Tag Archives: curbappeal

Choosing The Perfect Frameless Shower Doors For Your Bathroom!!! #CurbAppeal

‘We are making progress on our master bath remodel.  There are so many decisions to make regarding tile, colors, vanities, tubs, showers and more that it can be overwhelming.  I really want to make choices that will enhance our home, add value and functionality. Having built our home, I have been through this before.  At that time there were so many decisions to make about everything it definitely got overwhelming, and there was no internet or Pinterest to help with great images or inspiration.  So last I updated we chose our tile and now I have picked our shower doors.  I like the way clear shower doors look in pictures but to tell you the truth, I do not think they would suit our bathroom. First off, my bathroom is large but when you walk in you look straight across to the shower.  If the glass were totally clear it would be the first thing you see and there would be no privacy if someone accidentally walked in on someone showering. Also, if the shower was not perfectly arranged I think it would look messy because the clear glass shows everything.  I also think the clear glass would be tiresome to take care of because of the spots and streaks that would show if you were not meticulous.

Frameless Clear Shower Doors

I love frameless doors but I decided on frosted glass and I am very comfortable with my decision.

Framless Frosted Shower Doors

Even after deciding on the glass there were other decisions on the doors to make such as the finish on the door trim and whether I wanted a sliding door or one that opens out.  I chose the sliding option just because I would be afraid of my little ones coming in and slamming it accidentally and I know it would make me a wreck.

Outward Opening Frameless Shower Door #curbappeal

 

The sliding option cost more but not as much as my sanity.  There were only 2 choices for the trim and I chose the stainless steel over chrome, again pricier but I think easier to care for and more high-end than chrome which is fitting of a master bath.

Stainless Steel Accents Shower Doors #curbappeal

 The company I dealt with for the shower components was Vigo Industries and they were excellent and the gentleman that assisted me was helpful and answered all my questions.  He even preferred the frosted glass as well which made me feel even more secure with my choice.  So what are your thoughts on shower doors? Do you have clear glass frameless?  Do you love or hate them or have a love, hate relationship with them?  Do you have frosted frameless doors?  Are you happy with them or do you regret having picked them?  Share your thoughts with me on the comments for this post and keep following because we are going to cover every step of the way the progress of our bathroom and show you from start to finish how our bathroom comes together in our curb appeal series.

 

 


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Choosing The Perfect Tile For Your Bathroom!!!

Monday morning they are going to start removing tile from our master bathroom.  We had a leak in our house and it caused a great deal of damage and so we have to have our whole master bath redone as well as our master bedroom, part of our family room and downstairs hallway.  We are going to be covering it in our curb appeal series.  My master bath is pretty large and has a very long approximately 12 foot double vanity, shower, huge whirlpool, very large linen closet and a separate room for the toilet.  It has imported Italian tile five feet up the walls in most areas and straight up to the ceiling in the shower and whirlpool areas, of course there is a tile floor and tiled steps leading to the Jacuzzi.  We designed and built this house so it is very nerve-wracking to see the destruction of something I have such fond memories of creating.  However, picking tile was one of the worst parts.  There are so many decisions when building a house, especially when you design it yourself.  It is not like you buy in a development and they sit you down with certain colors of carpet, tile, appliances etc and you just choose.  That’s easy!
Picking New Tile

I truly remember completely breaking down in the designer kitchen showroom over all of the choices and decisions.  Anyway, a few years ago when I had to choose tile for a backsplash, I actually told my kitchen designer to come with what he thought would look best.  He brought over 2 styles he liked best and I choose the one I liked.  I  was so happy not to have to browse and sort through panels of tile in a showroom.  In the end I love my backsplash.

Tile Choices

 

So today when I had to go and pick out new tile for the master bath, I started to get very panicky.  When in the showroom, I looked at every sample, panel etc..  They asked me if I saw anything I liked and my answer was, “too much!”  In the end the owners of the showroom helped me choose when I showed them a few styles and color pallets I liked.  They even helped me switch out the borders for a glass tile with lovely bronze metal accents that looks so great.  The owner is also installing the tile, as he has worked for me before and does gorgeous work.  I ended up going with a subway tile for the walls but not shiny, it is more of a stone subway tile and a 12″ by 12″ in the same collection for the floor. He is doing something different all around the whirlpool and the stairs, then we are going to do the glass border and top it with bull nose trim.  I feel like a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders with that decision.  That’s not the end.  I still have to pick out the granite for the vanity and finally decide on the design of the new vanity, the shower is picked out and will be tiled with the subway tile and border with gorgeous frameless glass shower doors and marble ledges and massaging shower panel.  Still have to pick mirrors and vanity lighting but almost at the end of picking and choosing.

Glass Tile

So what do you think about buying tile, do you go for trendy?  Bold colors or warm neutrals?  I don’t go for trendy even if some of you may think subway tile is trendy, it is not the trendy kind that will scream 2013!  The stone look of the porcelain makes it look classic and timeless.  That is what I want and I am really happy with it.  It is an Italian Porcelain Tile and with the glass and metal border it really pops in a classic way.  I think having the image in my mind will help me deal with the destruction of my bathroom and all the feelings that brings up.

So anyway back to the title of my post, my advice for picking tile is to back away from the truly trendy and crazy colors because those kind of looks are so yesterday so fast, and tile is something that you’re not going to want to replace every couple of years.  That won’t  be easy on you wallet because tile is expensive!!!  Remember when making the purchase it’s something you’re going to  be living with for a long time, make sure it is something that you won’t tire of. There are lots of designs that may seem  fabulous in the store, but are they really something you want to see every single day?  Maybe they are just  nice if they were in someone else’s home that you visit a couple of times a year.  After you decide on the perfect tile, make sure you have a knowledgeable installer.  Nothing worse than a beautiful tile that is installed by someone who is less than experienced and you are left with crooked tile, or bulges because of too much thin set etc.  Don’t skimp or cut corners where it counts.  I will keep you all updated on the progress.  Are you working on any home improvement projects right now?  Comment and let us know, we would love to hear about your adventures.


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Vessel Sinks Nay, Farmhouse Sinks Yay!!!

Let’s Talk About Sinks!!!

Well, we are in the middle of a bunch of remodeling projects. We will be bringing you them in their entirety in our curb appeal series.  Some of our remodeling was planned while the master bath and master bedroom was not our choice but due to a plumbing leak we were left with no choice.  I will fill you in on all that later in the series.

However, I have been thinking about sinks.  I have to tell you I hate vessel sinks, I absolutely abhor them. I know that may sound harsh but all I think about when I see them is what a pain they would be to clean and how messy they would get.  It could be because I am a mom of five, but all I see are globs of toothpaste running down the side, gooey sticky messes all over that have to be cleaned and wiped down constantly.  I also see it as a trend that in a few years will scream “Dated!”  I am more into classic, traditional, nothing that is too out there but styles that stand the test of time for the most part.  So rest assured you will not see vessel sinks in my new master bath.

 

Yeah, so not happening.  It makes me feel crazed just looking at it like a bowl I need to put away.

Yeah, so not happening. It makes me feel crazed just looking at it like a bowl I need to put away.

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However, you will see a huge, stainless steel farmhouse sink in my laundry room remodel.  I cannot wait for that laundry room to be finished so I can use that sink.  We still have quite a bit of work though so my farmhouse sink and super cool faucet stay in their boxes for now but I cannot wait to show you the progress of all the projects right through to the final reveals.  

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So your turn weigh in on vessel and farmhouse sinks and let me know where you stand.


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Curb Appeal Reveals Coming Very Soon!!!

Wow, it has been busy here.  You will  soon be seeing the first of many Curb Appeal Reveals and that means lots of painting, staining, cleaning, clearing, spiffing, polishing, washing and rushing.  Almost ready to show you the shutter and exterior lighting reveals.  Getting close to the deck reveal, which if I have not mentioned has been days of powerwashing,  replacing of some boards and then staining.  The porch project is a little further away but steadily getting there and today we had delivery for 2 interior projects we are soon starting.  You can see below that we definitely have a lot to keep us busy.  I have also been collecting lots of river rocks for a bunch of great projects and pine cones that are going to be used for some great crafts I want to share with you.  So get ready for some big reveals!!!

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Curb Appeal Previews!!! Updating Exterior Lights & Painting Vinyl Shutters!!!

We have been very busy power washing, painting, staining, cleaning, and updating.  We are going to give you a sneak peek of a couple of the first Curb Appeal feature posts.  First we are going to show you how easy it is to give your outdoor lighting fixtures a whole new look.  I have 10 brass lights on my house so believe me I get to really explore this to bring you great tips that will get you stunning results.  This update cost us a little under $3 a light so for $30 it really packs the bang for your buck! I cannot wait to bring you all the details and of course the great reveal of all the new hammered bronze lights.

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Next we really wanted to give our poor tired blue vinyl shutters a big lift.  I will tell you all about how we picked the paint and the color and lots of painting tips to make sure you get excellent results.  I have so many shutters on my house I am just about halfway through or at least that is what I am telling myself.

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So stay tuned for the full posts and reveal of the lights and the shutters and we have so much more we are going to be bringing you.  Hope you are in the mood for a bit of spiffing up around the house.  For reference all the Curb Appeal posts can be found on the Curb Appeal page of our blog.


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Painting, Staining, Updating, Renovating and Tons of Projects To Be Featured In Mommy Ramblings’ New Series!!!

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I am so excited to announce that Mommy Ramblings will be debuting a brand new series of posts.  Our first one will be Curb Appeal.  Curb Appeal is going to highlight great DIY projects big and small the homeowner can do to give their home a face-lift and increase its value.

Some projects we will be featuring in the series will be:

  • Painting tired, faded vinyl shutters
  • Painting and changing the look of brass exterior lighting
  • Painting and Staining projects
  • Landscaping

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We will then have other series featuring interior fixes, decorating, painting, interior lighting upgrades and more. The posts will run with the main posts but will have their own page so they can be referenced easily.  We hope you will enjoy this new addition to our blog and we will do our best to give you step by step instructions, full product information and more to help you recreate what you see.

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So stay tuned it is going to start very soon!!!


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