We're done, more or less. We're still waiting for drawer/door pulls, and we need a pleated shade for the bathroom. Other than that, three months of construction have drawn to a close.
What we started with: a 1924 bathroom that had been tweaked but not remodeled in the 1960's, with the exception of a shower added by the former owners. In 1984, when we bought the house, the walls were covered on bordello-red flocked wallpaper. We put up the stylized fish wallpaper.
BEFORE
The throne.
AFTER
The toilet partly hidden behind a "pony wall." Yay!
The toilet's hiding place.
BEFORE
1960's-era vanity and white Formica counter. Original 1924 floor, which was stained and chipped.
AFTER
Quartz stone counter, glass mosaic backsplash, a medicine cabinet (never had one), porcelain tile floor. New cabinet over toilet.
A handy feature
The amazingly capacious medicine cabinet. Jerry loves this.
BEFORE
AFTER
Oversized subway tile, more glass mosaic. Small tiles on the floor make for secure footing
BEFORE
AFTER
We kept the old bathtub. New floor tile and off-white subway tile around the tub.
BEFORE
A print framed in the '70's that had been banished to the basement
AFTER
New mat, frame.
Re-framed drawing done by Jerry's son about 45 years ago
In place
Family photos yet to be sorted and hung
* * * * *
My studio closet also got an overhaul. I developed a sensitivity to formaldehyde a few years ago, so my quilt fabric has to be stored in drawers, and, of course, I didn't have enough of them.
BEFORE
Small hole made by contractor just before demolition
DURING
Looking into the bathroom: a giant hole where new drawers will go.
AFTER
Four beautiful new easy-slide drawers for fabric
At left: new shelves installed. My sewing machines can now be stored off the floor along with a lot of other stuff.
* * * * *
We replaced the linen closet entirely:
BEFORE
The lower set of doors concealed three wood-on-wood drawers that were murder to open and close.
AFTER
We're waiting for replacement drawer/door pulls
Yes, more fabric!
* * * * *
In case you're thinking of doing a remodel, here's a taste of what we lived with for three months:
How about a toilet and shower door in the front yard?
Thermoply protection on the front stairs, entryway, hallway.
Demolition--only the bathtub remained.
The tragic phase of a remodel: rubble
Before the contractor bashed a hole through the wall at right, into my studio closet
Looking into my studio closet through the hole in bathroom wall.
Yes, it was worth it! Many thanks to my sister, Madeleine Randal, who designed it and put a lot of miles on her car driving between San Jose and Berkeley. Also to Geoff Semans, of The Original Crafters, who did the construction. Highly recommend.
