Complete Master Bathroom Remodel DIY walls floors vanity and soaker tub

 

I am about to let my 38 readers see a part of my house that is quiet embarrassing.  The old master bathroom and all of it's neglect.  There are many reasons that we put this remodel off and the first one being MONEY the second one being TIME.  

We have basically remodeled every room in this house except the master bathroom.  We have just made changes to it.  It is a busy room it shares space with a washer , dryer and the ugliest window in the world.

The original bathroom had two vanities with angle wall and built in make up bar between them.  We pulled the make up bar out first and substituted storage with a wire rack. (for way too long)

Bad Photo but you get the idea!

We removed the right vanity to expose the plumbing lines then on to the angled wall.

Hubby began pulling the angled wall out and rerouting the electric lines.  If you do not have experience with electric lines call an electrician!  Mr. RTI has experience in basic electrical work and felt confident in completing this portion of the remodel.

While we had all the electric exposed we decided to add some ceiling lights.  These are the "pop" in lights that do not need to have a rafter to mount to.  We added two, one with a dimer and one wired in to the light switch  placed over the washer.

We wanted shiplap so cover the walls and to save money we used  4 x 8 foot multi purpose panels cut in 6 inch wide planks.  We cut them ourselves.

We painted them white and learned quickly that caulk is KING.  This saved us $400.00 compared to buying primed shiplap kits. 

We purchased a vanity with marble top and sink from Wayfair.

We ordered the tub from Home Depot. (Mr. RTI's idea)  The tub came with the floor mounted filler and drain.  

It sat in the bathroom un plumbed for months.  It also got carried back and forth from the master bedroom a few times.  Good thing it is acrylic!

We choose a LVT water proof flooring.

It installed over the existing floor and transitions beautifully from the bedroom flooring.

This is the longest home improvement project EVER!  We still have not finished.  The old skylight on the interior has to be filled in and the ceiling painted.  

However here is where we are:

So enjoying this room!  Clean and functional!

What we learned:

Measure your space to make sure your large purchases will fit.  

Hold out for the best quality that you can afford especially if this is the last remodel.

Take you time.

Buy reasonably priced proper tools to complete the project it pays off in the end.

You do not have to purchase everything at one time unless you have the funds.  We had been buying and storing supplies for a while.

No matter what your next project is

I hope this post finds you well and Happy!

Sheryl

LVP, Luxury Vinyl plank flooring, Smartcore Floor install, Is the Cost Worth it? mobile home diy upgrade

Is the cost worth it?   I will have to say yes.  The blue peel and stick that was 10 years past its life cycle was coming up and chipping.  A wheel chair , dogs and shoes are not easy on flooring and it showed.  It served its purpose it was affordable when there was not a budget for it.

We choose Smartcore in Shady pine.  It is available at Lowes and you will most likely have to order it, it seems to be popular.  We covered about 1600 sq. feet. (I will pause while you do the math) The flooring is water proof and if you get a scratch in it you just buff it out with a magic eraser.  Mr. RTI suggest that you get a good flooring tool set that fits the profile of your floor. Use the wall spacers. A good rubber mallet and knee pads will save your knees and time.  Go in the same direction (as recommended by the instructions) and stagger your joints.  Make sure that you rest the block above the grove not in it or you will break the edge.  You tube Videos were most helpful!  

Correct

incorrect

It took a little time and in between stages we taped the floor edges with painters tape and run scrap pieces along the edge not to break it.

I did not think we were ever going to get it finished!

MR RTI does amazing work.  He laid every piece of this flooring!

 

IT was worth every penny!  A major investment in our home and one that when installed correctly will last for a long time.  To clean this floor I use a gentle cleaner and warm water or a little vinegar with a small quirt of dawn in the spin mop bucket.  It is recommended to not use a steam cleaner on it and I will assume heat will warp the vinyl.  It is easy to keep clean and water proof (we have tested it).   We did a good bit of research and read a lot of reviews before making this purchase and I recommend, if you are thinking of taking the plunge, to also do your research.  It was a huge part of our on going renovation and one that has hit the budget pretty hard but in the long run a great investment.

God Bless,

Sheryl

 

Pantry Update: More purposeful kitchen storage.

Our pantry is a very busy location.  It was a multipurpose space that I was asking too much of  for its small size.   Originally the pantry area was the location for the washer and dryer at the back door.  Luckily that phase of our home is over.  Like all projects, here, they take time.  We do (or Mr. RTI ) all of the install and design around work and LIFE. 

 

The starting point was to literally define "pantry".

Googles Definition:

1.  a small room or closet in which food, dishes, and utensils are kept.

A great starting point.  Everything that did not match the definition was removed with one exception of:  A Bissell Bolt pet stick vac.  I use this thing everyday especially at the end of the day in the kitchen. This also serves as a central  medicine cabinet.   

The bulk of my pantry stayed packed up in a corner of our bedroom for a few weeks.

The multicolored walls..

The large utility sink ...

The different boards used for shelving and flooring were about to change.

I found a sink with built-in drainboard  at Ikea. Not only was it the right size with a drainboard, it was also cheaper than buying it off the shelf at a home improvement store.

We elected to cover the walls with bead board.  We used it in the kitchen as back splash and took it to the ceiling. The less painting the better.  Once the bead board was installed we concentrated on the flooring.  The largest home improvement purchase we have made.  I will post on that later. 

We choose smartcore waterproof flooring in Shady Pine and it is installed in every room in the house except the bathrooms. (Bathroom remodels are in the future).

Hubby also installed a counter top to hold the sink.

This sink was a big wish list for this room.  We have a kitchen garden just out side the back door. This sink is used to wash up garden veggies.  The drain board gives me a place to set them to drain and dry.

And some days we are truly blessed with abundance!

I found a exterior side door panel for 10 bucks at my favorite thrift store and it paired with some brackets makes a great end cap for the shelving edge.

From this...

To this..

I know that breaker box is ugly.  I have a plan to make a cover for it using magnets that will be a different post.  

The storage is not matchy matchy however I try to stay consistent with clear containers that seal well.

The coffee maker and instapots are on a low shelf.  I never dreamed that I would use those pots as much as I do.  Storing them in here eases up storage in the main kitchen.  The upper bins hold seasonal items that I do not use that often.  The stool is a 7 dollar thrift find it is also a step stool.  To cover it was super easy.  The lighting was also replaced with a low profile ceiling light . 

This update was planned for a while.  I will admit that I kept that side panel in my shop for months and the sink was stored for a few months as well.  This did not happen over night.  There are perks to taking a little time to finish projects.  The main one is time to think about what you like about your space.   When you take your time to complete projects there is time for creative changes. Also with my pantry being predominantly in storage I figured out what I could live without.

No my pantry is not showroom ready all the time but it is easy to find and store kitchen goods.

Because this although still functional was a lot more difficult to get motivated to clean compared to...

.....THIS

Update: We finally finished the ceiling trim!

repurposed free thin pallet boards that were painted grey then white washed. And seasonal dishes are now stored on top.

I hope that this post finds you healthy and well,

God Bless,

Sheryl

 

Kitchen Upgrade cabinet install Phase 4 Including installing the kitchen sink! Mobil home Paradise

We last left off with only one bar installed in the kitchen remodel.
(you can read about it here)

Now  look at the other side!

Things I hate:

Well it looks ugly..drawers are so un-useful...cheap cabinets with water damage...counter top old cheap...sink is great deep one and an upgrade but.....the angle on it is waste of counter space.

In order to visualize the corner sink and see that gained counter space we mapped it out on the counter..

The masking tape is where the sink will sit and the cardboard border is the edge of the counter top...

Mr. RTI is in this photo getting ready to replace the window...With same process as in our last kitchen up grade post and can be found by clicking Here.

Here is a little back ground on MR. RTI HE is a fabulous Husband and father.  He is old school he works to take care of his family.  He is a industrial mechanic and has been one for 36 years.  He is an amazing carpenter and loves masonry work.  And after looking through photos to get this post ready, He has spoiled me.  Every addition and up grade to this house he has installed or built.  Every sidewalk he has installed.  The woman cave he built.(read about it here)....I am spoiled !

I think that is out of my shop???

After the window was replaced we removed all the cabinetry and dishwasher...

While the dish washer was pulled out, because the counter tops were going to be deeper than the original ones, we replaced the sheet rock that was removed in the initial installation of the dishwasher.

And yes that is duck tape....It was used to cover the seam only ,we were not able to afford a few dry wall screws after buying the corner sink.  $$$$$..  It was cheaper and quicker then puttying a spot that will not be seen.

This gave us the perfect opportunity to upgrade the water lines in this "modular" Home.  

Mr. RTI removed the plastic original valves and replaced them with gator grip 1/4 turn with adapters to tie into braided stainless steel lines.  

And since we ordered a corner sink we had to modify the plumbing and modify a cabinet to hold it....

This was the most difficult part of this upgrade.

The drain on the sink had to be raised because the corner sink was 1 inch shallower then the double basin sink we had and the drain hole was in a different location. We splurged and bought all new piping for this portion.  Mr RTI took the oportunity to make the pipes perpendicular and level allowing for better drainage.  

Now you may ask why did we go to so much trouble to have this corner sink. We had a large sink sitting at an angle and it took up a lot of counter space...every thing behind it was not usable .  ...And...With a little smaller window installed the sink looked huge and no longer was centered.  By using a corner cabinet we gained a few inches of linear usable space.  We did not loose the usable space, located behind the sink,  that you could not reach. 

We tallied up the money it would take to build a custom frame and order doors that match the existing upgrade and the corner cabinet was cheaper.

Now on to the cabinet and sink. 

We purchased a stock cabinet with lazy susan, in the style of cabinetry we were using.

It was going to be modified (and Cursed at) for this portion of the remodel.

the lazy susan was removed.  It could not be used because the plumbing was under the sink...and the side was cut away so that the plumbing could come through.  Also the top hand to be cut on one side to accommodate the sink.

We installed it and put the new counter top on..

The counter top was an inch short.  And for an inch we improvised.  To custom cut a counter top for an inch was not in the budget not time schedule.

Mr RTI  simply ran a 1 by 4 down the wall where the back splash would meet.. and we trimmed the top with some vinyl white molding.  The vinyl molding will make clean up easier and will not become water damaged if and when it gets wet.

..NOW

to install this quirky sink.....

Mr RTI has a philosophy of measure 152 times and cut once. In this case and the corner cabinet case this was an expensive component and we did want to replace it because of a mistake.  

To make clear cut lines...because that expensive sink did not come with a template , we put clear contact paper on the counter top ( a large enough area that we could lay the sink upside down on).  We then took sharpie and traced the out side of the sink. Taking the lip of the sink in to consideration we drew another line roughly a half inch inside the original tracing.  This gave us a cut line. The contact paper also aided in making that cut edge just a little cleaner.

The sink is finally installed

The biggest mistake that I made with this sink was the faucet selection.  Not  only did it stop functioning with in a year , the reach was not long enough on it.  For example over either sink you had roughly 2 inches between the stream and inside sink edge.  This makes even washing your hands difficult ...much less dishes.  So a mental note.....measure to the center of your sink to the base of your spout.  Make sure the faucet that you are getting reaches close to that measurement.  We found a new one that did not quiet reach the center of the sink , but with the angle of the sprayer the water fell close to the center.  

Oh either side of the cabinet run there was a gap ..one beside the fridge and one between the corner cabinet and dish washer.

In order to utilize that space we installed shelving , melamine coated garage shelving.  It is the same shelving we used on the upper portion of the kitchen...

Beside the fridge holds my large sheet pans...Pizza pan and cooling racks......

Beside the sink the top shelf holds cutting boards....

The bottom shelf is a small tool box that Mr. RTI's Father built many years ago.  It is lined with clear vinyl and it holds Dish washing pods.  

Of course any time you change a foot print you have a few issues to correct.....in this case the floors and walls....

The floor fix is a rug for now.  When I replace the flooring I want the same through out the house....so that budget is skimpy right now it will have to wait.

The walls we decided to cover with bead board...and really lucked up on a deal at Lowe's

Only 10 bucks a sheet...more than 50% off...

All the shelving had to come down as well as the hood and electrical covers....We marked each wall stud with masking tape on the counter...to save some time....

Dry wall went over the opening beside the window.

The last is ready to cut around the window....and the detail work needs to be done. Like addressing the darker seams...and trimming out the electrical outlets and switches... 

We are really pleased with the out come of our Kitchen.  It serves us well and is a little more cohesive in design.  I am one lucky gal that Mr. RTI is so talented and helps bring my visions to life.
Hope that your projects are Moving along beautifully!
Sheryl