Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by Kristi Linauer
I’ve been working steadily on the bathroom over the last couple of days, but unfortunately, most of the progress so far is not exciting at all. It’s necessary, but not exciting.
I spent quite a bit of time yesterday getting the shower ready for waterproofing, which I hope to do this evening. But that including things like fixing this gap between the shower floor and the main bathroom floor. The guys who worked on the bathroom had filled this 1/2-inch gap with concrete, but that didn’t really hold well, and was already starting to chip out. So I removed it, and filled the gap with Big Stretch caulk.
I also worked on this area between the drains and the wall. When I originally talked about this area with the guys, we decided that the whole thing should be filled with grout because by the time I leave enough room for a grout line between any tile and the edge of the drain, and then a space between the tile and the wall, I’d be left with a tiny sliver of tile.
Well, I forgot about that, and as I was prepping the floor (I got out my grinder to remove rogue pieces of aggregate that were sticking up too high for the tile to lie flat), I set about making this area ready for tile as well. After about 30 minutes of chipping away at concrete in this little sliver of space, I finally remembered the original plan, and filled in this area with a smooth strip of Big Stretch.
That won’t be the only thing I rely on for waterproofing. I’ll actually be waterproofing the entire shower with Semco Liquid Membrane, which is very similar to products like RedGuard that you find at Home Depot and Lowes, but Semco is a product that was only available commercially for decades until they recently started selling direct to consumers. It has decades of great reviews, so that’s why I decided to go with it instead. But now I have to wait for this caulk to dry before I can proceed with the waterproofing. I’m used to using a caulk that dries in 30 minutes, so waiting hours and hours (up to 24 hours) to dry has me antsy. 😀 But obviously, there’s nothing I can do to rush the process.
I was anxious to see how the shower floor would look with the tile, so I placed 18 of the mosaic tiles sheets in the shower. I think once it’s grouted, it’s going to look very nice!
So after all of that, and realizing that I’d have to wait hour and hours before I could proceed with the waterproofing, I decided to paint the walls. I know this is out of order, but keep in mind that this is just a base coat for the Venetian plaster that will go on this part of the walls. So if this base coat gets a little dusty during all of the tiling and grouting, it’ll be fine. A little dust might even add a little character to the Venetian plaster. 😀
But I was so anxious to get a sneak peek at what the color was going to look like in the room. This color is Behr Aqua Rapids. It’s a beautiful color all on its own.
The Venetian plaster color is a little deeper, and a little bluer than this base coat, though.
And since I have a need for symmetry, I’ll be doing the walls in the shower and the walls in the toilet area the same. So when those areas are finished, they’ll both have bright white tiled walls.
I’m so anxious to get that wallpaper mural up!! I already have the wallpaper paste and tools, so I’m ready to go. But I’m trying exert some self-control and not rush the process. I think the tile really needs to be installed before I put up the wallpaper. But I do want it to go up before I do the Venetian plaster walls, because I need to make sure the color of the plaster is right. I’d hate to get those walls finished only to be surprised when the wallpaper goes up and realize it’s not quite the right color. That would be so disappointing!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
20 Comments
Patti Roberson
September 15, 2021 at 10:38 amHave you had Venetian plaster before??? It is so lovely but REALLY hard to keep. It was on many of the walls in the condos I purchased in Cozumel and had it all removed and painted over. It chips so easily and shows BIG time when it has a chip in it.
Kristi Linauer
September 15, 2021 at 11:21 amI’m using Modern Masters Venetian plaster. I’m sure it’s a VERY different product and process than that which is used in Cozumel.
Victoria
September 15, 2021 at 2:28 pmI have Venetian plaster in my master bath. I did it myself about 15 years ago. It’s held up very well. No chips. I’m still happy with it.
Betsy
September 15, 2021 at 4:32 pmModern Masters has been my go-to (synthetic type) venetian plaster for many years now and it always has held up well. Looking forward to seeing dem walls!
Lydia
September 15, 2021 at 7:57 pmI used Dutch Boy Venetian plaster around 15 years ago. Was extremely easy to do and lasts forever. Love it
Patti L.
September 15, 2021 at 11:19 amI love that paint color.
Donna a
September 15, 2021 at 11:23 amAbsolutely LOVE that color and the tile. It’s al coming together nicely!
Mary Leah
September 15, 2021 at 11:42 amItsa gonna be GORGEOUS!!
Mrs. David
September 15, 2021 at 11:42 amGood Afternoon, Kristi. You’re making really great progress! Have you considered doing your 2×2 tile sheets on the diagonal? I’d love to see those positioned diagonally. It would make the standard tiles (and your shower floor) so interesting and it would also kind of welcome you (draw you visually) into the shower, instead of the blunt edge.
It would be a lot more cutting and potential waste, but I always love any square tile laid on the diagonal.
I love your gold linear drains, so pretty and such a great match to your shower fixtures.
I’m very interested to see your Venetian plaster. You always do such a great job of teaching as you do things. Will the final color be lighter or darker than the base on the walls now?
Enjoy your newly-decorated sitting room while you take lots of breaks from some of the labor-intensive details in the bathroom.
Have a fantastically blessed day!
YHWH Bless You : )
Pat Federico
September 15, 2021 at 11:43 amKristi….. just love….Love…..LOVE THAT COLOR…💕
Cate
September 15, 2021 at 12:15 pmIt’s coming along beautifully!! Can’t wait to see the wallpaper and venetian plaster completed!
Crystal Griffith
September 15, 2021 at 12:18 pmLooking good Kristi! You have inspired me to the extent that I am building a new home at 73!
5K sq ft. Total with garage. House for daughter with MIL suite for me. Including a workroom for me.
Just started land clearing process today! I’m so excited!
Joan Hornung
September 15, 2021 at 12:32 pmWOW – Crystal, Congratulations…that is exciting! I think Kristi has that effect on a lot of us! 😂 Loving that color she picked!
Rebecca B
September 15, 2021 at 12:53 pmKristi, thanks for the post! You are making headway on this project big time! So exciting. Life is so boring with COVID out there, I kinda live vicariously through you and your home improvement projects. The aqua color is wonderful and I totally agree with you that it should be symmetrical.
Julie
September 15, 2021 at 2:54 pmSo wondering does that sealing make sure that mold or mildew does not grow in/on anything…..not just for major leaks into drywall and framing?
I’m a novice to bathroom building
Theresa Smith`
September 15, 2021 at 4:48 pmLove the paint; must remember Behr Aqua Rapids and find a place to use it. Would go well with a Caribbean theme, too.
Janice Jeanne Dinse
September 15, 2021 at 8:30 pmI love the wall color! With all the light from the window and door and the ceiling lights, it looks perfect.
Denise Hueth
September 16, 2021 at 8:46 amLove the color!
Francine
September 17, 2021 at 3:58 pmSo much fun seeing you be you…keep it up! After following you for years, I still am in awe at what you can do!
JP
September 29, 2021 at 7:33 pmYou have a spammer “Jay Mo” posting a repetitious comment on a bunch of your recent Facebook posts. 🙁