Master Bath - Part 12

Last night I installed the old kids' bath sconces in their new home; the master bath.

I don't know that I'd go so far as to say this room is cursed, but everything is late.

The cabinets should have been here already, but they missed the truck.

Some of the plumbing fixtures must be made of unobtanium by Bavarian elves, because they're still not here even though we ordered them in the previous decade (OK, I jest, but we ordered them many weeks before the claw foot tub which has already been delivered).

The tub has it's own story, though.  We'd picked one out online. Sometime between when we selected it months ago and went to purchase it, it went up in price by 30%...  Fortunately we found something similar through a local brick-and-mortar vendor, Star Supply, at roughly the original price target.  Now I just have to figure out how to get a 350 pound cast iron tub up the stairs...

And the glass for the shower surround wasn't made correctly.  The installer was here twice, but no cigar (and not his fault).  A new piece of glass is on it's way apparently.  The hole for the clamp that holds the pieces of glass together at the corner (brass piece in the photo) isn't in the right spot.  They forgot to account for the thickness of the glass that's perpendicular.

Those with a sharp eye (!) will note that the walls have been painted in the meantime.  The same artist that did the entry and dining room ceiling did the walls with a Venetian plaster-type finish that ties back into the neighboring dressing room.

The blank spots on the walls are where the cabinetry will go, once it arrives... perhaps tomorrow...

Yet More Sconces

Back when we did the kid's bath we needed some sconces.  We found four at a local salvage place (Art and Architecture), but we had to take all four even though we needed only three.

That was a stroke of luck as it turns out.

Because we need four in the master bath.

We looked around at various salvage and antique places in town to no avail.    We ended up finding these new ones at Creative Lighting.  Reasonably priced and coordinate well with everything else in the room.

It took a while for them to come in, but they finally arrived a week ago.  Just in time for me to install them prior to a party.

No surprise there...

They are a little less ornate as well, but that's good for this bathroom.  The extra detail in the previous ones will go perfectly in the master bathroom.

Pics of the previous ones in their new location coming soon!

The Dining Room Ceiling

For a long time we've been thinking of doing something interesting in the dining room.  All the paneling on the walls is very cool, but it's all Ivory Tusk, so the only splashes of color and interest are the window treatments and knick-knacks.

One idea I threw out was to cover the ceiling in gold leaf.  I'm not sure exactly where I've seen it before, but I thought it would be interesting and reflect a lot of light throughout the room while still giving it a warm glow.

The artist that did the entry ceiling came back last week and did the dining room as well.

It is a mixture of silver and gold which is really interesting and is much "softer" than a monochrome gold would be.

The room is less stark and now has a much warmer feel to it.  It also feels much cozier, even for a big room.

I had to touch up some of the crown where her tape pulled the paint off, so it's a good thing I saved the old cans.  The paint was all dried up but I was able to get back to the correct store and get them to match the paint exactly.

The Front Entry

There were several projects underway in the run up to the tour.

One that I was not responsible for was the front entry's ceiling.  The heavy lifting was done by an artist.

All I had to do was remove and re-install the light fixture several times.

The first time I forgot that this light is on a 3-way switch.  That meant I shocked myself several times before I figured out why the wires were still hot.

I'm apparently a slow learner.

The Cass Gilbert Experience - Postscript

Saturday's tour went well.  There were about 25 people on the tour.  We received a lot of very nice compliments and feedback.  The group had quite a few questions.  Fortunately no one was able to "stump the band".

One popular question was who our florist was and where the flowers came from.

The answer is SWMBO and the Saint Paul Farmers Market...

Master Bath - Part 11

It's been a busy few weeks so I apologize for not posting.

We installed this chandelier over the weekend.

Yes, there's a chandelier in the master bathroom.

I need say nothing more than...

SWMBO.

Eventually the claw foot tub will be located directly underneath.  Of course, I used a dimmer switch so she can dim the lights and soak.

The chandelier was a "inherited" from her aunt and uncle.  It used to be in their dining room.  After they both passed, none of the cousins had a use for or wanted it, so they gave it to us.  Once we figured out the plan for the "master suite", we knew right where it would end up.

And it looks fabulous even if I say so myself.

The Cass Gilbert Experience

A reminder that a handful of spots are still available for The Cass Gilbert Experience tour this Saturday August 15.  Proceeds go to the MN Historical Society.

In addition to our house, the tour also includes the Pioneer Endicott building.  A very interesting structure designed by Cass Gilbert and home to his Saint Paul office for a period.

Master Bath - Part 10

After the screed cured for the weekend, Nate installed the uncoupling membrane.  It isolates the tile from the underlying floor, letting them move independently and minimizing cracks.

It's installed using thinset and once it dries, another coat of thinset can go on top.

And after that dries, then the tile can be installed.

And grouted.

A little bit of touch up here and there, plus the soap dish, and it's all done.

The Looming Deadline

In an earlier post I mentioned a looming deadline; it is The Cass Gilbert Experience.

Well, we're not going to be done in time.

Nate is doing a great job progressing on the tile.

But some of the other stuff won't be done.  We've ordered the cabinets and plumbing fixtures, but they won't arrive until after the event.

And we had a little surprise this morning.  A local TV station came to film the house for a piece on the event.  If you want to see it, watch TPT's Almanac on Friday July 24 at 7pm.

Master Bath - Part 9

Earlier in the week I pressure tested the radiant tubing. Fortunately there were no leaks.  The biggest worry are the tubing joints and the danger of puncture when you're fastening the tubing.  This system doesn't require stapling the tubing, so that risk is a non-issue.

I couldn't get a true pre-assembled manifold to fit in the available space, so I had to build my own (seen in the first picture). I have only two loops, so the manifold is only a "tee", thus limiting the number of joints.  I reality, I don't have more joints than I'd have had with a manifold.

Nate installed the screed on Friday.  Many buckets of mortar screed got carried up the stairs.

Reports are that he liked it a lot.  According to the manufacturer the foam panels result in a 15-20% weight savings in mortar.

Now it cures for the weekend and floor tile can be installed next week.