  Shower curtains are typically about 72 inches long...and I now needed one that was 84 inches long.  I found this especially annoying considering my blue/brown/gray shower curtain was the color pallet inspiration for the entire bathroom.  Blarg.

I had the idea to add a panel of fabric to the bottom of the curtain to lengthen it, but I was worried it would look tacky and disjointed.  Light bulb!  Then I had an even better idea... I would cut the curtain towards the top and insert a panel of fabric in between two halves of the curtain...making it look more like one cohesive piece of fabric.  Of all my artistic/creative/handy talents, sewing is NOT one of them...so I convinced my mom to play seamstress for me.  She did an awesome job...

Next, I added a cream-colored ribbon along the seams to give it a more finished look.  My mom introduced me to Stitch Witchery which is basically a strip of fabric glue that is activated by heat... You just put a strip of Stitch Witchery in between the fabric and ribbon, put a damp towel over it and then iron it on.  Presto.  Instant trim. 

I hung it up this morning and I am in love with it.  I can't help but poke my head in the bathroom every time I walk by...  And the best part is, for less than 10 bucks I have an expensive-looking shower curtain!

Faux Granite Counter Top

Okay, the cabinets are done...next up, the counter.  I did a lot of research before we moved in because I knew I wanted to try and refurbish as many existing items as possible...not only to save money, but also because I love being clever and creative.  How many people do you know that handed over a fistful of cash for beautiful, granite counter tops?  That's right...everyone.  How many people do you know that paid 60 bucks for materials and MADE their own counters that look like this...in an hour.  Not many...  

Painting Formica is no new idea and I certainly don't claim it as one of my own brilliant brainstorms.  You can find tons of tutorials on YouTube or Pinterest and there are even several companies that make "faux granite" painting kits.  Rustoleum, Crystal Top Overlay and Giani Granite are the main ones I found.  I researched them all...comparing price, reviews, photos, videos and quality...and I ended up selecting the Giani Granite kit.  It had the best ratings and at 60 bucks it was a fraction of the price of the other options.  I even priced out the materials individually, but I still couldn't do it cheaper.  Giani has several color options, but I chose Sicilian Sand. 

The kit includes a black primer, 3 different colors of "mineral" paints (I assume they add minerals to give it a more realistic stone appearance?), a clear top coat, a mini roller and a big sea sponge...among a couple other items. They even include a lengthy how-to video that I watched twice (because I wasn't listening the first time through) and then I proceeded to just do whatever I wanted.  I'm not the best at following instructions simply because I'm terrible at paying attention... The video strongly suggest doing "practice sponging" on the black paper they provide to get your technique down, but being the impatient monster that I am, I skipped the practice step, rolled up my sleeves and dove right in...

Here are the counters before...gross.

First step:  Prep.  I hate prep.  I'm so impatient and easily bored and I just wanna hurry up and get to the finish line, but I know it's important so I force myself to do it...blah, blah.  I taped the areas around the counter that I didn't want to get messed up with FrogTape (I could and should write a whole post on FrogTape...it is ahhhhhmazing.)  The instructions say to use SOS or Brillo pads, but I had no idea where mine were packed, so I just scrubbed it really well with hot, soapy water and a dish sponge.  Chemical cleaners aren't recommended because of the residue they can leave behind.  I didn't have any nicks or gouges in my counter, but if you do, you can fill them with wood patch before you start painting...

Also, I was planning on replacing the sink and adding a tile blacksplash, so I ripped both of those out before I started so I didn't have to paint around them.  If you don't have the luxury of gutting your bathroom before painting your counters, just mask your sink off really well with FrogTape...not that blue painter's tape crap, only use FrogTape.  Trust me.

Second step:  Primer.  After the counter was bone dry, I rolled on one coat of black primer and waited 8 hours like I was supposed to.  The written instructions have like, 5 paragraphs on how to primer, but again...I hate reading instructions and this part isn't brain surgery.  So, I skimmed them, caught the highlights and went to town. It said that one coat of primer is enough, but the following day the primer got really dusty and ashy and mucked up from the drywall destruction going on in the shower (that's yet another post)...so I put down a second coat of primer and covered it in plastic after it was dry to protect it from the construction chaos...

Primered counter...and cutest puppy helper of all time.

Third step:  The fun part!  Again, after skimming the instructions, I cut the provided sea sponge into multiple sizes, poured my "mineral paints" onto Styrofoam plates and started dabbing.  The colors are numbered in the order you are supposed to use them in, so it's hard to screw it up...even for people like me. 

I dabbed all three paint layers on one small section of the counter at a time instead of sponging the entire counter with paint #1 and then paint #2, etc. This part is important!!!  If you've nodded off from reading this boring, informative post...wake up and pay attention to this part!  You want the first layer to still be wet when you start dabbing on the second layer because they'll sorta blend and merge...making it look more realistic.  I've seen photos of people who did it the other way and it reminded me of leopard print.  It wasn't pretty.  I also never rinsed out any of the sponges...I just kept dipping and double-dipping them in the paints and letting them do whatever they wanted.  To make it look as realistic as possible, I barely paid any attention to what I was doing. Granite isn't uniform...it's random.  So, just let go and let it happen! 

While dabbing, I kept rotating my wrist and using different sides of the sponge to prevent getting the same imprint over and over.  I even used my left hand part of the time so I couldn't control the pattern even if I wanted to.  I noticed that the wetter my sponge, the LESS I liked the outcome...it looked too fake.  So, I used the paints very sparingly and dabbed off the excess... I kept going back and forth in between the colors and when the counter was totally covered, I thought it looked too..."one note."  I had covered too much of the black primer up and it felt flat.  So, I busted open the primer again, and using my smallest sponge, I super lightly dabbed a little black back in here and there.  Presto!  Instant depth again. 

As soon as you're done sponging, you'll know it.  Just keep dabbing until you stand back and love it... The whole process took me less than an hour and I'm a super duper perfectionist.  It was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.  After letting the paint dry for 4 hours, I lightly sanded it with super fine 600 grit sand paper to sand down any paint peaks made by the sponges...

I wish I would have remembered to take some "during" photos while painting, but I was so consumed with the creative process that I totally forgot.  I'm lame.  I also plan to paint my kitchen counters, so I'll update this post with more photos then...

After painting....

Last step:  Clear top coat.  This step is the most important and while doing my research, I read several reviews written by customers who hadn't really paid attention and sadly screwed up their top coat and the overall look of their counters.  So, I actually forced myself to thoroughly read the instructions for this step.  

Immediatly after rolling on a THIN layer of the top coat over a small area...place the roller at the back of the counter and super lightly roll back over it, pulling the roller towards you.  It's important to use ONE long, end-to-end, straight roll stroke.  Move onto the next section and do the same thing...  If you were to just roll back and forth the finish wouldn't look uniform and you'd be able to see the roller marks.  No bueno. 

After waiting the required 4 hours, I put on a second coat.  It says that three coats is the max, but being the stubborn, non-listener that I am, I put on 4 coats because it didn't feel protected enough to me.  I mean, this is a bathroom we're talking about... I can't speak for the longevity of this stuff yet, but it's been 3 weeks and so far I'm impressed...  I wipe down any water drops right away though, just as a precaution. 

I don't think the photos do the counter justice...they look WAY better in person.  I'm super happy with how they turned out and everyone who sees them says, "Those are painted?!?!" 

After photos...LOVE.

Holy crap, this was a really long, not-so-entertaining post... Enough blabbering, I gotta get back to work!

Bathroom Vanity Makeover

After many requests...here it is!  My bathroom tutorials.  Almost every surface in the bathroom has been redone, but these are a few of my cleverest projects:

 - I painted the baby blue Formica counter top to resemble granite using a big sea sponge
 - I installed a glass tile blacksplash (for my first time!) without using mud or a tile saw
 - The flooring now consists of ripped up brown paper and Elmer's Glue (um, what????)

Okay... So, after I ripped every hideous object out of the bathroom, I attacked the vanity first.  I deglossed all the cabinet doors, drawer fronts and the cabinet itself so I could paint over the boring, 80's-style oak.  If you don't know what deglosser is, let me tell you...it is magical.  I hate sanding.  Everyone does.  I buy this kind from Home Depot, for like 8 bucks.  I would happily pay twice that to avoid sanding.  All you have to do is take an old rag, douse it with some deglosser and start scrubbing and rubbing.  Then wait until it dries (about 15 minutes or so) and do a second coat.  Degloss every surface you intend to paint...so, if that includes the inside too, keep scrubbing.  

You'll need to put a little muscle into it for the deglosser to work well, but it still beats sanding and paint remover and stripping varnish and other tasks that requires the patience I do NOT possess.  It not only takes off grease and dust and oil and 50 years worth of grime, but, most importantly, it takes off the glossy finish from the wood stain making it porous again...and paintable.  If you were to skip this step and just painted over the wood stain, it wouldn't stick well and then the first time your 3-year-old climbed up the cabinet to brush his teeth (do 3 year-olds do that?  I actually have no clue...) the paint would scratch off because it wouldn't have soaked into the wood at all... 

As I mentioned in a previous bathroom post, I painted the cabinet dark blu-ish gray, decided I hated it and then repainted the entire thing chocolate brown.  I used Behr paint for the whole bathroom.  I only ever use Behr paint and I buy it with the primer already mixed in.  It, too, is magical.  The exact color I used is "Dark Truffle."  Oooooh, I want some dark chocolate now... 

Before and after cabinets...pardon the mess.

The only thing I have left to do to the vanity is to add hardware to the drawers and such... I don't know why, but that has turned into an annoying to-do that I can't seem to make myself accomplish.  It's tedious and I'm impatient, but it'll get done...eventually.

Next up...the counters.  Wait, I just decided to break this tutorial into separate posts otherwise it will be monster-sized...keep reading for my Faux Granite Counter top tutorial!

Bathroom Pics - Before and During

I don't have time to type up a witty and hilarious post for you right now (I gotta get back to work!) but here are some bathroom pictures, as promised.... 

BEFORE:  See, just as I described in my last post... Ugly.

And this is how the vanity looked about 10 minutes after walking into the house on Saturday morning.  I don't mess around....

In true DIY form, I'm attempting to resurface/refurbish/reuse as many of the original materials as I can... So, I painted the cabinets (twice!) first a dark/blu-ish gray, and then decided I didn't like it so I repainted the entire thing chocolate brown.  Much better.  Unfortunately, that is gonna happen a lot throughout this whole remodel... I'm a super picky perfectionist.  

I also PAINTED (yes, painted) the tacky formica counter top to resemble granite using 4 different colors and a big sea sponge...and I topped it off with three coats of poly to protect it and to also make it shiny like granite.  The pictures don't do it justice...I'm super happy with how it turned out.  I'll be posting a whole tutorial on how I did it in the near-ish future... 

COUNTER AFTER PAINTING:

I also added a backsplash without using goopy mud or a tile saw!  Again, I'm gonna post a how-to... It was super easy.

And this is how the vanity currently looks.  Oh, and I painted the shiny chrome light fixture with oil-rubbed bronze spray paint...while it was still on the wall.  Bam!  A five dollar light fixture upgrade...

All I have left to do, is grout the tile and add cabinet hardware.  Ahhh....I'm in love.

Keys!!!

We got the house keys on Friday night but I haven't put down my hammer and/or paintbrush long enough to bore my loyal blogger fans with the fantastic news... We decided not to move in until Memorial Day weekend and to spend a couple weeks tackling a couple of projects first.  My original plan was just to "paint the walls without our boxes and furniture in the way"...but I hadn't even had the keys in my hand for 24 hours before the bathroom and kitchen were totally destroyed. Oooooooops.

I got to the house super early on Saturday morning (after a sleepless night compiling a to-do list in my head) and I immediately started ripping stuff out of the bathroom... I planned to reuse/refurbish the cabinets and counter, but almost everything else had to go.  Most of the finishes are original to the 1950's house but the tacky Formica counter is probably the product of an 80's remodel...along with my matching kitchen.  Blah. The 80's were a very dark time for interior design...and just ugly in general. 

What the bathroom has going for it:

• The size doesn't totally suck (it's not big by any means, but it's big enough.)
• It has good lighting (big window.)
• Lots of storage (cabinets and a linen closet.)

What I must change about the bathroom immediately otherwise risk scratching my eyes out every time I enter the room:

• the counter (pale blue Formica.)
• the back splash (or lack thereof.)
• the sink (just nasty.)
• the faucet (the kind with the big, single, plastic/crystaly knob on top of it...you know the kind.)
• the flooring (oatmeal-colored Marmoleum.)
• the shower surround (besides being nasty, it's riddled with holes and unusable.)
• the tub and shower fixtures (nasty, nasty, nasty.)
• the towel bars and toilet paper holder (shiny gold?  Um, pass.)
• the light fixtures (super shiny chrome...to go with the shiny gold.)
• the wall color (white with accents of dirt.)
• the cabinet color (boring, grimy oak or something.)
• the cabinet hardware (more gold.)
• every other square inch I haven't mentioned yet (I have my work cut out for me.)

I ripped up the boring Marmoleum flooring only to find a lovely layer of linoleum underneath.  I was afraid of that...but I kept ripping.  It wasn't until I got to the THIRRRRD friggen layer of flooring that I started to get angry.  Like, really angry.  It was like I was peeling back the layers of a linoleum time capsule.  Each layer kept getting uglier and uglier.  Plus, whoever invented linoleum glue is an EVIL VILLAIN trying to rid the world of DIY-ers one pissed off woman at a time.  

I ripped and chipped and chiseled at that crap for hours and barely made a dent.  My hands were cut and achy and I was already feeling defeated.  I wasn't even three hours into my remodel and I wanted to give up already.  "What have I gotten myself into!?!?"  But, after feeling sorry for myself for a while, I went to Home Depot, bought a big ass floor chisel and came back and waled on that blasted floor some more.  That was five days ago and I still have a nasty blister on my right hand.  But guess who won that battle?  Alissa - ONE, linoleum glue - ZERO.  Take that.

I Love Home Depot

You're going to hear that a lot if you get suckered into following this blog.  "I love Home Depot."  It's my favorite store.  I love the smell of freshly cut lumber when you first walk in, I could live in the outdoor gardening area and I think it's fun that I'm allowed to bring my 100-pound puppy into the store with me.  Which is strange because his goofy mug generates a lot of attention and I hate talking to strangers...or even non-strangers for that matter.  And then he's totally in the way the entire time I'm trying to shop.  And then he barks at the other dogs and I feel like a failure as a puppy mama.  And one time he peed on a potted plant and I was mortified.  Wait, why do I like taking him there?  Never mind...moving on.

I've been compiling a "THINGS TO BUY IMMEDIATELY" list while waiting for the mortgage junk to go through, and the second those keys are in my tiny fist I'm zipping over to the glorious super store.  Some of my must-haves include:

~~Painting tools and supplies up the waazoo.  I have 1200 square feet of house that is screaming for color!
~~Hand tools and basics:  hammer, level, tape measure, caulk gun, saw horses, ladder, etc.
~~Lawn mower.  I'm gonna have to force myself to focus on the house and take a rain check on the exterior for now...but a shaggy lawn is simply unacceptable!
~~Power tools: I already have an awesome drill a very smart boy bought me for Christmas, but I want a circular saw, a chop saw a palm sander and either a jig saw or saws all.  And I reeeeaalllly want an air compressor and a nail gun and a paint sprayer (and, and, and) ....but I can't justify buying EVERY thing I want if I'm gonna stay within my goal budget.  Luckily, I have a super handy Padre who I'm sure wouldn't mind loaning a few gadgets to his eldest daughter.  (Hint, hint.)

I'm actually giddy at the thought of a cart full of tools.  I wonder if I can register for House Warming gifts at Home Depot...?  I'm making a mental note to check on that later... 

I think this monstrosity will be one of the first "transformation" projects I tackle.  As you can see it is tall, dark, and UN-handsome.  It smells old and has faded, peeling, floral contact paper inside.  I think it's original purpose was to make more of a designated dining area, but it's overbearing and it makes the room feel dark and cramped.  

I had the idea to bust off the top shelving portion of the cabinet (oooh, I need to add a sledge hammer to my list) and turn the bottom cupboards into a sorta buffet/bar/storage thingy.  It'll still segregate the dining area without blocking out the freaking sun.  I'd get rid of it all together, but it's been parked there for over 50 years and I'm sure the wood flooring that's been hidden underneath won't look anything like the rest of the floor...and that will turn me into a crazy(er) lady. 

My first instinct is to paint it JET BLACK.  My first instinct is to paint everything jet black.  About 90% of my furniture is jet black.  It's a problem.  I'm addicted.  But, I'm going to fight the urge and doing something really funky and colorful with it instead...I'm not telling you what though.  You'll just have to keep reading to find out....

I have a new blog!

For years, my family has jokingly referred to me as "Martha Stewart...in black."  Let me explain... I may look like every other dorky, twenty-something, childless tom boy, but I'm actually quite the little homemaker.  I've only ever made pancakes from scratch (from memory...no recipe), I have veggie-growing skills you should be envious of, I LOVE home-decorating and my eye will start to twitch if a picture frame is even an inch out of place.  So, when I show up to a family dinner donning a crummy black band t-shirt (and hair that's dyed 5 shades darker than my natural color) toting a dish that's pretty enough to be photographed for a food magazine...it comes across as a bit odd.  I've spent more time arranging a cheese and cracker plate to take to a party than I spent on my appearance for said party.  BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T LOOK JUST RIGHT THE WORLD WILL END.  It won't of course, but try telling that to my inner Susie Homemaker.  And then my family will say, "You're like Martha Stewart!...(pause)...in black."  I dispatch crane trucks by day, kickbox by night, and spend hours drooling over the gardening section of Pinterest on the weekends.  Go figure.

I've toned down my "punk" look a lot in my old age, but when I was younger the juxtaposition was even more drastic... Picture an anti-social 18-year old girl in way too much black eyeliner and skull-covered Vans frosting a cake in the shape of Barbie.  It's happened.  More than once.  Oh, wait...you don't have to picture it, here is the proof.  And of course I'm wearing black in this photo.  

 

I blame/thank my mom for me becoming the domestic dynamo I am today.  I've been cooking since before I was even tall enough to reach the stove.  I vividly remember the horror on our babysitter's face when she found 5-year old me sitting on the counter next to the stove boiling water so I could make Top Ramen for my sister and I.  I didn't understand what the fuss was about...I cooked all the time.  When I was 16, I spent my hard-earned waitressing money on paint, brushes and wood trim to redecorate my bedroom.  What high school junior asks for Home Depot gift cards for Christmas??  This one did.  Side note:  Home Depot is my favoritest store evah.  But that is another post in and of itself.    

To round out my secret Susie Homemaker identity...I'm newly obsessed with all things Do-It-Yourself thanks to this little guy.  We bought a house!!!  Hence the inspiration for this blog... 

As you can see this 1950's gem needs some love.  A LOT of love.  Like, $50,000 worth of love.  But I'm determined to transform this little sucker into a cozy and inviting home for about 10K and I'll be posting all of my projects on here.  I'll be doing the majority of the work myself and transforming / resurfacing / upcycling what I already have to work with instead of buying everything new.  I'll be bargain-hunting, yard-saling and dumpster-diving!  Okay, well probably not dumpster-diving....because what would Martha think???