This photo sums it up, really—all I’ve done with every second of my free time is work on the bathroom. I’m so totally exhausted. It was 3-day weekend in the US, and I can’t quite get my head around the fact that I have to wake up and get ready for work in 6 hours.
And, of course, I just started doing two weeks’ worth of laundry (6 loads…) at 8PM. YES. I also spilled a bunch of liquid detergent in the storage drawer under the washing machine, but I am too tired to care/do anything about it.
I’ll get caught up on emails and questions tomorrow. I’ve been avoiding the computer for days…
Here’s the little bathroom window drying, scraped and painted and with frosting film applied.
And here’s the window in place (at night!):
Also completed this weekend:
→ all paneling nailed up
→ cap rail, baseboard molding, door casing, and other trim pieces cut and installed
→ nails set and holes filled
→ wood for shelving purchased
→ door caulked and painted
→ all hardware stripped and sprayed matte black
Doesn’t seem like much, and I’m disappointed by how much time this took. I really thought I would have started painting the paneling by now! Everything takes so much longer than it seems like it would when I’m visualizing potential progress in advance.
So tired.
41 Comments
Um hello “doesn’t seem like much”… are you kidding?!? Doing one load of washing in a weekend seems like SO much to me. Doing all that you have done in your weekend is akin to superhero status!
No wonder you are tired. I am too just thinking about it!
it looks amazing, well done
Everything takes much longer than you first think it will, doesn’t it? All I did last weekend was paint paint paint, I painted 8 hours both days and I still didn’t get everything done.
Oh, to have a window in the bathroom….
Great job! It’s going to look awesome when painted!
I hope you are going to take a litte break from any major projects after the bathroom is complete! You are doing an amazing job by the way. Good luck getting up for work!
Not much? “purchase wood for shelving” alone would take us a day, ok, we don’t have a car, but still… There are people here doing our bathroom now, I can’t imagine doing it myself when I watch them. The only thing we will do is paint, don’t know why we’re doing that either, it’s not like we will save a lot of money, this bathroom will cost a fortune anyway. Maybe because we felt we wanted to do something ourselves and painting we know how to do.
You may not think that you have done that much ( you have BTW!! ) but just keep thinking that everything you do is one step closer to it all being finished!
just keep thinking of that first shower in your new bathroom….. ahhhh…
you’re doing a great job.
Wow, it’s looking so good!! I can’t believe what a difference everything has made, and the little window looks awesome!! I’m going to be in your neck of the woods later today until Thursday, I’ll send you my cell # through Facebook, maybe we can have lunch tomorrow or I can catch you after work today or tomorrow?
goodness! that’s not achieving much? It took me all weekend just to put the shelves and doors on my new kitchen cabinets! Loving your blog – I’m a late bloomer, just discovered it. Always good to see others in a similar situation, ie, house half completed!!!
Seems like a lot to me! Pat yourself on the back, girl.
You continue to be an inspiration! Srsly! We can see the progress, even if you can’t. It’s amazing how all these ‘little’ things have to be in place before you can do the ‘big’ stuff like painting paneling! But once that hurdle has been jumped, it will all fall together. Get some sleep, doll.
You’ve definitely done a ton. Don’t be so hard on yourself! Also, please take a break after you’ve done this. I’m sure there is always something to be done in an old house, but I’m starting to get worried about you, and I don’t even know you! After you get run down, it takes much longer to recover.
It looks like you’ve gotten a lot done and it’s looking great! All we got done this weekend was to empty out two closets so that next weekend we can tear them out.I didn’t even get around to hanging the curtain rods in the Living Room! Can I borrow some of your energy?
Bravo!…the projects that never look finished or that feel uncompleted are usually the ones that are done with care and compassion…only you will know when it all comes together how truly special it is…you will have that special glow that others will marvel at…
Great job! It seems to always get worse before it gets better, but when it’s done you will thank yourself and enjoy it forever!
I’m impressed – I could barely get off my butt this weekend! That’s a great idea with the window – can’t wait to see it all pulled together!
You are super woman. Go to bed early tonight. You’ve earned it!
wow! it seems like we are living parallel lives right now!
we’re just about finished our basement bathroom: http://aozorablogspot.blogspot.com/2009/02/basement-bathroom-sneak-peek.html
we still need to put up trim, but even with a small leak from the toilet the room is functional now 🙂
good luck!! your bathroom looks like it is going to be soooooo nice!
It always takes longer when you do it right, and you’re definitely doing it right. Looks fantastic!
Trust me, the people who had my house before us were not on the Doing It Right wagon, and it haunts us every day. Keep up the good work.
I know exactly what you mean! We spent all weekend working and it seems like relatively little was accomplished. But it seems that progress happens in fits and starts. It’ll be done before you know it.
In the meantime, get some rest!
I have become such a fan of your blog and like everyone keeps saying, I am always in total awe of all that you manage to accomplish. We bought a home last March and I’ve been using you as a source of (almost!) daily inspiration, and so firstly I just want to say thanks for putting such time and energy into this amazing blog of yours.
And now can I ask a question? 🙂
Can you tell your readers (or me) about the film you’re using on your super-cute bathroom window? We have windows in our bathrooms as well and right now they are covered with hideous shutters. This film looks just like what I’ve been needing/wanting.
You did so much! I certainly did not make the most of the 3 day weekend.
I love that little window even more now. It’s amazing – I want to open it and quietly whisper secrets to someone on the other side.
Doing things yourself always takes too long, but you also get it just like you want it. I think it’s a good trade off. I have a very similar bathtub to yours, ca late 1940s, with a window right next to it. Covering it with frosting tape is a great idea I never thought about. Where did you buy it?
Good luck with the rest of your project!
Man, I wish I had had a three day weekend. I could have gotten my craft room finished. Your tub surround and floor looks fab. I can’t wait to see the rest!
Looks like great progress! You are a machine!
you’ve got to take a break. just stop and admire the beautiful floor for now and then go to bed and dream about how damned cool it turned out.
why do projects always take 3 times longer than you think they should?
going all the way upstairs to go pee is getting really old. but we are super super close on our master bathroom. i am putting 2 more coats of varathane on today and steven will hopefully finish the baseboards tonight. that means i *might* have a toilet and sink tomorrow!!!!
your bathroom is much more work than mine since i can’t afford tile right now. i am so jealous. but really – my painted hardwood floor came out pretty. but i’d trade it in a heartbeat for your other bathroom’s marble hex tile. 🙂
It’s the prep work. It always seems to take forever and there doesn’t really seem to be all that much to show for it.
Since you’ve done really good prep work though, the end result will be fantastic! Just like the rest of your house 😀
karen & arzu: The window film is really inexpensive and comes from Lowes or Home Depot. They sell a little kit that has the supplies for installing it, too. I wouldn’t say that it’s EASY to put up, but with patience and accuracy it’s not too difficult. Once it’s in place, it’s there until you decide to remove it. (I used it in my upstairs bathroom with a border, if you’re interested in seeing a different look.)
susan: It is TOTALLY about the prep work!! And that’s exactly why I never feel like I’m getting anywhere!
Keep going! 🙂 You’re doing a great job, I can’t wait till the day finally comes and you’ll be back on this blog posting about how you’re sitting at home, not doing anything. 🙂
Oh no, as evidenced by all of the comments above–anyone who does DIY on their home on a regular basis knows that you worked your bum off!
Kudos and I can’t wait to see it when its finished!!!
(If it makes you feel better, my husband and I took a week’s worth of “vacation” days last summer and reroofed our house. We saved a lot of money but it was SO much work and when we finished, stood back and looked at it, all I could think was–that’s it? All of that for *that*?)
looks fantastic so far. and i COMPLETELY understand….no, really. i feel your pain. but really, it’ll be worth it!
Don’t beat up on yourself so much – God knows there are plenty of negative people who will do that for you! Please answer Question #3 soon – that’s the one about DIY and resources. I’m eagerly awaiting an answer!
Hi Anna,
Sorry my comment isn’t related to this exact post – can’t find the one I’m thinking of. Anyway – those Frye boots on your wish list a few months ago are on super sale at Piperlime.
Here’s a link:
http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=19851&pid=587984&scid=587984002
All the best,
Erin O.
hey Anna,
my RSS feed shows a newer entry called “Space, the final font tier.”, but the link doesn’t work. Did you post it and then take it down?
I hope you got at least a little sleep in recent hours. :->
Kel
isn’t it crazy how much time everything takes… we work up a schedule and then bam on the first day we are already behind.
our remodel is inching along as well… we just finished knocking down two structural walls and putting columns and beams in – seriously it took us a year!
once we finally had the materials we banged it out in a week. ahh so tiring yet so rewarding.
Erin: That’s a great price, I just wish I had smaller feet! I’d have to chop my toes off (and maybe my heels, too) to fit in a 6 1/2!
kelly w: Yes, I took it down — it wasn’t worth posting about! It was really just a link to this game, that’s all. 🙂
i’m tired just reading this. all the best with your reno…things do take about 3 times as long as hoped.
Hey Anna,
I’m actually finding the fact that it’s taking you so long inspirational.
1. Because it shows me that the end result is worth the effort. You are very thorough!
2. Because it looks like a bit of a mess right now(just a bit)… but it shows me that it’s just a step in getting to where you want to go.
3. Because when you spill the detergent it makes me think, I’m not the only one to do such things!!!
(Last weekend I put up 2 lack ikea shelves. They are up but they are CROOKED! I bought myself an AC detector and found that I couldn’t put them up where I had originally planned… well not without electrocuting myself anyway)… and the textured walls combined with my inexperience at drilling into brick produced the crooked shelf outcome. Now I have to spend another weekend redrilling… and refilling my error! Boohoo
The panelling looks really great! And another weekend is nearly upon us 🙂
(oh, also, I walked to work this morning behind a girl with The Dreaded Stitch in her coat tails, thought of your post and had a little chuckle to myself!)