Dec 20: Bathroom update and prosaics

Short version: At more than seven weeks and counting, I'm still at the hotel.  Feel free to stop reading now!

The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind.  It could be argued that I should have started looking for things six weeks or so ago, but the contractor didn't go over things with me until Friday before last.  Making things even more difficult the estimate wasn't done until last Friday.  Now it's rush, rush, rush and are those things in stock?  This is, of course, typical for contractors under the best of circumstances, and they have NJ Sandy victims as their defense.  Besides, we all know I work better under pressure.

There is no question that with the bathroom stripped down to studs, subfloor and outside brick wall that this is the time to update and change.  But there are a lot of things that aren't covered by the insurance.  All the insulating, walls, tiling and the vent fan will be covered; that's several thousand dollars. But insurance doesn't cover the tub, change in plumbing, toilet, vanity, mirror & cabinet; technically those are not damaged and could be put back.  But who wants a 1970s blue tub inserted into nice new tile?  And I really don't love white in the bathroom: I've spent too much personal and professional time in hospitals to have that at home when I have a choice, so going with 'almond'.  The two cabinets were covered with gilt; not my style. All of those things mount up fairly quickly.

Since things are being re-done, it's the perfect opportunity to update and improve as well.  So, there is now going to be a 24" octagon window added: a huge improvement visually and light-wise.  A heated floor is only about $500, and since a tile floor is replacing the linoleum it will make things very cozy, as well as safer: won't need a slippery bathmat should my ability to move around become compromised.  That's actually the source of a lot of this.  The bedroom closet that intruded into the bathroom is now being moved forward, this will allow a tiled seat to be installed, along with a long grab-bar.  In order for that to be useful there needs to be a handheld sprayer there, easy to do now since the ceiling is open.  All these things add up, and without having had a budget for all this.  But in addition to the obvious benefits to me now, there are also long-term huge pluses: increasing re-sale value, and allowing me to stay in the house longer should my health get worse.  Major practicality, especially with an income-producing property.  If my health stays wonderfully stable, I still have a kick-ass new bathroom!

This past Tuesday was, I hope, the last of the major purchases, as well as running around.  Here was the day:

-Meet with contractor, discuss finances and firm-up the design.
-Make a batch of fudge (done once a year and major attitudes from certain people if not done)
-Go to bank, sign all papers that now officially re-finances my house down to a 12-year mortgage and gives a new home equity line of credit
-Eat very quickly at place that has gluten free items
-Drive to Downingtown showroom for picking out vanity & cabinets
-Go to BJs for supplies
-Back to house, use neighbor's bathroom (a frequent occurrence whenever at house)
-Make two more batches of fudge
-Make 8 pairs of earrings for gifts to gals in office
-Go to Sears, finally buy new washer to replace the one that overflowed
-Back to house, take fudge out from pans and discover too late that it was premature as...
-Make two more batches of fudge (total of five, barely enough!)
-Spend about 30 minutes cutting second batch up carefully so it firms up appropriately
-Drive back to hotel
-Wash hair
-Write out a very few holiday cards
-Collapse into bed

Needless to say, I'm still recovering, especially after two busy days at work.

With the way things are going, plus several days lost with the holidays, I doubt I'll be back in the house before 2-3 weeks.  I'd be willing to move back as soon as the toilet and shower are functional, but the whole place needs to be cleaned by professionals to rid it of the dust and dirt from all this, and there is re-painting being done in all the affected rooms, so I couldn't be back in until the smell had decreased a little. 

So, that's the update.  Thanks for checking in,   Laurie