MASTER BATH REMODEL

Day 4 - Sandy's Bath Remodel

Time is flying by this week on our bath remodel. Where does the time go??

We are racing against the clock. Only two more days before Steve has to go back to his real day job. It's clear that we will be finishing up lots of things weekends and evenings. Our priority was to have the floor and the toilet installed this week while Alex is gone and we have access to his bath - the balance we can complete over time.

On day two we removed the old vinyl flooring, prep'd the surface for the new slate and laid out the tiles in the room. I wanted to be sure that we blended the colors to be sure that we didn't have too many purples or too many reds all in one area. I numbered the tiles and stacked them by rows for an easy install. This method worked beautifully for us. Steve asked for a tile and I was able to quickly pull the correct tile for that row. Easy!

We had two possible candidates for accent tiles. I was pulling for the tiny glass mosaics and Steve wanted the larger tumbled slate (easy to work with for an amateur installer.) As you can see in the photo below, Steve won.

We have some funky angles in the tiny bath - no problem for Steve! He did a wonderful job working with the angles and the radiator. It looks great!! As I write this Steve is grouting away. We chose Custom #185 New Taupe with a little purple tint. Our batch of slate has some vibrant golds, purples and reds. We are loving it.

The slate takes us in a rustic (and dark) direction, so now I think we need just the right paint colors to brighten up the space.

On day three we finished the tile installation and sealed the tile in preparation for grouting. We also made a supply run to pick up our fixtures. We went to our Welker McKee showroom for our toilet, counter top/sink, and faucet. I love looking at plumbing fixtures. Some fixtures are works of art and I feel like a kid in a candy store when I am there.







We have a super low budget for our project so we selected, with the help of our local rep., Veronica (pictured above,) some very nice Kohler pieces. Welker McKee has a beautiful Kohler section. I'll take one of everything!










Kohler has the best commercials!! I think this Italian Grandmother commercial is for the tub shown below.

Sko Tub

In my next house perhaps ... the Crucible





A funky Kohler shower seat

and matching shelves

I LOVE this sink - Kohler Artist Edition Boucle 14" under Counter Lav in tweed with Kohler Purist Single Control Faucet in Brushed Nickel

It's gorgeous.

Very interesting kitchen sink. The finish is wonderful in person. I think Veronica has this sink at home and LOVES IT!!

Kohler Carrizo Cast Iron Kitchen Sink in basalt with Kohler Forte single control kitchen faucet with pull out spray in vibrant stainless.

This sink is huge! It has a certain appeal to me - just a beautiful, large sink.

Kohler Tidings Apron Front Sink in Earthen White with Kohler Antique Kitchen Faucet and side spray in brushed bronze

I'm thinking French or Italian villa for this one. Sometimes I find something and my mind can take the one item and build a whole room around that one thing. Wait...I think there is a Kohler commercial for that too.

Kohler Memoirs Stately Home 30" Ped in white with Kohler IV Georges Brass Widespread Lav Faucet in brushed nickel. Also shown - Memoirs Stately Design one piece toilet in white

And for the traditional - beautiful from Kohler. When thinking about a pedestal - go big if possible. All the extra surface around the sink really comes in handy.

Well, shopping was fun but now we are ready with supplies and are back to work. Today is grouting, base, paint...how can we work in a quick game of golf??? It's so hard to stay focused when the weather is beautiful....

Stay tuned to see our fixture selections and the ever important paint colors! Oh yes...please let us know you thoughts - we would love to hear from you.

MASTER BATH REMODEL

DAY ONE - SANDY'S BATH REMODEL

The day has finally come for our bath remodel. Hurrahhhh!!!!

The skylight is great. We enjoy seeing the drama in the sky.

Oak cabinets (my least favorite) and very boring. Let's see what some paint and trim can do.

Very funky little shelf above the sink. It's outta here.... New countertop, sink , faucet and Kohler toilet.

When I purchased this house several years ago as a single Mom, I despised the second floor bath just outside my bedroom. I disliked it so much that I refused to use it for several months after we moved in. It just hurt my eyes - it was soooo ugly. Eventually I relented and stopped making the trek downstairs to the first floor bath. I have used the second floor bath all of these years but never stopped flinching when I walked in the room. Bad feng shui.

The time has come for a quick remodel. I just can't stand it anymore. We are trying to keep the cost down so it's just the basics for now. We, like many folks, are mulling over whether we will stay in this house long term and how much to invest.

My least favorite device color - it always looks old and dirty. Give me crisp, clean white anyday.

Every inch of drywall, ceilings included, in the tiny bath was covered with this UGLY wall covering. I really enjoyed ripping it down! Ahhh, now that feels good.

Next comes the floor. Rip up that horrible sheet vinyl with the red dots. Whew! I'm feeling better already.

12"x12" Autumn Slate

We have some 12"x12" slate that I have been holding onto for...11 years. Time to use it. We do not have quite enough but were able to find some that is very close and can blend the new with the old. It's all very rustic and natural so it will work out just fine. Our dilemma is which accent tile to use in our tiny bath.

Steve, the husband, architect, and installer on our project is voting for the simple 2"x2" tumbled slate that we found - easy to install and the same thickness as the 12"x12" field tiles.

Sandy, the designer and assistant tile installer is voting for the wonderful tiny glass mosaics from Thomas Brick that are more difficult to install due to their slim thickness. We would have to build up the bed in the accent areas and clean out whatever seeps into the group joints - extra time, extra step, and a little more expensive material. We'll see what happens as the project progresses.

2"x2" possible accent tile - tumbled slate

Glass mosaic tiles as a possible accent band in the floor. I like this option as the tile has a white piece which will help tie the floor into our existing white shower wall tile.

Stay tuned to see what we wind up using. I will post our progress as we work some magic on our little bath. What a champ Steve is to use his precious vacation working around the house.

Sunday Morning Quiche

Quiche is a wonderfully versatile dish. It lends itself to a wide variety of ingredients and it's perfect for any meal. Quiche makes an elegant Sunday morning breakfast or it's yummy for lunch or dinner.
I love to experiment with different cheeses, veggies, and the occasional meat (in half the pie) for my guys. It makes great leftovers and Steve loves to take quiche to work for lunch the next day.

This morning I made a run out to the garden and harvested a little broccoli for our weekly quiche fix. I hope the spinach kick into gear and we can have spinach quiche in a week or two.

I just love seeing the whole broccoli trees in the quiche, pictured right.

The list of possible ingredients is endless...mushrooms, squash, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, tomato, swiss chard, swiss cheese, feta, cheddar, bacon, sausage, ham, shrimp, scallops...and on and on....

Here is my favorite base recipe and it bakes like a dream. Use whatever veggies you have on hand and cover with the custard - bake - and voila - an elegant quiche!! This mornings version was broccoli, black olive, cheddar and 1/2 bacon. It filled the house with a wonderful aroma. It was difficult to wait for it to cool down enough before devouring it.


BROCCOLI QUICHE

1 9" pie crust (I cheat and use the refrigerated ones when I am in a rush)

Filling
1 -1/2 c. grated cheese
2 tbs. butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1-1/2 c. chopped broccoli
1/2 c. sliced black olives
dash of thyme
4 strips of bacon, cooked and broken into small pieces

Custard
4 eggs
1-1/2 c. milk
3 tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp dry mustard


Line the pie plate with the crust and cover the bottom with cheese. Saute the onion and broccoli in 1 tbs. of butter until just tender. Season veggies with thyme, salt and pepper. Place the veggies on top of the cheese and sprinkle with bacon and black olives.

In blender mix together custard ingredients. Pour over broccoli layer.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until center is set. Cool slightly before serving. Serves 4-6.

Orzo Salad with Shrimp & Garden Update

I thought it was time for a Sandy's Garden update. The experimental peas that Shumway sent to me are WONDERFUL!!! Steve and I stand in the garden and munch away. Having a bumper crop of fresh pea pods has inspired me to make one of my favorite summer recipes - Warm Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Feta. Love it!!!

Pictured right - peas from our garden growing away.

Tomatoes and Oregano - we are trying a modified trellis system this year. Just a few horizontal wires to tie the tomatoes on to for support. Combining Oregano and Tomatoes is part of the companion planting method.

Blue Lake Green Beans - a standard and always a favorite

We are trying a new system called the Three Sisters. We planted corn, climbing beans, and squash together. The corn supports the climbing beans, the squash shades and keeps the soil moist around the corn, and the beans give off nitrogen to assist the corn. It creates a happy little garden synergy. So far so good. What a good sport Steve was - I asked him to scoop out fish heads at the market to bury with the corn seeds when we planted the rows. He still moans when I talk about it.

Happy potato plants. We love potatoes - especially new potatoes

Cabbage - so far so good. We love cabbage steamed with a little butter, salt and pepper.

This has been my most successful batch of broccoli to date. Very tasty.

The first planting of beets came in thin so we did a second planting.

Onions and lettuce.

Warm Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Feta

For Shrimp

• 2 garlic cloves
• 1-1/2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 C Olive Oil
• 1 TBS minced fresh oregano leaves freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lb. medium shrimp
• 8 - 10" skewers
• 1 - 1/2 cups orzo
• 1/2 lb sugar snap peas
• 1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 scallions
• 1/2 c. kalamata olives, halved
• 1 c. packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves

For Dressing

• 1/2 garlic clove
• 2 TBS. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 C. fresh flat-leafed parsley
• 2 tsp. minced fresh oregano leaves

Mince garlic and in a bowl whisk together with lemon juice, oil, oregano, pepper, and salt to taste. Shell shrimp and devein. Add to marinade, stirring to coat. Marinate shrimp covered and chilled, 1 hour.

Prepare grill. Soak skewers in warm water 30 minutes.

While grill is heating, fill a 6 quart kettle three fourth full with salted water and bring to a boil for orzo. Trim sugar snap peas and cut cherry tomatoes in half. Thinly slice white parts of scallions. Finely chop parsley.

Make Dressing:

Chop garlic and in a blender blend with remaining ingredients until dressing is emulsified.

Stir orzo into boiling water and cook until al dente. Add snap peas and cook 15 seconds. Drain pasta and peas and transfer to a large bowl. Cool pasta 5 minutes and stir in feta, tomatoes, scallions, kalamata olives, and parsley. Add dressing to salad and toss well. Season salad with salt and pepper.

Thread shrimp onto skewers, discard marinade. Grill shrimp on an oiled rack just until cooked through - 1-2 minutes on each side. Place grilled shrimp into salad and toss gently.

Serves 4 as a main course.

Designing Our Lives

I believe that we design our lives just as we design our homes or offices. We decide what to include, what to revamp, where to spend our resources - be it time or money. It is an ongoing process, I think. Today, I am reflecting a bit on my own life design...and I am soaking in life.

I am also thinking about how all of our lives are a type of weaving...our spouse, children, work, hobbies, family, friends, school, community...just like our designs are a weaving of the various elements.

Life has suddenly become very hectic here and in the middle of the whirlwind of activity between WEAVE IDeAS, networking, volunteer work, family, friends, and the wonderful, short Ohio gardening season, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and I find myself putting on the brakes and stepping back. Stepping back so that I do not miss any of my wonderful life.

It is the last day of school here in our district and my son, Alex, is pretty excited and happy. I am feeling the strumming of a few heart strings and I don't want to rush and miss any of this good stuff. Alex is finishing 11th grade and I know that we are closing in on his last year of school and his last year with us.

I have always taken photos of my boys on their first and last day of school each year. (Alex's first day of 11th grade pictured right) I wanted to record their changes over each year and follow their progress. I have really enjoyed this process and I think that they have secretly felt proud and loved that their Mom celebrated their growth and accomplishments. In retrospect, I should have purchased a fun set of house numbers and had Dustin and Alex hold the numbers that corresponded with their current school year. Oh well...perhaps it's an idea for you or someone in your family.

Alex today - last day of 11th grade - HURRAY!!! SUMMER VACATION!!!

This year's change has been HUGE. Facial hair....omg! Long hair...omg! He drives...omg! College searches...SAT...ACT...blink and I might miss this; I might be too busy to soak up our meaningful shared experience. I believe that we will both relish these memories in the future.


I know that I gave Alex his last ride to school this morning. Next year he will have his own car and will be driving himself. Where did the time go?





Out of the blue Alex decided two years ago that he wanted to play football. Prior to this he had not been involved in any sport - surprise! Football has been a wonderful experience for Alex and by extension, for me. Who knew there was such a thing as a "football Mom?" Pasta dinners for the team, post game parties, baking, set up and take down, games, car washes... the great stuff of life. Don't blink...

Yesterday, one of our "football Mom's" lost her long battle with cancer. She devoted the final year of her life to her sons and their love of football. She was there for everything and again I think about how we choose; how we are the ones who design our lives.

So, it's time for me to slow down a bit. Good design takes time and planning. Rush a design and you have a space that is disjointed or simply doesn't work - and you can feel it.

I don't want to rush through life, missing the all good stuff.

On days like today I am reminded that I need to slow down, be fully present, and enjoy my work, family and my surroundings because these wonderful things are at the heart and soul of my life design. Without them...it's just a white box.