We Bought a Fixer Upper: Bathroom Remodel

Over the summer, B and I bought our first home. We moved from our downtown Cleveland apartment into an inner-ring suburb, and the three of us moved in right at the beginning of September. Since we bought the home, we’ve done quite a few things to make it our own, including:

  • removed all the wallpaper
  • repainted every room
  • removed some carpet and tile and refined wood floors on a floor
  • put in nearly all new light fixtures, fans, etc.
  • removed some unnecessary ceiling fans
  • took down a poorly repaired ceiling and built a new one
  • installed a new concrete driveway
  • put in a new front porch

Those are just some of the things we’ve done – I’m sure there are more. B would know more since when I say “we” – it was mostly him or his family who helped out. I can’t thank them enough!

Anyway, I don’t know if we technically did buy a real fixer upper, because I don’t watch enough HGTV to know what qualifies — but I wanted to share with you some before/after images and info of one of the rooms we updated – the upstairs bathroom.

Here is what the bathroom looked like when we bought the house – sorry for the blurry photo.

We didn’t like how dark it was (I like dark paint, but typically more in the bedroom personally), and the vanity was outdated. The hot and cold water handles on the shower also kept falling off and B wasn’t a fan of them. And, believe it or not – there was  A CEILING FAN in the bathroom! (I wish that I had snapped a photo of that!)

So what did we do?

Took out the ceiling fan and then took down the whole ceiling.

 

Painted the bathroom. We chose the Sherwin-Williams color SW7732, lemongrass. B picked out new handles for the tub. He also built the wall up behind the shower (you can see the framing above). And, last but not least, a new vanity!

 

There’s a long story that goes with the vanity … long story short, we originally picked out another one but this one fits better. But let’s just say we tore the vanity out in August and didn’t have a new one in until late October …

So here’s a before and after shot that shows it still in progress. You can see the wall is built up, the ceiling is in and there’s a new light above the shower. You can also see the original old hot and cold water handles.

Annnnnnd – here’s what it looks like today, new vanity, new paint color, ceiling fan GONE, ceiling finished, new lights, new window treatment and new shower handles installed!

What do you think?

Some questions for you:

Have you ever seen a ceiling fan in a bathroom?

Have you redone a bathroom before?

House Reno and LCBS Weekend

The time is coming for our stint in downtown living to come to an end. I’ll write more about the house and our move soon, but in the meantime, we are just trying to enjoy every last bit of our lives downtown, while getting everything ready for the big move.

So how do you try to enjoy downtown AND get ready to move the same time?

It’s hard, let me tell you. But here’s one way to do it.

Friday evening started off with a 3.5 mi run for me, followed by some playground time for FW. He isn’t so sure what to think of the slide, but he is trying to enjoy it!

We then walked to the Winking Lizard for a few patio beers.

Then, B went over to the house to do some work, while I put FW to bed and get some packing done. I packed up a box of our kitchen stuff .. there are still probably about a million more boxes to go, yikes!

Saturday morning started out with some time at the house. B, some family and friends had a painting party! He also worked on putting the ceiling up in the bathroom. 

We’re getting there – look at what a difference a day makes! No ceiling – almost ceiling!

FW enjoyed playing around on our gravel driveway … that too is going to be under construction soon!

He totally helped prime the walls, too. 

While over on that side of town, we also took a walk with my friend Lulu. On our walk we saw what she said was a falcon! We watched it eat a mouse. I’m going to have to get used to all the new wildlife that comes with moving outside of downtown, that’s for sure! (I have a picture of it eating the mouse, but I’ll spare you the gory details)

After stopping by the house, it was time to head to LCBS. This month’s LCBS brought us to Jocelyn’s house for felt flowers. I didn’t make the craft this time, but instead enjoyed some beer and watched FW play with the other babies. I’m so lucky to have a few friends with babies!

This month’s beer choice for me:

This is me laughing because Ruby is trying to hug FW. 

Sunday morning started out with a run. My long run for the week was 5 miles – nothing too long (for me), but I’m still getting back into the swing of running after some piriformis issues. It was hard from but I know that I’ll be back to where I was soon, hopefully!

While B was at the house, FW and I took a short walk around downtown and then made some sweet potatoes. He loves them fresh out of the oven. I sprinkle cinnamon on them and toss them with butter 🙂

Then, we headed over to the house to see how the work was going. The whole family was over painting again! 

And then FW and I took another walk, this time in the ‘burbs. He loved playing with the gravel on the driveway.

All in all it was a pretty good weekend and things are coming together at the house! I can take no credit, as I was on baby duty the entire weekend, but it’s amazing what one weekend can do. Will it be ready for us to move in soon? We shall see!

Some questions for you:

  • Are you a DIY-er? Have you bought a fixer upper?
  • Get in any good runs this weekend?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps.

Thinking Out Loud: Summer Edition

I have so many random things on my mind that I think it’s the PERFECT time for a Thinking Out Loud post. It’s been a crazy few weeks, but here are a few things I’ve been thinking about:

Home Renovations …

B and I (or should I say B) are knee deep in some serious updates/renovations. I hope to have more to show soon, but he just tore down a ceiling (and wallpaper) in the dining room and then put one back up. I’ve never looked at ceilings so much as I have the past week or so. And now they’re all I notice!

Shopping …

I’m feeling in a serious fashion funk and I need want some new clothes. Ever since I went to the Saks blogger brunch/fashion show, I’ve been really wanting to get some new clothing items. BUT with the aforementioned home reno, I know I should be saving money. Le sigh. Still, it’s Nordstrom’s anniversary sale and here are some items I’m admiring (from afar):

This Bootie

This sweater

And while we’re at it, these non-Nordstrom items have been calling my name:

From J Crew

From Loft

Running (or NOT Running) …

I hurt my piriformis a few weeks ago and haven’t run since. That’s right, I’m going on 2+ weeks with NO runs. This is the longest I haven’t run since giving birth a year ago and I do NOT like it. I’m going a little stir crazy! Sorry in advance to anyone I snap at …

How I feel…

Cooking …

Now that FW is one, I’m trying really hard to find some foods he will eat. He is a picky eater has a refined pallet, and it’s getting hard to find foods that he, me and B will all eat. Oh, and FW has low iron and doesn’t like meat so I’m trying to find things with iron and/or protein. Some of the newest things I’ve tried:

Spicy Chickpea Burgers (without the spice for FW) >> I liked them as did B, but FW wasn’t a fan

Spinach Banana Muffins >> We all like these!

Crockpot Spicy Peanut Chicken  (without the spice for FW) >> I liked it, B sorta liked it and FW just spit it and threw it out

Cauliflower tots >> I liked them, B didn’t try and FW may have liked them (he didn’t eat them at home but school said he did …)

So, we’re 1ish for 4 …. any tips? Food or recipe suggestions?

And that’s about all the brain randomness from me this morning. Cheers to it almost being Friday!

Some questions for you:

  • Any recipes for picky eaters? Ideally something that an adult and a one-year-old would eat? Please?
  • What’s a fashion item you want right now?
  • What’s the last home renovation/DIY thing you did?

PS – Happy birthday MOM!!! You are a great mom and wonderful grandma … ❤

 

 

 

Weekends with a 13-month-old Baby

FW is officially 13 months. No longer an infant, he’s even older than a year right now. He’s almost a toddler! How did that happen?! Anyway, before I get too mushy, here’s a little about our weekend. For having nothing planned, the weekend ended up being pretty busy and flew by.  We did some housework,  went for a long walk (since I’m still not running), and had some good food.

Saturday I babysat FW while Brian did some housework.  So naturally we started the day off with some banana pancakes.

It rained most of the morning,  so we were stuck reading and playing inside.  But as soon as it cleared up,  we went for a walk.

While FW took his afternoon nap, I did some meal prep – cauliflower tots were a success (If only FW liked them …).

The afternoon also called for a bath. I think FW rocks a mohawk pretty well 🙂

B finally got home and brought us pizza. Mama Santa’s was delicious as always. 

We ended the night catching up on Game of Thrones. I can’t believe we’re finally up-to-date on all the seasons!

Sunday, the weather was gorgeous, so we spent some time outside. FW loved splashing around the fountains and splash pad!

We ended up taking a pretty long walk that afternoon. My piriformis has been bothering me, so I haven’t been running at all – but we did get in a long walk! Unfortunately, my piriformis started bothering me toward the end. But it was a pretty day!

We spent some more time working at the house (aka B worked while I watched FW). Here is a progress pic  — hopefully we’ll share some more soon!

And then we finished off the day with B’s family for dinner. We enjoyed a great meal inside after hanging out outside some more.

Questions for you:

  • Do you watch Game of Thrones?
  • Did you get in any good walks this weekend?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!