Let's Talk Remodeling

[perdidobay]

I love it! Do you mind sharing a round-about cost? I have no idea what we're looking at, and our closets look about the same size.

The total included taking down the old wire shelving, patching the holes, installing the units, which included a few extras like 2 tie racks and a belt rack, a valet rod that telescopes out for hanging, and liners for the laundry baskets. It was 3700.00 total.
We feel it's really worth it, we have so much more usable space, and I think like you said, although it won't add any value, it will be a plus to buyers.
The company was Closets by Design, and the service was outstanding. Our closet was from their Everyday Collection. All the shelves and hanging bars are adjustable.
http://www.closetsbydesign.com/index.php

 

[mickeysgal]

TODAY's paint problem: Yesterday we tested the paint color. BM Dry Sage. Mixed paint well. Put a small amount in a white paper cup. Brushed 2 coats in a test patch over the existing bluer green paint. Also painted a patch of kilz over old paint & painted 2 coats of new paint on it. Neither test patch looks even close to the paint chip. BUT, the remaining paint that dried in the white paper cup is a really close match to the paint chip & acceptable.

Maybe try a second coat on those test patches. It should darken the tone. Otherwise, I'd take that dried paint in the cup back to the paint store and have them tint it darker.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Tell me if you think this would look ok.

Floor is 6"x6" tile in a regular pattern. Is there some unwritten tile rule that says I can't use 3"x6" tile in a running bond (aka subway tile) pattern on the backsplash? They'll be same color.

My Silestone Black Canyon countertop is such a busy pattern that the backsplash needs to be subtle. No pattern designs or borders. Plus, its a small galley kitchen & I have STUFF on my countertops out of necessity.

Its either 4x4 in a regular pattern or 3x6 subway. I think i like the longer lines of the subway tile better for a galley kitchen. I still need to figure something for behind the stove. I might be able to get away with a decorative tile or 2 behind the stove. But I'm leaning towards finding either a framed object or framed tile or something that I can lean so I'm not committed to it forever. lol The tiled backsplash is enough committment for me for now.

If you need a reminder, here's the kitchen from about a month ago. Ignore the paint; and the border is now gone. http://s99.photobucket.com/albums/l...hen Updates/?action=view&current=IMG_0023.jpg

 

[mickeysgal]

Floor is 6"x6" tile in a regular pattern. Is there some unwritten tile rule that says I can't use 3"x6" tile in a running bond (aka subway tile) pattern on the backsplash? They'll be same color.

My Silestone Black Canyon countertop is such a busy pattern that the backsplash needs to be subtle. No pattern designs or borders. Plus, its a small galley kitchen & I have STUFF on my countertops out of necessity.

Nope, no tile rules as far as I know. You don't have to stay with the same shape on the backsplash as what you used on your floor. In fact, I think the slight shape change, while keeping to the same color, would add interest without clashing.

I completely, completely understand about needing the backsplash to be subtle. I have a flowing African granite called Crema Bordeaux in our kitchenette. I've had a heck of a time finding something with style, yet subtle enough to not compete with the focal point which is the granite. I've seen way too many new houses lately that don't seem to be able to get it together between the granite countertops and the backsplash. I was starting to think it was just me that was noticing this.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Tell me if you think this would look ok.

Floor is 6"x6" tile in a regular pattern. Is there some unwritten tile rule that says I can't use 3"x6" tile in a running bond (aka subway tile) pattern on the backsplash? They'll be same color.

My Silestone Black Canyon countertop is such a busy pattern that the backsplash needs to be subtle. No pattern designs or borders. Plus, its a small galley kitchen & I have STUFF on my countertops out of necessity.

Its either 4x4 in a regular pattern or 3x6 subway. I think i like the longer lines of the subway tile better for a galley kitchen. I still need to figure something for behind the stove. I might be able to get away with a decorative tile or 2 behind the stove. But I'm leaning towards finding either a framed object or framed tile or something that I can lean so I'm not committed to it forever. lol The tiled backsplash is enough committment for me for now.

If you need a reminder, here's the kitchen from about a month ago. Ignore the paint; and the border is now gone. http://s99.photobucket.com/albums/l...hen Updates/?action=view&current=IMG_0023.jpg

Splash, that sounds like my pattern. I'm crazy-busy with work right now, and just doing a drive-by, so I may have misunderstood. We have 4x4's and used subway tiles as an accent. I went with a subtle look too, since I wanted the granite to be the focus. Oh, and I have hardwood floors in the kitchen. I see different backsplashes and floor patterns all the time looking at houses.

Here's a picture of it again (and remember, the pukey looking paint, is the photographer's fault):

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

The total included taking down the old wire shelving, patching the holes, installing the units, which included a few extras like 2 tie racks and a belt rack, a valet rod that telescopes out for hanging, and liners for the laundry baskets. It was 3700.00 total.
We feel it's really worth it, we have so much more usable space, and I think like you said, although it won't add any value, it will be a plus to buyers.
The company was Closets by Design, and the service was outstanding. Our closet was from their Everyday Collection. All the shelves and hanging bars are adjustable.
http://www.closetsbydesign.com/index.php

Who has the fainting smiley? It's needed!

ETA: Thanks Hixski!

 

[Hixski]

Who has the fainting smiley? It's needed!

How about this fainting smiley???

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

How about this fainting smiley???

Yep! Thanks!

 

[perdidobay]

Aww come on! I would have needed 3700. worth of therapy if I'd tried to do all that myself

 

[BillSears]

OK fellow Remodelers. I'd like your opinion on bathrooms.

I did sign a contract to get my bathroom done next. It should be a week long job and hopefully they'll get started soon. However before they start I have to make a decision about tile. Now making the color decision will be very tough but since that's a personal thing I guess I'll have to tough that one out. The decision I'm having problems with is whether to tile the walls or not. I hadn't even thought of this and my estimator seemed to think it was a normal thing to do. He suggested tiling the walls of my bathroom to a height of about 40 inches and then painting above that. Right now I'm contracted out for paint but at anytime before they begin the job I can pay another $1,200 and get all of the walls tiled.

So what do you like? Walls that are all paint or walls that are tile for the first 40 inches then paint above?

Also if you tile the walls is it usually the same tile as the floors? Is it different tile? Also do you tile the tub walls the same as the floor usually if you're not doing the walls. I assume if you tile the walls you tile the tub enclosure with the same tiles as the walls.

I'm a total newbie concerning tile work. I've always had vinyl flooring in my bathroom.

 

[mickeysgal]

OK fellow Remodelers. I'd like your opinion on bathrooms.

I did sign a contract to get my bathroom done next. It should be a week long job and hopefully they'll get started soon. However before they start I have to make a decision about tile. Now making the color decision will be very tough but since that's a personal thing I guess I'll have to tough that one out. The decision I'm having problems with is whether to tile the walls or not. I hadn't even thought of this and my estimator seemed to think it was a normal thing to do. He suggested tiling the walls of my bathroom to a height of about 40 inches and then painting above that. Right now I'm contracted out for paint but at anytime before they begin the job I can pay another $1,200 and get all of the walls tiled.

So what do you like? Walls that are all paint or walls that are tile for the first 40 inches then paint above?

Also if you tile the walls is it usually the same tile as the floors? Is it different tile? Also do you tile the tub walls the same as the floor usually if you're not doing the walls. I assume if you tile the walls you tile the tub enclosure with the same tiles as the walls.

I'm a total newbie concerning tile work. I've always had vinyl flooring in my bathroom.

Well here's my .02, for what it's worth. Take it with a grain or two of salt.

I wouldn't tile bathroom walls. I'd tile the shower area and the floor. Painted walls are the accepted norm (at least everywhere I've lived). Tiled walls, to me, are a thing of the past, they look too commercial and too sterile. Again, its only my opinion.

Whether or not to use two kinds of tile is subjective. I guess it depends on what kinds of tile. If you put a strong pattern on the floor then another stong, yet different pattern on the wall may be too much for the eye to handle. Then again, if you put a subtle pattern on the floor with a glass mosaic tiled wall, well, then that may be a different story. You can do a tiled wall from the same tile that you use for the floor, but maybe a feature border on the wall is all you'd need to break up the monotony.

I have seen a border of tile put along the wall at the bottom where it meets the floor, but it's been a long, long time since I've seen tiled walls outside of a commercial enviromnent (such as a public bathroom).

Here's my disclaimer: I tiled a wall around a jetted tub once and took the tile up to where there was a window. I did that because visually, it worked. My other option was to just run the tile around the edge of the tup and then have just a bit of painted wall up to the window. To me it would have looked wrong. On a wall that had nothing on it though, I used paint.

You're going to have to look at a lot of tile samples to get a feel for what you like best. I know that there have been a lot of sites posted on this thread that have fantastic bathroom, tile, and kitchen samples. I don't remember what pages they were posted on, though!

I'm not sure I helped or just confused the issue. I just realized how long my response was!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well here's my .02, for what it's worth. Take it with a grain or two of salt.

I wouldn't tile bathroom walls. I'd tile the shower area and the floor. Painted walls are the accepted norm (at least everywhere I've lived). Tiled walls, to me, are a thing of the past, they look too commercial and too sterile. Again, its only my opinion.

This is my opinion too. The 1950's ranch that I grew up in, had tiled walls. However, I saw them do them not too long ago on HGTV, but again, it was a retro bathroom. The one that I saw, was art deco, and they used plain white subway tiles.

Another option, and it may cost about the same as tile, is beadboard. It wouldn't work in my bathroom, but I love the look.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Aww come on! I would have needed 3700. worth of therapy if I'd tried to do all that myself

But I find that shoe therapy works wonders.

 

[RitaZ.]

OK fellow Remodelers. I'd like your opinion on bathrooms.

I did sign a contract to get my bathroom done next. It should be a week long job and hopefully they'll get started soon. However before they start I have to make a decision about tile. Now making the color decision will be very tough but since that's a personal thing I guess I'll have to tough that one out. The decision I'm having problems with is whether to tile the walls or not. I hadn't even thought of this and my estimator seemed to think it was a normal thing to do. He suggested tiling the walls of my bathroom to a height of about 40 inches and then painting above that. Right now I'm contracted out for paint but at anytime before they begin the job I can pay another $1,200 and get all of the walls tiled.

So what do you like? Walls that are all paint or walls that are tile for the first 40 inches then paint above?

Also if you tile the walls is it usually the same tile as the floors? Is it different tile? Also do you tile the tub walls the same as the floor usually if you're not doing the walls. I assume if you tile the walls you tile the tub enclosure with the same tiles as the walls.

I'm a total newbie concerning tile work. I've always had vinyl flooring in my bathroom.

Bill, it's like I said to you in a post when you first posted about the water intrusion and mold... Remodeling is just like the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

We intended to have the kids' bathroom done (only) and now there are other projects going on. Recessed lights and new fans in the family room. Replacing all interior doors. If we had more money, there would be even more projects being done.

As for tile on the walls... We just had this done in the kids' bathroom, except the tile went up 48 inches. Now the reason for our decision is because this bathroom will also serve as a cabana bath. So, lots of water from the pool and kids. I didn't want to have to worry about water and regular sheetrock walls. The tile that we used on the walls (smoother, 9 by 13) is different from the tile on the floor (rougher texture, 20 by 20), but in the same coordinating family. In our master bath, which we had done 3 years ago, we didn't tile all the walls. A wide baseboard was made of tile and bullnose that went around the walls. Again, different tiles for the walls in the shower than the floor. On a bathroom floor, you want to have a tile with a rougher texture to prevent slipping. BTW, the shower and tub walls in both bathrooms were done in tile all the way up to the ceiling. So, consider how you'll use the bathroom. As you know, if you tile some of the walls it will cost more.

I wouldn't recommend Home Depot or Lowe's for tile. We bought our tile from a tile store for both bathrooms. They were very knowledgeable and helpful. There are so many choices in tile that it can get overwhelming. These stores have awesome displays with tile, all the coordinating pieces, different shades in the same tile, lots of ideas, etc. You name it, they have it and they'll guide you through the process. It was painless! You take the measurements of your bathroom to them and they'll help you with the rest.

Good luck!

 

[shovan]

Bill, My neighbor redid her bathroom tiled partially up the wall in a really pretty deep blue color & it looks great! Are you making the bathroom HA? Every contractor that came out felt it was standard to put the tiles partially up the walls in an HA remodel. I don't know why.

We are going to do the walls all the way up to the ceiling in the shower/toilet wet room area. The vanity/dressing area will have tiled baseboards only.

Question????

Has anyone mixed American Standard fixtures with Kohler fixtures. I want a Kolher sink but an American Standard toilet. One plumbing supply place told me the color equivalents & gave me American Standard samples but didn't have the Kohler samples.. He said that Am. Stand. Bone = Kohler Almond. Anyone know? I'm gonna go beg for someone at home depot to see if I can get the Kohler samples.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Our bathroom just got tiled- walls and all. Mostly everyone we know has tiles walls, either halfway or full. I really didn't want to be bothered with having to paint the bathroom every year. We put a decorative border tile half way up too. I'll try to post some pics later.

 

[perdidobay]

I found these online..not as good as samples but gives you an idea.
American Standard "bone"

Kohler "almond"
I am sure there is some color distortion viewing it on the internet.

 

[shovan]

I found these online..not as good as samples but gives you an idea.
American Standard "bone"

Kohler "almond"
I am sure there is some color distortion viewing it on the internet.

Thanks! I just got back from Home Depot. They didn't have any samples to give me, but they did have samples that I comparted to the Am. Standard ones I had. Almond & Bone are the same color. Thank goodnes I went look though cus I was considering going darker. Mexican Sand & Fawn Biege are not even close. There really isn't an equal to the Am. St. Fawn Biege in the color colors. So I guess I'm going with Almond & Bone!

More questions for the remodel experts!

The contractor & cabinet guys are telling me to go ahead & pick out the fixture color before picking the granite. That there are so many choices in the granite that we won't have any trouble picking out something that goes with everything (tile, cabinets & fixtures). Do y'all agree with that? I'm really short on time we are leaving for DW on Thurs & the contractor starts that day. He wants all the plumbing fixtures picked out before then so he can get them ordered.

I think we talked about this before, tumbled vs honed travertine. The one I have tentatively picked ( the pic from the other day) is honed travertine. Am I correct in that using tumbled in the bathroom would be a bad idea. With the rough edges & pits it would be hard to keep clean right? I was scanning the books at Home Depot again & it sure looks like they are using tumbled in a lot of those bathrooms. I really like the look especially on the walls, but I surely don't want a cleaning nightmare in there!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

More questions for the remodel experts!

The contractor & cabinet guys are telling me to go ahead & pick out the fixture color before picking the granite. That there are so many choices in the granite that we won't have any trouble picking out something that goes with everything (tile, cabinets & fixtures). Do y'all agree with that? I'm really short on time we are leaving for DW on Thurs & the contractor starts that day. He wants all the plumbing fixtures picked out before then so he can get them ordered.

I'm no expert, but I'll weigh in. It keeps me from working, which I really don't feel like doing at the moment.

There are tons of granite colors and only a few choices in fixture finishes. To me, it makes no sense to pick out the fixtures first. I mean, your choices are silver, gold and bronze, basically, with variations in finish.

I'd be far more concerned about my granite colors, and then base my fixtures off of that. For example, you wouldn't want Black Galaxy with chrome fixtures, because the granite has copper-colored flecks in it.

The only reason I could see for having fixtures picked out, is so that they know where to drill the holes for the faucet. They did mine on-site though. Also, the contractor may be concerned about the timing, I guess. Maybe your fixtures will come in much later than the granite, if they're not ordered first?

I think we talked about this before, tumbled vs honed travertine. The one I have tentatively picked ( the pic from the other day) is honed travertine. Am I correct in that using tumbled in the bathroom would be a bad idea. With the rough edges & pits it would be hard to keep clean right? I was scanning the books at Home Depot again & it sure looks like they are using tumbled in a lot of those bathrooms. I really like the look especially on the walls, but I surely don't want a cleaning nightmare in there!

I'd go with the honed travertine. Even then, make sure you get good travertine, that doesn't have cheap fillers. You want a totally smooth surface, because the more holes and grooves you have, the more chances you have for mold to grow.

My tumbled marble is very porous looking. I'd be petrified to have it near consistent water.

 

[shovan]

I'm no expert, but I'll weigh in. It keeps me from working, which I really don't feel like doing at the moment.

There are tons of granite colors and only a few choices in fixture finishes. To me, it makes no sense to pick out the fixtures first. I mean, your choices are silver, gold and bronze, basically, with variations in finish.

I'd be far more concerned about my granite colors, and then base my fixtures off of that. For example, you wouldn't want Black Galaxy with chrome fixtures, because the granite has copper-colored flecks in it.

The only reason I could see for having fixtures picked out, is so that they know where to drill the holes for the faucet. They did mine on-site though. Also, the contractor may be concerned about the timing, I guess. Maybe your fixtures will come in much later than the granite, if they're not ordered first?

The travertine he brought to me, was very very smooth, more so than I thought it would be. I like the look of the tumbled a lot, but you are right that could be a mold & mildew nightmare!

I'd go with the honed travertine. Even then, make sure you get good travertine, that doesn't have cheap fillers. You want a totally smooth surface, because the more holes and grooves you have, the more chances you have for mold to grow.

My tumbled marble is very porous looking. I'd be petrified to have it near consistent water.

In particular he wanted the shower fixtures & set up picked out immediately to get valves etc. in asap. When he checked with his supplier, they told him there are some very long waits on getting things here. 4-6 weeks on some items. So he wants to get that ordered asap too.

But in just looking around at Home Depot earlier freaked me out! Because as you know, some granite as copper flecks, some as white, some beige. So by picking my fixture color now I'm already limiting my granite choices. But I don't know what else to do right now, I'll want my DH's input on that & there is no way he could go to the Stone place before the trip now!