The activities on the addition this week were pretty nearly limited to our backyard being regraded, the fence replaced, the installation of the backdoor being completed, and work on the tile.
There’s something about a fenced yard and a door that actually locks to give you a feeling of security. After the yard was graded I seeded, fertilized, and mulched. We’ve been keeping the yard moist all week and I’m hoping that we can save enough of the seed from the birds and that a hard frost holds off long enough that we’ll have some semblance of a yard through the winter and spring.
Most of the remaining activity this week was related to tile. Below is a picture of our new first floor bath as it stands today:
We’re waiting for the liners to arrive. “Liners” are narrow, decorative tiles. In this case the liners will be set in a single row above the tiles you see. They’ll give a little more interest and provide a somewhat more finished and refined look to the bath. Above the liners there will be a final row of rounded tiles known as “mudcaps”.
Unfortunately, the liners we wanted needed to be made to order and we’ve been waiting nearly six weeks for their arrival. Last week I was notified that they would ship at the end of last week and I expect them to be delivered any day now. Once we’ve got the liners in hand the tile for first floor bath and second floor master bath should be completed in short order and vanities (which we’ve already got on hand) and various fixtures installed.
Here’s the second floor master bath:
The second floor bath is waiting for liners, too. That hole you see in the wall represents a little oops. There was supposed to be a linen closet there and somehow it got drywalled over. The linen closet is being built and will be installed tomorrow.
We’ve ordered the tile for the kitchen backsplash and for facing the fireplaces. I have hopes that will arrive soon.
David and Janice, that bathroom tile is tremendous! Great choice. Keep the photos coming, and I hope to see the addition soon.
I’m glad you can remodel your home, but I’m very amused to see that the floor tiles in your new first floor bath are absolutely identical the floor tiles in mine.
My house was built in 1935, and the floor tile is original.
That’s not an accident, Kelly. We deliberately set out to echo the tile floors in our preexisting baths. We look at our remodel as both an act of updating and as one of preservation.
Well, you sure did a wonderful job! Good for you. I *love* my little, old house and whenever we so much as think about a new sofa, my first response is: how will this fit with the original vision the architect had for this home? We’re not slavish about it, but we try not to go too far afield.
Those were the first words to our architect when we began talking about this addition, nearly ten years ago: we want it to look as though the house had originally been designed that way That’s why we insisted on a brick addition, why we’re using tile, techniques, and fixtures that are suitable for the original period, why we’ve ridden our contractors to ensure that they stick to the original vision, and why we’ve been willing to spend a few extra buck to update the house while making it look as though it’s always been this way.