FINALLY - a new post and a finished room!

OK people, I know, I know....it's been FOREVER since I sent out a damn thing on this blog.  I do have good reasons (don't we all), but won't bore you with the ugly details.
Since I start a new job tomorrow, I was determined to somehow get this out today - so that you all can see I have actually completed a big project.

Let's start at the beginning.  One day I was viewing someone's blog that I read and I got all inspired with what they did with a ugly little bathroom.  My thought was, well I too should consider getting some sort of a reno done in one of My Ugly Duckling's bathrooms.  So....all inspired by another blog, I began calculating costs on the project to determine if I could swing it.  so, I thought, I think this is doable.  In comes my favorite King-worker-bee (who does the many things I cannot do myself) and we decide to go for it.  I give you the before shots:

Hard to shoot this tiny room - but it was also before I purchased my new camera.  Anyway, you get the idea....it was dreadfully sad looking. 

So I start out all enthusiastic with budgeted items in tow and looking forward to the demo and beautification, with an optimistic short time-line for completion.  HA!  Day one of the demo turned quickly into an OMG experience. 



It turns out that the tile that needed to be removed was attached to about 2" of concrete over wire mesh, which all needed to be removed:

A lessor King would have probably walked away....but this wonderful man and I have worked together on projects for about 10 years, so faithful he is. It took him 3 days and 3 different jack hammers to get it all out. Thank God he has the patience of a saint.

But to almost every challenge, there is ananswer to an end....and in this case a lovely outcome.  Hurray!

I give you the after shots:

Close-up of some of the tile work





A look at the new shower (frameless glass door yet to be installed)

We used very cheap tile, a sink found on Craigslist and deals at HD for the balance of supplies need: faucet, toilet, shower head, light fixture, etc.

and since I am still having my love affair with orange, I felt that I should find a creative place to add my pop of color......voila!

While it may seem like an odd place to put that wild of a color, my thought was - hey, if it looks like total crap, I'll just paint over it.  However, when I was done, it really added a lot of personality to the very white and black space.  Ok maybe a quirky personality, but perhaps it matches mine.....hmmmmm.  Yes, I know I have definite OCD quirks!

So another space completed. 

I will close by saying I am very grateful that this was not my first attempt at a gut and finish project.  Had it been my first shot out of the gate, I fear I would never want to tackle another.

I plan to take a breather for a little while......and focus on my new position.  Back to the land of the solo working mom, who will have to find those rare spare moments to work on her DIY dreams.

So glad this project is done!!!