As a popular travel writer, I thought I had seen it all. It wasn’t until today in sunny Southern California that I realized how wrong I was. Who knew one of my biggest adventures was still yet to come. Even more shockingly, who would have guessed it would come in the bathroom while house sitting. I will spare you the details and let your imagination do its thing but let’s just say as of this morning the sink, toilet, and shower will need to be completely remodeled. On a positive note, Tuscany tile is so out now, right? Maybe it was time for an update anyway? We will have to see what the homeowner thinks when they return. In the meantime, the impending bathroom remodeling is upon me.
The first step in the remodel process will be to hire a professional because quite frankly I don’t know the difference between a screwdriver and a wrench. I call down to the local Sherwin Williams paint store and tell them I need a remodeler recommendation. My requirements are they need to be available in 10 minutes or less. The manager tells me he knows just the guy and like magic, they arrive at noon tool belt and all.
The contractor politely informs me that this quick turnaround is going to cost me a right arm. I say that’s fine I’ve always been left-handed. He laughs and tells me the first step will be to gut the bathroom. We’ll be starting from scratch, and if I want it done before my traveler friend returns home I’ll be lending a hand. We go to work demolishing the bathroom and a few hours later it’s like it never existed. A naked room sits before me and I’m feeling nervous. My new best friend, aka my contractor, says the next step will be to go shopping for some tile, fixtures, and ceramic. We head to the local Home Depot and inform the employee we need all on hand and in stock items. They get us set up with new light gray paint, marble floor tiling, gray subway tile for the backsplash, and a white ceramic shower, sink, and toilet.
My contractor tells me it’s after dinner time and he will return in the morning with his crew to install the tile and ceramic but the painting will be my responsibility. So, as the sun begins to set I get to work. By about 10 PM I have a newly painted, completely empty bathroom and a lingering thought in the back of my mind that I might actually pull this off before the homeowner returns.
The next morning my contractor arrives, coffee in hand, and a whole team in tow. They set to work retiling and installing the ceramic. Around noon I pop in with some sandwiches, mostly just being nosey about the progress of the project and to my happy surprise, it’s a miracle the bathroom almost resembles a bathroom again. My contractor updates me officially on the progress and says he thinks they’ll be wrapped up by tonight. I thank him and scurry off to get out of their hair.
5 PM rolls around and it’s a Christmas miracle, the bathroom is flawless, just in time for the homeowner the next morning. I cut my contractor a hefty check, breathe a sigh of relief, and vow never to watch HGTV again.
You can find these amazing contractors here:
Inspired Remodels, Inc.
20992 Bake Parkway, Suite 108
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 716-1938