OK, probably not the best pictures.  This is what the master bath looked like before we decided to remodel.  The bath was functional, but the tub needed to be replaced, and the space needed an update.

Keep in mind that in all my Mimi years, I have never remodeled anything.  Nada, nothing. After I recovered from the culture shock of the expense, I decided the remodel was really something I wanted to do, if I was going to be happy in the last home I’ll most likely ever own.

I was inspired by model homes seen during a Parade of Homes last summer in Noblesville at Sagamore, a home development on the west end.  Here was one of my inspirations:

Cute, no?  I fell in love with the gradient shading color of the shower wall tile.  The shower stall is clean and open.  The space wasn’t that large, maybe a bit deeper than a standard tub/shower placeholder,
3′ x 5′.

Lucky for me, one of my neighbors is a flooring/tile veteran.  He also hooked me up with a general contractor, plumber, painter, etc.

This could have been an intimidating experience, but with some help, I was able to maneuver and subsequent projects may be easier, at least I hope so.

Here’s a Tip:  Don’t always think you’re getting the best price on tile, flooring, carpet, cabinetry from big box stores or national all-in-one stop hardware vendors.  The cabinetry estimate I got for the bathroom vanity was a whopping $1,200 more than my local cabinetry vendor, and less quality, in my mind. The quality of flooring tile and shower wall tile was poor in these stores, and the selection limited.  If you’re in the market for a remodel, don’t be afraid to talk to some local small business persons.  You might be surprised.  But then, I love to support local businesses.

My dilemma was to find a color palette to coordinate with this drapery fabric I found years ago.

Before I moved into the condo, I had every room painted.  Check out this post for the reason.

I had all the rooms, except the master bedroom and the family painted Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter.  A great neutral color preferred by Candice Olson as a paint color that goes nicely with any room style.  The Master, however, I painted Benjamin Moore’s Silver Fox:

 

 

And while this is a lovely color, it had more green overtones, and I was going for gray.  As many times as I compared fabrics with the wall color, the more I was convinced it was not to be.

 

My fabric has a lot more beige than green or gray, and the tile sales consultant confirmed when she brought out floor tile samples.  She brought out mosaic tile.  The color combination that caught my eye was:

 

 

 

 

These probably don’t look like they match, but look at the pictures I took at the granite yard, where I selected Cambria in Windermere.

I got some copper, gold, some gray, and some beige.  The Cambria was a remnant, but there was enough to do the shower shelves and the shower threshold.  Windermere is the quartize I choose for the vanity top.

There’s just enough interest without everything being too matchy.

Look and see how the shower shelve wall turned out!  I’m not a fan of the corner shelve used to prop up one’s leg when shaving.  So, I asked the tile installer to make a lower shelve at bathtub height, and 6″ deep.  Viola!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the shower head wall (above)!  I choose Kohler’s Refinia shower trim and faucets.

And here’s the Cambria shower threshold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We remain in the process of remodeling.  However, I will tell you I asked the GC if I could use the existing vanity, paint it, and if he would bbuild a platform that would raise the vanity, without the top, to 34 1/2″.  Yep, he did it, and saved at least $2500 in the process.

The Cambria vanity top will be installed on May 2.  Stay tuned for more updates on the bathroom, and, ultimately, the rest of the Master Bedroom.

Yes, I am a Mimi!