Recent Finds...Habitat For Humanity Restore

If you've never been to a Habitat for Humanity Restore, I dare say you are missing out. That is, if you are into home renovation. Builders, carpenters, home owners alike all donate materials that were replaced (i.e. entire kitchen's worth of cabinets) or left over or no longer needed. You might recall our 5 panel door score ($25) back in August/September. The Restore is run by volunteers who are extremely helpful and just down-right nice people. Here's some of our recent treasure finds...

Item: Giant vintage metal pendant light

Cost: $6

History: The guy who donated it had it for 30-40 years and said it no longer matched his decor according to the friendly volunteers

Idea: Um, it's just cool. And it's $6. So we'll figure something out... 

Item: Above-fridge cabinet

Cost: $30/ea. (qty 2)

History: None, brand-spanking new

Idea: Built-in storage in attic in the narrow space between the pitch of the roof and the floor

Item (left): Glass Turtle shades 

Cost: $1/ea (qty 2)

History: No story here, they look brand-new. However, if you were to buy new ones from store like Schoolhouse Electric (which has really cool stuff) it would set you back $28 a pop.

Idea: Replace the chipped turtle shade in the bathroom

Items (right): Vintage door bell push-buttons

Cost: $1/ea (qty 2)

History: Brand-new in the box. Definitely old. 

Idea: A creative decor project in the future.

A non-scandalous cover-up...

My mom is the ultimate seamstress...which I have known for some time. One of her most recent masterpieces was khaki, denim slipcover that hides the harvest gold, burnt orange and avocado green nightmares on this couch (though she has vowed never to make another couch slipcover)...

Problem at hand: I hate visible clutter...especially bathroom clutter. I realize that I can't rid clutter completely...however, I can hide it. Our upstairs bathroom had no storage when we moved in...just pedestal sink, clawfoot tub and toilet. We were just able to fit a bookcase (we nabbed from Schuurmann's before they moved to Texas) between the tub and the wall to give us a little storage but even with baskets the junk was pretty visible. 

My idea was to make a curtain to cover the bottom few shelves. What I was picturing involved a staple gun, fabric and a hot glue gun. Good thing mom was there to help because what we made was a million times better. Here's the before sans junk...I had to take this picture while slouching on the toilet seat (lid down) because the bathroom is a bit tiny. 

I picked a pattern that was light but not light enough that you'd see spills, etc. very easily. The two side panels are stapled on...thank you, Craftsman staple gun, my hero. We made a front panel that was gathered (mom rocked the sewing skills), sewed Velcro onto the back of it and stapled the other side of the Velcro to the shelf. 

During this sewing lesson, I learned that sewing machines are not scary and that my mom claims to be a "slop-jockey" because she hates to pin and prefers to "eyeball" it. I did not manage to take pictures of the actual sewing itself because I was too busy trying to avoid putting a sewing needle through my finger while keeping up with mom... I recall hearing a loving voice saying "you better give it some gas or we'll never get this done tonight"... okay, I'll push the pedal all the way on Speed 1.

Getting rid of the "funky"

So, my parents trekked down to visit us the weekend before Christmas. By the time they left, Chris had eagerly expanded his knowledge of plumbing and I had learned how to use my sewing machine from the pro seamstress (see next post). 

Since showering in the basement "spa" has been getting a bit chilly, Jack and Chris decided to manufacture a fix to the main floor bathtub. Problem at hand: Overflow pipe had rusted away from the tub and due to the high water pressure, which shot water directly into the overflow opening, it leaked onto the cracked, peel-n-stick tile floor. In an attempt to curb this problem, the previous owner had placed medical tape, which had been there long enough to get "funky" per Chris, over the overflow opening.

Did you know how many different thread sizes and variations of faucet adapters there are? Apparently, a...boatload (That's for you, dad). Chris is working on learning to speak plumbing fluently. It took at least 5 trips to multiple hardware stores plus some hands-on creativity, elbow-grease and trial and error...

And for about $25, Jack and Chris rigged up a hand-held sprayer that we already had to the exisiting antique faucet on the cast-iron tub. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, Man, I would have just bought a new one...and you'd be out $300-400. Yup. That's the average price for a tub-mount faucet with hand-held sprayer. The next major project on our list is remodeling this bathroom which will include installing a ceiling-mounted, oval-shaped shower curtain rod and shower riser/faucet combo...so we'll bite that bullet then. Until that day comes, being able to shower/bathe on the main floor is definitely worth at least $25 and a day's labor. 

Our basement *spa*

Our house has two full bathrooms, which is pretty incredible given the geriatric status of our 105 year-old abode. Each bath is equipped with one cast-iron clawfoot bathtub...sans shower. However, we do have a limestone-walled basement shower...my mom told me that people pay big money for large, stone-walled, spa-like showers. 

During initial tours and final walkthroughs of our home, I said there is no way I'd ever shower in the basement. Never say never. I ate my words the first morning in the house after attempting to wash the moving-in day grime off by taking a bath upstairs the night before. The tub wouldn't stop draining and required serious ingenuity...a plastic dixie cup placed upside down over the drain (thank you, one semester of engineering) to complete the bathing task. 

We came downstairs the next morning to recenty-showered parents who informed us that they used the basement shower and it wasn't bad at all. I ran back upstairs, grabbed my towel and headed for the basement. It was actually quite fine...and you could watch for leaks in the plumbing throughout the entire basement while you showered. Multi-tasking at it's best. The shower was built into the space where the old cistern was taken out in 1949 (the date was recorded in new cement) and a 2-inch tall cement boundary to corral the water to the floor drain was added in 1957 (also inscribed). Using galvanized wire, c-hooks and a plastic, mildew-resistant shower curtain and hooks, I added a bit more privacy. 

Since this picture was taken, Chris painted the entire shower area and floor joists above the shower with bright-white specialized paint containing moldicide and mildicide. The shower chair did not come with the house. It was a thoughtful gift from Chris' mom because she was concerned he would hit his head on the floor joists...which he did a few times. 

I was talking with my family at our Thanksgiving party and gleaning lots of great ideas for house improvements and tricks of their trades. My Uncle Carl asked "Wait, you  (Keri) really shower down there?" to which I emphatically nodded yes. He was totally impressed..I beamed with pride. Whether you are horrified (common reaction observed) or impressed, we love this house and do what we have to until we can afford to redo/fix things how we want them to be. And...have great stories because of it.

The simple pleasures...

Let me introduce you to our new toilet seat, expertly-installed by Chris. 

You ask, Is it squishy? Not at all. Does this seat make a whooshy sound when you sit? Nope. Does it stay warm so long that it's awkward? Not really. Then it must not be an old lady toilet seat, you say. Bingo. New toilet seat made of wood, $17 at Lowes. A more pleasant, less awkward overall restroom experience, Pricele$$. I realize discussing toilet seats on the blog may be a bit weird but those of you who've visited our home sweet work-in-progress know what I'm talking about.