Knockers and Lockers

My husband has a theory that when it comes to bathrooms, people are either knockers or lockers.

The knockers do not take anything for granted.  They assume that if a door is closed, someone might be in there.  These are the more considerate people of the world.  They knock, just in case.  Although most of them probably lock, they do not assume that everyone does.  The last thing they want is to walk in on someone.

The lockers assume that everyone else is a locker.  They think that everyone should be a locker.  They are armed with the mission to walk in on people to force them into becoming lockers as well.  If there is someone in there they do not want to talk to them.  They hate when knockers knock and they have to answer them.  Try the door - if it is locked - go away and don't bother me.

Then I think there is a third group - the never-lockers.  They assume that everyone is a knocker.  They never lock a door (you are lucky if they shut it) and become quite indignant if they are walked in on.

I wasn't aware of the locker/knocker/never-locker camps until we put in a new bathroom.  T wants a door that locks.  After pricing the locking, historically accurate locking door hardware (they are called privacy knobs by the way)  I was questioning the need to lock yourself into a bathroom in your own home.  With kids it just leads to the possibility of them locking themselves in.  I was under the crazy impression that if the door was shut most people would knock.

Well, we had our first test of the new bathroom during a family party a few weeks ago.  T's Mother was happy to not have to go upstairs.  Her question after "does the plumbing work" was "does the door lock?".  I said no, but it does shut (and we do have a door)...and then I thought "so that's where he gets it from".

While she was using the bathroom, two of her grandchildren walked in on her!!!  Apparently my nieces and nephews are all lockers.  Now that we have determined that most of my husband's side of the family are lockers,  I guess we do need a lock, otherwise they will be walking in on everyone.

Still, I am thinking of a simple hook and eye or sliding bolt like Amy suggested.  Simple, cheap and should keep the lockers out.

Here is the test:

The next time you are using a bathroom facility that is not inside your own home (rules tend change at home) and the door is shut - what do you do?  If you knock, well yup you are a knocker.  If you try the knob to see if it is locked (if locked you walk away and if not you open and see if anyone yells) you are a locker.  I you never lock a bathroom door no matter where you are, you are a never-locker...

The bathroom is 98.88888% done!

I admit I have been remiss in my posting and you have missed a lot!!!

Most of the bathroom trim has been installed:

[caption id="attachment_875" align="alignnone" width="225"] Trimming out the built-in shelf[/caption]

The fixtures have been hooked up!!!!

[caption id="attachment_876" align="alignnone" width="225"] My favorite plumber in action...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_877" align="alignnone" width="225"] The long-awaited second toilet![/caption]

The wallpaper is done! My good friend Pam came over to lend her expertise. Everyone needs friend like Pam. She can do anything. She is famous for changing her own oil while pregnant and for refinishing her attic mostly by herself. She can wield a tape measure and razor knife like nobody's business. She actually volunteered to help me (phew!) and was so into it came back the next day to get me around the final corner. Don't kid yourself, the bathroom is small, but just about every piece we had to custom cut around the door, window, built-in, slanted ceiling, etc.

[caption id="attachment_878" align="alignnone" width="225"] Pammy in action. She makes it look so easy![/caption]

It looks beautiful though, doesn't it?! I love the wallpaper and think it really makes the room.

[caption id="attachment_880" align="alignnone" width="225"] Isn't it gorgeous![/caption]

We just have to finish painting the rest of the trim and then sand and paint the door. Oh and then get the electrician back to turn on the power. Sooo close to having one of the most important rooms done!

Bathroom is primed...

T has been working hard on finishing up the wood trim in the bathroom. He is concentrating on the lower walls so that we can install the fixtures, toilet and sink (dare I put this in writing) on Friday. Yes, we are possibly two short (okay maybe long) days away from a functioning second bathroom!

I went to the hardware store and had the fun task of picking out trim paint. There are way too many shades of white. I thought I was buying Benjamin Moore Antique White, but ended up with Linen White instead. I had to take the chips outside into natural light to get a better sense of the colors.

I was quite shocked to find that price of paint had almost doubled since the last time I had purchased some. I paid $48 for one gallon of interior semi-gloss. I remember when not so long ago, you could paint an entire room for that.

The bathroom woodwork was primed last night and the first coat of paint will be going on tonight. My four-year old has taken over the heckling for me, he recently told my husband that "every morning I look in there [new bathroom] and nothing is different". It's funny to think that he is inspecting the work going on in there, but he was excited to come down this morning and find it all painted white.

Keep your fingers crossed!

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New Old Door

[caption id="attachment_861" align="alignleft" width="225"] Starting to look like a real room...[/caption]

For the past two nights T has been leveling and fussing with installing the bathroom door and door frame.

This is the same door that we removed from the office room when it was a closet.  We basically moved it around the corner into the hallway for the bathroom.

There is something to be said for pre-hung new doors.  They are straight for one...  T has been using the level and shims to try to get it to align and close properly.

He has it seated in there pretty well, but realized that the top corner is warped and also  critter chewed.  He asked me if I was SURE I DIDN'T WANT A NEW DOOR.  No way Jose, the thing about an old house is that it is old.  You take it with all the quirks, dings, warps, etc.  When we are done I want it to look like it belongs in an old house.  So the top corner will stick out a bit, but we will call that character.

Now I have been tasked with trying to find a door knob.  He wants to be able to lock it from the inside.  This sounds easy in theory, but of course all the ones I like are too expensive and then I have to worry about it matching the other door that is near it...   At least we now have a door on the bathroom and you can close it!

Link to Pinterest Board on Door Knobs

Selecting Door and Window Casings

One of the big decisions we have to make before moving forward on the bathroom is what are we going to use for trim.  We need to put casings around the door and windows and create a sill and put up baseboard moulding before wainscoting.  Whatever we decide to use in the new bathroom we plan to replicate throughout the house.

We spent about two hours at Lowe's exploring options and pricing out materials.  We came home with plinths and bulls eyes and then changed our mind and brought it all back...

You can click on the image below to read about all the great trim terminology and see some nice photographs of antique home woodwork:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576"] What we are NOT using... photo compliments of Le Beau Paon Victorien Blog[/caption]

The doors and windows in our entire farmhouse have very simple casings, just straight boards really.

[caption id="attachment_849" align="alignnone" width="242"] Plain straight door trim painted an unfortunate navy blue[/caption]

We decided to replicate something similar and plan to add a decorative top cap which will dress them up a little bit.  Everything will be painted antique white when we are done.  Here are some photos from a friend's house that was built during a similar era that we plan to replicate:

[caption id="attachment_850" align="alignleft" width="157"] This is what the trim in our house looks like around each door. Some have been stripped and stained, some are painted green and others navy blue.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_851" align="alignnone" width="136"] See what a difference that top moulding makes![/caption]

Buried Treasure

[caption id="attachment_838" align="alignleft" width="112"] The one cool thing we have found in the yard...[/caption]

I realize it has been awhile since I have posted any progress information.  Truth be told, we took a vacation and escaped to Florida for a nice little break.  It is a slow adjustment from vacation mode to real life and we are slowly getting back into the project zone.

April was burn month and we managed to squeeze in four burn days.  Every year we plan to reclaim a bit more of the yard and battle the poison ivy and brambles.  We have uncovered some trash dumps where a previous owner apparently disposed of many plastic bags full of cat litter.  We have also found broken milk bottles, metal fencing, black trash bags, a rusty fan, metal pipes, and various other treasures.

When the garage came down they also buried it in the yard, windows and all.  Every time it rains, pieces of glass come to the surface.  I am not sure what we are going to do about that, but for now we have enough other projects on our hands to worry about...

It's May and burning season is now over. We are turning back to the bathroom.  Here are some photographs on the progress we are making with the yard.

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Bathroom Update...

Here are some more bathroom progress photos to keep you up-to-date.  We have been distracted by burn season (we only have until May 1st and there have been a lot of days that they didn't let us burn things)...  Next we go on vacation... but, sometime after that there might be some more news.

The walls are now primed and ready for wainscoting and trim.  We spent two hours at Lowe's discussing trim options and pricing (great fun)...  Whatever we choose we need to repeat throughout the house.  I am still not sure we made the right choice and may go back again for more fun...

Someone promised me the bathroom would be ready by June.  Nope, didn't get that in writing...

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