We're making progress!!!

Well I never thought I'd see this day....  but we have progress in the bathroom!  It always amazes me at how much work goes into something before you ever even start.  Pick out tile, buy tile, lay out tile, cut tile.... 

First up was to install the backer board.  Of course there are a few cuts and holes but it fit like a glove - now.  Remember the saying, measure twice, cut once.  Well apparently we thought we were above that.  We're not.  We cut space for the faucet and showerhead.  Easy, right?  Ha!  Somewhere when we were measuring and jotting down said measurements we made a boo boo.  Oops, back to Home Depot for another piece of backer board.  They love us there I'm sure.  :) 

 

Backer board is up and ready to go!  You can see in this picture that I had painted the walls already.  I LOVE to paint.  I just can't seem to get enough of it.  :)  So once the paint was purchased I couldn't wait to get started.

 I ended up going with the lighter of the two colors - Nature's Retreat.  I'm really happy with the color.  Originally I was thinking of using more of a blue gray, but then I just kind of matched it up with the tile.  It reminds me of the ocean at sunset.  Ahhh, now I wish I was on vacation.  Ok, back to painting.  I always use this little angled brush for all of my cutting in.  I never tape off my trim before painting.  It's far too time consuming and I really haven't had good results.  Just a steady hand and patience works for me.  My husband has neither, so he is not allowed to paint.  :)

I decided that I wanted to give board & batten a whirl but was a little bit intimidated.  The bathroom is the perfect place to start since there is really only 2 small walls - how can I screw that up?  Don't worry, I'm sure I'll learn plenty along the way! 

I love the color even more now that it's up on the wall!!!  I figured out approximately where the board and batten will go and painted the lower half Ultra White.  I would recommend using semi-gloss paint especially in the bathroom.  It went on so smooth, it will be easy to keep clean and of course can handle the moisture that comes with a bathroom.  

Eek!!!!  I can't wait to get started on the tile!  It wouldn't be a long holiday weekend without a home improvement project would it? 

I hope that you have a great Memorial Weekend and have a chance to soak up some sun.  I hope to get this bathroom done quickly so that I might get a little bit of sun on these ghostly white legs.  They are scary white.  

Happy Friday, Happy long weekend and Happy remodeling!!! 

Bathroom inspiration

Work on the bathroom has finally started!!!  We are re-financing our house right now and with an impending appraisal we thought we'd better finally get going on the bathroom.  I guess I'm just too laid back.  It's just one of those things that you just learn to live with.  I hadn't found any tile that I was in love with, so I just kind of put it on the back burner for a bit.

Now we're ready to get started again and we found a new tile that we love!  We started the tile search again at our favorite place, Home Depot.  There we found an accent tile that still has the blue/gray colors that I was looking for.  It's a little bit different with a touch of stainless steel look here and there.

This picture isn't very good.  I don't like it here, but I do in person.  It makes such a difference to see it in person. 

We are planning to use white subway tile for the majority of the shower and split this into rows of four to create an accent around the shower.  I think it will be just enough to add a pop of color and then I'll tie in with the wall color.  I am debating between the following colors:

Behr Premium Plus - Nature Retreat

Behr Premium Plus - Amphibian

Both of these colors are on the same color card but the Amphibian color is just a little bit darker.  With the white subway tile and white board and batton I'm thinking that I might choose the darker color.  I'm so excited to get started on this and FINALLY finish the bathroom!  Home Depot, here I come!
In the last few months while the project was on hold, I scoured Pintrest and Houzz for inspiration.  Here are just a few inspiration pictures that I have been drooling over...



via Houzz

I just love the color combination in this room.  Such a clean and classy look.  What's not to love?



via Welcome to Heardmont

This bathroom remodel was done for around $500!  Way to go guys!  I love the white board and batten, the wall color and the pop of yellow color is so fun!



Via: Houzz



Again, the color combo is great.  With all of the white on the walls, flors and cabinets you can really try out some of those rich, darker colors.  I love the silver accents in this room as well.

So I've found plenty of inspiration, now to find the motivation.....

Check back for more updates!  I'm hoping this project will be finished soon.  :)

The front porch and the mysterious puppy paint print...

The front of our house has a great front porch that I love, but we rarely ever use it.  I've been stalking watching garage sales, thrift stores and clearance sections to see if I can find a fun bistro set for the front porch but haven't had any luck.  If we had a place to sit we might actually use it!  I take that back, it does get used - for bikes.  My kids have decided that it's as good of place as any to corral their bikes. 

The porch has sat empty and neglected since 2007 when we moved in.  Oh, I have big plans for it someday...  Last summer I decided that it really needed to be painted.  Not only did it look terrible, but the wood needed to be sealed. 



Front porch before





I headed to my favorite home improvement store and picked up Glidden Porch & Floor paint in Steel Grey.  I loved how smooth it went on and covered.  Just a few passes of paint and the porch was already looking better!






Now of course you can't be outdoors working on a project without having a helper.  He would just sit and pout if I had left him inside.  What a spoiled boy!  

Cooper the watch dog

I did have to put the stick there as a barrier so he knew how far on the porch he could come.  Isn't it silly that we can lay a stick across an area and he won't pass it?!?!  He could easily go around it or simply step over it, but nope he stays right there.  I think he's the smartest dog in the world, but I may be a little impartial.  :)

And here is what happens if you don't have a stick to remind him...  Good thing he has the cutest face ever and I forgave him. 




I used an angled brush for the edging, under the railing and in between boards.  The rest I just rolled on.  All in all it only took 2 coats, a couple of hours and about $25.  Why hadn't I done this earlier?!?! 

Here are a few before and after pictures...

So. Much. Better.  Now to paint the ceiling and railing...  Ugh, not looking forward to that.