Let's Talk Remodeling

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Just curious...What is going to be the size of your armoire piece in the center? Will you be doing glass doors at the top? Are you doing this piece because you don't have a linen closet? We have a similar length vanity but we have a small linen closet in the room. We were going to keep the vanity the same length and frame the huge mirror that we currently have.

Not wide enough? I want to say it'll only be 30". I know it's wider than the current knee space that's in between my two sinks, and I think that's 29". I know either side will be 43" wide.

I thought about doing glass doors, but decided to go with solid, recessed panel doors. I think I'm going to have him arch the center section at the top. Either that, or I'm going to keep it straight, and have enough space to do an onlay, similar to what I have in my kitchen

And no, we have no linen closet, so the armoire will not only be a huge relief for me, but it'll also help resale.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Are We There Yet - we actually know the whole history of the house. The house was built by and owned by one family until 1978. When the parents died, the 7 children fought amongst themselves, portioned out the farm land and built their own houses close by, and sold the original family home with 5 acres to outsiders, who attempted with varying degrees of success to renovate.
We are the 4th set of outsiders

How cool! All I can say, is my house was built in 1993 by a bunch of idiots.

We've found some really poor workmanship here.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Am I There Yet, Your kitchen is beautiful! Love the curve in the granite, what a great suggestion she gave you! I wish I could find that kind of work here in New Orleans. I'm still waiting for the 2nd quote on the bathroom, he told us he have it to us last Thursday!

I normally have the worst luck, but when I remodeled my kitchen I managed to stumble across two great contractors. I've always had a hard time getting contractors to show up, much less get their estimate to me!

I get my granite/tile estimate tomorrow. I'm sort of scared about that one!

The tub we chose is 70" long and 42" wide! I don't know how I'll be able to get that in there and have it sit inside the granite like in my inspiration photo.

Our shower is a little bit wider than a normal shower and we were already planning on bumping it out 12", but now I think I might have to sacrifice the 12" in width.

I'm hoping she can give me some great ideas that don't involve moving my plumbing.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Yes, I am trying to pattern it after a certain style in the Wood-Mode catalog. If you go to www.wood-mode.com, its the style featured under the design portfolio/French and English Inspirations. This particular piece is a kitchen island with curved drawers. I'd love to have this in my bathroom, however I bet the price to curve drawers is out of sight. We'll see - I'm going to find out.

I love Wode-Mode cabinetry!

All I can tell you, is that my cabinet guy didn't make it sound like it was going to greatly increase my estimate to curve the front of my vanity around the bowls, so maybe it won't be that bad.

 

[binny]

Hey binny!

I have no decorating advice, I barely have the nerves to pick out my own stuff , I'm not about to tell others what to do. I just wanted to say that your kitchen looks great so far!

Thanks sweetie!

Nice to see you





Am I there Yet, I always chuckle when I see your name, My travel agency is named "Are We There Yet Travel " LOL
I think you will be amazed at how they can work with the dimensions for the bathtub. We have a corner jacuzzi tub in our master, it is completely tiled in. I had a contractor friend of mine over here the other day and he said " Ummmm Robin? Where is the access panel for that thing?" I just laughed and told him " Outside" He went and looked and couldnt believe that they did that. Its kind of cool there is just a frame on the backside of the house ( our room is upstairs so its about halfway up the house) you wouldnt know what it is unless someone told you and the access is really easy.



hey I did a cool thing the other day. at Lowes ( my new home) I found a frame for my mirror! it was in the back by the window coverings and such. You buy the pieces seperately, so I got 2 long pieces and 2 short pieces and 4 corners. You just put liquid nails on the back with some double sided tape and slap it up there! It looks so amazing!! I absolutely hate those "floating mirrors" KWIM? Mine looked so strange but now it looks like a piece of art instead of a floaty thing LOL.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Am I there Yet, I always chuckle when I see your name, My travel agency is named "Are We There Yet Travel " LOL

Oh, how funny! And here I thought I was being original!

I think you will be amazed at how they can work with the dimensions for the bathtub. We have a corner jacuzzi tub in our master, it is completely tiled in. I had a contractor friend of mine over here the other day and he said " Ummmm Robin? Where is the access panel for that thing?" I just laughed and told him " Outside" He went and looked and couldnt believe that they did that. Its kind of cool there is just a frame on the backside of the house ( our room is upstairs so its about halfway up the house) you wouldnt know what it is unless someone told you and the access is really easy.

I hope so. That's one of my favorite parts of that picture. It won't be the end of the world if I can't do it, but I'll be bummed.

 

[binny]

well you could still rework it anyway if you wanted to.

You could have them in the corner or side by side against the wall. I know its not the ideal situation but it can be done and can still get the look youre after.

 

[binny]

This is how they did ours. I would have liked it all glassed in but that is where the plumbing is in the shower so it would not have worked in there.

the shower is at least a 5 person shower It has 2 full size shower rods in it. I think Im going to install one of those rods that have water coming out the whole thing, have you seen those?

 

[mickeysgal]

Yes, I am trying to pattern it after a certain style in the Wood-Mode catalog. If you go to www.wood-mode.com, its the style featured under the design portfolio/French and English Inspirations. This particular piece is a kitchen island with curved drawers. I'd love to have this in my bathroom, however I bet the price to curve drawers is out of sight. We'll see - I'm going to find out.

Ok, I know I'm quoting myself.

I submitted our vanity layout to a company that deals with Wood-Mode. All we're doing is 2 - 36" sink bases with a stack of drawers in the center. Just to have this stacked base of drawers curved...a whopping 36" cabinet...alone is running over $3000.

I just about dropped the phone when she told me.

So much for that idea... I'm still having her price the whole thing. I can't truly believe that one stinkin' cabinet is that much money.

Am_I_There_Yet, can I borrow your carpenter? I bet I can fly him out here cheaper than what this may end up being through Wood Mode.

I hate it when I can't design something exactly the way I'd like it.

 

[FroggyinArk]

note to those ordering the tin backsplash tiles,, watch the patern carefully and order extra . if you look carefully at hte kitchen iposted link to, we used tin back splash there, and at two diofferent spots, the pattern on the panels is off because it was stamped wrong. and we had no extra (customer ordered it and ordered just enough) to replace those mismatched panels., also, receptiocle and switch cover do not fit properly with deep stamped tin on the face of the wall... to make the covers fit i ended up taking a chisel and flatening thee panels around those openings,, which up close doesnt look all that good.

 

[Galahad]

note to those ordering the tin backsplash tiles,, watch the patern carefully and order extra .

Always order 15% extra of any tile or flooring. You'll be glad you did!

 

[Galahad]

I know our project is a minor part of this thread but here's my story today:

It looks like some of the wall cabinets in the kitchen are either placed wrong or were measured wrong. DW is out of town though (you know, the one who ultimately has to be pleased). Hopefully that will work out. The cabinets over all look GREAT. They installed the wall oven in the cabinets yesterday as well. Two weeks ago they finished the hardwood ("Brazilian walnut - very pretty) in the living room and dining room. Today I think they are continuing the work on the Travertine tile in the hall/kitchen and will start the hardwood in the great room. The solarium addition is moving along but slowly. It will be great to see the walls to that start going up. After the room is closed in then they will knock a large outside wall down to open up the room. Our biggest "problem" is the electrician. Nice guy, and seems to know "how" to do what he's doing but he's not entirely reliable about doing what he says he's going to do "when" he says he'll do it. So the other contractors spend way too much time waiting on him. Boy I'll be glad when this is all done. We've been two months without a kitchen already.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I know our project is a minor part of this thread but here's my story today:

It looks like some of the wall cabinets in the kitchen are either placed wrong or were measured wrong. DW is out of town though (you know, the one who ultimately has to be pleased). Hopefully that will work out. The cabinets over all look GREAT. They installed the wall oven in the cabinets yesterday as well. Two weeks ago they finished the hardwood ("Brazilian walnut - very pretty) in the living room and dining room. Today I think they are continuing the work on the Travertine tile in the hall/kitchen and will start the hardwood in the great room. The solarium addition is moving along but slowly. It will be great to see the walls to that start going up. After the room is closed in then they will knock a large outside wall down to open up the room. Our biggest "problem" is the electrician. Nice guy, and seems to know "how" to do what he's doing but he's not entirely reliable about doing what he says he's going to do "when" he says he'll do it. So the other contractors spend way too much time waiting on him. Boy I'll be glad when this is all done. We've been two months without a kitchen already.

Your project doesn't sound minor at all, to me! Especially when you're talking screw-ups!

My granite lady just left, and we won't have our final estimate until the middle of next week.

Just as I thought, the tub I picked was too wide and I have to search for a narrower one. I've found several and they're all almost double the price of the original one.

What is is about paying more for smaller things? I don't get it.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ok, I know I'm quoting myself.

I submitted our vanity layout to a company that deals with Wood-Mode. All we're doing is 2 - 36" sink bases with a stack of drawers in the center. Just to have this stacked base of drawers curved...a whopping 36" cabinet...alone is running over $3000.

I just about dropped the phone when she told me.

So much for that idea... I'm still having her price the whole thing. I can't truly believe that one stinkin' cabinet is that much money.

Am_I_There_Yet, can I borrow your carpenter? I bet I can fly him out here cheaper than what this may end up being through Wood Mode.

I hate it when I can't design something exactly the way I'd like it.

I've seen the vanities done where the wood curves just in front of the sinks, but in the middle where the drawers are, it's flat. Then in front of the sinks, you could have double doors?

Can you do that?

 

[bengalbelle]

I know my questions aren't technically about remodeling, but there seems to be lots of knowledgeable do it yourselfers here:

What is the best way to re-stain a deck? We've had it cleaned and before we used a sprayer but it was really messy, particularly on the spindles/posts.

Second, cleaning grout on our kitchen counters...It's a colored grout so I don't want to use bleach, but my DH spilled coffee and small areas are stained. I've tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Cascade with a toothbrush.

We're selling, so I'd rather use elbow grease than lots of $$. If all else fails I'm going to have someone steam clean them. Has anyone ever had this done?

 

[mickeysgal]

What is the best way to re-stain a deck? We've had it cleaned and before we used a sprayer but it was really messy, particularly on the spindles/posts.

Second, cleaning grout on our kitchen counters...It's a colored grout so I don't want to use bleach, but my DH spilled coffee and small areas are stained. I've tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Cascade with a toothbrush.

For wood decks and fences, we've always power washed them and hand stained them with rollers. You're right, spraying is a mess. Hand rolling/brushing is time consuming, but it the stain gets worked in the best this way.

As far as grout, I highly, highly recommend Finazzle for WHITE grout. They do/did make a version for colored grout, but I've never tried it. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and look for this section. At Home Depot, I've found it in the cleaners section. They have stuff for colored grout by other companies. What do you have to lose other than a few dollars? Try a product in an obscure place first.

Finazzle is amazing stuff. I learned about it here on the DIS (of course!). I restored grout in three bathrooms in the house we just moved from. I was going to have all the grout redone, it was so yucky. It saved me hundreds of dollars. Yes, I did it myself and believe me, thats saying a lot. I was actually having fun doing it because the results were so striking. The grime just melted away. Thats just one of the icky dirty stories of my prior house. Note: Prior owners had a maid. I never had to clean a house like I had to that one to make it sanitary and liveable.

 

[bengalbelle]

For wood decks and fences, we've always power washed them and hand stained them with rollers. You're right, spraying is a mess. Hand rolling/brushing is time consuming, but it the stain gets worked in the best this way.

As far as grout, I highly, highly recommend Finazzle for WHITE grout. They do/did make a version for colored grout, but I've never tried it. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and look for this section. At Home Depot, I've found it in the cleaners section. They have stuff for colored grout by other companies. What do you have to lose other than a few dollars? Try a product in an obscure place first.

Finazzle is amazing stuff. I learned about it here on the DIS (of course!). I restored grout in three bathrooms in the house we just moved from. I was going to have all the grout redone, it was so yucky. It saved me hundreds of dollars. Yes, I did it myself and believe me, thats saying a lot. I was actually having fun doing it because the results were so striking. The grime just melted away. Thats just one of the icky dirty stories of my prior house. Note: Prior owners had a maid. I never had to clean a house like I had to that one to make it sanitary and liveable.

Thank You! I wanted to use rollers so I'm glad it worked for you.
It shouldn't be hard to talk DH into a trip to Home Depot or the new Lowes tonight to look for the Finazzle . I don't feel like cooking so maybe he'll treat us to dinner too!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I know my questions aren't technically about remodeling, but there seems to be lots of knowledgeable do it yourselfers here:

What is the best way to re-stain a deck? We've had it cleaned and before we used a sprayer but it was really messy, particularly on the spindles/posts.

Second, cleaning grout on our kitchen counters...It's a colored grout so I don't want to use bleach, but my DH spilled coffee and small areas are stained. I've tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Cascade with a toothbrush.

We're selling, so I'd rather use elbow grease than lots of $$. If all else fails I'm going to have someone steam clean them. Has anyone ever had this done?

I don't know about re-staining decking, but I had a client that used (I think) Listerine on her white grout in her master bathroom.

I'd never heard of it before, but it might be worth a google!

 

[Hixski]

I don't feel worthy telling about our tales of remodeling. Some of you have redone whole houses.

We built our house in 1987. Our goal is to have all traces of the 80's gone buy the time our house is 20 yrs old in July. The kitchen and bathrooms have new tile. We took out the carpet in the dining room, great room, hallway and master bedroom. We thought about wood floors but we have an 80lb dog. We put in some very nice Dupont laminate. Since we had to pull up all the baseboards we decided to change the trim and doors in the whole house. We had fake looking oak hollow core doors and fake looking trim and baseboards. We are now in the process of changing all that to white 6-panel doors and double trimmed baseboards and trim. It looks great so far. We just have two more doors and trim to go. Then we get to start on the basement.

 

[mickeysgal]

Since we had to pull up all the baseboards we decided to change the trim and doors in the whole house. We had fake looking oak hollow core doors and fake looking trim and baseboards. We are now in the process of changing all that to white 6-panel doors and double trimmed baseboards and trim.

You're going to love your new trim and doors. That alone brings the house into the new century.

And thats how it all starts. One innocent little project unravels another, then another, then another.

In the last house we lived in, I started by wanting to change the towel bar. Seriously. 6 months later, the project was finished. We had gutted the bathroom and spent $12000. (Its ok though. It upped the price of the house and made it much easier to sell.)

So, word to the wise, watch out when you go towel bar shopping.