Guest Bath Remodel – Modern Vintage Flower

by Lynn on September 19, 2023

Welcome to the recap of my latest home improvement project! While I had applied a few cosmetic upgrades to the guest bath years ago, the tub, vanity and flooring remained original to the house which was built in 1978. Both the shower and vanity faucets were now leaking and the bathtub had areas of rust. The wallpaper trim was peeling, the medicine cabinet was loose and crooked, and the space just really needed some help. Rather than attempting more piece-meal upgrades, I thought it was a good time to plunge into a bathroom remodel. And what an adventure it has been!

The fun part started with collecting ideas online and then picking out all new tile, cabinetry and fixtures. Unfortunately, the fun part didn’t last very long! I quickly learned that beautiful pictures you find online may include items that are a) not available for sale, b) not within your budget, or c) not workable as you envisioned in the planned bathroom of your dreams!

Beautiful mother-of-pearl mosaic tiles for example, might be suitable for a kitchen wall but not strong enough for a shower floor. The perfect shower niche can’t be installed where planned, because a gas line is inconveniently already occupying that space. And here in California, it is important to know that shower heads and sink faucets are regulated to dispense water at a lower flow rate than is allowed in other states. Initially, I shopped these by appearance—wanting a vintage look, only to find out that I couldn’t buy what I had selected because they were illegal to ship to my state! I did eventually find good alternatives that I could purchase, but it was a learning experience!

If I had to give this remodel theme a name it would be “Modern Vintage Flower.” I researched pictures of modern bathrooms that had a vintage feel. Then I narrowed down the elements that I liked in each picture, to get a sense of what I wanted to shoot for with my own remodel. In general, I settled on a blue robin’s egg paint color, in contrast to white wood, and white and gray marble tile. I liked accents in chrome and pewter. I looked for fixtures and accessories with vintage shapes and was drawn to materials with floral designs. When everything I liked came together, it turned out to be a unique combination of Victorian styling with a bit of retro flower power!

There were some items from the first cosmetic update that I wanted to keep—the pewter and glass wall sconce light fixtures, the bead board, the vintage-shaped toilet, a Victorian shelf and some silver wall plates. So, I worked in the new items to complement the pieces I wanted to keep, and everything else was gutted during demolition.

The biggest change to the new guest bath was the tub-to-shower conversion. Not only was this more practical for use, but the frameless glass enclosure made the space feel more open. I believe the showpiece of the new shower is the stunning floral mosaic vertical accent tile centered down the back wall. These interlocking daisy-shaped waterjet stone mosaics were purchased from Mineral Tiles, and each piece covers about one square foot.

For the shower walls, I wanted a white marble look with just enough gray veining to make it interesting but not too busy. The Satori Statuario is a 12×24 inch polished porcelain tile from Lowes that worked perfectly in this space!

I found a shower pan tile with a modern flower design that I really loved, and thought it complemented the mosaic daisies very well. These are Viviano Marmo Marigold 12×12 inch gray honed marble tiles from Floor & Décor. Unfortunately, the tiles were really too big for the shower pan area as the size left little room for setting the drain slope. However, the more I looked for something smaller, the more I really wanted these tiles! Although it was more work for the installer, he cut each tile into four 6×6 squares, allowing him more leeway to set an appropriate slope toward the drain.

I selected shower fixtures with some vintage styling. The trim levers and hand-held system are from the Kohler Artifacts Collection. The three-function shower head was from the Kohler Bancroft Collection (CA compliant).

The shower niche was a detail that required significant compromise due to an existing gas line. The original plan for one horizontal niche turned into two narrow vertical spaces. They are small but worked for what I needed.

The floor tile was the same as the shower wall tile, Satori Statuario 12×24 inch polished porcelain, extending a crisp, clean look across the entire bathroom.

The paint used for the bead board and base board was Behr Swiss Coffee.

The Kohler toilet was retained from a prior remodel, because it was still in good condition and I couldn’t find a newer model that had a better design/Victorian shape. This Kohler model is no longer available.

The vanity was an important selection, as I was moving from a wall-to-wall built-in to a free-standing unit in an 80-inch space. From the Wyndham Collection, I selected the Deborah model, 72-inch double vanity with a white Carrara marble top and square undermount sinks.

Although these vanities are sold nation-wide through home improvement and online stores, delivery is often handled through a third-party freight service. Many online reviewers complained of broken marble upon delivery, thereby needing to wait for replacement pieces. When I tried to order the vanity from Home Depot in person to bypass this process and request local store delivery, I learned it was not an option for this item. Additionally, the freight service would only agree to curbside placement, leaving me with another problem of how I was going to get it into the garage. So, instead I found a local store, My House Plumbing and Hardware who handled their own deliveries. They were able to pick up the vanity directly from the local Wyndham warehouse on the morning of my delivery, making the likelihood of breakage far less. They also had no problem putting it directly into the garage for me.

The chrome high-arc sink faucets are Kingston Brass Georgian. This model is exclusive to Lowes.

The sculpted white flower resin tissue holder was available from the Amazon Hymmah store.

I thought these Liberty Solitaire chrome and crystal vanity knobs purchased at Home Depot, were reminiscent of antique glass drawer knobs.

The drawer configuration of the new vanity makes efficient use of cabinet space. I used a fun retro patterned adhesive shelf paper to line each drawer. The matching waterproof pads were ideal for the undercabinet spaces. The “Gorilla Grip Peel and Stick Adhesive Removable Liner,” and the “Gorilla Grip Quick Dry Waterproof Under Sink Mat Liner” were purchased from the Amazon Gorilla Grip store.

I found the large flat drawers of the vanity perfect for my lovely new towels! These Jacquard bath towel sets were purchased from Lands’ End.

For the vanity undercabinet, I found some storage drawer options that would fit nicely into the tall but narrow spaces around the plumbing. Both were purchased from Amazon. The “Cheweetty Under Sink Organizer” has two plastic drawers in a unit just under 8 inches wide. It comes in a 2-pack. The “WZMYO Under Sink Organizers and Storage L-Shape Metal Slide” is just under 11 inches wide, and also comes in a 2-pack.

The Victorian shelf was a piece I retained from the prior remodel. The 60-inch-wide mirror was purchased at Home Depot and is from the Home Decorators Cailla Collection. It is sold with a white-wash finish, so I re-painted it Behr Natural White.

The daisy wall sculpture added a bit of retro or mid-century modern flare. It features metal flowers with crystal centers. I purchased this on Amazon from the Deco 79 store. It is described as “Metal Floral 3D Wire Wall Décor with Crystal Embellishments.”

The original finish was black iron, so I repainted it with an antique silver craft paint to match the pewter-colored light fixtures.

The two vintage-style bird on branch hooks were purchased on Amazon from the Boomlatu store. These were sold in a burnished-gold color and I repainted them with an antique silver craft paint. The wall paint was Behr Cool Water Lake adjusted 35%.

For additional wall decor, I purchased two framed Darby Home Daphne Brissonnet hydrangea bird watercolor-style art prints. These were available from Wayfair in white-washed frames. I repainted the frames with Behr Natural White to match the mirror.

I found the distressed French-style molded Prasoon wall panel on a few home décor websites, but it was always listed as “old of stock.” My best guess is that it was readily available a few years ago but is now harder to find. I tried to look for other wall fixtures, but kept coming back to this design as it really seemed to complement the other features I had planned. After much effort, I was finally able to locate a few being sold on eBay.

Here are a few before and after photos. What a difference four weeks makes!

The guest bath is now much improved in appearance and functionality, and I am very happy with how it all turned out! A special thanks goes out to Cavalier Builders, a family-owned contracting business specializing in kitchen/bath remodels. They did a phenomenal job of implementing my ideas and installing everything beautifully!

Lastly, here a few helpful tips of things I learned during this remodel: Dust will get everywhere and travel throughout the whole house no matter how much plastic you hang to separate the work space from your living space. I packed small table-top stuff away before the demolition began so that when everything was finished the house would be easier to clean.

Scheduling a remodel when the weather is pleasant can allow you to seek refuge in your yard when the noise, vibrations, or odors become uncomfortable. I spent many mornings enjoying my garden during this time, which helped lessen the stress of all of the construction commotion going on inside the house.

Resolve to be flexible. Demolition may expose unforeseen problems that will need to be resolved, or require you to make some changes to your design plans. Not everything will be perfect, but hopefully you and your contractor can work together to find solutions you can live with, when the plan goes awry.

Also, on the day they apply hot-mop, do yourself a favor and book a hotel room for the night-or two or three. The tar smell is very strong and will be with you for several days. You will need lots of open windows—another reason to consider weather/season when scheduling remodeling construction.

Updating a bathroom can be stressful and expensive, but it always adds value to the home. I hope this little tour of my project gave you some ideas, insight and inspiration for a remodel of your own!

On the journey toward home,
Lynn

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The Battle Belongs to the Lord

by Lynn on August 4, 2023

Gideon GospelImages.comImage courtesy of Jan van ‘t Hoff, GospelImages.com

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17:47, KJV

After the children of Israel arrived in the promised land, they had plenty of opportunity to make poor choices and often did, including the adoption of pagan practices of their new neighbors. Because the Israelites refused to follow God’s laws and embraced idol worship, he allowed the Midianites to make their lives miserable for seven years.

To protect themselves from their enemies, the Israelites built shelters in caves and rock clefts. But as they planted crops, their enemies trampled the land and stole their food and livestock. Oppressed and impoverished, the Israelites finally cried out to God for help.

He first sends a prophet to tell them why he’s allowed the Midianites to oppress them. Their idolatry and disobedience will need to be dealt with before he delivers them. Then, he sends an angel of the Lord to confront the man he has chosen to spearhead the rescue plan.

He finds Gideon threshing wheat in a wine press in order to hide it from the Midianites, and greets him with an affirming statement, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior!” After years of harassment, Gideon reacts with skepticism.

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Judges 6:13-16, NIV

Although Gideon doesn’t see himself as a mighty warrior, the angel of the Lord described the truth of a future event where God would transform Gideon into a brave leader who would help deliver his people from their enemies. When we are at our lowest point, it is very hard to imagine the potential that God knows is in our future. That is why we are admonished to trust him by faith and not rely solely on the circumstances that we can see.

As the Midianites and their allies join forces to invade the land again, Gideon summons the Israelites for battle. To their credit, thousands of them show up. But God tells Gideon that he has too many men—in that if he delivers the enemy into their hands, they would boast that it was their own strength that saved them. Gideon tells the men that all of them who are afraid can leave. Twenty-two thousand return home, leaving ten thousand still available to fight. God tells Gideon there are still too many, and directs him to separate the men further by noting how they drink from the nearby spring.

Gideon GospelImages.comImage courtesy of Jan van ‘t Hoff, GospelImages.com

Those who showed alertness are chosen over those who drink carelessly. The exercise decreases the company to just 300 men. That’s a number God can live with, and the plan is set into motion.

Gideon divides the men into three groups, giving each a torch inside an empty jar and a trumpet. As they surround the enemy’s camp, the men are instructed to follow Gideon’s lead—to blow their trumpets and to shout “For the Lord and for Gideon” when they see his company of men do so.

The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. Judges 7:20-22a, NIV

Note that in this case, Gideon and his men did not engage the enemy directly. Nor did they carry offensive weapons to do so. God asked them to blow their trumpets and to shout, much like he did when the Israelites surrounded the walls of Jericho. The battle belonged to the Lord, but he used the 300 men for a specific part of his plan to save his people, and their obedience was used to accomplish that plan.

Today, our country finds itself where Gideon was at the beginning of this story. The enemy has infiltrated every level of government to the extent that very few politicians are working on behalf of the American people. Nearly every industry is corrupt and we’ve been lied to so many times by people we are supposed to be able to trust, that now we’re not sure who we can trust. This country needs divine intervention, and those of us who recognize just how far gone the nation is, cry out to God to deliver us. We are Gideon in the wine press, feeling as though we’ve been abandoned by God, and threshing wheat in secret—keeping our heads down to avoid attracting the attention of our oppressors.

This is no way to live. So how do we fight back?

For starters, we need to stop agreeing with the enemy that we are too far gone to save. It is never too late for God to act, and he’s shown in his word that even death itself does not limit his ability to save. I understand that people are frustrated and tired—we all are. But all those Debbie-downers out there need to trust in the God they claim they know. Walking by faith means BELIEVING EVEN WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE ALL IS LOST. Ask Martha and Mary about God’s ability to bring life out of death after their brother Lazarus died. Jesus waited until he was not only dead, but three days dead to show his power over death. So, when the enemy tells you “Nothing will ever change,” “Those people will never be held accountable,” “America is over,” or “Things are only going to get worse,” TELL HIM HE IS A LIAR, AND TO GO POUND SAND!

It is never God’s plan to abandon his people, so while we can expect to suffer some hardships, Scripture also tells us that God is a loving father who will never leave us to fend for ourselves in these battles with the enemy. The devil will use other people to make our lives chaotic and miserable, but conflict is not with them per se. Ephesians tells us that it is with the evil spiritual forces behind them. Jesus also tells us in the book of Matthew, that he has given us the authority to speak in a way that has power to affect the spiritual realm.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12, NIV

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19, NIV

Boy howdy, do we need some binding and loosening in the spiritual realm to free our nation from the cesspool it has become! Many Christians seem to miss the emphasis on using our speech to affect change because in a physical sense, it doesn’t appear that it would work. But Jesus clearly tells us in Matthew that it does. Just as he cursed the fig tree causing it to whither, what we say in the natural effects the supernatural.

I was convicted of this point recently in something as simple as attitude. At times, I can have a bit of a pessimistic perspective, and I believe the Lord was calling me out on that. Because of the long-term drought and severe water restrictions in California, there was a liquid amber tree in my front yard that appeared to be dying, prompting my gardener to remove several feet from the top. This last spring, a hand-full of lower branches developed leaves and I was really happy that it looked like the tree would live. But a few weeks later, most of those spring leaves had dried up and fallen off. As I surveyed the condition, I said to myself “This tree is probably going to die.” Then I was nudged with a “Stop it.” I took that to mean, don’t speak death to this tree-speak life. And I was convicted. What am I doing when I pessimistically say that things are going to get worse, things won’t work out, people won’t change, or I won’t receive God’s favor? Am I actually speaking curses into my own future? If I have the authority to speak into the supernatural, I really need to be mindful of what I say. Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” If that is literally true, then I really don’t think Jesus was speaking metaphorically in Matthew when he said we have the power to affect things by what we say.

When we agree to partner with God and physically speak his word, his truth, and his promises, our voice has the authority to bring down strongholds. We battle in spirit by speaking, by declaring what should be bound and what should be loosed, and by praying for our will to be aligned with the Father’s will. Then he does the impossible in the physical realm.

With all of the bad news it is easy to get discouraged, but we need to speak life and not death into this country. We need to speak blessing and not cursing. We need to loose the power of God to change lives, to provide healing and to deliver people from deception and bondage. We need to bind the enemy’s evil plans to destroy our families and our freedoms. We need to believe in God’s promises to deliver those who are his.

This video by Rachel Shafer perfectly describes our cry. I hope it will encourage you to join us in praying for our nation.


America’s Anthem by Rachel Shafer, ©2019

Heavenly Father, we lift up our nation to you in prayer. We humbly come before you to acknowledge that we have sinned as a nation. We allowed evil to infiltrate our land and move us away from the principles of faith on which we were founded. Now deception and corruption are so engrained in our nation that we are overwhelmed. As you did with Gideon, we ask that you intervene and do what only you can do. We bind the powers of deception and darkness on our people and we loosen your truth and light. We pray for the rescue and complete healing of those being trafficked. We pray for the deliverance of those with addictions, and we pray for all of the prodigals to come home. May families be reunited and restored, and may the Holy Spirit draw many hearts to your son, Jesus Christ, for salvation. We trust in you and come into agreement with your will. The battle is yours, Lord. As we see your hand move, keep us focused on you. To God be the glory! Amen.

On the journey toward home,
Lynn

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A Spring Morning in the Garden

by Lynn on April 30, 2023

For the last two weeks my guest bathroom has been under construction. While looking forward to the end result with much anticipation, the process to get there is a bit unsettling. It seems that half of the house is covered in plastic and the other half is covered in dust! I’m reminded that remodeling is loud, dirty, and produces odors that are quite unpleasant! Let’s just say, if you are planning a tub/shower remodel, just make plans to get a hotel room the day they plan to hot mop! Oh, my goodness, it’s a smell that just won’t go away!

To escape the noise and the dust, I’ve spent most mornings in my garden and have found my self-imposed exile to be rather a blessing.

We had substantial rain over the winter, and with a cool spring many plants in my yard are in bloom.

Beautiful wisteria flowers blanket the patio cover and provide a wonderfully sweet fragrance.

One of my favorite types of roses are the old-fashioned multi-petal varieties.

This smilax vine has a long history in my family. It is a cutting from the original plant that sat outside the kitchen window of our family home in the 1980s. Before that, the plant belonged to my mom’s uncle.  My dad also has a cutting from this plant, while my sister still cares for the original which is at least 40 years old! Over the years it would occasionally lose all of its leaves to the point where it looked dead, but then it always grew back! My mom loved this plant, so it is really special that everyone in my family has a part of it.

With so many of my roses in bloom, I cut a few to put into vases.

I like to use simple glass vases with the roses loosely arranged.

These roses add a sweet aroma to the garden table. With a cup of tea, I’m all set for some Bible study, journaling or reading.

A morning in the garden is a wonderful retreat where I can visit with my little bird friends and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. May you find such a sanctuary in your own garden!

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24, KJV

On the journey toward home,

Lynn

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Jesus Revolution

by Lynn on February 2, 2023

In the early 1970s, the pastor of a small church in California broke with conventional wisdom and welcomed young hippies into his congregation. Pastor Chuck Smith who started the Calvary Chapel denomination, sought to practice what he preached and love the so-called undesirables. God blessed this effort, as Pastor Chuck watched hundreds and then thousands of young people find salvation in Christ Jesus. Dubbed the “Jesus Movement,” revival swept across the nation in what some describe as the greatest spiritual awaking in American history. Many of the Calvary Chapel pastors of today were saved during that time.

One such preacher is evangelist Greg Laurie, who pastors at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside California. He came to faith during the Jesus Movement, and began his early ministry under the teaching of Chuck Smith. The stories of Smith, Laurie and a hippie street preacher named Lonnie Frisbee, are the focus of a new movie called Jesus Revolution.


Jesus Revolution opens in theaters February 24. Find ticket information here: https://jesusrevolution.movie/

I encourage everyone to see this film. It is a timely reminder that Jesus has the power to save, heal, and deliver us from sin. Many people are praying for another Jesus Movement to sweep across America and the world. This is what we need to heal the brokenness in our country, and to give people hope. Since Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), we know that if God did it before, he can do it again. There are already signs of revival in America, and I believe it is just the beginning of a great spiritual awaking. The only answer for a world with catastrophic problems is an omnipotent God!

On the journey toward Home,
Lynn

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SoCal Harvest Brings the Gospel Message Back to Anaheim in November

October 10, 2022
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For 30 years, Harvest Christian Fellowship has been using crusade events to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Designed to speak to people where they are, Biblically-sound messages provide simple yet profound truths about sin, repentance, grace, forgiveness, and salvation. This year’s event will be at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, November 5-6 […]

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DIY – Custom Military Patriotic Floral Centerpiece

October 24, 2021
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A few weeks ago, my family attended the retirement ceremony of my brother, who is retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant after thirty-eight years of active and reserve service with the US Air Force. My twin and I were asked to provide floral arrangements for the luncheon event, so we wanted to design something unique […]

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SoCal Harvest at Angel Stadium

August 22, 2021
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Harvest SoCal is coming back to Anaheim, one night only, October 3! Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the event starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is free. Musical guests include For King & Country and Phil Wickham! Pastor Greg Laurie will present a message of hope from the Gospel that will change your life! This […]

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Geometric Animals Party Theme

May 29, 2021
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Spring is in the air, flowers are in bloom, and new life is eagerly anticipated! This month my office hosted a surprise baby shower for one of my colleagues who is expecting her first child. Using elements of design to match the décor of her planned nursery, we focused on the theme of geometric animals […]

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A Rush of Hope – Television Showtimes

September 19, 2020
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Over Labor Day weekend, the inspiring film A Rush of Hope debuted. Pastor Greg Laurie reports that over 1.8 million people viewed the film, and over 17,000 made professions of faith. The presentation follows three stories, where people in difficult situations find hope in Christ. Featuring music by Jeremy Camp, MercyMe, and For King & […]

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Freedom isn’t Free

May 25, 2020
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IF EVER PROOF WERE NEEDED THAT WE FOUGHT FOR A CAUSE AND NOT FOR CONQUEST, IT COULD BE FOUND IN THESE CEMETERIES. HERE WAS OUR ONLY CONQUEST: ALL WE ASKED … WAS ENOUGH … SOIL IN WHICH TO BURY OUR GALLANT DEAD. General Mark W. Clark Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1969-1984 YouTube link to […]

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