Trying to save the world...one bathroom at a time. Glorious AFTER shots!!!

After some back and forth we decided to refinish our cast iron tubs and tile surrounds in the hall bath opposed to tearing it out and replacing both.  While this might seem like a total "green/ earth friendly" decision it was more based on time and effort-although we did keep our current bath materials out of our local landfill.  Wait for it-YAY US!!!

I found a company -Miracle Method that basically sprays the existing tubs and surrounds with an acrylic coating that looks pretty darn good and only takes a few days.  You can read more about it here if you are super interested.
http://www.miraclemethod.com/bathtub-refinishing.htm

We decided to do both our hall bath and our master bath with white tubs and textured surrounds.  The two tone was more expensive but I think it was totally worth it.  I can't speak to durability or anything yet but on pure ascetics I am sold.  Here is the story in pictures:



Master bath before.  Black tub and cultured marble surround.  Marble-good right?  This stuff was swirly and the opposite of good.  I imagine its what an upscale bath in the Poconos looked like, circa 1975.



The master bath in process.  This is a great shot of the swirly marble surround.

The master bath AFTER.

Close up of the new master bath surround.

Hall Bath before.  Beige tub and mauve and beige speckled tile.

This is the hall bath, in process.  Note the lovely toilet in the bath set up.  We are cool like that.

During the miracle method process.  See the tub go from 1974 beige to 2011 white.  YAY for technology.

The hall bath AFTER.

Close up of the hall bath surround.

Basement Land

There has been some mild curiosity on how we are living in our house, during this massive construction phase.  When we moved into the house in mid-May we moved straight into the basement.  When I say basement its really just the bottom floor.  The house is split level so the bottom level has a living area, a bar with sink, a bathroom, laundry and a bedroom.  Its fairly functional for a short amount of time.    We also have sliding doors to the outside so the dogs have full access to their backyard and we have sunlight.  It's still a bit cramped.  Mom-this is for you-pics of my box land:

Close up of the wall of boxes/ box springs and assorted "stuff."



View from the basement door.  This makes it look like chaos...and I am starting to think it might be.  Thankfully I am able to tune the whole mess out since I know I am not a hoarder and this is a short term solution.

And not to worry..the dogs appear totally unphased by their new digs.  Most days when I come home I find some version of this going on.  I guess it is the lazy dog days of summer:)

 

Charleston and Folly Beach

Scott and I decided that we wanted to do a joint bachelor/bachelorette party instead of two seperate events.  It was a great way to get everyone together for a fun adult weekend at the beach.  We chose Folly Beach for its proximity to Charleston.  We stayed right on the beach and made it into Charleston two days-once for dinner and once for a day of sightseeing and shopping.  Let me tell it with pictures.

The gang at Rita's.  Coicidentally the band that is playing at our wedding was playing at this resturaunt the night we arrived.

The gang, night 2.

The guys at the beach bar we found after dinner.  This place was amazeballs-more on it to come.

Some doors in Charelston that I loved.

The group in Charleston.

Scott and I at Taco Boy on our last night.

The ladies in Charleston.

TAKE DOWN THAT WALL....

We are still working on the house.  Many of the things we are doing are not really good blog fodder.  For example...when Scott redoes wiring it makes ME sleepy-so I imagine it would make you all sleepy too.  But he has been wiring...and plumbing...and sheetrocking.  That last one is worth covering.  Our house was an interesting split level/split foyer layout.  It's not a classic example of either but a meld of the two. 

I have no real before pics of this.  But imagine walking into a small foyer and right in front of you is a wall that is high, but not quite to the ceiling.  We took it DOWN!  Scott convinced me to do it and it was a brilliant idea.

This is a in process pic of the wall removed before the sheetrock had been replaced.  The wall went up to the hallway height...which left it short of the celing by 3-4 feet

 .

This is a view down the hallway once the wall had been removed.  It really did open everything up.  You can also see a weird vent that had no purpose above the wall.  We had plans to take it down too.



Here is the wall after the drywall work was completed.  Now you still walk into a wall but the hallway is open to the light and front door.  Weird vent removed and drywall fixed.



View into the hallway after the drywall work was completed.

Many more detail pics to come....its been a busy couple of weeks.

Showers and the official end of my first house chapter

I know its June but May was so busy I am still recovering;)   A few days after Shaun's wedding I packed up my stuff and moved into the new house.  Into the basement of the new house since the upstairs is still a war zone.  It hasn't been that bad-its been a month already;)

Scott and I had our first shower two days after I moved.  It was a couples shower at Tennessee National thrown by great friends.  The atmosphere and company were fantastic and I has so much fun.  Scott did too...but I don't know that he will admit it as readily;)

The next week I closed on my first home.  It was touch and go up to the very last moment.  I was convinced the deal was simply going to fall through.  But then-miraculously, it didn't.  I thought I was going to be a mess.  I envisioned myself walking through the empty rooms sobbing.  Thinking-woulda,coulda, shoulda.  But I wasn't and I didn't.  I cleaned it up..took some pictures and wished it well.  I think it served its purpose in my life and I got everything out of it I could get.  There was nothing left there for me.  I know the young couple who purchased it as there first home will make great memories there just like Scott and I will continue to make great memories in our first home together.  Cycle of life, kumbbyeya, say la vie.  In Oprah's words- no bitter, all sweet!!

Speaking of Oprah-I am not ready to address her leaving me.  I dvred her show regularly and loved it.  She taught me allot.

Now the second half of May in pictures;)

The gift table in all its glory.

Megan, Tommy and Matt watching the gift opening carnage.

The ladies enjoying the show.

All the guys...Scott was a bit sad to be cut out of this herd to help with knots and opening;)

Jen's artistic interpretation of the event;)

A glass decanter that Scott was excited to see. Many of the gifts were brand new to him since he allowed me to do some registering on my own;)  This one was for him. 

Chelsea taking diligent notes so I could send my notes of gratitude.

Me with the ribbon bouquet that Megan brilliantly put together.



This one is my favorite.  This captures how much fun I had the whole evening.  Also I never knew I opened my mouth so wide when I laugh? 



The master bedroom at Pandora.  Did I ever show this paint color?  I always loved it and will duplicate it in the new house.

Guest bedroom.  All the rooms looked so tiny once they were empty.

Mater bath.  This room gave us a run for our money as we approached closing.  Scott was a superstar and got everything where it needed to be.

Half bath.  I don't know if I ever showed this reno.  It was the last small room I did at the old house.  Classic cottage style.

Living room.  Also very tiny without furniture.

69 Tips for the Perfect Kitchen

1.  I love Ina Garten

2.  I want a kitchen just like her kitchen-either the main house or the entertainment barn,

3.  I am actively designing a new kitchen

4.  I found this.

5.  I plan to steal as many ideas from this list as possible.

6.  If you have checked out my registries you know I had this thought sometime ago-since it reads a bit like this list.  White platters and cake plates anyone?

 

69 Tips For The Perfect Kitchen by Ina Garten!

I found this on the fabulous Barefoot Contessa Site and want it ALL! Don't you?  1Parchment paper for sheet pansAvailable at nycake.com		2Cook's IllustratedAvailable at CooksIllustrated.com		3Graduated glass bowlsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com
4Baking mixesAvailable at BarefootContessa.com StonewallKitchen.com		5Olio Santo extra virgin olive oilAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com		6Spice drawer and jarsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com
7Personal Recipe FileAvailable at Golden Eagle Art 631 324 0603		8Plan B - containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com		9Le Creuset potsSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
10All-Clad 12" fry panSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com		11Post-it notes for seatingAvailable at Office supply stores		12Votive Candle HoldersAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940
13Post-it notes for plattersAvailable at Office supply stores		14Cake standsCassandrasKitchen.com and Hotel Silver at Bergdorf Goodman 800 558 1855		15Extra mixing bowlAvailable at CulinaryParts.com 800 543 7549
166" wood skewers for cake testersAvailable at grocery stores and CassandrasKitchen.com		17Flat platters by ApilcoAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		18French bread basketsAvailable at Antique stores andPastryItems.com
19Gel matsAvailable at GelPro.com		20Large basketAvailable at Axel-Vervoordt.com		21Cast-iron skilletsAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores
22Two DishwashersAvailable at Bosch.com		23Chef's Choice 130Available at SurLaTable.com and Amazon.com		24All-Clad cookwareSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
25White BakewareApilco and Pilluyvet DeanDeluca.com Williams-Sonoma.com		26Extra bowl for food processorAvailable at CulinaryParts.com CassandrasKitchen.com		27PepperMate pepper millAvailable at PepperMate.com CassandrasKitchen.com
28Large stockpotAvailable at DeanDeluca.com		29TimersAvailable at Hardware stores and CassandrasKitchen.com		30Half-sheet pansAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com CassandrasKitchen.com
31Grocery padsAvailable at The Monogram Shop TheMonogramShops.com		32Parchment paper for baking pansAvailable at nycake.com		33Lots of measuresSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
34ThermometersAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores		35Counting ingredients before finishing a recipe		362 ¼" Ice cream scoopSurLaTable.com CassandrasKitchen.com CrateandBarrel.com
37Crocks for utensilsAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com Williams-Sonoma.com		38Pop-up spongesAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		39Handmade bowlsAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940
40Salt crockAvailable at DeanDeluca.com		41Crock for spoons and spatulasAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com Williams-Sonoma.com		42Candy thermometerAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores CassandrasKitchen.com
43White dish towelsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		44Cooking spoonsHotel Silver Bergdorf Goodman 800 558 1855		45Plain white platesAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com
46Dish towels as napkinsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		47Large bowl for wineRoyal Boch earthenware Ruby Beets RubyBeets.com		48White plattersAvailable at Antique stores and Williams-Sonoma.com
49Pretty dessert platesAvailable at Antique stores and TedMuehling.com		50Drinking glasses for vasesAvailable at CB2.com		51Place cardsAvailable at The Monogram Shop TheMonogramShops.com
52Unironed linen napkinsAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940		53Chinese strainerAvailable at Restaurant supply stores		54Box graterAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores
55Coffee grinder for spices by KrupsAvailable at amazon.com		56Salad spinner by OxoAvailable at amazon.com		57Linen twineAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com
58Vegetable peeler by Kuhn RikonCassandrasKitchen.com Amazon.com		59Professional utensilsAvailable at Restaurant supply stores		60Microplane raspAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com
61Professional plastic wrapAvailable at Restaurant supply stores CassandrasKitchen.com		62Glass ingredient bowlsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		63French rolling pinAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com
64Cooking scale by SalterAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		65Wooden salad bowlAvailable at Antique stores		66Storage containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com
67Graduated stainless steel bowlsAvailable at Restaurant supply stores CassandrasKitchen.com		68Pastry bags and tipsAvailable at SurLaTable.com CassandrasKitchen.com		Chinese take-out containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com