Home Improvements

As always when Jim and Ginger visit, we’ve been going through a flurry of DIY projects. Two items of particular note this time around:

Laundry Closet: This has been a bit of a mess since we replaced the washer/dryer, in two ways. First, they don’t quite fit within the doors because they are deeper than the old units, and second because we had to get rid of one of the shelves in the laundry closet because they are also taller (with the pedestal drawers) than the old units.

(We are still madly happy with them, regardless. Just acknowledging some practical shortcomings.)

For the first problem, Jim has come up with an idea related to magnets and the way the bi-fold doors work whilst off the tracks. It’s a scosh kludgy, but it should work for now.

For the second problem, we’re putting in a big, deep shelf just above the level of the units (removable for service); this will also help us not lose stuff behind. Plus some side shelves. Plus another high shelf for some bins. Overall: lots more storage space (huzzah!). Plus, it gave Jim a chance to paint over some experimental paint texturing trials that Margie had done in that closet.

Upstairs Hallway Bath: This is the one that’s been getting most of the attention. We’re redoing the upstairs hallway bath (the one used by Katherine and guests). We gave Katherine a semi-free rein in selecting the decor — green paint, a new white vanity with drawers, new floor, new sink hardware, plus the vanity counter and sink Margie found. 

Overall, it’s looking very nice — a lot more, ah, verdant than I was expecting, but paint can always be redone. And it was all a good pilot for a near-future redo of the downstairs bathroom.

A side bennie of the bathroom project is that we’re finally painting out the rest of the dark wood doors and door jams upstairs. This has been an incremental process over time (stair railing, guest room, craft room, office) and with the bathroom going in, it made sense to paint out the rest of it (bathroom, linen, master bedroom, baseboards).

Which Jim (who’s been doing yeoman’s duty on all of this) has been doing.

The only down side, as we’re distracted by the bathroom between coats of paint on the door, is that we’ve been lacking a closeable door to the master suite whilst Jim and Ginger are here. Which puts a bit of a crimp in our loud, passionate, nightly lovemaking, but, y’know, we’re all called upon to make sacrifices during a remodeling effort …

I’ve been working from home during most of this, to provide moral support and the occasional heavy lifting or consult. Today we get the vanity actually installed in the bathroom, plumbing hooked up to it, etc. That’ll be very cool.

Jim and Ginger head home Wednesday. Plenty of time to get everything done. 🙂