Planning: Upstairs Bath

Until the basement shower room is completed, the upstairs bathroom is The Bathroom (as there is only one other - a simple powder room on the ground floor).  The bathroom presently features a builders-grade double vanity, dark floor, a huge pane of mirror, poor lighting, bad colors, one outlet, and a gigantic enclosed jacuzzi-tub/shower.  There is clearly not a woman putting make-up on in this jaundice-inducing bathroom.

The current configuration isn't good for bathing or showering:  to shower, one needs to step up and down into a deep tub, and the shower head is smaller than what typically sees on the end of a hose.  To bathe, one has to sit in a glass cell - oh, and the tub holds more water than the hot-water heater can heat!  (It sort of reminds me of my London washer/dryer combo unit - to which I could dedicate an entire post - it neither washed nor dried effectively- no surprise as was essentially a centrifuge with soap and heat.)  

Today:  There is zero charm in the current bath - nothing enticing from a materials, color or layout perspective.  The bath does benefit from two newer slanted windows and good natural light.

Tomorrow - goal for this space:  my genius architect/contractor will have to creatively sort out how we get a glass-enclosed shower and separate bath (likely with glass enclosed, space saving pony-wall), in what is a finite space. I've accepted this means the shower will be smaller than hoped, but will still be larger than any of the glorified phone booths in my London flats.  The layout will remain as is - e.g. plumbing as it is located today, so to avoid the serious cost associated with relocating toilet piping.

A Nowhere-Near-To-Scale layout of the upstairs bathroom (future):

I'm fortunate to live very close to a terrific tile outlet store:  http://www.tileoutletchicago.com.  It has been fun to visit and look for classic, sophisticated tile that won't break the bank (Ann Sachs, love you, but there is no room for you in this budget.)  Current faces (no surprise to seasoned readers - sticking with the basics, in my grey/white comfort zone!):

Tile floor ($12/sq foot):

Tile floor ($10/sq foot):  for the shower

- or -

3x6 Shower tile surround ($6.50/sq foot):  for the shower walls - laid in a subway pattern

I've been struggling to find good looking double vanities with marble tops (at 60 inches) and decent storage.  Current contenders (Option B is in the lead):

a - pretty basic, but only $800, inclusive of marble top and hardware (x-faucets)

b- solid wood, $1500, inclusive of marble top and hardware; good storage (x-faucets, and a backsplash)

c- a decent contender, constructed of oak, $1600, (x-faucets) but the storage space isn't as great as b.  Ignore the mirror.

d - the inspirational piece, from RH - but at $2500 is more than I want to spend, and is too big for the space:

Still TBD - can we install a dual medicine cabinets over the vanity without cutting into the joists? (If no,  will mean we will not install dual medicine cabinets over the vanity!)  In that case, glass/polished nickel shelves will be situated below individual simple mirrors over the sink, and a pop-out medicine cabinet will be located to the left of the vanity on the perpendicular wall.  (Attempting for zero structural work, here.)  Love this one below - trying to source and price it:

The woodwork and door will be a painted white, as will be the case everywhere else in the house.  For window treatments on the two sky lights, I'm considering faux-wood shutters (better for moisture, and more cost considerate than real wood), available at JCP, Home Depot and Lowes (JCP, below):

Towels will by my yummy, soft Yves De Lorme white numbers from Pioneer Linens, hung on polished nickel towel racks similar to that featured by RH to the left and right.  

I'm on the hunt for good sconces and faucets - so will update once they are found!  I've added a few for consideration to my Kim Loutzenhiser Pinterest site under "lighting".

Update: Found Treasure - Thonet & Lane before and AFTER

I love house hunting.  Whether renting or purchasing, I've loved looking at a space and envisioning what it would be with a little work, and a bit of decorating.  There are few things I enjoy more than evaluating a space and sorting out where furniture would be best placed - my friends and family might call this a sickness of sorts.   Before landing on the Bungalow, I toured some doozies - most of which were either too work intense, or just not in the right spot.

But, one fortuitous evening we toured a great little brick bungalow in Rodger's Park.  The homeowner had recently passed away, after more than 40 years in the home.   The home was not for me, but when touring, I noticed two great little club chairs, wrapped in their seemingly original psychedelic upholstery.  My very patient broker, Tawyna, agreed to reach out to the estate to see if I could purchase these gems.  We agreed to $80 for the pair, and I prepared to give them a bit of love an attention:

With a terrific recommendation in hand, I dropped these beauties at Comfort Upholstery last weekend.  David of CU told me that these are c.1975 Thonet club chairs, and that a pair recently sold at auction for $1200.  He advised that the fabric alone was worth quite a bit of money - however, I don't have a lot of (read - any) orange mod in my house, and the upholstery reeked of 40 years of smoke.  So - white leather is about to make it's way on to my now-even-lovlier club chairs.  After photos to follow next week...and yep, I know exactly where these will go in the new home.


I picked the chairs up today (Aug 15).  They look terrific, and it's a treat to visit David, his father and family hard at work on Halsted!:

Also last week, I scoured Craig's List for some older pieces that, when painted, would work well in the basement as end tables and a coffee table.  I came across the following set for sale at a 2nd hand store in Indiana - $125 later, I'd loaded the three pieces into the back of the SUV, and dropped them at CU for a spray in bright blue - Behr Azurean.  The coffee table is to get an upholstered tufted ottoman top, utilizing some grey/white Designer's Guild fabric I'd brought back from London (fabric was used on my Restoration Hardware dining room chairs as well).

Before:

After!!! (Ottoman-topped coffee table still to come...)  These are tucked in the guest room for now, but will be basement end-tables in the future Bungalow.

45 Days to Close - the home search completith

With the lawyer review finally wrapped today, and the escrow check on it's way to the bank, it feels real that this cute little bungalow will become mine in 45 days.  Having viewed 15 homes in Near North Chicago, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and Bucktown, and upping my budget twice, I'd become a bit deflated.  After years of longing for a great little fixer-upper I could call my own while living in expat rentals, my arrival back in the US came at a time when housing prices in my neighborhoods of interest were nearing pre-crash highs.  And with thanks to Mr. Bernanke, interest rates were on the rise - creating a buyer's panic in a limited market.  

And then, we toured IT - my broker knew before I did that it would be perfect for me.  Currently a 2 bed, 2 bath home, the exterior has maintained it's charming 120 year old facia.  The interior is another matter:  on the plus side, it benefits from completed HVAC, newer windows, great hardwood floors, and a very workable space plan.  The current owners have cared for it impeccably.  However, this home has been shockingly stripped of all the charm that one would expect in an older home - gone is the fine millwork, and in it's place, modern, strange angles, disjointed lines, garish colors, miscellaneous cutouts, and not-quite builders-grade workmanship.

My mission:  ensure this home's interiors become as charming as the exterior, while adding functionality via improved bathrooms and kitchen, and the addition of a third bed/bath in the walk-out basement - and to do this in a way that my "grand vision" (wink, wink) doesn't price me out of the market (and empty the coffers).

Here I'll record the great project ahead!

Planning - The Upstairs Staircase

The installation of a proper staircase is going to make a big difference in the Bungalow.  The stair well currently features a drywall enclosure, a strange post/cut-out at the base, and several disjointed angles in the archway below the landing.  The treads are carpet-covered - and the carpet carries to the small hallway at the top of the stairs.

Today:

Tomorrow - Goal for this space:  The look becomes more 1890's and less 1990's!  Traditional staircase, inclusive of a dark wood banister and treads (white uppers) is period-appropriate.  The "opening' of the drywall enclosure allows light to flow from the window through to the living room/foyer below, and doesn't create a visual barrier when one walks through the lovely front door.  The lighting is value-additive, rather than delivered via a couple harsh pot lights.   Good art and photos will help the cause.  The landing upstairs has the same hardwood as that in the entire downstairs.  As super-agent Tawyna said today "your new staircase is going to make a world of difference".

Photos of inspiration (more available at my Kim Loutzenhiser Pinterest site under Architectural Features):

As mine will have to incorporate a structural pole:

Planning - The Downstairs Powder Room

This project is relatively simple (she said, pre-construction) - all cosmetic:

• Wainscoting
• Paint
• Sink/vanity
• Mirror
• Roman blind
• Two sconces
• A shelf
• White crown around the ceiling

Today:  The powder room as is features an odd terra-cotta color palate (please keep in mind the living room is presently sage green and burgundy), replete with hand-done stenciling - including faux molding.  The sink is awkward, the current mirror and lighting ugly (unless you're interested in buying them - then, wow, are they lovely, and let me know your offer!)  Fortunately, the hardwood floors from the living space carry into this room.   On the plus side, it's a good size for a powder room, and has a nice window. 

Tomorrow - Goal for this room:  Period charm, in tune with the rest of the ground floor, on a budget. 

• White wainscoting - 3/4 of the way up the wall, standard size.  

• Paint above the wainscoting - pale grey - similar to http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/sweetinnocence 

• A traditional, simple vanity - similar to this little gem from Restoration Hardware, but ideally a lot less expensive:   http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1306083&categoryId=cat1770011.  I've seen where one can buy the legs/top separately, like that below, from Kohler, so that may be the way to go.  

• A simple mirror - I may use something this, from Pottery Barn, or similar (below), or hang one I already have:

• A Roman blind - may get a bit more creative with the fabric (some options below), but you get the gist

• Sconces - there are so many to choose from, but I'll be aiming for budget-friendly (under $200/sconce), with a decent wattage!  (Likely something similar to that pictured, right.)