Finishing up

Sometimes you buy a fixer-upper, and you think you'll live there for four years and do all the work yourself. Sometimes you end up having to move twice instead and rent the place out. And then sometimes it feels surprisingly good to pay someone to finish what you couldn't. 

This house finally got the full makeover it deserved! Now time to sell...

John vs. The Bathroom: The tile goes on...

Over John's fall break he got right back to work on the tile, and it is almost all up! Here's the bath surround:

The toilet area:

On Tuesday our awesome friend came over again to help John wire up a new light/heater/fan to replace the ancient one that had been there previously.

They also moved the boxes down so that it would be easier to tile around them.

So there's just this one little spot left, then grout, then the tiling is done! I am so pleased with how it looks, and I think John is pleased with how much he has learned and how well his first big project is turning out. Color me impressed.

John vs. The Bathroom: Continuing around the bath

John has been working tirelessly at the tiling. A lot of the time involved is spent figuring out how to do all the things he's never done before--mitering, specialty cuts, balancing shelves, etc. etc. Here again is the progress:

I spent last night taping and plastering around the ceiling joint (until I ran out of plaster, that is) so John can finish the last line around the tub and do the last tub wall. More pictures to come! I am still really happy with how it is turning out. So much better than the old walls! Remember these?

A shudder just went down my spine.

John vs. The Bathroom: First tiles!

John has been hard at work, and he first wall of tiles is done! I love how it is turning out.

 The very first row.

 The first wall! That end cap on the molding tiles was a beast, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out. 

My honey sawing away.