1950’s home. Bathroom fixture started leaking. Original Crane faucets. We tried to find parts, but of course no longer made. These Crane faucets are integral with the sink. To replace the faucet, means replacing entire sink. Sink is built into the old laminate countertop, which is still in great condition - but to replace the sink, means replacing the countertop. Old countertop is built INTO the tile. So to replace the countertop, means replacing the tile. Of course the tile is also 1950’s vintage, so no chance of matching.
I LIKE my 50’s bathroom. It’s even popular now.
Found a handyman who found the replacement part at a resale shop. I’m in love with this handyman - but he is retiring. So now I need to replace my handyman!
I chose an acrylic rectangle for our new home, after choosing an oval Kohler enameled cast iron tub (Vintage model) when remodeling our previous primary bathroom. The cast iron seemed to pull the heat from the water during the initial fill and we often had to drain in half way and refill in order to be comfortable. Despite its overall size, the bathing well or bottom of the basin was pretty small. My 6 ft. + H didn’t find it very comfortable. Also, the depth was surprisingly shallow and was similar to many builder basic tubs in second bathrooms. The choice was partially due to wanting the tub to fit the house, both in style and resale price range. I had no such concerns when we built what may be our last house.
This is the tub I chose for our hall bathroom, in the soaker version: https://mtibaths.com/products/tubs/designer/104/
When choosing tubs for our current home, I paid attention to the slope of the back, the water depth below the overflow drain and the interior size instead of just the exterior size. My H loves this tub and uses it far more than I do. We didn’t put a tub in the primary bathroom, since we expected to use this one for our granddaughter(s) eventually.
I need to replace a vanity along with a vessel sink and faucet in one of our bedrooms (used to be a kid’s bedroom and it’s now a guest room). This vanity is 20-years old and the faucet isn’t working properly (can’t find parts) and the vessel sink has a blue stain resulting from a problem with the RO system. According to the plumber, we have to replace the whole thing.
I went to a local bath showroom and found a vanity that I liked. It is a LaCava. The vanity is freestanding with two doors, along with a quartz countertop and an under-counter sink (porcelain) with a single-hole faucet. Anyone heard horror stories about this particular brand? My plumber recommended a builder’s showroom and I didn’t see anything there I liked. A friend, who recently built a new house, recommended the showroom where I found the vanity/sink/etc. Do plumbers get discounts like decorators if they use certain showrooms?
I don’t have personal experience with LaCava, but understand that their vanities are made in the US (Chicago?) and have a good reputation for quality. Your plumber may get a “to the trade” discount if you buy through him/her, but I’d ask to be sure and also to be certain that discount is passed along to you. Good luck!
One tidbit for anyone wanting to buy their own fixtures, and have them installed by a contractor. Do you save money? Sometimes. Some considerations: My firm worked with several plumbers who shared that products sold at the big box stores are not necessarily the same quality as those sold to plumbers at supply stores – even though both may have the same quality name. Typically, if the contractor provides a product, it would be included under their warranty to replace if faulty. If YOU provide it, it would be your responsibility (unless due to faulty installation). Most contractors get a discount on many products. Always worth asking if they will share some of the savings with you – and then have them install.
So - window treatments. Any suggestions? I love Roman shades and would like to get some for the bedrooms with blackout lining. The ones I’ve found are giving me sticker shock. I also have two large bay windows on the first floor that are wonderful for the sunlight they let in. However, some of former neighbors have taken to walking past the house, stopping and staring in. I find it a bit intrusive - any thoughts or suggestions for treatments there?
Anything you can plant in front of those windows that can block their view? If the house sits above the walking path, strategically placed landscaping can work well to keep these lookie lous’ noses out of your living room. I personally hate window treatments on windows like that.
Blackout window shades are highway robbery-priced!
Ikea roman blinds with two layers one in front of the other one work great. One does not block views in the evening when the lights are on.They are the ones with the magnetic rows. Love them. You could use them until you figure out what you want. They can be placed in a rod or screwed easily to a support.
I bought my last shades at Home Depot. They will come out and measure and install. My husband is handy and can measure so he did that. The rep at the store told him exactly how to measure, the store associate at our store is very good.
Home Depot has sales all the time, it’s worth asking when their best price of the year will be.
I do like Bunsen’s landscaping suggestion and will give that consideration for sure. Thumbing the nose also an option! This couple had inquired “for a friend” about buying the house when Mom died along with several other “friends”.
We will definitely install the blinds. That’s a DIY we can handle.
You could check stores such as JCPenney, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot for both shades and curtains. I’ve had mixed results from Smith & Noble, and think they’re still worth a look. Half Price Drapes is another store to check.
While you’re waiting for landscaping to grow enough, you could consider semi-sheer curtains in those first floor windows. During the day they’ll let in light and let you see out while still providing privacy. At night you’ll need something more opaque if those people are a problem after dark as well. We have two layers on most of our windows so we have privacy all of the time and plenty of light during the day.
Is your home’s first floor far enough above grade? If so, just covering the bottom half of a window, allows light, the potential to see out, but when viewed from outside (at the lower elevation),one only sees upward toward the ceiling, rather than into the room. It all depends on the geometry.
Not sure if this would work with roman shades, but there are window treatments that roll from the bottom toward the top. Or cafe-type curtains.
I have used Blinds.com; for my room I got a brand name roman shades, they are lined, not sure they are technically room darkening.
Later I bought the blinds.com roman shades, definitely room darkening, for another room and I don’t love them. They are just a bit annoying, the hardware- the pulling up, does not work as well as the brand name, even on tiny windows.
The brand name on sale was about the same price as the blinds.com brand, wish I had just gotten the same ones for both rooms.
Hmm, for the bay window? I mean, lights on, dark out, walk around naked- just one time and they may never look again
Seriously, how annoying. I recall when people moved in next door and trimmed their side yard, all of a sudden we had to get blinds on our bathroom, top-down/ bottom-up are nice for that. We have everything above shoulder level always open.
Our front windows are not far from the street, giving a bit of a living in a fishbowl effect. Top down-bottom up blinds work well for us. Most of the time we only cover the bottom half of the windows. Plenty of privacy and I can still see outside. I got them at Lowe’s or Home Depot where they come in one inch wide increments so they didn’t need custom sizing.
Note: if you do need custom widths the blinds can be cut on a miter saw. Simply remove the end caps, cut to width, and replace the caps.
In our similarly exposed kid’s room we used a plastic film on the lower half of the windows to obscure the view in a way the kid wouldn’t play with or make a mess of. There are many styles, used this one that blocked the view without blocking much light: Crackled Glass Decorative Window Film | Gila Window Film
