So it's been an official Three Weeks since the hellish 5-trips-to-Menards-weekend and I know I left you guys hanging last time with a measly little post on what was happening on the bathroom front, so I am going to do my best to cram the last few weeks into a few paragraphs and probably more than a few photos (as usual!).
Ok, so after the weekend from hell of going back and fourth to Menards for parts for the toilet, parts for the sink, toilet seats, and whatever else you can probably think of, the week passed with not much work being done. Now that summer and all of it's activities has arrived, it's almost impossible to try to cram in any substantial amount of bathroom work on a weekday night after work. The toilet and sink were in and worked like a charm...the only thing that wasn't usable was the shower.
In case you're wondering, while my dad and Jeff slaved away at the sink and toilet project, don't think I was out galavanting around. Between my 5 Menards trips, I was downstairs painting baseboards.
The following Saturday rolled around and thankfully it was raining all day so we had the perfect excuse to stay in and be a slave to the bathroom. Jeff graciously spent three hours working on that damn leak. After adjusting, re-adjusting and thinking it had finally been fixed, it would drip again. He realized that the problem was caused when you pulled the little lever on the tub spout to make the water come from the shower head. Once the shower went on, water would drip from behind the tub spout. It's hard to explain and if you're a plumber, you probably know what I am talking about. Beings that I don't know any plumbers, it's safe assume nobody probably cares what the deep problem was. I am pretty sure what it came down to though was crappy, Made in China, parts deep within the tub spout. Anyway, I was so grateful that my
lovely brother spent three hours of his Saturday fixing it! There wasn't even any swearing or any trips to Menards required! I would have been swearing my fool head off if it was me--thankfully it wasn't, because I would have had no clue how to fix it.
While all of that was going on upstairs, I was downstairs for the most of the day filling nail holes, sanding and painting window and door trim. Four coats (I think) later (over the course of a few days), they are still downstairs, waiting patiently to be hung. Some tweaks need to be done before those can get put up, but they are ready to rock and roll.
After that, more miscellaneous things were done like: caulking shower fixtures, finishing up baseboard work (I even learned how to properly "schemer"<-- (I hate that word, why can't they just call it "smear"?) caulk. I also installed the TP holder, hung a picture and the towel hook got hung. 9 hours later, I was ready to call it a day. Come Sunday morning we were able to shower in the new shower again. This time, definitely, 100% leak-free. It's been two weeks without any problems, so I am pretty sure we are safe *knock on wood*.
Oh and I must mention one thing...It's kind of a big thing and I feel absolutely horrible, but I must share. You know how I showed you the fabric I picked out for my custom shower curtain awhile back? Well my Godmother did a great job making it and after a few weeks of it hanging in the closet, it was finally ready to hang up in the shower and.....get ready for it.......I don't like it. Insert very large Sad Face here. It's not like I don't like it, I just don't like it in my bathroom. I think it's a combination of a couple things. First, the fabric is a little heavier than a normal shower curtain and therefore, looks heavy in my otherwise, pretty light room. Second, the pattern is a little loud for such a small space. When you sat on the new, bigger-than-the-last and closer-to-the-shower-than-the-last, toilet, the curtain would be basically right in your face, screaming at you.
Over the course of a few days of me debating this curtain issue, Target happened to get a new line of bathroom accessories in and I found one that was perfect. If only I would have found that three months ago. They also had some fun rugs that would have worked but of course, I had ordered a custom one a couple days prior. Hopefully I won't be disappointed in the rug as well! My track record with accessories hasn't been the greatest with this project. I won't even mention the first garbage can and toilet paper holder that I ordered only to return the day after they arrived.
Anyway, I haven't broke the news to my Godmother yet about the curtain, but I am sure she will understand. I am for sure going to keep the curtain in hopes that someday it will come in handy.
So let's recap:
Sink - check
Toilet - check
Shower - check
Baseboards - check
Trim (door & window) - almost check--- two pieces for the window trim need to be re-made before the trim can be hung. Then we can measure for blinds and I can replace the green and white checkerboard sheet that is currently hanging from the window. On the door side, I forgot that the trim wasn't as wide as it is and I needed to fill some screws with plaster, sand and paint. The plaster was put on yesterday and so hopefully one night this week I will get around to sanding and painting.
Medicine Cabinet - almost check--- If you remember from ages ago, my plan was to keep the medicine cabinet and light sconces that sit on either side of it. I liked the retro/art deco feel that they left in the room. Well the lights are in and good to go. The "box" part of the medicine cabinet needed to be re-built so my friend made that for me and it was all ready to go last Thursday. So Thursday night Jeff calls to break the news that he broke the mirror. There was a little snafu while trying to put the mirror back into it's frame and she now has a big crack in it. No worries though, I did some emailing and thankfully we have a family friend who has a glass/mirror business and he's going to make me a replica, minus the little etched flower design that was on top. Apparently etching in glass will cost 5 times the cost of the mirror so I told him to forget it. My dad says that he knows how to etch and if I want etching back on it, he could do it. I am going to ponder that one awhile. I'll let you know what I decide when the time comes.
Decorating - almost check--- I hung one piece of art that I made and I am still struggling with what to do on the wall above the toilet. I need a little bit of storage in there for my face wash and other "womanly" things if you must know. I have something in mind, I just need to have my Grandpa make it for me if he will. I need to be sure it will look right though, first. Then of course the blinds need to be ordered. I know what I want, I just need the measurements. Don't go and try to copy the current "curtain" I have hanging...You can't find that sheet, hair binder and thumbtacks just anywhere!
Whew! This post has gotten long and drawn out. Hopefully I didn't lose you.
