The beginning of the Bathroom renovations.

 When I bought this house, I knew I was going to have to redo the bathroom if I ever wanted to turn around and sell it again. There were 7 shades of green, no actual shower, the vanity was a $100 Home Depot Bulk Buy that had long since seen it's day, and it had no ventilation. 

Let's refresh our memories.

Avacado green tub with Seafoam walls? No fan?
Check, Check.

Home Depot Vanity with 2 wall sconces plugged into an outlet on the other side of the wall?
Check.

Heating vent that comes through the floor in the dining room, only to pop through the wall of the bathroom into the toilet?
Check.

Door that swings open and smacks into the toilet every time?
Check.

I've been doing little things here and there. Updated 85% of the plumbing. Fixed the electrical in the wall and installed a new vanity light and outlet. Replaced the vanity and the faucet. Did the wax ring on the toilet. Jerry-rigged a shower.

But it is time that this bathroom is overhauled. I want to be able to enjoy it.

I looked high and lo for a contractor to help. Most wanted to push their idea of what should be done on me. The time I wasted listening to ideas that would have left this bathroom uglier makes me cringe. When I told one guy I wanted a pocket door (to fix the whole door-swinging-into-the-can problem) he told me that I actually didn't.
He did not get the job.

I finally contacted a guy, (who will remain nameless for now,) who's come and actually listened to me. He's taken the concrete needs (structural and roof repair), paired it with the interior desires (pocket door, unobtrusive ventilation, modernized tub/shower), let me dictate the elements that I want to reuse (trim and door), and come up with a solid plan. If all goes well, he'll start in September.
Until them, I get to do some of the prep work - refinish the recycled elements, and demo what I can.

Which of course, I've already started and will tell you all about in the next post!