Tiling Project

Our plan for the summer was to continue to focus on the basement (electric/plumbing/ insulation/drywall) and also to get the gross stone/plywood stairs outside the front door knocked down and a lovely new deck built! By now you would have thought we would have learnt that what we think something should cost, will actually cost three times that and then some!!! So that being said, and the fact Chris was down all summer recovering from back surgery (:-<) we did none of these things!!

What we did do though is pay a tiling expert (Specialized Tiling) to finish some of those nagging jobs we had outstanding in the upstairs of the house! The first being the kitchen backsplash! Both Chris and I agreed that we didn't think the kitchen looked bad prior to the backsplash - but looking at the before and after pictures it is very clear that we have been living in this house too long and are oblivious to how unfinished it really did look!! The lovely glossy grey subway tiles (from Lift Flooring Studio - Eagle Vail) really finish the kitchen off and go well with the grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark granite countertop!

Kitchen sans backsplash

Lovely grey subway tiles with a contrasting white grout!

You can tell a pro did this - symmetrical tiles either side of the window frame!

The kitchen is now finished!

We also decided to get some of the other tiling jobs completed while we had pros here. You may remember I tiled the floor under the pellet stove, which was probably one of the first projects I did in the house! Almost two years later, Chris tiled the wall but was unsure of how to join the tiled wall, with the dry wall. Another year later, and the tiling is now finished!!

Before.

After.

Finally, the step in the bathroom, with the lovely carpet edge from the bedroom hanging through!  While  I managed to tile the floor, shower and vanity in the bathroom - this step was too much! So happy with how it turned out! With only the vanity lighting left to do in the bathroom - we almost have 3 rooms upstairs completely finished! 

Before.

After.

The Shower

I started tiling the shower in March. I did a little and then stopped. I resumed tiling in May. Did a little and then stopped. Then some more in July. It goes on. However - enough was enough - we were sick of showering and having the plastic sheet we had used to cover the tiles, stick to our skin. Plus we had guests arriving - so we grudgingly spent one full Sunday finishing the tiling in the double shower. I measured, Chris cut and I mortared them in place. It was a gross day. However it turned out pretty well, for a first attempt at tiling a shower. Now we just need to order the glass shower door - and our double shower will be complete!

To start with this was an exciting project. (March 2011)

Still smiling - notice no toilet yet or bath tub!

Did a little more in May

and a little bit more in July!

This is how we managed to still shower whilst not finishing the tiling. The plastic sheet!

August 2011 - we bit the bullet and just got on and did it. Tape really helped to keep the tiles in place, as did pieces of cardboard - I ran out of tile spacers towards the end!!

Level ish!

Chris grouted. I couldn't bare to be near the shower after spending 11 hours in there covered in mortar!

Chris buffing the tiles after grouting

Sealing the tiles

The finished shower!!

 

Progress.

April is here. The winter has flown by. We continue to plod on with the remodel, and we can almost see light at the end of the long, expensive, stressful tunnel. This is what's been happening in the past few months in Minturn.

• Url and the dog down the road have a regular stand off. 

• We have heat and water!!

Baseboard heaters

•  I re-finished an old dining room table - I think its awesome - Chris is not so sure!!

Legs.

My lovely purple table

•  The engineered hard wood floor arrived - we hope to install it this weekend!! Its acclimatising rght now!

Maple Nougat Hardwood Flooring - from SimpleFloors.com

•  The bathroom vanity is finished

• The shower is a work in progress - the tiling has been started, but is a job I keep avoiding. The plastic works well enough - so at least we can shower!! 

Plastic covered shower

• The washing machine works, as does the dishwasher - which is a complete luxury. We need to vent the gas range and also the dryer before we can use those though!
• Warrick the fish has been reunited with the family, after an extended stay in East Vail!
• The fire-door in the garage has been installed. As has one of the bathroom doors. We are waiting for the clawfoot tub to arrive before the main door is installed. Hopefully next week!!!!!!! I can't wait to have a bath!!!!

Chris installing the door from the bathroom to the master bed!

Vanity

I really wanted a chunky, modern, double vanity in the bathroom - to match the double shower. After looking online we weren't prepared to pay the 1000 dollars plus to make it happen. Chris decided he could make the base and I could tile the top. Five months later - the double vanity is finished and looking awesome in our bathroom. I love it.

Url not so keen to be in the photo. Vanity base

I ordered the vessel sinks and facuets from Overstock.com - they were a bargain.

Back in November when the house was a full on construction site!

Darkest stain we could find.

Cement board down, then mortar and tiles. One mini tile at a time! It took a while.

Tiles finished

Starting to come together

A few coats of sealant before the grout.

Grout completed

Sinks and faucets installed. Trim finished.

Vanity completed. The mirror is temporary - watch this space for the final mirrors!!

Tiling

Having water in the house meant we were able to use the new tile cutter, to finish tiling the bathroom floor. Exciting times. Once the tiles were set, I used a tile enhancer and sealer. Tomorrow I grout, and Tuesday Chris installs the toilet !!!!!!!!!! That will be a great day!

Cutting tiles.

Concentrating.

Tiling finished, so I'm painting on the tile enhance/sealer (left side done)

Lovely tiles.

Tiles sealed, baseboard installed, and Chris put the door in last week. Just need to finish the steps!

Bathroom

We are still waiting for water. The hold up is the gas meter. Until we have the gas meter we can't have gas. We need gas for the heating, and until we have heating in the basement, we can't have water, because the pipes will freeze! Pretty long winded, but hopeful we will have water by the end of the week.

While we wait for water, we have been working on the bathroom. Drywall, mudding, priming, painting, red guarding the shower, laying the hardi-backer, and starting the tiling. We came to a stand still with the tiling because when we went to use the tile cutter - we realised we needed a water supply - not just plastic bottles of water (which we used for the mortar). So we wait.

Chris sanding the drywall in the bathroom- nasty job

Starting to prime the walls - the red on the right is the red guard in the shower (waterproofs the cement board)

More priming

Starting to paint - colour - silver tradition.

Two coats of paint later and ready to mortar - and lay the hardi-backer

Hardi-backer down

Starting to lay the lovely limstone tiles!

Pleased with the outcome thus far.