The Do It Yourself-ers

Last summer my significant other and I bought a 1949 bungalow in Westlake; a cute little Cape Cod with a big back yard and lots of tall trees that I have missed so much living in the southwest desert for so long.

Although the foliage beds were overgrown, the mice were many and the dust bunnies were abundant, it was nothing a little elbow grease and TLC couldn’t fix. It would be the house that love built. That or we would maim each other with the nail gun in the process. Yes, the Do-It-Yourself projects list began to take shape rather quickly, as we tried to stay positive. We’ve only used the term “money pit” once so far.

As soon as my DIY guy got the mice problem under control, he refinished the hardwood floors. What an incredible job he did, the floors shine like new now; I am thinking of hiring him out. But the talent doesn’t stop there. Our latest project is about to get underway any day now. Yes, any day now.

The house is a typical 1950s style with two bedrooms and one bath on the main floor. At some point in the home’s metamorphosis, another bathroom was added in the basement, and the attic was converted into the master bedroom. The project that sits in front of us in the form of stacked 2-by-4s in my bedroom is, you guessed it, putting in a master bathroom.

I’ve seen pictures of other homes in the area where the homeowners took on the same project and came through with flying colors. This is so exciting with so many choices, I thought.  But what corner of the room? Where should we put the door? Where does the toilet go? And how does everything fit with that sloping ceiling on one side?

Well, so much for choices. There really isn’t a lot you can do between a window, an attic door and a small budget, the variables would became the eye candy that goes inside the walls; pretty tile, shiny granite counter top, paint, brushed nickel light fixtures. And can I have that Mexican Talavera sink I’ve always wanted? How about a skylight?

“Yes you can dear, whatever you want,” says my tool belted, floor refinishing, mouse catching, bathroom building sweetheart. Tim Allen eat your heart out.

My soon to be brother-in-law, who is a general contractor, came over to offer his advice on layout and design, something we could really use about now.

“The toilet goes here under the slope. See? When you stand up, you don’t hit your head,” he said as he rose from a sitting position on my antique ottoman he used for demonstration. Somehow I’m never going to look at that pink velvet upholstered ottoman the same way again.

“This is where you’re shower has to go, here will be your counter, and here will be your mirror,” says Danny.  Well, that was easy. I’m glad those decisions are put to bed. 

It may not take a village to build a bathroom, but it does take a family. Let’s get the frame up, boys.

Have you been down this remodeling road? I invite you to come along on my pictorial journey of Westlake bath crashers and watch the progress as my master bathroom takes shape over the next few weeks. Advice, suggestions and moral support welcome.

Does anyone know where I can find some girly tile? 

Quote of the Week: “Whatever good things we build end up building us.”—  Jim Rohn, American speaker and author.