Bath progress

Back before Christmas I posted about our Master bath redo from Katrina screw-ups. It’s still a work in progress with 3 steps forward a couple backwards.

Shower seat in the old tile, grout all cracking and full of holes caused leaking. Before:

Old tile and grout torn off and new cement board installed.

Since we didn’t have any leftover origanal tiles and not wanting to have same issue, we decided to buy new marble to match the Breccia Oniciata on the tub surround and sink vanity. I love this marble, it even has veins of turquoise green running through it. Step up that glass surround will sit on:

New seat and step up:

Close of marble Breccia Oniciata:

The day before Christmas Eve, the glass company installed the glass surround and we were instructed not to use it for 48 hours. Not fun having all that mess, workers in and out constantly, and cleaning up the days before Christmas.

The tub had plenty of issues too. For one, it was floating, not on cement. See below:

The original installers left this gaping hole in the marble and never put the silicon around the tub. New contractor sprayed about 10 tubes of foam that hardens rock solid under the tub. Cute Brazilian guy cut out a piece of Breccia Oniciata leftover from shower marble fixes.

My other 2 bathrooms desperately needed new faucets, nozzles, etc. Bath 2 looked like this:

Now looks like this: (colors are all weird and not true)

and this:

Bath 3 before:

After:

But the bad thing is, it’s difficult to find these three faucet fixtures since the new plumbing codes. I searched forever to find them online in oil rubbed bronze. And the really, really bad thing is I ended up with this:

and this:

Yes, the plumber had to cut holes behind these 2 tubs otherwise we would have to tear out the shower/tubs and start all over again. Way too much money. I hope that tomorrow the sheetrock/painter guy can finish up. I’ve had it with the mess, the crap they drop, the in and out of my house tracking in dirt and leaves.

But I love my new bathrooms!

Oyster Shell Passion

It’s that time of year when the oyster shells are calling me. Last year after I made my mirror and lamp, I’ve had so many requests from family and friends to do more. So I am.

We are so fortunate that the oyster shell industry opened back after after last year’s oil spill. Just before Christmas, I hauled a stash of fresh oyster shells home and have been cleaning, rinsing, bleaching, rinsing, and sorting them since. I even learned how to use my jig saw without cutting off any fingers. I’ve sanded all the boards, painted them, and are using french cleats for the hanging system. I’ve got 3 mirrors going right now.

This is the 36” X 28” rectangle almost complete, needs it’s last row of tiny shells.

Close up:

This is daughter’s whopper. It will be aproximately 47” in diameter. Needs many more rows, but this is a slow and tedious process. The outer rings have to dry completely before the inner rings can be put on.

The third mirror is an oval, like my originally one. No shells on that one yet, so I didn’t snap a picture. It’s sitting on the dining room table. And oyster shells are everywhere, in boxes sorted out by their size. Oyster shells have taken over my home, my thoughts and my dreams. So what am I going to do with all these mirrors and other oyster items? Not sure yet how I’ll procede but am thinking of a giveaway, stay in touch!

Inspiration after Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas and New Years. Just getting back to normal, Christmas decorations are all down and put away. What a job that is, always vowed never to put up so many next year when I’m taking them down.

After Christmas, hubby and I went over to Liz and Dave’s for a few days. The boys played golf while Liz and I made the flea market/antique/interior design store circuit between Ft Walton Beach and Destin. Liz was in search a a buffet for her dinning room and I was hunting for anything! Especially inspiration. After 2 days of searching Liz found her dream piece at Lovelace Interiors in Destin. It’s the Addison cabinet from Aidan Gray. It’s a weathered wood, grayish lovely piece. Just perfect for their taste. And stores lots of china:

I’m making them a Lamp Tramp special…. a huge oyster shell mirror to go over this baby. Liz is searching for new lamps. And old wood planks to re-plank her table.

My favortie store that we went to, twice, is Antiques on Holiday. So many heavenly pieces and vignettes to feast one’s eyes upon. Enjoy all this great inspiration:

There are 2 huge floors of all this goodness, too much to photograph and digest all at once.

My Master Bath redo is still going on, cute Brazilian guy just left. I’ll get some pictures when everything is cleaned up and back together. On Thursday morning a new plumber is coming to spray foam under master bath whirlpool tub. Tub has been floating on air instead of a base of concrete underneath it to support weight of many gallons of water plus a body. Plumber is also installing new handles, faucets, shower nozzles, and hand held nozzles in two other baths. But the down side is, has has two cut huge holes out the walls behind these 2 tubs to change out faucets, etc. Lots more dust, coughing, choking, and cleaning. But we are getting things done and that is always a good thing.

Happy New Year to all!