12/28/10

Transformations of 2010

Since I'm battling a bad cold, I seem to have plenty of time to blog.  So I decided to join the various parties that are taking a look back over 2010 projects.  I'm happy to be linking up with:
Kim's Boring to Better Party
Table Top Tuesday -- Anything Goes
Top Projects of 2010
Transformation Thursday
Thrifty Thursday
Inspiration Friday
The Best of 2010

The first major project of 2010 was really finishing off our backyard landscape project which had been started in the late spring of 2009.  Not too much happened throughout the summer -- Arizona, remember!
The Man had this pad poured for a garden building when the landscape team laid all the pavers.  This is the view down the side of our sunroom looking right at the concrete pad.



The Man knew exactly how he wanted the building to look and I kept interjecting "Old World" into the conversation.



I got my wish and then some.  Love, love, love how this turned out.  The Man is pretty pleased, too!






We had been discussing trying our hands at growing grapes, so The Man built the pergola & planted grapes on either end.


Lest you think that all I do is take pictures, I'll just remind you that there is always a "helper."  You know, the one who has to "fetch" this or that to hand to the person on the ladder or roof, the one who holds the "dummy-end" of the tape, the one who hops in the car for a quick run to Home Depot, the one who.....well, you get the picture!  Sorry, I just wanted to clear that up.  So, anyhoo, we gradually added some patio furniture, a firepit, and a fountain.




We had been making big plans to do major renovations to both our bathrooms, but not at the same time!  It was going to be a major job -- gutting said rooms & redoing with new floors, new cabinetry, new countertops, etc.  Then one day, a couple of months ago, we were visiting our son and dil and they said they wished we would move closer.  Our son knew that his dad's retirement was due to happen at the end of this year.  Well......we started thinking about that.  We were all over the place about whether we should, could, really wanted to, etc.  As the end of year drew closer, we finally made up our minds.  Yep, we are going to move!  Of course, we have to sell our townhouse or possibly lease it out.  The Man will continue to work until the house sells or we decide otherwise.  That being said, discussion of renovating the bathrooms quickly turned to doing some cosmetic things without spending too much money.

This is what we started with in the guest bath.  It had a rather shabby chic look which is great if that's the look you are going for;  but here it was shabby because it was getting old and worn and not in a good way.  As I've said before, we have had to add storage wherever we could and our little $3 garage sale side table has served well in this small bath.
The Befores:



The Man did some painting, regrouting & the tile looked very good.  We also changed out the cabinet hardware.
The Afters:



Just about the same things happened in the master bath -- regrouting, repainting the vanity, changing the hardware.
The Before:


The After:


We are quite pleased with how both baths have turned out.  They fit the overall look of the townhouse without going over the top (which is what we were planning to do if we had stayed here).

It has been a very long time since we had a house for sale, so any advice from anyone would be much appreciated.  I'm so glad I have this blog with so many wonderful "blog sisters," because I'm sure there will be times during the next several months when I will be close to pulling my hair out.  I will need a place to vent, but I'll keep it clean!  Anyway, thanks for coming along on my wrap-up of 2010 projects.  Hope you will come back again soon.
CAS


20 comments:

  1. Wow, when you guys do home improvement, it looks great. Your patio looks like a place you'd enjoy often!

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  2. Love the before and after projects! It looks like something you would see on TV! Nice blog too!

    Jane

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  3. You've been busy as little beavers! Love the building outside. Good luck with your move -- I know you'll be glad when it's done and are closer to your children.

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  4. Wow! You did some awesome make overs! I love the back yard. I even had to show my husband... THAT'S how impressed I was! :)

    ~Liz


    P.S. Loving your blog! I am your newest follower.

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  5. Oh my goodness, you cracked me up with the part about the go-fetch person. My hubs is the same way and it drives me crazy. I mean, he can start a project with absolutely not one required tool or supply on hand and expect us to "go git" everything! How exciting that you're moving! My best advice is to pack up now everything you don't need and to turn on every lamp in the house and put on some nice classical music when someone comes to look. But you probably already knew about that stuff.

    Happy New Year to you!

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  6. Cass, thanks so much for joining the party. That outside area is amazing!

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  7. OMGosh, I love that outside area now. It is amazing. He did such a good job, THE MAN. O, and I'm sure it never, in a million years, would look THIS great without his helper. :)))
    Ya'll did really good on the baths, too.
    hugs, bj

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  8. Oh, my goodness! You have some wonderful projects! The little outdoors building looks fantastic! Your bathrooms look great too. Thanks for sharing your projects.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. The outside building is fabulous! Thanks for sharing these projects and the best of luck with selling your home.
    Sherry

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  10. Oh my! Fabulous projects! do you feel like you have taken a little trip to Italy on your patio? Wonderful! Happy New Year to you and your family!...hugs...Debbie

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  11. your outdoor space is absolutely fantastic! the man really "got" what you were saying, i'd say!

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  12. Wow, that garden shed is fabulous! Good luck on the sale of the house. Lisa~

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  13. Love & drools your project exterior. It looks so cozy & it will be the best part of all summers.

    Happy TTT & NY to come.

    Greetings from Stockholm,
    /chie

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  14. Wow...great projects. Thanks for following. I am following you back. Happy New Year.

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  15. Wow. I love that shed. Definitely Old World and very charming. I love the whole patio. I could be very comfortable there. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm spending some time at yours in hopes of finding your white kitchen. Many best wishes for the new year!

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  16. My husband is a gourmet chef and he does laundry. Can we trade for a week?

    Your backyard is fabulous!

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  17. I'm visiting from The Shabby Chic Cottage. While I LOVE what you've done with your bathrooms, I can just hear one of those HGTV stagers sayings that the cute little table advertises the lack of storage in that bathroom. Or is that just me? Everything looks great. Inquiring minds want to know-where are you moving to? Have a fabulous New Year!

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  18. Oh Cas let me first say this is the first time I have ever been able to post over here because I have never been able to post in these embedded comment boxes, but today I woke up and BAM, I can. Go figure. I want to thank you for all of the times you have been to my place and commented. I do follow you, I have just never been able to comment, and couldn't find an e-mail to tell you so. Soooo, you will be hearing from me now. I am so happy about this. Maybe the New Year Fairy did all of it, I don't know? I love your blog and hope you have a Happy New Year!

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  19. Wow! You guys were busy! Your outdoor spaces look absolutely amazing and I was just drooling over the Old World charm! :-) I love how you repainted your cabinets too and gave it all such a fresh new look. Thank you so much for linking this up to the party Cas and I hope you have a very blessed New Year!
    Vanessa

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  20. I love all the before and afters! All of your projects turned out fantastic especially the building your husband built :)

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I truly love to hear from you and try to respond to each and everyone. If you have "no reply blogger," I will respond in my comments section and then visit your blog as soon as I can.

Make this a great day!
Carol

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