Category Archives: cliffswallow

You guys…I’m super happy with how this turned out. It ain’t perfect, for sure. But overall it turned out like I imagined—better even because I didn’t know I’d find that amazing light fixture at Habitat for Humanity for $20 and the pulls for $1 apiece. And my sister recommended painting the non-mural walls a funContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Days 13-15 (Fin)”

I always say with remodeling that 80% of the project takes 20% of the time, and the last 20% of the project (painting, trim, etc.) takes 80% of the time. I think that’s because there’s a lot of timing that goes into it—waiting for paint to dry or caulk to cure, and also because peopleContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel Days 11 and 12: Spackle and Painting”

So, this is one of the things I love about shopping at the Habitat Re-store (which is the retail arm of Habitat for Humanity’s building salvage operation): you just have to go with what they’ve got. And sometimes what they’ve got is really weird, and you never would have picked it out of a catalog,Continue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Days Nine and Ten (grout and light fixture)”

I’m in love with this tile: it’s the perfect light-brown cement gray (Simply Modern Crème Honed, 12×24 Field Tile) with a nice grain to the glaze that doesn’t stand out too much. It’s good quality and cut and laid really well, too. Everything was really level except one tile behind the toilet that was offContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Day Eight (Laying Tile)”

I’m so tired this is going to be a short one. The wallpaper was very stressful but turned out okay? It looks good from a trotting horse, as my Aunt Vi would say. And when I install the much weaker and more romantic light fixture, my mistakes should be even harder to spot. As ifContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Day Seven (Wallpaper and Cutting Tile)”

That photo may not look too impressive, but that naked sink is the result of nearly full day’s effort. It was *really* caulked into the old laminate countertop, with 2 different kinds of caulk. I think I mentioned on Day One that I couldn’t get it out and set off the fire alarms trying. Today,Continue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Day 6 (Sink Salvage and Painting)”

Everything went pretty smoothly today except for one measurement error when cutting the backerboard that resulted in a 2nd seam. Oh well. Also, my dog Rye, who to date has shown zero interest in the remodel, suddenly became fascinated with it right after I mudded the seams in the backboard. I stepped away for justContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Day Five (Priming and Backer Board)”

Yeah, it doesn’t look very different, but you’re looking at 2 days of work there. Skimming is using drywall mud to create a smooth surface on a wall—whether a newly taped wall or one that has texture that you no longer want. My case is the second: I’m putting up a wallpaper mural of magpiesContinue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Days 3 and 4 (Skimming the Mural Wall)”

Ah, just look at that beautiful, clean subfloor. This is what it was supposed to look like at the end of Day One. Oh well. Dramas of the Day (DOD): Not at all bad as it turns out, but there were 3 of them, all related:

The powder room is the only room on my main floor that is still living in the 1980s. I mean, that was a good decade, but mauve is not a color that should have ever been put on Formica (or perhaps anywhere? Not a fan). Also, pink and blue vinyl floor is not my favorite.Continue reading “Powder Room Remodel: Day One (Demolition)”