Thursday, August 23, 2012

Master Bath Reno Update

(a recent flea market purchase for the new bathroom)

It's been my dirty little secret for five years. 
Our plan was to update the dank master bath right after we finished the very grim kitchen 
Well, A/C units blew out, furnaces and water heaters needed replacing, guests needed a room for lodging...

Five years later we finally got around to dealing with this
Peeling wall paper, moldy ceiling, awkward doors where we didn't really want one. No door where really needed one.  No surface area or storage, and an inefficient closet within the bathroom.
Designed like a 70's motel.

Before
View from doorway



After - View from doorway


Before 
view of door and "water closet" 


After 
 Same view after removing doorway and wall with new shower 

Another before shot 


Another after shot of same

Before
A close up of my dirty little secret


After

Before
Closet

After
Same view. Now with vanity



I used an old buffet I've had for years as my vanity. 
It has lots of storage and plenty of surface on top.


I found this shelf at Ikea and it's the perfect size for this space. 
Now I have room for clean towels, a laundry basket, and a fern :)


We used to avoid going upstairs at all costs because it was just gross. 
Now, it's nice and light and bright and open. 

Of course my photography doesn't do it justice. 
I bet you'll agree though, it's hard to believe it's the same space.







Tuesday, August 7, 2012

New Appreciation for Succulents


While strolling through the beautiful grounds of the Del Coronado hotel a couple weeks ago I noticed that gardens were exploding with big beautiful succulents that I've never seen the likes of.  I never realized how many different colors and shapes succulents come in. And I never really appreciated their beauty before, but I do now! 

Everyone knows how easy they are-- just break off a little piece and plop it in some dirt give it a little water every now and then and they'll be happy. 
They're the definition of LOW maintenance plants.  
Throughout the week, as I walked by these amazing plants, I had to keep telling myself that if I broke off a piece to take home that would be stealing -- and that is wrong. 


On our last evening we were invited to have dinner at the home of one of Matt's childhood friends.
We ate in the garden and the whole time I was distracted by her succulent garden.  I knew that even though her husband is a police officer, she probably wouldn't press charges if I broke off a piece of one her plants. But, I thought I better just ask anyway(especially since they just fed us). 
You know how gardeners are... eager to share and excited to talk about their plants. 
So, our wonderful hostess grabbed a bag and some scissors and around we went snipping and clipping -- I was positively giddy. 

Then she grabbed her keys told me to get in the car. 
We drove down the road to see some pots that she had just planted for a  friend (using clippings from her own garden).
Gardeners are all the same--we love to share!

(Thank you T!)

Have you discovered the beauty and ease of succulents yet? 

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sneak Peek - Master Bath Update

We're waiting on marble and glass installations and I'm driving myself crazy with fabric swatches, but it's coming together so nicely I wanted to give you a sneak peek of the master bath project.


Believe it or not, one of the most exciting features of this update is that there is now a door between the bedroom and the bathroom. The little things really do make a difference :)