Hey friends, welcome back this week for the weekly update. I am over here asking myself, is a house ever really done? And should it ever be?
This week something big happened! Yes, I actually “finished” a room. I am using that term very loosely here, because when everything is in disarray, getting something accomplished feels big. Here’s what happened.
Earlier in the week, I decided to just put my head down and focus on one small room, the half bath. You know the kind, the one that everyone will use. I had one really big task to undo and fix before anything could move forward, so I decided to just bite the proverbial bullet and get ‘er done.
A few things happened while I was doing this, but the biggest thing was this realization:
If you set your mind to it, you can do anything. You just gotta do it ‘eating an elephant’ style. You know, one bite at a time.
Hubby was on a work trip, and this is usually the time that I do the things that are messy, or look like I shouldn’t be doing them. This job involved me pulling out the vanity that had already been installed, unhooking all the plumbing so I could pull the vanity out, fix the problem that had come up, and put everything back together.
I admit, I was a bit freaked out that I would screw it up along the way. Good thing, I didn’t. I forced myself to start, then I was on a roll.
What the deal was is that I had ordered a cute little marble backsplash after the vanity was put in because there was a gap in the back of the marble to the wall. I thought it could cover it. It did not, due to the ogee edge on the marble.
The vanity top was placed on this cute little vintage sewing cabinet that I bought on Facebook Marketplace for $25. Of course, I hadn’t noticed that the turned legs on the piece was causing it to protrude about an inch past the measurements we had taken when ordering the top.
Long story short, it was a Tim Gunn “make it work” moment and I had to pull it all out and cut the back of the legs so the entire piece could sit flush with the wall so the adorable backsplash could fit. After a lot of talking to myself, saying “just breathe, go step by step”, I did it!
Once I had it back together and reinstalled, I went all out and ‘finished’ the room. Meaning, painted the paneling and ceiling, wallpapered the walls, added some touch-ups, and ordered the toilet paper holder and new toilet flush handle. Details matter!
Here I am touching up the PVC pipe underneath with some Gold Rub n’ Buff. I love this stuff, it’s magic! I use it a lot on vintage items that I buy and sell. The white pipe was ruining my good design buzz so I decided to make it look better. If you ever buy vintage stuff (especially frames), you should keep a tube on hand. You never know!
Here are the decisions I made when planning this tiny bathroom:
- I wanted it darker and moodier than the rest of the house.
- I always want wallpaper, but this had to be something fun and a bit cheeky. A half bath is definitely a place you can have a little joy! So this one is really fun to look at when you’re on the toilet. It’s called “The house that Jack (Jill) built” so it is perfect. Plus it has a cow!
- Of course, my English Country vibe was the plan. So my English designers stepped up and this Laura Ashley tile was a fave, and the perfect color to go with this Charles Voysey wallpaper.
- I needed a cute vanity, but it had to be small! So I went searching for something old and different and came up with the sewing cabinet. Of course, hubby asked, “why can’t we have a regular vanity like normal people?” Because we are neither, dear. No surprise there.
So now, a room is done! Which leads me to that question, is anything ever really “done”? Short answer is NO. Because I believe as humans, we are never done. We are always evolving, ever learning (hopefully). Our needs change. So should your home.
So although I am ‘done’ with projects for this little space, there is still lots of styling, and tweaking, and things in the future that I want to do as they pop into my life. Like replace the door. It’s so cheesy, so I will wait until I find the perfect old vintage door to replace it. Things take time. But at least the major projects ARE DONE for this little room.
Kevin update
So hubby comes home with this. A giant watermelon from Costco. Who is that for? Insert eye roll, cause I already know. There is no way we would be eating that entire thing.
He says, “Kevin would like watermelon”. So now we are buying fruit for the wild raccoon who lives in our woods. Hubby had asked me if I thought Kevin could eat something safely. I’m like, “who knows, Google it”. I have now created a monster. Because now he is looking up all sorts of items to feed Kevin. I am married to a food pusher. Obvi.
More excitement outside!
We officially have concrete inside the pole barn. Woo hoo! That was poured on a day it was raining and they could work inside. The walkways and driveway are formed, and will be happening soon. I cannot wait, this is life changing. Not even being dramatic, it seriously will be!
I carved the name of our home in the concrete before it dried. I don’t think I have told you that story yet, how it was named. I will save that for a little later.
Things That Inspired Me This Week
First up, is this quote.
Today someone said, “worrying is the worst way to use your imagination” and that’s easily the best thing I’ve heard all week.
Lots of layers here if you think about it. If you tend to be a worrier, ponder this for a hot minute.
I ordered this in a brown gingham, it’s so cute but it runs small. But soooo comfy for summer!
I bought these and am saving them for when it is not sweltering. But the fabric is sooo soft and they are such a fun, cute and casual look.
Okay friends, thanks for joining me this week! There’s much more coming, and I have tons I am working on now, so hopefully there will be more done for me to share next time.
