You’ll be pleased to know that the new downstairs loo was completed just before Christmas: the paint had only just dried when Mum arrived the day before Christmas Eve and pronounced new loo to be ‘just like a hotel’. I take that as a compliment but, truth be told, the loo had been a disgrace ever since the washing machine overflow pipe had leaked and lifted the vinyl flooring in our smallest room. For the last six months the loo has been floored with cardboard. Added to this, the flush on the loo has been particularly tricky, requiring a specific technique of one quick push followed by steady pressure. This takes time to master and poor Mum found it nigh-on impossible. So, you can imagine, she was delighted to find a push-button flush and a properly tiled floor.
Of course, the refurbishment of this room was a precursor to the main event: the creation of a new bathroom and en-suite. This was to begin in the New Year. So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when, at 9am on Wednesday 2 January, the bathroom people rang up to say our fitter would be with us in an hour to start on the main bathroom. Dougie had gone to work, Rory was fast asleep and I was still in my dressing gown. Had we done any clearing or sorting of the bathroom in preparation for their arrival? No. Did I think we had a few days to do this, as they probably wouldn’t be starting until Monday 7th? Yes. Did I panic? Yes.
I can’t quite believe it but, in under an hour, I managed to get showered, dressed, hoist Rory out of bed and then completely empty the bathroom. I found some old boxes and threw everything from all the cupboards and drawers into them – medicines, shampoos, a mountain of half-used Lynx cans, sheets and towels from the airing cupboard, a chair, ornaments from the window-sill, the whole lot was deposited in the spare room. There were several boxes looking just like the one below:
Ah, the Arse/Face novelty soap from many moons ago. This has now been moved to the chucky-out-box along with, I reckon, 70% of the remainder of the hoard. I have given myself a good talking-to. In future I must refrain from stealing toiletries from hotels as I never use them. And can members of my family please take note that I have no need for any more hand cream. Ever.
Unfortunately, as I was running around like a madwoman, I neglected to photograph or video the empty bathroom so you, dear readers, would have the benefit of a before and after shot, as you did with the infamous kitchen update of 2011. I can tell you, however, that the bathroom, having been installed about 15 years ago, was in need of an update. The showers were leaking and mastic-ed up to the hilt, the bidet was cracked as I’d dropped a tap on it (don’t ask) and we were having an ongoing battle with limescale and mouldy bits. Plus it was blue. I’ve gone off blue. Bit cold for a bathroom, although probably all the rage in the 1990s.
On Thursday I did manage to take some photos and it looks something like this now:
The plaster dust and muck is settling onto every surface like a delicate hoar frost, the delightful sound of drilling fills my head with its penetrating pitch and it’s hard to feel at home in my own home as I squeeze past the loft ladder and proffer a mug of coffee to the electrician above me. But it’s good to see the sturdy mugs again which have emerged from their place at the back of the kitchen cupboard: the far-too-jolly Mr Happy mug; the red and white, came-with-an-Easter-Egg, KitKat mug; the funny-at-the-time Flirty at Forty mug.
I reckon we have a few more weeks of this to come. Am girding my loins.
Bet that was a surprise! What is it with plaster dust, it really does get every doesn't it? Hope all goes well, and it's over before you know it! 🙂
The plaster dust gave a very festive touch to the Christmas tree in the hall – so that was taken down early last week. Thankfully it's been mild so when they turn the water on and off and keep opening the front door, I haven't been too frozen!
Great post! Scary what you hoard in the bathroom without even realising. Good luck with the next couple of weeks. I don't envy you, but I'm sure it will be worth it! 🙂
It was shameful, the amount of stuff we had accumulated. Old bottles of After Sun, nearly finished bottles of conditioner. Why did I not just put them in the bin months ago.
I hope you're not girding your loins in view of the plumbers, it'll only distract them further and slow the whole job down.
Point taken! Will ensure my loin girding goes on in private :-))
Ah but you can gird your loins in style on that fab downstairs loo…!
Do you like it? Managed to use the spare tiles from the kitchen and utility room floor to continue through to the loo. Couldn't get a decent photo of it but I think it looks clean and warm.
Trish, does this mean you've got no bathroom for the next couple of weeks??? Did you keep the old tin bath for Sunday night baths?
I'm with Macy and would like to hear more about your bath arrangements while the ensuite is under construction. Are you and Dougie trotting down the hall with toothbrushes in hand, hostel-style? When we did a similar project back in the 90s, I was pregnant. Huge pain to go hiking down the long cold hall at 2am.
Macy and MsCaroline – they are doing the main bathroom first so Dougie and I still have the ensuite loo, shower and basin next to our room. Rory, meanwhile, is having to trot through our room to use the facilities. Not sure how we will schedule morning showers once Rory starts school again on Tuesday but most people with one bathroom and more kids seem to manage so I'm sure we will be fine!
Funny though that now we haven't got a bath tub, I really fancy having a soak!
I feel hard done by….I don't have an en-suite……….but love blog hopping to see others homes…such fun and doesn't cost me the earth or involve brick dust.
It's ridiculous really that Dougie and I share the tiny ensuite and yet the Little Prince seems to have claimed the main bathroom for himself. He even helped us choose the floor tiles for it a few days ago so this will give him even more reason to claim ownership.
Hope you enjoy the developments!
I'm still getting over the shock of contractors who show up. And come back. And come back again. Lucky you!
Do you know, I hadn't thought of that! I should have been jumping for joy in my pyjamas instead of cursing them.
Haha – we too have a selection of 'builders' mugs'. I can usually be heard hissing "don't give them a good mug" at whoever is putting the kettle on! Look forward to seeing pics of the finished product.
Well you can't go giving them the good china, it would get ruined, all the bits of tiles flying around chipping them. I do, however, feel a tad guilty when I serve them an instant coffee and then turn the radio up to hide the noise of me making myself a Nespresso cappuccino.
What is it with gifts of hand cream? I might have to follow your lead and send a memo to family members that I have no need for any more in my life. Anyway, bigger picture, good luck with the new bathroom, it's already looking good!
There are a few suspicious looking body lotions too – all far too perfumed for me.
I too am a sucker for collecting toiletries I never use, each visit to the UK sees a major Boots shop for stuff I don't need and only ever use a couple of times.
Do bathrooms really take a few weeks to do? Blimey.
It sounds a long time, doesn't it. They started Wednesday clearing the room and hammering away at the old tiles. There's been an electrician sorting out new lights. Today plastering and this week putting the bath, shower and loo in. I think the bit that will take the time is the floor. We have decided on tiles and also underfloor heating which needs to be sorted. I'm thinking maybe middle of next week they might be done….and then they will start all over again with the en-suite!
I was just thinking early in your post that you will find you throw most of your cans/bottles/tubes away..but you beat me to it… Been there/done that!
I have just about trained the husband to use chunky old mugs from the " other" cupboard for workmen. We are having a bathroom refurbish done soon…..we have no ensuite..just a downstairs loo. so not looking forward to it much!
I don't know how we would have coped without the en-suite shower. I don't envy you and your husband having to cope with just a downstairs loo. Good luck Frances!
I do actually use the toiletries that I nick from hotels. I use them when we go on the motorbike and stay in some dive that doesn't have decent soap or shower gel.
A friend of mine built a house without a bath thinking that as they never took one there was no point putting one in. A few years later they redid the bathroom and put a bath back in. Just saying… 🙂
Liking your idea of putting the hotel toiletries to good use!
I definitely couldn't have a bathroom without a bath. I don't have that many baths but the room just wouldn't look the same without a tub. Even these last few days not having one available has made me yearn for a dip!
Our bathroom builders turned up on 2nd January too! I'm sitting here with no heating, trying to catch up on some work while the youngest does the homework we just found in his bag. Term starts tomorrow, hurrah.
Don't you just hate it when they say 'Just turning the boiler off for a little while'. We've been plastered today so heat has stayed on!
My son starts back at school tomorrow but is moping about at the moment with sore throat and high temperature. Have to get him well so he can return.
Let me know how your bathroom is coming along – can we have a race?
I'm surprised that they turned up unexpectantly as would have thought they would turn up at your convenience. (2nd submission due to initial typos)
Boom Boom! That actually made me chortle, Troy.
I feel your pain, we've been working on our bathroom since October (doing everything except pipework ourselves to save money). I had to use the potty while the toilet was disconnected which the 3 year old thought was hilarious.
Ok, you win!! My pain and inconvenience pales into insignificance now. Plus you're doing it yourself? Wow, I can't imagine my husband even knowing where to start.
Where to start? Put the potty on the floor then aim!
Posh new loo! Cannot wait for the bathroom's new look to be revealed… I just hope it will not last as long as the work on the kitchen!! xx
As of today we have a bath installed, a basin and some cabinets. Waiting on a shower door as wrong size ordered. Still loads to do, especially flooring and then, when it's all done, they start on the en-suite. So a few more weeks yet!!
I'm totally the same, bring em all home and never use them, even if I put them in the kid's bathroom. Good to have deadlines too for Ye Olde Chucky Outy.