Bathroom remodel: Progress

While so far none of it is visible, I have been making progress on my bathroom. The toilet is ordered and has been shipped (it was shipped freight, so I don't know when it will arrive). A friend highly recommended a contractor, and he's going to come over on Friday to take a look.

I've been looking at vanities and tile and will hone in on purchasing these items once I've talked with the contractor.

I'm getting excited about all this!

In bloom

More flowers in the apartment! The art to the right of the flowers was created by my sister-- I just got the piece a few months ago and would like to have it professionally framed. Right now it is on top of an old poster in a cheap Ikea frame.

One Project Completed!!!

Here's a project that my boyfriend helped me complete this weekend. It was a simple project that began when I got a great deal on some nice solid brass doorknobs (thanks Tuesday Morning!). But turns out that it wasn't as simple as I would have liked.


The photo on the left shows my old doorknob, deadbolt, and chain. I never liked any of them. The new doorknob and chain were easy to install, but turns out that the door under the deadbolt and the plaque surrounding the doorknob was in very bad condition. It took a lot of work to make everything look good. In the middle photo, you can see the door in progress, with wood putty filling in the damaged part of the door. On the right, you can see the door after I finished repainting just this afternoon.

I changed all of the other doorknobs in my apartment to match. Here's one more example, first the old ugly doorknob, then the nice new one:

Kitchen

During week two, I organized my kitchen. I did this last Cure and after doing it again this week, I'm convinced that it needs to happen every six months.

Here are some photos representative of my progress. Below is how the cupboard over my stove used to look. I had trouble finding the items I needed and every time I opened it I worried that something would land on my head.


Below is a photo of the same cupboard after pruning out the items that have been there too long. It is so much easier to use these items now. I was even able to order the cupboard by type (in general: vinegars on the left, salty in the middle, and oils on the right):

Bathroom Style Brainstorm

Here are some ideas for the bathroom.

• Shiny gray floor tile
• Standard white wall tile (likely with gray grout)
  
• White vanity with glass doors (white ceramic sink)
  
• Wall cabinet with glass doors
• Linens and floor mat in two different shades of blue.

Bathroom Remodel: Speed Bump

Well, I ordered a new toilet! The Toto Aquia, a dual flush model. It was very exciting, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment, and I even felt that I had gotten a great deal.

And then...

I got an e-mail from the company. Turns out the toilet is not in stock. They estimated a 25 week lead time. 25 weeks! That's nearly 6 months. Needless to say I canceled my order. I hope to find another company that has it in stock. If not, I'll order another model/brand.

New hallway lighting

Here's a project I completed between the Fall Cure and this one: new lighting in my hallway. My apartment has a long hallway and it used to have one ugly ceiling light fixture at one end of the hall. The hall was so dark and shadowy that I could hardly see what I was doing.

I replaced the light with some simple track lighting. I wanted something compatible with compact fluorescent bulbs that would disperse light throughout the length of the hall. This is what I found. They are not the most attractive light fixtures, but they are subtle. The hallway is much improved with the new lighting.

Meals at Home: Homemade Pizza

Part of the Apartment Therapy Cure involves cooking at home. I enjoy cooking at home and I'm always trying to do more of it. Lately I've been making a lot of pizza. Homemade pizza dough is surprisingly easy, but even easier using the recipes in the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. This pizza has tri-colored peppers, sun dried tomatoes, and just a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. I've found that I prefer simple pizzas with just a few toppings.

Flowers

Just a short post to share the joys of Paper-White Narcissus.

Beginning the Spring 2008 Cure

Example of damaged tile in my bathroom

Existing storage in the bathroom

I accomplished a lot during the Fall 2007 Cure, but feel that there is a lot more to be accomplished in my little apartment. During the next eight weeks, I hope to complete a one-room remedy for my bathroom. I tend to be an overly ambitious person, so I also hope to accomplish some deep treatment throughout the rest of my apartment. I know I won't get to all of my goals during this Cure, but I'm going to list them anyway:

• Remodel the bathroom (which I have been putting off, and saving money for, for years). This includes:
• New tile (floor and ceiling, something simple so I can redecorate anytime with accessories)
• New vanity/sink
• New toilet
• Reglaze the existing bathtub
• Additional/More useful storage

• Bring order to the entry closet
• Find new solution for upper shelf storage in clothes closet (current sweater boxes are breaking beyond repair)
  
• Replace doorknobs throughout the apartment
• Fix water-damaged wall on bay window
• Think about new art behind sofa
• Frame artwork from my sister (currently in an old picture frame on top of a cheap poster)
• Quick bit of editing in the kitchen (it's close already)
• Make murphy bed cabinet less busy (my constant struggle)

The Wish List that is REALLY Stretching it:

• Remove ugly divider next to stove and replace it with ???
• Refinish legs on chair and loveseat (will get to this, but probably not in the next eight weeks)
  
• New kitchen cabinets, counters, and floor
• Replace floor lamps
• Window coverings?

I'll be adding new goals as I start this process. Here goes...

Watch this page

I'm gearing up to "cure" again so I'll actually be updating again soon. I'm very much looking forward to it as my apartment can still use help!