Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

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Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors! Finally! The day I’ve been waiting for! 

Moving right along! As a member of the Shaw Styleboard, I had the opportunity to choose flooring for the studio renovation. There are so many beautiful flooring options to choose from! After viewing a lot of samples and going over my options, I decided on Monterrey Grandview which is a solid hardwood in wide distressed planks. Hickory is classic, right?! It has a variation of earthy gray and brown tones, not too dark, not too light and an 8 inch width making it it more of an eye catcher. Plus, you guys! It has a hand scraped look! Bonus! AND stunning beveled edge! All the things you’d choose if you were creating a drop-dead-gorgeous flooring product. #mine

Shaw Hardwood Floors – Monterrey Grandview

Shaw Monterrey Grandview sample Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood sample

Old meets new…old floor vs new floor

Before:

The original floors were covered by an industrial type blue carpeting which was glued over the original pine floor which was in poor condition. Here are some before photos:

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff

And after removing the carpet:

old floor with fireplace damaged pine floors damaged hardwood floors with glue damaged hardwood floors hardwood floors before

Follow the #helloredreno series for the entire renovation diary.

The subcontractor, Tim and his team, installed the floors in the basement in our home and this subcontractor from A&S had his work cut out for him with this project!

how to tile a bathroom floor gray and white hexagon tile

Remember the hexagon tile floor from the adjoining bathroom and how I wanted it to transition to the hardwood floors?

hexagon tile floor transition shaw hardwood floor installationhardwood floor installation hardwood to tile installationcutting hardwood flooring installing hardwood floors new hardwood over old Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood floors

After:

Tricky! But Tim and his team got the job done!

flowing tile to hardwood transition

And it’s beautiful! I’d go as far as saying ‘stunning’! I love the flow of the transition from the San Francisco hexagon tiles to the hardwood…

hexagon tile to hardwood transition

Look again:

Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood San Francisco hexagon tile

Shaw San Francisco hexagon tiles Presidio // Lombard

Can’t get enough? Me either! How about from this angle…

hexagon tile flooring

OoOoOoOhhhh! Isn’t she lovely? I love.love.love that I can be more creative than ever with this design! It’s exactly the look I wanted. You know how good it feels to get what you want! hehe 

Shaw San Francisco tile Monterrey Grandview hardwood

It takes some serious skills to be able to work with that and thankfully Tim was up for the challenge! I would have looked at it and cried. Just the measurements and math of it! I like puzzles and all, but this required master skills!

hexagon tiles meet hardwood

The rest of the hardwoods were installed without a hitch. Because of the original floor and working with the height of the tile, each room got it’s own direction and I think that actually adds to the charm, a break in the pattern. Love it! 

Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood Shaw Monterrey Grandview hickory floors Shaw Monterrey Grandview handscraped hardwood Shaw Monterrey Grandview rustic hardwood

And now the floor is not only gorgeous, it’s durable and sturdy and will be here, admired and adored for all time, the beautiful base for what’s going to be a gorgeous comfortable get-away living space!

Shaw Monterrey Grandview wide plank flooring

I cannot wait for the full reveal! 

Next up on the remodel:

Replacing carpet on the stairs and landing, paint, baseboards, installing doors, light fixtures, fun feature wall (wallpaper or shiplap … what say you?), possibly creating a kitchenette then furnishing, decorating and then the reveal! Then moving in! Okay, not that last part but I do plan to extend the invitation and welcome you to visit! 

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

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Project Diary Entry #7: The bathroom makeover continues! We’re sealing an old original ‘decorative’ vintage brick chimney today!

The full bathroom at the studio property I’m working on was completely covered in paneling or what my husband refers to painted cardboard. For real. What is that stuff?! Even the claw foot tub and pedestal sink was boxed in with the same material! Why?! 

Follow the before and after makeover journey —> #helloredreno

RockSolid Concrete Sealer

Before: 

Yikes! (And no worries, we did repair the roof. It was top priority and the very first project.) But seriously. That paneling. What the….?!

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff

Recap: 

We tore it all away! Oh my! You guys…I know it’s dirty but do you see the potential?

rustic bathroom makeover

Included was this bump out beside a built in cabinet (another feature I love!)…

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff

which revealed an original brick chimney…

vintage bathroom charm

Rustic! Texture! A buried treasure! And just like making one of the gorgeous wood plank walls a feature of the bathroom by leaving it exposed…

shiplap wall with hexagon tile floor

I couldn’t bear to cover up all that gorgeous old brick. Know what I mean? It’s completely decorative and not functional but the texture and pretty color variations! Oh man! The old gas register is staying as well.  

decorative brick chimney

But it did have a dirty dull finish. Blah!

brick before

What I did:

  • We gave it a good scrubbing with a wire brush to remove all of the filth and crumbles. 
  • And after talking with the professionals at Rust-Oleum, I used the RockSolid Natural Look Concrete Sealer (low gloss clear).RustOleum Rock Solid Concrete Sealantj
  • I simply applied it with a brush, making sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. And watching for drips. I gave it one thorough coat and plan to do another. It’ll have dried several days by the time I get around to the second coat. Rust-Oleum Rock Solid Concrete SealerIt goes on white but dries clear.   sealing brick with brush
  • This product sealed it all in and provided a beautiful low gloss finish (nothing TOO shiny, not a high gloss or lacquered finish) that brought out the various vibrant colors and gave it a clean surface. It reminds me of an eggshell or satin finish. 

Conclusion:

So, this 114 square foot bathroom has a lot going on but I am in LOVE with all of the original charm. 

vintage brick

That floor though too! ::drool:: ::heart eyes:: 

exposed brick

More on that here—> Shaw SanFrancisco Hexagon Tile Flooring

What are your thoughts?

Do you embrace and work with the original old character or prefer removing or covering it for a clean slate? 

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

Paint, baseboards, {possible} vintage cast iron tub re-finishing, installing the toilet, vanity, sconce lights and my favorite part…decorating and the reveal! Oh. And probably cutting down 6 doors since re-doing the floors raised them. Not looking forward to that part but things are moving along. Stay tuned!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

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It feels as if it’s been a while since I shared an update on the studio renovation. Most recent progress is the beautiful tile floors have been installed in the upstairs bathroom. As a member of the Shaw StyleBoard, I had the opportunity to choose some flooring for the studio.

My Choice: 

For the upstairs bathroom, I chose Presidio (whites) and Lombard (grays) from the same San Francisco design style. It’s a rustic and beautiful hexagon glazed porcelain tile from Shaw Floors with a reclaimed brick texture. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! My most favorite flooring to date!

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

You guys, it was love at first sight! The kind where you see it then continue to shop but always go back to it. Nothing compares. Nothing else will work. It’s this or nothing. I love when that happens! The alternative is so many choices and a hard time narrowing it down to one but this time around, I knew “THIS IS IT”! And for the record, this tile is versaTILE and can be used on floors, showers, patios, backslashes…just about anywhere. Since this is that the studio, it may show up somewhere in my house as well. 

Let’s revisit the scary “before” picture. It’s a good thing I can see potential past the nasty, right? 

Before:

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff 

The original old hardwood floors had to be removed. 

bathroom makeoverbathroom makeoverBathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

A plywood subfloor was installed and leveled to prepare a base for the cement board which then is the base for the actual mortar and tile. 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

The seems were taped and sealed.

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Flooring was installed by Rege, Mike and Tyler, subcontractors from A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA. They did a beautiful job! 

Installation:

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

The white and gray hexagon tiles were placed randomly. I usually do prefer the symmetry of a planned and arranged design – stripes or checkerboard and even considered a flower-type design but this time because of the transition of flowing over into the hardwood, I really liked the random placement. 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Rather than the traditional ‘hump’ or straight cut line in the threshold where tile meets hardwood, we continued the tile across the threshold and into the next room. It reminds me of a glacier…moving/reaching into the bedroom. It’s SO cool and so different and it’s amazing! You can see the links to inspiration for this idea on my studio Pinterest board

Transition: 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Just wait until you see the hardwood next to it! You’ll drool! 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredrenoYou may remember me asking about grout colors. I originally chose “Iron” at the store but after some thought changed my mind to “Charcoal”. Frank at A&S was very accommodating with my request! No problem!

Grout: 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Perfection!

Reveal:

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

What do you think? Do you prefer the standard transition piece dividing tile and hardwood in the doorway or would you consider a smooth transition and design feature? 

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

A BIG thanks to A&S for the installation. I’m THRILLED with the end result! 

Here’s a sneak peek of the vanity with the floor…I can’t wait for the finishing touches!

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

So pretty! And all three features: that gorgeous floor, the beautiful vanity against that original wood plank wall…

Bathroom Makeover - Shaw Floors hexagon porcelain tile SanFrancisco @diyshowoff #helloredreno

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

Paint, baseboards, {possible} vintage cast iron tub re-finishing, installing the toilet, vanity, sconce lights and my favorite part…decorating and the reveal! Oh. And probably cutting down 6 doors since re-doing the floors raised them. Not looking forward to that part but things are moving along. Stay tuned!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!