If you have kids or if you just love insanely cute children’s books, perhaps you’ve heard of the book (affiliate link->) If You Give a Moose a Muffin. There are other, similar books, too (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Dog a Doughnut…you get the idea).
Anyway, each book starts with something simple, like giving a moose a muffin. Then that causes a chain reaction of events and, before you know it, you are painting scenery with the moose for a three-act puppet show in your living room.
You get the idea.
This is often how my DIY projects go.
So, on Sunday, I thought, “I’ll clean the grout on the kids’ bathroom floor. It’s nasty. It needs it.”
What could go wrong?
I painted the bathroom. And tiled a backsplash.
Of course I did.
Here’s how it went down.
I walk into the bathroom with my magic eraser, ready to clean the grout between the floor tiles. I start cleaning the grout. It starts to look great.
I think, “Wow, we haven’t painted this bathroom in about 10 years.”
Then, “It’s kind of dark in here.”
Then, “The paint is fading around the sink.”
Then, “We have a whole gallon of paint that would work. It’s essentially free!”
And then, faster than you can say “drop cloth,” I start painting the bathroom.
Two days later, the bathroom is done. It looks brighter – so much better.
I waited 48 hours for the tile mat adhesive to set and then I grouted the tile backsplash:
Did I mention that I got the tile for $1 at a garage sale? Woo hoo!
The bathroom is now bright and clean.
It goes with the sparkling grout.
(Smile.)
Thanks for stopping by!
Love the new color! I didn’t know you could tile. Impressive. I think I used that same Target shower curtain to make my basement window curtain. Why am I not surprised?
Shocking! Thank you. I use a tile-setting mat for smaller tile work like this – makes it really easy to do.
Love it Karen! Glad I’m not the only one who makes a project out of a simple task.
Thanks! It’s amazing how I can turn something so easy into something so big. Baffling sometimes.
You didn’t mention the part about how you had a HUGE delay in the Publix, mid-eraser, while you tried to get in and out of the store. Mad props to your efficiency, ma’am.
You are inspiring me, more and more, as to what I can do in our reno. Can I lay bathroom tile in its entirety??? 😉
It was a welcome diversion. Sure you can lay tile – but it’s much more complicated than my little backsplash here. You can do anything.
Nice. I’m attempting a tiled kitchen backsplash soon. I’ll keep everyone posted on Artzzle.com. Thanks Karen. I’m enjoying your site!
Thanks, Cheryl! Can’t wait to see your backsplash!
wow, it looks great! So much brighter!
I did the same thing with our master bathroom. We needed to replace a toilet seal and ended up replacing everything in that room. My hubby says only I could turn a ten minute five dollar job into a two month five hundred dollar job 🙂
Have a great time at Haven! Wish I were going too so we could hang again!
Ha! I’m glad I’m not the only one who can turn a small project into a renovation! I wish you were coming to Haven, too. We’ll miss you! 🙁
It looks fantastic! Ask me about the time I just wanted to change the shelf paper in the kitchen…better not, there isn’t enough time in a day:-)
It’s as tho the tile was hand selected to match the shower curtain!
Enjoy the conference!!
Thank you, Sharon! I can’t wait to hear the kitchen story!
Gorgeous!!! Love the colours and that tile – what a score!!!
Thanks, Anne! I only wish the guy had had more of that tile!
Looks adorable and fresh – can I ask where you bought the cute towel rack? We are redoing 2 bathrooms and that is very cute – could use one like it! Thanks!
Thanks, Carrie! I bought the towel rack at Ikea. It’s perfect because it’s much easier for the kids to hang up their towels this way – way better than the towels ending up on the floor!
Oh yay, have an Ikea not too far from here! Thanks!