The European Bath

I'm not exactly sure why this bathroom is a European bath. A subcontractor referred to it as such, and we laughed and went with it. Because it's on the main floor of the home, I wanted this bath to be a little less traditional and have some personality. This room is so difficult to photograph that the professional photographer didn't provide any photos. Rather than stress about getting perfect pics, I used my iPhone to snap a few quick shots.

This bath has a few unique features. First, we selected a quartz countertop and rectangular bowl sink, while the other baths feature granite countertops and traditional, round sinks. The shower has a glass wall and subway tile that matches the kitchen backsplash, and the floor is a unique, linear tile (Daltile Fabrique in Blanc Linen). The cabinetry matches the master bath and kitchen cabinetry.

Floor tile

Neat Feature: Door Frame Light Switch

One of the inexpensive touches that adds a more custom feel to our kitchen is a simple door frame light switch for our pantry. We simply open the door, and the light turns on. It's a small touch, but it's nice for a dark, interior closet. The light switch is completely hidden when the door is closed.

His and Hers Vanity

When asked about our wishes for our master bath vanity height, I inquired if it would be possible to do two different heights. Jeff always appreciates a higher vanity, and, of course, I need everything to be standard or low. So, we decided to make minor changes to the cabinet set-up on each side and vary the heights. It was very simple, and we really do appreciate this small touch.
Our general contractor kept the tops of the mirrors and the light fixtures at the same height on the walls, and I think it works very well.

The frames around the mirrors are just trim pieces applied to sheet mirrors. I had elected to go buy framed mirrors for each bath, however, there came a point in the renovation when I was completely overwhelmed with selections and decided to go the easy and inexpensive route. Because our trim is a custom paint match to our cabinetry, it all seems to blend well. Maybe we'll switch the mirrors later. Maybe not.

Pocket Doors

As we received the architect's first pass at our second story, I realized that he likes pocket doors. And, now that we're living in the house, I'm glad he does. I did a little reading online and learned that many builders and architects feel that these are an underused space-saver.
Our old house was new construction and had a nice layout for the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. The renovated house is a perfect rectangle upstairs and forced us to be a little more creative in the space planning. We only had so much space to use, and we needed to have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a large laundry room upstairs. (The other two bedrooms and bathrooms are on the lower levels.) The home previously had four large bedrooms upstairs, however, the bathrooms and closets were very tiny. So, in adding some larger bathrooms and walk-in closets, we lost some space. The two pocket doors really helped to allow normal traffic flow in smaller spaces. One was placed in master bath entrance, and one was placed in our son's bathroom entrance. The photos below show that it's possible to place both a vanity and tub just inside the bathroom doorway without either being blocked. The only downside to the pocket door is that the walls that encase the door may not be used to hang artwork or towel bars, as a nail or screw will interfere with the movement of the door inside the wall.

Microwave Drawer Review

Several people have asked my thoughts about the microwave drawer, which I've now been using for six months. I am very pleased with this selection. Because I'm short, I've never been able to comfortably use (or clean) an over-the-range microwave. I also prefer to have this appliance tucked out of view. So, the Sharp microwave drawer has been a nice feature. I'm able to see what I'm cooking and stir it without ever removing it from the microwave. It also features a handy lock mode, which keeps little ones out and prevents the microwave from being used to melt toys.

Available here.

Neat Feature: Security Camera

One of the handy features added during our renovation is an advanced security system. Most of the parts and functions of this system probably aren't that exciting to discuss, however, one part is pretty cool. We have a camera that provides a live feed of our entrances, which we are able to access from our iPhones, iPads, or computers. This camera has the ability to record clips when it senses motion. We receive these video clips via email, and these are stored remotely. We have found this feature to be most useful when the doorbell rings. I no longer have to wonder who is on the other side of the door and whether I should answer it. I just glance at my iPhone or iPad.

We've also seen some entertaining clips. Recently a raccoon wandered down the entire front porch. There are several cats that cut through our yard, and there are several birds that seem to like the area of the porch where the camera is mounted. We've also noticed that the mail carrier likes to throw our packages towards the front door, however, the UPS man is careful with our deliveries.

The best thing about these security cameras is that these are no longer expensive and are practically standard with many security companies now. This is one of the inexpensive items from the renovation that really gets a lot of use and is quite handy.

Lessons Learned

I've been going over the entire renovation process in my head, and I've been discussing it with a few friends who are in the process of or are considering major renovations.  I've realized that I learned a great deal.  My next few posts will cover everything from the architectural planning process to landscaping to plumbing fixture value.  Get excited.

Renovation Complete

Our renovation was completed in about 3.5 months and came in at 3-4% over our total budget for the purchase and renovation. We expanded the home, and it is now a 5/5 with about 4500 square feet of finished space. We're pleased with the layout, finishes, larger yard, and neighborhood. However, I'm realizing that decorating is going to be an expensive and challenging task. We have some dark furniture and a lot of brown which doesn't work that well in the new, lighter, more gray house. We also own some sets which need to be broken up. I've learned a few things in the last several years, and I now know to look for unique pieces that I like and to avoid sets. The problem is that this type of shopping takes time. But, I'm in no rush. We've settled in quite nicely. Our bedrooms are comfortable, and we spend most of our indoor time in the kitchen and basement. My front porch has big ferns and rocking chairs, so we're moving in the right direction. We've also quite enjoyed this view of the golf course from the sunroom (complete with my bottle of sparkling water).

Photo Update: Exterior

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Photo Update: Kitchen and Mudroom

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Photo Update: Living and Casual Dining

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Photo Update: Basement

 

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Photo Update: Main Stairs

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Photo Update: Sunroom

I wanted to knock the sunroom off of the house, however, my husband and general contractor talked me out of it.  I'm very happy that we kept it.

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