Refining the layout

Once the spaces in the addition became defined by the framing, we were able to tweak the details of the bathroom layout. Our approach to the bathroom took on a new perspective last week when John suggested getting an old claw foot tub and refinishing it. We looked on Craig's List and found a beautiful 1923 tub in great condition in West Lawn. On Saturday we picked it up, and Dustin let us take his old Kohler sink along for free. The sink is perfect for the attic bathroom, and doesn't even need to be refinished. I called PJ, the Iron Monger, today and he's preparing a bid for powder coating the tub.

Using a much smaller tub than in the original plan allows us play around with the bathroom space. Charlie came over to approve the changes, and once again I was impressed by how quickly he grasped my clumsy description of our concept. In just a few minutes he groomed it into a real plan with a vision. The structural changes are minor, but the whole aesthetic of the room really evolved to reflect our personalities. Instead of a vanity, we'll use an old piece of furniture and a vessel sink. I have 2 old upholstered benches from my childhood home which can be updated with slipcovers and used for seating, and we also have an old wash stand from the attic here at the farm. And instead of building in storage closets, Charlie suggested looking for 2 old narrow cabinets, each about 30 inches wide. He also totally understood my dislike for shower doors, so we're going to use a tub surround with a curtain instead of the shower stall. In the end, what I was afraid would require lots of extra work for the builders is a simple matter of moving one doorway in a wall that hasn't even been framed yet. So simple, yet so satisfying.

John performed a similar magical feat with the closets in the old house. I was awkwardly trying to enlarge the hall closet by stealing space from the bathroom. When I showed John what I was thinking, he saw it in a completely different way that makes much more sense. It leaves the bathroom plan intact, and simply shifts a little space from the bedroom closet and barely even changes the underlying framework. What a pleasure it is to work with such professional, skilled visionaries. So far they've made every little detail easy to execute.