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!!

 

Certificate of Occupancy

On August 11th, 2011 our local town inspector came to the house and brought good news - on every other occassion he had visited - he brought bad, frustrating or expensive news, so this was a great day. We had completed all the items he had asked of us, and we could officially have the 'Certificate of Occupancy'!

Officially ready for occupancy

In our naiveity we thought we would have our Certificate of Occupancy in November 2010. So we were only 9 months off!! Thats the joy of remodelling - nothing ever runs to plan or time or budget!

Old versus New

Just a little reminder of what the old bathtub looked liked versus the new one - please note we NEVER used the old tub!! It was pulled out and disposed off at the start of the remodel!

Grotty, old, blue tub, which you couldn't even wash a dog in - it was so small and shallow!

Lovely new tub..........

My wonderful tub!

We've taken a much needed wee break from the remodel. Hence the lack of posts. There have been too many fun things to do in the Valley - and a wonderful trip back to Chicago/Wisconsin for July 4th. We do have some plans on starting a few projects...............but all in good time!

One thing that has been completed in the past month is the plumbing/installation of my new, fabulous clawfoot bath tub! I adore it, but dread to think how much our water bill will be next month, as I've spent most evenings soaking myself in it, till I resemble a prune!

Having completed most of the finishing plumbing ourselves, we had intended on installing the tub. However our previous plumbers had completed the 'rough in' plumbing poorly, and as such what should have been a very quick process, took a qualified plumbing 7+ hours. Regardless, we saved a lot of money by doing most things ourselves, so one little splurge, for something so amazing was worth it! (Chris might not agree with this last comment - but he gets a man cave so didn't have too much say in it!!).

Double Slipper Clawfoot Bathtub, with Freestanding Faucet (similar to our sink faucets)

Gloss black claws - to tie in with the black gloss mirrors I restored

Bliss!

Mutts

Url has a girlfriend - Kira - she's staying with us for a while. Just a few pictures to document their romance!

Url is not a big fan of getting groomed - but he has to look nice for his lady

There's plenty of rough and tumble

Some relaxing - the recliner is now their bed!

A lot of sleeping!

As with most females - she takes up all the bed and poor Url is pushed off!

He found shelter under the Jeep hard top !!

Stucco

The outside of the house has been a complete wreck for quite sometime. Where the old house met the new foundation - quite a few patches appeared in the stucco. Plus adding and removing windows played a little havoc with the exterior. So we hired Sergio to fix it. The outcome was average. However with a nice new paint job, the house looks much brighter and cleaner than before. We plan to add trim around the doors and windows and paint them all blue. Should look nice!!!

Patchy and snowy

The outside had this black paper up over the winter - which kept it waterproof - but ugly.

New stucco going around the old stucco - pulling the old down and starting with a completely clean canvas would have been the ideal situation, but unfortunatley not in our price range!

Not a big fan of the texture!

New paint - starting to look better!

I spy Chris fixing the venting

Looking clean and fresh with the new paint - just need to get a garage door!

View from the back of the house - hazy background is smoke from the wildfires in AZ - its been like it all weekend!

Bonjour 332 !!

As some of you may know - I'm very partial to France and all things French!! On our honeymoon last year (we spent a week in Biarritz) - I desperately wanted to get a traditional house number sign for our new house.

Unfortunately, time ran away with us - and I didn't get a chance to find one. To my delight, Chris ordered one online from Emaillerie Normande as a wedding anniversary gift - and it arrived this week!!!!!! I LOVE IT! 

Now we just have to wait for the stucco guys to finish and it will be proudly placed at the front of the house!!