One of the most recent projects, The Downstairs Bathroom!

A few weeks ago we kept smelling a band-aid smell.  You know that particular smell just like a band-aid. We couldn't figure out what it was.  I returned home from work and started a load of laundry.  I went up stars and started smelling the band-aid again.  This time it was really strong.  I was sniffing my dog because he was always around when the smell was so I thought he had gotten into something.  Not him.  I tracked it back downstairs to the bathroom/laundry room where it was very strong.and realized the washer wasn't running.  Our washer bit the dust with a full load of laundry in it and it had only filled with water.  What a pain.  The motor was completely burnt out.  It was a washer that we had gotten with the house so we just decided to replace it.  I had already repaired the dryer once so we replaced that also.  The problem was the new set would not fit in the closet space.  NEW PROJECT!

This is the before without washer and dryer.  I had already moved them into the dining room for pickup and forgot to take a picture. The old owners had boards across instead of shelves but it was particle board and massively sloped down in the middle so I had replaced it with the wire shelves. There was also bi-fold doors on that I took off to get the washer/dryer out.

I started tearing out.

 Our ugly green tiled floors. 

Finally all torn apart.  I was up at 4:30 am, when my husband left for work, trying to tear everything down.  No sledge hammer or pry bar just a hammer and me hanging on it to get the top down.

 

Dry wall starting to go up. YEA!!! Our new washer and dryer has been delivered! I love them!!!! I had them put them in the room because there was no way I was getting them in there. There was a light on the backside of the closed wall.  I took that out and put the wires into the ceiling.  Then took out the light switch and capped the wires. Bibbidi boppidi boo! 

Hey if I am going to redo half the room might as well redo it all.  So I took down the rest of the wallpaper border.

The light to the bathroom was on the outside wall in the kitchen. WHAT!  Whose brilliant idea was that?  I decided to switch it to the inside.   I have no electrical experience but figured it couldn't be too hard. Just remember to shut the power off! (which I did) 

 

Patched the wall in the kitchen 

 

This will get painted over when we redo the kitchen.

 

Drywall is up and all mudded, the problem now is the wall where the laundry part is a totally different textured finished than the rest of the bathroom.  I did try to sand it but would need a mega sander to actually get it knocked down.  So I decided to put plain wall paper over it and then paint.

 

Wallpaper is done and I started putting up board and batten.  Of course Baker(my dog) was there supervising at all times. 

 

I didn't put it along the whole wall as there is a big storage cabinet going in beside the washer and dryer and you wont be able to see behind any of it. 

 

Painted the walls and loving the color!

We were going to leave the vanity and replace it at a later date but as you will see below I was able to get a little extra help.

Couldn't stand the toilet.  Wrong color and used way to much water.  I am sure it was original to the house. I had already replaced the upstairs toilet so I knew how to do it and it was very easy.

 



Painted board and batten

Started installing peel and stick flooring over the tile.  I wasn't ready to tear out the whole floor and put all new in.  This is a inexpensive and great way to cover.

 

This is the almost finished project.  The washer/dryer are in, the storage cabinet is in (although not without injury as when I was putting it together I dropped the long/ big side on my foot.  I thought I had broken it but x-rays were negative. I am still tending the wounds 4 weeks later but life will go on.)

Keegan helping Grandpa with the plumbing

 Baker is supervising again

 

You will see the old vanity in the pics above.  I hated it.  Not only was it falling apart but it was way to short.  So with the help of my visiting mother and step-father (he did most of the work) we replaced it.  This is a stock, unfinished kitchen cabinet, a cut your self counter top and then we added the bowel and faucet.  Sooooo much better.  And the new mirror.

Almost finished.  Still want to tile around the mirror and maybe change out the light along with painting the vanity white. I also have to figure out the ceiling.  It is uneven and different textures so I am thinking of putting up white ceiling tile (patterned like the old tin ceiling tiles).  It is now a bathroom/laundry room that I love!

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