eBay WIN for the master bath

When I tackle a room to RESTOREVATE, I'll have the major items sourced out and design decisions made. For example, in the master bath which is currently being RESTOREVATED, the tiles have been installed, wallpaper hung, paint painted, etc. But a tangent to that are items such as towel bars, trash bin and an exhaust fan for the shower. As the major undertakings are taking place, I'll search my usual crevices for all the accruement.

An exhaust fan. With a light. As luck would have it, there was a NIB (new in da box) chrome (!!!!!) exhaust fan with separate switch. Problem was that it was on eBay, and I ain't the only guy out there coveting these vintage functional pieces. So I put a snipe out for $99, but 2 minutes before the auction ended I upped that to $107 (what's $8, right?). In the last 5 seconds, the item went from $62 to $101 to $103.50, I won!

2 bulbs! And chrome!

Nowadays they call 'em exhaust fans

Yes, this will go on the wall

It will be several weeks before this guy gets installed, but I will enjoy looking upward now when showering. I normally wouldn't blog about acquiring a miscellaneous vintage item, however, I very rarely win eBay auctions and it's an example how these projects truly are on-the-fly!

The Office - BEFORE and AFTER

I lived in my house from March 2003 through October 2003 then split to the "less sedate" parts of Los Angeles. Upon my heroic return in late 2009, I figured I had to have space from which to devise my remodeling attack, or rather, decompress from it, and thus sought to create a peacefully serene office. Most furnishings are pre-1970 and have served generations of happy users.

BEFORE - Spring 2003 watching NCAA on a vintage TV, Go 'Cuse!

BEFORE - Kenny & Kile watching over me (they now preside over the kitchen)

BEFORE - Shabby chic desk thrifted for $20

The South Park dolls remain, all else has been donated. This room was painted Sherwin Williams Parakeet and many various items procured via Craigslist, online and being out and about to complete the place by which I'm typing these words.

DURING - Prime it!

DURING - Old green getting patched, note green ceiling

DURING - Wall decals to give it that forestry feeling

DURING - Miter saw and air-powered nail gun

AFTER - Soda the cat surveying her den

AFTER - Shelf by me with artwork by my dad & David Weidman

AFTER - The office forest!

Swagger from the green swag lamp (courtesy of the lady friend found on Etsy)

Sources: Sherwin Williams Parakeet, Bullet planter - vintage eBay, Goodform chair from CL, steel tanker desk from CL, fan from Modern Fan Company, side table $5 from yard sale and re-imagined, blue MCM chair from ModCribLA, swag lamp from Etsy, Flor rug (since replaced), blinds from Hunter Douglas, wall decals from Nouwall on Etsy, switch plate cover from SwitchHits, framed artwork by Charlie Harper, bird print on shelf by David Weidman & canvas artwork by Bert Sena (1970). Original floor, closet doors & 2X hung windows.

Master Bath Odyssey - Part 1

BEFORE - The master bath in it's 1985 glory!

BEFORE - Glamorous builder-grade light fixture

BEFORE - Small shelf opposite the toilet

I've completed MANY projects in the previous 2+ years, but had left the master bathroom largely untouched. As seen in the above BEFORE photos, the master bath was remodeled in 1985 (as per the sink stamp) and left that way until I got my itchy hands on it. The vinyl tiles were clearly tired and torn. The vanity was constructed with Bill Shoemaker in mind.  The fit and finish of the vanity would make Ikea blush. The positives: the shower stall was/is original 4" by 4" tiles, original double hung windows and the recessed Nutone wall heather was/is original, highly functional and easily fixed. The neutrals: glass block

As the project winds blew, a gust came into the master bath and I commenced de-construction. Time to take this bathroom both into the future and back to it, concurrently.

Beat up vinyl composite tiles on top of gold-flake-fake-terrazzo linoleum

 In July 2011 I ripped out the cardboard vanity and lame' gold-fleck sink and donated to Re-Store Habitat for Humanity. Next, I began tearing out the floor tiles with a door panel remover, the same tool I've used opening up the doors of my old 69 442 (gone, not forgotten)

Works on 442s AND VCT tiles!

The bathroom my girlfriend and I designed calls for a wall-mounted sink with front legs therefore the wall must be sturdy to support the sink's weight. As such, the wall had to be opened up in order place a 2 x 4 between the studs. The existing board between the studs was put in there with poorly driven screws that wouldn't support the weight of a small family of fleas!

Tear up that drywall!

Dr. Demo conducting a complicated wall surgical procedure

Notice the old galvanized pipe

More to come ladies and germs.

Painting the Exterior - Part I

Shown here in 2003, it remained pink for another 8 years

Begin the paint project by restoring the front trim

Heat gun, sander, paint stripper and sweat equity

Kilz Primer!

The entire exterior paint project began with this lower wooden wall trim on the southeastern corner of the house. I uncovered many years and many layers as I laboriously removed the old paint. Below the circa-1995 Hunter Green was a circa-1983 pastel aqua-marine and further below were colors too difficult to determine.


I used the following methods:

• Heat gun and scraper
• Paint stripper and scraper & wire brush
• Oscillating sander
• Wood filler for the chasms

This is time consuming and labor intensive. In lieu of hiring a professional, I purchased a Grayco sprayer to make my life easier.  


More to come on this ....

The House Exterior

Yours truly painted this once Peach/Pink and Green home

This is the very first post.

Shown here is the exterior as of today 12/23/11. I painted it this year. Previously it was salmon with hunter green trim. Light fixtures, mail box and doorbell escutcheon were also added.

Colors: Benjamin Moore Englewood Cliffs and Sherwin Williams Slick Blue trim and      Sherwin Williams Stratford Blue door.

Stay tuned for the BEFORE and DURING photos