Unveiling Progress & Overcoming Hurdles: My Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge Week 5 Update
Welcome back to another exciting (and slightly frantic!) installment of the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge. For those just joining, I’m currently in the midst of a whirlwind mission to completely transform our bathroom in just six short weeks. This challenge has been an incredible journey of discovery, hard work, and a few unexpected twists. If you’d like to catch up on all the planning, initial demolition, and design decisions that have led us to this point, you can follow our progress through the links below:
- Week 1 Update: Kicking Off the Bathroom Remodel
- Week 2 Update: Design Dilemmas & Demolition Days
- Week 3 Update: Framing, Fixtures, and First Steps
- Week 4 Update: Wainscoting & A Glimmer of Hope
EAGER FOR THE GRAND REVEAL? SEE THE FULL BATHROOM TRANSFORMATION HERE!
As we near the finish line, your support means the world! Please take a moment to vote for my bathroom in the Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge. It’s incredibly straightforward: simply click the link below, scroll until you spot my project, and cast your vote. It takes mere seconds, but every click fuels my energy for these final demanding days. You’re welcome to vote once per device, per day, until the competition concludes. Thank you for being a part of this adventure!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR MY BATHROOM MAKEOVER!
An Intense Week of Bathroom Renovation Progress
This past week has been nothing short of intense. The pressure of the impending deadline for our bathroom remodel is palpable, and it feels like every hour counts. We’ve poured countless long days and late nights into this space, pushing through exhaustion as we tackle task after task. As with any ambitious home renovation project, nothing ever goes entirely smoothly, and this week was no exception! Despite the fatigue, seeing the vision slowly come to life keeps us going.
Addressing the Paint Predicament: From Irish Pub to Elegant Retreat
The first major milestone I aimed to achieve this week was painting the freshly installed wainscoting. Last week, I spent considerable time debating paint colors, feeling the immense pressure to get it just right. Unfortunately, in a classic DIY blunder, I managed to completely psyche myself out. My initial vision for the wainscoting was a sophisticated, dusty mid-tone green – something timeless and calming. However, after endless deliberation and staring at too many samples, I started to second-guess my instincts. I veered away from my original design concept and picked a shade that, in retrospect, was nowhere near what I truly wanted. The result? For a full day, our bathroom sported a vibrant, almost cartoonish green that tragically resembled an Irish pub. It was a disheartening moment, and truly, it looked even more jarring in person.
Doh! The immediate regret was profound. It served as a stark reminder that sometimes, overthinking can lead us astray from our purest instincts. Luckily, I decided to trust my gut and revisit one of the very first colors that had caught my eye. And what a difference it made! I’m thrilled to introduce you to the stunning Sherwin-Williams Acacia Haze. This color is everything I initially envisioned and more. It’s a beautiful, muted green-gray that perfectly balances historic charm with a fresh, contemporary feel. It just goes to show that sometimes you need to make the wrong choice to truly appreciate when the right one finally appears. I absolutely adore this sophisticated hue; it truly elevates the entire space.
The Unrivaled Power of Quality Paint for DIY Projects
On the topic of paint, I simply must sing the praises of Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel once again. Full disclosure: I purchased this paint with my own money, both times, thanks to my initial color misstep! *Haha.* But seriously, if you are undertaking any project involving cabinetry, trim, moulding, or furniture, do yourself a monumental favor and invest in quality paint. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about durability, ease of application, and the overall longevity of your hard work. I applied this paint with a brush, and thanks to its miraculous self-leveling properties, there isn’t a single brushstroke visible. The finish is absolutely flawless—it looks professionally sprayed. While it’s wise to save money where you can, whether by clipping coupons, shopping at thrift stores, or opting for store brands on less critical items, never skimp on quality paint. It’s an investment that truly pays off in the final look and feel of your renovation. Fortunately, all the wainscoting and trim only required one quart of this fantastic product, even with the initial error.
A Daring Decision: Embracing Natural Light with a New Window
Our second monumental accomplishment this week was a rather last-minute, yet utterly transformative, addition to our renovation plans. It involved a significant leap of faith, as we literally cut a giant hole in the side of our house! This daring decision centered around swapping out our minuscule old window for a new, significantly larger one. We carefully chose the maximum size we could accommodate while still maintaining privacy – no unintended flashing for the neighbors!
Spending so much time in this bathroom during the remodeling process, often without proper lighting, made one glaring flaw undeniable: the severe lack of natural light. It became painfully clear that this was the number one design challenge in the room. Saturday was originally scheduled for tiling the shower surround, but I knew this was my absolute last chance to make such a fundamental change. After much begging, pleading, and a marathon session of YouTube tutorials, I finally convinced my husband that we could tackle this ambitious project ourselves. So, instead of laying tile, we spent a grueling but ultimately rewarding Saturday installing the new window. And I regret absolutely nothing. Well, not yet, at least. Ask me again the day before the final deadline!
It’s genuinely difficult to capture the overwhelming feeling of all that glorious natural light pouring into the room now. The transformation is beyond incredible. Of all the changes we’ve made, this single decision has had the most profound impact on the entire space. The room feels infinitely larger, brighter, and more inviting. I am so incredibly glad we took the plunge and went for it. And I suspect that once my husband has had a chance to forget the sheer amount of effort involved, he’ll be equally thrilled with the stunning outcome. This one choice redefined the bathroom’s ambiance entirely.
The Current State & The Road Ahead for Our Bathroom Renovation
So, there’s all the good news—the inspiring progress, the successful paint choice, and the impactful window upgrade. Now for the less glamorous reality: we currently have precisely one week left to completely finish our bathroom, and it looks… well, like this:
Before you panic, let me reassure you that the striking pinkish-red hue you see is not a new design choice! That’s the RedGard waterproofing membrane, an essential layer that goes beneath the tile in wet areas like showers. I promise I haven’t lost my mind with a bizarre color scheme. However, it does cast some rather unusual and intense colors across the entire room, making the space feel incredibly vibrant and slightly disorienting. I will be incredibly relieved when this garish temporary coating is finally covered with the elegant marble tile we’ve chosen for the shower and floor. The contrast will be dramatic, and the calm, luxurious feel of the marble will be a welcome change.
The Ever-Growing To-Do List: Crunch Time for Our Bathroom Remodel
With just seven days remaining, our to-do list still feels daunting, though we’ve certainly made significant strides. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished and the mountain of tasks that lie ahead before the final reveal:
Remove old tile around tub and showerRemove old tile floorClear out debrisRemove old vanityAdd outlet behind vanityMove light box downRepair drywallRemove toiletClean floor and prepLay down cement boardTape and cement seamsTile floorSeal floorGrout floorNew plumbing valves in showerInstall cement board in shower surroundTape + Mud shower seamsApply Redgard waterproofing membrane- Tile shower surround
- Seal shower surround
- Grout shower surround
Install vanityInstall wainscoting wall moldingSand, caulk, prime and paint molding- Wallpaper above wainscoting
- Install new toilet
- Install new vanity faucets and tub/shower faucets
- Install light fixture, mirrors, towel bars, and final decor
The remaining tasks are primarily focused on the finishing touches that truly define a space – the tiling, grouting, wallpaper, and all the essential fixtures. Each step requires precision and attention to detail, and there’s no room for error with the clock ticking down. It’s going to be a monumental effort to get everything completed to the standard we’ve envisioned, but the excitement of seeing the finished space is a powerful motivator.
Reflections and Anticipation: The Final Stretch
This Jeffrey Court Renovation Challenge has pushed our limits, tested our patience, and stretched our DIY skills in ways we never imagined. Every week brings new challenges and new triumphs, and this fifth week has been particularly significant with the bold window installation and the recovery from a paint misstep. The bathroom is on the cusp of completion, and the anticipation is building rapidly.
So, what will next week bring? Will you return to find a beautifully finished bathroom, a testament to relentless hard work and creative problem-solving? Or, will you discover me utterly defeated, curled up in the fetal position, stress-eating my way through a lake of tears? Which outcome do YOU predict for our grand finale? Stay tuned for the ultimate reveal next week!
