Our Bathroom Remodel Project

Our master bath has been in desperate need of a makeover for a few years now. We go back and forth on it, trying to decide what we want, and how we are going to make it happen. We finally got ourselves a little plan together.

My goal is something like this:












And yes, I want the clawfoot tub. I am working on how to make that happen. I am trying to convince the hubby that we can get one up the stairs, but that's another story entirely.

So, last week, I was renewed with energy to tackle the bathroom, since we finally have a plan. I got myself a hammer and I was ready for Demo day.

And, if you don't watch Flip That House, Demo Day is lots of fun for everyone. You get to take out your aggressions on the wall as you hammer through tile and sheetrock.

Or at least that's how it looked to me on television.

So, Monday morning, I showed up in my bathroom with my sweat pants on, my hammer in tow, and a crowbar (just in case). Brian worked all night, so he wasn't as excited about demo day as I was. In fact, he was still in bed.

I decided I did not need to wait for him, so I began removing tile. Which did not just fall off the wall like it does on TV when I hammered it. Nope, I was having to pry the tile off of the wall, and after a while, I decided it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

So, I went and got a radio and started hammering on random items to see if anything came loose. Around this time, I noticed that Brian had moved into another bedroom to sleep. I guess he just wasn't into Demo Day.

As I hammered on random items around the bathroom, nothing really came loose, which was disappointing. So, I continued my slow tile-removing process. And, then I took a break and got myself a sandwich after I finished a couple of rows of tile.

A few hours later, Brian decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, so he got up and retrieved a (much larger) hammer. He started hammering on random things around the bathroom, and much to my dismay, things just fell apart when he hammered on them. Why didn't it work for me? I totally wanted that television moment. I got up early for it, and I even wore a tool belt.

But, I was so excited by the progress that I didn't care.

Within just a few minutes, we took out the lowered ceiling above the bathtub and found some lovely 1960's original wallpaper up there. Do you like it? It can be yours for a low, low price.
























Here's a closer shot of that beautiful wallpaper.


















And then, we hammered some more and found wet walls. And, a few points in the walls where the tile did just fall off, because there was wet sheetrock underneath. The walls smelled very musty and we decided there was no way we could save any of the sheetrock in this area. So, we tore it all out.























It was at this point that Brian said we need to remove the tub. As in, he and I need to remove the tub. And, I explained to him that on Flip This House, they usually threw heavy things like this out the window to a dumpster that was positioned below.

He reminded me that we did not have a dumpster or a window. Which meant we would be carrying it down the stairs.

Let me tell you, this was a total buzzkill. This was an old, porcelain tub that really didn't want to go anywhere. And, it was going to take sheer muscle to move it. Unfortunately for Brian, I have no upper body strength. I am all legs, and like a T-Rex, my arms are useless for most things except flipping pages of a magazine.

So, after pulling on the tub for a while and getting nowhere, we decided we needed to remove the carpet to get the tub out.

And, look what we found underneath the carpet:


















Neat-o. Gold vinyl sticky tile thingies. These are authentic 1960's memorabilia, which can also be yours for a low, low price. I'll make a package deal with the wallpaper.

After pulling up the carpet and padding, we carried the both of them downstairs (and by "we", I mean Brian).

It was time to give the tub one last try.

I stretched my little arms and told Brian I was ready.

And, we heaved. Truth be told, he heaved more than me, but I still heaved.

Much to our amazement, it moved. And, thank goodness, Brian remembered the dolly in the garage. He strapped the tub to it with some bungee cords and the two of us were able to maneuver it down the stairs. Somehow. Someway. I am still not entirely sure how it happened.

But, here's what's left of the bathroom.























It looks practically the same as my example photo. Just a few small tweaks and I think we're there with it.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Rhonda and Brian attempt to get a clawfoot tub up the stairs, while keeping their marriage intact.

Posted in: Family Life, home improvement