Fixer-Upper: Blame it on Joanna

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Give me a D - 

Route 66 and Ford plus framed puzzle

Gimme an E -   

How 'bout a C -   

Oh!----rate!

Designing mentally, making sketches can go only so far and then, the big D gene takes over. 

Decorate erupts. It bubbles out. Uncontrolled.

Fun family moments

I arranged some photos in the back entry, mudroom and
laundry room.
Wooo-Hooo!    That was fun!

Cotton, Laundry, Love

Fixer-Upper: Shower of Most Unfortunate Events

The instruction book that Marvin and I will write about installing 12"x 24" shower tile will begin with a question:  Are you a professional tile installer?
                Yes - proceed as you will.
                 No - hire a professional,
                         or return immediately to the store and exchange the tile for a smaller size.
The larger size tile is quite popular on DIY and HGTV programs. We were excited to find such great looking tile at Floor and Decor in Memphis.
                 Here are a few other tidbits for future tile projects:

The larger the tile, the greater the headache. Everything is magnified.
Out of square a bit equals out of square a bunch. Who knew.
Not I.
I thought larger tiles would cover more space more quickly.

HGTV shows don't mention the extra work required for extra size tile installation.
Chip and Joanna use subway tiles. They don't mention that they use these little rectangles because large size tiles bring quite a bit more work.
If they knew, they did not share.
 Friends don't let friends install 12 x 24 tiles.

Places of business such as Floor and Decor in Memphis, people who make a living selling tile, do not say, "Are you out of your ever-loving mind?" Instead, they suggest really heavy-duty thin-set so the tiles will not fall off the wall or ceiling. I won't even go into how heavy-duty that stuff is.
The sales folks and helpers affirm, "This tile is very popular. It's stunning in a shower. It's going to be sleek and stylish...very up-to-date."

Marvin is the master of making things work out and he's done just that.
When everything is completed, I'll post and add some photos on Pinterest.
Beautiful ideas and inspiration from Pinterest encourage DIY'ers, but rarely offer "Here's what to avoid."

Never again, though,..at least never for large size tile.

Fixer-Upper: Loving a Remodel

bath counter tops and back splash
ceiling tile for shower

Love in February and Love of a Remodel: it's all relative.
I love the selections I've made regarding bathroom vanities and sinks, tile, flooring, and back splash.

WINDOWS!

The new windows are awesome.
They made a huge difference in the overall appearance of the house.
Blinds have been selected and I really like them; they'll arrive mid-March. The curtains for the master bedroom, dining room, and two guest bedrooms are terrific. Can't wait to install the rods and hang the curtains - got grommets - very modern looking.
Kirklands has a clock that's got my name on it, but I have to determine if it "ticks" all day and all night before I commit.
Gathering family photos and rearranging them with different themes is fun and I love how those collections are going to look.
Today, I purchased a great sign made of reclaimed barn wood. The Laundry sign and a several other selections will go in the laundry area.

12 x 24 tiles are very difficult to manage. Marvin is a genius
to get this project done.

We've learned a few major lessons in the master bath. Though it's all the hot trend, "24 x 12 tile is super difficult to use."  Seems as if Chip and Joanna have no difficulty, but if you could see the mess we've made with pink/red goup for waterproofing and this thin set that's anything but thin because it's designed to be used with large tile....
All the finishing work seems endless.
And we have not even started on the kitchen.

Like I said, loving a remodel, even in February, is pushing the envelope a bit.