Hi Everyone,
I did it! I moved back to my home 24 hours ago!
My biggest problem is I have no idea where the silverware is, but aside from that, I’m making do.
Oh, what am I saying? Last night, I was standing in front of the range, looking up at the hood, which is quite grand. I can’t believe this is mine. Even though it’s not finished, it’s already quite glorious.
This morning, seconds after I grabbed my phone at 9:00 AM, I got a text from my GC, Robert.
RobertO
Good morning. What time could you meet with Bob, the electrician, today to finalize everything so we can get boarding and plastering done? Thanks.
Laurel Bern:
Anytime
RobertO
He’s here now if that works.
Laurel Bern:
lol
3 minutes later:
I’m trying to pull myself together.
So, a coffee-less Laurel was met with a barrage of questions.
Please get us a drawing for the vanity.
What’s happening with the under-the-stairs closet in the bedroom and lower hall?
And, the lighting.
We needed the recessed lighting yesterday.
Really? If these guys weren’t all such charming darlings, I’d clop them in the head for putting me through this the first day I’m back. I mean, they were ALL on vacay last week, while I’ve been ripping the skin off my hands, packing, and cleaning. I am not exaggerating. It’s not that they don’t deserve a vacation; they definitely do!
Laurel, did you forget about your artery-clogging whipped cream?
That’s mean. Arteries can get clogged from celery if you’re me and don’t take a statin. My numbers have been wonderful for the last five years. However, you’re right. I’ve been on vacation on Beacon Hill for the last six months. haha
By the way, Happy December. The year’s over now.
So, I was going to write part 2 about the den closet sitch. However, we need to put that one on ice. It is a super-low priority at the moment. Thank you for all of your fantastic suggestions!
This is the triage order of issues.
Bathroom Vanity/bedroom under the stairs closets, recessed lighting.
However, I need to focus on the bathroom vanity area today because that will be worked on tomorrow!
We will cover the rest in subsequent posts.
One thing I’ve noticed about myself is a sometimes disconnect between what I want and what is possible. Or, I should say, feasible.
One of those is the bathroom vanity area.
The problem is I have two sconces on the mirror wall and then two cabinet doors opening up into the sconces.
I chose the Piaf Sconce from Visual Comfort. (Their sale is going to be over any second now!)Above is the same sconce found On Serena and Lily. They call it the Portola because I’m assuming they like to pretend that they’re private labeling it. I love the shape and figured that the door could clear beneath the shade, so there would only be five inches to deal with. It could be done, but why deal with it at all?
The vanity is only 22″ deep, so I can easily access items behind a mirrored medicine cabinet.
Since I will have a wonderful closet adjacent to the toilet, I do not need anything super deep by the vanity.
Okay, I’ve been working on this for a couple of hours.
Can I tell you how good it feels to rest today? I’ve been going, going, going for the last two weeks, at least.
Now, get this for the state of my mind.
As I was working out the bathroom design for the umpteenth time. I saw myself standing in the bathroom with Brendan, the head carpenter. And then………………………..
I was so kicking myself that I hadn’t taken photos of what had been built as there’s going to be a small lip now.
Good freaking God!!!
I’m HERE. I don’t have to take any pics. I can just march my little delusional self downstairs and see for realz!!!
Laurel, “realz” is not a real word.
Well, it is now. I just put it in my personal dictionary. lol. Now, please stop kibitzing, and let me go down and see what’s going on!
Okay, it’s 5.5 hours later, and I still need to vacuum!
Part of the problem is a fairly large discrepancy between what the architect drew and what’s existing and, subsequently, what has been built. And, that’s across the board, including the stairs.
Now that I’m back, I can see how it would’ve been helpful if I had always been here.
However, I’d definitely be in the loony bin if I had. The timing is good, and we have had at least a dozen meetings in the last six months, plus countless emails, texts, and phone calls.
Above is the architect’s drawing from last July.
I began working on it and realized it wasn’t working because there was no lip. Did Brendan steel a few inches from the shower? Yes, he did. In fact, I had sent the architect a design that reflected that, but they didn’t incorporate it, so either they didn’t see it, or they didn’t like it, or they thought I was being a pain in the ass and ignored it.
Please note that being in the business, it is my daily goal not to be a PITA, especially with other hard-working professionals.
I won’t bore you with the construction images I took because they will only confuse the situation more.
Excluding the vanity area, the above reflects what has been built within a couple of inches.
In this version, I put a medicine cabinet behind the mirror area.
However, I think it looks a little fussy with the perpendicular door casings indicated in orange-red.
I played around for quite a while, first trying no extra walls, but then it lacked charm. In my mind, there has always been a cozy surround for the vanity.
Gil Schafer’s bathroom is one of my inspirations.
I realize there are two ceiling heights. That’s because of the copper hot water pipes. That’s what keeps the kitchen warm, in the winter! The old bathroom had a total height of 8′-3″. But, we can go to 9′-0, maybe 9′-1″ in the main area with nothing in it, except a light fixture.
The dotted lines represent the header that creates the lower ceiling height.
I like this one a lot, but I did one more version.
This one eliminates the back medicine cabinet.
Laurel, what’s the squiggly line?
Oh, that’s a double-width drape instead of a glass door. Remember this one from three years ago? Dark Bathrooms – Here’s What You Need To Know
It’s the Kelly Wearstler trim; I cracked the code and made the template for the pattern here.
I have to send these to Brendan and get to bed!
They are here super early!
xo,
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Related Posts
Laurel’s Home Renovation 2024 – News & Deets!- Finalizing the Primary Bathroom Design (Parts 1 & 2)
- How Much Does A Whole House Renovation Really Cost?
- Renovation News and Deets!
- Why Working with a Kitchen Designer Is Crucial!
- Renovation Update 10-2022 Please Forgive My Sins!
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25 Responses
I just love the way the designs created, its so beautiful and creative.
The water color gift perfectly captures your color palette.
I’d like to see a full width mirror behind the vanity, and two push to open mirror panels enclosing each niche, similar to the one on the right in your inspiration photo. I agree with the other comment, even with more than 4’, adding the sconces on the side blocks potential doors over the niches, and would encroach another 10”, making it seem too close to my shoulders standing the sink. With the sconces on the back wall the light would be nicely reflected off the mirrors and you would appreciate the lights themselves more when you walk into the bathroom viewing them from straight on.
Our two bathrooms (ensuite primary bedroom and hall; used by adult son and company) are in need of a full remodel. I’ve decided to wait until all the work on your bathroom is complete before I work with a designer on mine. Your ideas are so valuable and learning about construction terms is beyond helpful. Can’t wait to see your finished home.
This is off the subject, but knowing your reno will have many sconces, I thought you should be aware of this potential issue, especially with sconces with small canopies.
Hi Elle,
Thank you. Yes, I am aware of the issue with some sconces requiring a smaller electrical box like my picture lights from Visual Comfort.
I love your site and living with you through your fantastic reno. You will have to invite us all over for a cocktail when it is all over….LOLOLOL. Regarding the bathroom side cabinets….I LOVE them. Keep them and do glass shelves with doors that will not hit the shade from your sconces. You will NEVER regret having more shallow shelves for all of your lotions and potions to make you look pretty. Then you can decide if you want a medicine cabinet over the sink or put a lovely antique mirror instead. Keep up the good work. While this is a stressful project for you…I hope you are enjoying the experience of making it to suit yourself!
Best tip I got from a book on managing a large family: “Inspect what you Expect!” And I Suspect that things would be even more different if you weren’t as Johnny-on-the-spot! ( OK, done with the puns!)
Love the process, can’t wait to see what you do with closet doors and shower covering ( both of those issues are unsolved for me)…. and so glad you arrived back home! We are kicking off our celebration of Advent with a choir concert with my sons #2, #3, &  all participating, and they are singing a gorgeous piece “Snow on Snow.” May your days be merry and bright, and may you hear your favorite holiday pieces as you go through December!
PS: I salute your calmess regarding the rat you mentioned. I can do all reptiles, but rodents with tails….if I had been in your shoes, you would have heard me shrieking. May any rats you see from this day forward only be in books by Beatrix Potter!
I have niches with glass shelves and I love them! I do have to keep them tidy, and filled with higher end products as well as candles, small plants, perfume bottles, etc. But the glass sparkles, and they do help with using everyday items like toothbrushes and toothpaste–in little containers, of course!
I had to smile while reading…living in the construction zone… up VERY early every day, constant questions with the expectation of instant answers. And the noise! So happy to see these people every morning and sooooo very happy every Friday when they leave and it is quiet. In the end you will be thankful you were there, but right now it is HARD.
On the “study” closet wall, one thought, I have seen and you have shown several wonderful rooms with doors and wallpaper hung so that all miscellaneous doors disappeared. And once new doors are hung, the wallpaper can follow but after you move out of the room. It is not inexpensive (none of the ideas were), but it is simple and effective.
sorry – some hardware lifts straight up so the door is above and horizontal and other hardware lifts up vertically. Either would work but if you don’t have the ceiling height for vertifical lift the horizont would obviously be better.
Hi Miriam,
Yes, that’s true. I have doors like that way up high in my kitchen. In this case, the best solution I think is to not involve the shade which sticks out three inches further than the stem does.
It seems that the having a medicine cabinet with mirrored doors is a challenge with the sconces so close. There is hardware available that lets you lift up the door (in this case mirror) rather than opening it into the space. Not sure how much wall height you have but if that work you would be less crowded.
I prefer a shower curtain for the shower in my home. You can change them out for a different look or when they get gross. What about a pocket door for the toilet area or is it too late for that? Do you really need a door at all there? That would make it claustrophobic for me!!!
Hi Denise,
There is no door planned for the toilet area. I agree. It’s not necessary, although, in certain circumstances and if there’s a good amount of space, they can be lovely.
Oh gosh do you know how many times I had to go back and re-read to figure out what “the lip” was?! LOL I was feeling so dumb. I love your vision of having the surround for the alcove, and think it will be just beautiful!
The picture that the reader made for you is gorgeous! It is so stunning. Frame it and put it up.It will look beautiful and always remind you that your readers love you!
I am not sure about the idea of a curtain extending across both the shower area and the toilet area. Seems to me like it would always be in the way and at the same time not where you need it when you need it. Although, in general I prefer shower curtains over glass.
I do have a suggestion for getting rid of hard water build up on glass— CRL’s Bio-clean Water Stain remover. It smells like and has the consistency of a soft toothpaste. Read and follow the instructions. I found it worked like a charm.
Hi Carolyn, At this point, what I drew might not be feasible, because the toilet area might be full height. The idea is to have a fairly full drape. It doesn’t not have to go over the toilet area. But, it could, as drawn. It will also have a waterproof liner.
Fabulous! I can never get enough storage. In this situation I would do closed storage on the sides, why waste that space. I don’t know about you but my bathroom gets filmy from products and I could never do open glass shelves. More work keeping them pristine (Lol) And, I’d do the recessed medicine!
All the best.
It’s going be gorgeous! You should give a tour when it’s complete.
Have you given any thought to a linear sconce placed horizontally over the bathroom mirror instead of two sconces on each side? You definitely have the ceiling height.
The bathroom is narrow (3’6”) and the sconces protrude 5” which makes the sink space relatively narrow. Just a thought.
Happy Holidays🎄
Hi S,
I’m sure it’s difficult to understand my drawings. The space between the wall and the shower is 4′-10″
3′-6″ is the dimension with relatively deep side cabinets. The shower and toilet add another 3 feet. So, the bathroom is nearly eight feet wide, the same as my kitchen.
Laurel, Love the idea of the double width shower drape and wish I had done that for our shower. We have hard water where I live and it wreaks havoc on glass shower doors and marble tile. If we miss wiping them down just once, we have etching that never goes away. Makes us want to return to the days when a bath once a week was enough 😉. Anyway, love your bathroom plan. Were will you stash stuff if you eliminate the medicine cabinet? And, please more pics of the kitchen. Happy December!
I’m just trying to imagine if you were super-rich and just described what you wanted and walked away, leaving it to GC and architect! Although I guess in that case, you would have hired yourself to go through all this incredible detail. Amazing job, you will enjoy it so much!
Really like the vanity niche and your lights.What about placing the lights on the side walls like your inspiration picture, then you could get a bigger mirror with or w/o a cabinet? I love your ideas, kitchen is beautiful!!!
Happy December, wishing you a lovely holiday season. Somehow, in the past year, I feel time is short and how many Decembers will there be, I want to wrap myself up in the magic, the music, my tree and soak it all in so I wish all of that for you.Thank you.
Evelyn